Running with my brother and listening to his thought processes on running is an awful lot like having a mirror held up in front of me.  He has a similar breathing technique, the same arm pumping action and the same mental battle to overcome self-doubt and laziness on a run.  When he had been running regularly for about 3 months he asked me “Do you spend a lot of time telling yourself you are running whilst you are running?” – I was shocked.  Yes! – When I first started it was like that all the time – if I thought much of anything beyond my next breath it was always variations of ‘am I doing this? Why am I doing this? I can’t do this – but I am definitely doing this’.

We ran the Ikano Robin Hood Half Marathon together on the 27^th of September (his first, my third) and it was one of those beautiful surreal moments when you look at someone and can completely empathise.  Oh, I have been there my brother, but know this – pain is only temporary whilst the glory is forever.    For my part, I am not sure I was much good as a companion, but after leaving Kyle behind in the Krakow ParkRun I was going to stick to him like glue the whole way round – whether he wanted or needed me there or not.

I should point out – this was only 3 weeks before the Lisbon Marathon – and so it was supposed to be my last big run (i.e. 20 miles).  So I was half planning to run 10 K before the half started to make up the distance.  I was put off committing to this plan for a number of reasons. First, Kyle isn’t that slow or that far behind me in terms of training that I could expect to keep up with him if I ran 10 K first!  Second, running before requires somewhere to run and getting there like an hour and a half early and we know how well mornings generally work for me!  Thirdly, that weekend I was struck down by some horrible virus that made it difficult to breathe and swallow so even running the half was probably pushing it!  But run it I did and I can’t believe I can even say this – the whole thing was phenomenally easy.

Hence why I am not sure how good a companion I was for Kyle.  For example; as Kyle paced himself I was itching to go faster.  As Kyle dragged himself along the 8^th mile I was practically skipping.  As Kyle extended his middle finger to the 9^th mile marker I giggled and clamped a sympathetic hand on his shoulder before adding conspiratorially “Wait until mile 10, that’s when the real pain starts”.  Because I had passed through that particular level of Hell myself hadn’t I?  Back in June with the Liverpool Half Marathon.

I tried to help – sharing running mantras I had learnt, chatting about the weather but on the final mile, when Kyle’s emotions were flicking frantically between the euphoria of nearly finishing with the awful knowledge that you have. Not. Finished. Yet. And-why-do-my-legs-hurt-so-gosh-darn-much? I was powerless to help.  I had exhausted my running tips and/or distracting stories.  And anyway – I knew that particular set of emotions flashing across Kyle face.  Towards the end of my first half marathon I had sobbed aloud each time someone with a “in memory of” t-shirt slipped by and I nearly had a breakdown when a blind runner overtook me.  How wonderful – I’d thought – isn’t the world a fantastic and yet terrible place?  And Kyle was in that place now.  Pushed himself beyond what he thought he was physically capable of.  Pushed beyond anything.  But still doing it – yep, definitely doing it.

For my part I was hugely impressed.  Kyle was a machine.  He did not stop once.  Not to sip his drink.  Not to chat to friends.  Not to go to the loo.  And he ran faster up hills (he trained in Sheffield which is apparently hilly).  Just kept going.  Steady.  Determined.  And I utterly respect that.  When he crossed that finish line you could see what it meant to him – the amalgamation of months of training, completing a goal that seemed outlandish 6 months ago, realising that you are actually capable of so much more than you ever thought possible.  Yeah, respect bro.  I am honoured that I got to witness it!

Week 13: Total Run Distance: 33 K (20 miles). Total Running Time 4:06

I’ve been avoiding writing the exact details of my training programme out for a number of reasons;

• A list of my runs for the week is probably not exciting to anyone but me
• Programmes come packed with copious amounts of jargon/codes which used to intimidate and frustrate me in equal measure and I didn’t want to inflict that on you lovely readers (hi Mum)
• There was always something more interesting happening!

However, I wanted to open this blog with it being a ‘Recovery´ week which therefore involves me explaining what that actually means. Don’t worry I haven’t injured myself *knocks fervently on wood*.  A ‘Recovery’ or Rest week in a training programme just means giving yourself a break in mileage and allowing your body to absorb the training – at least that is the theory.  A good/typical training programme will let you drop your mileage about once every 4 weeks.  Other features that most training programmes will incorporate include;

• Gradual increase in mileage (there is a rule about never increasing beyond 10% – although I couldn’t find a lot of evidence to support that statement it seems like a sensible idea not to overly exert yourself, especially if you are a beginner)
• 1 faster run per week (called any number of things, speed work, fartlet running (yes, it’s a real thing – Tip: it doesn’t involve eating beans the day before), interval sessions, tempo running)
• 1 long slow run each week (thankfully this one is pretty self-explanatory!)
• Easy runs to fill the rest of your time (although I used to take umbrage with the word “Easy” being used to describe any run)
• A taper period just before the race where you reduce your mileage significantly to save yourself for the big day.

You can spend hours building your own plan – or conveniently google it.  There are so many training programmes online.  The best advice is choose one that you like the look of and stick to it.  Personally, I only wanted to run 3 times a week and considering that I wasn’t particularly bothered about speed (I just want to complete the marathon in one piece) I picked one that didn’t have a lot of speed work and built up at 10%.  I actually used an online tool to build my own personalised training plan.  Runners’ World Smart Coach – here you input how and what you want to train for and it tells you everything you need to do to reach your goal!

It is good advice if you are taking up running to always keep a running log – so that you can properly track your mileage, look back at how far you have come or notice what methods of training really work for you.  There are loads of free Apps that will use your phone GPS to track your runs (which can be fun if you want to compete with some friends at the same time) such as Sports Tracker, Strava, Map My Run, or you can just work out how far and fast you have run by using g-maps pedometer route drawing tool online and a watch.  You can write things down on paper, online, wherever – just keep a note.  Personally I love my Garmin watch.  It tracks my runs as I go and keeps a record online including things like, the route I ran, the incline, weather and temperature!

So how did I spend my recovery run?  A quick 10 K jaunt around Sandy with a few friends (we were 4 in total).  Company definitely keeps me on my toes as this 10 K was under an hour (58:49)!  Glorious sunshine and without the need to pace myself for another 20 K afterwards Andreas and I could just enjoy the new surroundings and really stretch our legs.  Maybe not a proper rest but definitely lots of fun!

Week 12: Total Run Distance: 27 K (16.7 miles). Total Running Time 2:55

We’ve stopped “short” a number of times lately.  One bad run (18.6 K instead of 26 K) knocked the training programme a bit off course and we’ve been playing catch up with the miles ever since.  When we were supposed to be running 30 K we ran 27 K, when we were meant to run 32.2 K (20 miles) we ran 28 K.

Part of it was caution – training programmes are specifically designed to build your endurance up safely and slowly to reduce chances of injury – so I didn’t want to just skip a run.

The other part of it was, honestly, running long distance is hard work.  Pushing through the physical pain is one thing but mentally overcoming the boredom and self-doubt – that is harder.  Of course it doesn’t help if your calves are on fire (at least on the inside) either.

Last week when I stopped at 28 K rather than 32.2 K – I could just not be bothered.  We’d already finished on a high – slogging it up the Wittenham Clumps and being rewarded with fabulous views just in time to sprint like maniacs to cross the Earth’s Trust 10 K finish line…  To keep going after that – I just didn’t have the motivation.

But that does mean we have procrastinated far enough.  We have to run 20 miles before the marathon (preferably twice) and we are rapidly running out of training weeks.  Thankfully, this week offers us an opportunity to finally hit that run.  We are supposed to run 26 K but will instead run 32.2 K.

What is the best way to complete the longest of our training runs?  Take the train to Oxford and run back – obviously.  I figured, this way there was no way I could talk myself out of it.  It would be easier to just run the damned thing.

The back of my hand was scrawled with directions.  Incongruously – Oxford to Didcot – was not long enough to meet 32.2 K but, knowing ourselves well, we thought we would probably get lost at least once (we did) which would probably make up the full distance (it did).

So how did this elaborate route go?  From Oxford train station we made our way to the river and followed The Thames Path for 15 K to Abingdon where we honoured their ParkRun loop before heading off towards Sutton-Courtney.  In Sutton-Courtney we managed to lose our intended path but found another which seemed to be heading in the right direction.  After refuelling on a handpicked apple (Andreas claims the best apple ever) and being barked/chased by a giant wolf/dog we picked our way through an overgrown bridle path to Harwell Road which leads to the industrial estate Milton Park.  From Milton Park we took a slight tangent along cycle route 5 back towards Sutton-Courtney before correcting ourselves and taking route 5 back into Didcot.  From Didcot we missed the footpath but from past experience we knew a very steep path back onto the Ladygrove loop – where we completed the run finishing about 400 m from our house.  Easy as pie!  If pies involved 4 plus hours of strenuous physical activity – they don’t, pies involve pastry and delicious fillings – which is why more people would choose to eat pie over running 20 miles in one go but there you go.  (Note: we had pie for dinner which is probably why I have devoted the best part of 3 sentences to the traditional dish).

No easy run for us.  Raging pain hit my calves at 27 K.  Had to stop and stretch and consume a lot of energy beans.  I don’t know how I carried on – waddling and barely quicker than walking pace – but it seemed important to push on.  I wasn’t dead yet, or even that tired.  My breathing was fine.  So I concluded my calves were just being stubborn.  Fine.  I can be stubborn too.  On we go.  Eventually either the energy beans kicked in or my legs accepted their fate.  The pain subsided and it was almost too easy to reach 32.2 K…

It turns out my legs were saving the worse pain for when I stopped running – still, not as bad as on the 18.6 K run – and it is a phenomenal weight off my mind that we have finally ticked off the big 20 mile run.  For the Lisbon Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon we will only have to go an extra 10 K.  Nope, I can’t believe I said that either – but surprisingly I do mean it!

Week 11: Total mileage for the week was 45.5 K (28.2 miles), total running time was 5:30.

Week 10 of our 16 week programme and the fateful 20 mile run I joked about 11 weeks ago.  Gradual incline I said.  Summer heat I said. Oh won’t that be fun?  But I am getting ahead of myself!

The plan was to incorporate this 20 mile (32.2 K) run into the Earth’s Trust 10 K race on the 06/09/15.  Rock up a few hours early and run a half marathon (and a bit more) then run the 10 K race which is described by the course organisers as “undulating and challenging”.  Totes possible.

I’ll be honest – when I signed up 2 months ago I didn’t know what the word “undulating” meant.  I got a clue when I was reading the August edition of Runner’s World – which described undulating as meaning “neither flat nor hilly, otherwise known as a lie”.  The next clue as to what kind of race the Earth’s Trust 10 K was going to be, came during one of our other training runs to Little Wittenham when I finally realised where and what the Wittenham Clumps were [see photo – but basically massive hills you can see from miles away!].  For some reason I still wasn’t worried – I figured it was just too ridiculous to run up them so the 10 K course must go around them.

A rather mundane glitch in our ‘Let’s ran a half marathon before a 10 K race’ plan was waking up on time.  As previously stated – I am not a morning person and that Sunday morning it showed.  Rather than arriving at 8 am we got there at 8:30 am… still we managed to squeeze in 10 K before circling back to race HQ to pick up our racing bibs and timing chips.  After that we could only fit in another 6 K before having to come back for the race start (6 K short of our target).  Nonetheless I was in high spirits – I wasn’t tired or aching or anything – and I have been curious to see inside the Earth’s Trust site since I signed up.

We gathered with the other racers (a few hundred maybe) on the green opposite the Earth’s Trust HQ in anticipation of the race start.  I love races, or rather, I love any kind of group running.  The cross-section of people you see at these events is really empowering and motivating.  Name me another sport where regular civilians can stand side by side at the start with elites.  No doubt some runners are nervous whilst others more confident but here we all stand old, young, slim, beefy, tall and short alike – all up for this challenge and in it together.

The race starts and we’re off down a gentle downward grassy slope.  I enjoy watching other runners spread out in a long ant-like line across the landscape.  The terrain isn’t so difficult to negotiate – recently Andreas and I have been running along the Thames Path which is similarly mixed surfaces and there are lots of CAUTION signs when things are especially tricky.  The new thing today is getting used to slopes – downhill and I feel like I am flying, uphill and I slow to a crawl.  Still – at least I am maintaining constant effort.

The weather is sunny – a little too hot in direct sunlight but cool in the shade.  The water stations are well manned and frequent enough plus there is good crowd support along the route.  The race was also open to walkers so at some points we are crossing their paths and even though they must have seen dozens of runners before us every single person smiles or nods or waves their encouragement.  I was fully enjoying this local scenic run.  I had not a care in the world… Little did I know what the 8 K marker (24 K in for us!) would bring…

Yes, you probably guessed it.  The Wittenham Clumps.  It turns out we were going to run up them after all.  Before I had chance to come up with a strategy (like perhaps walking it!) Andreas places his hand on my back and actually pushes me along.  I guess we are running it.

I don’t look up.  I don’t engage in any conversations.  I keep my head down and my feet moving.  Breathe in, breathe out.  At some point Andreas’ hand drops away but I am in my rhythm now.  It’s not easy but I am not stopping.  There are many people standing still or walking the up the Clumps, there is even a person laying down (it is a steep hill!) but I keep at it – briefly looking back only to check where Andreas is (a little behind – to be fair he pushed me for about half of it!).  Finally I make it to the top and only then do I stop.  I drink the last of my water and pause.  The views are outstanding.  With the clear weather you can see for miles all around.  I am dizzy and a touch euphoric.  Wow.  What a view.

Now just 1 kilometre to the finish and –because I am an idiot and caught up in the dramatic views and delight of it all – we floor it to the finish as fast as my legs will carry me.  Really an amazing course and well worth the challenge!  Will definitely be entering next year as well (without the 16 K before!).  Finishing time was 1:09:50 which I am quite impressed with!

Week 10: Total mileage for the week was 44.8 K (27.8 miles), total running time was 5:13.

21.097494 kilometres (or a half marathon) is the furthest distance I have run… that is up until last Saturday (29/08/15) when we successfully ran 27 K.  There were no rouge tree branches, no dead ends just miles of agreeable countryside and the feeling that we are taking an epic adventure – albeit a slow one (3.5 hours in total!).

Every run since the ‘Trouble on Thames Disaster’ has been pleasant, comfortable and importantly pain and niggle free.  Even the 2.2 K run on Tuesday when the heavens opened and I was soaked in an instant was kind of exciting.  I used the rain as an excuse to race the guy in blue running ahead of me.  I got a personal best for fastest 1 K (4:52) and felt awesomely heroic for overtaking an unsuspecting stranger.

So whilst I was a bit nervous about the long run, I also had to trust in the training programme and the running foundation I have built up diligently over the last year.  In any event, I was not going to give up without giving it my best shot.

We decided to take the Thames path again, go as far as 13-14 K and head back.  We quadrupled our liquid supply and tried out a new electrolyte drink recommended from a friend (Japanese Pocari Sweat) as well as taking a bag of energy jelly beans.  I wasn’t risking running out of energy/water again.

I’ll be honest – the run was slow and at some points unbelievably hard to keep going.  The Thames Path is a mixture of surfaces, some tarmac, some pebbles, some grass – variation is good as it keeps you nimble and reduces the pounding your legs take – but it does take more energy and time to navigate.  One wrong footing and you might twist an ankle or end up in a ditch or both.  Additionally, knowing that we needed to run at least 26 K to catch up with the training schedule, I didn’t want to push myself too hard too early in case I ran out of energy.  All this added up to a slow pace – 7:50 min/K – and even that felt enormously draining.

Kilometres 18-22 seemed to be in alternate dimension where time passed infinitely slower and limbs were inexplicably heavier.  Minutes and hedgerows would pass by but the gauge on my GPS watch would report that we’d only gone an additional 300 metres, if that.

We reach, finally, 21.1 K, the point where each additional step is now officially my longest run, the furthest I’ve ever run ever – it was a bit anticlimactic.  There were no fanfares or drum rolls – just miles of countryside between me and lunch.

Surprisingly, the run did get noticeably easier after 22 K.  I can see my pace increased and I know I felt a lot better.  We stopped at 27 K but honestly, I kind of wanted and felt like I could have gone further – Just as well, next week is the Earth’s Trust 10 K and we plan to run 22.2 K BEFORE attempting it.

Week 9: Total mileage for the week was 41.5 K (25.7 miles), total running time was 5:13.