The mileage is decreasing… this means it’s pretty much taper time!

I’m doing alright! I won’t lie, I do feel the need for speed because I know I have it somewhere. I did keep it sensible because we don’t want a repeat of last year, but there is a little hint of restlessness…

We’re officially in marathon month!

W/C 2nd September

Tuesday

I led the LRC intervals and took part in the session too!

It was a looped session under the troll bridge and up round to the top of the park. The downhill section at the end of the loop was the recovery.

The plan was to increase efforts, but I just got carried away. It’s easily done, all the speedy club runners glide ahead and you just get sucked in.

I could argue I could have done better, but really… I’m giving it a go and having fun. I’m playing around with pace and I’m working hard. It’s fine! (Yes, giving myself a mini pep talk here)

Thursday

Wowowowow!

What a lovely run this was!

The Bronze club run was fantastic. We all more or less stuck together throughout and the pace was enjoyable. I felt like I was running at an effort but was still able to talk. Working hard the right amount.

What helped with this run was that we all stuck together and ran at the same pace. We were just a pleasant group having a good time running.

This was my favourite run of the week. 🙂

Saturday

My last week pacing 34 minutes for a while! It was SO much fun.

I’ve got to know some of the regulars around this time and they’ve been looking out for me every week. It’s such a positive thing and I’ve definitely got the pacing down at Huddersfield parkun!

I’ll be back to do it eventually, but as it’s taper time there’s no harm to see where I am at 5k is there…?? (I’ve already been warned not to try kill myself haha but I want to try!)

Sunday

Summer is over.

The heavy rain greeted me on Sunday morning and it was tough to get motivated. 15 miles was on the cards.

It still feels like a long way, especially when the rain is bouncing outside.

Fortunately, my support squad were still keen to run with me. They’re not even marathon training!

The route wasn’t quite the canal, which I was so relieved about. There’s only so many times you can run up to Marsden before you lose the plot.

Side note – when I lived in Leeds, on a Sunday I’d run on the same bit of canal every week but I never got bored. What was wrong with me? Or was it because it wasn’t so torturous? Hmmm…

Back to it.

So the route was from my house to Brighouse and onto the canal there to Copley and then back to Elland. It was good to do something a bit different.

I had my support crew of Dave, Becky and Lisa. They really helped as they kept me motivated when the rain was at its heaviest.

It was good to have them help me not pick up the pace when going downhill. Loch Ness marathon is a downhill start and the temptation is real. I know I need to hold myself back as it is a marathon… not a sprint!

I ran the last 5 miles solo and like last week, I felt really good. I felt like I was gliding my way through the run and it was great.

Week 14 thoughts

It’s been another good week, I do wish I was quicker but at the start of training I was struggling with fatigue. To be able to run these miles and still be smiling at the end is a success.

I have signed up for the Manchester marathon next year so I’m starting to think ahead to after this wonderful journey.

Loch Ness marathon shouldn’t be about time, but getting it done. It’s my victory lap (a long one), I didn’t get to the finish at Edinburgh last year but I will at Inverness.

There will be tears. There will be soup. There will be some wild photos of me with our Nessie.