I love irn bru!!

Monday - easy 10 miles (7:49 min miles)

Tuesday - warm up, club tempo 3.7 miles (5:58 min miles), cool down

Wednesday - 4.4 miles (7:22 min miles)

Thursday - 17 miles (9:05 min miles) elevation 2,247 ft

Friday - 20 miles on the west highland way (9:41 min miles) elevation 3,232 ft

Saturday - club 8 mile race (7:16 min miles) https://www.strava.com/activities/476386562

Sunday - recovery 8 miles (8:10 min miles)

The goal of this week was just more miles in the bank. I had planned 2 long runs. I cut thursdays one short by 3 miles because I had the dreaded white finger, if youve never had that it is absolute agony and totally ruins my runs.

A yoga session in the morning loosened me up for my long run. This was easy paced with a souble dunter of the conic hill. The views were totally different than the same place a week before (last weeks photo on previous blog). 

Another yoga session at night and my legs felt good again.

Saturday was a club race. I knew this would be on tired legs but that was the idea, and I was totally burst on the last mile and couldn't hold my usual pace but that was what I expected. 

Anyway, I love irn bru. I would drink it all the time if it was any good for you. I just can't get enough of it. However seeing as it's full of sugar, rotten for your teeth and body, means it's not wise to drink it all the time. 

I recently seen a YouTube video from your world within called clarity. Your world within is a series of motivational videos. In the video it mentioned a quote that said "deciding what not to do, is just as important as deciding what to do" or words to that effect. 

So therein lies the irn bru. I've not had a drink of it in weeks. I'm trying to do more miles, and last Sunday when I was planning out this weeks miles, I set myself a wee reward of an irn bru on Sunday night if I met my target. 

A long run Thursday followed by a longer one Friday, and an 8 mile X country race with the club in Saturday, meant I was doing well but would have to get up and do 8 mile recovery on Sunday morning. 

I bought my irn bru on Saturday and left it sitting out. It was the only thing that got me out the door on Sunday morning. 

80 miles in the bank, and it was the best can of irn bru I've ever had! 

Here comes the snow

Monday -  7 miles (7:46 min miles)

Tuesday - speed session 400/800/1000/12000 x 2, 400/800/1200 https://www.strava.com/activities/468978540

Wednesday -  5.4 miles (8:37 min miles) PM 6.3 miles (7:03 min miles)

Thursday - 6.6 miles (8:04 min miles)

Friday - off

Saturday - 14.4 miles (8:58 min miles)

Sunday -  6.3 miles (7:26 min miles)

Weekly total 56.7 miles elevation 4300 ft

I had set out to do 80 miles for the week as part of my build for the year, and I finiahed well short of that. Home life meant I scrapped Fridays run, so I had 44 miles to do over the weekend. Saturday came and the place was full of snow! I went on the west highland way from Drymen and went up the conic hill and back, I was running out of time before work so ended up with only 14 miles, but it was a good run and was safer to stay off the pavements.

I had planned a double run on Sunday, but chose the far more fun option of sledge shopping and a few hours up the park with the family.

Not the most outstanding training week but the snow is never here long, I have a kid and Im still a big kid, so there was only ever going to be one winner!

First week of 2016

Monday - 8.1 miles  (7:03 min miles)

Tuesday - a day out on the bevvy

Wednesday - 6.2 miles (7:03 min miles)

Thursday - warm up, 6 x 800m (5:33 min miles) , cool down

Friday - am  19.5 miles (7:48 min miles) pm - 4.5 miles (7:57 min miles) https://www.strava.com/activities/465677268

Saturday - 10 miles recovery (8:34 min miles)

Sunday - 11.8 (8:53 min miles)

Total miles 70 elevation 4000 feet

Well this was the first week of full training this year. I had taken a few easier weeks to let my legs feel fresh for the start of the year and so gar so good. Ive lost a wee bit of speed but that will be back next week.

Fridays 19.5 miles was a bit of a sore one, I haven't had a long run in ages. I went for 19 laps of the housing estate, good for the mind and body. It is good training to run past the house continually when the easy option is there to quit.

My priorities have changed a bit for the year, I got entry into the west highland way race, so I have ditched the plan to race a marathon in April/May in favour of some longer training runs. Ill still be doing at least 2 speed sessions a week, possibly 3 but im going to favour distance over speed for a few months and see how this makes a difference.

The 'A' race this year is glenmore 24, I just love running in circles and after making a complete arse of it last year I need to go back and make amends.

I have a goal in mind for the whw and g24, and a yearly target of 3,500 miles to run. Time to up the weekly miles 😊

Autumn leaves

Monday -  No running!

Tuesday - club tempo session 3.7 miles @ 5:56 min miles

Wednesday - AM 7.4 mile commute @ 7:23 min miles, PM 7.4 mile commute @ 7:39 min miles

Thursday - AM commute 7.4 miles @ 7:34 min miles, PM commute intervals 15 mins warm up, (6 mins on 2 rec, 2 mins on 1 rec) x 3

Friday - No running!

Saturday - intervals - inverted pyramid,10,8,6,4,2,4,6,8,10 strava link here - https://www.strava.com/activities/432398983

Sunday- steady run 16 miles @ 7:14 min miles

I was out at the previous weekend running, noticing the wet leaves under my feet. I was running on the cycle path surrounded by trees. All before me and above me I noticed all the leaves falling from the trees. What once were bright and colourful and full of life, then this time of year, it gets colder, the weather gets rubbish, things dry up, wither away and die. This happens not only in nature but in peoples lives. It gets cold and its harder for them to get out the door and running. The fitness they have built over the spring and summer dries up, withers away and dies. People out on weight, eat and drink more, and they have to work so much harder when the spring and good weather comes to get their fitness and well being back.

Im not doing that this year. I'll continue to work hard and consistent over the winter, when spring comes I'll be fitter and faster than I was during the summer. I'm sticking to 3 speed sessions a week, 2 shorter and one longer. I know its the way to get faster and with view to that I've made a few sessions up that I'll share as I do. Saturday was the first, reverse pyramids with 10 minutes on, 2 rest, 8 mins on etc. On the way back up I had only 1:30 rest, I done this purely because I k ew it woukd be more  painful, than a kick in the baws when I was starting to tire, and this had the desired effect. I had aimed to keep my intervals under 6 min miles and I failed on the last 10 mins. A further breakdown below.

Those who have started to follow will notice I ended my runstreak at about 33 days or so.  I did intend to keep it going longer but a hefty week and work and getting held on until the wee small hours meant I opted out. Not the best option but I felt my legs needed it. I may do a long runstreak at some point, but its not for everyone and I feel the benefit of taking a day off now and again. 70 miles in 5 running days this week shows I dont need to run every day to get my desired miles in too.

Anyway I'm rambling, and an easy recovery week for me this week to rehydrate with some beer in germany with my good lady, 4 days off running and then back down to nusiness on my return. Have a good week and run hard, don't forget - speedwork hurts and is hard but nothing that's easy  is worth doing,  is it?

More miles = better legs

Monday - AM commute 7.3 miles (7:10 min miles) PM  commute easy paced 7.4 miles (7:55 min miles)

Tuesday - warm up the  8 x 300m, cool down

Wednesday -20 miles easy paced (you tube video link here https://youtu.be/l0EEY3Kl6j0 )

Thursday - solo intervals 4 x 1 mile (5:46 6:00,5:58,6:04)

Friday - recovery 6.1 miles (8:08 min miles)

Saturday - solo intervals 6 x 800m ( https://www.strava.com/activities/423687696 ) PM - commute 7.4 miles (7:39 min miles)

Sunday - AM commute home 6.5 miles (8:10 min miles) PM - easy 4.7 miles (7:55 min miles)

Weekly total - 79 miles elevation 2,379 feet

This week was all about increasing the miles but also keeping in with my 3 promised speed sessions a week. A good start to the week with an easy commute each way, the focus on my commute is usually only getting the miles in unless I am using is as a speed session. The good thing about Monday morning was that I finally managed a more decent pace, I'm usually death marching from the start. Onto Tuesdays club session. Of all the sessions they do this is my least favorite. It's just too short and I feel like I dont benefit from it, I just can't get my heart rate to a decent level, with a maximum of 173. Next time I'll stay on and batter out 12 reps and see if this makes things any better.

Wednesdays 20 miler with Willy was a cracker, easy paced and we took in the 4 football stadiums in Glasgow. I had the camera so we messed about with that (youtube link above) and the easy pace reflected in my average heart rate of 136 bpm. My legs felt good after this and I felt little fatigue - until I attempted mile reps on Thursday! I always find it hard doing higher intensity alone but imagining footsteps behind chasing you is a good way to keep it going, but my legs weren't playing so that led to an easy Friday.

Saturdays 800s were also solo, I didn't note the times of each rep but averaged about 5:25 ish pace per mile. I should be doing my mile reps quicker than that but I'll take that this week, the track I used is really slippy and not maintained at all, I'll stick to the road from now on.

A commute in at night and then home in the morning, followed by an easy run in the afternoon finished the week nicely, leaving my legs fresh to attack the speedwork this coming week, I've one homemade session to try. Jelly legs here I come!

Rewarded by a nice sky on my commute home after nightshift

Accountability

Monday - 4 miles easy off road (7:13 min/miles)

Tuesday - solo 6 x 800 m https://www.strava.com/activities/416685773

Wednesday - 6.4 miles steady (7:04 min miles)

Thursday - club session 4 x 1200m https://www.strava.com/activities/418185143

Friday - steady 7.6 (7:53 min miles)

Saturday - morning commute 7.5 miles at 7:58 min miles

Sunday - AM commute 7.5 miles (7:29 min miles) PM - commute 7.5 (7:02 min miles) including 3 mins hard, 1 min recovery x 9 (I think)

Weekly miles 59 elevation 2310 ft

Well that's another week in the bag. I said last week I was going to cut down the milage and do 3 speed sessions. Tuesdays speed session was done aoone and I always struggle to put in a full effort when there is no one to be chased, or indeed chasing me but it was better than another steady run, which I've been doing a lot off recently. My legs were really tired the following day so another steady run anyway. The club session was good on Thursday, my legs were still tired and I didn't go as fast as I liked but I still managed a decent effort.

I'm getting back to feeling good with increased speed, I just need to stick to the plan and good things will come. I managed a cheeky wee lunchtime beer on friday and managed to out a not too bad effort in after that, with a decent small climb involved I felt better tnan on any hills I have for a while, maybe I need to drink more beer before runs!

A run to work on Saturday morning was met with a horrific headwind blowing the rain into my face the entire journey, but these are the good runs and the ones that matter come the sunshine and warm days. I can still barely move in the mornings and it's a bit of a shuffle but it's better than an extra hour in bed. Same on Sunday, albeit with better weather.

I had promised 3 speed sessions and I couldn't bear the thought of working hard on the way home from work, but I knew if I went for the easy option Willy Robertson would give me a hard time. It was his idea to have an accountability partner and if it wasn't for that this would have been another steady run. So onwards I went fuelled by knowing I wouldn't be getting a cheeky text from him. Willy has some great ideas and this is worth while trying out. You don't need to train with them, just tell them your weekly plan and they will make sure you stick to it. We are all accountable for our own actions but it helps to surround yourself with positive people who will make you stick to the plan, even when its 5am and you don't really feel like running. And if it's too cold, put on an extra layer - problem solved.

Oh and probably the best bit of the week, a new garmin arrived!

Right now where's my phone to give Willy a few cheeky texts about his week...😂😂😂

Return of the speedwork

Monday - AM easy 4 mile run (7:31 min miles) PM - easy 6.8 miles (7:18 min miles)

Tuesday - warm up, 6 x 800 m, cool down (5:28 min miles for the 800s) https://www.strava.com/activities/412356512

Wednesday - easy 4 mile run (7:40 min miles)

Thursday - warm up, 3 x 1 mile (5:18,5:33,5:33) https://www.strava.com/activities/413670789

Friday - easy 8 miles (7:46 min miles)

Saturday - easy 2.8 miles (7:23 min miles)

Sunday - steady 8 miles (7:15 min miles)

Weekly total 51 miles

So this week looked a lot different than it was supposed to, I had planned 75 miles but as soon as I started the speedwork I knew my legs would n't be up to the faster stuff and long miles, I'm still a few weeks away from that. Tuesdays speed session was the first for a while, although I did manage to keep to my taget but it was hard work. On Wednesday my legs just didn't have it so it was a short recovery before Thursdays club session. 3 x 1 mile I started too quickly at 5:18 and then suffered the next 2, limping home in 5:33 each time. That's the only 2 good sessions I had this week, I felt like I was just wasting miles on the other runs. I  need to get back on the foam roller, its the obvious reason my legs suffered all week.

Anyway onwards and upwards and lessons learnt for the coming week.