Happily Ever After
Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running
Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.
Seven Weeks To Go
by Russell Turner - 09:53 on 20 August 2023
It’s seven weeks until the Royal Parks Half Marathon; the first two weeks of training has gone well. That doesn’t mean I’ve completely shaken off the ultra mindset and become a speed demon, but the pace is improving where it needs to. Easy runs have been easy, steady runs steady, and on Wednesday I’ll run the training plan’s first intervals session – all two of them.
That doesn’t mean I’m becoming over-confident: quite the reverse. This week, RPHM HQ sent out an email reminding everyone to check their details before registration closes on September 1st – you wouldn’t want your race pack to go to an old address. It was also an opportunity to fine tune estimated finish times so we’ll be in the optimum start waves. I’d estimated 1:56, thinking I’d be in shape for a PB; I’ve now downgraded myself to a more sensible 2:10.
I could sign up for the earlier wave and drop back on the day, and there may be seven weeks of improvement to come as training progresses, but I’ll be realistic. Although I’ve ten days left in which to change my mind again. We’ll see.
Anyway, when I won my RP place I’d expected to be doing a mere ten miles the following week. Now that I’ve the Yorkshire Marathon the week after I wouldn’t want to wear myself out – not with the Dunnington spur to be faced. I’ve yet to decide what time I’ll aim for, although comfortable is much more likely than challenging. That’s assuming there’s such a thing as a comfortable marathon.
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