Ooh la la, this week has tested me - I thought that Week 4 involved four thirty minute fast walks, but in fact it was four forty five minute walks. I hadn't noticed that little detail on the Preliminary Training Programme. And I didn't get started until Wednesday, because of ... the heat, the post-Christmas sloth and the out of whack body clock, as totally predicted last post.
Monday and Tuesday came and went ... and then Wednesday morning ... and I was starting to wonder what had happened to my marathon mojo. By Wednesday evening, I knew if I didn't get started I wouldn't be able to fit the four days of exercise into the week so, even though I SO did not feel like it, I had no choice but to start. And start I did but in a modified format - I used the cross-trainer while watching Will & Grace Season Three on DVD, a cross between staying home on the couch and going for a run.The ultimate compromise position.
I don't think the cross-trainer is a true substitute for running/walking - part of the whole marathon training thing is about conditioning the muscular and skeletal system to withstand the impact of the 42km. The cross-trainer is a bit low-impact but, as I rationalised to myself, better than nothing. I spent 45 minutes on the cross-trainer on Thursday as well (Season Six).
Come Friday the sugar hangover was lifting and I was more energetic and keen to get back to Cottesloe Beach for my regular walk. I was so busy talking to my buddy, the lovely Robyn, however, that I didn't quite make the fast walking pace. I don't have the exact speed from the time on the cross- trainer, only a rough comparison, so can't even do that slightly cheat-y thing I did last post and average out the times across the week. And New Year's Day would be the day I have to make it all up. I. Don't. Think. So. To that end, dear Readers, I have made an executive decision and will repeat the pre-training for Week 4 ... but do it properly this time. (And I choose to blame Santa. Thrown off course by a fat guy in a red suit. He seemed so nice in David Jones.)
On a slightly different topic, I'm amazed at how much more energy this exercise lark gives you (and how much I noticed the impact of Christmas). In the first three weeks of pre-training, despite being physiologically dependent on sugar and caffeine, I starting cutting down on both without even realising. I had more energy from exercising so didn't need the energy shot of coffee or chocolate. Christmas and all the associated rich food (and the odd glass of champagne) made me really sluggish and it was a huge struggle to get motivated to move. Lesson learned. Exercise and eating properly makes you feel good - who knew??? Someone needs get this news out to the public!
A happy Hogmanay to you all and may blessings be heaped upon you and your families for 2011.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
The One Where I Talk About Hamish Blake and Week 3 of Pre-Training
The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer makes it very clear early on that the only goal a non-runner attempting their first marathon should have is to finish. The authors say it's a big mistake (the biggest, according to them) to set a target time. So I'm not going to set a time goal or worse, do a Hamish Blake and try and beat anyone else's time - if I complete the marathon before they start packing up the course, that counts as success for me. (For the record, Hamish, without any training or preparation, beat Katie Holmes' 5 hours, 29 minutes and 58 seconds time by 4 minutes and 49 seconds.).
So, no time goal, no trying to beat someone else's time - although I'm conscious that Chilean miner, Edison Pena, did the 2010 New York marathon in 5 hours, 40 minutes and 51 seconds - and that's after being stuck down a mine for 69 days. Fortunately, Al Roker, the weatherman from the US 'Today' show completed it in 7 hours and 9 minutes and 44 seconds. So if I give in and start comparing, I'm thinking that as long as I am somewhere on a sliding scale between 5 hours 30 minutes and Al Roker, I can be happy.
As for me, I'm still in Pre-Training, of course, (and will be until early February). I'm now into the fast walking stage (8- 10 minutes a kilometre) and managed my scheduled three walks this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday morning. I did procrastinate a bit when I was entering this stage as it was a move into a harder level (so Tuesdays walk was actually supposed to be Sunday's walk, which then became Monday's walk and when I finally couldn't put it off any longer for fear of mucking up the schedule, Tuesday's walk).
When I started, I was just trying literally to walk really fast and I found that to be sore on the front of my shins. It was actually more comfortable to do a bit of jogging and a bit of walking so that's what I ended up doing. And, although the Friday walk was social and I didn't quite make the 10 minutes a kilometre target on that walk, the average of all three walks this week was 9 minutes 50 seconds a kilometre. So I'm calling that a win. Don't burst my bubble on that one, people.
The week ahead, Week 4 of Pre-Training, involves four of the thirty minute fast walks. The heat, the post-Christmas sloth and the out of whack body clock could present challenges. But this marathon isn't going to run itself. So four walks it shall be.
So, no time goal, no trying to beat someone else's time - although I'm conscious that Chilean miner, Edison Pena, did the 2010 New York marathon in 5 hours, 40 minutes and 51 seconds - and that's after being stuck down a mine for 69 days. Fortunately, Al Roker, the weatherman from the US 'Today' show completed it in 7 hours and 9 minutes and 44 seconds. So if I give in and start comparing, I'm thinking that as long as I am somewhere on a sliding scale between 5 hours 30 minutes and Al Roker, I can be happy.
As for me, I'm still in Pre-Training, of course, (and will be until early February). I'm now into the fast walking stage (8- 10 minutes a kilometre) and managed my scheduled three walks this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday morning. I did procrastinate a bit when I was entering this stage as it was a move into a harder level (so Tuesdays walk was actually supposed to be Sunday's walk, which then became Monday's walk and when I finally couldn't put it off any longer for fear of mucking up the schedule, Tuesday's walk).
When I started, I was just trying literally to walk really fast and I found that to be sore on the front of my shins. It was actually more comfortable to do a bit of jogging and a bit of walking so that's what I ended up doing. And, although the Friday walk was social and I didn't quite make the 10 minutes a kilometre target on that walk, the average of all three walks this week was 9 minutes 50 seconds a kilometre. So I'm calling that a win. Don't burst my bubble on that one, people.
The week ahead, Week 4 of Pre-Training, involves four of the thirty minute fast walks. The heat, the post-Christmas sloth and the out of whack body clock could present challenges. But this marathon isn't going to run itself. So four walks it shall be.
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