Daz Does Tri

At the minute, I see myself in maybe 1.22/3 shape for a half. Really want to get to the end of the year in sub 1.15 shape. Looking at where I started (general fitness, my base over the year (injury free), progress & historical data) this should be reasonable. I know what it took to get me in 1.15 shape previously and if I can get there I think I'll be in good shape to have a crack at a proper marathon plan from January. Got my first long run of the campaign tomorrow morning. 15 steady with a group of lads. I like doing my long runs at MP + 60-90 secs, don't feel I need to run hard on long runs at all unless I'm racing. Anything around 7.30s I will be over the moon tomorrow. Whatever happens, getting a 14+ at least weekly and at least a 20 every 3 weeks is a must. So the racing plan and targets... OCTOBER 2nd Frostbite League St Neots 9th Peterborough Half NOVEMBER 6th Frostbite League Bushfield (flat out 5 miles) 20th St Neots Half (run to marathon...

12 miles today, pretty slow (7.49/mm pace) for 148 bpm. That gives around 1147 beats per mile. Absolutely awful stats in every department except distance. I'm not downbeat, far from it. I am at a stage of my training where I am trying to max my body out, get as many miles in as possible until I am close to breakdown, then rest up and recover and come back stronger. After my holiday, I started back this month with the aim of getting pretty fit pretty quick. For me that means getting the miles in. I said previously, for me, if I get the miles in consistently then the pace will follow. So the master plan is to get 60 mpw avge from now until Peterborough Half. The aim there is to go as close 6/mm as possible (1.18.30ish), with the dream taregt of a sub 1.15 if all goes well. Once I am at that fitness level I will push on. But for now, the routine is to cram as many miles in as possible. The reason for my HR being so high today is simple, my legs were shattered. The mi...

So the base mileage continues. The aim for this phase of training is to bang out lots of long slow miles and I don't seem to dissapoint! Monday was first double day of the campaign. 6 + 4 miles easy. Tuesday was another double 7 + 3. Wednesday 10 steady then today 7 easy. Legs are very tired today, am supposed to be going to the track tonight but just don't think I will be recovered. 7 miles was tough after doing 10 straight last night. Last nights run was pretty good, started slow then picked up to around 35.30 for the last 5 miles feeling pretty comfortable. Tuesday daytime was at my old coaches funeral. Was a sombre affair at the church but the wake was more lively. Was great to catch up with loads of old running pals. Some great old stories that I had long forgotten. Amazing to see how people have changed in the 15 years since my best running years. We were fortunate to be part of probably the best middle distance group in the country at the time but my god...

Wow, what a weekend! My daughters christening was supposed to be Sunday and got a phone call at just before 9am to say my father in law had a heart attack. Christening cancelled, old boy rushed to hospital and luckily had 2 stents fitted successfuly. He's a battle axe and will probably outlive us all. He seems good as gold now so touch wood he'll be fine. Got out for a quick beer that night with DC, AC & my old man. Was a welcome relief from indoors and nice to talk shit about old running stories and stuff! Training wise, last few days since last blog have just been getting the miles in. Have been aiming to get all runs more around 8 miles average but since Wednesday there have been a few under. First double day today. 6 this morning with the wind @ 7/mm but pretty quick at the end. Then a very easy 4 tonight, felt very good but legs are aching, think the Adidas Oregons are on the way out. Funeral tomorrow for my old coach Ken Leader. Will be nice to see so...

7th September today and for the past 7 days that I have been back into marathon training I have covered 57.44 miles @ an average pace of 8.01/mm. No rest days & no double days. Longest run 12 miles and shortest 5. Absolutely spot on for first proper week of training. Nothing crazy, nothing fast just good honest getting the legs used to feeling tired again! Missed my track session this week but to be fair it's been tough on the legs but I do feel I am coming through it. On holiday I had plenty of time to reflect on what has been missing over the past 18 months and it's pure and simple. Bad planning has led to inconsistency which has left me running 80 miles one week, 40 the next. In fact I have not run over 50 miles for more than 3 consecutive weeks this year. I have in fact run over 50 miles just once in the past 23 weeks! For me mileage is critical, even more important than pace in training. I know if I get a good 8-10 week stint of good mileage in the bank then ...

Since I got back from holiday I have run 8, 8, 5 and today 10 miles. Not setting the world alight but nice consistent running all at around 7.30 pace. It's a good start. Legs are feeling tired, really feel like I am in marathon training. The aim will be to string as many days together on the trot to keep the miles high and then rest before a long run. Really need to get something in the 14-15 mile rang in this week to kick start the comeback. Todays run was a couple more than I have done so far. Started with an 8 around Milton Country Park and then nice and steady. Felt ok to be fair but just a little lethargic. Actually felt better in the last couple of miles than the middle which is promising. Will try to get a very easy 8 in tomorrow before track on Tuesday. Going to be a busy week at work too so not sure how afternoon runs will pan out. Setting down to watch Mo in the 5k now. Have a sneaky £50 on Murga to win at 10/1 so hopefully see Mo take a string silver in ...

After a pretty dissapointing end to the track season I was glad to get away with the family for some well deserved r&r. I took a pretty easy week before I went away just doing a very easy 10 mile run with Wenny on the Monday night followed by my longest ever bike ride of 26.4 miles in 1.23 (19.08 mph). Was really pleased with the ride, felt comfortable and it was really lumpy for the last 8 or 9 miles. Legs seemed fine, think getting a few better rides in is paying off at last. Will be nice to get that average speed up to 20 mph at some stage. So, set off to France on the Friday driving the Mrs 4x4 all the way to Paris and having 3 days in Euro Disney. Kids were happy enough but after going to Florida last year it was pretty dissapointing. Did my first run in a week on the last day in Paris. I planned to run every other day and do 5kish and run pretty hard to keep in touch with some speed. I loose fitness pretty fast when I do nothing and coming back is always a strug...