A post to cover the last week.

I was going to kick off a proper effort to get a constructive training programme on the go last Monday. I got up early, felt my throat was a bit sore, but persevered and went out anyway.
Made a steady 10 mile effort (in just under 1:20) and got back home feeling great.

I came down with a major head cold about two hours later...

The drugs sort of helped, and I felt human enough to go out for my regular midweek long run with the Serpentines (http://www.serpentine.org.uk)
Touch and go, but I had a really good run - another 15 miles under the belt. (Route:http://tinyurl.com/9jr66). Unfortunately work then intervened and the rest of the week, and the weekend, was a washout.

So,

This week has to be the start of the training ramp-up. I need to get to at least five days per week training. I know Wednesday is probably in the bag - another of those long runs. And I may make the club "Brass Monkey" warm-up on Saturday, another 13 miles. So perhaps if I target two more days of decent exercise that will at least be a step in the right direction.

Someone at work just mentioned that he just looks at his "hours spent training" per week to measure how much effort he's putting in. Might be a useful consideration.

It's also a pleasant surprise that my moribund blog hasn't been culled.

Know I really want to make use of the site.
My primary discussion will be around running - training and racing, though I may sneak in a little computer system development stuff I think it's warranted (i.e. Seems to have had an impact on me).
My key targets for the year are :
Make a first attempt at the Bob Graham Round - I anticipate failure to complete within the target 24 hours.
Finish the Wasdale Fell race - I was timed out on Pillar last year.
Complete a marathon in less than 3:15 - Qualification for a Good-for-Age place in next year's London marathon.
Reduce my 10k pb to less than 37:30 - It's currently 39:01.
Reduce my Mile pb to less than 5:00 - It's currenly 5:35, but I was bit under the weather when I ran that, so I hope it's not quite such a step.

That's a diverse set of targets, everything from a 24 hour effort down to a mad 5 minutes. I'll be happy with three out of five.

One of the hardest things is to select a sensible number of races to run. Last year I probably ran too many. I certainly ran too many for the training I completed.

I hope I can log everything I do this year - I had hoped to catalogue all last year's races, but I'm afraid some are starting to fade. I'll post another entry with last year's efforts.
My greatest acheivement was completing the London to Brighton race - albeit in almost last place. (But 15 miles per week is nowhere near enough training for a 54 mile run... And it showed!)
My biggest mistake was bad pacing in all three marathon's I entered. I really should have broken 3:15 last year, but hot-headedness and hot race days put paid to that.

Anyway - more back story later.

Just got in from a session in the Gym. I've become a bit of a spinning addict. Something to do with not having the leg speed when I started. I still can't believe how high the cadence is. You look across at the person next to you and their legs look ridiculously fast, and the realise yours must be just as quick.

This was meant to be a wind down week, as I prepare for the Isle of Wight marathon on Sunday. Could be tough, I've not doen anything like enough long-distance training owing to an ankle injury 5/6 weeks ago.

The target is really a sub-four hour run, sufficient for an entry into the London to Brighton run in October, but I'll be disappointed with anything over three and half hours, in spite of the hilly course, as that was roughly the time I managed for my two marathons to date.

This could be challenge. I never been able to keep a diary in my life.

But - I'm going to have a go as I need to keep a diary of my fitness training and running. And I'll take the opportunity to get up to speed with some of the technology stuff that I work with.