~ Back to Profile Page ~Happy New Year everyone!!
John, my sister Fidelia and I took part in the annual Hyde Park Serpentine New Year’s Day 10k because we all decided it would be a good idea to start a new year. Plus, just before Christmas I won the Comets Running Club London Marathon Club place ballot. I need to focus on building a good base so that I can be better prepared for the Big Day.
The race started in the late morning at 11am to allow runners to have a bit of a lie in after the New Year’s Eve late night. We arrived at the start just before 10am to collect our bib number and time chip. It was freezing cold and misty with a threat of rain in the air. Since I was wearing the Vibram FiveFingers Trainers with very thin soles, my feet could even feel the freezing concrete. Even my GPS watch was playing up in such cold weather. It took a long time (over 10 minutes) to get the signal.
Off we go at 11am sharp. The road surface was a bit icy but we counted ourselves lucky because it was dry throughout the race. The last thing I wanted was snow and sleet. John, Fidelia and I started together. Fidelia said she was not well with a cold and she’d probably at the similar pace as John. I felt OK in the first couple of k but hate to breath in the cold air. I passed the 5k mark over 27 minutes. I knew I wasn’t going to finish under 55 minutes because I am always slower in the 2nd half. By 6k, I wilted a bit and kept slowing down. I couldn’t pick up my pace. I just plough on and started to struggle in the last couple of k. By the time I passed the 9k mark my legs were like jelly and I staggered to the finish in 57’16”. I was very disappointed because I thought I would be able to finish sub 56 minutes. My 2018 did not start as expected! John finished in 1:0247” and he was quite pleased to have shaved off 5 minutes from last year. Fidelia finished in 1:08’22” as she didn’t feel well. For full result, please visit:
https://www.serpentine.org.uk/rdb/showrace.php?race=12417
Looking ahead to 2018, my main priority is the London Marathon. I really feel excited to see what sort of pace I can do in the London Marathon. I’ve lined up some events such as the Fred Hughes 10 miler, Hemel 12 miler, 17 miler and 20 miler up to my journey to the London Marathon start line. My aim is to finish sub 4:452 but anything under 5 hours would do. My training plan is:
- January – 30 miles a week (3 x 6 miles sessions plus 1 x 12 miles)
- February – 40 miles per week (3 x 6 miles sessions plus 1 x 22 miles)
- March – 45 miles per week (peak) (3 x 6 miles sessions plus 1 x 26 miles)
- April – 46 miles a week (peak) (3 x 6 miles sessions plus 1 x 26 miles)
- 2 weeks before Marathon – start tapering – 18 miles a week (3 x 6 miles sessions)
- 3 days before the Marathon – rest
- 2 days before the Marathon – rest and start carbo loading (cut out meat and alcohol)
- 1 day before the Marathon – rest and pray and eat carbohydrate and go to bed early
- On the Marathon day -take isotonic gels during the race
