Train hard, fight easy

The saying 'Train hard, fight easy' is applicable to more than just boxing, you could apply it to practically anything. In this instance I'm going to use it to describe the past 2 days, a PT session yesterday and bootcamp today. The idea is to increase my core strength to help with my running and also getting my glutes reactivated. I left the gym yesterday struggling to lift my arms and then went back for more of the same. The good thing is my cardio is improving for sure as today's session was just as brutal but others had to suffer with me. That said, there's no where to hide, there's only one person who benefits if I train hard or one person who doesn't if I slack off, me. Completing the marathon is a lifetime's ambition with the added bonus of raising money for a very worthy cause, Sense. I will complete the course, of that in certain but I want to finish it well. I will give it everything just like in the gym, when I cross the finish line I will do so knowing that I had given it everything, nothing left in the tank. 

Long run Sunday looms large, I need to do a decent distance, fingers crossed that the weather improves considerably as it been thoroughly miserable here today!

Just £60 will see me exceed my £1500 target, it's so close now! 

Night off

I rarely drink these days but last night a few work colleagues and I hit the town for some beers and Chinese food. A great combination! It felt good to have a night off running but I did make up for it with a intense session in the gym with George.  Plus, tomorrow I'm back in bootcamp so whatever 'damage' a rare night out did will be short lived.

I plan to get back on the marathon bus on Sunday morning too to take on a different route.

£60 is all is going to take to exceed my £1500 target.  

Good times!

Nothing to like here, move along

Following on from the highs of Sunday's run, I went back to see Donna on Monday. she was really pleased with my progress and set about the root cause of my back issues, dysfunctional muscles.  Basically, my lower back is doing the work of my glutes but with even after a week there has been a marked improvement.  Last night I was supposed to run 10km for "Doing it for Dan" but took a wrong turn and ended up doing 6.5km (I will re-do this).  During my run I felt good, breathing was good, no niggles and I was picking up speed as I went - running at forgotten speeds.  When I finished though, within seconds, there was a pain in my right shin.  Judging from the work I had done with Donna I wasn't convinced that was actual the source of the pain, just where it was manifesting.  My calve muscle was very tender, I foam rollered, stretched (and winced) for a good while after but I need to continue to follow the routine and not get disheartened.

Tonight, I think I'll have a bit of a cycle and a trip to the jacuzzi to work on the glutes.

My usual Thursday evening run needs to be adjusted as I'm going out with work colleagues for dinner and beers, not a typical training regime but I'm looking forward to it.

Ideally, back on track on Sunday for the marathon bus. Fingers cross

Wasn't expecting that...

Was struggling to drag myself out the door to do my run but decided to bring my headphones for a change and listened to the Foo Fighters as I pounded the pavements of Swindon. I gave up listening to music whilst running as I was told a lot of events wouldn't let you have headphones but as I needed a bit of motivation I thought sod it. The weather so cold but dry and it was nice to be able to run without the aid of lights for a change. I didn't feel at my best as I hadn't eaten or drank a lot today so I was surprised when I got home to see I had recorded my second fastest 10km!

Pleased to report no niggles so my exercises are obviously paying dividends

Core

All the resources tell you that running a marathon is not just about running but it's about core strength. I'm back training with George with the sole focus on the core.  I had forgotten the intensity of his PT sessions and whilst boot camp comes a close second there's no hiding here, giving it everything, muscles and brain screaming in resistance but deep down knowing that the benefits will come later. I left the gym feeling drained physically but it felt good to be back.

No bootcamp yesterday as I was in Birmingham for the day but need to get a minimum of 10km running in today.  I was supposed to do the marathon bus this morning but slept through so have to make up for it later.  

Back in the game

Considering the terrible weather recently, tonight was dry and mild with little to no breeze. 

Decided on the middle route tonight and was joined by Steve who's also returning from injury. Usually we run at a similar pace so it was good to have him back. Both of us were struggling for 'match fitness' for want of a better phrase but we kept a good pace despite not knowing the full route. No pains or niggles a touch of a stitch so the lessons from Phil, Donna and Jack are paying off. 

I've added a Strava feed to the page so you can keep an eye on my progress. 

Talking of progress; we're so close to hitting the £1500 target:

THANK YOU!

Tomorrow sees the return of training 1 on 1 with George to improve my core strength. It'll be hard but worth it in the end

The road to recovery

On Monday I visited Donna @ Activology to get the issue with my back investigated.  Turns out to be money well spent as even though it still feels I have her elbows or fingers in my back, the actual pain I was experiencing has disappeared.  The root cause is muscle dysfunction which is pulling my pelvis out of alignment.  So when I was stretching underneath the desk the other weekend the muscles were already being stretched and I just overcooked it.  The knock on effect is now it has been diagnosed it can be corrected and hopefully have a positive effect on my notorious hamstrings - win, win!

I'm a little disappointed as I would have liked to have run a few km yesterday or today with Ben Smith on his incredible journey of running 401 marathons back to back http://www.the401challenge.co.uk/ but because my back was so painful I didnt think it would be possible so didnt book the time off. Typical really.

However, I did manage a 5km run last night to test the waters and haven't had suffered any negative fallout out so I just need to continue with doing my homework exercises in conjunction with the ones I was shown on Saturday and I should be back in business.