I missed a couple of runs last week as Block 2 drew to a close and fell short of my overall planned mileage by 8% (achieving 279 of the 304 miles slated). I’m not desperately concerned about that. I feel like I have a solid base as I go into the next six weeks of higher impact training. This will be the first time I’ve done any interval sessions in quite a couple of years, so I’m sure those will hurt.

Yesterday’s fifteen miler was tough going for the last two or three as the temperature and humidity were both quite high. There were a couple of points when I thought that I might not complete, but I managed to get to the end – even if the pace did slow quite markedly!

Missed last week’s target by a mile (in this case, literally, so that’s no great shakes). I’m starting to get well and truly into the running during this training block, but I have to say I was surprised at how much I still weigh – even after around ten weeks of solid running. (Heaven knows how much weight I’d piled on since Christmas! Too much Cubase. Not enough Saucony.)

Making amends and I think with another 5-6 kilos shed, I should be at optimum weight for the distances I’m doing. I don’t want to tempt fate, but I seem to be running pretty injury-free right now (wishing I hadn’t typed that already) so I’ve added a field into my training spreadsheet to monitor the mileage for my trainers. They’re up to 80 miles already and still gleaming white, so at this rate running is going to get a little spendy again!

Last week’s mileage successfully completed, the start of Week 2 was briefly paused yesterday. With a touch of metatarsalgia, caused by worn out trainers (roll on pay day) and too many miles, I thought it prudent not to head out for a further fifteen miles yesterday. Instead, I’ll add 7 miles to today’s running and a 4 mile run to each of Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s schedules.

Despite the very slow pace, I do feel as though I’m finally shedding a few pounds. I’m curious to see how tomorrow’s tempo run shapes up, but I’m hoping it’s a little cooler than the 27 degrees we’ve been enjoying over the weekend.

After a week in Disneyland with Daniel (faaaantastic!), it’s time to lace up the trainers and focus on GNR. I know I’ve had a few distractions, but in all honesty too few to justify the very poor shape I’m in. The clock has ticked, but I still want to do my very best in September so I must bring some focus to the training.

MotionBased Log

4m | 34:54 | 8:42 | 164bpm | Tempo Pace

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Fourth day out (day off tomorrow). Still hot. Still unfit. Still wondering if Cubase should carry a health warning. I’ve been so absorbed in music for the last six months that I lost sight of just how out of shape I was becoming. The great thing is, there’s immense satisfaction in pulling yourself back into condition.

I love running. Nothing makes me feel more alive (and dead – I’m typing this from the floor). I’m looking for consistency in June to build a little foundation. More of the same first couple of weeks in July and then start throwing some quality sessions in as August approaches.

I think my target of 1:30 for GNR is out of the window, but I’m determined to shave those two minutes off my half marathon PB some time soon.

4m | 35:32 | 8:52 | 172bpm | Tempo Pace

MotionBased Log

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4m | 31:40 | 7:56 | 170bpm

Kinda proves that my heart rate is all over the place at the moment. Much quicker pace than yesterday. Still not even approaching the speed my tempo runs should be (around 7:10), but significantly faster than I’ve been running the “easy pace” runs recently – at exactly the same heart rate.

Really enjoyed today. Good to shake off the dust and push a tad harder. A loooong way to go before I recover anything approaching last year’s fitness, but at least I’m making some headway. GNR, it’s a date!

6.5m | 55:48 | 8:34 | 169bpm

Almost a carbon copy of Tuesday’s run except that today was a touch warmer and it didn’t rain. I’m conscious that I said on Tuesday that I need to concentrate on slowing down and I’ve actually run marginally quicker today, but the truth is that this feels very comfortable. I wasn’t short of breath at any point and could easily hold a conversation. A text book illustration of easy pace.

So I really don’t understand why my heart rate is still in tempo zone. Could it be stress? Things are a little pressured at work, but I don’t feel particularly stressed. Anyway, not going to dwell on it – just keep going, try to slow down a little more and build the base.

6.5m | 56:14 | 8:37 | 170bpm

Awful statistics. Lovely run. It’s hard to reconcile the two. Today felt very comfortable at 8:40, but according to my heart rate, this was tempo pace. A pretty good indication of my current level of fitness and that I’m still focusing much too much on times rather than building some strength, cardio vascular fitness and stamina. I must slow down, burn some calories and concentrate on the long term goal. Build a foundation before adding any kind of quality (not that this was a quality session by any stretch of the imagination.

Remember that old phrase about watching a bucket fill drop by drop – (in all honesty, I can’t remember it as you can tell).

Oh, and talking of stretching…

6.5m | 56:59 | 8:45 | 161bpm

Set out with the intention of slowing the pace from yesterday and ensuring that today’s was a jog (at all costs!). So that said, 8:45 is about right given my current level of (un)fitness, but the heart rate is still much higher (about 10bpm) than it should be. Not going to get too hung up on that and just keep going with very gentle runs until I restore some kind of a base to build on.

I’ve said it a million times and I’ll say it another million I’m sure, but I must not lose my running routine. This time, I’ve been blaming Cubase, but the truth is that there’s always time for a run.

I’ll upload the Garmin MotionBased logs as soon as I dock this watch (dock is at home).