Post-Autumn marathon goals

This Autumn, most things in my training went wrong: I had a bad bike crash so missed my two peak week long runs, I got offered a last minute bib to run Berlin so moved my marathon date forward by three weeks and I had a fatty pad impingement (is that not the most hilarious injury ever) in my knee potentially thanks to the delightful post-pregnancy joy of relaxin still coursing through my veins (another hilarious medical name for you there). 

Plus being a mum to a very excitable busy toddler, juggling work and freelancing and trying to have a life is, well it’s pretty bananas. 


But somehow, in all of this landscape I managed to run Berlin Marathon in 3:30 and Amsterdam Marathon three weeks later in 3:43. And they both felt, well not to sound like someone you’d never talk to again, easy. 


I am so lucky that post-pregnancy I’ve been coached by an inspirational woman, mum and runner (yes, in that order for me) - Gill Bland. She’s helped me deal with my wobbly confidence, exhausted schedule and lack of trust in my post-baby body. And we’ve come storming out the other side. 


So - now what? 


Well next up I’ve got a bib for London marathon - it’s a good for age bib I deferred while pregnant (annoyingly I’ve had to pay twice which is ironic if you think I’ve run 3 good for age times this year). I don’t really know what my goal time should be as I’m now so close to my pre-baby PB (3:27) but if this last couple of months have taught me anything it’s to train for an amazing training block and to not worry about the actual race result. 


So what does an amazing training block look like for me right now?

1. I want to commit to doing more functional strength and plyometrics - I’ve been doing these more recently thanks to the fab programming of Hachim from L’Osteo but there is so much more I could do 

2. I want to sort out my nutrition. In my tiredness I’m still riding waves of famine and feast. It’s not healthy and I want to feel well and prioritise this this coming cosy season. 

3. I want to run more speed sessions that scare me. Cor I’ve done some scary speedy stuff since being coached by Gill. But I’d like to do more and I’d like to find some people to buddy up with for my speed as I think it will encourage me to push harder.

4. I want to prioritise every single one of my long runs in the run up to London - that means making sure those are childcare mornings and giving myself the time to be successful. 


What else would you add to my list? What else could I focus on for this next training cycle?



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