5k Week 7 Run 1

Today was officially a rubbish run. Horrible. I didn't even manage 5k, and I gave up a minute before the end. I was too hot, and too achey, and I wished my bum muscles would leave and go and live with someone else.

This was meant to be an 'easy' run, too - starting to taper down before the first official 5k without stopping at the end of next week. Dammit. I know I can do 5k without stopping, because I already did it, but today was a day where I just started to wonder what the hell I'm doing this for. Nine 5k runs in a row is a big ask.

I know there are going to be plenty of bad days between now and April 23rd so I need to just be kind to myself - at least I went out and did it. Where did it go wrong? Probably dehydrated (drinking last night, long lie in this morning). Not properly nourished (2 slices of toast). Didn't realise what a nice day it is, and went out in my jacket. And, of course, overconfidence - I thought I'd spend the initial 10 minute walk heading up a hill, which probably knackered me before I'd even begun. Also, the hill was paved with loose stones, running down was an ankle threatening nightmare.

Positive thinking, though. At least I did it. The wall planner has arrived today, so I plan to spend the afternoon plotting out the training plan all the way to April. Unfortunately it's not a wipe clean one, but if it at least gets me to Jan 1st I can get a more flexible one from then.

I worked out my dates last night (this is starting to sound a lot like when I was pregnant, there was a wall planner involved in that adventure too!). The 16 weeks of 'official' marathon training would mean a 1st January start which is quite nice. I have time before that to finish this 5k plan and also do a 10k plan. Overall, there's three weeks of wriggle room - for sickness, injury and exhaustion. I don't quite know how to play that, though. I don't want to be ready for the marathon 3 weeks before the marathon, but at the same time I don't want to use up the three weeks of slack before 1st January and then find I get an injury and can't catch up again.

Perhaps I just keep going, hopefully finish the 10k by mid December, and start the marathon training a little early, in the full expectation that there will be days where I just can't move. This is where a flexible wall planner come into play! If it's all going well, but I have a tough week, I can just repeat that week before I push myself further?

Practicalities need looking at too. I seem to have struck lucky and found a sports bra that I can tolerate so I need to buy lots of those. And start looking after them too - I keep having to take pliers to the hooks because the washing machine is mangling them. Handwashing is in my future.

All in all this is a long and boring update, sorry. Perhaps, though, when I find a 15 mile run a bit tough, looking back on this will remind me how far I have (hopefully!) come.