Maria's Running Blog

Fartlek 5x(3' hard + 3' easy). Garmin was in and out, so last split was not recorded. I pushed a bit too hard on the 4th, and had to slow down on the 5th. Speeds: 7:07, 7:02, 7:04, 6:55, ?? Total time 1:00:42. This week will be a bit lower on mileage to recover from last week. I felt my left achilles a bit today, I have to stretch calves more, they're still tight from last week.

very easy run today, 54:50 (9:08 pace). My Garmin was misbehaving for the second day in a row. This time, it not only lost the signal, but started counting the distance backwards!! This is the first, it showed 1.2 mi, and then 1.15, 1.04, etc. until it got to 0.84mi, at which point it regained the signal, I guess, and started incrementing the distance again. I was wondering what would happen if it went all the way down to 0? Would it go into negative territory? I wouldn't be too surprised. I hope it's just the weather that is to blame for this erratic behavior. It's been extremely cloudy and rainy this week, plus serious winds up to 25 mph. If it's not the weather, then the unit might be breaking down. I ended up with only 4.5mi on the Garmin, but I know the route I went and it was definitely 6.

steady medium long run, planned for 11mi, but came up 0.1 short. At least Garmin cooperated today, but it's sunny for a change, so should be easier to pick up the signal. Total time 1:33:15 (8:33 pace). I ran most of it at 8:27 average, but last 1.2mi I go through Primrose Hill, which has, umm, the big hill, and it always slows down my average. Not that it matters much, even 8:33 pace is fast enough for me right now. Legs still tight from mileage last week.

Scheduled day off today. I got my rejection "Sorry" magazine from the London marathon - more or less what I expected, despite bequeathing my entry fee for an additional drawing. So, now I have several options: get a "Gold Bond" place from one of dozens of charities and be obligated to raise a lot of money (about 1500 GBP), which I don't think I can do, so I don't think I'm going this route. Or, I can run another UK marathon, there are several alternatives. Yet another option is to run one of the European spring marathons (Rotterdam, Hamburg or Prague. Paris is already full) - all of them seem pretty fast. Then hopefully I can get into London next year as "good for age", I need < 3:45 time, run in the last 2 years. If anyone knows anything about any of the marathons mentioned above, please let me know. I'm also checking marathonguide.com for feedback.

Fast finish progression run. 5mi. easy, then 5min. at 5K (0.73mi in 5:05 - 6:58 pace), and 1.3mi. cooldown. Felt good after a day off, and the wind was much quieter today after a tornado we had yesterday. Total time 1:01:55 (8:35 pace).

long run in 1:56:51 (8:53 pace), most of which was at 8:45 pace until the last hill in Primrose Hill park. Couldn't get water (and consequently, gel) because the restroom was closed today. Got tired last 2 miles with tight calves/achilles developing at the same time. It was the coldest day of the winter so far with temps at whopping 45F.