Based on last years plans and how it didn't really go according to plan. It was quite tempting to "wing it" again this year. But then I thought, even though things didn't go to plan and I ended up doing other stuff. The plans I made still got me out the door, maybe not to the extent I needed to, but they still got me out the door. So I am going to set goals and races for this year and just see what happens.
For the first 5 months of the year I want to focus on my endurance. Build up the long runs and hopefully do some longer distance races starting with Alloa half marathon in March. Then if things go well I will look at going longer and longer in April and May. Now I know I can't do parkruns full out, then do long runs the next day, so there will need to be a compromise. So the plan is to take parkruns easier which I have started doing in December anyway (although sometimes it wasn't intentional lol). Also, I'll take more of a turn volunteering than 2016.
June should be named National race month as there just seems to be an unbelievable amount of races. It will be a toss up what I end up doing this month. But in July I'll definitely be back at Crieff 10k. Then in October I fancy Great Scottish Run and then the finale for the year being the Southside six. A much hyped 16 mile race around 6 of Glasgow's southside parks which are right on my doorstep. That's if I get in though as it sells out very fast!
On to goals. Last year I set the target of 500 miles and didn't quite achieve it. But this year I've decided to up it to 600 and I really want to totally obliterate it. The next goal which will be in the summer, is a sub 25 minute Pollok parkrun. This will be more tricky as I won't be doing 5k efforts every week like the last few years but hopefully my speed and endurance will improve with some good blocks of training. For the half marathons I have a record of never being over 2 hours out of 11 attempts but I have a funny feeling that however well my Alloa training goes. Realistically I could very well be over the 2 hour mark. But later on in the year Sub 2 hours is my target.
For challenges I may end up doing the 10,000 step a day challenge for 100 days again and the Marcothon I want to do as it really does keep you running through a month where its probably the most hard month otherwise.
Friday 6 January 2017
Sunday 1 January 2017
Marcothon week 4 and a bit and done :-)
Day 22: 50 meters into this run it started hailing very hard. It was difficult to run in as I didn't really want to look up as my face got sore. This lasted the whole of the first mile. Luckily after that the other 2 miles was just heavy rain which I can cope with fine. This is really the kind of challenging weather I expected when taking on the challenge in the first place so I'm glad the weather gods obliged. lol.
Day 23: I thought it was game over today and not because of storm Barbara. I had stomach issues most of the day but after dinner I actually felt better so went out for a slow jog on a different route which just came in under 3 miles. But because it was slow it was over the 25 minute mark. I think I was lucky with Barbara too as although it was windy, I think I missed the worst of it.
Day 24: Storm Barbara continues. Parkrun was on today as usual but decided to take my turn volunteering down at Pollok which was long overdue. I did my 5k route clockwise when I got home. I have to say I am really enjoying going the other way to usual. The first half was into the wind and the second half had the wind behind me. Nice and progressive too.
Day 25: Parkrun today and I headed to Pollok. I met up with Gregor and we ran round together. On paper it would look like a training run just taking it easy but my legs were quite tired going into it so on the second lap especially I was working quite a bit especially up the hills. Even with a time of just over 30 minutes I was surprised by how many people I was lapped by but obviously Christmas brings out all the big guns!
Day 26: Did mile laps today adding up to the 3 miles. Each lap was quicker than the last and really upped it especially on the last mile.
Day 27: Another good 3 mile day. My runs all seem to be progressive these days and its not even planned. I just seem to naturally do it. Can't complain.
Day 28: Felt good today so aimed for 10k which is really what I wanted to achieve this month. The run went better than I could have hoped for and got round in just over the hour mark. Even better thing was I could have gone on.
Day 29: Legs were not surprisingly feeling it a bit after yesterday but once I got going I actually felt pretty good. But at the same time I made sure I went at a very easy pace.
Day 30: Same route as yesterday at same pace. This time though had a sore spot on my right ankle. Hopefully some ice should do the trick.
Day 31: Great thing this year that the Marcothon finishes on a Saturday. Which could only mean one thing - PARKRUN. It was off to Pollok again. I wanted to give it my best shot today even with clearly tired legs. I was proud of the way I paced it and couldn't have really asked for better. Ended up finishing in 28.05 so a solid parkrun to finish not only the Marcothon but the year.
Looking forward to 2017 already
Happy new year!
Day 23: I thought it was game over today and not because of storm Barbara. I had stomach issues most of the day but after dinner I actually felt better so went out for a slow jog on a different route which just came in under 3 miles. But because it was slow it was over the 25 minute mark. I think I was lucky with Barbara too as although it was windy, I think I missed the worst of it.
Day 24: Storm Barbara continues. Parkrun was on today as usual but decided to take my turn volunteering down at Pollok which was long overdue. I did my 5k route clockwise when I got home. I have to say I am really enjoying going the other way to usual. The first half was into the wind and the second half had the wind behind me. Nice and progressive too.
Day 25: Parkrun today and I headed to Pollok. I met up with Gregor and we ran round together. On paper it would look like a training run just taking it easy but my legs were quite tired going into it so on the second lap especially I was working quite a bit especially up the hills. Even with a time of just over 30 minutes I was surprised by how many people I was lapped by but obviously Christmas brings out all the big guns!
Day 26: Did mile laps today adding up to the 3 miles. Each lap was quicker than the last and really upped it especially on the last mile.
Day 27: Another good 3 mile day. My runs all seem to be progressive these days and its not even planned. I just seem to naturally do it. Can't complain.
Day 28: Felt good today so aimed for 10k which is really what I wanted to achieve this month. The run went better than I could have hoped for and got round in just over the hour mark. Even better thing was I could have gone on.
Day 29: Legs were not surprisingly feeling it a bit after yesterday but once I got going I actually felt pretty good. But at the same time I made sure I went at a very easy pace.
Day 30: Same route as yesterday at same pace. This time though had a sore spot on my right ankle. Hopefully some ice should do the trick.
Day 31: Great thing this year that the Marcothon finishes on a Saturday. Which could only mean one thing - PARKRUN. It was off to Pollok again. I wanted to give it my best shot today even with clearly tired legs. I was proud of the way I paced it and couldn't have really asked for better. Ended up finishing in 28.05 so a solid parkrun to finish not only the Marcothon but the year.
Looking forward to 2017 already
Happy new year!
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