Marathon update - 5 weeks to go

Last week was the second of three high mileage weeks with a long run of 20 miles. A combination of:

• still being cautious regarding my hamstring,
• the cold weather, and 
• just couldn't be bothered

meant that I missed Monday's quick run, taking it as rest day. Week 19 on the chart should have been as high as weeks 17 and 21...

To compensate I ran a little further and a little faster on Tuesday. By Wednesday everything was back on track. The hamstring is ok - but I can still feel it in the background - but I am aware from past experience that this close to the big day any niggles are as likely to be psychological as physical.

This week's longer runs were a combination of 10 miles at predicted marathon pace on Friday and then 20.5 miles at an easy pace on Saturday. This long run went well in the end - although didn't feel too good at the half way point - but then you're trying to get the previous day's run out of the system. In the end the quickest three miles were the last three - all done at around marathon pace. My final 20 mile run will be in a couple of weeks and I will try to cover the final 5 miles at marathon pace.

In total last week consisted of 4 runs, with a total mileage of just under 42 miles. That's a total of 99 for the month and 398 for the year so far.

This coming week is another slightly easier week with 'only' 34 miles scheduled and a long run of 12 miles.

Another thing I was pleased to discover this week is that I have mis-calculated my faster / quick pace for interval or tempo sessions - I have been running too fast - which might be why my hamstring was complaining. I had based my times on my quickest 10 km race pace - I should have been using my predicted marathon pace. So, for example, I was running my 1 mile intervals in sub 6:45 but I should actually have been going at 7:23. Also my tempo pace was too quick at 7:00 (which I never managed to achieve anyway - I think the quickest pace I managed was 7:09 and that was probably downhill with a tailwind). Instead I should be looking at something much closer to a whole minute slower.

This week's running needs to get underway in less than an hour with a 6 mile run with the middle 4 miles run in 30-31 minutes. At least the sun is trying to shine. And I think it is about time I started using the shoes that I'm actually going to use on the day. My current shoes have done 458 miles since December and are therefore about half-way to retirement.

I'm running the marathon for Christian Aid and you can sponsor me at www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring

This little light...

One of the ways that Christian Aid provide support for some of the poorest communities in the world is through funding and training of small local organisations. These local groups have the advantage of knowing the people and knowing the situation. In this short video today we see the difference that helping individuals stand on their own feet and set up a small business makes. We'll also hear about one initiative from a group called Tough Stuff who provide affordable solar panel kits.

I lived in Kenya for a year and in Kenya it gets dark at about 6pm every night and gets light at about 6am every morning. So if you're going to study for school, or read, or do anything in the  home during the 12 hours of darkness you need a light - and many families have no access to any kind of national grid. So this means purchasing fuel for lamps - money that can't then be used for medicines or school or food. But affordable small solar panels that can be linked to a light and a battery charger can make a real difference, as you'll see here.

Marathon update - 6 weeks to go

This week hasn't gone quite to the plan. A problem with my right hamstring meant that I have had to miss one run, shorten a couple of others and run everything slower than scheduled. But at least it was a cutback week so hopefully it won't make too much difference over all. Better to miss a few days rather than do any more serious damage. I should have a better idea how things are after the next couple of days when I try a couple of runs at marathon pace or faster.

So in the end last week's total was only 26.7 miles. The mileage for this coming week is over 46 miles. The long run this week is the second of the three 20 mile runs. 

Text me

Commenting, or more specifically, complaining about the weather is a full time occupation for most people in the UK. One day it can be cold and wet, the next it can be cold and dry, the next it can be colder. But for most people the variable weather is an inconvenience although for those in professions such as farming or gardening or tourism it can be a lot more serious than that.

Weather patterns are changing in many parts of the world - and the un-predictable nature of the weather brings many problems. For small scale farmers in countries such as Kenya, who depend on the harvest from their crops for food and the money to send their children to school or hospital, the wrong sort of weather can sometimes literally be the difference between life and death.

One way in which Christian Aid is helping is through setting up a text messaging service that sends out localised weather forecasts to farmers - which helps them to make better choices as they farm their crops. This video explains more.




On the 21 April I will be running the London Marathon and raising money to enable Christian Aid to be involved in many more projects like this one. You can support me by visiting www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring