Run, Koper, run

Slowly getting there. Yet again a not quite satisfactory week. I started on Monday with a 15K run that would normally be a recovery run, but since I didn't do anything on the weekend I decided to turn up the pace a bit and ended up with 4:55 min/km. My Five Fingers were burning the tarmac ;). On Tuesday, intervals. I could only go late, but that was kinda fortunate as it was super hot during the day and not so anymore at 22:30 when I started. I went to the AV'23 track and did 5 intervals of 1200m with 3' breaks. I did exactly the same training 4 months ago; then at 4:01 min/km, now at 3:57 min/km and also with a lower heart rate: 166 in place of 171, though I suspect that this was the result of a more complete recovery between intervals. Anyway, I was very happy that I managed to push myself that hard on my own; running in a group provides a huge mental boost with this type of training. Finishing at midnight felt great. I was totally knackered but the sense of accomplish

The other day I was thinking about my running goals for the next year (completing a milestone event such as the Lakeland 50 often does that to me ;) and then I though that it would actually be nice to put it in the perspective and first come up with goals for the lifetime. Things I would like to achieve sport-wise before my expiration date. Quite a biggie. So without further ado, let me outline them and then I'll talk a bit more about each one of them. Qualify for and run in the Boston marathon . Complete in a good time a demanding trail ultramarathon. Complete an Ironman Triathlon (for those in the dark: 3.86km swim + 180km bike ride + 42.2km run) I have no illusion, those are all grand goals and each one of them would require total dedication and a lot of training (possibly over some years) to complete; and even then there is no guarantee of success. But, hey, as they say: Better shoot for the sky... . Anyway. Let me elaborate on those goals. Qualify for and run in the

Only 3, but high quality trainings. This was supposed to be the week when my serious training was to be resumed. It started well. While in Poland, on Tuesday I made a sentimental trip to the Koncertowa running track (it's kind of where my running craze took off) and did 1000m intervals averaging 4:00min/km. It was a first tough training after 2 weeks of lazing around after Lakeland, so it wasn't easy. My legs and my lungs were burning. I forgot to take my Polar with me to Poland so I'm not sure what my heart rate was, but it felt as it I was hitting the max. I didn't manage to on Wednesday but on Thursday I did a 15K run with an 11K part at a nice and steady 4:42min/km, so close to my target marathon pace. Then on Friday, already back in Amsterdam, I did a long training. I could not go in the evening so I started at 3pm and with the unusual (for Amsterdam) heat that substantially added to the challenge. After 20km I was toasted. But still, according to the plan of i

Lakeland 50 and beyond... The highlight of this week was the Lakeland 50 , 50-miler. Other than that I only did an easy run on Monday and Wednesday and a hike on Friday to check the race route. The following week I spent in Portugal. The funny thing is that, contrary to my usual after-marathon mental state, now I felt like running again almost immediately. Ok, the first two days I would in quite a bit of pain, but then I'd gladly put on my running shoes and go conquering the beach; only it wasn't so easy to fit it in with our holidays there. Still I managed to do one easy run around a lake and then one hilly and one flat run close to Chaves . The following week was again tricky and I only managed to do one run on Wednesday as afterwards we were off to Austria for hiking. On Saturday the weather was not good so we stayed in a spa where I did a tiny bit of swimming. So, what next? Well, the Berlin marathon is just around the corner. If I discount the last week, which is le

It's been more than 2 weeks since the race, but I was constantly on the move since then and only now managed to sit down and write this post. Hopefully I still remember enough to give a decent account of the big day, but first... The day before... One day to go. It's time to start getting nervous but somehow I'm not. I fly in the morning from Amsterdam to Manchester, then a train ride to Windermere where I stop for an obligatory pasta meal in a pub. Then 1 hour bus ride to Consiston , where I register and check into a B&B. Now would be a time to try to take it easy and go to bed early; instead I decide to walk the last stage of the race that is coming tomorrow. Risky decision as I should be as well rested as possible, but I decide that I want to know what's in store for me on the race day. Moreover this gives me a chance to test out some things before the race (for instance GPS-based navigation), not to mention that this last stage I'm most likely to have to