The plans had to change. Goal Refresher  Sub 2:58:29 to get a PB I ran that in 2009, 12 years ago! Training times say I’m not there. My gut feeling backs that up I have 10 weeks to fix this. Here’s the new plan: Focussed only on the marathon...

I needed a lockdown running challenge. Through 2020 I didn’t take up any challenge or virtual race. In 2021 going into Lockdown number 4 for 7 days had me questioning if I should put so much into long term plans. I’m still training for the Melbourne Marathon in October…...

Has a silly mistake derailed my marathon training? General Preparation Phase for the Marathon Project 2021 That Sub 3 hour Marathon Originally planned to cover 8 weeks. I’m calling it at 6 weeks. How did it go? There was a loose structure I followed, a 9 day cycle: Easy...

Setting a Park Run benchmark to reveal my fitness for the Melbourne Marathon. A slightly lighter week when measured as Monday to Sunday. The main influence was my work roster. A week of early day shifts instead of my usual rotating shift work. Makes for a few runs well...

Weakness at high intensity. This week pointed my weaknesses at the top end speeds. My vVO2max has been estimated based on longer distance race times. It is now clear I have over estimated my pace at this intensity. Struggling to hold onto for 3 minutes doesn’t equate well to...

In only the third week of marathon training there are hints I’m on the right path. To achieve a sub-3 hour marathon there is that nagging feeling my long runs are no where near fast enough. At around 6:00/km that is a long way from the 4:12/km required on...

The early stage is where we need to fix the habits in marathon training. Pay very close attention to the sessions you miss. Look at where you procrastinate. Where is the friction in your plan? I have found I’m tending to skip the full strength training sessions. This is...

How should the first week of marathon training look? In my mind the first week shouldn’t be anything spectacular. This is not the time to really push your limits. Pushing your limits comes later. Instead this is the time to: set your habits test the format of your training...

I’ve got a goal I haven’t run a marathon since 2014. It was my slowest. My first marathon was in 1997. My fastest was in 2009, where I ran the Melbourne Marathon in 2:58:29. I’ve been running since. Both shorter and longer distances. ButI’ve lost that speed. The speed...

Plans are only predictions. But a plan helps for 8 weeks training for the half marathon. It’s been such a long time since my last race. In fact my last race was back in May 2019. And that didn’t got all that well. After a multitude of difficulties I...