Sunday – 10.7m
And we’re into the final week, the big showdown, the final countdown, time to rock, the main event, the last….ok we get it. This was a nice old jog, same route as yesterday out the Carrigrohane road and back in the Model farm road. Underestimated the weather, it was really warm so after 3 miles I stashed my jacket and gloves under a bush at the Mardyke, from the window it looked cold you see. Overall a good session, 10+ miles at decent pace, 7:04 min/mile and felt completely comfortable the whole way through. The niggles are still there, calf and shin, nothing really alarming and maybe I’m more sensitive about them given the proximity to the race but I think with the drastic reduction in milage this week it should be plenty of time to get me to the line in good shape. I guess that qualifies as the last long run, on we go!
Monday – 8.4m Easy
It’s just a case of knocking out easy runs this week, there’s always the logically inept worry in my mind that I’m losing fitness because I’m not doing sessions but realistically there’s no gains to be made this close to the race, physiological adaptations to training take a minimum of six weeks. I just need to keep reminding myself of the positives, I look back over my training and some of the recent races and it fills me with confidence that I’ll achieve my goal and more. In the days leading up to a marathon I like to take a few moments during the day to visualize myself crossing the finish line and seeing the seiko clock over my head exactly where I want it, a perfect 90 degree angle…also the time on it is satisfactory. Usual 8 mile loop out the Carrigrohane straight, average pace was an easy 7:39 min/mile.
Tuesday – 6.7m Easy
Just the 6 miles today, I had planned on doing 2 miles at marathon pace but after starting the run quite nippy, I felt the shin complaining so decided against it early on. It would have been purely a mental thing to get my mind prepared for that pace, I did feel better later on in the run and got just under a mile in at 6:30 min/mile, felt hard actually but from experience, that’s normal during taper week, no need to panic, why are you panicking? I’m not panicking, this post is over. Average pace 7:24 min/mile, AIS in the evening.
Wednesday – Rest
Decided to take a day off today and relax for the evening, kick back with some champions league and a glass of wine, I’ve no time for nerves this week. I noticed from looking at my training log today that I’ve run 12 consecutive days so I’m probably due a rest and it will give those niggles a chance to sort themselves out. Average pace was…oh wait no, never mind.
Thursday – 5m Easy
Not an enjoyable one today, doubt and apprehension starting to creep in though I’m trying my best to keep sane. An easy paced 5 miler with 5 strides thrown in but to my despair the shin started hurting after the strides so now I’m officially worried. This was to be my last run on Irish soil for this training schedule so I was hoping for something a bit more positive. Still the work is done, got to keep positive and put any doubts to the back of my mind, nothing can be changed now, let’s DO THIS. Made a delicious lamb shepherds pie so that took my mind off it for a while. That’s all.
Friday – Rest
Today is travel day, suitcase packed – passport, phone, wallet, entry letter, shorts, socks, singlet, chafing cream, runners and sanity, check! Heading off at 3pm to Cork airport and will hook up with Bryan and the gang from St.Cocoas tonight.
Saturday – 3m
Arrived safely in the charming city of Delft last night, an ideal location only 10 minutes from Rotterdam. It’s really a beautiful, historic city with it’s network canals, footbridges and cobblestoned pavements. We had a nice 25 minute run along the canal early this morning, myself, Bryan and Rob, felt nice and relaxed though the shin is still not quite right, I have a feeling it’ll make it through. We had a nice light breakfast and headed into Rotterdam on the train with the other runners from St.Cocoas who are all running tomorrow also. The expo was pretty small but we didn’t hang around for too long, picked up a pair of sunglasses for 30 quid and bumped into Sean Hehir the Dublin marathon winner of 2013, really nice fella and aiming for a blistering 2:16 tomorrow. We came back and had a nice walk around the city, a great atmosphere around and people are so friendly, have to come back here again.
So this is it, last blog post for this journey and I’m happy to be toeing the line knowing I’ve trained to the best of my ability, sure I’ve had to miss sessions here and there due to injuries but it’s all part of the game, I know the work is done, hay is in the barn etc. See you at the finish line, if you’re about.
With the St.Cocoas runners and Sean Hehir (back 2nd from right)
Weekly Milage: 33