A Marathon Schedule Shared is Still a Lot Of Running!

Last years plan seemed so much easier.

It was basically three things.
1. Avoid injury.
2. Run more times during the week.
3. Go to London and see how long you can run for.

This time it seems much more scientifc and I have already spent hours comparing Lucy's schedule with Runners World schedules, Garmin schedules, schedules that make my joints ache just reading them, schedules thats don't make my joints ache just reading them. I think I am nearly there. This time I am hoping for a full 16 weeks of full on training.

Lucy got a marathon place through the ballot. We are both aiming for around the same time and as we have been doing a lot of training together anyway we are trying to synchronise schedules so that we can do the bulk of our long runs together.

Just hope I don't slow her down!

*@!&%^* Post Office

According to their Track and Trace system my application form and cheque is still somewhere in Newport. The marathon office is closed for Christmas so I can't even check with them.

What is the point of having a trackable system if once your item goes in to the system it effectively disappears. Trying not to get very wound up about the whole thing, but until I know I am definitely in can't really make any concrete travel plans etc.

Very frustrating....

The Cunning Plan....

Now the initial excitement is past it's time for a general plan.

2009 has been an amazing running and physical year for me. Finally getting the chance to run the London Marathon and making it around in less than five hours. Losing a shed load of weight - well around three stone to be precise, started the year at 14 stone 4 and will be finishing it at around 11 stone 6. Weight loss combined with proper training has seen my times tumble. My half marathon time has come down from an average of just over 2 hours to around the 1:42/1:43 mark. My plan is to get under the 1:40 (and therefore the magic 100 minute mark) in the Bath Half 2010.

For 2010, wilst I want to continue along the road I now find myself on, I also wanted to mark the year with a significant event. The reason? Two months ago I hit the age my father was when he died. It's something that has bugged me on and off for many years. For a long time I convinced myself that the same thing would happen to me at the same age. In reality I have hit the age fitter than I have ever been in my life and ready to take on a real challenge.

So for the 2010 London Marathon my plan, and challenge, is to run it an hour faster than my 2009 time of 4:52:07

Can I do it? Who knows but I am sure going to enjoy trying!

The Cheques in the Post...

Form sent, everything double checked about twenty seven times. Just hope it doesn't get caught up in the Christmas post as the form has to be in the hands of the London Marathon people before 8th January.

The reality has hit a little, even though I planned to do a spring marathon in 2010 anyway, still totally over excited by the prospect though :)

Oh What A Night...!

I got a London Marathon place....!!!!

My final chance, the annual club draw for London Marathon places and I was drawn out of the hat. So excited! The club has four places and I was fourth out of the hat. Doesn't get much closer than that.

On top of that I also won an award for the coaching B groups most improved athlete of the year. I have never won anything before - ever - so this was equally exciting!



Here I am receiving the prize from, my friend and coach, the lovely Lucy Ellis. All the while, you will notice, tightly clutching the brown envelope containing my London Marathon entry form!

VLM2010 here I come...!