And another week of training is over.
This week I started following Gia’s training plan, which focuses a lot more on pace than previous plans have. Whilst I am aiming for 10-10.15 min miles during my long runs, I am training at 9.30 min miles during easy runs, and 9 min miles during tempo runs. Altering paces helps improve fitness and strength whilst preparing me for race day performance. I am trying to get my body used to the pace that I need to run for 26.2 miles (aargh!) so that I don’t need to keep checking my watch for my speed.
I got up early to go to a Crossfit Vauxhall, but annoyingly, after problems with the tube, I knew I wasn’t going to make it on time. I made the decision to head to the gym instead to run on the treadmill. I did a 15 min warm up jog, 2 miles @9 min mile pace, 15 min cool down jog. I listened to one of Jillian Michael’s podcasts, I love her podcasts and find them so inspirational.
After work, I went to an outdoor spinning class on Clapham Common with my friend Loz. It was a brilliant workout, and great cross training.
After chatting with a Personal Trainer about Crossfit, he offered to give me a few training sessions to go over the basics. After discovering that my squat form wasn’t great in one of my Crossfit Foundation classes, I asked if we could go over squatting form. We worked on back squats, front squats, overhead squats and push press. I worked on sticking my bum back, staying balanced and squatting low enough to hit the seat! After what felt like hundreds of squats, Stephen then had me complete an AMRAP (such a crossfit term! ‘as many reps as possible’) of 3 back squats, 5 burpees with pushups and 5 sit ups.
It was really tough to get myself motivated to run on Sunday morning. I only had 10 miles to run, but I just couldn’t get myself going. I took to twitter for some inspiration, ‘Pinch Punch, off you go’ from Rhianon helped me lace up my shoes, put on my running backpack and head out. I set off aiming for 10 miles, but would have been happy with anything over 6! I ran from home towards Piccadilly, without my garmin and just ran on feel. I actually surprised myself and averaged 8.23 min miles for 7 miles. My route took me past Kensington Palace, where there were tributes to Princess Diana. Even 16 years on, she is still in people’s hearts and minds.
Week 1 Training Begins
Week 2 Training and What are Strides?
