China Marathon Week 4

Great Wall of China Marathon Blog : Week 4

So I’m half way through my very short training block for the China Marathon. I really don’t know where the time has gone, but it does feel good to know I am almost there. This week was a much better week. This journey definitely is a roller-coaster with its up’s and downs. I feel like I have had a good week, followed by a bad week, followed by a good week again but hey that’s all part of the challenge.  It’s just as much mental as it is physically demanding. The exciting news this week was that I was granted my Chinese Visa so I can definitely go which is relief….. I think!

I scared the hell out of myself by looking on the China Marathon website again. I am not entirely sure why I torture myself but it’s like a scab that you can’t stop picking. The images of previous races are absolutely breath taking and I can’t wait to experience them for myself. The pictures of runners literally crawling up the stairs of the wall on their hands and knees is also unbelievably scary. Please take a look if you don’t believe me. However watching the videos of previous races and runners who have completed the race in very inspiring, and I can’t believe in four weeks’ time I will be one of them.

I started off the week extremely sore. After having a pretty awful 20 mile run in the heat on the Friday evening my legs were pretty fatigued. I then was on a Pilates course all weekend doing 8 hours of pilates 2 days straight. I like to think I’m pretty fit and strong however some of the advanced exercises I was trying to learn were extremely hard. It highlights to me how much work I still have to do on my own core to benefit me as an instructor but also to aid my running. On Monday morning I was sore literally everywhere. My stomach, my bum, my arms, my shoulders even my neck. So a day’s rest was definitely needed.

My first run of the week was a pretty easy one of 40 minutes. At this stage I can feel how tired my body is feeling so don’t think I should overdo it. My interval run this week was pretty tough of 8×3 minute uphill intervals with 2 minute rest. I estimate I was probably running about 800m each time which was pretty killer. Even though it was 7.30 am the sun was out and it was already warm. It was the first run I have done in shorts and t-shirt all year so definitely made it more enjoyable. I also noticed another runner doing a similar training session to me, just running back and forth, back and forth up this hill. So we kept each other going which was nice.

I regrettably had to skip my strength session this week. I was just too busy at work to fit it in. An easy excuse to make and I hate myself for doing it as I know how important the strength sessions are. However after having back to back patients at Bodymotion from 7.30am-6.30pm, I was shattered and knew it wouldn’t have been a good session. I will just have to try and work harder this week to make it up.

I had a good long run this week. I managed 21 miles and 3 laps of Richmond Park. YAY! The weather was sunny but much cooler so I didn’t struggle on the hydration front. It was slightly tougher because of the hills but I needed that. I’m not going to lie after the second lap I did want to stop. Especially after stopping off at my car to get more water. How easy it could have been to just get in and go home. But after such a rubbish run last week I was determined to make this a good one. I pushed around the last lap much slower but I made it. There were times when I was fatigued and wanted to stop but my mental strength was restored this week and I didn’t give in. My hamstrings and calves were shot by the end though and ready to cramp. I had to stretch for quite a long time after I finished before I felt recovered enough to drive home. Otherwise I would probably been stuck in a seated position in my car for the rest of the evening. Time wise that might be my last long run before the race as I travel next week and won’t have time. I still need to give myself time to taper (reduce volume of running in weeks prior to race to allow for recovery) but I will see how I feel and maybe fit in just one more……..