2 months, 26 days to FLM

Today's quote "To run is to strive,to strive is to risk,to risk is to live,so why not run?" -Anonymous

The high quantity mileage has caught up with me today. I did my normal 5 mile tempo run slower than last week by 44seconds. At least I got out there and did it.

2 months 27 days to Flora London Marathon. The days are going down quickly.

Today's quote: "Pain is temporary, pride is forever! -Anonymous" This is a good one for those speed sessions and for the end of a race.

I did 10 m this morning at 6:57 pace. It's nice to think that I'm not going to run tonight. It feels like a break without having a day off. That's the benefit of having 2 or 3 days a week with double sessions.

Somewhere in the world someone is training when you are not. When you race him, he will win. - Tom Fleming's Boston Marathon training sign on his wall

Ran 22 miles this morning in 7:14 pace. Very pleased with that. My jogging partner, Adrian, surprised me and ran faster this morning.

Looking forward to running a decent few weeks of training. Last week I ran 111 miles. Knee is feeling stronger now. Hopefully it'll stay that way.

3 months 2 days to FLM

"The ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence."

Ran 5 miles this morning in 30 mins. 3miles warm up.

3 months, 3 days to FLM

A race is a work of art that people can look at and be affected in as many ways as they're capable of understanding. - Steve Prefontaine

I sometime wonder what exactly the mind and body goes through in a race. It must be more than you think.

Last night I ran home: 11.3 miles at 6:55 pace. This morning I ran 10 in 7:19 pace.
I'll be hitting 105 miles this week.

As Mae West said, "Too much of a good thing can be wonderful".

Ran 1/2 mile reps this morning on the road, in the drizzle and enjoying it. 8 of them altogether. 8.3 mile run. Running home tonight: 11.3 miles whilst listening to my podcasts.

3 months 5 days left to FLM

Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts. - Steve Prefontaine

Sometimes you need guts just to turn up to a race you know you'll find hard.

Ran 16 miles this morning in the cold but clear sky morning. 7:18 pace.

3 months, 6 days

It's elevating and humbling at the same time. Running along a beach at sunrise with no other footprints in the sand, you realize the vastness of creation, your own insignificant space in the plan, how tiny you really are, your own creatureliness and how much you owe to the supreme body, the God that brought all this beauty and harmony into being. - Sister Marion Irvine, 2:51 PR and 1984 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier

Ran five last night and 6m45 pace and 6 this morning. Track work tonight.

It is a paradox to say the human body has no 'limit.' There must be a limit to the speed at which men can run. I feel this may be around 3:30 for the mile. However, another paradox remains - if an athlete manages to run 3:30, another runner could be found to marginally improve on that time. - Sir Roger Bannister

Ran 15 this morning. 5 miles warm up / down. 10 mile at 7 min mile pace.

3 months 8 days to go to FLM

Today's quote: "Sport is not about being wrapped up in cotton wool. Sport as about adapting to the unexpected and being able to modify plans at the last minute. Sport, like all life, is about taking risks." - Sir Roger Bannister

I ran in the North Wales XC league yesterday. I came 12th which I'm please with considering the knee which was hurting last week. The course was 5.4 miles:

Mile splits:
5.35,5.53,5.58,6.08,6.03,2.32
The first mile was too fast!

This morning I did my longest run of the year: 19.5miles. 7m40s pace.

Thanks to Adrian for keeping me company.

Today's quote: "I've always felt that long, slow distance produces long, slow runners." - Sebastian Coe

Yes but slow relative to what? Slow relative to a bullet is fast!

Raced today. Did same course as a month ago and ran about 20 seconds faster so pleased with that. 5.5 miles race in 32.11 seconds. Cross country.

3 months 10 days to go to FLM

Today's quote: "Those who say that I will lose and am finished will have to run over my body to beat me." - Said Aouita

In modern times men can sometimes be wimps. - They have to be to "survive" in the secular world. However in running we can get our aggression out!

I did a nice and easy 4 miler today.

Promise

3 months 13 days to FLM

Today's quote: "The woods are lovely dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep." - Robert Frost

Last night I ran 11 miles in just under 7 min pace. 6 this morning 7m 10s pace. Track work tonight.

Last 10K

3 months 14 days to the FLM

Today's quote: "The marathon's about being in contention over the last 10K. That's when it's about what you have in your core. You have run all the strength, all the superficial fitness out of yourself, and it really comes down to what's left inside you. To be able to draw deep and pull something out of yourself is one of the most tremendous things about the marathon. - Rob de Castella"

I remember the first time I did a marathon, my Dad, a former runner, said just get to the first 20 miles in 2 hours then race the last 10K. I replied, "if I got to the first 20 in 2hrs I would be dead!".

Did 4 this morning, Knee is noticeably better. Praise God.

I need more speed.

3 months, 15 days to go to FLM

A lot of people don't realize that about 98 percent of the running I put in is anything but glamorous: 2 percent joyful participation, 98 percent dedication! It's a tough formula. Getting out in the forest in the biting cold and the flattening heat, and putting in kilometer after kilometer. - Rob de Castella

I think Rob_de_Castella's quote is a reflection of will power. In this Credit Crunch age our goal in work is to simply keep our job. Goals in running are a lot more exciting, measurable and rewarding.

3 months, 17 days

Today's quote: "Run hard, be strong, think big!" - Percy Cerutty

I'm learning that to run hard mean not just running fast and far but thinking and planning hard.

Did 3 mile tempo run last night in 5m40s pace. Did 10 miles this morning at 7min pace.

Gun

3 months, 18 days

The gun goes off and everthing changes... the world changes... and nothing else really matters. - Patti Sue Plummer

When the gun goes I usually think "Why am I doing this". Then when the race finishes I usually think "I could have done that quicker!".

Ran 15 yesterday at 7 min mile pace and 6 this morning.

Teeth

3 months, 19 days to FLM

Today's quote: "Workouts are like brushing my teeth; I don't think about them, I just do them. The decision has already been made." - Patti Sue Plumer, U.S. Olympian

Did not go down to the track last night. Far too cold (-0C). Did normal 1/2 mile reps but they were slower than usual due to knee and icy patches on the road. Still glad I got out there and did it.

Did 4.5 this morning

Mind

3 months, 20 days to FLM

"Mind is everything: muscle - pieces of rubber. All that I am, I am because of my mind. - Paavo Nurmi"

Yesterday I booked an appointment to see a Physio. I'm seeing her on Thursday. Funny thing is that my knee felt better on last night's run and this morning's run but not 100% so I'll still go.

3 months, 21 days to FLM and I'm starting to feel nervous because my knee is hurting me and I may not hit my target. Have to see if the knee stops hurting.

Today's quote: "It came like electricity, it came from every fibre, from his fingertips to his toes. It came as a broad waters come through a gorge. He called on it all." - Norman Harris, description of Jack Lovelock's finishing kick to win the 1936 Olympic 1500

Ran 4 miles this morning.

Running is Free

Today's quote: "There are clubs you can't belong to, neighborhoods you can't live in, schools you can't get into, but the roads are always open." - Nike

The simple life is the best life. I like running because it is relatively cheap.

Today's race was not as fast due to hurting knee and not having the strength. Ran a 10K in 36.18 and 3 miles.

Mad runners proud or embarrassed?

3 months 25 days to FLM

Today's quote: "I am both proud of and embarrassed by that run. What kind of geek goes out and runs in a cloudburst just before midnight on his honeymoon? Me, I guess. But probably many others, too. You know who you are. - Mark Will-Weber"

I went to bed early last night so I could get up early this morning and go for a run. Should I be proud or embarrassed?