Week 8 

45.2 miles and the first 20 miler. Feeling tired as I write this later that evening! Decent week but not quite managed the 54 miles on the schedule as life got in the way

Tuesday 3rd February 

Gym - 6 miles @ 6.50 p/m 
8 miles in all 

Needed to get some decent speed work in, especially after missing Monday evenings BVH run to take Delilah to a dog class! Spent the day with Jack in Shefffield seeing clients and hit the gym on the way home.

After a warm up on the X-Trainer I hit probably the longest half-marathin paced run I've ever had on the treadmill. It does tend to go slowly, watching the cars out of the window and tuned in to some old house music, but I started at just under 7 m/pm and incrementally increased it after 2, 4 and 5 miles, ending up running the last mile at nearer 6.20 p/m. It was actually OK, certainly felt good afterwards!
So that's the speed work done for the week

Wednesday 4th Feb 

11.2 miles @ 8.28 p/m 
1hr 34 mins 

A cold night (more threat of snow, certainly icy) and the midweek long run, was down as a long one. It's hard to get the head around 10mile + runs during the week. I headed out snugly in cold weather gear and took the favoured route down to Cannon Hill, around to Stirchley and Cotteridge and back to Harborne. Took a few little detours to add a bit of distance and really pleased with 11 miles, and another 1.5 hours of time on my feet, with Marathon Talk entertaining on the way around.

Saturday 7th Feb 

Gym - 4 miles @ 8.00 p/m 
20 mins X-T - 6 miles in all 

Missed any running on Thursday and Friday due to a curry night with work (Thursday) and England's 6 Nation win against Wales on Friday. Fair excuses, I think!
Felt compelled to do something today despite it being a really busy one (watching Villa lose to Chelsea in the afternoon, another defeat!) so headed out early leaving the dog and family to have a gentle pounding on the local treadmill. Good little workout but the big first 20 miler tomorrow

Sunday 8th February 
20 miles @ 8.41 p/m 
2hrs 53 mins 

20 miles really is a long way! Up at 7am and after a small breakfast of toast and coffee, headed out on another bitterly cold day to tackle this monster. Started off again with real trepidation as it was icy on the pavements (my absolute hate) but as this was about distance, not speed, it wasn't an issue. Headed out on the walkways to Woodgate Valley, crisp and clear, only to come out in a fog haze of Acocks Green. Strange running conditions. Hilly too, headed up the long way around to Northfield and after stopping for a gel and some water at 1 1/2 hours, I hit the familiar trail to Kings Norton and back on the canals. By this time it was a glorious morning and lots of runners out and about, including Harvey on his marathon training. Feeling really good, and just started tiring a little after about 15 miles, I think it's mentally just the sheer distance. Actually picked up the pace slightly throughout though and, unlike a few long runs in the past training, felt absolutely in one piece at the end of it!

Really good to have got that one out of the way, and enjoyed a couple of full Marathon Talk episodes, one with Steve Way, on route. As I write this in the evening I've been out again dog walking and enjoying the slightly later evening light (light until about 5.20 now), but my back hurts just a little bit and I'm really grouchy, a sign of tiredness definitely