End of year report

Total distance run : 1011 miles / 1619km
Total time on feet :148.2 hours
Average pace : 8.21 min miles / 5.11 mim km

New personal bests achieved in the year :
10km - 41:16 - Falu Marknad Loppet
Marathon - 4.42:10 - Stockholm Marathon

As another year draws to a close a little reflection on the years running cannot be a bad thing. All in all it has been a pretty sucessful year and one to be pleased with. While there is still plenty of room for inprovement this has been my most commimitted year to date with my total mileage increasing by a whopping 49 percent on 2003.

Opportunities to race have been limited, I have only stood on the start line 4 occasions this year. Quality over quanity maybe? In any case each race brought with it a new personal best. The first race of the season was a local 10km cross country race came at the start of May. A year earlier it had taken 47:23 with a slight flury of snowflakes falling all round. This year it couldnt have been more different, shorts and t-shirt being the order of the day. The course isnt the easiest with tree routes protroding all over the pace and the track down to single file in maybe places make it an interesting race to run. Pace judgement also pays a big part with no distnace markers but I came away with a time of 45:30

At about the same time I found new employment at a supermarket distribution center. With no car public transport was the order of the day which added an extra 2 and a half extra hours to a full days physical labour. Training had to take a back seat. It wasnt a choice I made, I simply didnt have the energy for more than a sleep travel work repeat routine.
A shame since the Stockholm Marathon was fast approaching. Long runs were lost and I was to pay for it later. I had been hoping for a time under 4 hours 15 minuites but it wasnt to be. I was on track at 30kms crossing the timing mat at 3hours 25 seconds but shortly after it all fell apart very quickly. I bit the provable wall at the same time as the course reached the only real climb on the whole route over the west bridge. Which came first the wall or the bridge I cannot say but the rest of the route was a walk run waddle struggle. At least I managed to find enough energy to run the final 300 meteres around the track in the omplyic stadium to bring a memeroable event to an end. Of course the finish line is never really the end in a marathon, I then had the joys of being bent over double wanting to be sick but having nothing to bring up and the desperate hunt for a tolet but not being able to find one anywhere.



To be continued...

My training has now started to progress into the unknown. Yesterday I ran this weeks long run which at 30kms/19.2 miles was the longest I have ever attempted. All started smoothly and for the first 3/4 of the run I was really relaxing into the run and enjoying myself. I am getting used to running my long runs slower, it takes a bit of effort but I think it is worth it so the rest of the week feels manageable.

One of the more enjoyable moments was when I realised I wasn't deluded I really was catching up with the middle aged man riding a cycle of in the distance. Sweden isn't short of cyclists and I sometimes use them as a "hare" when doing speedwork but catching a cyclist on a long run surely shouldn't be possible. It usually feels like they are toying with me, allowing themselves to be caught before breezing of down a slight hill never to be seen again. This guy however I was actually reeling in, I thought for a moment we were going to have the embarrassing period of running alongside a panting cyclist not wishing to admit defeat, but this fella just kept to the same pace and I sailed by. Well that's the way I remember it anyway. I like to think this episode was due to my transformation into a long distance running superstar. Sadly I think this guy should just be ashamed.

If only the rest of the run continued in the same vain. The last couple of kilometers were a taster of what the future brings. Energy drained away, stride reduced to a mere shuffle and a desire to be anywhere else but on the road. Its only to be expected I guess but it has reintroduce doubt into my mind. The 31km point was were my Stockholm Marathon attempt earlier in the year fell apart I wouldn't want history to repeat itself. Focusing on the positive, in my training for London I have already prepared much better than for Stockholm with over 110 days still remaining. Despite being only a long slow training run which are meant to be 30 to 45 seconds per mile slower than marathon pace I was actually 5 minutes faster than my 30km spilt for the Stockholm race. The most encouraging moment to come from the run was being able to restart again after having to wait to cross the road towards the very end of the race. Despite how tired I thought I was there must have been some spare energy still left in the tank.

For now I plan to keep focusing on the positive, keep plodding and keep hoping everything takes care of itself but I think I have a better idea now of what lies ahead.

Wednesday 15th December - Back into the swing of things.
10.8 Kms - 49 mins 34 seconds - 4m 35s per km

The second run of the week and it turned out to be a good one. Again it was a bit of a struggle to make it outside of the door once again, a theme that is starting to get on my nerves slightly, but I made it out all the same. To make things a little more interesting I decided to make this a high tempo run and I am glad I did. A whole minute faster than the end of November and my second faster ever time for this course. Not bad considering this was done on a day that started at 4.30am consisting of 8 hours physical work before rushing run to wash the car before pulling on the trainers. It feels great today but I have a feeling I will pay for it tomorrow.

I have some many things I want to write about on here but never seem to have the energy when I have the chance to sit down at the computer. ho hum, maybe in the new year.

A week to forget. A total of 14 kilometers divided into 2 runs is the pathfetic contribution I provided to my training last week. Not something to be proud of but don't worry I have my excuses lined up. Monday, car battery totally flat, morning wasted trying to find a garage with jump leads and recharging battery. Tuesday, car battery still flat after a night of charging, first 7 kilometers run going to the garage at least. Wednesday, taken shopping, best not to upset the wife.

Thursday, wash day. 7 machine loads to be washed and sorted while Remembering to clean the fint tray in the tumble drier. Washing is a deadly activity in Sweden. A tame Swede can be turned into a raging lion for the slightest distermeaner committed in a laundry room. Thankfully I survied. Friday 7 hour journey to Gotenberg but I still managed a 7km run. Saturday Christmas shopping with the rest of the population of Sweden. Sunday the 7 hour return journey.

So you see it wasn't really my fault I haven't trained that much in the last 7 days. Now I will just have to keep on repeating that until I actually believe it myself..

Its a good job there will be thousands of other people to follow and a dotted blue line to follow come April otherwise I might end up getting lost. I have spent the best part of the last hour looking for my door key. Every pocket, every surface, under beds, sofas anywhere a key could be dropped. Finally I found it... on my keyring. I dont think I should go out today

It seems that year its Steve Redgrave turn to take up the mantle and use the London Marathon for a record sponsorship total. It all began with John Spurling raised 1.3 million pounds back in 1999, ever since then there have been attempts to take the upper echelons to an even higher level.

Last year Archer aimed to earn a pound an inch, or 1,661,220 pounds ($2,970,000) over the course, for four charities. That would have beaten the $2 million raised a year earlier at the New York marathon by hip-hop artist and businessman Sean ``P. Diddy'' Combs.

Not everyone is so impressed with these most sponsorship record attempts People verus Peer viewed Archers attempt as more of an ego trip and that no one person should be seen as bigger than the London Marathon. Then of course there are those that have the view that The London Marathon is becoming more of a charity event and is not seen as the athletic display that it deserves to be, but thats a whole different post.

Sunday 5th December - There and back again.
28.7 Kms - 2 hours 45 mins 31 seconds - 5m 46s per km

A slow starter this one. The first 2 kilometers were a slice of hell and I really couldn't really see myself getting around. I gritted it out however and by the time the 4th kilometer was completed I had loosened up and was into the swing of things. It wasn't the pleasantest of training weather. Sweden has turned tropical and was 4 plus degrees when I headed out of the door. This at a time of year when if someone doesn't state if its plus or minus they automatically mean that its minus x degrees. The icebugs stayed at home and it was out with the general trainers. It was slippy in places but fine as long as you were careful. No use complaining about it, just have to do the best with the conditions provided. As fair as I am aware the organisers don't shorten the course for those that have been training in less hospitable climates.

Looking back over this years training log reviled that todays run was the longest training run I have ever completed. It also showed how much better prepared I should be for this marathon than I was For Stockholm back in the summer. At the time I was running 32 mile weeks compared to the 45/50 milers I am aiming for at the moment. My four longest runs were only 11, 12, 15 and 17 miles which this time around with 130 days remaining to race day I am already well in advance of. The signs are good, now fingers crossed for a mild winter.

Friday 3rd December - Just getting around.
10.8 Kms - 58 mins 38 seconds - 5m 25s per km

This week has been a tough one, in retrospect having a longer run on monday night prehaps wasn the greatest of ideas. Coupled with Work, having to run around the warehouse throwing 6 tons of food into cages all week instead of sitting on a forklift as last week means that I have come to the end of this working week at least feeling pretty drained. I took an extra rest day on Thursday, I presauded myself that the 6th day of running was only meant as a bonus and that I needed time to recover, so I did. Nothing speicial with todays run, only wanted to get around, which at least I did.

So my trining has hit a bit of a low point just at the same time as I find Paula Radcliffe now has her own website. At least I can now read a bit more about what i should be doing!

Wednesday 1st December - Taking it easy.
10.8 Kms - 61 mins 0 seconds - 5m 39s per km

An easy paced recovery run today, had the stopwatch clicking over but wasn't concerned at what it said. I just wanted to have the data as I know I will kick myself in a year or so when I look back to make comparisons. The main highlight of todays run was the frost on the trees. Quite often I get to caught up in the act of running and forget to have a look at the surroundings which is a shame really as there is so much to enjoy. Today it was the sparkle in the trees, on Sundays disaster run it was a pair of deers that ran gracefully across the track 100 meters ahead of me. There are times where being focused 100 percent (as if I ever am, who am I trying to kid) is good, just as long as it doesn't become the norm.