Countdown staying negative

stats of the week: run 55 km, gym 1 h

Finally I managed a longish run of 26 K - not miles - and felt quite good with it but had some muscle problems the next day. Luckily that was gone after 2 rest days and I am now ready for Tokyo.

As usual for me my schedule was somewhat low level but I don't have the feeling I could stand several 30K jogs as all the marathon training plans demand. My plan to hopefully finish the marathon is unchanged to recent ones. Take walking breaks every 5 K and keep running at a pace of around 6:15min/K as long as possible. As usual the final 10 K will consist of more walking than running what will make a finish time of around 4:45 hours in the end. Fingers crossed, so much things can happen. First we have to overcome the Covid regulations and tests. We have to document our body temperature daily since Sunday, our body temperature will be tested at the bib pickup and at entering the start area, we also have to take two self tests and to document them. When entering the start area the app screen has to show GREEN and only then it's just up to running. 

Give me a cheer for my 40th Major Marathon and finally my long awaited 6star big medal.

Good pace for half the distance

stats of the week: run 24 km, cycled 44 km, gym 1.5 h
stats of the previous week: run 43 km

My half marathon pace was faster than expected with a happy finish after 1:59:28 h. To crown this I gained my first "Oscar" cup as the winner of my age group at my 44th participation at this event. Alas, I was the only one in my group! However I was happy with my performance. 

After a tapering week I added a longish run of 26 km what worked well but put me down with more muscle problems. So now it's really time for tapering and calme down for the remaining 9 days till race day.

Not just running at Tokyo

stats of the week: run 46 km
stats of the previous week: run 26 km, gym 1.5 h

After some minor ham string problems I was able to increase the mileage and was happy to complete the training half marathon at a pace of 6:04 min/K. Next Sunday another half marathon test will take place where I hope to increase my pace to 6:00 or slightly lower. This will happen with 3 weeks to Tokyo.

Tokyo does not make running easy for us. We have to download a special app and report daily our body temperature and physical fitness. Before the race we have to perform an antigen test and to report its result with the app and show the app before getting to the start line. Compared to all this the running will be easy.