stats of the week: run 57 km, gym 3 h, walked 16 km
stats of the week before: run 32 km, gym 1.5 h
The week's mileage was bigger than scheduled due to several reasons. The result is that I feel exhausted and doubt that I will be able to repeat the speed of my last half marathon. I urgently have to taper now to recover for next Sunday and the Berlin half marathon. I don't have a special time target but I would be disappointed not to finish sub 2 hours.
stats of the week: run 53 km, gym 1 h
stats of the previous week: run 52 km, gym 3 h
stats of the week before: run 37 km, gym 3 h
Training followed roughly the schedule and culminated in running the race on the island of Sylt, a 34.5 km distance along nearly the complete length of the isle. Proudly I received the kitschiest cup ever for my 2nd place in the age group. It will stay on the mantlepiece for a week before I will hide it on the guests' loo.
Now it's time for a week of recovery before preparing for Berlin Half Marathon which this year uncomfortably takes place only 2 weeks before London.
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stats of the week: run 26 km, gym 3 h
The hamstring strain disappeared just in time to get ready for the final half marathon of the winter series. I could stick to my pace plan for a sub 2h finish until 17 km when it turned to a strenuous fight between legs and thoughts. On the final stretch I had to walk shortly twice but still managed to clock 1:58:53.
Thanks to my lead of 9 minutes after the second race I had no problems to secure my 3rd place and happily received another running Oscar.
stats of the week: run 38 km, gym 4 h
I could not resist to fill in a 5 K race between the longer races the week before and after. The event at Herten-Bertlich is a must to take part and I was rewarded by my second "Oscar" for the age group victory. However, I have to pay for it with a hamstring strain and I now can only hope to get fit again until next Sunday for the half marathon which is the final of the series.
Photo: 2 happy veterans showing their trophies
stats of the week: run 48 km, gym 3 h
The 2nd race of the winter run series was another good day. And I discovered a mathematical logic. For 10 K I finished 12 min (52 min) behind my personal 10 K best (40 min) which I set 34 years ago. For 15 K I finished 18 min (1:20) behind my personal 15 K best (1:02) which I set 24 years ago.
Following this I should be able to finish the oncoming half marathon at 1:58 which is 25-26 min slower than my personal HM best that I set 33 years ago (1:32). This makes an average pace of 1:36min/k what sounds fairly realistic. We'll see in 2 weeks.
stats of the week: run 34 km, gym 2.5 h
Despite some light problems with the left thigh muscle I was able to fulfil my weekly target of 30 km. I hesitate to set up a training plan leading to London. Almost every time I tried to follow a plan it didn't work due to injury or illness. I'm sort of superstitious in this case.
It's now time to increase the distance. Next race on next Sunday will go for 15 km followed by a half marathon a fortnight later. "A half is always possible" ever was my principle. Nowadays in my seventies it is a challenge.
stats of the week: run 35 km, cycled 60 km, gym 1.5h
The fortnight on Lanzarote finally made a successful training camp with a good mixture of flat running and hilly cycling. After 2 days of rest I earned the reward at the local 10 K race which was the first race of a series of three, with 15K and a half marathon to follow. I clocked 52:24 min what is not really fast but fast enough for me. Especially as I felt good during the race and just the final dash to the finish line got me to my limits. Last kilometer was my fastest and second half was faster than first what always is a good sign.
My racing plans for spring are fairly challenging. 7 races culminating with the London Marathon, of course. First focus is on the Syltlauf where I finished 3rd in my age group last time. That was 2019. A dream would come true if I can repeat this.
