Steve Way – Marathon Runner

Mon – 6 miles (6:59m/m)
Tue – 12.5 miles including 10 miles @ 5:32m/m
Wed – AM 6 mile jog PM 12 miles (7:00m/m)
Thu – AM 6 mile jog PM 12 miles (6:32m/m)
Fri – 6 miles (6:23m/m)
Sat – Littledown Marathon (1st – 2:36:01)
Sun – 22.48 miles including Puddletown Plod 20k (5th – 72min)

Total mileage – 109.54 miles (6:24m/m)

So normally when I add “including Littledown Marathon” on my blog title it means I have been running around the Littedown 1 mile grass loop on my own for “fun” but this time I actually entered an official race which was set up for the first time last year and invites others to offically get dizzy as well
Just to prove there was a real race, here’s the finish line set-up

and the website …….. Littledown Marathon

Anyway, more on the race in a bit. The plan for this week was to have a break from building the REALLY Long run over the Purbecks and do a bit of faster than 100k speed work over the weekend. Still wanted to get in a couple of decent sized long runs along with the increased pace so the opportunity to do both the marathon on the Saturday and incorporating the 20k race into today’s long run seemed like a good plan.

Because of the extra intensity at the weekend I just did a single 10 mile marathon pace effort on Tuesday for the weeks “speed” and was pleased to see that come in with a 5:32m/m average, a nice progression on last weeks efforts.

Have to say I felt a little bit “jaded” the rest of the week and wasn’t sure how well the weekend plans were going to go but by Saturday morning I was feeling a lot better and up for putting some effort in.
I was actually thinking that something around 6:15m/m pace would do for the marathon but as always when I get on that grass loop I get into a good rhythm and end up running faster than planned! It was great having 70 other people on the same loop and everyone was very friendly cheering each other on, much more fun than just me and Jacek which is the normal setup.
It got a little tough towards the end with tired legs but pleased that sub 6m/m pace felt comfortable and ended up with 2:36:01 for the win and the added bonus of £100 for the course record Great little race and well organised by the “Run yer Socks Off” team.

They even did a full set of mile splits with the chip timing….. I was quite pleased with my consistent splits and last lap being the fastest

Littledown Marathon Results 2013

So because I had ended up running the marathon a little faster than planned I wasn’t quite sure how todays run was going to go. The plan was 10 miles easy and then the 20k race at around the same pace as yesterday on an undulating loop.
Legs just about coped and managed around 5:45 pace for the 20k and a valuable 5th place in my BAC vest as this is a Dorset League race this year. Another really well organised race and a great atmosphere – full details of the race here

Having done quite a few miles this week at faster than race pace, the plan next week is to get back to building the “time on feet” aspect of my long run so look out for another biggy next weekend!