Amsterdam marathon preparation: part one

I started my Amsterdam marathon preparation last week with Milton Keynes 10k. At 45:10 on the watch I was about 2mins 40 seconds slower than my PB but it was marginally faster than my other competitive 10k this year – so it an SB! I was held up by traffic in the first mile and 44:30 would have been a realistic reflection of my fitness level.

I still have a long way to go to achieve a 3:30 marathon and really need to get some structure back into my training. Tonight I intend to devote to RICE (Rest Ice Compression and Elevation) and tomorrow I'd like to do a hardish speed session over five miles (aiming for 36mins).

A total of fourteen of us will be travelling to Amsterdam; some to do the 7.5k, some the Half and some the full Marathon. Having done a longish walk with Gareth last month I arranged to do a longer walk/jog with three of the aspiring half marathon runners yesterday (Gareth, Verity and Julia W).

I thought that a session that addressed the reasonable fear people have about the distance would be most beneficial so we agreed on a long slow interval session. We did 20 x 0.5miles of alternate walking and jogging in a loop around Oxford.

The route was quite picturesque (see above with thanks to Google Maps) and, distracted by it, we got round in 2:09 with no stopping, spewing or moaning. That is c.2:50 Half Marathon pace and easily fast enough to vanquish the lady from Twyford.