Week 4

"The professional knows that ultimately success is out of their control. They work instead on that which they can control directly - improving their technique, showing up for workouts, recovering properly. They know that success shows up when it wants to, so the pro gets their work done and prepares the way for success to appear. 

“You have the right to work only, but not for the results of work” - consciously or unconsciously the professional adopts the advice of the Bhagavad Gita. And as the old adage goes, “the harder I work, the luckier I get.” So yeah, admittedly luck and success does play a part- an unreliable roll that shows up only when it feels like it. We are not in control of the outcome, but are in control of our efforts. So prepare for the worst, and go ahead and allow yourself hope for the best."

Roisin McGettigan - Irish Olympic Steeplechaser

The 4-week break from writing a blog post wasn't intentional. More just a result of me being busier than I was last time I blogged regularly (already by the second sentence, shamelessly if indirectly blaming Finn for my shortfalls), and there not having been too much exciting running performance to update you on.

Its been a strong but unremarkable start to 'the mission' logging 3x 50+ mile weeks on the bounce, before this week carding a less impressive 29 miles as it became a bit of a cutback week. I'd love to say it was the result of a savvy (self) coaching decision, but in fact I drank too much Kronenbourg on Friday night and of course conveniently forgot that I'm at an age now where that has lasting repercussions for about the next 48hrs. Saturdays track session became a big fat zero, and Sunday's long run became a lacklustre 8 miles. My focus on this running lark is usually missile-lock tight but when it breaks periodically, well, it properly breaks.

Anyway, I'm back in the room now and reasonably sober, and on balance it's been a strong 4-week block. Each week has featured a reps session on Tuesday, a 9-mile progression run on the Thursday (a fair amount of near 6-min miling in this each week now) and a long run of 15 miles on the Sunday. If you’re interested you can view the details of my training here. Just click on the ‘TRAINING’ link at the top of the page.

In terms of running a fast 5k, there’s not really been any signs yet. The two parkruns I have done at Eastbourne have both been in wet, windy conditions and ended up as kind of 90% effort tempo runs. Good workouts, but not good races. That said, I’m pretty sure I am in increasing good shape; last week’s treadmill reps were equal with the best session I’ve ever done on the tready and I can only be a couple of weeks away from ending Thursday’s tempo run with a few miles that start with a 5:xx.

So I’m staying patient. It will come if I keep some faith in the training plan. And this month I should get a couple of proper looks at where I am fitness wise as I’m running the Chichester 10k on Feb 9th; and I’m planning to turn up fresh and ready at 9am on a Saturday at least one weekend in February when its not blowing a gale...