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Sunday, January 08, 2012

2012 Running Plans

It's that time again. Thou Shalt Resolve to Do Better!

Not really into the whole annual resolution thing these days, but I have indeed signed up for another series of cross-countries, as reported previously. A friend of mine is somehow doing the London Marathon - for charity, I'll find out which one - and so I put it to him that getting up double-early to drive down to Newlands Corner on a chilly Saturday to do a hilly 10 K is just what his training schedule needs. Bearing in mind that his idea of a gradient is the end of Waterloo Bridge, whereas the G3's frequently have runners, or rather ambulatory particpants, on their fours up the side of St Martha's hill.

Looks horrendous - cold muddy and hard work. I hate hills

Let's do it.

Sudden thought. It's just next week! Ahh, better get the trainers on. This week I ran with D around the block on a cold, damp night, headtorch a go go. By myself on a sunny Friday, attacking Frith Hill a couple of times. Again with D gently along the towpath today (Sunday). That's about, what, 10 miles altogether? On the back of nothing at all since mid November? So I'm just about prepared for the first 3 Km.

G3 Series : http://www.allabouttriathlons.co.uk/events_g3-run.html

2 comments:

zhurnaly said...

Best of luck, Matt! --- and question: have you found that mental disciplines (perhaps attempting to apply mindfulness or tai chi or other approaches) is useful during a long/hard run? I've been experimenting, and sometimes it seems to be helpful ... (^_^) ... ^z

Matt said...

It's hard to be specific, but yeah.

As I think I mentioned before, during the downhills there's too much happening, like not falling into a tree, to worry about the mind wandering.

Uphill, yes. The pace is slow and tough, so focussing on the breathing, or the exact texture of the sand, is a fine way to stop nagging lungs/legs from taking over.