Blog > Edinburgh Marathon Training - Week 11

Monday: Rest
I can’t believe that I am still stiff after Saturday’s activity of cutting down the tree.

At least I can breathe properly now.

Tuesday: 45 min run
I think things are starting to look up as I another great run with no pain in my knees

Also got my running pack for Great Manchester Run today. I am in the orange wave again. Going to try and get there a little earlier so I am at the front of the wave which will also help with me trying to get a better time than last year.

Continue & Comment

I received a phone call from my friend Karen asking if I was available tonight as she would like to pop up because she has something for me. I said I was, plus I had something for her. I just hadn’t got round to posting it yet.

As there had been a Bad Taste Bears event the previous weekend, I thought she had the event stuff from another collector and never really thought anything of it until she arrived and then I started to get suspicious. No BTB bags and the hands behind the back with a cheeky grin sort of gave it away that it wasn’t my BTB stuff.

Continue & Comment

Although I have never made a specific blog about this, just comments in my running blogs, I can now confirm that I shall hopefully be going to university in September.

When work announced that the head office was going to close, in effect making redundant, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I just knew that I didn’t really want to stay within the same sector and the chances of finding a job, in the current climate, with a similar salary was slim to none. So my initial plan was to pay off all my debts and find a lower salaried job. As I would have no debts, I technically wouldn’t feel the pay cut.

Then my friend Claire planted a seed in my head about going to uni. This is something that I have thought about previously, but it never happened. However, this time round it just seemed like the right thing to do.

Continue & Comment

Monday: Rest
I had all intentions of doing a long run today, but that failed drastically.

Firstly I was up at 6.40am to get the new sofa delivered and ideally that would have been an ideal time to go for a run. So had some porridge, got my gym kit on and went into the bedroom to start doing some exercises. What actually happened is I got on the bed and fell asleep for several hours!!! Not good.

If I carry on and don’t get any long runs in I shall be doing a Jade Goody at the marathon soon.

Tuesday: 2 hour run
My fear of running alone in the wilderness (aka Salford) seems to be having an effect on me so unintentionally I ended up doing my first long run…on a treadmill.

Continue & Comment

Monday: Rest
Lack of sleep makes Mike a dull and grumpy boy. I am glad this is a rest day, because I really don’t have any time for anything else.

I spent my evening doing umpteenth versions of my personal statement for my university application.

Tuesday: 30 min run
The exercises provided by the sports therapist seemed easier today. Maybe I wasn’t doing them properly. Although I should add, they were still hard work and brought me out in a sweat.

Run wise, I just wasn’t in the mood for a run so thought I did quite well to last for 30 minutes. My calves felt a little tight at times, and I thought if I carried on my knee would start to play up.

Continue & Comment

Monday: Rest
After last weekends antics, I need a rest.

Tuesday: Sports Therapist Consultation
Having seen the sports therapist in the gym previously, I have seen a number of exercises he has done with other customers so kind of knew what to expect. What I didn’t know is how painful it would be. And this wasn’t a session, this was to suss out how much help I needed. And I need a lot.

A couple of tests were done to check my flexibility and core strength. In total it is marked our of 21. I got a disappointing 5½ in total.

In a nutshell, my core muscles are weak, so my other muscles are over compensating and tiring really quickly, hence the problems I am having. I have also been told that I should stay off the weights, as this affects my core. I’m not even allowed to do press ups (even though I don’t) at the moment. Although, if this is short term to help with my running, then so be it.

So over the next couple of weeks, I have a load of exercises to do to try and resolve the correct problem, and in return be able to help me with the marathon training.

Continue & Comment