Tuesday 21 February 2012

Flesh to The Bone

Ok: I am sitting here with a head like a tomato, blisters on fingers and feet and wonder what I let myself into. It was the second race day with my friend Kash who is training for the London Marathon. At least so far I am winning, but I am not sure if that is a good thing. I now at least understand why 3 month of a strict training plan is recommended. The body not just needs time to get cardio fitness meaning the heart being able to pump the blood efficiently enough to sustain the challenge, no, it also needs to build the muscle tissue needed to survive the repetitions of the move. We did 8 miles, 13 k today and from 9 k on, I just didn't feel my legs anymore, the rear was in constant pain, and my spine had shrivelled to half it's original length. If it wouldn't have been for poor Kash running out there in the darkness I would have thrown the towel right there and then. So in a way it was a matter of putting my mind to it, but I could feel that those 13k were pretty much the limit.

Hence, given that the boy is 10 weeks ahead of the training plan I definitely will not join him in the long run this weekend. I decided to do half of it... which is another 13k... and if I can keep that time I can be proud of myself. 

Actually, rowing and running get compared quite often and is said as needing similar effort... I can't quite believe that given the result of the races. Anybody out there doing both and being able to compare?
 
However, stay tuned into the race list.


Sunday 19 February 2012

Kinda A New Challenge

Oh, I can tell you that the head is still not working...

Since the body however, is not doing any better I thought I ... actually I didn't think a thing! I was chatting with a friend about his training for the London Marathon in April; I said that I could never run, but only row; He said I race you; ... and now we are kind of training partners.

It's relatively simple: Whenever he goes on the road, I will go into my spare room with the rower and do the same distance, preferably faster than him. Rowing and running can well be compared in effort and the time it takes to do a certain distance... Well, kinda... he already is in his 10th week of training and I am a slob right now. Hence it IS a bit of a challenge.

Although: I don't intend to go for a marathon distance. Like for runners the preparation time for rowers is the same and the style is very similar. Having missed half the training time I will aim for a half marathon by 22nd April, meaning that I will replace the long runs the boy will be doing by half the distance; that is still 9 miles / 15 km.

Additionally it means that I have to row four times a week... oh, oh!

Here is the training plan, not sure if I am really looking forward to this.


Marathon Training Program
Week
Day 1
miles / km
Day 2
miles / km
Day 3
miles / km
Day 4
miles / km
Total/week
miles / km
1.        
3 / 4.8  
4 / 6.4  
3 / 4.8  
5 / 8.0  
15 / 24.0
2.        
3 / 4.8  
4 / 6.4  
3 / 4.8  
6 / 9.7  
16 / 25.7
3.        
3 / 4.8  
4 / 6.4  
3 / 4.8  
7 / 11.3  
17 / 27.4
4.        
3 / 4.8  
5 / 8.0  
3 / 4.8  
8 / 12.9  
19 / 30.6
5.        
3 / 4.8  
5 / 8.0  
3 / 4.8  
10 / 16.1  
21 / 33.8
6.        
4 / 6.4  
5 / 8.0   
4 / 6.4  
11 / 17.7  
24 / 54.7
7.        
4 / 6.4  
6 / 9.7  
4 / 6.4  
12 / 19.3  
26 / 41.8
8.        
4 / 6.4  
6 / 9.7  
4 / 6.4  
14 / 22.5  
28 / 45.0
9.        
4 / 6.4  
7 / 11.3  
4 / 6.4  
16 / 25.7  
31 / 49.9
10.     
5 / 8.0 
8 / 12.9  
5 / 8.0 
16 / 25.7 
34 / 45.7
11.     
5 / 8.0  
8 / 12.9  
5 / 8.0 
16 / 25.7 
34 / 45.7
12.     
5 / 8.0  
8 / 12.9  
5 / 8.0 
18 / 29.0 
36 / 57.9
13.     
5 / 8.0  
8 / 12.9  
5 / 8.0 
18 / 29.0 
36 / 57.9
14.     
5 / 8.0  
8 / 12.9  
5 / 8.0  
9 / 14.5  
27 / 43.5
15.     
3 / 4.8  
5 / 8.0  
3 / 4.8 
8 / 12.9  
19 / 30.6
16.     
3 / 4.8  
3 / 4.8  
Walk 3 = 4.8
marathon
35.2 / 56.6





415.2 / 668.2