Marathon T
It’s been a while – and although this won’t be as exotic in terms of location as some of the recent training updates (honestly, who else has a job like Marathon J – I have never known the like)…here’s the latest from me.
I have been cross-training for the last few weeks, running, touch rugby, weights and cycling. Basically anything to keep me ticking over until the marathon training starts in earnest.
The majority of my Running miles have been in the gym, with the exception of a few sessions with the Jersey Spartans AC. These have been primarily speed sessions, with efforts of around 5 – 10 mins at a time (followed by brief rest). I am still at the back – but can at least see the front runners…so that has to count as progress (or a very straight training course).
Having purchased a new bike I have also been trying to get out on the roads a bit. In fact on Saturday Marathon B and I finished the first ‘Tour de Jersey’. I left my hovel at 9am on Saturday and cycled the 9 miles to Marathon B’s luxury seaview apartment, to begin the ride. After a quick road side maintenance session as we both pumped our tyres and fixed rattles etc, we were off. It began well with the first 6 miles either downhill or flat along the seafront, but the dawdling along came to an abrupt halt as we encountered our first hill at L’etacq. We went from grinning and joking to gasping for breath within seconds. Halfway up the hill I honestly thought I was on my last legs – but kept churning away and just made it to the top in one piece. I dived off the bike and turned to watch Marathon B completing the last few metres.
It’s been a while – and although this won’t be as exotic in terms of location as some of the recent training updates (honestly, who else has a job like Marathon J – I have never known the like)…here’s the latest from me.
I have been cross-training for the last few weeks, running, touch rugby, weights and cycling. Basically anything to keep me ticking over until the marathon training starts in earnest.
The majority of my Running miles have been in the gym, with the exception of a few sessions with the Jersey Spartans AC. These have been primarily speed sessions, with efforts of around 5 – 10 mins at a time (followed by brief rest). I am still at the back – but can at least see the front runners…so that has to count as progress (or a very straight training course).
Having purchased a new bike I have also been trying to get out on the roads a bit. In fact on Saturday Marathon B and I finished the first ‘Tour de Jersey’. I left my hovel at 9am on Saturday and cycled the 9 miles to Marathon B’s luxury seaview apartment, to begin the ride. After a quick road side maintenance session as we both pumped our tyres and fixed rattles etc, we were off. It began well with the first 6 miles either downhill or flat along the seafront, but the dawdling along came to an abrupt halt as we encountered our first hill at L’etacq. We went from grinning and joking to gasping for breath within seconds. Halfway up the hill I honestly thought I was on my last legs – but kept churning away and just made it to the top in one piece. I dived off the bike and turned to watch Marathon B completing the last few metres.
Marathon B - giving the hill what for....
Vehicles struggling up the hill in Marathon B's wake.
After the monster hill we took a gentle ride down into Greve de Lecq, where we decided to take on some carbs (have a sit down at the café), and mentally prepared for the second hill of the day, back out of the bay…As we reached the top – again gasping for breath – we began to dissect the ride and effort so far, we quickly decided our performance may have been hampered by lack of fluid intake and therefore to guard us against burn out so early in the day, stopped into the Les Fontaines pub for a pint of Brothers Cider (much as they do in the real Tour – I understand)…
One pint of Strawberry and Pear cider later we were back on the bikes and following the start of the half marathon route. After about half a mile we came across a hill (just as Marathon B had predicted) which I have absolutely no recollection of during the marathon. Honestly, I do not remember running up it at all – and after only 5 mins of the race too. That conquered, we were on through the ‘green lanes’ with the memories of the race flooding back. As we continued and entered Trinity we were feeling the lack of fluid issue creeping up on us again, so to nip it in the bud we stopped into the Trinity Arms for a second pint – and another rest stop.
By now it was becoming obvious that the Tour de France riders probably did not keep cider in their bike bottles, as interestingly it made every slight incline feel like an alp. We snaked back across the Island and hit some serious speed as we entered waterworks valley, I managed to get ¾ of the way down it freewheeling before I remembered that the full marathon course has us running up it from miles 5 – 9…That is not going to be pleasant.
We hit the seafront once again and went our separate ways – I had a final hill over the fort to climb (which actually felt easy) – then a gentle ride back home.
Totals for the ride – 36 miles….3 monster hills….2 pints….and no mechanical dramas. All-in-all a satisfactory lunchtimes work.
Back to the running this week….going for a long one tonight – 12 miles or so.
Marathon T
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