Rested and Tested.

The weight training session Monday was perfect as a rest day away from running, so much so that when I decided to crank the pace up on my run to work I knocked 16 seconds off a 2 mile test run section compared to the start of February. At times you begin to wonder if your training is progressing and it's all too easy to think on the negative side, you can't test yourself too often as you wouldn't notice any real gains so in the time between you are left wondering. But it's fantastic when you do see a big improvement.
I have a plan for my race tactics and time checks for the Edinburgh Marathon, taking into account 2008 and 2009 as well as my target time and the course itself. No matter how much I tweak and adjust the first twenty miles a sub 35 minutes for the last 10k is what I will be aiming for. Setting off too slowly will just mean an even faster 10k will be required but setting off too fast for a slower last 10k and I know all to well that my race will be finished even before I start the last 10k. The Sheffield Half Marathon will be my final piece in the jigsaw and the time I run will determine how much I need to adjust my plan, so now Sheffield has become almost as important as the Marathon itself.
I'm keen and looking forward to tomorrow's speed session which will be a return to taking the treadmill to max speed (23km/h) and adding another 10 seconds onto my interval time. 10 seconds maybe too much, 5 seconds might be more achievable. 10 seconds it is then !
" Pain is temporary quitting is forever "