The weekend before The Anna Frost Big Trail Weekend was my last ‘proper’ long run before the gradual tapering down of distance and training intensity before the Trail Marathon Wales.
The route followed nearly all the Rivington Marathon with the odd bit cut out making the distance 35.5 km (22½ miles) of fantastic undulating (hilly) countryside. The run went very well with no instances of cramp, no issue with the Torq gels or bars that I’m going to use in the race and a fairly even pace.
As well as running I’ve been trying to get out on my bike either as an alternative to the weekend long runs or during the week just to give some different muscles a bit of a work out which has helped my overall fitness and been great getting out and about during the week, especially now the wind has died down a bit and I’ve got some faster tyres on my mountain bike.
Last weekend was the first of the ‘tapers’, shorter runs leading up to a race to help muscle repair and energy store top up, which in my case was 25km (15½ miles) starting at White Coppice then following the Rivington Half Marathon route as a loop. Once back at the start I went up the main part of great hill then turned left down the ‘drovers road’ towards Brinscall and headed back through the plantation to the start. Wendy’s run was similar but cut out a bit of the half marathon route making her run 19.2km (12 miles) as this was to be her last long run before her Trail Marathon Wales half marathon.
Arriving at the car within minutes of each other both ours runs went very well and we’re feeling very positive about our preparation for the upcoming races.
Trail Marathon Wales 2015 – Training Plan
Amended 12th June
| W/end | Miles (km) | Activity | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 8 | 12 (19.2) | Local loop to Hesketh Outmarsh x 2 | |
| Mar 15 | 6 progression | 3m local loop x 2 plus .5m cool down | |
| Mar 21 | 14 (22.4) | 14 done, the Rivvy half marathon route plus extra up to the pigeon tower | White Coppice to Rivington |
| Mar 28 | Rest or bike | Rest, naff weather | |
| Apr 4 | 16 (25.6) | 16 done, Rivington Pike, Winter Hill and Great Hill | 3 Hills |
| Apr 11 | 8 (12.8) progression | 10 done, 1m warm up, 2 x 4m loop round Anglezarke, 1m cooldown | Round Anglezarke Resi |
| Apr 18 | 18 (28.8) | 18¾ done, Out and Back along the Canal, Sollom to Parbold | Canal Out and Back |
| Apr 25 | Rest or bike | Short ride round Knutsford and Tatton Park | |
| May 2 | 20 (32) | 20 done. To Llanddwyn Island and Newborough Forest | To Newborough |
| May 9 | 10 (16) progression | 5m local loop x 2 | |
| May 16 | 22 (35.2) | 21¼ done. Most of Rivington Trail Marathon | Winter Hill |
| May 23 | Rest or bike | 12m local Ride | |
| May 30 | 24 (38.4) | 22½ done. Even more of the Rivington Marathon Route | Most Rivi Marathon |
| Jun 6 | 12 (19.2) | 15 done. Rivington Half plus a hill | Half plus hill |
| Jun 13 | 8 (12.8) | ||
| Jun 20 | Race |
