Marathon training week 11
2 min readAfter a solid weeks training I am feeling good about my progress towards this marathon, now with only four weeks to go. My keys runs were all executed as planned this week, Tuesday hills was a strong day where I added an extra repeat on the 1.9km hill section, intervals went to plan with 8 x 4 min efforts that met my goal pace. My long run earlier today went as planned 3 hours in duration an 36km completed over an undulating course. I tested my fitness with a 5km park run yesterday and managed a 17:51 over the course. This represents 1 min 30 sec quicker than a fortnight earlier. Overall I completed 73km this week and happy with my progress.
All my runs were in my Gladsoles trail sandals this week. With winter ending very soon it was even time to run without socks during parkrun. I’m fully committed to running this marathon in these sandals and very confident that they are the best footwear choice.
This week sees a similar training volume. I aim to increase my long run 3 hour 30 min, this will be my last standard long run before the marathon with my 3 x 14km effort at goal pace in the following week rounding out my long training. Intervals will again be 4 min efforts with 60 sec recovery, this 4:1 effort to rest ratio is tough in the latter efforts but really good at building speed during a fatigued state. Hills will again be run on Tuesday and over the usual hill area I run.
Monday – Rest
Tuesday – Hill repeats
Wednesday – Aerobic 40 min
Thursday – Rest
Friday – Long run (3 hour 30 min)
Saturday – Rest
Sunday – Intervals (10 x 4 min 60 sec recovery)
Some tough runs planned during this week, but this is the stage of the training program that I need to be running my best and making sure I can handle what the marathon throws at me in four weeks time. Looking forward to the challenge of pushing hard over the next couple of weeks.

Congrats on a solid week of training. You were spot on with your pacing for Parkrun. I am glad to hear that everything is coming together for you. : )
Thanks for the kind words. Did you run today, didn’t see you on my strava feed?
I just uploaded it. Only did 6.5. The place on my foot from a few weeks ago started hurting a couple days ago when I wore the five fingers and during yesterday’s run it started killing me. That said, six was all I could manage. (This turned into a longer than planned explanation. ?) Feels much better already.
Sorry to hear you’ve hurt yourself. Take care of the foot. Still a good training week for you and you’ll come back strong
Thank you Tony! I will be fine! : ) I am trying to think long term right now!
Good idea. Missing a day or two won’t change your training plan at all