Time for a Target… Brighton Half Marathon entered!

Training has been going well, consistency has been good, movement is improving but I am inwardly somewhat competitive. It felt like I needed something to aim for that would challenge me to firstly stay true to the course, but also to push me out of my comfort zone.

Que an evening out for a friend’s birthday, a few drinks in he announces he had signed up for the Brighton Half Marathon, an event which I have previously run some 11 years or so ago. My result has always irked me, as I completed the race in 2 hours and 32 seconds. This included a quick pit stop, due to drinking far too much water pre-race in an attempt to ensure I was hydrated! In short, I have always felt I should have completed it in sub 2 hours. Now perhaps it was the wine, but I felt compelled to sign up so, I picked up my phone and with a few taps I was signed up. The following morning there was certainly a moment of realisation that I now had to start running regularly and that the last time I did the event I was in my mid twenties…

Determined to better my previous time I looked into my training options and decided to use the Garmin Connect App that is already linked to my watch. Within the App you have the option of selecting a coach for a specific goal. Enter “Greg” who is almost certainly some form of AI bot, but I liked his confidence in me (see confidence circle top right).

The App allows you to select how many times a week you are going to be able to run and then plots a training plan for you. The best bit by far, is that I don’t have to think. I simply select ‘start work out’ on the allocated days and follow “Greg’s” instructions. One of the striking things having started this plan is that you don’t have to run flat out every session. In fact, you run within yourself but the progress in a short space of time is amazing! After two weeks I am now running 10k on a weekend at a comfortable pace and feel I can still spend a day running around after the kids rather than needing to collapse on the sofa.

That said, my legs are certainly feeling the effects of the increased load and so I have booked myself in for a regular Sports massage to manage this side of things. Whilst also booking an appointment with Martin for one of his running fitness assessments, which will highlight any unilateral weaknesses I have (one side of the body weaker than the other). I am sure my right ankle is weaker and that is having an impact on how my whole right leg is delivering force when I run, so, it will be interesting to see what the results yield. More on that next time.

That’s it for now, as “Greg” has sent me a push notification telling me I need to complete a 45-minute EASY run. Wish me luck!