#yearofthepbs

[manvmiles]

Not sure if this really qualifies for #transformationtuesday but I'll bung it in the mix anyway to celebrate clocking the second of five #yearofthepbs targets yesterday, taking 63 seconds off my previous fastest time. I'll be honest, the two times I've managed to beat so far – the mile and 10k – were the two I was most confident of bettering. And the thee that remain are the PBs that I still think are going to prove the toughest to conquer. 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️ If you plug my 10k time into the Macmillan running calculator, the results suggest I should be in shape to beat my marathon PB and run a 2:56 while my half time comes in 2 mins outside my 1:22. Though there's still plenty of work to do. Next time I hit the start line of a 26.2 I want to know I'm comfortably a sub-3 runner. If such a thing is possible. That's the aim any way. 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️ In the meantime, it feels good to have two under my belt and after the disappointment of Hamburg, getting a couple of wins has also given me some renewed focus. 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️ So what's next? I need to scout out some runs to try for the half and marathon PB. And while I do that it's back to the gym with @trueperformancefitness, back to being committed to the right nutrition, good sleep and targeted run sessions. The chase goes on... #ukrunchat #wearetherunners (at New Forest)

[manvmiles]

I’ve barely run since Hamburg, I’ve been fighting a stinking cold for well over a week and so I wasn’t very confident of running anything special at tonight’s @stravarun Mile at the @nightofthe10kpbs. But on a cracking evening with a superb atmosphere I went out and had a pop anyway. And I’m extremely chuffed to have pulled off a 5:26, 14 seconds off my previous mile best of 5:40. I felt strong all the way around finished well which is always nice, coming off that final bend, asking for more and getting a response from legs and lungs. That’s the first of the PBs ticked off the list in the #yearofthepbs. Just four more to go! #running #stravamile (at Night of the 10,000m PBs)

[manvmiles]

Five months into the year and the first of the #YearofthePBs targets has finally fallen. Last night I managed to bounce back from a cold and a few weeks off running to take 21 seconds off my mile PB at the #Nightofthe10kPBs @Stravarun Mile Pursuit. I'm not sure if it was the fact I was chasing @jasmedpoole and Parkrun founder @paulsintonhewitt, or that I was being chased by @katehelencarter and @hannengland_ _. Or it was the electric atmosphere at what has to be the best event in the athletics year, but I managed to find something in the legs last night and it's a big relief to finally have one target smashed. 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️👟 Next weekend I'll get a shot at another target on the list when I run the @Vitality_UK London 10,000. I've got a week to try and sharpen up. Based on last night's run, the Macmillan Running calculator suggests I'm in with a shot of a 10k PB but I'll need to stitch together 6.5 miles at 6:15 pace to shave just a second off my 38:53 but I'll take that if I can pull it off. #trackrunning

[manvmiles]

After missing out on a PB at the Hamburg Marathon a few weeks back the Manvmiles #YearofthePBs focus is switching to the short stuff. I've got an unexpected but very welcome opportunity, thanks to the wonderful people @Stravarun, to take on my Mile PB at one of the most exciting running events in the calendar, the Highgate Harriers Night of the 10k PBs. If you've not heard of this event check it out. It's a unique night on the track where some very fast runners chase down their fastest 10km times with the crowd allowed on the track to cheer them on. We'll get a taste of the electric atmosphere in a warm-up mile event before the real action kicks off. I've wanted to go to this for ages just to watch and to be able to run and get a taste of the action is real treat. I'm still fighting off a week-long post-marathon cold so I'm not sure what that means for my own mile PB but 5:39 is the time I need to tick off the first PB of the year. Whatever happens it’s gonna be a fun night trying before watching the really fast people do their thing. Anyone else going down? #nightofthe10kpbs #running

[manvmiles]

A lot of people have been asking me if turning 40 means getting slower, not being able to “run like you used to” and I find it amazing that this is almost the accepted way of thinking. Hit a certain age and throw in the towel. Watch the waist expand and the time waste away. But that’s nonsense. It’s why I’m going to spend this year chasing faster times than ever. Certainly when it comes to running I think there’s wisdom in having more years in your legs. And I’m going to use it to my advantage. #yearofthepbs #ageisjustanumber (at New Forest)

[manvmiles]

The long Sunday #marathontraining runs can be a bit daunting. If you’re like me, once you’ve pratted around for an hour getting ready to go and then spent two hours out running, followed by an hour showering and ‘recovering’, they eat a good chunk of your day. Today’s wasn’t even the longest of the long runs I’ll do in the build up to the @haspamarathonhamburg but still I wasn’t 100 per cent looking forward to it. Then I got out there and it was great. I ran with the aim of clocking as many sub-8 minute miles as possible but I thought I might only get half a dozen. I actually clocked 10 of the 13 and the three I didn’t were all up hills. So I’m pretty pleased with that. Also with how I ran. I felt strong and that showed with my last three miles among the quickest. Always a good sign. I’ll need to knock 15 minutes off that half marathon time to stand a chance of running sub 2:57 in Hamburg but that’s given me at least some confidence we’re moving I the right direction. #yearofthepbs #runspiration (at New Forest)

[manvmiles]

Warning: geeky stats alert ———————————— Last night, according to @resmed S+ I was one point off the perfect sleep. One little bit of REM sleep away from the ultimate zzzzzz. This year I’m geeking out on improving my sleep quality (this is what happens when you own a 2.5 year old human) so this has made me very happy indeed. Particularly because the night before I got a 45 score. So how did I do it? The short answer is I don’t know. But I did change a few things. ———————————— 1. I used topical magnesium spray before bed 2. I took magnesium supplements with my dinner and before bed 3. I didn’t look at my phone 4. I had worked out earlier in the day 5. I went to bed slightly earlier 6. I didn’t watch Stranger Things. ————————————- Somewhere in here is the key to optimum sleep. Tonight I’ll repeat the process and see if I can match it, though in the #yearofthepbs I fear I’ve probably already had my best 😴 of 2018. It’s all 📉from here! #2018goals #sleepbetter

[manvmiles]

Thierry is right. Whatever you're trying to achieve, if you don't believe you can do it, it ain’t gonna happen. I need to take a bit of this thinking into my gym sessions where I can be a bit guilty of doubting myself. Lack of confidence with the bells and bars is still definitely my weak point. I've also got to take this into the final 75 days of training up to the @haspamarathonhamburg . The way I'm running, a 2:57 feels a long way away right now but I have to believe it's possible, otherwise, Mr Henry is right, I might as well stay at home. Actually who am I kidding, I'm not missing the post-race celebrations in Hamburg on Sunday night, sub-3 or no sub-3. Plus our hotel is nautical themed and when else am I going to get to wear my sailor's outfit? #marathontraining #yearofthepbs