Valencia Marathon 2022

Only two weeks to go, so it's getting late to improve anything...

Training went relatively well this past week, with two added track sessions and some core work, but not perfect: I could not run a 10k flat out on Saturday for a variety of reasons (it was 0c in Carlow at 9 am, the track was still closed at 1 pm and when I tried to do it on the treadmill my head went and I could not sustain the effort: basically I should have gone to park run and run a 5k flat out at least as it would have been something). Yesterday's 17m run was an improvement again with a low HR and slightly increased pace (the problem is I can't get my HR up at the moment, which is why missing that 10k is a shame), even if I wasn't feeling the love.

Apart from 4x1200, this week is straightforward enough. I'll still try to add 2 other track sessions with the club. I have to increase stretching and generally look after my legs.

Weight loss has been a disappointment as always (currently losing 0.2 Kg per week!), but at least it's moving in the right direction. With mileage decreasing, I have to reduce carbs further.

Of course, it is time to start looking at ambitions, and at the moment, it looks like this:

-Bronze sub 3:00 @6:51

-Silver sub 2:50 @6:29

-Gold sub 2:46 @6:19

with training so far indicating a 6:35 pace. So a PB (2:47:27) seems out of reach, and the best I can hope for is a sub 2:50 if things go well. There are a couple of positive factors (flat course, supershoes) but a good few negative ones (warm sunny weather, lack of hard training pace, potential stomach cramps as always).

Anyway, there it is, and the best I can hope for is a small improvement in all areas this week and, of course, no injury. I hope everyone will be on the start line healthy. All the best.

Thanks for that. Will save me a few hours faffing about on google streetview trying to figure out what's possible. Turia Gardens does seem the business though. I noticed it on a brief visit the last time I was in Valencia and thought it was a really nice facility - and I wasn't even a runner then! 😄

Mea culpa. It was the 2020 event that was a two lapper for the elites only. I came across it looking through strava segments to try and find the route.

Weather looks good. Can’t be expecting single digits but hopefully get a bit in before the sun gets up properly.

Here we are, the final week before the main event.

As expected, the past week went fine and steadily with no surprises. It was very enjoyable. 59 miles done.

I didn't go out to the extra track session with the club on Monday night as the weather was not that kind, and I felt a bit lazy. But it was supposed to be a rest day anyway, so it was probably wise. On Thursday morning, I was about 10'' too slow per mile for my four 1200m reps as the legs were still tired from the extra club track session the night before: trying to do 2 track sessions back to back is probably not the best (looking forward I'll have to change this and replace one of those with Lactate Threshold session instead as I need more high steady heart rate efforts). I managed several good exercise sessions (plyometrics twice, two very good strides sessions, core, yoga, and a couple of other things). Finally, my weight has come down nicely by about half a kilo, but much more importantly, it has been a very steady decline rather than yoyoing widely as would be my norm. As I have been struggling to find the right weight management habits for years, I am very pleased with this as there is hope that I can train and lose some fat at the same time.

I have a habit of messing up during the last week before a marathon (typically by eating too much) and underperforming on the day (primarily due to stomach cramps from about halfway), so hopefully, my new diet habits will help with that.

This week is all easy stuff, except for Wednesday's dress rehearsal of 7m with the last 2 at marathon pace. I will try to keep the strides, easy yoga sessions and plyometrics work up.

The weather looks good for Sunday (clouds, chances of rain, no wind).

But enough chitchat.

There is no doubt that I am at least 20'' per mile slower (about 9' overall) than when I got my PB of 2:47 3 years ago. But. That was a big underperformance, and I was capable of 2:42 on that day, but going out too fast on the non-flat DCM course and having stomach cramps took care of that. Last week I posted the following goals:

-Bronze sub 3:00 @6:51

-Silver sub 2:50 @6:29

-Gold sub 2:46 @6:19

They are nice round targets, so I won't change them. But I have to take reality into account: I will go out for Silver at a 6:30 pace (in practice, I will aim to be below that, so it could be 6:28 on average). That pace should feel easy until halfway; if it does not, I'll try to hang on and, if necessary, drop to the Bronze goal. But there is also a possibility (flat course, supershoes, good weather, no cramps) that I'll be slightly faster than that and still feel good, in which case an average pace of 6:23 overall and a PB could be in sight. My Gold goal is out of reach this time.

I hope everyone is in good shape. I am number 2354, Green wave.

Take care all.

I presume nobody can search for participants on the valencia marathon app? Or maybe it's just me.

Edit - never mind, it's live now.

Amazing organisation...

The weather looks ideal. I had that down for an excuse 😂

Hopefully plane is quiet going over so I can just choose any random seat and not the crap random seat Ryanair will assign to me as other day the fight out was still €30 so tells me the plane isn’t bursting at the seems.

Can they make sure there’s a lift at the plane to take me off on Sunday night?

I’m staying near colon metro stop. I presume l loads of pizza options around there.

My goal is 3.0x but if I do a sub 3.13.4x I won’t complain I promise.

Like all marathons it’s all on the day and just cause it feels fine after 10km doesn’t mean put the hammer down. I’m just hoping I get into a nice tempo and stay at that pace and nothing to break the stride. I did Rotterdam back in 2014 and I was clipping of kms to the same second for a bunch of them. Just cruising along. I’d take that again

Yes, quite cool. About 10 or 11 degrees. No breeze to speak of. I'm still starting with a singlet - be bold, start cold and all that 😀 No doubt we'll be warm enough soon enough.

Is it gloves weather? I hate cold hands

Should I put an old black sack in the bag for hanging around the start?

Yes I hate cold weather

Is it ok to throw away hoodies at the start? Probably gonna avoid the bag drop and just bring gels and phone in a flip belt.

Hoping to alright! I'll send you on my number, I won't know anybody there to see.

She's amazing and inspirational.....Great story behind her.

At least she's not our problem now. And we talk about the Kenyans.

Bloody hell. Imagine having a run as good as Sinead Diver's and then this numpty troll on Boards.ie posts this libel.

Ah pc it's yourself. Did you get bored of making soft money dishing out covid shots? Have you started seeing real patients yet or are you still too busy virtue signalling?

As you haven't taken the time yet do yourself a favour and equate Divers time to not only Irish legends but all non African women's times over the history of marathon running added to the age profile.

Great achievement to finish it

Pacers seem to be a bit random. I started right at the back of the pink wave and let everyone off. Saw a couple of flags in the distance and caught them around 19/20km I think. Road was tight so had to wait until we got out of that area before passing them. I didn’t drop any pace and they caught me again around the wall but they finished just behind me. So say they did it in around 2:13 flat. Heard 2:50 pacer went through half in 1:26.

Someone beside me fell just after a km. felt for them as it looked like a bad one. It was like it was one of his club mate he clipped as a few with same tops.

I’d definitely do it again

Anyone else get an email about guarantee entry into next year