Week 8

Week 8......

Date	Miles	KM	Time	Avg Pace (Min /Mile)	Avg MPH	Elev Gain (Mtr)	Elev Loss (Mtr)	Calories	HR Zone	Avg HR
19th Feb	Rest day
20th Feb	12.43	20.00	02:03:41	09:54	6.1	15	16	1660	4	170
21st Feb	Rest day
22nd Feb	4.00	6.43	00:49:15	12:19	4.9	82	81	381	1	131
23rd Feb	Rest day
24th Feb	11.00	17.70	02:09:35	11:47	5.1	324	319	1135	1	137
25th Feb	Rest day
Week 8	27.43	44.14	05:02:31			421	416	3,176
Week 7	35.87	57.73	06:41:54			829	927	4,444
Week 6	24.82	39.94	04:36:11			395	443	2,830
Week 5	27.70	44.58	05:24:26			671	656	3,235
Week 4	31.50	50.69	06:11:56			806	831	3,528
Week 3	36.50	58.74	06:58:54			873	825	4,390
Week 2	29.70	47.82	05:37:20			629	621	3,720
Week 1	30.00	48.28	05:51:27			629	580	3,633
TOTAL	243.52	391.92	1 day 22:24:39			5,253	5,299	28,956
To go	1,006.48	1,624.08

Just 3 sessions this week.

I could really feel the effects of Saturday's 20k race in my legs on Sunday so took a rest day, and they were still sore/tight on Monday so I just did a short 4 mile easy (zone 1) session.

I did consider taking the rest of the week off but I knew I wasn't going to get much walking in this weekend so, to keep my miles up, I did one of my 11 mile loops on Wednesday.

So here we are, pretty much 2 months into the challenge and 1/5th complete.  If I can maintain this level of mileage I should reach my goal at the end of October providing nothing goes wrong.

Entries opened for the 50km Fireman's walk this week.  This is a great event that follows the middle third of the Parish Walk route from Peel to Ramsey (the only difference is a slight variation at Andreas, and you don't need to cross over to Lezayre church).

I would highly recommend taking part in this event if your Parish target is Peel or beyond.  The first 6 miles are up and down, but once you reach Kirk Michael it's flat pretty much all the way to the finish.  The 2 short climbs near the Lhen, and through Bride are really the only ones worth mentioning.

It's definitely an easier 31 miles than the first 31 miles of the Parish walk as you don't have Ballakillowey or the Sloc to deal with. 

If your Parish target is Peel, completing the Fireman's walk will give you a huge confidence boost. 

If your Parish target is beyond Peel then it's an ideal opportunity to practice that 'middle third', so when you get there on the day you will know in your mind that you have already completed that section once so you can do it again, albeit a little slower.

It is also a great opportunity to practice your eating and drinking over such long distance, finding out what does and doesn't work for you.  It's also good practice for your support drivers, especially if they haven't provided support before and are the same people that will support you in the Parish walk.  

I mentioned in a previous post that I have booked my travel and accommodation for Rotterdam on 14/15th May but I hadn't yet decided which distance to enter.  I have pretty much ruled out the 100 miles because it is too close to the Parish walk, although it does seem a shame to take a few days out of work to travel there and not give the 100 a go.

Rotterdam is only 3 weeks after the Fireman's walk, so rather than doing another 50k I'm seriously considering entering the 50 mile instead.  I think this is the right distance to do the weekend justice, and providing I don't push myself too hard then I'm confident 5 weeks is enough to recover before the start of the Parish Walk.

I have never raced 50 miles before so at least it will be a PB (providing I finish!) but the real reason for choosing 50 miles over 50km is for the chance to be awarded the 'Kennedy Friend' pin with engraved number. 

After all, we only do it for the awards, don't we?