Hello! I’m currently publishing this post on Sunday, June 16, which marks one week to go until the Midnight Sun Marathon in Tromso, Norway. The race will be held next Saturday, June 22 at 8:30 pm Central European Summer time (GMT +2.)
This is my recap of training from two weeks out- here’s how things progressed!
Monday: Rest from running, core and upper body strength at home after work. My sister and her family left London to return to the U.S. early Monday morning.
We ended their visit with a cold swim in the Hampstead mixed ponds. It’s a London must-do (from a local’s perspective!) It was so great to have them here!
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Tuesday: Run commute with Tina, 4.5 miles, + our office 5k, for 7.6 miles total. Core after work.
Wednesday: One of my last “sessions” before Tromso: warm-up, 4×6 minute at marathon pace ‘strength’ (10-15 seconds faster than marathon pace), with 2 minute jog in between, 8 miles total. 6 minutes felt short after some of the longer workouts I have had the past few weeks!
I fit in an easy pilates reformer class after work at the studio by my office.
Thursday: Easy 6 mile run with Ruth. We ran down Regent’s Canal and another runner stopped us to tell Ruth she was the most beautiful dog he’d ever seen. Ha! As if her ego isn’t big enough already.
Friday: 10.5 mile “long run”- the taper long run always feel so short! I did the first 5 with my friends Tina and Kate, the second half solo. I wanted to get the run done early as we booked a little weekend getaway with the dogs to Whitstable, a seaside town on the east coast of England in Kent. Since my long run was ‘shorter’, I figured it was easy enough to fit in before work on Friday.
After work, we loaded up a rental car with the pups to head to Whitstable! It was about a 90 minute drive, maybe a bit longer with rush hour traffic. We could have taken the train pretty easily, but with Tilda’s age, we thought it might be nice to have a car (and then we could bring dog beds and all that.)
Upon arrival, we walked along the shore to the Old Neptune for some fish and chips and a beer.
Saturday: Dustin, Ruth (the dog), and I did a 5 mile run along the coast.
The shore is lined with all these colorful fisherman’s huts!
We actually ran right upon the Whitstable parkrun; we didn’t run with them, though we could have, as handsfree leashes (what we usually wear to run with Ruth) are allowed at parkruns outside of London. I need to plan ahead better when we take weekend trips to coordinate with the parkruns!
After the run, we had a delicious breakfast at Farm & Harper, then a long walk with the dogs on the boardwalk.
Eventually we stopped for lunch of oysters and fizz; Whitstable is famous for their oysters!
We explored the Whitstable high street and more, until dinner at Birdie’s. There was also a stop at the Seafarmer’s Dive, a craft brewery.
It was a lovely Whitstable day, though the weather could have been a little better (windy and chilly), but hey, that’s England for you.
Sunday: Another 5 mile run along the coast with Ruth and Dustin
…followed by breakfast at the Windy Corner Store. It started to rain on us and dramatic Ruth tried to hide under the bench!
Then it was time to drive back to London. I think I mentioned that after a year of residency in the U.K., you’re not allowed to drive on your U.S. license anymore. Since we’ve been here for nearly two years, Dustin went through the process to get his U.K. driver’s license a few months ago (which included a theory test and a driving test- he passed both on his first try!) It’s nice that he can now hire a car with no issues. I haven’t decided if I will bother going through the process or not, it depends on whether we decide to stay on past the original 3-year commitment. For now, I’m happy for him to do all the driving!
Summary: 42 miles of running, 1 pilates reformer class, some core and at-home strength
That’s a wrap on the week, just one more week until marathon #45!
Now that Cari has mentioned it on her blog, I’m excited that we will have a blogger meet-up above the arctic circle, ha! She’s running the half marathon and we are hoping to connect either before or after the race.
I’m linking up with Running on the Fly and Confessions of a Mother Runner; check out their blogs to connect with other fitness bloggers for workout ideas and inspiration!
Gosh, Whitstable looks gorgeous! Looks like all 4 of you had a great time. 😉
what’s the “fizz” of the oysters and fizz?
Fair question! I feel like it’s a generic term for champagne or Prosecco, or at least that seems to be how British people use it!
Yes, Matilda was there but her running days are done and she likes to stay back for naps sometimes, but we try to bring her along as much as she can manage at 15!
What a great week of training and sightseeing. I’m jealous you still have long sleeve weather. Have so much fun next weekend and enjoy your meet up w Cari
Thanks, will do!
The marathon is in one week??? That went FAST! How exciting.
I LOVE all the photos of the dogs! Tell Matilda that she’s very beautiful too : )
Aww I will!
Looks like a nice getaway with the girls 😉 Although it’s been almost five years (YIKES!) since I was training for a marathon, I do remember LOVING those “long” runs in the taper. The 10-milers felt so easy (and short)!
Yes it’s all relative to what you’ve been doing most recently!
I do try to meet up with Cari each time I’m in NYC. But as you know, the next time, she’ll be racing and you’ll get to see her IRL.
You run so many marathons but this one sounds so exciting. Can’t wait to hear all about it.
It will be a unique one!
I just love how you are exploring every inch of the continent! Whitstable looks so beautiful–and cool! We are having a heat wave here and it is HOT. Enjoy your week and good luck at Tromso! I love that you’ll get to meet up with Cari!
Whitstable was chilly- a wee bit too chilly to enjoy the beach!
Wow, your photos are amazing. Everything looks beautiful! It looks like a fun time, and of course, it was active. Good luck next week!!?!
Thanks Melissa!
I was going to ask about the fizz, but I see that has already been covered 😉 Looks like such a nice getaway. I hope your race week is going well! That went by fast. Best of luck on race day!!
Haha yes I guess I thought it was a more common term!
Good old Whitstable! I spent a lot of time in Herne Bay in my late teens / early 20s! One point to note: handsfree leashes aren’t allowed at any parkruns – you must have one dog on a short, hand-held lead. Enjoy the rest of your taper and say hi to Cari from me!
Hmm, both the one we came upon in the lakes district and this one had multiple dogs + humans using hands free!
I’m not labouring this point because I’m some sort of jobsworth but if a participant with a dog is not following the rules and something happens, the insurance will be invalid and that might be bad for everyone and I’d hate it to happen to you. The rules are here https://support.parkrun.com/hc/en-us/articles/200566293-Can-I-participate-with-my-dog/ and clearly say in the summary: “Whenever someone is walking, running or volunteering at a parkrun event with their dog, the dog must be on a short, handheld, non-extendable lead, in control, and at the participant’s side at all times. This applies to all global parkrun events where dogs… Read more »
Ok. Definitely not looking to argue about it, only sharing what we’ve seen. We will skip parkruns for now!
No, of course, I’d just hate something to happen to you and I hadn’t said anything. Of course sometimes people pretend to do one thing and then do another when they’re out of sight of the people running it! By the way whenever I see a dog like yours I always enthusiastically tell the owner I know someone who has them! They probably think I’m very odd! There are a few round here.
It sounds like you had a wonderful trip and I’m so happy to see that Matilda was able to join you. Those fisherman’s huts are so cute.
Yes we are happy she’s still able to join as long as she can.
Ruth and Matilda are both gorgeous, and they should be told that regularly.
What fun you had with your visitors! And I love all those fisherman huts. I think I would really love a trip there! Even with the wind and the rain.
I am so excited for your Arctic blogger meetup! How fun!
I will remind them of how beautiful they are 🙂
Its wild to meet up with an American friend in such a remote location!