Font Romeu!
Hi all!
Again, sorry for lack of updates. I've been promoted at work and it's been a nightmare sorting everything out before I came out here and I even have to work most of the time I am not running here, although training and rest is very much the priority!
I plan to give a blog on my test at Loughborough that I did as well as the altitude tents, AND the stuff that has been going on out here and will make my updates little and often so it's easier to follow.
If there's stuff you particularly want to know about, let me know and I will write about it, but today I'll just give the basic structure out here in Font Romeu.
Myself, Lee Merrien and Martin Williams are the only marathon guys out here and Michelle Ross-Cope the only lady. I'm sharing an apartment with Lee and Martin and they're both great lads and despite us all having different coaches we've managed to mix and match our runs so we've trained together loads and been running at a pace we're all happy with. Thommo, Jemma Simpson and Mo are out here too which is great. I've not been running with them much as they tend to do sessions frighteningly fast and other runs pretty slow!
In terms of UKA support, there is a physio, a sports massage therapist, a physiologist and a few coaches etc so we have everything covered! The physiologist is helping us with Barca prep such as practising with high salt drinks before runs to aid with the heat in Barcelona. The theory is that this will cause a big rise in blood plasma levels and allow for salt loss in sweat. Everything is catered for and attention to detail is fantastic.
We tend to run at 9.30ish am and drive to where we are running from as the runs from the apartment aren't as good. The views are awesome and although i's not been quite as hot as I'd hoped at about 20 degrees, but a few days get up to mid 20s which are better.
The altitude we live at is 1800m or so and we tend to run a bit lower at 1500m but there are runs as high as 2100m so a good variety to be had! I've not found the altitude a real issue and kept the running very easy on steady runs to make sure I don't push too hard too early.
I'll write more regular updates now I promise!
Comments On "Font Romeu!"
Oh, and we've not done masses of drill work ot be honest. Some core and conditioning, but myself and MArtin haven't done a lot as we usually can't fit it in around work - we prefer to run the miles and now isn't the time to bring in loads of new things!
Ben Posted on July 5th, 2010Hi guys,
Ben Posted on July 5th, 2010Yes, I am running twice a day - sorry forgot to add in the evening run. Usually at 6ish! Well, we've all seemed to acclimatise farily fast and no one has been suffering really. We've kept easy runs a bit easier but the fact we popped out a 22+ miler in sub 6 miling (mainly 5.50s) shows we're doing ok -this could well be due to the altitude tent!
We're not getting any official nutrition advice, but we're eating very well, and a LOT. We have porridge, sandwiches and a dinner for our main meals, but lots of cereal bars, fruit, yoghurts, extra cereal, toast around that, as well as energy drinks and so on. I think we're doing the right things! We've discussed loosely with the physiologist about what we drink and eat and he seems happy with it.
Tents and drill work!
Ben
John Davies Posted on July 5th, 2010Do you think that the altitude tent freebie from UKA has helped you get used to the altiude at Font Romeu at all?
Are you not training twice a day, and do you do any core drills/conditioning/ciruit training as well.
Must be boring just doing a run in the morning?
Food
Ben, what advice are you getting from UKA on nutrition? What are you eating on a typical day when running close to 100 miles a week?
Curious Posted on July 5th, 2010