I’ve just finished my first full week of training for the London Marathon and I’m quietly pleased with how it has gone. This week I did some interval training alternating between sprints and relaxed pushing at the track, some gym time and a six mile push and an 11 mile push in Greenwich Park.

The 11 mile push I’m over the moon with. My training plan is geared towards pushing for a set time rather than aiming to do a distance on a push. Today I had to push for 1hour 20 minutes at an easy pace so when I flicked the speedo over and it said 11.08 miles I was super chuffed. As I have said in previous posts I have to finish a half marathon in 1hour 15 minutes. After having no ill effects from the 11 miles an extra two miles physically would be fine, I just have to find some extra speed from somewhere as I have to lose about 15 minutes. I’ve still got three weeks of training until the Eton half marathon and five until Silverstone so I’m heading in the right direction.

It’s been great to actually get out and do some pushing. I’d been doing lots of things like buying new running gear, making a training plan and putting songs on my Ipod that make me feel productive but aren’t actually making me any quicker. I’d gone as far as buying 24 recover bars, which where a bargain at £25, from MultipowerUK, http://www.multipoweruk.com/shop/active/recovery-bar/, and fitting a water bottle to the chair.

The water bottle has been an absolute blessing as I’ve managed to find one with a straw and find a way to fix it to my chair. It might not sound much but as my hands are in closed fists in the gloves grabbing some water is nigh on impossible. On my chair’s frame I’ve used a bottle cage and attachment that tri-athletes use to fit to the handlebars on their bikes and the bottle is from a company called Science in Sport http://www.scienceinsport.com/acatalog/Easy_Mix_System.html. I also have to say a big thanks to the Cycle Surgery in Victoria, London who keen to help me out gave me the handlebar attachment for free.

Also on the plus side I’m blister free as I’ve been taping my fingers up and so far I’m yet to have any problems with stiffness (oooo matron) as I’ve been diligently doing my stretches and making sure I’ve got plenty of water on-board.