This week, the training intensity ramped up as I pushed myself harder with a new focus on tackling Highgate Hill, an infamous part of my long run route. The week’s training marked a significant milestone: hitting 25K with a max elevation gain of 355 meters, a run that was both physically and mentally exhausting but rewarding in terms of progress.

Monday Recovery Run:

Monday kicked off with a recovery run of 5.86 km. After the previous week’s efforts, I kept the pace slow and steady, which allowed my muscles to loosen up from the weekend’s exertion. Jen’s feedback on these runs has been consistent, emphasizing the importance of taking it easy on recovery days to let my body heal while keeping the motion going. In her words, “Good sessions last week. I feel you have really got the hang of the recovery runs on the Monday and continue to use them well.”

Sunday Fartlek Training:

Sunday’s Fartlek session felt strong, pushing myself for 4-minute sprints with 2-minute recoveries. My feedback afterward was simple but satisfying: “Felt good, seemed constant on the 4 mins.” I could see the consistency in my pacing throughout the workout, which gave me a much-needed confidence boost.

Tackling Highgate Hill – The Long Run:

Friday’s 25.77 km run was the highlight of the week. This run took me up Highgate Hill not once, but twice, an intimidating challenge that pushed me to my limits. However, despite the daunting elevation gain, the run felt surprisingly good, and I managed to pace myself well throughout. I fueled up with gels at the 10K and 16K marks, which seemed to work perfectly for maintaining my energy.

My feedback after the run reflected my satisfaction: “Felt good, was over before I knew it, must be enjoying it. Gel at 10k and again at 16k.” While the run itself felt rewarding, I paid for it afterward. My legs were incredibly sore, and the swelling in my knee was noticeable. That evening, I hobbled to a neighbor’s party just 20 meters away but spent most of the time sitting down because it was so painful to get up and sit down again. I couldn’t help but wonder, “Why am I doing this to myself?”

By the next day, the soreness had subsided, and I was feeling a bit better, reassured that these tough runs would only make me stronger for marathon day.

Reflecting on Sacrifices:

As I progress in my training, I have had to make sacrifices, most notably giving up activities I enjoy, like badminton. Balancing the passion for these hobbies with the focus on running has been tough, but I know it’s necessary to keep my knee in check and stay on track for my marathon goals. Jen’s reminder echoed in my mind as I pushed through this week, “Don’t be afraid to slow down your pace now that these runs are getting longer. We know how well you can perform on race day.”

Jen’s Weekly Feedback:

Jen’s feedback was reassuring, as she noticed the progress I’d made, both in recovery and performance. She mentioned, “That quick recovery is a sign of how strong you are as a runner—a really good metric to show your progress.” It was motivating to see that my hard work was paying off, especially with the consistency in my Sunday Fartlek sessions. She also reinforced the importance of pacing myself on the long runs to ensure I could recover quickly for the next training block.

Conclusion:

The mental and physical hurdles are becoming more intense, but so is my resolve. The combination of long endurance runs, recovery days, and speed sessions is starting to feel like a rhythm. Week 7 was a solid reminder of how far I’ve come and how critical it is to keep focusing on the balance between pushing myself and giving my body the rest it needs.

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Weekly Stats Summary:

• Total Distance: 45.04 km
• Total Time: 6:18:33 hours
• Elevation Gain: 355 meters
• Key Workout: Long Run (25.77 km, 6:03 min/km pace) tackling Highgate Hill twice