Long long way to go...

As well as posting the various thoughts and accounts of the training I'm doing, I thought I'd post the bare bones of the training programme I hope to follow. Bloody hell mum I'm scared now! It's another huge undertaking and I feel very very daunted by it, especially as so much of it is unknown. I feel in need of some inner strength, courage and inspiration.

The current Mrs Smith is a proper marathon queen and has incredible mental toughness that goes with the ability to grind out those intense road miles one after the other. She warms up after about 15 miles and has this ability to be able to extract every last drop of energy from her body in each and every race more than anyone else I know. She always looks a right state at the finish line and has been known to pass out in the funnel and even puke on her shoes. How on earth does she manage to consistently push so hard? And how can I get me some of that?

Her trick is her policy of only ever thinking about the next mile ahead. She doesn't cram the whole race in her head at one time - if you tried to do that you'd just want to lie down. She stubbornly breaks it down into lots of smaller and frequnetly met goals during the race- it's a neat trick and it obviously works.

So perhaps the way to embark upon such a programme without kacking myself with fear is to tackle it by just doing one run at a time.

I'll start that by going out now getting that 8 mile road run in...

PBR Outline Training Programme

25 weeks to go - Total climb: 10,000', Main run - Llanberis, Moel Eilio, Snowdon, Glyderau with Paul Miller 8000', 19M
24 weeks to go - Total climb: 7,000', Main run - PBR leg Hebog/Nantlle 5100' 9M
23 weeks to go - Total climb: 3,000', Main run - Long road and trail run (Nottingham for the weekend) 20M
22 weeks to go - Total climb 10,000', Main run - PBR leg Snowdon 6100' 13M
21 weeks to go - Total climb 8,000', Main run - Edale Skyline Race 4500', 21M. Target 3:30
20 weeks to go - Total climb 30,000', Main run - 2 day BGR boot-camp (!) with Tattenhall et al
19 weeks to go - Total climb 12,000', Main run - 2 legs of PBR (Carneddau/Glyderau) 12,000' 22M
18 weeks to go - Total climb 8,000', Main run - none, 4 * 2000' sessions Mon-Thurs before holiday
17 weeks to go - Total climb 8,000', Main run - PBR leg (Siabod-Moelwyns) 8,000' 19M. Holiday for most of week so will be rested for increase in training.
16 weeks to go - Total climb 12,000', Main run - not sure, somewhere in Scotland
15 weeks to go - Total climb 13,000', Main run - Fellsman Hike 11,000' 61M
14 weeks to go - Total climb 14,000', Main run - Pete's BGR support legs 2/3? 12,000' 31M
13 weeks to go - Total climb 14,000', Main run - 2 PBR legs (Snowdon and Glyderau) 12,000' 23M
12 weeks to go - Total climb 15,000', Main run - Dave and Paul's BGR support legs 3/4 12,000' 26M
11 weeks to go - Total climb 15,000', Main run - 2 PBR legs (Siabod-Moelwyns) 8,000' 19M.
10 weeks to go - Total climb 6,000', Main run - none, just Moel Famau runs + Welsh Castles road leg
9 weeks to go - Total climb 30,000', Main run - whole PBR over 2 days
8 weeks to go - Total climb 15,000', Main run - Jamie's BGR support 2 legs
7 weeks to go - Total climb 9,000', Main run - Local long run on Moel Famau 5,000' 17M. Easier week.
6 weeks to go - Total climb 15,000', Main run - Wasdale fell race 10,000', 20M
5 weeks to go - Total climb 18,000', Main run - 2 PBR legs, including one at night 12,000' 23M
4 weeks to go - Total climb 30,000', Main run - whole PBR over 2 days
3 weeks to go - Total climb 8,000', Main run - Borrowdale fell race 17M 6500'
2 weeks to go - Total climb 3,000', Main run - Clwydian Hills route 3,000', 9M
Final week - No running, and then the PBR at the weekend