And we are back...

New year, new plans.

The original intention was for this blog to record the journey to Firenze. It did that and turned out to be a useful means for me to think about my training and how it was working for me so this is the blog that would not die.

This week is week 1 of training for this year's (first) marathon. Lochaber in April is the target. Though a fairly soft target. More on that at some point.

Like retaliation, excuses should always be administered early, so before i get too far i should list the reasons why i will fail in this marathon:

• Christmas. Nobody escapes christmas unscathed. Lets just say i am no longer quite at racing weight...
• Inconsistent training post-Firenze. It has taken a while to get back going again so mileage has been disappointing
• Lurgy. Some time lost in the last week the man flu
• Short build up. In order to win wifely approval for this enterprise (or at least minimise the disproval) i have agreed to a 12 week training schedule
• Travel. Looks like i will be away just prior to taper

This all sounds terribly gloomy but in reality its fine. Lochaber is not my 'A' race for this year. The general plan is to run it, try and solve some of the issues i had in Firenze, recover and then build to Loch Ness in the Autumn. Key ambition this year is really to get a full year of training in without significant interuption. Fingers crossed on that one. I am sure to break somewhere at some point.

So, 12 weeks of training. 55 miles a week and upwards. The grand plan is to reduce pre-run carb intake to try and revert to fat burning more effectively. Train low, race high. We shall see. Advice is varied.

I also have some very jaunty, colourful new running shoes. Louder shoes go faster. Its a rule.