Day 25 - 5 weeks down, 18 to go :)

2 lots of 30 mins today, with 3mins rest between, 2:28 for Anita, 2:04 for me.

The Monday and Saturday dual pieces have become quite easy over the last couple of weeks, both at UT1/2 so good fat burners - http://www.fletchersportscience.co.uk/uploads/img4731d3f5392f41.pdf - The Eddie Fletcher Marathon training plan suggests the 5th session of the week is always optional - Not on my watch :)

Interestingly my hands have really calmed down - the callouses have leveled out, and though my hands are in a state they've rarely been in before there isn't any discomfort doing rowing from them now. My calves however really fasciculate (twitch) on the way home from the gym, and the feeling is like very small electric shocks, almost like a fluttering feeling. Slightly off-putting if strangely amusing to watch :)

Anita is really feeling the benefits - we had to go into Colchester Town Centre this morning to do a quick bit of shopping, and in doing so we pretty much power-walked from the car park into town, around the shops and then back again - Anita commented on the way back that she would have been out of breath before after walking a decent distance as we did, but now there were no issues. I think her being able to maintain a low heart rate is making all the difference, and that at least a 1kg per week weight loss for her over the rest of the training is a distinct possibility, putting her well below 11 stone by the end of March, 3 months before our wedding :) Weigh in tomorrow morning :)

Also cumulatively we went over 3/4 million metres today, done since 3rd October :)

Anita: 12165m Today (342408m, 212.8 miles total)
Andy: 14521m Today (409620m, 254.6 miles total)

Cumulative: 752028m (467.4 miles)

The Journey:

Start: Topnotch Gym, Colchester CO4 9ES
Finish: Aujerres, Haute-Marne, France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aujeurres

Day 5 - Week 1 Complete :)

Finished week 1 today (5 hours) with 2 30 minute pieces and 3 minutes rest at default Marathon Pace (2:29 for Anita, 2:05 for Me)


I think both of us can agree that it felt more like an hour warm-up!!! All to the good that our Default Marathon Pace feels nice and easy in week 1.


Anita was easily hitting the 2:29 pace at 19 strokes per minute for the first 45 minutes, before she started to feel it in her arms.


I played about with the pace in the 2nd half (1st half 21 spm) and for the last 5 minutes of the row got down to 14 strokes per minute at the prerequisite pace (2:05). Had some interesting fasciculations due to the exercise

Anita - 12085m
Andy - 14404m

Total Distance now complete - 135899m (84.5 miles)

If Mapped as a Journey:

Start - Topnotch Gym Colchester - CO4 9ES
Finish - Sandway, Kent (M20 J8)

Next Stop 1hr 20 (2 40 minute pieces) on Monday......................