Comrades Marathon Training Diary Week 3: Sun, sea and hill sandwiches

[@Manvmiles]

What are you training for? How's it been going?

[@petergibbs6993]

Brill and loving this ‘series’. I am still on that road to London and managed a decent pace at the Knighton 20 mile race yesterday so encouraging for me training 🤞🏼

[@Manvmiles]

Thanks Peter and nicely done bagging the decent pace 20 miler. That's a big step on the way to London. Not long now. This is where the magic happens 😉

[@milosjosic9232]

Great, you are going to smash that race 👏👏

[@Manvmiles]

Thanks Milos. Going to give it my best shot.

[@JohnBirtchetSharpe]

I saw that loop you were doing on Strava the other day , Kind of a perfect natural HIIT effort with natural raise and cool down while maintaining a consistent pace.

[@Manvmiles]

It actually felt quite good. You're just feeling the burn when you hit the top and then get some breaths in, batter the quads a bit (but not the heart) on the way down and off you go again. Think I'm getting to like these boring loops!

[@golrush007]

I'm also training for Comrades. I ran my first last year, one of the most incredible experiences, and I am really excited for number 2. I'm looking forward to following your journey to Comrades.

[@Manvmiles]

That’s great Matt. So many people seem to do one and go back for more. Can’t just be the promise of the back-to-back medal either. Hope your training is going well.

[@golrush007]

@@Manvmiles No I certainly don't think it's the extra medal. The race atmosphere is unlike anything I've ever experience, and it's one of South Africa's national treasures. Also, for me personally my family has a long history with the race, so I kind of grew up with it.

[@jonathanwatkins447]

Great week you had.Keep it up. I have boston in a few weeks but using it as a comrades training run. Bummer I can't go hard but comrades training is too important at this stage. Keep up the hills and gym. FYI I only have about a 2K loop I do my hill training on. I do have a 1K hill I also use. Most people laughed and said no way that's enough for comrades but it was fine for me atleast. I did do 1 50K run In Jerusalem but my 60K I did on that loop. I guess we do this best we can with what we have . Your going to love this race

[@Manvmiles]

Boston is a great training run for Comrades. Dare you to do a few doggies up and down Heartbreak Hill for some extra training! I'm confident with the gym work and a few outings to some longer hills and I'll get enough in the legs. Might be back on that little half mile loop for a few more stints as well. The squats start this week!

[@bev9708]

Bravo Kieran !! Hope you’re enjoying the gym, and are you keeping up with some yoga as you planned at the start of the year or has that gone a bit by the wayside now???

[@Manvmiles]

Thanks Bev. Getting my gym head back on and kind of enjoying it. Yoga needs work. That's the one goal I've been remiss on. But need to switch that part of my brain on too. I'm glad you asked as it gives me a kick in the yoga pants to get on with it! How's your training going?

[@bev9708]

@@Manvmiles My training is going just AWESOMELY!!!!! I'm so curious how YOU are getting along, 'cause no videos for a month now!! Hope all is well!!!

[@joeentansmeyer]

I live in South Africa. Doing my second Comrades this year. Missed my silver with 7 minutes. Hoping to get it this year. Changed my training significantly compared to my first attempt. I am quite a geek putting everything running related on spread sheets😂 You get great time predictors and pacing charts specifically for the Comrades. How do I get in touch?

[@Manvmiles]

Hi Johan, great that you're heading back for a second year. You can find me on instagram @mavmiles if you want to chat. Be great to hear any tips you have.

[@bev9708]

HEY Kieran, we haven't heard from you for a while... everything ok? How's it all going??? Sure hope you're keeping up your Comrades training!!! After another 5min PB in the Paris Marathon 3 weeks ago, I'm now well into some big volumes in terms of both kms and strength training , preparing for my first ever 50k ultra in June, only just a couple of days after your Comrades ultra!! I'm diligently getting to yoga classes too 'cause I find that just invaluable!! OMG Kieran it's so fast approaching ... only a month and a half away!!!!! Where are you at for yours???

[@Manvmiles]

Hi Bev, thanks for checking in. Had a bit of a rocky few weeks with a cold and heavy workload so training not going quite as planned but I'll get there. Congrats on Paris. That's amazing running. And fab that you're taking on your first ultra in June. Which race? And why is it the races come round much faster than you think?😂🙈

[@bev9708]

@@Manvmiles 😂😂 sooooo much faster!!! But maybe that’s kinda just as well or we might bloody train ourselves to death!! 😂😂. THANKS so much Kieran , hope the rest goes more easily for you!! Well, less hard anyway !!😁😁