Font Romeu: Week 2

This is my second week in Font Romeu and my training has been going great. The weather has been fantastic, although we did get a random shower of pea size hail on Wednesday afternoon! 

After easing into training last week, I knew this week would be pretty tough, especially when you run with Paula Radcliffe on your recovery run! Tuesday, I hit the track for a standard 10 x 400 session. I did this session when I was here in April, so it was great be able to compare the two workouts. Previously, I had 1500m runner Stacey Smith pulling me round, but it was just me this time! The session went well and I was even up on my previous times!

Yesterday morning was my "big track session" of the week, and with the help of John Nuttall on the bike, it went great. The track is quite high in altitude here and also a little exposed to the wind, so it was good to have John in front of me to keep the pace even. Usually Sean, my husband (and coach) paces my workouts. The hardest task at running longer track workouts at altitude is consistency. Each lap gets tougher, so it really helps having someone there keeping you on pace. 

This mornings’ long run was just that, A LONG RUN! It seems twice as long when at the end of a big week;  3 workout and 85 miles! Rest day tomorrow! I really look forward to my recovery days. Rain is forecast for tomorrow, my coach planned that well! So it looks like tomorrow will be a movie day : )

Our resident physio here in Font Romeu is Duncan Mason, client director at Athlete Matters in Manchester (athletematters.com). Duncan has been working with Jemma Simpson and I each day on our core, we are known as "The Core Club"! We have discovered muscles we never knew we had and weaknesses we have now conquered. We will miss Duncan when he leaves to go back to the UK on Wednesday. He has done a great job of keeping me healthy. Thanks Duncan!

Recently, people have been trickling into camp as each day passes. Lee Merrien, Chris Thompson and Ryan Mcleod have joined us. Jackie Areson and Galen Rupp of the Oregon Project arrived a few days later and few athletes from the Oregon Track Club are due to arrive anytime, so I should have plenty of people to train and explore the trails with. I am also looking forward to Hannah England and Helen Clitheroe coming out on July 11th.

Next week, I will be getting ready for my first steeplechase of the season at the Birmingham diamond league! I’m excited and ready to race!