*** IMPORTANT ***

(I have gradually and responsibly increased my fasting hours and I also added my fast to the training a little at a time. If in doubt or on any medications please consult your doctor, make sure you are very well hydrated at all times specially on warmer days and keep some emergency fuel on you while training, like Dextrose tablets or an energy gel just in case.)

Before I start writing about my fasting experiments during my longest two training runs I need to clarify again that I’m not encouraging people to exercise on a fast I’m just sharing my personal experience and why I think it’s going to work for me.

I’ve always fuelled before my high intensity exercises and shorter races and I think that fasting can only work on low intensity runs.

You are probably asking “ but aren’t you going to race the Marathon? “

The pace I’m going to be running at is very comfortable for me, and the reason for it is because Athens course is incredibly hilly and if I wanted to race a marathon for an amazing finishing time I would have picked a flat one.

I only ran two Marathons in my lifetime, first one 11 years ago as a very inexperienced runner with little training and I was just happy to finish ( Chester 3:48’ ) and second one six years ago where are trained for a sub 3:30 time but got injured on the day and again was happy to finish ( London 4:02’ ).

My main goal is to enjoy the experience and I feel that the pace I’ve trained at will comfortably get me a PB on the day unless something very dramatic and unfortunate happens.

After my last blog I had a 20 miler to run followed by a 22 miler which is the peak of my training before tapering.

Woke up at 5am for the 20 miler, had a glass of water and a double black espresso.

Foam rolled quads, calves, hamstrings and did lots of dynamic stretches and warm up exercises and off I went.

Was very lucky with the weather and saw an amazing sunrise.

Ran my favourite hilly training course : Uffington- Upton Magna- Haughmond- Rodington and back.

Time 2:49’ with 670 ft of elevation and an average pace of 5.15/km

Estimated finish time: 3:42 ( 6 minutes PB )

By the time I’d finish I was on a 15 hour fast and only once briefly during the run, around mile 17, I thought of food.

I got home, showered and stretched before having my oats for breakfast followed by a yummy croissant.

That was a very positive experience and apart from tired hips I was fine the next day.

The second long run was a similar experience, but this time I had company.

After the usual pre-run routine Jan joined me from the start for 20 miles and John on mile six for 10 miles.

We came across a few flooded paths so had to take some detours and again experienced another amazing sunrise.

Having company made it feel easier, time flew by and at no point in the run I felt the need for any fuel.

I added an extra mile at the end so my run ended up being 23 miles which means I was only one parkrun away from the full marathon distance!!

A massive psychological boost, really happy!!

Time: 3:19’ Average pace: 5.22/km Elevation: 715ft

Estimated finish: 3:46’ ( 2 minutes PB )

No issues at all, just a tight hamstring but nothing a little foam rolling couldn’t fix.

Next day a 30 minute 5k run proved that apart a little general fatigue everything was in working order.

Next long training run is on Sunday, 13 miles birthday run 🙂

( Which will be my 276th half marathon distance in 12 years!! )

My final decision is that I’m definitely going to run Athens on a fast !

Wish me luck ….