Welcome to my training report for the two weeks covering Christmas and New Year, commencing 22nd December 2014. Part of a series of weekly reports, briefly summarising my training during that week and plans for the following week. You will find the vast majority of my workouts published through my Strava, Runkeeper and Movescount accounts. Where applicable I have provided direct links to specific workouts on Strava below, should you wish to see more detail on them. OK so lets get into it…
Last two weeks (commencing 22nd December 2014)
I have been a bit slack and missed posting last weeks report, instead deciding to combine the two weeks over Christmas and New Year into a single report. This is a report of two halves. The Christmas week was better than expected volume wise, with a number of enjoyable runs. The New Year week included a new PB at the 10km race distance but I then succumbed to a cold and minor chest infection immediately after and while I managed to squeeze one run it, its been a case of rest and recovery ahead of next weeks big block of training.

View from Peddars Way, December 2014
So here is a full break down of the fortnight:
Monday 22nd
Rest day after previous days long trail run.
Tuesday 23rd
Quick morning core session
[suquote]Easy lunchtime recovery run with work colleague, easing legs out after Sunday’s long run. Really easy conversational pace, keeping HR beneath 140bpm. Felt great with only a little heaviness in legs towards the end. 12 °C, 31km/h WSW, 77%[/suquote]
Ely Cathedral – Dec 2014
Christmas Eve
Quick morning core session
Tempo run (2,1), Ely [suquote]Pre Christmas blast, mix of road and trail with two tempo efforts of 2 and 1 km at or above 10km pace. Felt good considering recent run efforts. Beautiful crisp day, just what I needed to clear away work stresses ahead of the Christmas break. 8 °C, WC: 4 °C, 28km/h WNW, 71%[/suquote]
Christmas Day
Day off to eat food and be merry!
Boxing Day

Peddars Way – Dec 2014
Trail run, Norfolk [suquote]Trail run of three parts. The first a nice easy out and back run with my beautiful wife. I then headed out on my own to join Peddars Way and run back towards Saham. Being pushed for time I cut it short and turned the last 4km into a progressive run, finishing hard. Felt good, am ready for second family Christmas lunch now. 0 °C, WC: -2 °C, 7km/h SW, 100%[/suquote]
Saturday 27th
Day off travelling home after Christmas celebrations with family
Sunday 28th
False start tempo run, Ely [suquote]Heading out for ten mile tempo session but canned it due to patchy ice. Tried a different set of shoes but still no good, so shelved for a bit and will try again later in the day. 1 °C, WC: -2 °C, 11km/h N, 82%[/suquote]
Take two tempo run (8.5), Ely [suquote]Warmed up a bit and headed out for a second attempt at this mornings tempo session. Still some ice around but much easier under foot. 2km warm-up and then 8.5km tempo with Coveney Hill in the middle for good measure. Felt great and comfortably held 4:20km pace. Easy 5+km back but still felt good and when realised I was on for close to 1:10 for ten miles pushed again at the end. Missed out by 30 seconds but really chuffed. Considering chronic lack of speed work this year and pleased to be able to smash my last structured run workout of 2014 out of the park (for me at least!). Now rest and recovery ready for final run of the year, NYE 10km. 6 °C, WC: 4 °C, 7km/h NNW, 64%[/suquote]
Weekly summary (commencing 22nd December):
5 hours and 48 minutes of training, with a TSS of 536.7 and total distance of 63km broken down as follows:
- Run: 63km in 5h 19m
- Core work: Two quick sessions this week, lasting 30 minutes
Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th
New Years Eve

Giles at the start of the 2014 Ely NYE 10km
New Years Day
Friday 2nd
Saturday 3rd
Sunday 4th
Weekly summary (commencing 29th December):
3 hours and 12 minutes of training, with a TSS of 289.9 and total distance of 36km, entirely taken up by run sessions.
Plan for next week (commencing 5th January 2015)
This week should have been my largest week run volume wise before I start my taper into the Peddars Way Ultra marathon at the end of the month. However I enter the week with a lingering cold/chest infection, so its going to be a case of suck it and see how my body reacts, not pushing it too hard and allowing my body to recover.
My major aim is still to do a series of back to back double run days, running over 50 miles in a 36-48 hour period next weekend. I will also avoid swimming until the chest is clear, so am already slipping on one of my goals for 2015.
Monday
- One hour endurance turbo session
Tuesday
- Full core and flexibility session
- 10km easy run
Wednesday
- One hour endurance turbo session
Thursday
- Full core and flexibility session
Friday
- 10 mile trail run
Saturday
- 25km trail run
- 10km easy run
Sunday
- 25km trail run
- 10km easy run
So that’s the plan! Feel free to follow my progress through my Strava, Runkeeper or Movescount accounts. Will be back next week with an update on how it went and plan for the next training block.