Last long run before Berlin

The past week I spend with moderate runs. I still stay away from speed sessions. On Sunday the weather was great although windy and I decided to go for a flat fast 30k running the Gourock Seafront up and down. I also decided for some reason to run without drinking belt.
Although I managed 42/42/42 minutes the last 10 were tough since I was obviously dehydrated. Unfortunatly my hamstrings worries me again. This time it is the right leg though. It feels I am developing the same symptoms on the other leg now. I think my form is ok, but I am getting old I guess. Old and stiff. Maybe I have to stretch more...

Milngavie - Balmaha

We had planned to do this run for a while now. Last Saturday I finally met Colin at Milngavie train station in WHW Race style to put it into practise. Kind of a mini WHW Race. Planned was a slow pace since we both considered this as a preparation for the coming marathons (we both registered for Loch Ness and myself has Berlin in 2 weeks on the menue)
There was plenty of rain coming down at the beginning but it cleared when we reached Drymen. Colin who never run more then 23k did rather well and chased me up Conic Hill (because of the previous rain the footpath was rather a footbath). At the top the sky was almost clear and we had great views over the Loch. Although the downhill was slippery and steep Colin decided to go really fast and I could hardly follow.
My wife did the support for us and met us at the Beechtree Inn and Drymen with drinks and bars and she took pictures.
At the end it was more than just a training session. It was an "epic". We finished in 3:15 ish without exhausing ourselves too much.
Great run!

I'm back!!!

Well, almost and I still need to be cautious but... after the recovery run on Thursday and a following pasta party my legs felt good on Friday so I decided to go for a fast 20k and it went extremely well. The hamstring injury prevented me from trying even faster but this was actually beneficial since I train too fast in general. Beeing optimistic again I have the feeling that this could (hopefully) be my racing speed in Berlin since this is a flat and fast course. Not sure what will be left the week after for the Loch Ness Marathon though.

Progressing

After a break on Monday I managed a brisk 10k training run Tuesday in 42:15. Faster was not possible because of my hamstring problem and there is a thin line I must not cross or I'll be seriously injured again.
I had another physio treatment on Wednesday and felt good enough for another quick training run over 20k in 1:23:20 (first half 41:20, second half 42:00). I am very happy with that run, it was totally flat (Gourock seafront) and little wind so I must not be fooled into overrating this, but it felt like I can run that pace in the Berlin MA which is a flat and fast course. I can still feel the hamstring though so I need to remain careful.

Better still

Cross friction massage appears to be the answer to my hamstring trouble!
I have managed a 10k on Saturday again in 43mins with little effort and followed a 20 miler (32k) on Sunday in 2:32. I am still not able to run speed sessions but at least I have finished 90k this week which is not bad at all considering the injury. And whats even better still is that I have lost some weight again. Now I am getting more optimistic about running a fast Marathon in Berlin in three weeks. Not sure what I will be able to produce one week later in Inverness though...

Getting better

After a physio appointment I can run faster and I am optimistic again.
I did a brisk 20k run. First half in 43, second half in 47 something.
Not too bad. Need to get faster though... But also need to be careful...

Great Scottish Run

Because of the hamstring issue I started blue not white and supported my wife since she was running the GSR as well. I could follow her pace and we finished together in 2:02. That was a PB for her by more than 10 minutes. So the race was a success after all and I was happy that I can still run despite the injury. And therefore think that I can still produce a PB this year. Hopefully in Berlin in 4 weeks...

Hamstring broken

Tried a slow jog this morning and after a few miles warm up tried to run a few hundred metres at planned race speed approx 6:10 per mile but there it was again: Very sharp pain in my left hamstring and I had to slow down almost to a stop immediately. And I had not even reached race speed. I am devasted. I should not have called the Great Scottish Run a 'speed session'...
I apologise.

But now I am really worried. Will I be able to get this sorted before the Berlin Marathon in 4 weeks? Maybe I manage to run the race tomorrow supporting my wife since she is doing the GSR as well. She is trying a new PB and aims for 2:00.