With each additional training plan the potential for improvement becomes smaller and we need to work harder for those gains. But then that’s the benefit of changing the goals. With Pier to Pier now the priority, you might find your speed across 5k & 10k stays the same during this block, but your ability to run further improves.

Then we can always return to those shorter distances later next year.

The 6th plan was a huge success right? Capped off perfectly with that 10K PB on a particularly challenging route. Fantastic running at Beckley. What a great achievement. Well done Mark.

We know what you’re doing is working, so it’s really a case of keep taking a similar approach. Intervals on a Tuesday with the gang, the easy run on a Wednesday and then a longer run on a Sunday.

That longer run will get progressively longer every fortnight, peaking at 3 hours, 3 weeks before the Pier to Pier. Each alternative week you’ll just run for 120 mins, but also with the option of doing an easy parkrun on the Saturday as well.

The gym work we’ll keep doing at the same intensity and hopefully as the plan progresses so will the reps/weights on a few of the exercises in the plan.

But really if we can keep you injury free, build the endurance, then I think completing the Pier to Pier in a decent time is most definitely achievable. We just need to keep an eye on the effects of those longer runs and if they do start to cause problems, perhaps reign in the goal and focus on a half marathon instead. Hopefully it won’t come to that.