This week I did 72.8 km in 4 runs. I rested Monday and Tuesday to recover from the 35 km on Sunday.
On Saturday I kept up a good pace over 18.57 km in Marly forest, averaging 4:52 min/km with an average heart rate of 151 bpm.. If I want to set a new marathon PR I’ll have to do better than that. To break 3 hours 25 min, I need to have a sustained moving pace of around 4:45 which works out to 200 min. or 3 hours 20 min. That pace leaves 5 minutes for drinking, eating, and relieving one’s self along the way. I tried my new heart rate monitor on Saturday and had it too tight across my chest. The strap cut into my skin and gave a nice welt. You probably heard the painful screams when I stepped into the shower.
On Sunday I did a 36 km run along the Seine down to Herblay and back so it was basically a flat course. The return run was more difficult because it was up river, against wind, and included the “climb” into Marly. I tried two different gel packs; Overstim and GU. I preferred the GU. I also tried an energy bar. After taking the plastic wrapper off, I couldn’t get the thin paper off the sticky bar, so being ravenously hungry at the 25 km point, just ate paper and all.
Legs and toes felt fine. I had no cramps. Average heart rate was 134 bpm which I’m happy with. That rate should be sustainable for many hours.