Good morning everyone. I know we’re all drowning in #FrankOut news and wondering who the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur will be. For those who read yesterday’s hoddle, you’ll remember that I got pretty
angry during my run on Tuesday night after that loss to Newcastle. During that run an idea spawned: a new, temporary feature on my marathon training progress.
My next marathon is on 4 April 2026. The goal: A new personal best. And not just to top my previous one – but to smash it. My realistic estimate right now is 3:07 (30 minutes faster than my current PB). Considering my personal best at the half is 1:26.00, I think a sub-3 is not impossible, but it will be difficult.
I don’t like to constantly go off on marathon training. I think “runfluencers” are dangerous and self-serving, that pressuring people to run is dismissive of others’ fitness and health goals, and that comparing times helps no one.
I am currently on Week 9 of 16 during my most recent training block. The whole point of this exercise is going to be about me offering a very honest insight into the highs, difficulties and challenges of training for a marathon. At the risk of being a hypocrite, I’d say it is also designed to help me understand the challenges that I’m faced with as well.
Also I feel you guys would want to read about someone who’s actually producing results instead of the dumpster fire that is Tottenham Hotspur HQ.
I might tweak some things around with the formatting here and there, and please be patient with me. As always, you’re free to skip straight through to the comments. Anyways, with that long introduction out of the way, let’s get to Fitzie’s Fun Run Recap:
Weeks 9
This is by far the most difficult training block I’ve endured. This winter in the District of Columbia is horrible. Temperatures below 22C, wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour. I’m layering up as much as I can. My water bottle freezes. The running buff around my neck freezes. The roads are iced over. It’s brutal.
Sunday run: 20 miles
This is my second 20-miler. This means I’ve now done two 16-milers, two 18-milers and two 20-milers during my training so far. I’m pretty happy. It was difficult today, though. My legs didn’t feel great, my toenail was falling off even before I went out, and the winds were brutal. Even worse, my running watch was uncooperative.
Iced-over roads forced me to adjust my route and I found myself on the Capital Crescent Trail. It was beautiful. I took a moment to admire a red cardinal splashed against the snowy bank with the Potomac River in the background, before I nearly tripped over a mound of snow next to the path.
I occasionally doubt myself, and today I did. Nothing seemed to go my way and I though about turning around as soon as Mile 2. I stuck with it, I waved to other runners, most waved back at me. Someone high-fived me. Another fist-bumped me. I farted in front of a third (and maybe fourth).
I finished the run in 2:25. It was about the pace I had imagined, a little bit slower than marathon pace.
I’m not sure what the secret is to long runs. A few things help me. The first and most important is to love running, otherwise what’s the point. Finding places you love to run is another good way of doing it. I don’t carry my phone with me, so I can’t take pictures, but it also helps me to disconnect. Instead I just look and admire all that surrounds me. I like to listen to the shuffling of feet, the wind, birds chirping, my incessant inner dialogue.
I also like to visualise myself in those final couple of miles struggling. I like to imagine being out there all alone and struggling, and what I need to do to get through the final painful stretches. It helps, I think. And I hope runs like this one help build that mental strength that’ll pay off in April.
Monday: Rest day
And a well-deserved one.
Tuesday: 7 mile recovery run
The pace is about 89 seconds or so slower than my half-marathon pace (so about 7:54/mile). Not about going fast, just about going out, breathing, enjoying being outside and running. First two miles weren’t fun. I don’t like the darkness. I want it to be bright again. Regardless, this run felt effortless as a recovery run should be. Some nice stretching after getting home.
Wednesday: 7 mile tempo run on the treadmill
One mile warmup. 800m at slightly faster than HM pace (6.22/mi) 10x with 90 seconds rest in-between. One mile cooldown.
Hated it. I hate the treadmill. I hate wearing earphones and listening to the podcast. I hate the earphones slip out of my ears when I sweat. I hate this day. I hate this winter. I felt awful the whole time. “I totally biffed it,” I imagined my future self keep saying after not hitting the full 7 miles. I thought I’d only manage 4 total, then 5. I ended up doing the 7.
It was a late night. Didn’t sit down for dinner until 8.30pm. I was making pasta when one of the vents above the stovetop fell into my pot. I only had meat sauce. Not a good day. Wondering why I’m putting in all this effort. I just want it to be bright outside again.
Thursday: 10 miles easy
Dreading this one. Ten miles is an easy distance for me, so I’m not worried about that. I’m more worried about the time it’ll take in the evening, knowing I’ll be tired, and the sun will be setting. I’ll be wearing my LED lights.
Friday: Gym
Expecting deadlifts to lead a full-body workout. Keeping it light-ish. It’s all about stability, flexibility and injury prevention. I have no interest in doing anything that’ll compromise my Sunday run.
Saturday: 7-8 miles easy
Not worried. Excited to get out there again.
Expected total weekly miles: 52
Fitzie’s track of the day: Youth Gone Wild, by Skid Row
And now for your links:
The Times: “Thomas Frank’s sessions bored players — and he rated only Pedro Porro”
Matt Law: “De Zerbi, Pochettino and Keane on Tottenham shortlist to replace Frank”
Alasdair Gold: “The 10 moments that led to Thomas Frank being sacked by Tottenham”
Jack P-B et al ($$): “Thomas Frank was meant to bring stability to Spurs, but ended up unpopular with fans and players”
Miguel Delaney: “Tottenham are a giant mess after sacking Thomas Frank and the blame is clear”
Sami Mokbel: “Frank’s downfall: Inside his struggle to get players and fans onboard”
The Guardian: “Sean Dyche sacked by Nottingham Forest after Wolves draw”
