April 2022 Running Update

If you’re new to Journey to Chamonix, then welcome to my monthly running update! 

Each month I track my progress to my goal of running in the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB), which I’m hoping to achieve in the next few years. Qualification races, lotteries and a Strava load of training to do first though. For the latest progress read on!

Since last update

I have now fully recovered from the Lumberjack 50km. I experienced a severely rolled ankle about 12 kms into the event which was not ideal. I won’t go into further details now, but stay tuned for a race report and video to be uploaded soon!

For this month, it’s all things Great Ocean Road Marathon! 

We’re at it again. This will now be the third time that we head down to Apollo Bay to experience the Great Ocean Road Marathon, see race reports here and here for the previous iterations. I was originally signed up to do the 14km Paradise Run however due to a change of circumstances, I am now running the Marathon! 

I am very excited about the opportunity to run the event again. It is amazingly well run with outstanding views that help those kms tick by. Except perhaps during the hillier sections!

As I only became aware of the possibility of being able to complete the Marathon in late March/early April, I had to condense a training block down to around 7 weeks. Not the ideal preparation. However, I’m just grateful that I can now run the marathon event in whatever time I can possibly manage. 

In the last month, some new running shoes arrived that I had purchased. My first pair of carbon plated runners – the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 2s! My first outing with them was at Parkrun. I didn’t aim to chase a PB from the start, but after running firmly with a friend for the first km, I decided to test the pace. They were amazing! Much less effort to maintain my pace than other shoes I had used before. I’m definitely a fan. I was also only 9s off my 5km Parkrun PB too!

My final long run before the Great Ocean Road was completed in the last weekend of April – 30km at a pace of 4:33 min/km 7:20 min/mi. This puts me in good stead to get a PB for the event. My current PB for the Marathon is 3:47 and for the GOR event (44km) it sits at 4:05. Even with an incomplete training block, I’m in with a good chance to get a big PB!

Thanks for checking in on my progress and all the best with your own workouts and events you’re planning for January! Check out my Race Schedule for more detail on other events I’m looking to tackle in 2022 and beyond.

DateActivity TypeDistancePaceRPE
Fri 1 Apr 22Run9.0 km4:20 min/km8
Sat 2 Apr 22Run1.5 km4:54 min/km3
Sat 2 Apr 22Run5.0 km3:52 min/km9
Sun 3 Apr 22Run12.0 km4:33 min/km7
Tue 5 Apr 22Run12.0 km4:35 min/km7
Sat 9 Apr 22Walk/Run8.0 km6:40 min/km1
Wed 13 Apr 22Run5.0 km4:54 min/km2
Thu 14 Apr 22Run8.0 km4:46 min/km5
Fri 15 Apr 22Run12.0 km4:37 min/km6
Sat 16 Apr 22Run5.0 km4:03 min/km8
Sun 17 Apr 22Run12.0 km4:27 min/km7
Mon 18 Apr 22Run18.0 km4:42 min/km5
Wed 20 Apr 22Run12.0 km4:48 min/km5
Fri 22 Apr 22Run12.0 km4:49 min/km4
Sat 23 Apr 22Run5.0 km3:44 min/km9
Mon 25 Apr 22Run24.0 km4:37 min/km7
Wed 27 Apr 22Run12.0 km4:51 min/km4
Fri 29 Apr 22Run12.0 km4:36 min/km6
Sat 30 Apr 22Run30.0 km4:35 min/km8

*RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) measures workout intensity (0 easy, 10 max effort)

How have I progressed

  • Finalising additional races for 2022
  • Writing up race reports
  • Reviewing my goals for 2022!

Stats since last update

  • 218.8 km along local paths and tracks

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