Running is going very well recently. Times are better, better than they have ever been, and I am not getting injured.

I believe this is down to the chi-running style I have started using - leaning forward, loose lower legs, not pushing off, circles with my feet, kicking backwards - there are a lot more little tricks it advises. I am not sure if it is coincidence, but a lot of it coincides with what the best runners do, though it makes a big contrast to power running - what I used to do , and get injured.

The most important thing is that I have now been able to get a proper base. In December and January I ran the furthest I had ever run before, then February significantly increased it by a further 20% to 235km, and again now in March I have increased it again and am looking at over 300km.

The intervals done recently were a bit of a shock - doing 10 x 800m and the average is just over 3 mins 1 second. A year ago I struggled to do even one 800 metres at that pace.

The trouble is I am running out of time, I had wanted to do more long tempo runs, and more hills intervals. Plus I wanted to do one more long tempo run - over 30km - at 4:40 pace or less. The problem is that I need to be careful to taper properly as well, so I can't do everything I want and work.

I have put quite a lot of time and effort into this now. My eating has been extremely sensible - tons of fruit and vegetables, better quality foods. Eating proper breakfast - porridge (zabpehely) - brown bread, brown rice when I can, no snacks apart from almonds and peanuts, half portions when I can and not over-eating, plus cutting out fatty foods almost completely, and a significant cut in alcohol. I also try and sleep enough.
I have lost about 2kg, and maybe I'll get another one off - without damaging my body in any way. In fact I am not dieting at all, just eating sensibly and running a lot.

I'll be glad when the marathon is over and I can relax a little. While I'd like to improve the running that bit more and be more sure that I'll beat 3h15, I also want to go out with my friends and have a few beers too many and not feel guilty about it afterwards :).

Mind you it is funny, a year ago when finishing my long runs - over 30km - I would reach for a beer first thing when I got back. Now I want apple juice and water, and I don't get cravings for beer like I used to. In fact when running with a friend recently, we are in a habit of taking a beer and I couldn't finish it.

Lastly in the back of my mind I hope that when pushing it in Vienna, I can remain injury free. If after that finishes, I am able to rest for about 2 weeks, and then restart the running, and I can keep pushing a balanced high volume running program with a 3-hour run each Sunday. Keeping a good volume and then when I switch into a proper training routine again, I hope to already be at high volume.

Congratulations to those doing the balaton super marathon - 53km today, wow! That is serious kilometerage - respect!