So the 6 Towns run is back on!

Seems along time since I wrote a blog post about running for the Donna Louise Children’s Hospice but here we go again.

Its 2012 so why not run 12 half marathons in 12 days to raise much needed funds for the only children’s hospice in North Staffordshire and South Cheshire?

Why? Well why not?

I spent much of 2011 thinking of challenges I could do this year for the hospice and eventually settled on bringing back the 6 Towns run but X 2, meaning I’m doubling my runs from 6 half marathons to 12, and like in 2010 they are in consecutive days without rest days.

I made the final decision to go for this at the start of December last year and have been steadily building up my training since then.

If I’m honest I don’t do a great deal of planning with regards to training, but for those that may like to know how I go about getting into shape to run 13.1 miles everyday for 12 days I’ll give some details here.

In the last third of 2011 I’d been running and racing well and so I had the luxury of a good foundation of base fitness on which to build.

With regards to my specific challenge I just need to run, and run; and then run a bit more.

Basically I need lots of time on my feet pounding out the miles.

For the original 6 Towns run in 2010 I got to a point where I could comfortably run up to 50 miles over 5 days. 10 miles everyday. I thought if I can do that I can do 13.1 every day for 6 days.

And the training philosophy for this years big 12 runs is no different other then I’ll get to a position where I’m able to run about 70+ miles in a week.

Right now I’m on 40+ miles and this is my acclimatisation phase. I have not increased things for two weeks now and will actually taper off slightly in the next two weeks.

Though I must admit some of that is due to a race I’d like to do well in and so want to have fresh legs for that too.

I have 3 or 4 races before the 12 runs start at the end of March but the Alsager 5 will be my only one I treat as a race.

From then on I’ll be trying to keep a lid on my competitive side as I don’t want to be foolish and pick up a knock on the lead up to my charity runs.

After the race I will steadily build up the miles again but never by more then 5% each week. On top of the running I try my best to fit two gym sessions in each week where I work on leg strength and lots of stretching; I also work on knee alignment using light weights and step ups on a stepper which helps keep an old injury under control.

I’m introducing more core workouts too and will try to do some upper body work just so I don’t look so scrawny. Sorry for the vanity!

I also do a spin class and at least one long swim each week to cross train. Plus the swim is relaxing too.

So that’s what I’m doing to get myself into shape so I can run 157 miles over 12 days without any part of me falling off.

I’m committed to this but your support will help enormously.

Follow me on Twitter at @6townsrunner or find me on Facebook at The 6 Towns Run X 2

Cheers > Phil