Sui and I set off to GP and parked up, and then off we went with the aim of covering 20 miles, or 12 laps. There was a bit of a breeze and it was still a bit chilly at times, but after one lap I ditched my hydro pack in the car as I was overheating with it on (in hindsight, too many layers of long sleeves). We set into a nice little routine - the back part of the loop along Longwater Avenue was sheltered from the breeze and warm, so we would both unzip our tops, then running along Brook Drive was into a breeze and thus a tad cold, so up would go the zips again. Given I am going to go for a run/walk approach on race day, we decided on a short walk every two laps (approx every 3 miles). I stopped a couple of times to go to the car for gels and water, and on other walk breaks I had sugar tablets (or sweets that Sui had) and a mouthful from her bottle. It felt good not to have the hydro pack on so I think I will leave it in the car again next time rather than lug it about. I do like it for slightly shorter runs but I have been really struggling with neck and shoulder pain on these longer runs and I don't think the hydro pack has helped.
Anyway, about 6 laps in, half way round, I was really struggling. Struggling to settle my breathing (and a stitch that started after about two miles), struggling to pick my feet up which meant lots of stones in my shoes (three on one lap!) and extra walk breaks. No idea why, although I think maybe I need to consider a bit more food early in the morning before long runs. My legs always felt like they could keep going (even when they were hurting) but the rest of my body was not so sure! I felt a bit better after a few more laps, and then suddenly it was three laps to go. Last time I did this, I only managed to run that far before heading in to the treadmill, but I was actually feeling ok this time out. With Sui's considerable help, I managed the last three laps, which took us up to 20.53 miles in 4hrs 35 minutes! The longest I have ever run and the peak of my marathon training, but best of all, run with a friend in glorious sunshine and without getting wet or snowed on!
I spent the rest of Good Friday pretty much horizontal! Spent over an hour in the bath (another first for me!) and then the rest of the day with my feet up and occasionally with ice on either my knee or ankle. Walking was a painful shuffle, but to be honest I had about as much pain across my shoulders and I really think that is going to be a consideration for me on race day. Sui had me rotating my shoulders on the walk breaks and that did help to relieve the tension a bit but the pain can be quite intense at times!
Since the long run I have been feeling really quite emotional about the race. Now that I have hit the 20 mile barrier, I guess it brought home to me firstly how tough this is, secondly how far I have come, and thirdly, the race is now less than three weeks away. Three weeks which officially means time to taper. No more upping the long run distances, but plenty of time for worry and doubts to creep in, and plenty of time to start fretting over all the details. During the week before Easter, my registration pack arrived, and I was literally shaking reading it. Worse still, I read it cover to cover but seem to have taken absolutely none of it in (bar my race number which seems to be ingrained on my memory - maybe inspiration for another tattoo?!). I couldn't tell you which colour start I am (possibly Blue) or what tube station that entails getting off at. I have asked Pete about the hotel several times, and several times he has told me, but I still don't know where I am staying. I am stressing over what to wear on race day and have just today ordered yet another running top (short sleeved this time) to try out. If it isn't comfy when I wear it on my last longish run (18 miles or so this weekend) then I will probably have some sort of meltdown! I have yet to decide whether to carry some gels, or whether to take sweets or sugar tablets, and indeed how I am going to carry them. All of these things I really should have thought about some time ago, but I think I have been in some sort of denial?! Sometimes I really feel utterly terrified! I don't even really know why - I have trained (could have done more short runs, but the long ones are in the bag) and have also accepted that for me the goal is just to finish. I know I will be run/walking, and hell I don't even care if I end up walking all of the last six - so long as I finish in under 8 hours I will still get a medal and it will still be an achievement that I can be proud of. I have placed absolutely no pressure on myself, and neither has anyone else, but I am shaking even typing this, just thinking about the big day!
Is this the madness of the taper, first timers nerves, or a combination of the two? Or am I just a little bit unhinged?! Who knows. But what I do know is that I will do everything I possibly can, and give everything I have within me, to ensure that I make it from the start line to the finish line.
26.2 miles. Bring it on!
No comments:
Post a Comment