Training - Day 76

Today is a pivotal day – no question about it! I’ve gone from  “a bit nervous about the whole event” to “how the blinking hell am I going to do this”.  Training this week has been impaired by my foot hurting but I had no idea the effect was going to be this bad. Two weeks ago, I ran 19 miles slowly and had enough “in the locker” to speed up over the last 2 miles to finish with a decent time. So, this time I thought I’d follow the training plan’s mantra by starting quicker and slowing up which is what normally happens. At 5 miles I was ahead of marathon pace, feeling pretty good. At 12 miles I’d slowed considerably and just finishing was the goal – who cares about the time. At 13 miles I broke my personal trainer as she had started the route exhausted from a week’s decorating, so I was on my own. By 16 miles my only thoughts were that of survival. My legs were like lead, my feet killing me and mileometer on my watch had stopped completely – or so it seemed. A wise man (Karrsey – yes I know it’s difficult to believe but true) said earlier this week that the “wall” that runners face was as much mental as physical. I now know what he means. When the pain starts to kick in, it’s the fact that you still have so far to go that is the killer. True, most people hit it at the 18 – 22 mark when they want to give up, but it starts so much earlier. I must MUST wear an ipod next time because all I had to think of was how much it hurt and how far there was to go. At 18 miles Joss and Hattie were stood at the side of the road with water and cheers and I was really pleased to see them – but just had nothing left in me to do more than smile. The last 3 miles were more torture than was needed as my mind completely went and went the wrong way so the last 2 were spent going uphill. I counted the fractions of the last mile down and finished right in front of a packed bus stop. Embarrassing enough, you might think, but my body had a extra little trick to play. Having stopped, my legs decided “oh good, that’s over” and stopped, literally. So, the chortling audience, who had watched me barely moving coming towards them, saw me stop in front of them, then shuffle away like I had my shoe laces tied together – brilliant!! 21 miles took a shade under 3 hours and 13 minutes, the 1 mile walk home took approximately 40 minutes. In fact I was so long Joss came looking for me, pity I’d reached our road before she drove up to me. Another stretching session and cold bath ensued –  to Eloise’s raucous laughter and I’m now walking around like I’ve done something nasty in my pants. Overall – a lovely productive day – bring on the chips and wine!!