I got the go ahead from the
physio to do my long run of 20 miles this weekend. Well what he actually said
was “I’d recommend 9 or 10 but since you did that last night, you should be ok
with a longer distance.” However, with the strict proviso that should my knee
start hurting, I should start walking. I tried explaining that it hurt less to
run than walk but he fixed me with a beady eye and told me to do what the hell
I was told. OK I’m paraphrasing, but that was the meaning behind it.
My pre-fuel today was a
giant mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows and a slice of
apple and caramel pie. I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that hot chocolate is a
good runner’s drink. Maybe that’s wishful thinking …
Luckily my stomach is quite
forgiving and it actually worked OK as a pre-run meal. Not sure I can recommend
it with a clear conscience though.
Decided to use Draycote
Water as my route and run laps of the reservoir then veer off down a footpath
if I got bored. I did 2 laps going alternate directions at marathon race pace
so kept it 8min/mile - 8.30min/mile and then did half a lap at a comfortable
pace and went off to find a footpath. There was one about half a lap, just
before the last long straight.
Ran down the Birdingbury
cycle route which was lovely and smooth – not too many cyclists either - and
there were dragon flies and butterflies everywhere. Much prettier than the
usual flies and they didn’t seem to have the suicidal urges the flies did –
getting in my mouth and eyes all the time.
I did see a few cyclists
though, including a couple who kept going the wrong way and asking me for
directions. I wasn’t going fast enough to overtake them but they went the wrong
way at every intersection so I must have seen them 3 or 4 times. Must have
looked like a running version of Mike Myers from Halloween. Not fast, but they
couldn’t get away!
There were quite a lot of
people bramble picking. Mmm … I love blackberries but halfway though a long run
wasn’t really an appropriate time to gather fruit and I didn’t have anywhere to
carry them except my mouth.
Decided not to follow the
route all the way to Birdingbury as didn’t want to run on the road so followed
the trail but it petered out into a rabbit run between stinging nettles and
thorny bushes which wasn’t doing wonders for my speed so I turned around.
I was alternating High 5
gels and slices of Mars Bar to see how I got on with them as a fuel for the
marathon. I didn’t feel particularly tired and didn’t hit the ‘Wall’ although I
ran out of water at mile 15. I struggled about ½ mile from the ‘finishing line’
but I often do at the end of a run whatever the distance when the end is in
sight.
Really pleased with the long
run. It might be interesting to try a negative split next time – try the last
10 miles at race pace. Sounds a little bit like hell though.
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