3.56pm, 18 miles, 2.49.59, 9.27m/m ave pace
9.31, 9.31, 9.26, 9.32, 9.26, 9.27, 9.30, 9.38, 9.32
9.33, 9.39, 9.40, 9.35, 9.22, 9.18, 9.03, 9.01, 9.06
I was partly dreading this all day as I was so unsure I would be able to do it and partly more confident as Louise was running with me for part of it. I kept trying to tell myself if I did it tonight then I could enjoy the rest of my weekend – which is involving my nephew’s 1st birthday party tomorrow afternoon, a night out with girls from school tomorrow night and the Barrhead 10km on Sunday (night out and 10km could be a bad combo!)
I did the first 5 myself and firmly telling myself it was only 5 miles and not thinking about the rest of it yet. I carried jelly babies and had 2 religiously on each mile but did not carry a drink for this bit which felt good! So I went from Bellhahouston Gym, along Paisley Road West, round Dumbreck Road, Nitsdale Road and back round Dumbreck Road and Mosspark Boulevard where Louise was waiting for me at the gym again and I got more jelly babies and powerade from the car. Louise was determined to get me through this and to run as far as she could herself as she has not done distance in a while because of injury.
I had been allright by myself for the first 5 but only because I knew I was meeting her and I was just so much more relaxed the minute I started running with her. Our pace was really pretty steady (we used to be all over the place) and although not fast it was fast enough to not feel like I was plodding but I could still talk the whole way round which really kept me going as it makes the time go so much faster.
So stamina wise I had no problems whatsover although my legs were feeling it from about 14 miles but not severely at all, as shown by fact we sped up for the last 3 miles. I am really chuffed with the run, just wish I had managed to do it weeks ago! Louise was really chuffed as well as she did 13 comfortably and we both acknowledged just how much easier it is to run with each other. I could not have done it without her. The number of times one of us has struggled and the other has dragged the other on is big, at least today I was not struggling, it was just a case of having good company!
I was so chuffed I stopped for a bottle of wine on the way home, which I have drunk while doing lots of cooking for the party tomorrow! Really should have spent more time stretching though!
