Strong finish

Monday 13th February

7 miles – club session

I started off doing the speed session but my legs were wrecked and so just before the turn Lesley and I turned back and just ran steadily back.  Well I say ran steadily back but we definitely ran quite a bit of it faster than interval sections on the way out!

Tuesday 14th February

weight training

6.5 miles, with Susan

Nitsdale Road route, it was a total slog for both us.  I was definitely ready for a day off!

Wednesday 15th February

3 miles very slowly

Thursday 16th February

weight training

20 mins bike

I did try to run today but it was hopeless and I tried not to feel too guilty since I needed my legs recovered for Sunday.

Sunday 19th February

35.12 miles, 9 hrs 14 mins, 15.47m/m pace

Drovers – Inversnaid     1:58        16.35m/m

Break                                    5.31

Inversnaid – Beinglas    1.51         16.52m/m

Break                                    9.27

Beinglas – turn                  2.39        15.14m/m

turn – Drovers                  2.30        13.48m/m

I enjoyed the run to Inversnaid with Karen, it was great to catch up, and most of the way back although by the time we were nearly back at Beinglas I was just thinking about having to go so far out again!  I have to say I pretty much hated every step of that 11 miles or so out and the difference in time for both directions certainly shows this, especially considering the way back includes the extra to the Drovers. 

If I had been by myself I wouldn’t have taken the breaks but if we hadn’t had them the others wouldn’t have caught us and then I might not have made it all the way to the turn so it all worked out!  My throat was really sore from about 14 miles and quickly made my back sore too.  It was agony from about 20 miles which is another reason I am pleased that at least my legs finished strongly.  I had muttered to John I might not make it to the turn and quite rightly, he told me afterwards, he decided to basically ignore my whimperings!  I’m glad he did although psychologically and physically that 11 miles were torture!  My downhills in the forest were good but that was about all that was good about that section.

My uphills seriously need work!  I was lagging behind on most of the uphills in the forest and then finding myself at the front on the downhills.   On our way back in the forest I went off down the last hill and just carried on when I got to the big gate as I was thinking with my throat I was going to have to take a lot of walking breaks  to relieve the pain and at least if I had a head start I could be near the others for longer.  I did take quite a few walking breaks but went reasonably quickly when I was running and in the end they never caught me back up.  My legs felt really strong and if I hadn’t had my throat problem badly I think I could have been quite a bit faster today – that and if it hadn’t been two out and backs!  The beautiful day made up for it though!

I could not swallow anything until about 10pm that night and my back was still sore when I swallowed the next day.  I was at the hospital again the other day and I have one more tablet to try but other than that they are totally stumped!

Total 51.5 miles.  I’ve learned my lesson and I’m having an easy week this week…and another sports massage.