Two weeks Sunday is the HM I’ve entered and my training has been [insert expletive of choice]. Injury and illness have knocked out all my consistency, especially with the long runs and I really felt I had to get a chunky one under my belt today or my gremlins would be bothering me until the race.
The fairytale version of this run has me triumphantly bashing out ten easy miles while floating on air and deciding to carry on to twelve (what I did last time as my final long run). Instead, today was TOUGH! Grey weather, tiredness, and general unsettledness meant I made I out at 2pm. A silly time to start a long run. Last time, I drove to a lovely, flat disused railway but this time, it had to be local so that meant hills. Ah well, it had to be done. One thing is for certain, if I’m going out on a run I’m not really up for, Coach B is coming with me! I choose the 15km run from this month’s playlist and decide I’ll extend the end.
The first 5km felt like an absolute crawl round one of my old c25k routes. Lots of uphill. It took an eternity to warm up. I decided to keep it interesting by really focussing on keeping my heart rate down and even walking a couple of times when it crept up. I’ll do that again. There were bunnies in a field I sometimes spot them for the first time this spring. That cheered me up.
As 5km passed, route turned sharply uphill. A challenge but an enjoyable one. Coach B talked about running on cruise control. Usually by this point I’ve hit my google but today still felt really hard at this point. At the top of the hill, there’s an option to keep ascending to reach my favourite stretch of downhill but I don’t have it in me to climb another step. I remember at this point I’ve got dates as fuel and decide this is a good time to eat the first one. I note that I’ve become a proper grown up based on how much I enjoy it!
The next stretch is quite steep downhill and requires done concentration. This takes my mind off feeling tired and finally, as 10k comes up (!!!) I feel like I’ve warmed up. The next 3k is a lovely run along some undulating lanes and it’s really enjoyable. Then, rain! I wasn’t expecting this and I haven’t brought anything to put my phone in. The solution I come up with is to eat one of the remaining dates and throw the other in a hedge. The bag gets turned inside out and used as an impromptu phone case. My leggings will be sticky but that’s better than a dead phone.
The rain was welcome. I’d been slowly warming up in the kind of muggy heat you get before a ln epic downpour. Another steep downhill into a village, too severe to enjoy really and at the bottom, a flood (see pic). Just like the bear hunt, the only way was through it and now to add to tired legs, sodden trainers.
The grumpiness gave me a burst of energy (or maybe it was the dates) and my tired legs have a second wind. 14k comes up, as I run alongside a lake with the biggest seagulls I’ve ever seen. Coach B tells me to get ready to celebrate as I’m running along the wooded trail. I throw my hands in the air and do a little dance…and then I remember. 1km to go to hit the ten miles.
It’s as if all the energy drained from my body at that moment. That last 1km felt like it was actually 10km again. Every step was exhausting. This time, there was no triumphant finish, only relief! A cool down walk, stretches and a king lift home and I’m done. Totally done in!
I’m so glad I got through this today, even though it wasn’t that enjoyable for most of the time. I can’t decide if I’m looking forward to the HM but at least I’m confident that I can drag myself round! More than anything, I’m relieved not to have to do another long run before then!
6 Weeks Post Grad! I’m a runner! 🏃🏾♀️❤️
Bump in the Road
