Time to taper off before my HM.

Hi everyone,

Ive had a great penultimate week training for my first HM on the 19th.

On Tuesday I ran a 5 miler and knocked just under 2 minutes of my previous best time.

This was followed on Thursday with another 5 miler where I knocked of another 2 minutes.

I understand that the HM is not about speed but I just wanted to build my strength up a little more.

My final run for the week was yesterday when I went out for my long run. 11 miles.

I was up at 6am and tucking into my porridge. Around 7 I looked out and through the darkness I could see that the floor was dry. Looking at the parked cars there was no frost but there were flurries of sleet everywhere. Under armour leggings and top were the flavour of the day, beneath my shorts and t shirt. Gloves and a hat were placed on the relevant body parts and then my garmin and ipod.

I was off, the 5 minute warm up walk, took 4 minutes as it was freezing.

I started my run and as always, the first mile was horrible, my knees ached, my back ached I kept flopping my arms around like a rag doll, to take any tenseness out of my shoulders.

Then it happened, PING!

The nasty mile was done and I just relaxed into my long run, along a grey and bitterly cold causeway leaving the island. Sleet was flying past me from every direction and the breeze was cutting. I kept on having to wipe the tears away, as my eyes kept on leaking. After around 20 minutes, the tears stopped as I got used to the cold. I joined the Rodwell trail and was surprised to be the only one on it. I kept looking at the watch to keep my pace and jogged along at 160 bpm to the lovely music supplied by Audio Fuel.

A lot of the birds seemed to be pairing off, there were magpies flying around and they looked like they were playing tag. Pied wagtails scurrying along in front of me. Blackbirds who looked like someone had inserted a tyre pump into them as they were so puffed up. The squirrels didn't seem to be at all bothered by the cold, then again they have lovely fur to keep theirselves warm. I reached the end of the trail and ran under the underpass. I then headed anticlockwise around the inner harbour, as I moved along I tried to guess where the Cormorant's would surface as they dived under the water for fish. I trotted over the town bridge into Weymouth and looped around so I was running along past the fish market and the trawlers. I passed an interesting tall sail boat, that looked like it had been around since Nelsons days.

Passing the Pavilion I joined the promenade and headed around the beach towards the east. By now there were more people around on the sand, throwing balls and things for their dogs. Reaching the clock I headed down past the railway station and bus terminus. It was 9 am by now and the carparks were eerily empty, I wouldn't have been surprised if a zombie sauntered around a corner as I headed towards the pedestrian bridge that spans the inner harbour.

I re-joined the Rodwell trail and started the gradual ascent out of Weymouth, there were a few dog walkers and cyclists now. The sleet flurries had stopped, I reached Sandsfoot castle and had a few drinks of water with a couple of gels, as I descended to the causeway and my return to Portland. The tide was out as I crossed the Fleet and there were hundreds of wading birds feeding on the waters edge and across the mud flats.

On reaching the 10 mile point my legs were starting to feel heavy and I got a couple of stabbing pains from behind my right knee. I slowed down a little and continued to the end of my run.

I had run the 11 miles 10 minutes faster than the week before, so I had a huge smile plastered across my face, as I limped up the hill to home and a hot shower.

My wife opened the door and laughed at my hat as it had frost all over it.

I've only got a 4 & 2 mile run this coming week and then on Friday we drive up north.

Next Sunday I will have hopefully completed the Blackpool HM.

I hope that you have all had a good weekend and some great runs.

All the best.

[Madge50 Graduate]

Oh good luck, good luck, good luck, good luck, and above all enjoy!

I've got my first HM in 3 weeks, a bit more to do before the taper....but nearly there.

Don't forget your race report after, with obligatory bling picture.....😄👍

Mx

[Hidden in reply to Madge50]

Hi Madge,

Thanks for your lovely message.

I will get some pictures and try to upload them.

Good luck with your training, I hope that everything goes well for your HM.

ALL THE BEST. X

[poppypug Graduate]

Oooh I can feel the excitement building !

Good Luck Wiggy , were all rooting for you . Good Luck and enjoy it ! xxx

[Hidden in reply to poppypug]

Thanks for your message Poppypug.

I'm getting excited and lots of things keep bouncing around in my head.

If you put a microphone on it, you would be sure to think that you were listening to a table tennis match.

I will keep you informed.

All the best. x

[skysue16 Graduate]

Great post! I know Weymouth well, so I could picture your run really clearly....down past the clock, to the station and over the bridge....sounds cold though! Wishing you lots of luck for your HM, you will be brilliant.

[Hidden in reply to skysue16]

Hi Skysue,

I'm glad that you enjoyed my post.

It certainly was cold, I was actually very pleased about that, as Blackpool is normally around 3 degrees cooler than down here. So next Sunday will probably be a similar temperature.

Thanks for your wishes, I'm getting excited now.

I will keep you informed as to how the HM, goes.

All the best.

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Another wonderfully descriptive post wanawig! So nearly there now and we shall all be thinking of you next weekend!☺ Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to Sandraj39]

Hi Sandraj,

Thanks for your reply and your best wishes.

I'm certainly getting excited now, worrying about catching a cold or twisting a joint.

I didn't mean rolling a spliff. lol

I'm glad you liked my post, I try to write the run as I felt, experienced and viewed it.

It's only a few weeks now before your Bath HM, so good luck to you with the remainder of your training and obviously on the day.

All the best. x

[Dunder2004 Graduate]

All the best wanawig.

Without really realising it, you will have built up a good amount of fatigue in your legs with all the hard training. Enjoy the 'easy' runs in your taper period and don't be tempted to run hard or fast. You are ready.

[Hidden in reply to Dunder2004]

Hi Dunder,

Thanks for your lovely reply.

You have actually opened my eyes. I had intended to attempt to beat my 4 mile time tomorrow night. I will now take your advice onboard and have a chilled run tomorrow night.

I will be posting again after the HM, from the hotel in Blackpool.

All the best.