The Aga Saga and its sequel.

[turnturtle]

Let's start with a quick recap of the things that have gone wrong in my build up to the Berlin marathon: the broken toe; the lacerated shins while negotiating a French forest for an emergency loo- stop; the face plant on Tarmac while doing my long run last weekend; the previously unmentioned incident 5 days ago when I washed my beloved Sauconys and unwittingly put them too close to the Aga hot plate to dry resulting in a total and unrepairable meltdown of the sole of my left shoe; the emergency purchase from Amazon of a replacement pair with only two weeks left to run them in before the marathon. ...

Am I the unluckiest person in the world or simply congenitally incompetent and therefore unsuited to running a marathon? It was a question haunting my dreams over the past week until today. .. Because guess what? I set out to do the prescribed 14K MyAsics training run at the race-pace they had advised (based on my age and previous runs) of 8.05 perK which I have just about managed to maintain in previous runs. I set off at what I felt was my usual race pace and felt very comfortable and Was able to maintain it all through the run and even speed up as advised for the last K . To my utter amazement my Garmin showed an average pace of 7.25. The only thing I can put it down to is that I ran today around Yorks very flat racecourse and all on Tarmac while virtually all my training runs have been quite hilly and with substantial trail or grass portions. So maybe inadvertently I have been building up my stamina and speed during my previous runs? I mustn't get carried away but I can't help dwelling on the fact that Berlin is flat and on Tarmac! Maybe I will avoid the sweeper bus after all!

[AncientMum Half Marathon]

Yay!! Great news TT, you star. You deserve a bit of luck after all the issues that have dogged your training. Today's run bodes very well for the race itself. Like you say, don't get carried away, but maybe be quietly confident that you can complete it in style

[misswobble Marathon in reply to AncientMum]

Oh yes! Hills, uneven ground, undulations all add to your cardiowotsit power 😊 You can run on the flat easier without even realising it. Bodes well for the race proper.

I had a better run yesters, after my arduous one t'other day, and it does pick you up doesn't it ☺

[benwill Marathon]

I think this is great news and we all have these little issues along the way (ok not that many). But your be great and i think its very good you been doing hill routes it helps., just remember to taper!

[ju-ju- Marathon]

your training is paying off... and as for the disaster, they are all behind you now and the Berlin Marathon will now be a doddle in comparison, well done

[misswobble Marathon]

By eck, it's getting exciting. I feel the pressure building. A full head of steam gathering for race day. Wooooohooo! Go TT! 😊

[dagshar Half Marathon]

Poor shoes, but yay on that run! I am so impressed!

[ancientrunner Half Marathon]

Well done - lets hope all your disasters have now happened - surely!!!