Marathon Post #4

Highs and lows

Monday 16th I had a great run, maybe the best ever I have felt during and after. I left my phone alone and got into the swing of my pace and breathing. I also kept a clear and positive head and let my mind wander. I ran a number of long straight roads so I could really switch off and it seemed to help maintain the can do attitude I will try to emulate.

I am finding that a smooth/juice an hour or so before a run gives an effective sugar rush as well as keeps me hydrated for the duration of the run - I did not take any water with me and was only really struggling towards the end. This one looks disgusting but was probably my favourite so far! Two satsumas, two kiwis and some fizzy water.

Though my recovery after this run felt good, my next couple of attempts at running were not. It was the following Saturday and it was freezing cold. Maybe I didn't warm up well enough but after not even 3km I couldn't run any longer and I had to walk nearly the whole 3km home. This was my first taste of disappointment during the few weeks I have been training, and obviously with 3 months of winter training to look forward to I feared the worst for me and my knee.

I tried again one night after work... about 200m this time I was stopped by my knee and blisters from the week before's 12km. This put me in such a bad mood.

I gave it a week before I tried again - that brings me to tonight's run. A milder 13.4km! I fuelled up with a juice (can of pineapple and a regular pine-less apple), put on a knee support and set out at a really slow knee testing pace. The result was my furthest and longest run ever - apart from the half marathon earlier this year. Buzzing again!

I ended my first month training with a November total of 56.4km!



I'm still yet to collect any sponsorship but I have five more months to come up with some fundraising schemes and pester my friends and family - you best be ready.