Yes, that’s correct. No it isn’t a typo –-> I actually ran 19 miles!! But first I’ll re-cap the rest of the week
Monday was a struggle –-> I was feeling pretty rubbish (no surprise there) and really couldn’t face Running in the cold so instead I made myself a hot tea and tucked myself into bed with a hot water bottle. Nothing better than being in bed before 8pm and asleep by 9pm
Tuesday I had a 40 Minute slow run to do and although I still wasn’t particularly feeling it, I knew I wouldn’t be able to fit in my runs if I didn’t go. I started off ok but after a mile I landed on my ankle badly and every single step killed. I jogged / walked / limped back home –-> instead of running for 40 minutes, I only managed to do 25 minutes = 2 miles @ 12.12 average pace.
Thank goodness for frozen peas –-> they were a lifesaver:
My ankle felt better on Wednesday but still not 100% so instead of going for a run I went to a legs, bums and tums class. I have NEVER squatted so much in my life –-> my legs were burning, my abs were burning and I may have thrown in a few choice words for good measure. Afterwards I cursed myself –-> there was no way I would be able to run tomorrow!
Thursday morning I got up expecting to be in agony and surprisingly, my legs were ok –-> thank goodness for deep heat, I don’t think I could live without it! My scheduled run was a threshold run – 15 minutes easy, 2 x (10 minutes threshold, 3 minutes easy) and 10 minutes. The threshold runs were difficult –-> I know they’re meant to be but boy did I hurt. I ended up running 3.1 miles in 29:06 minutes -> a little over but I was so close to doing a 5K that I pushed myself a little more = average pace @ 9.17
Friday I had to run 5 minutes easy, 10 minutes slow, 10 minutes threshold, 10 minutes slow and 10 minutes easy. I’ll be completely honest, I didn’t run the full 45 minutes –-> I only ended up running for 26:51 minutes = 2.4 miles @ 10.55 average pace. My legs felt quite good but I didn’t want to push them too much –-> I knew I had to save them for Sunday!
I was so nervous about Sunday –-> the most I have ever ran continuously is 13.1 miles and even then that’s caused issues before with my hip. I decided that if I was going to do this I would need to do it early –> got to love a 5:30am alarm on a Sunday morning!
Dinner on Saturday evening was sausage pasta –-> perfect mix of carbs and protein:
Saturday night I had the worst dream –> I didn’t wake up for my alarm and I missed my run. I remember feeling awful and trying to fit it in during the day but I just couldn’t. It was clearly on my mind all night but it did make getting up an awful lot better –> I did not want that dream to be reality!
When my alarm went off I made myself get out of bed straight away. My pre run fuel was a bowl of porridge cooked with almond milk and topped with sultanas and peanut butter –> I was definitely meant to add a banana but apparently my brain doesn’t function properly so early in the morning.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry so I put so much tape on my legs and shins = the new way to customise active wear:
I left the house at 6:30am and immediately my legs felt heavy and they started to hurt. After a mile, I could feel myself wanting to give up –> there was no way in hell I was going to be able to run another 19 miles.
After 7 miles, I had a huge battle. I was at a point where I needed to turn right to carry on my run BUT if I turned left, I would cut my run by around 6 miles. All I wanted to do was run left –> I physically, mentally and emotionally felt that 20 miles was too much and the thought of running for another 13 made me want to cry. I reckon I was there for a good couple of minutes before pulling myself together and realising I couldn’t give up –> I needed to push myself. So I went right.
One of my biggest weaknesses is talking myself out of something –> I can talk myself out of anything and I know it’s something I need to fix. So for the next few miles I tried really hard to think of positive things –> how far I’ve already come, how amazing it will feel once I finish, how lucky I am to be able to do this.
After mile 13 I had another mental block –> I was so done. I’d ran this distance before but never anything beyond it and that was difficult for me. Thankfully I’d ran in a loop so I had no choice but to keep running –> no one was around to pick me up and take me home, trust me, I tried. It’s times like these where I’m thankful my boyfriend lives 100 miles away.
When I got to mile 16 my back started to hurt and my hips were aching –> I feel grateful that I managed to get up to 16 miles but at that point the pain really kicked it. I ended up doing a run / walk for the next 3 miles which seemed to work –> my marathon aim is to run for 20 and then do this for the last 6 if I need to. I passed a bench and all I wanted to do was sit down and rest but I just knew if I did, I’d still be there now –> sometimes I’m seriously impressed at my mental strength, not that it happens often.
I didn’t run the full 20 which was annoying –> admittedly, if I really pushed myself I could have done but I was exhausted, dehydrated and in a bit of pain by this point so home seemed the best option!
My GPS didn’t work for the first mile so it wasn’t picked up when I synced my Fibit = 18.1 miles in 3 hours & 34 minutes @ 11.49 average pace:
My splits were: 11.04, 10.42, 11.30, 11.37, 10.35, 12.49, 11.36, 10.37, 11.40, 12.33, 12.31, 10.46, 11.34, 11.57, 11.48, 13.52 (mile 16 -> my back was really aching at this point), 13.18, 12.27 & 9.17 for the 0.1 part.
I’m definitely running a positive split naturally so I’m sure this will be the same in the marathon. 19 miles ran –> only another 7 miles to find! I’m feeling so much more positive about the marathon now. If the run went terribly I would have felt awful –> this run was a huge deal for me and I feel beyond happy that it worked out like it did. My aim of running a sub 5 hour marathon feels possible now.
Best part of running 19 miles –> the guilt free food afterwards:
8 weeks to go –> I’ve got this.
How was your weekend?
Did you go a long run?
L x
