Getting stronger ?? part 1

I started this blog post last weekend and it is now a post of two halves…..

There round 5 weeks left to the marathon, getting stronger both in terms of my running and mentally. I ran 21 miles to my parent's house on Easter Sunday.  We have had a very busy weekend with decorating the two back bedrooms, I'm convinced it would have been easier to move but Sean said that I was a bit too dramatic!

I said that I was more than happy to decorate, but there was a 20 mile in the plan for some point at the weekend and the plan was to run to my old homestead and would be needing a lift back.  We settled on Sunday as  most of the decorating would be out of the way and would be left with glossing (which I hate!) but at least I could the skirting boards meaning shuffling along on my bum!

We had been blessed with a wonderful Easter weekend, wall to wall sunshine and warm temperatures it was a joy to be out running in it even doing a long run! I had my podcasts ready, my hydration pack and a front-loaded route. There is nothing more soul destroying than having to find an extra 2 miles at the end of your run.  Off I set with the sun on my face and a spring in my set; the run went well I ran up to the Bet 365 stadium and then on to the canal for a run into Stone. 

Miles 4 to 10 were along the canal which was lovely, quiet and peaceful and odd barge tootling along and 

giving a cheery wave, I also saw a couple of Herons on the banks and managed to take a snap before I continued with my run. Half way is done with an average pace of 9:20 and now on to the next stage of the run was along the busy A34.  I  decided to change things up and put some music on, it was going to be too difficult to hear podcasts as cars zoomed at 60mph. 

Miles 11 to 18  along the A34 were very different to the canal on the only notably site was a viagra packet on the side of the dual carriageway… I didn’t stop to check to see if it was empty or full but it did distract me for a bit thinking about why and how it ended up on the side of the road.   The music definitely helped me up and over Yarlet Bank which is a bit of a climb, but once it is out of the way it is mainly downhill or flat for a good couple of miles.  As I approached Stafford my pace alarm was going off to tell me to slow down, which I did try to do but not that well as my average pace of 9:08 between miles 11 to 18. 

Miles 19-21 (?) there was a lot of bargaining going on with regards to the route, I had already realised that it would be 20 miles well before my parent's house, now the dilemma was, do I go up one big hill and run around 22 miles or take the alternative shorter route few a couple of sharp inclines and only run 21 miles…….21 miles it was.

As I turned in my parents street I was well and truly done in, but 21 miles at this stage in my training is great going…especially when it is followed up by 7 chatty miles with Jen the then next day!

You do have love long bank holiday weekends, these are even better when the weather turns up.  As I said that the start in terms of my marathon training, things are going well and getting stronger all the time!!


However, part 2 .........

Over thinking my over thinking

Trainining is going well although sometimes I have a tendency to over think my long runs…

·         which route will I take, 

·         do I have enough time to fit it in, 

·         should I go flat 

·         should I hill 

·         what about my pace 

·         will I get bored

·         Do I have enough podcasts 

·         do I have enough time

·         what route 

·         go in the morning before dawn

·         after the commuter traffic

This goes on in a loop around my head and then I start to feel all overwhelmed about the fact I don’t know the answers to these relentless questions.  

My worry is that my run will be doomed to failure as it will be; too short, too long, too hilly, too flat, I’ve run out of things to listen to and I’m late for a mythical appointment I didn’t know I had.  I’m trying to remember if this has always been my default when complicating my long runs or did I just wing it??

Having said all of that my last long run was 15 miles on Friday 22^nd Feb; a route in mind, a full podcast play list, hydration backpack and fuelling strategy and it was lovely.  The weather was perfect, as we are experiencing an early Spring here in the UK with temperatures well above average, the route was perfect quite flat with  number of hills and 15.1 miles door to door, winning!!

You would think that this week, in preparing for my slightly longer run (16 miles) this Friday that the “what if” loop would have stopped….unfortunatey NOT...  but inevitability ir will get it done and it will be fine, whatever is thrown at me, I will both cope and adapt!  

Happy running!