http://www.runforjapan.com/

This week I dedicate my running to japan

A lot can happen in 16 weeks.  It seems such a long time when you start a marathon training programme and the first few weeks fly by, you reach 8 weeks and your half way there wishing there was still another 16 weeks to go , four weeks later and (well in my case) you just want it over!

But I was determined to recharge my training this week and have two last weeks of consistent and solid work before taper time! Training I told myself would be my priority both in physical and mental terms!

But by Wednesday I had worked 30hours and slept about 3hours, my daily nutrition seemed to consist of coffee and biscuits, ginger,  I had helped three of my teams empty and then refilled the contents of the equivalent of about 14 filing cabinets!

So my intended slightly longer run on Tuesday was reduced to 5.5 mile club run, Wednesday Intervals again just did not happen as I was at work till late, Thursday I wanted to rest.  But that was ok I had Friday booked as a holiday to run 20 miles with Nicky and Harp on Friday.

Friday morning came along and I had a little lie in before getting up and having a large bowl of porridge. As I set of I took a couple of pain killers feeling a little bit headache and a little sickly in my tummy, but I put it down to nerves.  But oh as I ran I felt worse, I lagged behind and the more I tried to run the more I couldn’t, I moaned at Nicky and Harp about the route, I kept nearly bursting into tears which meant I had to stop as I just cannot run while I m blubbering!  I remember one of my colleagues  Sara who runs for Otley passed me in the car and gave me a wave and I just hoped i didn't look as bad as I felt.  Eventually as we reached the bottom of a hill on the ring road and Harp and Nicky had had to stand waiting for me again, I decided it was time to do my own thing.  I felt if I could get on to the canal I could find my pace and just do another gentle 8 on my own I would be ok.  So fighting back the tears as they asked me if I was ok I turned and went my own way.

 

 



This sums up how I felt as i tried to keep up with Nicky and Harp!

  But another mile on as I reached Kirkstall Road, my legs just stopped, my body said no!  I started to walk the 2 - 3 mile back to the gym, sobbing because I felt ill, sobbing because I was upset, sobbing because I was cross with myself for not finishing the run.  I text TSR in the hope he could come for me but he was already out and about in Bradford and so I started to walk but eventually gave in and sat shivering in my run vest at a bus stop hoping that a) i would be let on the bus in sweaty running gear and b) I had enough money for the fare back to the gym.  I was about 50p short but the nice bus driver took pity on me. 

When I eventually arrived home cold and hungry I had a long bath and realised that what i had thought was a case of nerves was in fact a migraine not something I get often and thankfully  compared to my mum I don’t get them bad, but running  and migraines do not mix! Even TSR when he called round later could not put a smile on my face !

Now this left me with a dilemma, I had two days left and had another two runs to get in including having another go at my 20 miler if I was to keep my marchvelous 100% consistency target.  When I woke on Saturday morning my head was still foggy and for the first time in months i had a saturday morning lie in and  I missed http://www.parkrun.org.uk/leeds/Home.aspx! 

Suddenly at lunchtime the fog lifted like an early morning mist and later that afternoon I went out for a short run and I thought maybe just maybe I can do my 20 miler tomorrow.  Everyone I spoke / text said not to worry, missing my one 20 miler would not make much difference, that I should listen to my body and rest!  After all I had done the equivalent of a half marathon on Friday even if I had sobbed through half of it!  This is the exact advice I would give my running friends in such circumstances, but we all knew I would not listen! 

And so Sunday morning I set my alarm for 5.45, had breakfast, sorted some washing and set off at 7.45 for a solo 20 miler, which I dedicate to http://www.runforjapan.com/