3 week highlight report - 16 miles today!

Yes yes yes yes yes!

So it's been a patchy 3 weeks.  Or rather a crappy one followed by 2 where I did all the sessions I meant to, but not entirely successfully.  I had a bout of complete and utter exhaustion with accompanying snuffles, where 12 hours' sleep a night just wasn't anywhere near enough.  This meant I did nothing for a full week.

Since then, I've done a variety of sessions.  Last Sunday, I attempted 17 miles but only managed 13 before my ITBs in both legs started the knees collapsing and I had to stop.  Thank you SO MUCH to the lovely man in the very expensive car who came across me forlornly waiting for Colin to collect me from Hove Lagoon.  There are still some truly nice people in this world and it really cheered me up.

Tuesday evening I planned to run home from work.  I got about 100 metres along the seafront, when this gaggle of girls started screaming my name (which is prominently featured on the front and back of my running vest).  Fearing a lairy teenager plague, I kept on going, but they didn't stop.  When I did eventually turn round to see what was going on, there were three of them chasing me along the seafront, each waving a different item of clothing.  Including, yes, boxer shorts.  Bless them, too, and shame on me for jumping to conclusions.  Cheap rucksack could not cope and popped open again a few seconds after I reorganised everything and tried to start again.  So I got the bus.

Weekday runs are really improving, both the ease and the pace.

Today.  Now, today, I should really have been doing 18 miles.  But given my recent history on these long runs and the interrupted nature of my training, I decided I would be happy with 15 - 14 was my previous longest run, 3 weeks ago.

I decided to do the Shoreham Harbour thing on this run, which I've not done before, and do a series of loops up and down the Hove and Brighton proms.  I've seen a bunch of people on the Brighton Marathon Facebook group talking about doing the Shoreham bit in preparation.  I remember it was the most boring bit of 2010's course, when it lacked any spectators (there's nowhere for them) and any entertainment (so why would they go there anyway), but I believe it's been remedied since.  Anyway, the sun was beating down, there was a gorgeous cool sea breeze and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

When I got back to Hove seafront, I had covered a big distance already and this really lifted my spirits.  Once out to the Peace Statue and back to Hove lagoon, then back out past the pier and the wheel and I turned for home with about 5 miles of the 18 left to do.  Pretty perfect distance-wise and almost like I'd planned it!

But then, oh my god, my feet hurt.  I mean, really, really hurt.  And then I started to get really tight in the muscles in what I can only describe as my groin.  I walked a bit and stretched a bit and got going again, though.  This is about the point last week where I reached my 'oh my god I can't do this I must be mad!' stage.  I'm very proud of myself and I eventually covered 16 miles.  This brought me back to Hove Lagoon again and Colin came to collect me.  Warm glow of satisfaction is now (3.5 hours later) overtaking aches and pains.  I've done some intense stretching and the foam roller is looking at me.  I'll tackle that later.  No crying, no dying and no injuries.  Hallelujah.  Also very impressed with the new drinks belt.  Made a huge difference not having to carry 1.5l (i.e. 1.5 kg) of fluid in my hands.

I've also decided to try to plan to finish at Hove Lagoon from now on.  The bit from there back home is intensely unpleasant - lots of roads to cross, lots of kerbs to negotiate (does anyone else have trouble getting up and down kerbs after 15 miles or so?  They feel about 10 foot high to me.) and generally uphill, quite steeply.  I have tried to sweeten the 'you're going to have to collect me every week' pill with Colin by suggesting he gets as far as the pub down there and waits.  We could have roast dinner there!!!  Not sure it's worked yet.

Anyway, if I can add 2 miles each Sunday for the next couple of weeks I'll have done what I have ever managed previously in training and be as prepared as I'm going to be for the big day.  Got the e-mail with my runner's number yesterday.  It's all getting very real!  If the black and pink vest, with 'LEE' front and back is not enough for you to pick me out, I'm wearing number 9276.

Updated Training Plan

Detailed Session Stats

Total Distance

Total Time