Inquisition by Menton

When I woke up this morning I was so annoyed that I wasn't heading off the the Great Bentley half marathon, however last week after completing the Gade Valley 12 mile training run I knew I couldn't justify another half marathon this Sunday. This was the day I've been dreading for ages, a 17/18 miler was a must for today but nowhere was there an organised run in the South East and so I knew that 3 loops of decreasing length were going to have to be ground out with no one (except my i-pod whose training runs compilation runs out after 100 minutes) to keep me company. 

It didn't start well but when I reached the point where the first loop turns for home I decided to continue heading out into Epping Forest despite knowing this was going to mean I'd have to come back via High Beech which is aptly named.

I normally detest setting myself a 9 mile run back home after a trudging up severe inclines (938m ascent) but I knew today time on the road was all important and although it couldn't be described as an easy run I don't think 30 Km's can feel less painful and what a confidence boost to have got these tough Km's in the locker. 

I know I'm very short of total miles for Barcelona which is only 4 weeks away now but If I can get through the Reading 20 miler next Sunday I'm into the taper and there's no point in fretting over missed runs at that stage.  The last 4 Sundays have been 10, 15, 12, 18 miles that might be a boring set of stat's for you but it feels good to type and that is what I have to cling to when stepping across the timing mat with 42 Km ahead of me. 

I knew this was going to be an inquisition, but at least this last 4 weeks have given me a fighting chance to survive it.