Journey for James by Sarah_DC

Having not run for a week due to a cold and sore throat i knew i had to get back out last thursday if i was to have any chance of finishing the 20 mile race on Sunday.

Most people thought i was completely bonkers attempting a 20 mile race in Merthyr Tydfil - for people who don't know the area its on the edge of the breacon beacons and is full of hills, however having been assured by our club captain that it wasn't that hilly i decided to give it a go (and entered hubby as well for good measure!)

Well they were right to say it wasn't that hilly because those hills were mountains!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I started right at the back of the field (all 164 of us) and was convident at keeping my pace, this resulted in us staying at the back all the way round and we had the great company of the marshall and first aider on their bikes following us.  Despite coming last i am really chuffed with myself.  It was a bloody tough course (harder and hillier than the great north run) and i completed it within 10minutes of my estimated time, my finish time by the gun was 3hr 54mins, I had hoped for 3hr 45mins.  I didn't stop but did march up the big hills - i knew if i had ran my knees would have gone and this was only a training run not a race for me.

I am now confident that i can complete London in under 5hrs and maybe might get closer to 4hr 30 if i can keep moving.  I was pleased with my splits and managed the water stations well and am glad that i did a 20mile race rather than just a long slow run of my own, running the race was great mental preparation and gave me the opportunity to think about gels, water, pacing etc all the things that are really going to count on the day itself.

So when my registration form for Excel came throught the door yesterday i was happy as happy can be, i have flicked through all the adverts in the mag, read some fo the articles but am now thinking that it all seems so real again - in 5 weeks time it will all be over!