The Running Man by SeanG

This week? Monday was a normal day at work and running rest day after Sunday's Boddington Marathon. Tuesday started "normal". Was in the office by 0700. However, by 0900 I had been headhunted to head down to Devonport NB (Plymouth) to carry out an urgent installation on HMS Sutherland with the prospect of going out to sea if the task wasn't completed that day/evening/night. Picked up a car and headed for Plymouth (300 mile drive) via home to pack an overnight bag (and several days of clothes.....just in case!) arriving at around 1700 hours and then straight to work. The cut a long story short we managed to get everything fixed, tested and commissioned by 2100 hours. Not too bad at all. However, after a bit to eat we didn't get to the hotel until just before midnight. A long day. Wednesday was a couple of hours work 1st thing surveying a couple of other boats for new comms installation that are going to take place in a couple of weeks time and then the 300 mile drive back to the office. No runs on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday was back in the office and a very easy 4.25 mile run after work. Sciatic nerve still a little sore but not too bad. Friday was a rest day before the weekends double.

56.85 miles ran for the week.

MK Enigma Summer Marathon Day 1
Not a particularly good day at the office really. Sciatic nerve has been quite sore on and off all week with little rest-bite. Woke up and it was still sore. Wasn't really looking forward to another repeat of last week. So, it was to Milton Keynes for a little after 0700, ready for a 0800 start. Usual familiar faces - Keith_L and LadyFe from the Realbuzz crowd and a fair amount of 100 Marathon Club runners too. Pretty much ideal weather conditions - cloudy and not too warm. However, given the amount of dark clouds overhead rain was always going to be a possibility.
Had a pretty slow start but the sciatic nerve wasn't happy. Not quite as sore as last week but still very uncomfortable and made it impossible to get into any form of rhythm. Again, like last week, stuck in 3rd gear. The course had an initial 1.67 mile section and then followed by 7 times around Caldecotte Lake with each lap being 3.55 miles. The course is pretty flat and little twisty with a number of quite tight turns. My sciatic nerve wasn't happy with the turns (or the up and downs either!). Had a little water logged section too. Went straight through it the 1st 3 times, decided to try and go around it on the 4th time and nearly became a casualty. As soon as I hit the mud one leg went one way and the other leg went the opposite way (think Bambie on ice!). Was pretty lucky not to do myself a serious injury. However, it really did twang my sciatic nerve. Decided to stick to getting my feet wet on the remaining laps, it was the lesser of the evils.
Sciatic nerve started to ease off a little at around the 19 mile mark but never completely disappeared like last week. Was just happy to see the remaining two laps out and call it a day. Finished a few seconds over 3.55 and a handful of seconds behind LadyFe. Measured the course at 26.32 miles. Average heart rate was 143bpm. Hardly breaking into a sweat really. All to do again on Sunday, but not a good weather forecast. The big plus point of the day that it was another marathon in the bag. So, not all bad. Number 70 done.

MK Enigma Summer Marathon Day 2
So, day 2. 0930 start. Same course! Woke up with the sciatic nerve feeling fine this morning. The difference 24 hours can make. Weather forecast was still for heavy showers. Legs felt fine from yesterday but I guess that it was a 26.2 mile warm-up for today's run.
From the start I felt pretty good today. Sciatic nerve was behaving itself so straight through the gears and into 5th. Something I never achieved yesterday! Managed not to get lapped today so that was a pretty decent achievement. Felt very strong up to around the 15.5 mile mark (4 complete laps). Pace just started to tail off a little. I guess it was a combination of probably running the 1st half a little too quickly and of course, fatigued muscles. Must say that the weather was not what was expected or forecast. There was the odd dark cloud but no rain what so ever and even the sun came out for some good periods of time. Didn't even think about running in sunglasses today which is very unusual for me as I normally where sunglasses in just about any weather! The last 2 laps were pretty hard work but still kept up a reasonable pace. Was very glad to see the finish line. 3 hour 41 minutes and 46 seconds by my watch with an average heart rate of 145 bpm. Course measured at 26.21 miles today - managed to run the racing line better! Quicker than yesterday by almost 14 minutes. In contrast to yesterday, a pretty good day at the office. Must say, another good run by LadyFe today, 1st lady home in just under Sub 4.A great run. So, number 71 done.

This week? Should be office based Monday through to Wednesday (with Nursery responsibilities on Wednesday), down Bath way on Thursday and back in the office for a short day on Friday (probably doing the Nursery run too). No marathons or any runs lined up for a few weeks now. Next up will be another weekend double in 3 weeks time - Madeyarun around the Reservoir (yep, as it says on the tin) but on the 2nd day you run the course in reverse....exciting stuff!