I think ive been lucky so far, I have seemed to have swerved sore nipples, bursting blisters, crippling cramp and many of the other common running related injuries. My training has been tough, i have pushed myself so im surprised. Perhaps I was just lucky with the kit I bought or im just a naturally fit long distance runner...unlikely.

Well I came crashing down with a thump a couple of days after my last post. I got an injury that prevented me from training and restricted my walking!  There has been a dull pain at the top left leg where the femur joins the hip. Its been there on nearly all my long runs after about 10 miles but I never thought of it as any more than just a running ache, I had after all upped the training and your body is going to naturally hurt. If it doesn't your not training properly,  right? Anyway, after I completed my long run. 20.5 miles. it felt more sore than normal and painful when coming to the end of the run. The next day I could barely walk. Gutted, sums up how I was feeling rather nicely.I really thought i'd done something svere enough to rule me out the race.

So I booked in to see a physio and stopped training for three days. Physio diagnosed me with Iliotibial Band Syndrome and informed me of new cure - not sure why I even thought there would be a magic pill. The injury has happened because of the constant running on uneven surface, pavents are not even and roads are curved and these are the two surface all my running has been on. I discussed with the Physio and the correct course of treatment is rest however this isn't an option because this is the most important month of training. So, we devised a plan to help me manage it whilst keeping up the training. I have lots of stretching to do daily and must apply RICE where possible. Im also due for a spot of deep tissue massage next week. I managed to get in my long run after a few days of rest as these are the most important. I was pleased I completed my longest yet, 22.5 miles and was relatively pain free. I could feel it but it wasn't enough to stop me. If it can continue like that ill be chuffed. I think im going to have to drop a training day in the week which isn't ideal at all but if it enables me to run the long runs its what im going to have to do.

Fund raising has been better over the last couple of weeks. I have however made a real push and pestered hard. Im still facing a lot of 'I wills' and subsequent donts but I shall persevere and hopefully get a late flurry. Im busy trying to think of other fund raising ideas but to be honest they all involve me doing cringey things which I cant bare!