Just keep running....just keep running..... by legs_of_lamb

Apologies for blog radio silence, life’s just been really busy.  Firstly –

CONGRATS to all VLM finishers!

 Got a tad emotional just watching it on the telly, so many stories of courage & determination, just a brilliant display of human endurance & tenacity – YOU ARE ALL HEROES!

But, now it’s my turn!  In just 5 short weeks I’ll be (hopefully) lining up on the start line of the Edinburgh Marathon so, good job that training reached a whole new level this Sunday when I went out for my first big 20 miler!  A really hot day & boy did I feel every step!  Parked in Tesco (I choose all the classy spots!) and started jogging up the road towards the dunes where I found the old railway line & began my plod.  Weather was really hot in the sheltered parts, I was glad that I erred on the side of caution & had applied factor 30 before leaving the house.  Took 1 litre of fluids with me, 500ml of water & 500ml Lucozade Sport.  The water lasted til just over half way and the lucozade the rest of the way.  The lucozade didn’t sit well on the stomach during the final few miles, but then I dont think anything would have.  I also took a few jelly babies which I ate at around 2hrs, 2:45 & about 3:15.  After that I was feeling too nauseous to have anything else. 

Really felt the last few miles, they were excedingly dificult & I had to call on all my available physical & psychological reserves, and then some just to keep putting one foot in front of the other.  I felt sure the wall was imminent at mile 18, but I managed to dig deep (I’m not sure where) but I managed to keep going.  I just had to keep reminding myself that it is only in these last few unbeleivably difficult miles that the training really matters & really takes place.  It is this mental preparation that I think was the biggest benefit of the run, I now know that I have what it takes to get through 20m, and I hope that 5 weeks is enough time for that training to be assimilated and for me to up the stakes one more time to 22m before the taper. 

Stopped running at 20.06m as I just had nothing left, I continued walking to the car, I felt sure that I would throw up when I stopped running, but I managed to keep my stomach at bay.  Did some stretching & drank about a litre of water and drove home with the Sunday papers and my choccy spread sandwich.

I ended up with sunburn, prickly heat and very sore feet, but I did it and that it worth more mentally & psychologically than any other training run yet.  

JUST KEEP RUNNING.