Well as those following me know my biggest run to date was on Sunday (The Sub4 Stafford 20 Miler) and I'm delighted to tell you that it was a huge success. I arrived to find a semi pro event full of club runners (just as I expected having been part of the Sale 10 previously) and I was the tubbiest man there (also expected!) and confirmed this when I collected my souvenir t-shirt which I'll never be able to wear in a million years. It seems us tubby marathon runners are a rare and unexpected breed.

At 10.30am the whistle blew and I set off nice and slow after having a power shot drink and a power bar an hour previously to get me going. I had heard that the course was hilly and found that to be the case with the same steep 1 mile long hill featuring on all 3 laps. There were plenty of other inclines but that was by far the worse. Another tricky feature on the day was a 3 mile section on laps 2 and 3 which due to the weather meant running into a very strong headwind which was akin to an invisible hand pushing you backwards! Nevertheless I persevered and concentrated on my breathing and listening to music. At 13 and 16 miles I treated myself to 2 different brands of carb gel and found I prefered the 'Power Bar' variety as they were much easier to take in than the lucozade brand.

So how did I do? Well, whether it was the carb products or just the fact I was having a good day the run passed by largely without pain. Only the merest hint from my calf muscles over 18 miles that they may have had enough. Everything really came together and I came through the line in a time of 3hrs 40mins which was exactly the same time as my 19 mile run 2 weeks previously which had been hell on earth and utterly soul destroying. Maybe I was just having a bad day on the 19 miler?

I could ponder the 'whys' for hours but the fact of the matter is that the Stafford 20 Miler was a ball and a huge boost to my confidence.

For the first time ever since starting to train I am thinking; 'I can do this'.

Cheers,

Andy