Life is pretty good at the moment. With all the ups and downs of the first few months of the year and not feeling particularly positive about how my training was going, I seemed to have turned the corner and enjoying my running once again.
Training has been going well since the Sussex Marathon and with the Double Grand Union Canal Race coming up in 3 weeks time I believe that everything is on track – well until a little blip today! Went out to do a 7 hour run along the North Downs Way, weather was perfect and felt good after my tempo run yesterday but within about 10 minutes of starting left knee felt sore so walked for a bit and it went away. Started running again and after another 10 minutes it happened again, so walked. I have no idea why this happened and certainly wasn’t like this yesterday, so ran/walked for an hour and half before deciding to call it a day. Very disappointed as this was my last long run but I have it checked out and try again on Friday. These things happen and better to listen to my body and be on the start line than run for 7 hours and be gutted.
Apart from todays not so good run everything else has been going well. I feel my speed has improved which is fantastic and I do love a good speed session. I’m given a tempo run to do each week which increases weekly by 5k, hard work but feel great once completed and I ran better than expected – life in the old bird yet!
I’m now feeling ready for the Double GUCR, plans have been made, James and I have a great crew and Sam Robson is going to come and join us during the night on Thursday 23rd which means he can do all the talking while James and I listen! Our plan is to start running on Thursday 23rd May from Little Venice at 9am and reach Gas Street in Birmingham in ….(we know!) hrs, eat, sleep then join the other 98 runners on the 145 mile race back to London. I’m very excited and looking forward to the challenge, although poor James will have to spend a lot of time with me; I have promised not to talk too much!
We have a great crew, Gemma (Jame’s wife) Becky, Paul and of course HWMBO, a fantastic combination of people and we even have a pacing plan – shock horror.
This Sunday I’m taking part in a 50 mile charity bike ride around Horsmonden which could be interesting as I haven’t used my bike for about a year – my backside may be a touch sore by the end.
Enjoy your training this week, great time to top up your tan.
Happy Training
