10 Days and a Better Place... and Bin Day!

In a Better Place

Well, 10 days ago, my post title, "Not in a Good Place", led to my daughter asking was I ok. Sorry, and thank you for caring :)
The place I was in was frustrated and annoyed at where my training had gone as a result of injury and sickness taking 4 weeks out. I had gone from 14km a few weeks previous to 3k and with the Half Marathon only 5 weeks away.

10 miles on

Today was the first day that I felt comfortable that my post-cold chest problems where safe to go out and with only 3 weeks to go I wanted to get back to long duration (I did slot in a slow 7km last week).

Still enough time to recover if anything went awry, I decided to aim at getting back up to 13km but accept that I'd walk for a few minutes every 15-20 mins to recover and keep stresses on chest and limbs reduced.
It was hard work but the walk intervals were surprisingly effective. When I'd been out about 40 mins, I decided to forget distance and, continuing the rest intervals, to aim to be out for at least 1hr 30min. If I could do that, I could work on the last couple of weeks getting up to 2 hours on the road which should prepare me for the 2hr 10min to 2hr 25min I hope to be managing on the day.
Things continued well, though by 1hr 20min I was forcing myself on and I chose a route home which should take a further 20 minutes. I started to suffer a little with the IT band issue around 90mins so ran more carefully and resisted the temptation to push even further.
Having added another walk interval it was approaching 1hr 45min as I neared home and checking my watch realised I was unexpectedly close to that magic 10miles (16km) which would beyond anything I had ever run and temptation took over adding a swing round an extra road in the estate.

Freezing cold bath after stretches on return home and I am remarkably intact though somewhat drained of energy. Absolutely delighted with today and the end game definitely feels achievable though I may not manage my original target 2 hr 10min.

km: 16.41 (10.02 miles)     Duration: 01:50:02     Average Speed: 8.95

Bin Day

Don't you just hate running on bin day? At least this road was quiet at this time of day but on busy main roads it's a real pain going on and off the kerb watching for traffic.

 

Sponsorship

Running for St. Ann's Hospice in memory of Margaret Donovan (Mum) and Sheila Waddington.