Ow!
Christmas run in is beginning to take its toll. Been out enjoying life rather a lot again this week what with Christmas parties and the like, but managed to get out for two 6 milers during the week, up to Redwick and back, which are now reasonably easy – but take time.
Decided this weekend that I would up the miles again, forgetting that I didn’t run a big one last week, so wasn’t really used to it. Didn’t have much on the Friday, but Sian was out on the Friday and I didn’t sleep brilliantly, but went out at 9:30 for a proposed 17.
Mile one was a bit panty, as it always in at the beginning, but my left knee which had been twinging a bit in the week was fine, and off I podded. Kept up a 8:45 for the first couple of miles, but by the time I got to the bypass to Newport I was already slowing. Almost caught up with someone ho joined at the Tesco turnoff, but she was flying so she disappeared into the distance and I had enough sense not to speed up. Took two bottles with me today, and a tiny packet of Haribos and a gel.
After about 7 miles I was feeling pretty good, but getting bored, and the road was surprisingly busy towards Goldcliff which was a pain. By the time I was getting back to the Redwick road, about 12/13 miles in I was starting to suffer. I have been getting a pain in my “toe bone” along the top of my foot, but also my ankles and feet were aching today.
By the time I got the Redwick I had put one bottle in the back of my coat, and slowly eaten by Haribos, and was feeling tired. Pains were beginning all over – the thing with running a long way, is that I start to get achy shoulders along with the legs. I didn’t have the gel, as my brain told me its cheating, so I would imagine I was also in need of some extra energy.
With the final two miles to go I was almost shuffling along, knees/feet/ankles/arms/shoulders/legs all hurting now and I was out of water. I would have loved to have stopped/stretched and drank a big glass of water at this point – but I plodded on, also knowing that I wouldn’t quite make 17 if I went straight home.
Back into Magor was a great relief, and took a small (but vital, for the mileage) detour around the estate and just managed to struggle the last bit to get home. I was knackered, and in pain. Sian had left to get the boys from Swansea Uni when I left and they got back before me, it had been about 2hrs 50 minutes non-stop. That’s too much.
My initial goal had been to run 20 miles “non stop” before Christmas when I started the training, but I don’t think this is a good idea now – so next time I will try 10 miler, back to the house – 5 min break to stretch/re-hydrate/take some energy then do another 7 – 10 miles, and see how that goes. As I am not properly looking after myself this is killing me.
Pretty happy with the outcome non-the-less, but very worried that I will have to run the same distance almost 3 times again to complete the whole thing – that is daunting.
Miles: 29
Beers:20+