By Jimminy – where are these weeks going?! I can’t believe I started this blog 11 weeks ago – when the marathon seemed so far away, and now it is 6 Sundays away!!!
Started the week feeling a bit tired after the epic 18 miler, and glad to have Monday off, but the sudden arrival of family meant that I also cut short Tuesday’s run. Wednesday saw a post-work meeting and another late night, so no proper running even started until Thursday.
As we needed to get home for the family, Simon and I set off as soon as we were able to leave work, for what turned into a hilly 5 miler around Newport; marred only by an unexpected asthma attack at the start of mile 2. Still, these things are sent to try us, and once the Ventolin kicked in I was good to go for the remaining 3, and it was a beautiful multi-terrain route.
Jo’s Tip: Paula Radcliffe is also an asthmatic, and in her book she recommends taking a puff of Ventolin about 10 minutes before going on a run. I used to do this, but thankfully my lungs have improved a lot over the past few years, and so I haven’t had to do this for a long time. However, I always carry my inhaler – even if it I haven’t needed it for a long time – and on Thursday I was so relieved that is the case! Asthma can be triggered by exercise, smoke, animal hair, humidity, fog, cigarette smoke, pollen and traffic fumes amongst other things, so if you have asthma – even if it is only a mild case – do carry that inhaler with you on a run… it could be a life-saver.
Friday‘s run was a bit different, as my ladies running group decided to tackle the wilds of Parkhurst Forest! The first few miles were fairly straightforward if undulating, but then a spontaneous detour on less trodden paths left us floundering in knee-deep mud! One of our members was affected more than the rest, and it became more of a walk from that point, so my anticipated 5 miles turned into 4. Family guests meant that parkrun was not going to work on Saturday either, and so I saved myself up for the glorious Sunday run. It’s amazing how the Sunday morning long run has become part of our lives so quickly. I actually think I will miss it once the race is over, though I would love to stay at this level if at all possible so will not become a complete couch potato! Deb has entered the 2017 Brighton marathon, so I have pledged to support her as much as possible 🙂
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6QW8Usp94A
My final total – thanks to some back-and-forthing with Rob – was 13.7, which I was very pleased about, and it was well over 13 for Deb and Coral too (and one of Coral’s strongest runs 🙂 ). No energy products were used (because of the tummy cramp), and the only other issue I experienced was rubbing on one toe from the socks I was wearing, so not a bad day’s work!
I would just like to say at this point how very privileged we were to have Ian with us. I know he reads my blog (I guess there’s not much on the telly lately!), and we have discussed my marathon journey a few times, but this is the first time he has had the time and good health to join us. If I tell you that Ian is an inveterate marathon runner, and has 2 Londons and 25 – yes 25 – IOW Marathons under his belt amongst others, you will see why it was such an honour to run with this amazing man. The stories of his experiences would make such a good book! Ian has been toying with entering his 26th IOW Marathon, but has not been able to train for it so far, so the remarkable 16 miles he achieved today (he added some on before and after joining us!) has suddenly put him right back into play again 🙂 Ian – I’d just like to say that although I won’t be able to keep up with you on the day, I will be honoured to line up with you on 9th October, and to have been a very small but happy part of your training regime!
Next week my training will pick up again (now that family have returned home and there are no meetings to get in the way!), and week 12 will culminate in a 13 miler, with our biggie (the much awaited 20 miler) the week after – though I don’t mind betting we set our sights on 15 next Sunday just to “be on the safe side”!!!