It's the LAST week before tapering can begin - HALLELUJAH!
But before that, a somewhat daunting 35-odd miles to get through first, including 22 miles at the weekend... a distance comfortably more than I have ever been before.
Here is a quick taste of what is to come this week...
But we are getting there.
Sponsorship has been absolutely phenomenal this week. Thank you SO much to everyone, you are the genuine best.
We've still got three weeks to go so no rush, but as ever, if you do want to sponsor even a couple of quid then 1) you too are the best, and 2) the Just Giving page can be found here.
Run #37 - Tuesday 28th March
Whilst I feel ok following the 19 on Saturday, it's fair to say I've had to keep moving. Any long durations of sitting still is bad news for the hips and calves in particular. That said, I wasn't exactly thrilled to have to run this evening.
Where it used to take me five minutes or so to get going, it now takes two miles. But no dramas beyond that.
What is a bit weird though, is how difficult it is to deal mentally with a run five miles long. After running for over two and a half hours on Saturday, my mind expects five miles to be a walk in the park and feel like twenty minutes. Turns out it isn't, it's 45 minutes and I'm aware of every single step of it.
Anyway, five more miles done.
Run #38 - Thursday 30th March
Bit tired, yanno?
Thursday Morning Run Club was t-o-u-g-h this morning. Thanks to the clocks changing it was darker which was a treat, but I thankfully avoided the rain. Once again it was a sole member Run Club morning, simply to give more time to recover before the biggest of the bigguns on Sunday.
I took about half an hour to do the first two miles (I'm pretty sure I saw a sloth steam past me up the hill after the QMC) but I did see someone in a sensational full, bright orange tracksuit running through the Uni to brighten up my morning. Props to you, sir.
It was definitely my slowest morning run so far, but at this stage that isn't a problem. A gloriously empty shower followed which is all anyone could ask for.
As an aside, that ends March and it has been a RECORD BREAKER. The previous record total for a month was 93 miles. March weighed in at 120 miles. That one might last a while.
Run #39 - Sunday 2nd April
The big one then. The longest run on the programme and final big effort before the real thing in three weeks time.
Last week I felt ok at 19 and could probably have gone on a little bit, but then there is a little bit more and then there is three miles more. So I was apprehensive as to how things would go.
With that said, it was important to build as strong a support network as possible for this. Thankfully I had Julie again for the first eight miles, not to mention a short and sweet cameo from Bert at 'mile 19'...
At eight miles I was met by Tom and Kate which was great - I can not tell you how much of a difference seeing friendly faces makes. If we could work out a relay for the marathon for the entire duration of the race I would be most appreciative. Fanx!
It gives you a chance to act like a complete knobhead and it brightens up the monotony like you wouldn't believe - no more so than taking inspiration from Chris Pratt's hilarious Instagram (check it out, kids) and introducing my first contribution to #WHATSMYSNACK.
Lolz.
At ten miles, Tom peeled off and the last twelve mile stint began. As was expected, this was the hardest. My playlist bangers are huge, but when the miles start heading towards twenty... well, it's tough. It is, however, worth highlighting the BANGER OF THE DAY at arounddd about 14 miles.
OH MY GOD WE'RE BACK AGAIN.
BROTHERS SISTERS EVERYBODY SAY.
I drifted through the next six miles or so feeling it gradually more and more as the miles wore on. Then something a bit mad happened. I fell over.
Admittedly, I wasn't at my most lucid levels of concentration but I have absolutely whacked a man hole cover that was probably an inch or so above the rest of the pavement. Before I know it I am on the deck. This has NEVER happened before. It was essentially like when Ali hit the canvas for the first time.
Somehow the forward momentum has helped me barrel roll back on to my feet, without dropping my water, or causing too much damage.
Which is RIDICULOUS when you think a butterfly could break my bones a few years ago.
I said a quick prayer to thank all that is holy for not knocking my teeth out and I carried on, a bit more alert and awake than I was before hand.
Just after mile 21 I saw a familiar figure ahead... TOM WAS BACK. I was so happy I threw my bottle of water over my head and near galloped (stumbled) towards him. The last mile was significantly better for that and I eventually, finally stopped running.
Whilst I am aware I am often prone to hyperbole, I can tell you that is was the hardest thing I have ever done. The pace was a little bit slower than last week, but who cares, this would still bring me home in around 3hr 45.
It was deceptively warm and despite hydrating well throughout I felt S-H-I-T by the time I got home. Perhaps foolishly, I had a warm bath and this only seemed to make me feel worse. I was a little unwell for a bit which was peak misery, but it gradually improved. Nothing that bread and lurpak (then a toffee crisp, Ben and Jerry's and a Wispa Gold) can't cure.
So that is it - the tapering begins! The longest distance I will run will be an hour and a half next week, before an hour on the final week before London.
Thank fuck.
***
Huge, huge thanks to everyone who is supporting me so much with their words of encouragement, sponsorship and dragging themselves out to make it that bit easier for me. You're all heroes. I couldn't do it without you.
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