Reaching the end of the road

After being slightly held back last week, I finally managed to run my last 20 miler this Monday. Despite this being three days later than originally planned, I ran it exactly 3 weeks before the marathon, which happens to be the recommended time for the last long run. As an additional challenge I wore the DS trainers for this run, as a test for the marathon.

It all went pretty well. I got up at 4:40 and left at about 5am. I got my headlamp out of the cupboard, but it was nearly Full Moon, and it was so bright that I decided to run without artificial light source (but I did wear a sash of reflective material for obvious safety reasons). It had been raining heavily earlier in the night, because the first thing I did outside our gate was to step right into a puddle. Great start. The sky was brilliant though, apart from one dark cloud far away, which I didn’t really register. I did notice it 4 miles later though, because that’s when it unloaded its load right on top of me. Soaked through I continued on, and reached the 5 mile point in about 42:30, a bit faster than intended, but I did run very relaxed, not pushing the pace at all. I wasn’t able to read my time at the 10-mile point, because that was in the woods, and the moonlight wasn’t bright enough through the trees to make out the numbers on my HRM display. As usual for such a run, the second part consisted of two loops to Ard-na-Sidhe and back, which includes a visit to the local elven population. During the first loop I had to concentrate to make out the road, because the light was fairly dim amongst the trees, but I managed it fine. During the final loop it finally started to get bright. I hardly met a soul on the way, I think saw about 3 cars in all. At mile 18 my right calf started to feel tighter and tighter, and I was worried about cramping. The problem was much more noticeable on climbs, but after a mile or so it seemed to ease again, and I could finish the run without further problems. The shoes held up fine, and they are hereby pencilled in for the marathon, despite Mike’s reservations. The calf issues may have been caused by the lesser heel support in those shoes, but then again I did run 31 miles in 22 hours, which I won’t be repeating on marathon day.

I came home feeling really happy about this run and my level of fitness, but as soon as I got home I encountered Niamh in a seriously pissed off state. “They woke up at 6am, fought for half an hour, and have been complete nightmares ever since”. She didn’t elaborate any details, but I found it prudent to take over child minding duties for the rest of the morning until it was time for school. It’s a good thing I didn’t feel exhausted after the run.

All that was in store for today was a much-needed recovery run. I ran it slowly and very relaxed, and was rewarded with a new low record for the heart rate. Each time my HR seems to drop to a new level I do question the accuracy of my HR monitor, but it has never let me down before, and I tend to believe its readings eventually. Whether it was the twice-weekly speedwork over the last few weeks or the three 20-milers in three weeks, I seem to have gained one last level of fitness, just in time for the taper. Let’s hope I can manage to stay sane for the next 20 days. The other noteworthy occurrence today was an obviously insane driver in an SUV coming round a bend much too fast for such a narrow road. I heard it coming just in time and managed to jump out of the way into the bushes. Had I been on a bike, or reacted slightly slower, this could have ended very badly.

9 Oct: 20 miles, 2:45, 8:15 pace
10 Oct: 5 miles, 45:44, 9:08 pace