Ok, I've been a bit rubbish at keeping my diary up to date so I am writing this retrospectively, but I can remember it in fine detail!!
Today will be my final long run before the big day. This will be the longest I have run in training. I have decided to give the Greenway a miss because to cover enough distance I would need to run up and down it at least 3 times, which I can't face, especially on my own. I plan to run for 3 hours (about 20 miles).......
Having been given pinpoint instructions by my friend Sally and her work colleague (even down to what colour the fence is next to the car park) I find the Leeds to Liverpool canal towpath without that much drama. As I am on my own today I have no choice but to wear my camelbak to stay hydrated. The weather is warm, sunny and quite humid as I set off.
My plan is to run 10 miles in one direction and then turn round and run back again. I have the camelbak strap tied in a knot around my chest to keep it flush to my back which seems to be working, although the water tastes of plastic. I start running and wonder why I haven't discovered this route before, it's great! I get into my stride fairly quickly, I have decided to wear my Ipod for company and run in time with the music (big mistake!) At one stage I start thinking about why I'm doing all this, what a tough time it has been for me and Alex and how far I've come. I actually start welling up and feel very alone on that towpath (must have been the Grohl that did it!) When I decide it's time to turn round, having been on the go for 1hr 30mins I realise I've gone a mile too far. No big deal, I'll just neck a few Lucozade tablets and head back. On the way I am stopped by some weirdo (I'm sorry but he was a weirdo) asking me if I have seen somebody hiding in the bushes because he has just seen the ghost of a jogger! Thankfully I am running in the opposite direction and he didn't look like he was capable of running for a bus let alone run after me!
At about the 18 mile mark I start to fantasise about the Bounty and the bottle of chocolate milk that are in the boot of my car. By mile 20 I feel absolutely starving and my legs give up. This is where my poor preparation and planning (and Ipod listening) become my undoing. Not only have I just run 20 miles, I've run out of water, I've got no food and I've still got 2 miles to walk (no running left in the legs) back to my car. I phone Alex for some moral support but because my blood sugar is so low I just end up being an irrational, jibbering idiot! He's in Wales so there wasn't alot he could do to help anyway! I am convinced that I have taken a wrong turn (it is not unusual for me to do this) somewhere because I don't recognise any of the landmarks. This is a ridiculous notion because the towpath is straight and all I have done is run one way up it, turned round and come back again! Then it starts raining and every bridge and bloody corner looks the chuffin' same. At one point I consider telling the man mowing the grass that I'm lost and delirious and asking him if he can spare me any change for some food and a taxi!
It takes me 3 hours to run 20 miles and another hour to walk the additional 2 miles that I overshot by! But I make it back to the car park and eat that Bounty without any hesitation........aaaahhhh a "ATaste of Paradise" All I have to do is drive home.........
When I get there, I subject myself to an ice bath (I'll regret it if I don't!)
The pressure's off, just the big 26.2 miler to contend with now.........bring it on!
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