I did run the next day, 8 miles. I took it easy, worried that my leg might not work but was pleasantly surprised that it was fine. Not perfect by a long way but so much better than it had been for weeks.
The next day it was 9 miles. I ran this like the previous day, along the canal path. As I have mentioned before this is a nice place to run as it is flat and the ground is softer than the road. It is also traffic free. The only problems are bikes and dogs.
When you get out of town the owners of the dogs let them off the lead which is ok but when you are running towards them from behind they don't see you and on this run I had two incidents.
One was when I nearly stepped on a tiny dog as it ran under my feet and the other when I was attacked by a dog jumping up at me and bearing it's teeth near my arm. The owner shouted at it as I pushed it away and apologised to the owner, I am not sure what for!
I don't blame the dog, it was only protecting itself and it's owner from a man running towards it but it did shake me up a bit.
I finished the week with a short 5 miles on Thursday. On Friday I went to the gym and on Saturday instead of running the 4 miles I was scheduled to do, I built a shed.
And so to Sunday. The long run. Would I do it this time? Or just stop dead after 2 miles?
I had my carb loading pasta the night before and my porridge for breakfast, put on my running kit and grabbed my water bottle and set off. My goal was 22 miles.
The start was cautious and steady, slowly warming up. I made it passed the 2.5 mile mark where I had to give up on Monday and settle down into a comfortable pace. I tried to run mainly along the grass verges on the side of the road as it was softer there. It was going well.
I had run this distance before but that time it was on the flat canal path, this time there where hills.
It was also sunnier than I had expected. As always running these 20 plus mile distances I ran out of water halfway but this time I was prepared. The previous day I had left a sports drink at the 11 mile mark behind a bush.
So after topping up my bottle I started on the return. Although the return is always slower, it seems faster as I count down the miles to home and I was very glad to finish it this time.
I finished only 3 minutes slower than the last time I ran 22 miles and as I said earlier, there were hills!
This was the last run run before the marathon with only 18 miles next week and 12 the week after, then the big one.
I now have more confidence I will be able to do it. Just a little nervous that it's coming around so quickly!
And if you haven't already sponsored me, why not do so now? It's for a really good cause.
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