So I have often gone for what I conscidered a long run on a Sunday…anything over an hour I think falls into that category. However, what with my Marathon training and all, I now know that 1 hour is not what people mean when they say “So…have you done a long run yet”
The longest I have ever run in one go was the Kilamarthon, 26.2Kilometers, from Nottingham to Derby. Now this was about 2 years ago…and it took me close to 4 hours to complete…and I did walk most of the 2nd half of the race due to shooting pains in my hips…in fact at one point I was overtaken my a man with one leg dressed as an avitar (top to toe in blue body paint)
With that in mind I set out yesterday morning to clock up some miles, “time on your feet” I think is the right expression. So after a breakfast of a fruit smoothie and a slice of rye bread and honey I set off – a little later than I would have liked I might add.
My lovely Fiance in a show of support offered to follow me on a bike to keep me company, but of course he had to have breakfast first and wake up etc etc…so we set out at 11am. About 2 hours after breakfast. The first 10K was fantastic, a run past the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, a loop of Vicky Park and up to Mile End and on towards Whitechapel…in fact I did the first 10K in just over an hour (1.03minutes) which is the fastest I have ever run that distance.
Then I continued over Tower Bridge (thinking yeesh the next time I run across here will be for real), dodging the other Sunday runners and tourists, I made my way along tooley street to Jamaica Rd, and along past the Rotherhide Tunnel to the shopping centre at Canada Water…and more importantly than that Decathlon, where I took 20 minutes to buy some socks and take in some fluids and a nutrition bar.
It was a bit of an effort to get back into the swing of things on the way back, the Sun was out in full force and I was hungry. But Fabian (him indoors) kept my spirits high, and found a slightly different way back (minus the loop of Victoria Park). I ran at a much slower pace, but run at least 90% of the way home…arriving back in Stratford for just after 3pm…so I make that 4 hours on my feet and when I totted it all up 16.6miles under my belt.
I had a bit of a headache when I got back, dehydration perhaps…but after some lunch (somewhat late) and some water, I started to feel a bit better. Fabian was completely in awe of what I had achieved, his words were “I can’t believe you just ran to South London and back”, perhaps now he understands just how hard I have been working…and more importantly just how much more I have to do.
I woke up this morning after a great nights sleep, with only mild pains in my thighs…nothing compared to previous half marathons…so I must be getting stronger. In fact I even managed to do my weekly Monday lunchtime Gym session with my work colleagues, and although I struggled a bit with some of the leg exercises I put my all into the upper body work, and did a good 20 minutes on the treadmill (at a very slow pace I must add) Tomorrow is a complete rest day, to give my legs a chance to repair themselves before Wednesday nights club run.
Despite my apprehension I am actually looking forward to another Long Sunday Run though…I might even attempt 20 miles this time, not sure my other half will be so keen…he is feeling it in his legs today 🙂