That’s It. I’m Giving Up Running!
Well, until Sunday that is! The taper has now reached the ‘no more running’ stage, and I’ve just got to sit patiently until race day. I feel fat and sluggish, stiff and sore. But then that’s what tapering is all about, isn’t it?
My hip has been really quite sore over the last few days (take note Sonic, your injury sounds like mine. When you don’t run it gets worse, then when you run it eases off), tapering makes it worse! I’ve also been suffering from a nasal problem since before the Chicago Marathon last October. As it’s got worse this week, I went to the doctor’s yesterday. It turns out I’ve had a sinus infection all this time, and as the Doc said, I really should have gone to see him sooner! Still I’ve now got some ‘magic beans’ which should clear the sore, stuffy nose, toothache, earache, and dizzy headaches that have been bothering me for about 8 months now!
Anyway, yesterday with a break in lessons over in Cardonald, I did this around Pollock Park…
12:38 4.5 miles 33:10
1 7:33 2 7:21 3 7:19 4 7:22 .5 3:35 (7:11 pace) Average 7:23 min/miles
I then swam 20 of Bellahouston pool’s finest lengths. This was supposed to be a nice easy swim, but due to swimming lessons I was asked to move into the fast lane before I’d even started. My competitive side took over and I blasted up and down the pool until my excessive splashing had cleared the lane completely! I then got out and went home.
I took Harvey out on the bike again later in the day, and he was running really well, I had to pedal quite quickly (well reasonably) at one point. The thing I always forget about when I cycle is just how sore it makes your arse… still not to worry, said sore arse was to spend the rest of the night on a soft sofa watching the Champions League Final. Sadly Manchester United didn’t show up (not literally Debs! That’s football lingo for ‘didn’t play to their full potential’), and the trophy is heading off to Spain with Barcelona, rather than staying in England where it belongs… ooohhhh, I can hear you Scots (especially Mrs p) tutting with disgust from here!
Today, I did this, again in Pollock Park…
15:08 3.5 miles 26:19
1 7:38 2 7:25 3 7:31 .5 3:46 (7:28 pace) Average 7:31 min/miles
…and that sees the end to my running this week. I have no idea what to expect on Sunday. I haven’t exactly trained specifically for a road marathon, but I’m going for a PB anyway. Endurance won’t be a problem, but speed might be. If I can average 7:14 min/mile pace though, I’ll come home as happy as Lionel Messi with the Champions league trophy in his hands. I might not be the best in the world like him, and my medal might be a fraction of the size of that trophy, but it’ll mean just as much to me!
Finally, today when I opened my blog, I realised I’d topped 20,000 hits. A big thankyou to all you nutters that read this rubbish, you make it all worth while… I sense a Gwyneth Paltrow tearfull speach coming on… laters, boys and girls!
