Hippos Really Can Run

Sitting here recovering from this morning's run so I thought I'd update you all with our progress (I will aim to update more frequently in the lead up to the marathon). We did 18miles this morning and very glad to have done that and battled through. It was a battle at times, mentally and physically, but apart from a brief water and comfort stop at Tree's after 10miles (scheduled in!) we ran it all. We both hit a wall. Not sure if it's 'THE' wall, or if there's worse to come on the day but we kept going. I also managed to run into a piece of sharp wire sticking out from something so now have a 6 inch gash on my leg (not as dramatic as I'm making it sound) plus a hole in my favoured pair of running trousers :(

I felt mentally ready for the run this morning which was a huge positive. I had done one gym session and an eight mile run in the last week to tide me over and loaded up on carbs yesterday to give myself a fighting chance today. I used a lot of self talk today to keep me going when it got tough ('keep strong and positive' and 'in 3 weeks it will be over' being 2 of the most used phrases!). I wore a hat. I wasn't sick when we finished. The conditions were slightly cooler than last week, with a nice breeze, but a couple of degrees cooler still on race day wouldn't hurt. But we'll have to see what we're dealt on the day.

One thing that continues to plague me is a phenomenon I like to call 'runner's tummy'. And anyone who run long distances will know what I mean! Horrible cramps from about mile 7-8 onwards, but not a huge amount you can do except keep running. (If anyone has found a solution to this do let me know!). And today I had knee twinges while running for the first time. They always ache afterwards but not normally during. But, on the whole we've been very fortunate to stay injury free during training and a couple of rest days should help. On the day we'll just have to keep going so suck it up Sue :D

We have our last long run next Tuesday, when we'll be doing 20miles, then a week and a half of tapering with a couple of short runs and proper food preparation. I think Tree would like an extra week of training but I just don't think I can mentally take it! I don't want to wish time away but the relief of having it done and out the way in 3 weeks is definitely a motivating factor to just dig deep for the last couple of weeks. Then a break. Until I start training for the next half marathon in September. Oh yeah, and although I said I wasn't entering the London marathon ballot...well I did! Co-erced by my oldest brother. And it turns out, again despite saying otherwise, that Tree's thrown her name in the hat as well. Gluttons for punishment. Hi, my name's Sue and I'm a runaholic.

The other thing I'm struggling with, and might as well share with the world, is feeling like a hippo! Albeit a hippo that can run for 18miles. My eating's not been brilliant lately and following the marathon I will be heading back to Wibbly Wobblies to shed the last couple of stone that plagues me. Yes, I am definitely a lot fitter than I used to be, but it'd be best all round for my joints, heart, risk of obesity, cancer, heart disease and everything else associated with excess blubber, if I get rid of it once and for all. Bye bye Ben & Jerry :(

So for now I am going to start blogging my eating until the marathon to keep me on the straight and narrow- starting today:

Today- BIG bowl of porridge and honey, apricots, Yorkie (I know, they're not for girls but if you can't have one after 18miles of running when can you?), prawn sandwich, then probably...apple, sweet and sour pork and rice (sadly not from the Chinese or deep fried in anyway), and a yoghurt. And lots of water.

I need the accountability people!! Finally, my constant concern with what people think of me has a purpose- to keep me focused for the last bit of the 'journey' (just for you Steve, haven't rolled out the J word in a while).

Thanks for your continued support, really does help!