On TV

On Saturday morning Channel 4 will be showing highlights of the Brighton Marathon.  The programme starts at 7.05AM, so set your PVR!

Jayne's Marathon

Wow what a day Sunday was!

First, my run.  I was so happy to go through the “Start” arch because I'd been on such an incredible journey just to get that far.  With almost 10,000 runners the start was inevitably crowded but many people stuck to a slow pace, helped somewhat by the first mile being uphill.  I was very relieved to not notice any tightness in my legs in that first mile.  I tried to remain calm and ran at a gentle pace which slowly increased as I warmed up.  However, by mile 10 my quads (one muscle group I hadn’t worried about) started to ache.  Unfortunately that only got worse as time and miles passed and by mile 16 I had to admit I wasn’t going to run all the way to the finish; the last 10 miles were spent switching between running and walking.  The reality was that in the previous 5 weeks I’d run a total of 36 miles and my legs just weren’t conditioned to run 26.2 miles non-stop.  Nonetheless, I never doubted I would cover the distance.  As I turned into Maderia Drive with 500 meters to go I soaked up the scene and atmosphere.  The sunshine.  The crowds lining the route and nearby roads.  The sight of the "Finish" arch.  This is the defining memory of my marathon experience and the one I shall always cherish.

The weather was interesting.  It started off grey with light rain, although the rain stopped by the time the gun fired.  From then on the skies cleared, leaving glorious sunshine by the time I finished – and at 16 degrees it was warmer than I’ve been used to in training.

Mercifully my only ailments have been a blister on a little toe, stiff legs and dodgy tan lines!

Thank you to everyone who gave their support by sponsoring me.  In the final miles there were many people who, like me, had to walk.  Whenever I saw a walker wearing a Cancer Research UK t-shirt I patted them on the back and offered words of encouragement.  It really helped to know other people were out there running the same route to raise money for the same great cause.

And if anyone has yet to join me in supporting Cancer Research UK, my JustGiving page is still open!

Undeniably the best part of the day was the spectators.  Apparently there were over 100,000 people lining the route – and they were all enthusiastic supporters of anyone who happened to run past.  They cheered, shouted encouragement, clapped and offered Jelly Babies, orange segments & high fives.  As I approached the finish, runners were widely spread.  If I was walking then someone in the crowd would notice, see my name on my shirt and shout “Come on Jayne!  You can do it!”  At which point seemingly dozens of people on both sides of the route would join in, shouting encouragement.  Whenever I returned to running a cheer would erupt.  I’m still smiling.

But there were four faces in the crowds I was absolutely delighted to see: Mum, Dad, Brother Simon and, of course, Chris.  They had a long day, walking to various points en route in the hope of seeing me (and Chris was carrying a 40L rucksack containing all my back up gear!).  It meant the world to me to see them there.  Thank you so much for coming, for your unwavering support and for believing in me when even I doubted whether I’d be able to run.

Will I run another marathon?  Almost certainly not.

Am I happy having run the 2013 Brighton Marathon?  Absolutely.

The Geek Post

Here's a stark illustration of how my training progressed:

Proof that I (or, at least, my Garmin) covered the whole marathon route:

The elevation profile (edited because the original scale went from -300'):

My heart rate (heaven only knows what happened at mile 3!)

My pace profile - clearly the dips after mile 16 were when I walked.

Condolences

I don't think anyone who's ever been associated with a marathon will be untouched by the news of yesterday's events in Boston.  Those who were injured and the families of those who are lost are in my thoughts.

I was also saddened to read of the death of 23 year old Sam Harper Brighouse, who collapsed at the Brighton Marathon and later died.

Life is too short.

I did it!

Very happy, although a little tired and achy.

Full report to follow in the next day or two.

My Training Journey

During training I ran 463 miles, that's the same as running from Brighton to Glasgow:

That was 84 runs with an average length of 5.5 miles.

My longest run was 18.32 miles in Brighton (29.5km)

The fastest run was a Crane Parkrun at a 7:45 minute mile pace (4:55 minutes/km)

I ran for 66 hours 39 minutes - almost two working weeks.

I climbed a total of 11,116', which is just shy of the combined heights of Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike.

My heart beat a total of 665,103 times.

The Goal

The training guide has this to say about running a first marathon:

"First and most important, reaffirm the goal in your mind.  It is to finish the marathon.  Period."

No target time.  No target pace.  Not to beat other people.  No weight loss goals.  The latter doesn't apply to me (I've been giving my body so much fuel I've gained weight - eek!) but until a month ago I was thinking about my time.  Perhaps I could do it in less than four hours...

But things have changed and all thoughts of a stunning debut marathon performance have long since faded.  Now the only thing I want to do is cover the 26.2 miles.

Tonight I saw Jennie and she's happy for me to start the marathon and see how it goes.

So, barring disasters in the next 3.5 days, the plan is to start the marathon, listen to my body and see how far I can go, irrespective of how long it takes.  In some ways I'm back where I started: nervous and excited in equal measure.

Three Best Runs

It's now one week until the marathon.  The purpose of this final phase of training is to keep the body ticking over, not put too many demands on it and stock up on rest and carbohydrates.  Given the ongoing problems I have with muscles seizing up after running, I’ve changed my approach: I’m swimming.  It’s not ideal but I think it’s the best way to balance getting some exercise without stressing my body too much.  I’ll decide at the end of the week whether I’ll attempt the marathon.

In the meantime, I’m supposed to reflect on my three best runs:

1. Without doubt my best run was the Watford Half Marathon.  It was my first attempt at a long distance in a formal event and I was really pleased with my time.  My final preparations were perfect and I joined the start pen only a minute before the race started, which meant I was perfectly warmed up.  I started at a good, slow, pace and kept my nerves in check – I resisted the urge to keep up with people sprinting past me.  The strategy paid off later when I ran past so many people in the final miles.  This is the strategy I need to repeat when I run a marathon.

2.  Bushy Park, 27^th February.  I pushed steadily throughout the run and kept up the pace all the way to end, taking three minutes off my time on this 8 mile route.  Afterwards the rush from the endorphins was just brilliant!  More importantly, it was a wonderfully cold, frosty morning.  It has been a real pleasure being at Bushy Park at dawn on such mornings.  It’s so quiet at that time, not only in terms of few people around but the air is still and peaceful, the day full of promise.  I’ve watched the sun rising, casting its golden rays across the park in its wintry slumber.  I’ve seen the deer’s breath hang in the air and the bunnies hopping into the bracken.  It’s truly magical and these are wonderful memories to cherish.

3.  Two runs contend for the final place on this list: 11 miles in the snow at Richmond Park and 18 miles in Brighton.  Both runs were tough.  Both required a steely determination in order to cover the miles I’d set out to run.  Both were essential to my physical and mental training – “character building”.  Both resulted in a great sense of achievement when I reached the end of the run.  However, I think Brighton pips Richmond: Brighton was my longest training run and I stuck with it all the way to the marathon’s finish point.  I have been there before and I very much hope to make it there again on Sunday.

Update

Last night I saw Jennie, my physio/osteopath.

The good news is that she thinks if I do the marathon I'm unlikely to sustain any long term damage.

But when that's the full extent of the good news you know things aren't good.  Whilst I haven't given up all hope, as each day passes hope is replaced by a reluctant acceptance that 2013's Brighton Marathon may not be the marathon I run.  I find it crushing to think about all the training I've done not culminating in the marathon, to think about family who've paid for travel and accommodation to come to Brighton to cheer me on, and to think about all those people who've so generously sponsored me.  I really don't want to let you down.

However, running a marathon is a significant physical challenge and I need something close to a miracle in the next 10 days in order to rise to that challenge.

Still going

I've been out for another couple of runs: 2.5 miles on Saturday and 3 miles today.  Looking at my pace and heart rate it's clear I've lost fitness in the last couple of weeks, which is disappointing although not surprising.  Today my right hamstring feels better, but the left ankle feels tighter.  I think these two niggles will determine if I run the marathon and so I'm keeping a close eye on them.  I'm taking it one day at a time and trying not to think too far ahead.

Up and Running?

I went for a run today!

After a 10 day "break" I felt I was ready to head out again - so I did a mighty 1.35 miles in Bushy Park!  I'd missed the park and I was very happy to be there again.  However, after the cough and cold my chest isn't in the same condition as it was for the Finchley 20 and the legs grumbled today too.  Only time will tell as to whether this is the start of a return to fitness or simply misplaced optimism.

The only thing I can do now is listen to my body.  However, even I have to concede the thought of going from 1.35 to 26.2 miles in less than 17 days is a daunting prospect.  What will be, will be.

Hiatus v2

It would seem I spoke too soon.

I woke up on Monday morning to muscles so tight that walking was hard and stairs were almost impossible.  I bathed, stretched and massaged but it made little difference.  Using the cross-trainer on Tuesday was out of the question.  Unfortunately I couldn't bring forward my appointment with Jennie and so I hobbled through to Wednesday evening.

Jennie tried to reassure me it's just tight muscles (nothing's damaged) and this is perfectly normal for this stage of my training.  In fact, she says it's relatively mild compared to some cases she's seen.  The cause is probably a combination of high mileage, hard surfaces and weak muscles which allow my knees to roll in (the rest of the muscles in the leg then tighten up to compensate for the area of weakness).  She gave me a thorough massage last night but I'm still walking with a limp today.  The good news is that my left calf is much better this week - perhaps switching trainers has made a difference there.

An added complication is that I've developed a cough - and not just a wee tickle in my throat but one that rattles through my chest.  Given the marathon is only 24 days away I saw the doctor this morning.  He declared it to be a viral infection which I just have to wait for my body to fight off.

Although neither Jennie nor the doctor have prohibited running I'm clearly in no fit state to run.  I'm absolutely gutted that after five months of sensible, steady paced training, following all the sound advice I've received, my training should come to a juddering halt so close to the marathon.

Finchley 20

It was with great trepidation that I left home this morning for the Finchley 20.  Although my calf and knee had felt much better yesterday I worried how I'd get on today and what it would mean for my training over the coming four weeks.  I wanted to run 10 miles; I'd hoped to run 15.

I did my usual warm up and straight away my calf started protesting.  Thoughts of not even starting the race filled my mind.  After warming up I stretched and Chris massaged my calf, trying to coax it into submission.

Thankfully, as soon as the race started the calf felt fine.  It niggled only a few times, as did the knee.  In the end I ran 15 miles and finished strong.  I could have gone on and done another lap to complete the 20 miles but I just felt that would be pushing my body too hard.  Instead I came away from the event a happy bunny, having covered the miles I'd hoped for, with few niggles and feeling good at the end.

The event itself was good.  There were 700 entrants, of which 502 finished: it's popular with people running the London and other spring marathons.  It started on time and the route was clearly marked and well marshalled.  Of note was the wonderfully enthusiastic lady on the corner of Westcote Rise - she was so positive, encouraging and generous of spirit.  There were several volunteers at both water stations (although some servings of water were a little small for my liking).  Facilities at the clubhouse were good - but the smell of bacon butties before the event was torture!  As I didn't complete the full 20 miles I have no idea what was in the goodie bag.  The route was reasonably flat and otherwise unremarkable.  The only downside was the weather - at times it was wet out there today.  Should I ever run another spring marathon, I'll come back to the Finchley 20.

Finally: a big thank you to Chris for being my chauffeur and masseur. :-)

Elite athlete?

I've been reading old copies of Runner's World Magazine and the October 2012 edition described the anaerobic threshold (AT).  Apparently this is the point at which the body produces lactic acid faster than it can be removed; ideally the AT should occur as close to the maximum heartrate as possible. 

"The average human will have an AT located at roughly 55-60 per cent of their maximum heartrate.  Elite athletes will reach as high as 85-90 percent".

Across all my training runs my average heartrate has been 90% of theoretical maximum: the Watford Half Marathon was run at 92% of max; last summer I ran 5 miles at an average 99% of max.  The possibility that there is any measure which defines me as "elite" amuses me - and I'm in need of smiles at the moment!

Hiatus

For the last few weeks I’ve felt tightness down my left calf and into my left ankle.  I’ve had regular massages and I’ve just run through it – afterall, no-one said training for a marathon would be plain sailing.  However, last Sunday I went to Richmond Park and ran a half marathon.  The tightness in my ankle was joined by discomfort around my right knee and my form degenerated into a lumber.  At that point I realised running through it was no longer an option.

Tuesday this week I decided to replace a 5 mile run with 50 minutes on the cross trainer.  That went OK, although I was disappointed not to be running.

Wednesday I had a day’s annual leave so I could run at a more sociable hour than my usual 6AM.  However, I spent the day on the sofa, catching up on the running related reading I’ve missed out on in recent weeks.

That evening I saw Jennie.  Thankfully she diagnosed no damage and no joint problems, just tight muscles which she teased into a more relaxed state.  By working together we decided the problem might be caused by my new trainers which aren’t correcting my overpronation.  The plan, therefore, is to run in older trainers which should correct it.

This morning I was on annual leave again and managed to get to the park for a 5 mile run in the older trainers.  It wasn’t perfect (the ankle still niggled) but it was better than recent runs.  And it was great to be outside again!  The orthotics felt more pronounced than usual, so I think switching shoes will have an effect.

I’ve entered the Finchley 20 on Sunday.  The original plan was for it to be more “event” experience combined with the longest run of my training programme – 20 miles.  However, I’ll decide on Sunday whether I run.  The good news is that the course is four laps of a 5 mile circuit which means I can get the benefit of going to and starting an event but then drop out after 5, 10 or 15 miles, depending on how things feel.

Whilst I’m desperate to run and stick to my training programme as much as possible, I really want to run the marathon in just 30 days time.  I know the latter won’t happen if I push too hard now.

Spring has Sprung!

This morning I noticed the daffodils were in bloom - which means that spring is finally here!  As much as I love the cold, frosty mornings, I much prefer the comforting warmth of sunshine in spring and summer.  I hope there are signs of spring where you are.

400 miles

Today I officially clocked up over 400 miles of training runs.  Given my love of Excel, here's how my training looks to date:

"Run, Forrest, Run!"

By the Seaside, Part II

This weekend I went to Brighton, primarily to attend today's training workshop for "key taper and race day tips".  This contained several nuggets of information, from the reassuring (it's normal to be paranoid about every niggle) to the practical (bring your own toilet paper).  I was relieved to realise I'm reasonably well clued up on this marathon training lark, yet there were times when I felt like floatsam at sea.  Is six weeks away from race day too late to start thinking about threshold runs??  Overall, I thought the workshop was useful.

The other reason for going to Brighton was to do this week's long run on the marathon route:

My run mostly followed the marathon route so it's not a surprise on the big day.  It's very different running through a city, as opposed to the green beauty of Richmond and Bushy parks.  That most Westerly loop through the industrial estate (aka "the road to hell") probably was the most uninspiring and soul destroying route I've ever run.  I really am spoilt on my training runs!

Beady eyed people will notice I took a couple of wrong turnings - I'm optimistic that on the day I'll have someone to follow and navigation won't be an issue! ;-)

I was pretty emotional by the time I finished the run.  It turns out that running alone for almost three hours, covering 18.32 miles, in a strange city and without music took a little determination.  However, I again proved to myself that I can run the miles I set out to cover - all the way to the finish line.  That's a great experience for my final weeks of training.

Thankfully the niggles I developed after last week's long run came to nothing; this weeks niggles are relatively minor and par for the course.

Onwards!

Gade Valley

Today I went to Hemel Hempstead to run one of the Gade Valley Harriers' runs.  They're a running club who organise training runs ahead of the London Marathon and today's was 17 miles, which fitted perfectly with my schedule.  After an early start on a cold morning the run got underway with a phased start to ease congestion on the canal path.  Soon after starting I got chatting to a couple, Laura and Simon, from St Albans.  Laura ran the Watford half marathon a couple of weeks ago, in a time two minutes faster than mine.  We both wanted today's run to be a training run and not a race against the clock so the three of us ran a steady pace for the next 16 miles.  It was great to have company and chatting certainly made the time fly by.  The countryside was lovely, although it was cold in the snow flurries.  The race was exceedingly well organised - surely this is how all events should run?

It was great to put another 17 miles under my belt and gain experience at another event, although I have picked up a couple of niggles.  I guess that's to be expected at this stage of my training.  However, tomorrow's a rest day, I see Jennie on Wednesday and I'll miss the short run at the end of the week.  Hopefully I'll be right as rain for next weekend's trip to Brighton.

To be continued...

Temperate Climate

I've developed a routine for the night before a run: dinner with lots of good carbohydrate, protein and vegetables; plan to be in bed early to make sure I'm properly rested - and check the weather forecast.  This week demonstrated just how variable the weather can be.

Last Friday's good weather continued into the weekend for Sunday's long run.  Again, I was inspired by the warm sunshine and set off at a great pace: I completed the first 1.5 miles 10% faster than the previous week.  However, I paid the price for that quick start over the next 15 miles.  Thankfully it was a lovely day, which distracted me from my fatigue.  Now I've made the mistake of setting off too quickly I hope it's a mistake I don't make again.

On Tuesday I arrived at the park to find everything covered in a thick frost, mist hanging in the air and a bright orange sun lazily climbing into the clear sky.  The deer were silhouetted in the dawn light; green woodpeckers foraged for food on the ground; a fox scampered into the garden where chickens roost (much clucking followed!).  It was a magical place to be and I thoroughly enjoyed my 5 miles.

Wednesday was milder but dark, cloudy and wet.  It was an uninspiring start but I then had a fantastic 8 mile run.  I was very happy to take three minutes off my time from the previous week.  I like the shorter runs because I can attack them: the endorphin rush afterwards is brilliant!

The cold weather returned for yesterday's run around local roads and it looks like it will stay over the weekend.

I love the variety of where I run, the weather I experience and the things I see.  I always wonder what the next run will bring...

Solar Power

I'm luxuriating in a day's annual leave, which meant I didn't have to get up at dawn for my run.  Also, I've been lucky that today's weather is gloriously sunny and relatively mild.  I have a good friend who describes his cycling as "solar powered" because it's easier to ride in the sunshine.  I'd planned to make the most of the sunshine by having an easy 5 mile run.  As it turned out, my run was indeed solar powered - it was one of the fastest non-event runs I've done in the last four months!

It was lovely out there today and very enjoyable.  I wonder if I could train through the summer for a half-marathon sometime in September.... ;-)

My running journey

You've hopefully noticed on the right hand side of my blog I update the total miles I've run in training.  After today's 15 mile run I've reached 293 miles.  To give some perspective, that's approximately the route from my brother's house in Southampton, on to my home in London, my parents in Northamptonshire and then visiting my other brother in Manchester.

All I need to do now is head up to the Beatson Laboratories in Glasgow.  I'm ending my route there because it's where I did my PhD and the labs are funded by Cancer Research UK, who I'm raising money for.

This route is important to me because it reaches the people I care about most.  It also reminds me that I'm running to raise money for CR UK. As I've said, I want to give something back to CR UK not only because of my professional association with the charity but because cancer has touched several people in my life.  CR UK's work is invaluable in supporting patients with cancer and supporting research.

Half way

Yesterday I blazed through two half-way points of my training: 

1. I ran the Watford half marathon, and
2. I reached a total of 262 training miles – approximately half of my training mileage.

The Watford half marathon went really well.  It was very well organised: we turned up, followed the signs and announcements on the PA systems, it started on time, lots of friendly marshals, the water stations were cheerfully manned by local Scouts and the post-race funnel of water station, t shirt collection and timing chip return was a slick operation.  The course itself was undulating closed roads and the people I chatted to en route were friendly.  The weather was cloudy with a light wind, no rain and approximately 4 degrees.  All in all, it was the perfect setting for a great race.  Here I am waiting to start:

And a great race I had!  I deliberately kept my pace slow at the beginning, although it was difficult to go any faster with the number of people bunched in at the start.  I paid attention to how I felt and ran at a comfortable pace, trying to remain calm and relaxed but also making sure I wasn’t slacking unnecessarily.  The first four miles slipped by amazingly quickly.  The hills were good for building strength (I suspect many of my fellow runners don’t train on hills, judging by the number I overtook).  After mile seven I was running strong, passing people but with no-one coming past me.  At 12.5 miles I turned into Cassiobury park and smiled for my photographer (see below), pushed through a final lap of the park (I was reasonably tired by that point) and finished in 1:51:27.  I was *really* pleased with my time.  I wasn’t sure how long it would take - I’d guessed somewhere between 1:45 and 2:30 and I was very happy to be closer to the quick end of that range.  It’s been a huge boost to my confidence.

Special thanks to Chris for being an excellent support “team” yesterday.  He patiently dealt with my pre-race wittering, drove to and from Watford, carried my bags, took the photos, was in position when and where I needed him – and was a great supporter throughout the day.  Thank you.

Update

Time for a quick update ahead of tomorrow's half marathon.

My foot was still tender on Monday evening and so we came to the sensible decision to sacrifice Tuesday morning's short run.  It was to be my 57th training run and it was the first one I missed.  I was gutted.  However, I went to the gym and did 40 minutes of cross training, which meant I worked all the right muscles without high impact.

On Wednesday morning it felt much better and I comfortably covered 7 miles - back on schedule again.  :-)  Wednesday also saw a break in the weather: the park was luscious green after the recent rain and it was bathed in golden, oblique sunshine.  A wonderful sight!

That evening I saw Jennie (my physio/osteopath) and she agreed it was probably just a muscle which cramped at the end of Sunday's run.  She gave me a great (i.e. painful, tension releasing) massage and a clean bill of health.

So now I'm preparing for tomorrow.  Looking at my kit list it's just as well we're not planning to take public transport!  I'm starting to feel a little nervous - not about the running, just about the logistics of the day.

Marathon Distance

This week's runs were:
   - 4 miles,
   - 6 miles,
   - 4 miles, and
   - 12 miles.
The total for this week was therefore 26 miles - approximately marathon distance.  In 11 weeks time I'll be doing the same distance but as a continuous run.  It's fantastic that I'm already covering such distances.  Each Sunday I look at my Garmin as I run up Sawyer's Hill in Richmond Park and celebrate the fact I'm running further than I've ever run before.  It's a great boost to get me through the final mile.

Unfortunately, I did something to my foot today and could barely walk when I finished my run.  We think it's a muscle which went into spasm - hopefully just an unhappy confluence of almost new shoes, extra padding to protect against blisters and tight laces over a long distance.  Chris was a knight in shining armour and rescued me (at least we now know his bike fits in my car).  Thank you.  With heat and massage I'm getting more movement in the foot so hopefully there'll be no lasting damage.

Watford Half Marathon

Yesterday I received confirmation of my place in next week's Watford Half Marathon.  I thought it would be good to get some event experience before Marathon Day: I know setting off too quickly is a common mistake but I need to know what other mistakes I'm likely to make.  Plus it will be a great way of starting to form a routine to get me through the nerves I'll inevitably feel on the morning of April 14th.

The half marathon feels almost inconsequential - and that feels a little crazy.  I say it's inconsequential because it's just another run in my training schedule and there will be several more of greater distance in the coming weeks.  However, I remind myself that a half-marathon will be an achievement in its own right and should be savoured as such.

Great Run

This morning's run felt great.  I felt strong and fast and I noticed my body was held upright as I ran.  My mojo's been conspicuously absent in recent runs - but it was definitely back today.  Let's hope it stays for a while!

I am a marathoner

I found myself procrastinating this morning.  There was little wonder as to why, given the weather forecast for today's 11 mile run.  Nevertheless, I put on my warmest running gear plus extra layers, popped my hot post-run recovery milkshake into a thermos and headed out.

I'd never driven in snow.  I have now.  I'm passing so many small milestones en route to this marathon*.

Today there were many runners out in the park, rather like a group outing from the local asylum.  I have to be honest, there were times when I found it tough.  However, after running alone for almost two hours, in sub-zero temperatures, on snow, in falling snow and with a chilly 10mph wind there is little doubt in my mind I have the mental fortitude to get round that course in 12 weeks time.

It says in the introduction of my training book to start identifying yourself as a marathoner as soon as you sign up for the marathon.  Today has been a real turning point.  I am a marathoner.  I'll see you at the finish line.

*Talking of milestones: today I passed the milestone of 200 miles in training runs. :-)

Runner of the Month

Yesterday I received confirmation I was Crane Park's "Runner of the Month" for December.  The Parkrun organisation is supported/sponsored by Sweatshop, so the prize is to be fitted with a new pair of trainers at Sweatshop.  I was really happy when I was told I'd won - and to have another pair of trainers to see me through my marathon preparations is fantastic!

Talking of which, it's time for me to go for today's run of 5 miles.  Apparently the temperature outside is -2C; wish me luck!

Double digits

I ran 10 miles today!  A few months ago the thought of running 10 miles was a little daunting but today the miles slipped by.

Recently I've not been feeling too good about my training but this morning I was perked up by the cold weather and sunshine.  Following sound advice, I tried to keep my pace slow and this allowed me to chat to a few people as I ran.  Most were running further than me (between 12 and 18 miles) and often for the London Marathon (which is a week after the Brighton Marathon).  Doubts crossed my mind about my training programme (should I be doing more?) but, deep down, I know it's sensible to slowly increase the distances and not over-train.

During the week I saw Jennie, my physio*, who eased the tension out of my poor muscles.  I also had new orthotics fitted - although I decided to save their maiden voyage for a slightly shorter run.

Keep the faith and keep on with the training...

*technically Jennie's an osteopath; I use "physio" as a convenient shorthand.

New Ground

Today I completed my longest ever run.

This morning I ran 8.34 miles (13.42 km); my previous longest run was approximately 7 miles.  In addition to facing a new distance I also ran at a new pace.  I’ve been advised to slow down for the long runs otherwise I’ll burn out before I reach the marathon.  Given the combination of unfamiliar pace and unfamiliar distance today’s run felt awkward.  Also, I didn’t feel the “runner’s high” I normally get after running at a comfortably hard pace.  Consequently today’s achievement feels a little flat - not the blaze of glory I was hoping to write about!