Firstly, a correction to my last post. Cambuslang's under 17 men in fact won team silver rather than team bronze at the West District Cross Country. Thanks to medal winning team member Stuart Roe for pointing this out.
Secondly, I've had another version of a Brampton to Carlisle photo diverted my way by Steve Angus of http://www.athletesinaction.co.uk/ for directing some people to his site from here. It's a cropped version of me at 3 miles with a lesser watermark so a closer view of my ugly, make up clad mug.
Finally, as I write, I'm recuperating from doing 30 miles, over half my average weekly mileage, in 2 days. Tonight's road session of 10 x 2 minutes with 1 minute jog recoveries (8.5 miles including warm up and warm down, East Kilbride track still having traces of ice), was preceded yesterday by an experimental long run. I had decided at some point this winter when there were no big races in the immediate future to experiment with a 20 mile run to see how I coped. Viewing the Ayr Turkey Trot 10k on Boxing Day as a medium sized race, I devised a route after a couple of pints on Saturday night and at 11.50am on Sunday set off with a drinks bottle full of Lucozade, my house key and a packet of Fruit Pastilles, wrapped up in a hat, gloves, two layers...and shorts.
From the back gate, the first 2.5 miles took me to East Kilbride's Holiday Inn. From there, it was along the road then right into the country roads to Carmunnock then Castlemilk where one local encouraged me to "get my knees up." I held my tongue, took his pearls of wisdom on board and carried on over the brow of the hill past Kings Park then Hampden into the Gorbals area of Glasgow. Between 8 and 9 miles done.
I couldn't believe I'd dared run into Glasgow with no means of getting home other than my two feet. However, my Gran lives in the area so if I was really in trouble, at least I had somewhere to go. Maybe the bus fare would have been an idea though. I was really enjoying myself and feeling stronger as I crossed the bridge over the River Clyde past the Gala Casino towards the St Enoch Centre. The aim was to turn back at 10 miles. I reached that landmark at Marks and Spencers on Argyle Street after 65 minutes of running. I zig zagged along Argyle Street through the Christmas shoppers then turned left at Pizza Hut towards home.
Sooking pastilles on route seemed to keep up my energy levels. Looking at my reflection in shop windows and bus shelters kept me amused. Apart from spitting a pastille out accidentally sprinting across a road at the O2 Academy, eating on the run was without incident. My beer inspired route took me to Queen's Park, Mount Florida, Clarkston, Busby, back to the Holiday Inn then along the 2.5 mile route I started with, returning to my back gate at 2.10pm. The run was longer than expected, 21.5 miles, and took me 2:20:42. The pace stayed consistent since I went through 20 miles in 2:10:18. I'd have broken my marathon personal best by 18 minutes had I carried on without slowing down.
Overall, this was one of my barmier ideas but I felt brilliant after completing it. It became a slog from 18 miles on but I certainly didn't "hit the wall." Boy, did I have an appetite when I got back. Wait until I run it again with intervals.
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