As part of my training for the Athens Marathon, I had to do a 14 miler today… No problem I thought, after doing just over a half marathon last week.
With more DIY and some paid-for writing work to complete, I decided to set off early and was out of the house for 7.30am, fuelling up with a banana and some Maxifuel Viper to give me an energy boost.
When I first set off, it was sprinkling with rain which got a little heavier about four miles in when I hit Wandsworth Common.
At this point, I was doing okay, congratulating myself on passing the 1,400 mile mark for the year and feeling pretty chipper and full of beans thanks to the carbs and the cooler weather.
Six and a half miles and I crossed Battersea bridge to get on the north side of the Thames and after running down the Embankment in Chelsea for a while, crossing back at Chelsea Bridge.
I slowed a little here, it must have been 7.5 miles to grab an energy sachet from my shorts and pulled my iphone out at the same time.
Alex Kyprianou, who I mentioned yesterday was saying how much he missed the chance to run in London since he has been living in Oz, so I decided to take a snap to show him what he’s really missing
Cold and wet on the Thames
Yes Alex, it’s still the height of summer!
On the other side of the bridge, some idiot passed in a car and flicked a fag butt out of the window that hit me on the hand, sticking momentarily to the expanding gap filler I got on my hands in yesterday’s DIY fest.
After cursing him to high heaven, through Battersea and Clapham I trekked, feeling pretty good and going at around 8 minutes a mile and thinking I was doing well on a long training run for the second week running.
By the time I got back to Tooting though, two miles from home, every bit of energy in me decided to bugger off and I hit a bigger wall than I ever have, even in the marathon.
For about a mile, I had to grit teeth, slow down and just push on as best as I could… I knew if I stopped i would not start again and the psychological blow would have been massive.
In the end, I stumbled back to Streatham, a little short on mileage, so I had to do a round of Sainsbury’s car park to make up.
For next week’s long one, I need to take more gels with me.
Tomorrow, I’m back on the PT course for a week… wish me luck.
Click here for a link to Garmin Connect for a map and details of the run
Miles today: 14
Target: 1011
Miles to date: 1,409.50
Please donate to my chosen charities by clicking here
6 comments
Ashley says:
August 23, 2010 at 10:48 (UTC 1)
Keep going James, that sounded like a tough one. Probably need a bit more calorie intake for breakfast. If I’m doing more than 10 miles I eat more than that and drink at least 1/2 litre of water en route. Thought you might have run via Bermondsey to celebrate
, second thoughts maybe not.
Ben says:
August 23, 2010 at 12:14 (UTC 1)
Keep going mate, I apologise for being a somewhat lapsed reader in the last couple of weeks. I am still so amazed with the level you have kept this at. Nearly there a day off will feel like the greatest victory but only once you have crossed the line of 365 days. Sounds like you enjoyed the run with Ben Moreau. 3 miles at some point next week?
Ben (not the fast one)
offthelongrun says:
August 23, 2010 at 12:51 (UTC 1)
Could have sworn I left a message last night – last year I was in Wales for 2 weeks (August) it rained nearly everyday, but it was warm, I think I wore shorts most days.
David says:
August 23, 2010 at 19:41 (UTC 1)
James I went to the cricket Friday and ended up behaving like a young-un around Hoxton
Today I’m so ill with man-flu that I wouldn’t run even if you gave me a pot of gold
Your legend grows stronger
Still hoping to join you on one of your long runs – Notts half??
worldofjames says:
August 23, 2010 at 22:03 (UTC 1)
Cripes – so much to reply to:
Ash – never knew you were running so much! Well done. Just read the blog, inspiring.
Ben – you’ve just had a bairn, you shouldn’t be reading running blogs! Yes, a run would be great.
Alex – never cease to amaze me! Come back over for another run or 14 back home!
David – how come you never ask me out to be like a young-un any more
Nottingham, Im trying to find out if still offering places, it fits into my marathon schedule for Athens!
Ashley says:
August 24, 2010 at 09:46 (UTC 1)
Thanks James. When do you run Athens? Hopefully when the temp. is a bit lower. BTW, saw that Ben got selected for the games in Delhi.