Definite last long run....and close to tears!

The longest training run before D-day, well Big 'M-Day' is more like it!

I'd been looking forward to this run for a long time, I knew the route and it was a case of seeing if I was up to it:

Home down to Limehouse about 8 miles, then even further east towards Canary Warf, pick up the Thames pathway, Embankment, Westminster, Birdcage Walk, St. James (this is the final part of the marathon!), then Hyde Park, couple laps of the Serpentine, Marylebone, Regents Pk, then for some ridiculous reason over the top of Primrose Hill and home - 22.5miles, get in!!

I started off well, felt comfortable but had to slow down as the miles were a bit quick, I knew I'd pay for them later, so I tried to keep round the 9 - 9:30 per mile mark. Listening to Ministry Of Sound - Running Trax.

I've tried putting compilations of my own tunes together to try to think of certain people whilst running, this doesn't have a good effect on me, it's an emotional roller-coaster at the best of times on the long runs, the best thing for me to listen to is mind numbing banging tunes, this just keeps me away from those dark places!!!

I took 6 gels for the run and made sure to keep the water levels were well topped up, there were a few times when I felt hungry, 2 pieces of toast are not enough. I must fuel up better....it's still a steep learning curve for me.

Running these distances on your own is hard work, the next time I train for something like this I think that I'll join a club or get a running / training partner.

Sid has been fantastic, but anything over 15 miles for a 9 year old on his bike is a little too hard, (and possibly Ester Ranson at Child Line would have something to say)...

It's a similar story for me on the long runs, periods of great times and other challenging times, overall though, incredibly rewarding. It's great to take yourself completely out of your comfort zone and this definitely does.

Throughout the run I keep checking to see how each part of my body feels, like a top to bottom MOT, it helps because the smallest adjustment really assists.

My knees gave me problems for a while, these didn't trouble me on this run and of course I was still concerned about the pull in my thigh, thankfully seemed ok.

I completed the run round about the 3:40 - 45 mark, of course I was pleased to have covered the distance.

So, got home had some peanut butter toast and a bath.

Physically didn't feel too bad, all things considered, but after getting out of the bath and reflecting about it, felt really emotional - this is a very alien feeling for me generally!

I was almost close to tears, I had to pull myself together and have a proper word with myself.....bloody hell.....nobody said this was going to be easy but this is madness!!!