Yesterday I found that my run flat tyres had run flat. I tried to get the car to the garage after work only to find it was too late, so we ended up going shopping for things we needed for India. My God... How expensive is suncream these days? Anyway, after a few essentials at Boots, and a new suitcase for me, we popped to my mams and gave her all of Novembers money for Luke, so we are decidedly skint (again!).
That, of course, put payed to running on Saturday, so today we dropped the car off at the garage after distributing the kids to their relevant football playing locations. Graeme then drove us home and we immediately set about doing our 2 hour long run. It was my last opportunity to use my XL vest, so we chose to run along the beach banks which is all trail with a couple of nasty hills. I suppose I didn't want to waste my last chance of running with my vest and wanted to make it difficult.
Within the first 15 minutes I needed the loo, and remembered Sebby telling me last week that eventually you have to give up your inhibitions and wee wherever is convenient. This is exactly what I did. I commented to Graeme that I had a general all over tiredness and he said he felt the same. The wind was very strong and was even worse along the stretch of openess on the beach banks. I took my inhaler on the first walkbreak, as did Graeme. Things picked up a bit and I felt better as we ran along the cliff tops, even though at times the wind was very strong. We continued on until we got to a very steep bank just before 5 miles. There were steps to run down and they were horrible.... slippy and steep. A 5 minute walk break came and as we continued on Graeme said he didn't think he could carry on. We thought it best to turn back and run the same route backwards as opposed to running through the Dene where we would have to carry on to the end... this way there were 2 or 3 "getouts" where Graeme could cut the run short and go home if he needed to.
Unfortunately that meant running back up the steep hill and steps we had just come down. We got 3/4 of the way up before we both needed to walk but I was literally hyperventilating and had to take my inhaler 3 times. Graeme was telling me to breathe slower and try to control my breath better. It was horrible and the wind was making it worse. Within a couple of minutes of taking the inhaler I felt fine and Graeme had decided enough was enough and he was going home. I continued on but the wind became even worse and it was a fight to keep going. My "no slower than 12mm pace" wasn't even considered and as I saw myself doing a 13.15mm I just thought that it was really tough conditions today and I am probably still tired from last weeks marathon. I also thought that there was an absolutely "brilliant" chance that this sort of pace will be the norm for Bangalore and I won't be disappointed then, so why worry about it now!!!
My breathing just seemed to get worse the further I got into the run, and I was relieved to run a slightly less windy part where I could pull myself together a bit. Getting back home I had only ran just short of 10 miles in around 1 hour 53. Not great, but, it was tough by way of surface, really tough in the wind and at least it got done.
I'm gutted to report it took nearly all afternoon to get over it though. I seriously felt dreadful. I'm sure the saying goes though that if your last long run goes badly it means the race is better... Here's hoping so! I've done more in the lead up to this race than I have for any other race, so I just have to have confidence I've done enough.
I wore my Raildlight gaiters today and they were fabulous. It had to be the first time I've ever ran and not got a single stone in my shoe. This trail run has a half mile section of gravel pathway that gets me every time! I didn't even remember I was wearing them because they were so comfortable. At least something went right today!
My Powerbreathe is currently on charge... I saw today as a warning! It's a shame I hate using it, as it makes a huge difference within a fortnight or so. It makes me gag when I use it though! Still... It's worth it. The weather in Bangalore is currently stormy and 29 degrees. I managed to stay in the sauna for 22 minutes before needing to step out yesterday... So I'm improving slowly. I haven't used the sauna properly for a few weeks now, but I'm getting used to it again fairly quickly. I hope my taper gives me a new lease of life, because at the moment I feel rather tired!
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