Last night I felt completely battered. My confidence was at an all time low as I wondered if everyone was right and coming out to India to do my first ultra was biting off more than I can chew. My face was like beetroot for an hour after the run yesterday, and it wasn't until I remembered to take my inhaler that the colour finally subsided. I then got horrendous palpitations (another sign of asthma for me) which lasted a further hour.
We went for the loveliest of meals at the Mynt restaurant. We chose to go Italian.... A mini carb load ready for the next torturous run, and we ate by candlelight on the lawns. It had been the sort of distraction I needed, but getting back to our room I was unable to sleep with a head full of doubts.
When the alarm went off at 7am I was exhausted. I ate the fruit kindly left by our room attendants and we went out for our run at 7.45. I remembered to take my inhaler and off we went. My legs didn't feel like lead (as they had on the previous day) and I wasn't as tired. The first 15 minutes were fine, I did not have issues jumping up and down knee height kerbs, and at the 5 minute walk break Graeme used his inhaler. Although the road was much quieter by way of traffic you could see the smog caused by all the pollution in the expanse normally occupied by cars. Getting back to the room I had found the second 15 minute run much harder and I couldn't help but wonder how the hell I'm going to cope on Sunday. Shaun has told me previously that your brain copes with what it thinks you're going to do....hence getting tired 5 miles into a 6 mile run, 2 miles into a 3 mile run and so on! I have finally made a prediction on my finishing time for Bangalore, based on a book I have read recently. It states that trail ultras of 50 miles are 3 times your marathon PB. As mine is "only" 46.6 miles and I always walk during a marathon anyway (hell will freeze over the day I ever run the whole way in a marathon) I have predicted I will take 13 hours and 15 minutes to complete the course. (I'm sure after that long they will let me finish with only 15 minutes over the time... I know I'm not the only one to think I'll be longer).
So we sunbathed by the pool and I suddenly burst into tears feeling like I had forgotten how to run! Graeme told me how I haven't got to worry as the fumes will not be an issue in Hesarghatta (race venue) and not to let it get to me. To be honest, the cry did me good and got a lot of tension I was feeling out, and left me feeling much more rational. Our pool attendant told me today that Bangalorians get very sick with chest pains because of the pollution and he felt the weather today was very hot and uncomfortable. I've noticed that every day it seems to get hotter and hotter.
After lunch, and in the hottest part of the day Graeme and I took it upon ourselves to walk to the place where we get the bus on race morning. We negotiated roads expertly and find we are quite "up" on the Indian Green Cross Code! Despite it being 28 degrees, walking today felt easier than our first walk on Saturday morning which left us soaked with sweat. It put things into perspective for me, as I know that if the heat becomes unbearable on Sunday, I can always walk for a time until I'm recovered.
So, now that my stress head has subsided and I realise I probably HAVEN'T forgotten how to run, I find myself one run short of finishing my taper... The first time I have ever stuck to a taper properly (maybe that's why all these feelings are new to me, as I normally sit on my arse and do hardly anything for a fortnight before a big race). Tonight we are going to Blue Ginger, a lovely Vietnamese restaurant for our evening meal. Hopefully, tonight I will finally get my body clock into Indian time, I'm shocked how long it's taking me! I have often wondered if coming out so early before the race and going home so close afterwards was wise... I now know it was the best decision ever!
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