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Ready to taper
By Andy | February 8, 2008
Up early and caught a bus to the start in Brentford for the Town to Tring 40 mile race. I was carrying a reasonable size pack with 2 days food and clothing as I had spent the night at a friends in London.We started off early and it was cold and icy the whole way but the weather was lovely. Loads of friendly marshalls and runners all along the Grand Union Canal and despite a slow start and a mid race slowdown I managed to finish reasonably well in about 7 hours. Got back to my hotel room and found out that my friend had loaded up my pack with some bags of coins to add extra weight, I was too tired so just laughed.
First thing Sunday was mentally hard, stiff legs and general fatigue meant the last thing I wanted to do was put on my smelly running gear and run back with a pack. I lost the extra ballast and started having met Pat on the start line. The weather was a bit warmer but there was a headwind nearly the whole way. The first 10 miles I took steady and was actually feeling not too bad, the next 10 were harder and I was starting to flag. The last 20 were done with my head and not my legs but managed to carry on at a reasonable pace. I also ran the last 25 totally alone apart from passing the odd person and the checkpoints which was mentally hard but should prepare me better for those hours in the desert. I finished in just under 7 and a half hours so was reasonably pleased. I did feel that I could have gone for longer as my legs had just settled into a steady pace but the only injury I picked up was a blister on my small toe.
Now for a well earned taper before the Thames Meander.
Topics: Andy |