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Sunday 15 April 2012

Sat 20 miler...got it on my 2nd attempt...

Saturday came...my 20 miler...

Got up Saturday...no nerves...strange...

In summary...I wasn't nervous but I didn't feel too well...ran the first 4 miles and panic attack sets in...not again...just got too anxious and couldn't settle...what was going through my head?...that I'm not able for this distance...20 miles...not a hope in hell was I going to be able for it...so made the decision to turn around and go home...it just wasn't going to happen..very disheartened...distraught actually...

In the shameful return journey home...I set myself up to attempt it today...2nd time lucky I hoped...I did the 18 miler very comfortably and why the hell did '20' just scare the living shite out of me...maybe Ballybunion just knocked my confidence a bit but who cares as today was going to be my day...toes crossed!

Got up at 7...tired from yesterday but very nervous...felt sick eating my porridge...but knocked it back...it took a few kicks up the arse yesterday to mentally get myself out today...two days in a row was very tough...but I was ready...sun shining..brilliant I'll be scalded...

New route: leave from Fenit..head towards barrow..onto Ardfert...swing a left towards BrandonWell..pass Poll Ghoirm and onto Banna beach..that was our 10 miles turnaround point...

Catriona and myself started off along tallaught...towards Churchill..it was going to be a long morning...from the 6 miles yesterday I got a few bloody blisters..they were sore for the first few minutes but I put them to the back of my mind... a small thing like a blister won't feck up my run...I even ran up Churchill..which is a bitch of a hill...strategy was 25 run and 5 walk...ran down towards Barrow..no traffic on the road which was great...wore a Garmin today... borrowed a Garmin watch off hazel to watch my time..I'm definately investing in one as it kept an eye on my pace and time...that settled me...also wore an iPod with songs rotating every 25 mins...

Hit the back road past barrow...long long road but it was fine...kept the head down...sun was blazing...hit the second 25 section just before the turn off before ardfert...felt good...knocked back a gel...disgusting but I was clocked to take it at that time so I did...Met a few cyclists along the way... gave them a wave...true runner and I even managed to crack a smile! Woohoo...i knew once I was past the hour mark that the run was going to be ok...

Ran the long road into Ardfert...saw a lovely brown donkey over a wall... think he was waiting for us... said ' hello cutie!'...he came over..very placid... kept my mind occupied for a while! hit the cross at Brandon Well.. Catriona decides to go for a pee in a derelict house in the corner...the shame.. down with the pants and release..it was a bit too close to the main road for my liking! But if you have to go.. you have to go..

I kept running...3rd 25 min section was close..definitely getting myself a Garmin...great... doing well...it was actually a lovely route... plenty to gawk at..most people were still in bed whilst these two loofas were out in the sweltering heat plodding along the road gawking into their homes..walk...woohoo I like this strategy..walk very fast..down towards the Ruin on the left..off we go again along another very long road...marsh on either side and a few mattresses thrown in for scenic beauty...who the hell would drive out here specifically to dump their mattress! Nutheads...If the mattress was clean I would have had an ould break for a minute and had a lie down! Kept going till the very end around the sand dunes... met two fellas on bikes on a bend... they never saw us and swerved and nearly fell off..got a fright...kept running down to our ten mile mark..woohoo...did well time wise..my Garmin told me we hit it on the two hour mark...t shirt was soaked...was roasted but considering I normally complain about the heat,today I didn't! But it wasn't easy...

Took our 5 min break... knocked back a gel..woohoo only 10 to go.. I knew it was going to be tough..tummy turned a bit but I tried to forget about it...ok I can do this...did the next 25...was getting a wee bit tired... ran 6 yesterday,mentally exhausted also after yesterday's f-up and it was sweltering...walked slower than normal to preserve energy..hit the top of the road at Brandon well..we hid a replacement bottle of fluid in the ditch on the way there..all my fuel belt was pry so I filled up..

I have never seen so much salt come out of me..with the heat,my face was sore with the layering of salt on it from the sweat...yuck..my black tshirt had salt marks on it which I have never seen before and my hat had it also! today was definitely a good calorie burning day...

Passed the donkey again... Ahh he was very lonely looking....plodded on...no smiles at the donkey this time...legs were stiffening...walked for a min...ran again towards the long road before Barrow...there's a house on the right hand side..derelict..but there is actually a mad man living in it! All the windows are covered in newspaper or posters and theres graffiti on the outside..I could only make out the word 'god'! gave me the creeps...Catriona and Rose on a previous run left their gels and drinks hidden in the grass outside and they went missing! Convinced he took them..hence why we left our drink a bit further on today...loola..

Just before Barrow started faltering...felt knackered,tummy rolling,legs just tight...so immediately a run walk strategy kicked in..otherwise i'd falter completely..but not far to go...which i couldn't wait for...roll on Fenit...

Threw my dummy out of the pram down Churchill...a car was coming down very fast and I jumped in and my ankle just went..I think I was a bit delirious...cried for 2 secs thinking my ankle was gone and my dream of running in the Olympics was over...sarcasm...ankle was fine once I started walking...mental head mental thoughts...was just knackered...only 3k to go...walked up the hill bit and ran home very slowly...geriatric pace..absolutely delighted and delirious both at the same time...got in home and legs were fecked...jittery...feet swollen..felt sick...had a cup of tea and it brought me round...took me a while to actually register in my brain that I ran 20 miles and I was able for it...come so far since christmas but I forget that sometimes...

Yesterday took a lot out of me...the whole day was ruined..so today took a lot of strength to come back from that..but I did it...27 miles in two days..not bad..went swimming in Fenit this evening...bitter cold...but it was fantastic for the soreness..came home and cleaned the house! I'll sleep tonight..happy tho..

12 miles next week...marathon day is drawing near...

Apologies for long blog..it was a long run!

2 comments:

  1. That is a MAJOR deal to complete, Annie- very well done! It takes serious inner-strength to come back after a disappointing session (I know- I've been there a few times too...) Brian

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  2. ahh thanks Brian... I will get over my hurdles slowly but surely..doing my 12 miles in Limerick on sat just to settle the loola tendencies....joining a group Trihards in limerick who have very kindly accepted us into their training run for the marathon...

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If anyone has any advice or suggestions please feel free to post, im sure there are plenty people out there like myself wishing to run....