... the not so tough have to take a break!!
The last couple of weeks have been my worst yet so with a complete lack of motivation and a body that ached in places I didn't even know existed, I haven't felt much like updating this! But with a new week comes a renewed sense of impetus and I'm pleased to report I am back on track.
A couple of weeks ago I made it to 13 miles. Having initially seen this as a big milestone in reaching half way the initial elation slowly disintegrated in to complete terror at the thought that this was only half way. My 30th birthday celebrations followed the 13 mile run and as the hangover wore off it became clear that half way was exactly that: only half the distance I would be needing to finish in a matter of weeks. As the realisation of the task ahead of me dawned, the 26.2 miles became, for the first time, utterly daunting and felt completely unachievable. Training seemed to ground to a halt with everything seeming impossible, even walking down the stairs meant a series of ever so unattractive grunts in pain!! (sorry for anyone who may have witnessed this, it really wasn't pretty!)
So, I did what all the books tell you to do, and 'listened to my body'! For the most part I haven't really done this as my body mostly tells me to eat chips and sit on the sofa but on this occasion I did what it was pleading for and took a whole three days off running. A session in the gym on the bike and cross-trainer actually became exciting at the thought of it not being running, and by Friday morning my legs finally ceased to feel like they were made of lead.
As the weekend loomed, I became increasingly nervous about attempting 15 miles but set off on Saturday lunchtime with the thought that I'd make it as far as I could, after all, 15 miles is utterly ridiculous. But I only bloody made it and finished all 15 miles!!! I am most definitely not quick and it certainly isn't a natural runners gait that I have, but finishing on Saturday really has made me think that this is possible, and by hook or crook, I will make it round that 26.2 mile course in 7 weeks and 6 days time (gulp!).
My sponsorship has taken a leap too so a massive thank you to you all, not only for your sponsorship, but for your encouragement and belief that I can do it. It really does mean a lot. I can only apologise for my moments of being able to talk about nothing else but running and my moaning, but I can say that this experience has only given me more admiration for the way in which people dealing with illnesses of any kind, deal with their day to day struggles with nothing but courage and dignity. To think I have been moaning about a sore knee puts it all into perspective.
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AliceHarveylondonmarathon
Lots of love,
Alice
x
