35.5k Sunday

I've got to say, the lead up to this run was nothing short of nerve–racking!  After having last Sundays long run (24K) off, I was feeling fresh and ready for the 35.5k run ahead — or at least I thought I was!

 

I decided it was a wise move to get up early and tackle this run before it got too hot.  I was up at 5am, hit a couple espressos, and a bowl of oats, then it was time to hit the road...

 

Walking out to the Fernleigh Track, it was obviously going to be a perfect day.  The sun was shining, the birds where singing, and before too long, so were my legs!  Seriously though, the first 21k's went past like a breeze at a steady 5:45 min / km pace.

 

It wasn't until the 27k mark things started to get tough.  I was expecting this point to come sooner or later given the quicker than normal pace I was running.  The next two k's were really quite tough and my legs were starting to feel it.  Pain had been making its way around, as it normally does, although my feet were starting to get really sore.

 

Pressing on to the 29k mark I started to come good and kept steady through to 32k — from here on I was breaking new ground, and new blisters alike!  The remaining 3.5k was nothing short of brutal.  I'm not 100% sure if the final 3.5k brutality was due to my mind on the verge of quitting, or the inescapable pain that had enveloped my feet!  Either way, I pressed on, pushing through until I heard the 35k 'beep' on my GPS watch — which at that time sounded like an angelic being singing in my ear.  500 metres to go...

 

As always, it's the last 500 metres that's the longest distance to cover.  I don't think I took an eye off my GPS watch for the last 50 metres in pure anticipation of finishing...  With a final few steps, the required 35.5k distance was completed.

 

After a short walk home (which was almost as bad as the last 3k) I opened the door and lined up a chair to fall into.  It was a battle in itself just to reach my shoe laces and untie them.

 

Needless to say, the rest of the day was spent gorging myself on all things deep fried, accompanied by some choice cold beverages — namely VB long necks.  In my opinion, a well deserved reward!

 

I now have only three more weeks of training before the Melbourne Marathon and training will now decline steeply, which will be a welcome reprieve.

 

Sunday Stats:

Location:	Fernleigh Track
Distance:	35.50 km
Time:	3:23:38
Avg Pace:	5:44 min/km
Elevation Gain:	145 m
Calories:	2,566 C