Would love to say that this 100 mile week was easier than last week’s. But in truth it was a real, real struggle. Wake up Friday with a rough head cold, could do with a day off. I am on the rails heading towards the London Marathon, and I don’t want to fall off now. The rule is (according to me): if the cold doesn’t go lower than your neck, then you can still run. I just feel generally awful, but chest is fine, so I decide I have to push through it.
Friday run horrible, Saturday worse, and Sunday I find myself staring at the treadmill with 20 miles to do. I have no idea how I am going to get through it. I have tried every trick in the book; good lie in, high carb breakfast, coffee, lucozade, wearing my coolest kit & newest trainers, listening to my favourite playlist… but my body still feels terrible. I get on the treadmill sneezing and blowing my nose, feeling proper sorry for myself.
First 10 miles seem to go on forever. I need a toilet break, I sit in cubicle, head in hands, and the sweat is rolling through my fingers. I am pretty close to quitting. I have some stern words with myself. I clamber back on and tune into hear Nigel Owens on Desert Island Discs , it is like divine intervention. He is so inspirational, and the songs he chooses are so brilliant, that it completely lifts me. I don’t have much in common with the guy, a rugby union referee from South Wales, but he is such a hero, honest and humble, that all my silly pains fade away and I am soaring. By the end of his interview treadmill is at full speed and I feel like running straight through it. I’m moaning out loud, pretending I have a stitch… to cover the tears.
Have to say a massive thank you to Nigel for being strong, you’ll never know it but you are inspiring me.
| 30/1/2017 | AM | PM |
| Monday | REST | 12 tm |
| Tuesday | 5 tm | 11 tm |
| Wednesday | REST | 10x300m (1.30min rest) in 48/49 sec |
| Jim up through night so slept in. | ||
| Thursday | 4 tm | 10 tm |
| Friday | REST | 11 tm |
| wake up ill, heavy sneezing and blocked nose, run feels rough | ||
| Saturday | 13 | 3 |
| run feels awful. 9min miling | ||
| Sunday | 20 tm @ 6.30min miling | 5 |
| still ill. It’s not pretty, but it’s done. | ||
| TOTAL: | 100 miles. tm = treadmill | |