Before long runs

Fitness level – all time low. Unhealthy food level – very high. Eating – an addiction. Long runs predictions – looking bad…

OMG. That will be horrible horrible run for me in Donadea next Saturday. I know that I will be able to finish. No problem with that, but I know that it will cost me much more than if I would run that 6 months ago. As I was saying in one of the previous post, do not slip. And I did. I’m weak mentaly and physically. I know that I will eventually bounce back. But for now, I’m in bad place… Even during training sessions I’m not focussed on my goal, on ultra runs. In stead of slowly to finish line, keeping strenghts during whole run I’m trying to do a speed session from each training run. And why? Just because I can? Or maybe cause I’m not thinking. Need somebody to think for me? Hard to find positives now.

Anyways… Yesterday for the first time I have run marathon in Killeigh. Almost 6 laps of 4.5 miles each. Two major right turns (one on the T-junction) and just follow the road there. Can’t get lost, even me (and some will tell you that I’m really good at it – Ger Donohue) but don’t be fulled. Route isn’t easy. Couple of hills which become almost maountains till you hit the last lap. But my plan was not to run it fast, run it like I would need to run extra couple of miles at the end. Spare my strenghts. Run to get time 3:45. Got 3:44:46. Spot on. But my running plan was different to the one which was put in place during race. My plan was to run steady 5:13 minutes per km pace whole way. Cezary’s plan was to run slowely first 30 km (about 5:30 min/km) and last 12 km just lash out (aroung 4:45 min/km). My plan against Cezary’s… Hmmm. He won, I forgot my watch. Damn again. But I really wanted to run with somebody yesterday to get my mind off raceing. Pure joynment of run and running with Cezary, Ger, talking to them was allowing to get my mind of slower pace. Plan: 1. lap – slow, 2. lap – slow, 3. lap – slow, 4. lap – slow, 5. lap – slow first half after that fast, 6. lap – fast. Reality: 1. lap – slow, 2. lap – slow, 3. lap – pit-stop and fast, 4. lap – 1/3 fast rest slow (was able to carch Cezary again), 5. lap – faster, 6. lap – fast. Timewise plan worked anyway, but would do that differently with watch…

Marathon no 24. Just one more to go. If everything will be ok with me for next couple of days… Donadea will be my 25th. Never crossed my mind that I will have 25 under my belt… never thought that I will be able to run even one… that has happened and now I just continue. Thank you for your support.

More pictures, cause biggest supporter was with me again. There are two pictures taken by Stephen Mooney as well.