Miles this week: 38
Still
to go: £675.50
The sponsorship
wheel is still turning with a few more kind donations this week. So in
tradition with past blogs, I’d like to say a big thank you to the following
people: Dean and his shameless plug to promote his business, fellow work
colleague Liz, Paul and Tracy and to Claire, though you didn't mention your sure name so I am not 100% sure which one I am thanking but it is all much appreciated.
As you can
probably tell from the title, this week I ran my last high mile run on Sunday.
This means that, in theory, I have done all my physical preparation. I still
think I’m not quite there yet and wish I could have started my training from
the first week, instead of playing catch up after missing the first four weeks.
I guess it wasn’t meant to be!
I will give it my best shot and not make excuses…
The
outline for this week’s training programme was the same as last week, requiring
me to complete my second 18 miler. Having said that, I decided to increase the
long run to 20 miles. There were two reasons for this: firstly, I didn’t see
how training for 18 miles was overly helpful, seeing as on race day there will
be another 8.2 miles to go - I wanted to put my mind at ease by showing myself
that I can do this distance! Secondly, I wanted to calm the nerves I have
started to get. By increasing the miles this week it means I have set more
records for myself, completing my longest ever run and covering 38 miles in a
week!
This
week’s training looked like this:
Day 1 = 5 miles
Day 2 = 8 miles
Day 3 = 5 miles
Day 4 = 18 miles increased to 20 miles
Total = 36
miles increased to 38 miles
So to coincide
with me setting more personal records, I have chosen Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen
to be my song of the week.
So
to add to my nerves this week, I received the Marathon programme and final
instructions pack. It gave me my race number (47469) and provided a lot of
information about the day and about going to the exhibition. You have to go to
the exhibition the week before the race, to sign your forms and pick up your
racing pack (which includes your timing chip and race number). There are other
things to do to keep you occupied as well, as companies and charities all have
stands there. Also in the book charities tend to have a thank you page for
their runners. Sense was no different, having a two page spread where they said
a massive thank you and listed all their runners. Surely that makes me famous
now, Right?
I was going to
take my vest to the exhibition to get my name put on it, but in the programme
book there was a deal to send it off now at a slightly cheaper price. Plus that
way I don’t have to spend time queuing up with everyone else, giving me more
time to sniff out the freebies! Well, I hope there are freebies!!
This
week’s chapter in the book doesn’t really provide any more information, though
at this stage I’m not sure there is much more they can provide you with. It
reiterated the point about NOT setting a time goal, which had started to creep
into my mind over the last few weeks. The book said again that my goal should
be to finish my first ever marathon, referring to the story of the tortoise and
the hare. It’s really hard to keep this as my goal when friends are asking what
time I hope to achieve, saying I should be able to get such and such a time.
However, I have said I am hoping for between 4hrs – 4hrs 30, but honestly I'm more concerned with smashing my fundraising target.
Whatever time I
get I will be sure to take advantage of the after party with Sense. Yep, I have
booked myself a place at the after race party, where I can enjoy a shower,
massage and some much needed food (pasta I think).
As my training
for my first challenge is coming to an end, I have begun to look to see if I
can spare any time volunteering with Sense soon, or in the summer months. I
have sent them a mail asking for more info on what they have coming up.
I still have some Aloe Vera
plants at £2 each so if you want one let me know!
Sponsoring
my marathons will enable Sense to continue their amazing work with children,
young people, adults and older people, who have progressive sight and hearing
loss. Donating money will help the charity to carry on offering a range of
housing, educational and leisure opportunities to those who need it. All I am
asking for is £1.00 (more if you can) to help them provide these fantastic
services and much needed respite for families.
Leigh
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