I'm really pleased with my progress this year, I've got stronger & faster, I've set new PB's in 5K, 10K, & Half Marathon, no Marathon PB but that's because I have not raced in a Marathon yet, to tell you the truth I can count in one hand how many times I've ever ran the 26.2 miles (or over) but here I lay about to take on 50 miles in a race that I feel totally out of my depth attempting. I was told that you train your body to run marathons but an ultra marathon need more than a conditioned body, they need a conditioned mind & the only way to condition your mind to run an ultra is... Well, to run ultras. I had a solid training plan set up but sadly due to a mix of work circumstances & my inability to say no to races most weekends that should have been my long runs normally ended up being filled with ParkRuns, 10K's, a couple of HM's & a the crazy Red Bull Steeple Chase that I blogged about earlier in the week. All these races were at speed with the intention of beating PB's or until I fell. I have however recced the race (well the 2nd 25 miles) of the race earlier in the year. I joined Laura @laurainglis1 on her recce & we ran the back half of the course. We ran at a steady pace of 10-11 min/miles right up to the last 5 miles when I slowed the pace down. I had discovered that day that I had "acquired" Hay Fever, never before had I had it but everyone we ran near or through a"Wheat-a-Bix" field did I wheeze & fight for breath. It was a mixture of this & acid build up in my legs that called for Laura to tell me to "man up & fight on". I won't lie to you I was very glad to reach the finish.
Laura will also be running the Round Rotherham 50 tomorrow & so will fellow Twitter friend Andrew @MrAFletch, I will be supported by my Dad & The Wife & fellow Runners & Twitter Friends Mike @Mikew40 Cat @CatkinTaylor have promised to be strategically placed along the course with home made delights containing copious amounts of sugar that will work like magic & regenerate my legs. Fingers crossed my long standing friend, best man & recently sworn in training buddy Russ @Rustyw5 can make the end of the race to run me into the finish. Preferably before dark.
A MASSIVE Thank you to my Wife, Sue for putting up with me this year while I have been training for this, she has been a dimond. Thank you to everyone that has Tweeted & FB'ed your support, & to everyone of you that has sponsored me or is about to sponsor me, lastley can I thank you all for taking the time to read this post & for your gereral support.
In May 2012 I ran with RelayGB, after that I felt I could call myself a Runner, this time tomorrow I hope to be able to proudly call myself an Ultra Runner.
Martin
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