Hall Lee Bank Park, Westhoughton
It is now Sunday with only 5 days until the start of the 2020 Brathay 10 marathons in 10 days challenge. I’m already tapering towards the event and today was my last, longish run, which for your information was 12.7 miles at an easy pace. A bit of a hilly run up to 4 Lane Ends and then I enjoyed the autumn colours through Hall Lee Bank Park in Westhoughton (pictured in this post). Time is well and truly over for training and it is now a matter of a couple of easy runs to keep my legs lose before eleven of us start day 1 on Friday 23rd October.
This event is like a marathon but multiplied several times and like a marathon it is a significant mental challenge. This mental battle started months ago but now with a week to go and the physical training complete it is time to get the mind ready and focused on the challenge.
While out running today I was thinking about the positives and the negatives in my build up to the 10in10 this year. It certainly hasn’t gone how I would have liked for the following reasons;
- To run a smooth injury free 10in10 it is ideal to have a big base of injury free training with lots of long runs to give a big base of endurance. This is usually how I come into the event but this year I’m far from that since getting a stress facture in my hip during the summer of 2019 which took me out of running until November. On top of that I had a knee operation in March which took another couple of months out of this year’s running schedule. I have put in the training I been able to but still it is far less than usual. This is just circumstances and out of my control, hopefully it will be enough and I can keep listening to my body and feel my way through the 10 days.
- Normally I have holidays in Anglesey, we go to the same area of the island which is hilly in a similar way the Windermere marathon course is. I enjoy training there, the scenery is lovely and it replicates the event. Sadly, mainly due to Covid-19 I haven’t been able to get there and train as much as I would like.
- As I mentioned earlier I had a knee operation back in March on a meniscus tear to my right knee. The operation seemed to go ok and the consultant was happy but sadly I am still feeling some pain in the knee when doing certain movements. Large blocks of training also seem to aggravate it so it will be a real test to see how it copes with 262 miles over 10 days. As a positive I did manage 112 miles in 7 days at the end of July. This made the knee soar but definitely bearable.
- Recently, just a couple of weeks ago I felt a discomfort in my right groin, this mild pain is still lingering. It is something I have experienced before and in the past over a period of time it has gone away on its own. I don’t think it will be a real problem but it is something I could do without and something else to play on my mind.
- Usually I regularly run marathon events for enjoyment but also as training for the 10in10. In the 6 months before a 10in10 I would expect to run around 10 marathons, with at least 1 but probably 2 doubles (2 marathons in 2 days). This year due to Covid-19 there has been hardly any races so I haven’t been able to do this. I find it hard to run the full marathon distance just as a training run. In the last 6 months I have managed, 5 marathons, one 60k ultra and one double. Not bad but not were I would like to be.
After considering all of this I know I am going to find it harder this time than normally. I do have doubts but I’m also mentally focused and determined to give it my best shot. Could I have done more? Well I don’t think so, I’m content with what I have done considering the circumstances. All I can do is take it easy for the first few days and listen to my body. Hopefully if I can keep my right knee from getting too painful and avoid picking up additional injuries I will get through it. If I can do this and complete my 7th Brathay 10in10, I’ll become the first person ever. This event isn’t about time for me, it is about completing the event and taking this record. That said I will be looking at my watch, if I can get all 10 days under 4 hours I will be especially please. I can assure you I won’t be taking it easy, I am still very competitive.
Each day I plan to put a quick post on Facebook for people tracking my progress, followed by a more detailed post on my blog each evening as long as I don’t run out of time.
Lets see what happens!
I know this challenge is personal but I am doing this also to raise money for the Brathay Trust, if you feel my effort is worthy and would like to kindly give a donation then please have a look at my Just Giving page…
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/malc10in10x7
