Deers on the Lawn at Brathay
I woke this morning to heavy rain, the forecast was for rain all morning and then for it to turn into showers. At least it wasn’t as cold nor as windy as yesterday so hopefully the run wouldn’t be as horrible.
I went through my usual routine in the morning, of bathroom, breakfast and physio before analysing the weather to decided exactly what to wear. There was nothing unusual to the morning and everything seemed ok until it was time to set off. I dibbed and tried to run but I got a sharp stabbing pain in my right groin, it is an issue I have had before but nothing like this. I simply couldn’t run how I normally would. Walking was completely pain free so I did that and kept trying to run to no avail.
Quickly I analysed the situation. There was no way I was dropping out, I could walk so I was quickly bracing myself for a long walk! I didn’t give up trying to run but each time after a few steps the sharp pain stopped me and I was back walking. This went on for a while. I then tried to run differently, very slowly with shorter steps. Eventually I found a way to run that was bearable, what a relief as I didn’t want to walk for over 6 hours.
I was so relieved to be not walking that I ran very slowly at first just to get a rhythm going. By 2 miles and at Outgate I was finding a steady pace and by 4 miles and Hawkshead I was even picking up the pace a little, with some confidence returning.
Never Stop Pushing
All the way to halfway I kept the pace conservative, just in case and passed halfway in 2 hours 15 minutes, slow for me but fine and still very respectable. The second half of the day steadily got better, the rain mostly eased away with just a couple of showers. The further I got the more confident I got and after Bowness and 20 miles I picked up the pace to where it has been most days, just under 9 minute miling. By the end I was really enjoying the day, maybe it is because I’m starting to sense the finish in only two days. I burst up the drive and into the finish to record a time of 4 hours 22 minutes 33 seconds. The worst time so far this year but it doesn’t matter I’m still in the game. Every day I break my own record for the number of official laps of the Lake, 87 today and every day I’m one marathon closer to being the first to complete 8 Brathay 10in10s which is my dream.
Lovely to see more friends and fellow 10in10ers turning out on the course to support us all today. In order of appearance; Sandra and Gary Wade, Rexy, Sean and Sarah Warburton, Su and Paul Adams and Paul Foster.
Thank you to Han May for the lovely kind donation, just the one in the last 24 hours.
