Penultimate....

I got a second run in at 6.5 on Wednesday, but afterwards, my muscles hurt, it felt like I had run 13/14/15 miles and took more than the usual 24 hours to settle down. Questions started arising in my mind, had it all gone? Would I remember how to run a long distance? How much of my strength had the sickness taken from me? I wanted to run again, but at the same time there was trepidation.
 Sunday came along though and I was determined to get in a decent turn. Saturday had seen me eat a few things which didn't fit in the plan and of course that would be my downfall on the big day!!!!!
 9.1 miles. 3 small circuits on the inner road of St Marys. It felt comfortable to start with, but the "energy" I had felt in previous runs didn't seem to be present. the rhythm was there, the breathing was good and I had music as a distraction. and of course, things settled down and time passed. It was sunny though. One of the warmer runs I have done, I was looking for the shade and trying to stay out in the wind at the same time.

On the second lap, I did something I haven't done in all these last four months. I ran 'with' someone.  An old school friend was back on the island for a few days and out for a run, to start with, in the opposite direction but changed and joined me for ten minutes. It was nice and distracted me from my concerns and thoughts. And the last lap and a half ticked over nicely.....and just to top it off I was ecstatic at the timing. 9.1 miles in 87 minutes, 4 under the 10 minutes mile pace. .........

But that's it. No more training. No more running until the day, tomorrow is a recovery day, Tuesday is Coastguard and Wednesday is final preparations before I leave on Thursday.......