Race minus 6 days - Last training run of note completed, and Planning for the Big Day

Keeping in the spirit of last week's "reverse" run, I ran along the river from Reedham to Cantley.

It is clear summer was here, as at Reedham I saw boats moored, and their occupants enjoying the 20 degree sun, plus I passed a walker along the river, and just as I got to Cantley I was passed by a runner(!) who without a rucksack and longer legs breezed past me.

I tested out some cheap curved sunglasses I had purchased for a £5 in "Pri-Mar-Che", and the fact they were not prescription was no issue, although after 2+ hours they made the skin sore - I will try and wear them in a bit this week for the final two runs.

I had decided that I would run for two hours and then walk for an hour, so I could get that experience as on the day, it is highly unlikely I can run the whole route, and walking briskly requires slightly different muscle usage.

As expected, I did the target 10 miles in the first two hours, and covered another two miles in just over 34 minutes.  I then did a quick test to see if I could get the usual running speed, and it was no problem - if anything I was going faster.....

The key thing is to avoid stoppages where possible, and keep moving irrespective of it being a brisk walk or a run - two weeks when I ran to Great Yarmouth and caught the train back showed clearly that even within 30 minutes of inactivity, it becomes impossible to get those legs running again.

With just two easy three milers left on Tuesday and Wednesday, I now need to focus on making sure I have the kit I need for the big day.
For the Rucksack, I have broken up my requirements into four groups;
1) First Aid - Sun Cream, Bite/Sting Relief Cream, Hand Gel, Plasters, Paracetamol/Ibuprofen, my medication, Wipes - the last three I need to get.
2) Clothing - Spare running socks (3 Pairs), Waterproof Top, Mid-Layer Top, Gloves, Head Torch, Hand Torch, Spare Batteries - All sorted except Hand Torch, which a friend will lending me one of his collection.
3) Food and Drink - Two full water bottles, and Back-up Food (Jelly Babies and Salted Nuts/Trail Mix) - Jelly Babies sorted as are water bottles - just need to get some Nuts.
4) Other - Fully Charged Mobile Phone, Normal Prescription Glasses, Shuttle Booking details, IPad.  Yes, I am taking my IPad with me, so I can photograph the scenery, and as such it is likely to be in my hand a lot.
I have supermarket plastic bags to triple-bag everything as the rucksack is not waterproof but I knew that when I bought it.

I have also drawn up a list of stuff for the handover luggage bag that will be transferred from Lewknor to Avebury which will have Change of Clothes, Wash Bag, Towel, Toothbrush and Toothpaste, Sleeping Bag, a Pillow, and my shuttle booking (7am on Sunday) back to Lewknor.

The next thing I need to do is decide what route to take from Norwich to Lewknor on Friday , where I have a hotel booking.  whilst M11-M25-M40 is the quickest route, it apparently has lousy service stations after the M11, so I may well do A14-M1-M25-M40, or given I have plenty of time to get there, avoid M25 altogether and go for something for scenic.

Race minus 9 days - Mantras Part 1

Race minus 10 days - Warm run, on a food bender, and running mantras

I did the first of two mid-week runs this morning in the warm 6.30am 20 degree celsius weather in the centre of Norwich towards Whitlingham Broad and back, including going up Bracondale in springy steps - normally I struggle with Bracondale but today it was comfortable.

Food-wise today was a disaster - too many ice creams, and too much extra stuff.   Tomorrow I will redress the balance, and have a more clean food day.

With pretty much most of my physical training done, I am now thinking about any mental training I need to top up on over the next 9 days, particularly with a view to running/positive-mind mantras to focus on in the final 24 hours.
I may make that tomorrow's blog or save to Friday but if anyone is reading this, and they have their own mantras they are willing to share, feel free to put them in the comments.

Race minus 12 days - Shoes banished to the shed!

The missus has banished my shoes to the shed as they smell like cat pee!

Today I have felt tired but not sore like I was this time last week.

This week I need to review what will be in my rucksack.

Race minus 13 days - 16 miles done today, overdoing it this weekend, and just six runs left until the big day.

I did my last Wherryman's Way run this morning but did the reverse route, going from Halvergate to Reedham.
The weather was mainly light rain, interspersed with short patches where it was dry, and finished with heavier (but still not bad) rain - given my first Wherryman's Way run two months ago was also wet (but a lot colder especially when lost...), it was a little poetic.
On Facebook, I follow Great Superhero Run (https://www.facebook.com/greatsuperherorun?fref=ts), who raise money running marathons dressed as Spiderman, Iron Man, and Batman for the RNLI.
They live in Norfolk, and two of them were on the Wherryman's Way, near Reedham, on their way to Great Yarmouth - unfortunately I did not realised until about a minute later as they were not in costume but it did give me a boost as they became the first people I have ever seen on the route when I have been running.
I ended up doing 16 miles as by the time I reached the last bit, there was a risk I was be running towards the Humpty Dumpty 10k runners - all 400 of them! - so I took a diversion which added a mile to the route but I did discover another permissive pathway as a result.

Having washed, and got changed I found I was so tired from this morning's run I went to bed for an hour, which is highly unusual as I do not do mid-day sleeps.
I suspect the combination of 8 miles yesterday, along with doing a lot of housework and gardening, and also being up late, and then doing 16 miles today was too much with too little sleep.
Early night for me tonight.

With this weekend's running done, there are just six runs left - 2x6miles mid-week, 2x10 miles next weekend, and 2x3 miles next week - feels very much like home straight territory.

Race minus 14 days - trails of Reedham, and going lower

As it was a warm sunny morning, I took the IPad with me to take some scenic photos and to show some hidden gems for trail running around Reedham - 8 miles was done in the process.

My first field with a big (but not steaming) pile of manure.

About a mile later, I cam across my second pile....

This leads to the Brickstone Carr circular route if I want a shorter loop but I went left.

If you go past the Pettitts entrance and follow the road round to the right, there is a road that leads to a  railway crossing, and can take you either to the Yarmouth direction of the Wherryman's Way, or towards Reedham School and the main area of Reedham.

This one is just after the swan, and is for a colleague who likes to know if I've been chased by cows.

Having crossed the railway line there is a public footpath (left of the green sign) but running parallel to it is another route (wooden post centre right) which is also worth doing.

The next three photos are part of that other route.

Having reached the open area near to one of the three railway bridges in Reedham, there are wooden steps up to rejoin the public footpath - be warned, the steps are slippery so use caution.

Having got up the steps it is a short distance to the end of the public footpath and railway bridge leading to Reedham School etc.

I rejoined the Brickstone Carr trail from the other side having done the diversion.

The Brickstone Carr is the group of trees ahead which covers a good area, protected by swathes of stinging nettles.

There was some other land sealed by wire fencing, also set aside for wildlife and wild plants.

The last photo is of another field on the way back that has sweet corn growing, giving in its early stages a sea of yellow green whereas other fields had been vibrant green or yellow.

Finally, another 3/4 lb in weight was lost, so I am now 1 1/4lbs below the target I set myself.

Race minus 15 days - Weight target achieved

Last night when I weighed myself, I beat my target weight by 0.5lbs which is great.
Now it might be water related and nip up a little but I am hoping to broadly maintain it around this level.

I didn't do yesterday's run today - an extra day's break will not hurt especially as I am doing 8 miles tomorrow and 15 on Sunday.

Calories
Breakfast 252 (Muesli and Milk)
Lunch 250 (Green Salad and Cheese)
Dinner 566 (Pizza and Garlic Bread)
Snacks 837 (Lots of fruit plus two ginger biscuits)
Total 1905.  Allowed 1840 + 215 earned from 9000 steps = 2055, so deficit is 150.