The long run

Despite my pathetically poor preparation for Marathon 2010, I located a friend, Emmet who is also giving it a crack, and its his first time. He has been training a bit better than I, and done a regular training pattern, but we decided to do a 16 mile figure of 8 loop in Phoenix park, where we could pass the cars parked every 8 kms for water and gels. This would be the longest run for us both.

We chatted right the way through and were running for 2.40 hours and decided to tack on another 2 miles. Probably a mistake for me as I developed a huge cramp in both calves and managed to hobble back a bit behind Emmet to the finish.

We were running about 3 hours and thats very surprising, as my longest run is 2 hours this year.

Much more fun running with a partner too

However 2 days later my calves are screaming and I hope there is no lasting damage bringing me in to 2 weeks before the Marathon. Ideally the long run should be done 4 weeks before...

Fitness isn't a problem for me I don't think- its just the cramping I am very scared of now. I will make sure there is plenty of salt in my body and use plenty of gels. Plenty of gym work and hot and cold on the legs and maybe a massage later and we shall see how the body is.

I am running for Motor Neuron Disease Research and have the sponsorship cards and T Shirt. Maybe I'll even stop smoking?!