Happily Ever After

Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running

Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.

Twenty Speedy Miles

by Russell Turner - 22:20 on 31 August 2020

After almost three years of running, my hopes of finishing a marathon in under five hours at last seem to have a basis in reality. Today I ran 20 miles in just over three-and-a-half hours. If I’d kept going for another two miles, to run up the Resolis hill for a fourth time, I’d have had just 4.2 miles of mostly flat and downhill left to complete the marathon distance.

But I didn’t, because it was a training run. That’s my excuse anyway.

In just under five weeks I’ll go all the way in the Virtual London Marathon, and if I can maintain today’s pace I’d finish in around 4:45 – which would be amazing, and 45mins off my PB. Today’s weather helped. Cool, not much wind and no rain, combined with a 7:1 run/walk – which I kept up for the full 20 miles – was a big help.

Two more big long runs are left before I begin the three-week taper. My plan shows 20 and 22 miles, but that was never going to happen. Instead I’ll make it easier next time, with maybe 14 miles, and finish with another 20. I’d suggested 18 to Matchgirl but she wasn’t impressed.

I’ve reactivated my giving page, again in aid of Cats Protection, so if you think my efforts are worthy of a quid or two (I don’t have a target I must reach) mosey over to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/bassman99. The cats will thank you.

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