POOLEY BRIDGE TO AMBLESIDE-FINAL LL100 GROUP RECCE
Despite a really early start and the weather looking pretty grim I was excited for the day ahead. Leaving my car and walking to the bus I knew something didn't feel right. The arch of my left foot felt sore and uncomfortable. Putting it down to my shoes I spent the bus journey up to Pooley Bridge adjusting and re-adjusting my shoe in the hope that it was just pressure on my arch that was causing the discomfort. No matter what I did the pain stayed just the same. It made the 28 miles particularly tough. More mentally knowing that my foot was potentially injured, unsure if it was due to footwear and how I was going to resolve it. I had quite a low point and if it weren't for good company I think I would have hated the day. I did pick up though and by the end did feel I could have continued on despite the pain that was clearly something that wouldn't just go away. The day taught me that I can keep going but that I am really quite afraid of doing any long term damage, no bad thing but scared that this won't resolve or flare up during the race.
I also had a go using poles again and that on sore feet or legs they do help and also found my hands didn't feel quite so puffy despite the heat and thinking about what I was doing with the poles was quite a nice distraction. I had also been advised by several fellow runners, before even asking, that poles would really help save my legs if used from the start...I was convinced. Conveniently my Birthday was a few days away and I made the purchase reassuring myself that I could sell them on even if I only use them for the 100 event.
NEW POLES!
After much faffige I managed to figure out a fairly convenient way to stash my poles on my running bag and headed up steep Fleetwith Pike to have a practice. They will take some getting used to but think I can feel the benefits, just taking a bit of strain off the legs. Getting them out to use and putting them away is what puts me off the most, but I'm sure over time that will become a bit more slick. It reminds me of being on the cross trainer actually! I knew it was going to be helpful beyond just aerobic fitness :)
Feelings before Keswick Mountain Festival 50k
The last two weeks I've been feeling pretty tired, heavy legs with the minimal running that I've done due to foot resting. I feel like I have become so slow and the couple of runs I've done have seemed like such an effort. This doesn't fill one with confidence when running a 50k let alone 100 miles! However; reducing the running and doing a bit of cross training has allowed my foot to rest and feel quite a bit better. So despite feeling sluggish this has given me a bit of confidence that I can at least start the event without pain. I imagine the aftermath will be different. It's a long way to run and it is going to be tough especially because i want to give it my best shot. But I can't help feeling particularly nervous because in my mind it's a fraction of the distance that is before me. I just hope I can take the pressure off myself, at least some of the time, and just enjoy the running. I need to really try and get that joy back after the stress and pressure of training, so that when I do get ready to start the 100 I am going out doing what I love. I want to enjoy the journey and experience as much as I can and so need to start with the event tomorrow. oh yes, and I'm going to try it in my Scott shoes 😛
Until afterwards...
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