We’ve stopped “short” a number of times lately.  One bad run (18.6 K instead of 26 K) knocked the training programme a bit off course and we’ve been playing catch up with the miles ever since.  When we were supposed to be running 30 K we ran 27 K, when we were meant to run 32.2 K (20 miles) we ran 28 K.

Part of it was caution – training programmes are specifically designed to build your endurance up safely and slowly to reduce chances of injury – so I didn’t want to just skip a run.

The other part of it was, honestly, running long distance is hard work.  Pushing through the physical pain is one thing but mentally overcoming the boredom and self-doubt – that is harder.  Of course it doesn’t help if your calves are on fire (at least on the inside) either.

Last week when I stopped at 28 K rather than 32.2 K – I could just not be bothered.  We’d already finished on a high – slogging it up the Wittenham Clumps and being rewarded with fabulous views just in time to sprint like maniacs to cross the Earth’s Trust 10 K finish line…  To keep going after that – I just didn’t have the motivation.

But that does mean we have procrastinated far enough.  We have to run 20 miles before the marathon (preferably twice) and we are rapidly running out of training weeks.  Thankfully, this week offers us an opportunity to finally hit that run.  We are supposed to run 26 K but will instead run 32.2 K.

What is the best way to complete the longest of our training runs?  Take the train to Oxford and run back – obviously.  I figured, this way there was no way I could talk myself out of it.  It would be easier to just run the damned thing.

The back of my hand was scrawled with directions.  Incongruously – Oxford to Didcot – was not long enough to meet 32.2 K but, knowing ourselves well, we thought we would probably get lost at least once (we did) which would probably make up the full distance (it did).

So how did this elaborate route go?  From Oxford train station we made our way to the river and followed The Thames Path for 15 K to Abingdon where we honoured their ParkRun loop before heading off towards Sutton-Courtney.  In Sutton-Courtney we managed to lose our intended path but found another which seemed to be heading in the right direction.  After refuelling on a handpicked apple (Andreas claims the best apple ever) and being barked/chased by a giant wolf/dog we picked our way through an overgrown bridle path to Harwell Road which leads to the industrial estate Milton Park.  From Milton Park we took a slight tangent along cycle route 5 back towards Sutton-Courtney before correcting ourselves and taking route 5 back into Didcot.  From Didcot we missed the footpath but from past experience we knew a very steep path back onto the Ladygrove loop – where we completed the run finishing about 400 m from our house.  Easy as pie!  If pies involved 4 plus hours of strenuous physical activity – they don’t, pies involve pastry and delicious fillings – which is why more people would choose to eat pie over running 20 miles in one go but there you go.  (Note: we had pie for dinner which is probably why I have devoted the best part of 3 sentences to the traditional dish).

No easy run for us.  Raging pain hit my calves at 27 K.  Had to stop and stretch and consume a lot of energy beans.  I don’t know how I carried on – waddling and barely quicker than walking pace – but it seemed important to push on.  I wasn’t dead yet, or even that tired.  My breathing was fine.  So I concluded my calves were just being stubborn.  Fine.  I can be stubborn too.  On we go.  Eventually either the energy beans kicked in or my legs accepted their fate.  The pain subsided and it was almost too easy to reach 32.2 K…

It turns out my legs were saving the worse pain for when I stopped running – still, not as bad as on the 18.6 K run – and it is a phenomenal weight off my mind that we have finally ticked off the big 20 mile run.  For the Lisbon Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon we will only have to go an extra 10 K.  Nope, I can’t believe I said that either – but surprisingly I do mean it!

Week 11: Total mileage for the week was 45.5 K (28.2 miles), total running time was 5:30.