Saturday 30 March 2013

Close call

At 9am I went out for probably my last run before I leave for the Marathon des Sables on Wednesday - actually fly our from London on Thursday. There was a light snow flurry and all I was doing was a 10k with no rucksack. It was a good pace but then I hit black ice. Bloth feet left the ground but somehow I managed to land on one and not do any damage. That could have been the end before I had started. After 10 months of preparation it could have been all over. When I got back home I noticed I had recorded a fast time for me and felt fantastic. Only then did the sun decide to come out! I have also been trying my MdS breakfast. Wheetabix, powdered milk, nuts and raisins. It was surpriringly nice so that's another thing off my diminishing list. Last night my eldest son got in very late and I couldn't get back to sleep. Thoughts of the desert, my food, hydration etc were going round in my head so I think I'll need a wee nap this afternoon to make up for it - all part of my recovery plan. It feels strange not to be training hard and I almost feel I'm not doing enough. But as 3 times MdS female winner Laurence Klein said to me, you should not run within a week of the event. So who am I to argue. Rest, yoga, massage, sauna's (to get used to the heat) and good food (plenty of it) seems to be the plan for the next week as the following week couldn't be more different: Sleeping in a tent with 7 other smelly mates, no showers, no toilets, freeze dried food, gels, 40 degrees plus dropping to 5 degrees at night, drinking warm water all day and running 5.5 marathons in 7 (although technically 6) days. Can't wait.