We decided to do our weekly long run on a Saturday this week because we were going out in Leeds for a 30th Birthday (now a distant memory for me unfortunately!) celebration. So today would be our dress rehearsal for the Spen 20 race on the 11th March.
We got an early start and had arranged to meet Rob and Neil down at the club at 9.30. So it was out of bed at 6.40 for the obligatory bowl of porridge. I was feeling quite apprehensive about the whole thing because I remember what it was like last year and man it was tough. I tell myself that I'm a better runner now and I am much more prepared than last year. The Spen 20 course is 2 x 10 mile laps, that goes past the Gray Ox pub 3 times, past Rob and Kirsty's house twice (I think) and through some other places that I've heard of and have run through loads of times before but couldn't find on my own!
The four of us set off from the track and inevitably I felt like shit for the first few miles. I decided to let the 3 lads go ahead of me because I need to be on my own to get my eye in. I settled in a bit earlier than normal at about the 4 mile marker. I decided not to catch up with the others at this stage because I'd found my rhythm and I didn't want to break it. The sun was shining as we ran down 'the mad mile' and my legs all of a sudden loosened up. It was exactly like the scene in Forrest Gump where his callipers come off.....well not exactly and I didn't grow a beard.
I decided to catch up at about 6 miles. At the 7 mile point we arrived at Rob & Kirsty's mansion (for the first time). I was desperate for a wee but Kirsty had gone out (how rude!!) and Rob hadn't got a key. Alex suggested that I wee in their garden but that's just disrespectful, so I jumped over the wall and went in the field next door!
I had a bit of trouble getting going again but I had decided that I wasn't racing anyone today, I just wanted to go the distance. Neil left us after 1 lap and I was feeling ok. I had a small bag of jelly babies in my back pocket, which I brought in place of a gel. I decided that I would neck them at about the 13 miles. By this stage we were running pretty evenly spaced out. Rob had pushed on ahead, Bozza was in the middle and I was bringing up the rear (ooeeerrr!) I was quite happy where I was but then it suddenly occured to me that I didn't actually know the way so I'd better not loose sight of Bozza.
At 15 miles Bozza was becoming increasingly hard to track because he was wearing a grey top and seemed to be morphing into the tarmac. I decided it was time for a few jelly babies. I'm pleased to say that I didn't suffer any ill affects after eating them. I looked ahead at the gap between me and Bozza and asked myself whether if I was in a race I'd be able to reel someone in from that distance. I decided that I could.....probably!
At approximately 16 miles I could see Rob & Kirsty's mansion again and I saw Bozza stop for a few moments to get a drink. I was feeling a bit lonely and tired and in need of some company and encouragement to get me through the last 4 miles. I nearly got to him before he started running again and I said in the voice of a Harvest Mouse (cos they are the smallest of all the mice) "Wait for me.............please" It was so quiet and pathetic that it was carried away by the wind. Oh I'm filling up just thinking about it!
I dug in for the next 3 miles and we got to the corner that I was dreading, because I remember it from last year. It's at 18 miles and when you've run such a long way already, it seems like a very steep hill. I could still see Alex in front of me but all of a sudden he disappeared. I just assumed that he'd kicked for home. I started to get slightly worried because I didn't remember the hill being this tough right at the end and was expecting a downhill bit? I looked at my Garmin and I'd done over 19 miles. I was trying to register where I was. I knew I had to go down Knowler hill, which I've been down loads of times before but couldn't for the life of me remember how to get to it. It was like the time I forgot how to get home 2 days before our wedding. I thought about asking a passing postman where I was but I'd been wiping my nose on my top all the way round so he might have thought I was a mad woman. I decided to neck some more jelly babies and get my bearings. I was well over 19 miles now. I eventually recognised where I was and chastised myself for being such a dufus. I had no choice but to run the extra mile and a bit that it was back to the club. I actually felt quite good on that last mile.
When I got back both Rob and Alex's cars had gone. "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" I thought to myself, not only have I had to run an extra mile, but the Double Decker I've been dreaming about (the chocolate bar, not the bus) is in Bozza's car, which I assumed he was now driving about in looking for me. After about 10 mins and a lot of pacing up and down, we were all reunited. Bozza had been beside himself because he thought I'd either collapsed in a ditch or been bundled into a van.
After a few cross words in the car on the way home, marital bliss was restored..........
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