I am currently ten weeks and five days into an eleven week training programme for a spring marathon, which means that the big race is on Sunday!
The Marathon de Montauban is probably the closest thing we have to a local marathon, since the sad demise of the Toulouse event (cancelled due to Covid-19 and never rekindled). It is a two-lap route on a day that also features a half marathon, 10km and marathon relay and boasts a near-flat profile and the “label régional” certification awarded by the French national athletics body.
I’ve trained well since the New Year, with regular long runs building up to 32km, some decent track sessions and plenty of marathon pace practice. I also ran a 1:26:29 half marathon in the build-up, which is a solid time for me in this post-childbirth phase of my life!
BUT (isn’t there always a but) I’m injured, sob! It’s been coming on gradually over the past few weeks, but there’s no denying it any more. A sharp pain down the inside of my left leg – it feels like it starts in the glute and descends all the way to my knee. It’s especially painful running uphill, or if I try to pick up the pace a bit, but, if I’m honest, it’s pretty much constant now and even bothers me when walking and lying in bed.
Which rather puts a damper on my dreams for Sunday’s race, sob!
There’s no possibility of a personal best (2hr58) now, or even of getting close to the 3hr11 I ran this time last year, so instead, I’m going to run with the buggy! The organisers have given me special permission and little DD literally jumped with joy when I told her this good news, so that’s the new plan.
Running with the stroller obviously presents its own set of challenges, but from my experiences last year (when we ran two full marathons together), I know that I am guaranteed a memorable and emotional day out. I know it’s not going to do my bad leg any good, but I’m just going to give it everything I’ve got and then take a LONG break and let the injury heal.
In terms of race day goals, here they are:
“A” goal is to make it onto the podium in my category… it’s usually a small field, so this is not out of the question (we were, after all, fourth in Poitiers) but does depend a lot on which other female masters aged 40-45 turn up.
“B” goal is to run the whole way. At both Poitiers and Nevers I had to walk in places (hills and wind in the first instance; cobbles, mud, tree roots and all sorts of struggles in the second!), so it would be incredible to be able to say that I’ve run 42.2km pushing a five-year-old without stopping.
“C” goal, as always, is to finish with dignity and try to have as much fun as possible!
Here goes nothing…
