9 miles

9 miles on the plan for yesterday and it was the first group run with my training buddies. It was about 14 degrees and overcast and misty so ok conditions for running.

We met at 9 am in the Phoenix Park: a mixed group of first time marathoners, improvers like me and people doing half marathons. Only 1 man among about 20 women – what’s new?

One benefit of having done all this before was that I wasn’t nervous at all. I was always apprehensive last year starting out on the long runs because I didn’t know what to expect. Now I do and I like that. I met a few people who were back again for another year, plus a few new faces. Most of the group lashed off ahead of us, so myself and 5 or 6 others kept up the rear. I am always happy at the back.

Running with people is great; some good chats got us through the hills in the Park. I struggled a bit in the 8th mile but I think that is totally psychological. I took a little break and plugged on through to 9 miles. The pace was slow but that was the group pace so was happy to go along with it. Supposed to be a long slow run. Tell that to the speedy ones up front who left us for dead.

I had coffee, no cake, with the gang afterwards and went home to have my dinner. I am very proud of myself for cooking dinner on Friday evening, and for eating it around 2 pm when I was actually hungry. I went to bed for a nap and was absolutely wrecked when I got up. Normally the naps make me feel better but yesterday I felt like death warmed up. I was very tired going into the run so have to watch for that.

I have two more weeks until my exam so forced myself to the desk to do a bit. Am back at the desk now to do another hour before I call it quits. Will be so glad when it’s done.