Run 125: 24km - Getting to the scary distances now!

I had been fretting about this distance for some time. Don't know why, other than it is 'way past' half marathon length. Well, it is a few kays past half marathon length! But it had to be done, and I felt I needed company in order to be able to do that distance. We (Steve and I,well, ok, probably more me than Steve) had decided a few days ago that I would run the 24kms this Saturday morning so that I could have two 'rest' days before the Trail Run at Kirstenbosch Gardens on Tuesday evening. It was all planned! The guests that were staying overnight on Friday were leaving after a 5.30 breakfast (poor Steve, another early brekkie!) to cycle the Lighthouse to Lighthouse Mountain Bike race. Ideal! Would go out after that.

However, the ladies with them didn't need to go out at that time so they arranged to have breakfast later and then go and meet their men after the cycle ride. Of course, this meant that Steve would have to do another round of brekkies before he could come out with me! Aagghh! Sorry, but I was not happy and it didn't help my stressing over running 24kms. However, luckily, Ronnelle was able to come in to clean the rooms and clear up after breakfast, saving us from having to do it. Probably more Steve than me, actually, as I probably wouldn't be able to move after running 24km. Hooray! Good old Ronnelle!

So, I set off on my run and Steve caught me up (eventually, ha ha) after about 45 minutes or so on his cycle. It wasn't too bad running as the wind was behind me, it would be worse after I had turned around, and then it would get to be hard work. I ran up Carruthers Hill and down the other side and kept going until I had run 12km. Then, after absorbing the peacefulness out there, I turned back, into the wind this time.

I had another two gels this week, the same disgusting kind (it's all I can get locally), but if they work then that is fine, and had a few jelly babies later in the run too. I managed to keep them (the jelly babies) in my mouth and swallow them instead of spitting them all over the place in the headwind, which I was well impressed with!

As I have mentioned before on here, I seem to have some kind of psychological barrier which comes up at about 3kms before the end of the run at the same place on that particular road. It doesn't seem to matter how far I have run that day, but when I reach that point I really do struggle. This time, Steve started chatting to me and we were deep in conversation about something, can't actually remember what it was, but it worked. I was completely distracted and ran right through that point, all the way back, much stronger than previous runs.

I even managed to get my run done between rain storms. There had been lots of rain all night and it only stopped just before I left the house for my run. Then, after I had got back, had a shower and was doing some stretching, I stood up and looked out of the window and saw that the rain was back.

So, all in all, not a bad morning's run after all.