4 weeks to go...

Another 80 mile week, but only just.... I had to pull out of my 40 mile run as the pain bit home on Sunday. I knew as soon as I woke up on Sunday that the strain was starting to tell, my left calf was still tight, and stiffness was extending up behind my knee and into the belly of my hamstring! I was well hydrated so it was either residual lactic acid or the early signs of strain and damage.

I also felt tired, (but I wasn't giving into a lazy attitude) so I stretched gently and gave it another hour before setting off. The first 8 miles went well then as I reached the top of the hill behind Kirby Overblow I had a panoramic view over the Wharfe valley towards Leeds, and the incoming rain squall that soaked me to the skin. I laughed with a couple of cyclists about the great summer weather, and pushed on towards Sicklinghall and Wetherby, where I stopped for some fuel (Jaffa Cakes x 2packets and water) and cracked on towards Tadcaster and Boston Spa. As I crossed the bridge at Tadcaster the pain started to intensify, and no amount of stretching was loosening it off. So a disappointing phone call home sent the cavalry heading in my direction to pick me up after just 20 miles at Thopre Arch.

I downed another liter of water after a shower and slept of the disappointment for an 2hours in the hope that I would wake with no pain... dream on!

James the physio, at Pure Treatment Rooms, spent an hour at 8am working on the muscles in my calf and thigh, and in his opinion it is a build up of strain and muscle fatigue, causing inflammation in the muscle sheaths in my calf. So I'm resting up today and back into gentle mileage tomorrow and a slightly shorter mileage week this week.

So the failure monsters raised their ugly little heads, and I now have to plan a strategy for any recurrence during the 80-100 mile stage of Spartahlon prior to the 4000ft climb and the final 50miles to Sparta.

I'll accept carrying an injury out of Spartathlon for the honour of reaching the finish inside 36 hours, but I don't want to even think about starting the 153 mile race with a dark cloud of injury and weakness hanging over me.

The immense mental effort required has a price tag... it will only take everything I have to give. There is something special about getting beyond that place where the body gives in and the mind takes over... that's when the struggle begins and the possibility of success is faint... but there in the distance...are two small flickering flames of faith and victory dancing on the finish line.

The challenge is to get to them before they fade away. That's my goal.