Mum finished last week feeling rather pleased with herself after a considerably better race than she has had for a while. I'm sure if she had been a dog she would have been tired sleepy wagging.
Mum then had a think about what to do this week and decided that given her lost training while she's been ill, she needed to get another good week in. That meant getting straight back on with it and on Monday Mum put her trainers on and shuffled out the door to run seven and a half miles, muttering bad words about her bottom which was apparently whinging at her more than the two legged pups when they've been asked to tidy their bedrooms. Mum was also whinging. I whinged when Mum went out. I always whinge when Mum goes out because I miss her. I also chew Dad. I'm sure he understands because he says he misses her too, yet her whinges about the chewing. Mum looked like her resolve was wavering, or possibly just her tired legs were wobbling. She went out anyway.
Apparently the idea of this run was to force her body to run tired. This is something that happens a lot in marathon training I have learned. Doing this the day after a 20 mile race is a good way to simulate how she'll feel towards the end of the marathon where Mum anticipates her body and mind doing mighty battle about the relative merits of carrying on through the hell or sitting down and having a little cry and maybe a jelly baby or two. Mum says she is training her mind as much as she is training her legs. The mind needs to be ready for their battle with her tired legs. Also her sore bum. Mum's mind overcame her sore bum and she did her run.
The next day Mum had serious issues with something called DOMS. This is a runner thing and it's a complicated way of saying they ran very hard and the next day they hurt quite a lot. I am going to call it After Whizz Ouchies instead. Mum has complained about her After Whizz Ouchies quite a bit this week. The slightest little pull on the lead and oooo, Wuffle, don't do that.
Mum has nursed her tired legs through another week of training. Carefully, she said, so she doesn't break herself. Mum is aware that if she pulls a muscle now there will be no marathon. All her runs she says she's eased into. Kind of rolled into I think, or maybe stumbled at least once when I've watched her going out. Mum forced her tired legs through a speed session on Friday and then set out today for her final long run, a lovely chilled out affair run in beautiful weather for a change.
When she got back Mum flopped down on my blanket with me and declared it time to "taper". This is runner speak for not doing very much running. Mum gets twitchy when she doesn't train so actually she finds this bit quite hard. To make up for all the not running she's going to be doing she's planning a lot of TLC for her legs. She has got out all her best sticks, balls and bands which I absolutely definitely am not allowed to chew. Mum has some great toys, and she does not share, which is so not fair! Earlier I tried out one of the sticks I am absolutely not allowed to chew, and the eldest two legged pup snitched on me. Mum was not happy. I have made a note to chew the silly bunny ears on the eldest two legged pup's dressing gown next time she wears it.
Mum now need sto let her body recover so that on the day of the marathon she will be all fresh and bouncy and ready to race. I am always fresh and bouncy and ready to race but Mum apparently needs to work on it.
This week Mum plans to run just twice, for a total of 15 miles. No more strength training, no more core training, just a couple of runs. To keep herself occupied Mum has vowed to clean her house and spend time fundraising.
Just a reminder that Mum is running for the wonderful charity Vizsla Rescue. If you're able to spare a couple of quid to help this wonderful charity and the work their volunteers do to help needy Gingers then please do. We both appreciate all the support so much!
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