20% complete…

Wednesday 2nd March: 

Today I completed Half Marathon #18 after only one recovery day since last one.

Hamstrings are very sore and I’m slightly concerned about the left one. 

Will have a sport massage done tomorrow and see if this will sort it out.

Could feel it hurting from the start but I thought I could run it off, I should have stopped, I didn’t and let’s hope no damage is done. 

Weather was bad, was battling icy winds and sleet showers.

Picked an easy 7km course and ran 3 laps. Happy with my time of 1:41′ 05″, didn’t get any toots but saw my son Luca walking home from college on Km 9 🙂

Unfortunately I have to run another 5k today, it’s an intervals training run with a client, Cait. Hopefully I will survive.

  
Thursday 3rd of March:

Quick update: lots of ice treatment on my hamstring last night and a few anti-inflammatory tablets, a massage this morning at Purity Lifestyle Studios in King Str. Wellington, thank you Gareth for free treatment, it’s as good as a donation 😃.

Feels much better but will have to rest it for a few days, which means no parkrun on Saturday (shock! Horror!) will have to warn them otherwise they will be calling the missing person hotline if I don’t turn up 😃

Whatever happens I will be running The Wrexham Half Marathon on Sunday but have to be realistic about my finishing time, will know straight away if I will be able to push or just aim to complete it.

Sunday 6th of March:

 #19 done with no apparent damage to hamstring ! 🙂

1:32′ 03′ is official time and I finished in position 39th !! 

My third fastest Half and 4 minutes faster than last year on this course.

Was worried because I didn’t know whether I should run and risk causing more damage or rest and fall behind in my challenge,even though I’m still one ahead of schedule and I’m also allowed 2 weeks rest during 2016.

Anyway before the race I warmed up properly and ran a few sprints, felt ok.

Weather was cold so I smothered my thigh with “Deep Heat”.

First few miles were all downhill so I ran at PB pace, was way ahead of 1:30 pacer dude.

Then around km8 I slowed down to a slower and steady pace.

On mile 8 I caught up with the Shufflers (Helen, Ian, David, Clare) they were running the 20Mile race and started earlier.

When I crossed finish line I noticed course was 200 metres short so I carried on for a bit till Garmin reaced 13.1 miles

Very well organised race, I can’t believe there were 3 races at the same time, Half Marathon, Full Marathon and 20 miler

Nearly 250 miles completed, next one is #20 on wednesday or thursday and on sunday I’m running Ironbridge Half Marathon , tough one 🙂

  
Thursday 10th of March:

Challenge is 20% complete! 🙂 

Run #20 done today in exactly 1:37′ 00″ , 262 miles in 70 days (without counting parkruns and training runs) 1049 miles left to run! 

Picked a course around Herongate estate that was just over 2km long and ran 10 laps.

Hamstring still wasn’t 100% so I took it steady and course was fairly flat.

On Km 1 I met Lee and Isabella, and on Km 8 Adie drove by on Hubert Way and tooted.

On Km 12 as I turned onto Ellesmere Rd from Greenfields School, Claire was running during her lunch break and caught up with me, was good to have some company, it makes time go quicker and feels so much easier. She was worried about slowing me down, but she was doing me a favour by doing so, I need to run at slower pace when I’m not racing and although I start my runs with that intention I can’t help it, I have to run fast!

We ran together for 3k and then she headed back to work and I only had just over 5 to go.

When I got home I had a protein shake, some food, lots of stretching and a shower and now I’m as good as new, bring on Ironbridge Half Marathon in 3 days 🙂

  
To sponsor me please visit http://www.justgiving.com/Rik-RoadRunner

Time to say my thankyous : 

1. to all who encourage me and wish me good luck, like and share my social media posts

2. to all who sponsored me so far : £427 so far plus Gift Aid 

3. to Gareth from Purity Lifestyle Studio in Wellington for free massage on my calves and hamstrings

4. Joe Williams from UKRunChat for free entry at Shrewsbury Half Marathon 

5. Up& Running shop in Shrewsbury for big discount on new Running Shoes

6. Susan Bowes for selling her extra M.Drayton 10k entry and donating the money to Cancer Research uk

7. My Family for patience and support and for listening all day to my numbers and stats 😀

8. My brother at La Lanterna restaurant for putting a poster up to raise a bit more 
RRR (beep beep)

Website: http://www.rikfitness.co.uk
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Email: riccardo@rikfitness.co.uk