2019 - will one thread be enough for the whole year?

[marathondan]

I'm logging this one for posterity. I ground out the 19 miler this morning. Four laps around the field and thicket. The first three were decent. The last one was terrible. The legs were leaden and, despite the attentions of the feelgood playlist to briefly lift my spirits, the final miles dragged by at something approaching 12 minute miling. I was home by 10.30am, but it was a good hour before I was fit for anything else - I was dizzy, nauseous and needed a lie down before I could make it to the shower. I've felt better after full marathons.

I did encounter a couple of friends and stopped for chats on the way, but even knocking 10 minutes off my time for that, the equivalent race pace came in at 4:43 - around the time I've run in a gorilla suit in the past.

Hopefully this can be put down to the two week complete absence of running (and replacement with daily beer intake). I can't see myself being ready for a speed session in a couple of days' time, however. I think the next outing will have to be a recovery run.

After a really comfortable race at Richmond 2 years ago, I was hoping to be in good shape for a 4:15 finish this year. Next week's 20 miler will give a clue as to whether this is a blip, or whether I really have slowed down that much in two years.

27 days to race day.