17 miles followed by a slightt hiatus :)

I have now run 17 miles twice! I think it's a solid start and I think although it's not over 20 distance that I wouldve like to achieve in training, it is enough for me to be confident that I will complete the 26er. Unfortunately I pulled my knee again while running, but I think I felt the pain at around 3 miles and was able to continue for another 14 before my body said 'that's enough!'. Also it shows that when running those distances you have to prepare properly. I wasn't sure until about 30 minutes prior to going out that I was actually going to be joining 'the men' (the 3 men at work who are also running the marathon). Finally they said, somewhat chiavanistically, that I was allowed to go with them, as long as I didn't slow them down.... so having not drunk enough water in the morning, and having only eaten a bowl of porridge I left with them (lunchtime). My tummy was growling within about 10 minutes, and I had to eat my 'gel' before we reached the 6 mile mark. So really it might not have just been my knee. I know you might laugh... but not wanting to push it too much I stopped and got the bus at the 17 mile mark. Satisfied!

So since then I've been following doctors orders with ibuprofen 3 times a day, and running gently... only difference is I am now in Italy!!! It's quite hard to squeeze in a run into a nice relaxing holiday, especially when all the streets are cobbled! But Tuesday was my first run... turns out I went for 9 miles around Roma. It was gorgeous! I took 2 hours... which is ages, but I needed to be careful of my knee, and also I had to make some time to stop and take in the views (the river, a little sloped street with stairs leading to I don't know where, the colosseum, the vatican!!!!). It was actually a lovely way to see the city. I didn't get bored, but more awed by each corner I turned. I went for a very short 2 miler yesterday, and even around a rather less touristy central station locale I found myself stumbling across arches, and roman walls, and delicious smells.

It's been less than a week, and I am now in Naples. I hope that I will find somewhere to go for a third long run, but I don't want to end up in uncharted, pickpocket central. Somewhere between trips to Herculaneum, Capri, and possibly Sorrento I will bring myself to break a sweat. Ahh the life of marathon training while in vaca... sweet really!

PS. Apparently there's been snow in UK. HUH?

xx