This morning, less than 12 hours after last night’s run, I woke up feeling some discomfort in my calf and shin. I didn’t dwell on it too much – I had to rush to grab some breakfast before heading out again for what would be my longest run since completing the Dublin Marathon in October 2016! A bowl of porridge, some jam on toast, and a banana should keep me going for a while, I thought.

As I stepped outside, the discomfort was still there, but I figured it would fade once I warmed up – and it did. The first eight miles felt good, and slowing my pace a little definitely helped. But as the miles ticked by, my energy started to dip, and once again, I had forgotten to bring anything with me. I really need to start experimenting with energy gels – I’ll be trying some out soon.

By mile 10, though, the discomfort in my calf and shin had returned, and with my energy levels running low, I made the smart call to cut my run short. What was meant to be a 14-mile run turned into 11. At first, I felt a little disappointed, but pushing through could have turned that discomfort into real pain – and possibly even a long stint on the sidelines. Listening to your body is key, and knowing when to stop can mean the difference between a minor setback and a serious injury – I think I made the right choice!

11miles (17.7km) in 1:55:46.

Todays film quote:

“Whoa! The road’s getting kind of bumpy here.”

SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) – The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)