Saturday

Today's long run began outside Geraldine and Gary's home at 6am. They were very kindly hosting a Comrades breakfast send off and run - due to start at 7am - but we needed a few more KMs for the marathon programme. Viv, Kate and I set out in the dark and instantly I could feel the massage from Friday; it was going to be a long, long day. The company was wonderful and kept me going pretty well, then at 11km we met up with the 7am crowd - Jane, Rich, Ali and a bunch of others, plus the speedsters who we saw fleetingly. Again, the company kept me going for a while and at 13.5km I had my first gel, which gave me a quick lift. But at the top of Malcolm street I had terrible stomach pain, most likely a cramp and struggled for the next KM. After that, I started to feel a little better and enjoyed the run through King's Park. We stopped on Mounts Bay Road and I began to cramp up with the stop and just could not get the flow back again. Grabbed a quick water and some of Kate's gatorade powder - thanks Kate, to the rescue again :) - and put my head down for the last 5 or 6km. It was all I could do to keep going, so I avoided the next water stop (I think I'd have had to be carried back after that and I couldn't find any volunteers :)

The breakfast was wonderful and very social. It's a fantastic morning and all credit to Gary and Geraldine for inviting so many people to their home. It's one of those events you really want to be around for.