25 - on pretty tired legs

25M pm long run with last 2.5M hard

My legs have taken a beating towards the end of this week. Both Thursday and Friday were properly hard days and yesterday my legs were the most tired they've been in this marathon build-up. I delayed my long run today until the afternoon to maximise my recovery (and spend the morning in an armchair).

My quads were still pretty heavy when I set off and I spent the first few miles trying to decide if it was best to head back and run long tomorrow instead.

By about 8 miles, I was feeling better and decided to do 20 or 22 miles. The only reason I ended up running 25 was that I miscalculated.

I ran the first 22 or so fairly even paced - about 6.15-6.30. From about 18 miles I was feeling fairly ropey - a bit like I have both times at 16 miles in the London Mararthon. I lay the blame at James Bond's door - I had to stop for a couple of minutes while they shot a scene on Vauxhall Bridge (just before my dip).

But I came back to life after a couple of miles and managed to pick up the pace pretty well for the last 2.5 miles, up Primrose and Haverstock Hills and then down to the flat.

Time to flake out on the sofa now.