Eleven-mile long run
One of the scary things about training for a marathon is how the training schedule can creep up on you. For months now, It feels like I’ve been doing the preparatory section of my training plan. Now there’s a steep, sudden increase in mileage, it’s taken me aback a little.
For this long run around Scarborough, I created a new route. From the end of my usual route at the bottom of the South Bay, I then diverted up along a coastal path which leads me out onto a car park near to where the Holbeck Hall hotel famously collapsed in 1993.
From there my new route turned right onto Holbeck Hill, following that road until it meets Ramshill Road. Then the route continues down Ramshill Road until it joins Valley Road at the roundabout there. Then I diverted up Valley Road for about a mile before turning round to rejoin my usual route. The route follows my usual route around the headland and Marine Drive all the way up to the Sea Life Centre, where my route deviates from the usual again, heading up Scalby Mills Road.
I’d follow that until the junction with Burniston Road, following that down to Peasholm Park, where I would rejoin my usual route again until the finish.
I started late, because I forgot my energy gels, which didn’t put me in the best mood. This also meant I was starting later than I wanted to which in turn meant that I would have to dodge all the Sunday walkers who would get in my way.
The first three miles were run of the mill. The first shock came when I got to the end of South bay and began running up the coastal path. The trouble with aerial maps is that they don’t display terrain elevation very well, as I discovered. It was so steep, running became impossible and I had to walk most of it, which was exhausting in itself.
After I’d climbed that mountain, running along Holbeck Hill was comparatively easy. I passed the six mile mark whilst running along this road and was surprised at how “easy” this run was so far. From there on it was all fairly normal, run of the mill running.
The fatigue only really started to hit when I got to the far end of my route, going up onto Scalby Mills Road. Around this point I started to feel a boost from the second energy gel I had taken earlier, but it was still tough. Turning on Burniston Road I headed down to Peasholm Park.
This was where I really felt exhausted, as Burniston Road is a lot longer than it looks on a map! Finally, though I made it to Peasholm Park and completed my run after that.
That was a really exhausting run and I was left panting for breath when I finally stopped.