The 6-7-6 Training Run

I woke up this morning and knew the long run I had planned was going to be a struggle. The 6-7-6 training run which involves a six mile run to the Kilburn 7 mile race route then tackling the Kilburn 7 route and finally the six mile run home, all of which is very hilly. Just before setting off I changed my training plan to running the first 6 miles at a good tempo pace before running the Kilburn 7 route steady and finally hammering the last 6 miles on heavy legs to simulate what it's going to be like on the last part of a marathon. The first 6 miles went well, but the steady run around the Kilburn Race route turned into a bit of a struggle, loosing 3 minutes on my best effort around this section, with sharp twangs of back pain every so often to deal (probably post driveway way digging syndrome.)with it was really becoming very demoralising especially after going so well the last few weeks. Then on the final 6 mile hard effort home everything went really well and I shaved off a minute off my previous best on this section.
I now have that absolutely knackered feeling which is going to take a few day to recover from no doubt, a trip to the Gym tomorrow for the weekly weight training session is looking good, which I will be looking forward to.
I'll miss watching the London Marathon this year live on T.V. as I will be racing at Sheffield but as soon as I get back home I will be getting the Sky+ on and recovering as I watch others suffer. Just a pity they never show much of all them club runners behind the Elite lot, now that would be more interesting seeing our fellow club runners and other local rivals than some fancy dress lot.