Getting Closer

Off on my travels last week so not much updated.
After the last reported 20 miler, Monday was rest day. The rest of that week was fairly standard.
Tuesday was an easy 6 miles, Wednesday easy 10, Thursday 8 miles with 4x1 mile repeats at 6:15 pace. Friday 8 miles easy, and Saturday was a rest day due family and weather.
Sunday was forecast to be sunshine and showers, and the morning was lovely, but I didn't get out until later towards the afternoon, and the skies were getting ominously darker in places.
Out I went for 20 miles anyway, and the first 12 miles went well. The plan was a steady pace 7:30.
At 13 miles the heavens opened. It wasn't just rain, it was hailstones associated with a thunderstorm, and I was forced to take shelter. I remember the very same thing happening this time last year before London. I was stopped for around 10 minutes, and I began to get very cold. I started to run from tree to tree, taking shelter as I went. It was only when the worst of the rain had passed that I began running steadily again, and it was a bit hard to get the rhythm going.
From 14 to 20 miles went well enough, although I felt a bit cheated that I had to stop, as it didn't really give me the big picture of 20 consistent miles.
What did surprise me though, was that after I had showered, it was as if I hadn't run at all.

I was off to USA on Monday, so a rest day on the trip over, and again, not much sign of 20 miles on the legs walking around. I did 10k on the treadmill on Tuesday which as always, felt like a real struggle.
Flying home Wednesday ruled out a run again.
Yesterday was a lovely day so I was hoping for a solid tempo run. One mile warmup, and I set off at a planned 6:50 pace, the distance uncertain, but it was hoping for a minimum of 10, ideally 12 at the pace. Not long in, at around 6 miles, it was evident that things would not go to plan.
I struggled badly, and ended the pace run at 8 miles, with 3 at 7:10 to finish on 12 in total.
I have to put it down to jet lag and the 20 miles in the legs still lingering behind the scenes. I will try that one again next week for the last time, and this weekend will be the last 20 miler.