11 / 12 - Tilum

The shit just got real!

After showering after run #10 I was overcome with emotions and had a proper cry, I was just exhausted and couldn't get off my bed to get dressed. Thankfully I had Jig's playlist from run #6 playing and Whitney started belting out "it's not right, but it's ok, I'm gonna make it anyway". Rowen sang along and that made me laugh and pull myself together.

Then had to deal with the blister on my foot, and put more cream on my fingers, but thankfully my sore toes seem to have eased off with the ice packs.

So run #11 and Tilum came out on his bike. I felt stiff and sore and could barely shuffle at the start, but after a bit I warmed up and could get into a proper steady run. Tilum kept me entertained by going 'weeee' along every downhill and did a good job in the final few km as I needed his motivation to keep me moving. He's been through so much in his short life, but its a privilege and a pleasure to see the kinda man he's growing into - even when sometimes he see's his sole purpose in life is to wind me up.

So onto the victory lap, its just 4.4 miles, I reckon I can do that...

Stats: 7.05 km, 44:39, 6:20 /km

Tshirt: Hampton Court Half Marathon, my 3rd attempt to beat my first time set in Kingston in Oct 2021. I had a dodgy knee at the end of the training so although on the day it was fine I just didn't have the fitness. In fact it took me 4 attempts and 2 1/2 years to beat my first half marathon time and finally it all came together in Wokingham March 2024. Not every journey is linear, PB's come with a combination of hard effort, grind and luck. Tilum's journey the last few years is teaching me that.