True grit

It's been a good week from a training point of view. 2 great swimming sessions where it looks like I'm getting faster in the water.  I even learned to tumble turn although I'll wait till I perfect it before trying it in a busy lane.  I think my fellow swimmers will be appreciative of that as I can turn and fire off like a torpedo, into the next lane!
This weekend I had set myself a target. 20 miles of trail running on the Saturday and repeat the same on the Sunday.  I went out with two friends on Saturday but one of them is fast.  He tried to slow down but after four tough laps he had improved my speed over 20 miles by 9 minutes from the previous week.  I was completely shattered.  After a protein drink, tea and a caramel wafer I tried to get up from the table - I could hardly walk.  Not a good condition to be in for Sunday.  I went through my recovery routine of food, hydration and compression clothing while resting all afternoon.
Today I got up with a few wee messages coming from my muscles but nothing too bad.  I thought my heart rate variance monitor may have suggested I didn't train but it gave me the all clear.  So I headed off for the trails.
I knew this session was going to hurt, there was no escaping it.  But it was mentally an important session to have this box ticked with only 7 weeks to go.  The first lap was fine, the second was starting to get tough.  The thought going through my head on the third was that I had another lap to go when I was finished that one.  I'd been at the front of the pack and my fellow runners were happy to run at my pace but on the forth lap two of them went ahead and the other two were slightly in front of me but helped get me across the line.  My legs were shredded.  It's important to train tired as that allows you to try and replicate what it will feel like running 53 miles without covering the distance.
Sitting in the café afterwards I looked like shit, according to my pals.  But a protein drink, cup of tea and a caramel wafer and I started to feel better.  Walking to the car was hard but betting out of it even harder - I was walking like a 90 year old!  When I got home I was greeted with the news we were going out for lunch as a family.  So my recovery was slightly different and apparently I was a bit grumpy but I managed through it.
Back to back long runs help build your physical and mental stamina.  Setting tough targets and completing them are important so I feel I have achieved what I set out to do.  One of the runners said I had "true grit" - either that or just mental! Now for a couple of days rest and a sports massage.