Rest day in Trinidad – Marathon J

As often happens a 2 ½ hour flight has taken all day, this according to my running program is a rest day, however, I managed not to train whilst travelling a couple of days ago so I decided that despite my failed ½ marathon attempt yesterday I would sneak a few more miles in the Hilton Trinidad gym. The gym is smaller than the one in Curacao with mirrors for a view, instead of the sea, so not a pretty sight! The room was cooler than in Curacao so I hit the running machine Karno style. The first 20 minutes were good, and fast, I was considering going for another half marathon attempt, but shortly after 25 minutes something stopped working, I was struggling to breathe whilst shivering and over heating at the same time, so I slowed down, at 45 minutes I knew the ½ marathon attempt was not on, I was just hanging in for an hour run, I slowed the machine down again, the waves of shivers continued, I wondered if it was because I’d only eaten some breakfast cereal and a packet of cheese and spinach biscuits on the flight all day? To compound matters the gym had no bottles of water so I was without hydration, in Curacao I drank 1.5Ltr on the 2 hour run. Eventually the clock ran down to zero and into a 5 minute cool down, heaven, but with only the last minute of the 5 minute cool down remaining I realised I’d almost covered 7 miles, so I cranked the speed right up and sprinted the last minute. My legs felt like led, really, they were so heavy, I now know what it feels like when people say that, regardless I pushed hard and as the end of the warm down stopped the belt I had covered 6.99 miles. Legs trembling I left the gym walked up to the pool removed my shoes and top, and jumped in. I decided to pound out some lengths, but after only a handful the chlorine in the water was so strong I thought my eyes were going to bleed so I got out and dried myself. Sitting by the side of the pool, it was now 6pm I noticed I was wet again as my body was still perspiring trying to cool me down. I read or rather dripped on the Sunday Express (Trinidad’s version) that somebody had left behind, apparently there has only been 400 murders here this year! I think I’ll eat at the Hotel tonight. I have just returned from the Hilton buffet, I tried the locally caught wild boar, I think they managed to catch it because it was 100 years old, tough as old boots, they did say I’d need sauce with it! Fortunately the beef, fish and vegetables I had with it were much better. There were 5 people in the dining room and twice as many staff, they pestered me with overpowering service to the point I was glad to get away. But having returned to my room I'm still being pestered by staff asking me if I'm happy with the room, the food, the service, I'm also now invited to the managers cocktail party on Tuesday, and have a discount on my internet charge. I'm begining to wish I had not complained the last time I stayed here, though the room was truely dreadful then, thankfully this refurbished room is much better, I think I'll disconnect the phone for some peace.

Back to my new hero:
Karno, after covering 198 miles, non stop for two days, he put in a 6 minute mile for the last mile, I think I have some way to go to be an ultra marathon runner, I can’t do a 6 minute mile for my first mile let alone after 7 back to back marathons.