Sunday 19th October. 364 days since my first run. 12 weeks of focused training. The big day has arrived along with the knowledge that I have done what I reasonably can to prepare. Priority 1 was to complete. Priority 2 was to run the whole thing. Time wasn't a major concern.
My main concern on the morning was about the potential for my symptoms from being ill earlier in the week to return. From training, the rest was possible.
We got the train in in good time for my wave which was the last one. My brother who has much more experience was in one of the earlier waves. I joined the wave to start and joined in the warm up exercises. I was amused by the gender split in participation. The other half of the wave was first to start, then my time arrived. Official timing commenced as the chip on my trainer was identified on the start mat.
In the early miles, I was careful to keep my pace down. It was a mix of passing walkers and being overtaken. My first couple of miles are always uncomfortable, and I tell myself that that's ok. I didn't spot the early mile markers. Reaching a water station at 3 miles was my first indication of distance.
Miles 3 to 7 were most enjoyable. I was in the zone, and the field had opened up. I reached the greatest distance from the city centre before looping back. Running out, there were orange and white runners on the return leg. On my turn at that stretch, the last straggling walkers were ambling along. Towards the end of the stretch, the clean up on the outgoing side commenced.
My 10k leg time officially clocked in at 1hr 05 mins. In the second half, the going got tougher. Tired legs were to be expected. Sadly symptoms did return. Portaloos were utilised. So was emergency medication. After mile 10 it got too much, and despite my best intentions and mantras to myself, I ended up having to walk. Jelly legs, I could deal with, but abdominal cramps were too much.
Walking helped me maintain my posture and keep upright, and I managed to maintain a good pace, not much slower than my run, passing out most walkers and the occasional runner. I made a few attempts to resume running, but it was too much.
I wasn't totally spent on energy, and managed to use up a final burst for the last 800m. Like the fun run, the last stretch was emotional, a mix of relief, pain and exhaustion. I cried, and shouted myself along. My personal timing at the finish line was 2:32:44. Despite the walking, it was in the right league for my regular running pace. The actual run time without portaloo visits would have been under 2:30. Running it all would have been fabulous, but that's just not the way it was going to be today. I'm still proud of what I've achieved.
So what next? Obviously some discomfort and rest, but long term? I'm not saying never again, far from it, but I intend to pause on the half marathon distance. My main issue is training time. I can manage up to an hour fine, but beyond that is a big commitment against the demands of my family. Getting up and out around 7am to fit in two hours is not sustainable long term. Instead, I intend to focus on 10k for a few reasons. It's more time friendly. It will also improve my speed which is of long term benefit. I can redo the 8 mile fun run from that, and when I am ready to increase my distance again, that extra speed will be of benefit.
So time for a rest, then a half term holiday. I will be back!
Sunday 19 October 2014
13.1 wk12 Not What You Want
The final week. In good news, it was supposed to be a quiet one with tapering down. In bad news, my priority of the week ended up being to bond with my bed.
My recovery from the long run that I struggled with seemed a bit slow. Monday had foul weather which convinced me to continue lingering around my bedroom, rather than going to buggy babes. My muscles were sore, but I felt devoid of drive. Tuesday wasn't vastly better. With hindsight, it looks like I was brewing to be ill. Wednesday I ended up ill off work. Thursday and Friday resumed basic function, but no spare energy to use on training. Husband was away so running was out, but my plan had involved the exercise bike.
Saturday was a successful implementation of a 15 min run and stretch. I ran round the park while the boys waved on from the playground. My 3 year old and I had an argument about who was going to beat the other.
Not the ideal way to taper down, but by Saturday night, symptoms seemed to have calmed. I was dropped off down at my brother's, ready for the main event...
My recovery from the long run that I struggled with seemed a bit slow. Monday had foul weather which convinced me to continue lingering around my bedroom, rather than going to buggy babes. My muscles were sore, but I felt devoid of drive. Tuesday wasn't vastly better. With hindsight, it looks like I was brewing to be ill. Wednesday I ended up ill off work. Thursday and Friday resumed basic function, but no spare energy to use on training. Husband was away so running was out, but my plan had involved the exercise bike.
Saturday was a successful implementation of a 15 min run and stretch. I ran round the park while the boys waved on from the playground. My 3 year old and I had an argument about who was going to beat the other.
Not the ideal way to taper down, but by Saturday night, symptoms seemed to have calmed. I was dropped off down at my brother's, ready for the main event...
Monday 13 October 2014
13.1 wk 11 Nearly Ready
Other than a gentle wind down, my training is now complete. 22 runs, cross training, and the type I haven't skipped... rest days! My training plan is now liberally coloured with florescent green for the days where I did something in line with the plan. I've stretched my limits from 8 to 12 miles, and explored a wider area beyond my neighbourhood. Some sessions just haven't worked out, mainly due to tiredness, but that was hardly surprising, especially when the term started back up.
So... week 11... Starting on the heels of the Brownie pack holiday, I was pretty shattered, and had missed my regular slots for circuits and a 2 hour long run. The weather was grim, so two well waterproofed children and I went off to Buggy Babes. The car park was suspiciously quiet when we arrived. Then I checked my phone. Cancelled. Getting out of the house just after lunch requires dedication and perseverance, and I was not wasting that investment, so on we went. I even went beyond the usual 2 miles or so and did 5 miles. Husband was away for a couple of nights, so this was the best available method of keeping up, especially after the lull of a long weekend.
Another successful rest day... Then Wednesday's run. Some runs just aren't meant to be. I pushed myself out. I even wore my new winter kit, but my body just wasn't going to cooperate. That became evident early on. Frustrating, but no point in being upset over it. I went out, I tried, exercise was done.
More rest. Then a sort of reversal of Wednesday, I couldn't quite drag myself out before ridiculous o'clock, so I stayed in, and utilised the dusty exercise bike, and did a session using a tabbata timing app (short, maximum effort intervals). The kind of 10 minute session that leaves your legs feeling wobbly. It was in the spirit of the suggested run.
Circuits. Regular instructor away. A bit more squatty than usual. Lots of weights. Left me paying for it on Sunday's long run. It'll be fine, but bad timing for that. I increased the suggested 60 minute run to 120 as compensation for missing last week. My alarm was set early, gear prepared the night before. My body was fuelled and ready for action... except for my thighs which stubbornly complained from the start and never loosened up. Every thing about the run was great. I even loved running through the fog as daylight crept in. Despite all the positives, I increasingly had to walk. It wasn't worth the risk of pushing through and turning routine soreness into a proper injury.
So week 12 begins. I've been looking forwards to tapering down! I think my last proper run is done as I'm under full time childcare house arrest for most of the week, so I think it's time for exercise DVDs and the exercise bike. The only other thing to do is to wrap my head around the logistics. I'm as ready as I'll ever be, and I know how to prevent the hiccups that have got in the way during training.
13.1 miles... Bring it on!
So... week 11... Starting on the heels of the Brownie pack holiday, I was pretty shattered, and had missed my regular slots for circuits and a 2 hour long run. The weather was grim, so two well waterproofed children and I went off to Buggy Babes. The car park was suspiciously quiet when we arrived. Then I checked my phone. Cancelled. Getting out of the house just after lunch requires dedication and perseverance, and I was not wasting that investment, so on we went. I even went beyond the usual 2 miles or so and did 5 miles. Husband was away for a couple of nights, so this was the best available method of keeping up, especially after the lull of a long weekend.
Another successful rest day... Then Wednesday's run. Some runs just aren't meant to be. I pushed myself out. I even wore my new winter kit, but my body just wasn't going to cooperate. That became evident early on. Frustrating, but no point in being upset over it. I went out, I tried, exercise was done.
More rest. Then a sort of reversal of Wednesday, I couldn't quite drag myself out before ridiculous o'clock, so I stayed in, and utilised the dusty exercise bike, and did a session using a tabbata timing app (short, maximum effort intervals). The kind of 10 minute session that leaves your legs feeling wobbly. It was in the spirit of the suggested run.
Circuits. Regular instructor away. A bit more squatty than usual. Lots of weights. Left me paying for it on Sunday's long run. It'll be fine, but bad timing for that. I increased the suggested 60 minute run to 120 as compensation for missing last week. My alarm was set early, gear prepared the night before. My body was fuelled and ready for action... except for my thighs which stubbornly complained from the start and never loosened up. Every thing about the run was great. I even loved running through the fog as daylight crept in. Despite all the positives, I increasingly had to walk. It wasn't worth the risk of pushing through and turning routine soreness into a proper injury.
So week 12 begins. I've been looking forwards to tapering down! I think my last proper run is done as I'm under full time childcare house arrest for most of the week, so I think it's time for exercise DVDs and the exercise bike. The only other thing to do is to wrap my head around the logistics. I'm as ready as I'll ever be, and I know how to prevent the hiccups that have got in the way during training.
13.1 miles... Bring it on!
Tuesday 7 October 2014
13.1 wk 10 As predicted
Few things turn out as you predict. Last week had more than its fair share, for example, the crazy day where I had "lunch" at 20.30. However, I did sucessfully predict where the plan and I had incompatible needs.
The first half of the week was fine; buggy babes and a 30 min run. The run felt good, a pleasure run, not a duty run, despite the long slog uphill. Unfortunately it was squeezed in rather late which didn't help my exhaustion level for the rest of the week. I'm used to a chronic low level tiredness, so it doesn't take much to tip me. A full-on working day, followed by a Brownie visit, then packing for a weekend away was plenty to tip me. No chance of fitting in a run. Next day was straight on the pack holiday following work. Again, no chance of a run. By the time pack holiday was done and dusted, and 3 hours of cleaning the venue was complete, my idea of an intense physical workout involved a trip to McDonals, and a trip up the stairs to bed.
I know pack holiday well enough to have known that it was incompatible with the idea of nipping out for a run at any point. The chances of going for a 2hr run over the weekend were the same as England winning the 2015 football world cup.The chance of any compromise, short run, was that of England winning in 2014. Not ideal, but that's the way it goes sometimes.
As I start week 11, I'm pleased at how few phases there have been like this. I've done well on cross training, that naturally fits with my routines, and I've done well on getting the long runs in, even if some of them have been walk/run battles. Based on my previous experience, the psychological battle is minimised on the day, so I won't have the internal conflict of my solo runs. I have struggled with the week day runs, and speedwork. That will have some effect on performance, but I feel confident that I can achieve my primary goal of completing my first half marathon, mainly by running.
The first half of the week was fine; buggy babes and a 30 min run. The run felt good, a pleasure run, not a duty run, despite the long slog uphill. Unfortunately it was squeezed in rather late which didn't help my exhaustion level for the rest of the week. I'm used to a chronic low level tiredness, so it doesn't take much to tip me. A full-on working day, followed by a Brownie visit, then packing for a weekend away was plenty to tip me. No chance of fitting in a run. Next day was straight on the pack holiday following work. Again, no chance of a run. By the time pack holiday was done and dusted, and 3 hours of cleaning the venue was complete, my idea of an intense physical workout involved a trip to McDonals, and a trip up the stairs to bed.
I know pack holiday well enough to have known that it was incompatible with the idea of nipping out for a run at any point. The chances of going for a 2hr run over the weekend were the same as England winning the 2015 football world cup.The chance of any compromise, short run, was that of England winning in 2014. Not ideal, but that's the way it goes sometimes.
As I start week 11, I'm pleased at how few phases there have been like this. I've done well on cross training, that naturally fits with my routines, and I've done well on getting the long runs in, even if some of them have been walk/run battles. Based on my previous experience, the psychological battle is minimised on the day, so I won't have the internal conflict of my solo runs. I have struggled with the week day runs, and speedwork. That will have some effect on performance, but I feel confident that I can achieve my primary goal of completing my first half marathon, mainly by running.
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