I am a runner!

So totally unprepared and untrained I went out to do my first half marathon today.  The idea was put in my head after Devilsbend and seeing a young man out doing a half marathon at a nice consistent speed but his appearance was not one you associate with a runner.  My thoughts went to if he is out there giving it a go I think I could as well.  I needed to analyse and contemplate my actions as there are so many great events out there to do but I didn't want my first half to be swallowed in a big event.  Part of my reasoning was what if I do a big event and just don't enjoy 21.1km?  Would I go back and do more if I didn't like the first one?  So my preparation involved only picking an event that was not huge and that had pleasant surrounding. So today I did, at the Mornington Running Festival.  The festival had 150 people registered for the event and of these only 137 finished, or should I say started and finished.

I started at the back of the field as I was certain I would be last over the line.  In doing this I got to talk to some lovely people, and most of us at the back were doing our first half so it was wonderful to feel that camaraderie and encouragement as we ran.  The course is a 5.5ish km course double loop which I thought would play with my head but it didn't it was actually comforting on the second lap to know what was coming (and yes the hills sucked even though at the time I kept saying this is not a hill, it is nice and flat!

I didn't go out with a time in mind as such but 2:30 would have been a perfect time for my first unprepared half marathon.  I went with the flow and set a reasonable pace, I mostly kept to it (6min 22sec) for the whole time.

I made sure to encourage everyone I passed coming towards me no matter where they were in the field or what event they were participating in.  And it felt awesome to be able to see the smiles on the people who you could clearly see needed a boost.  I did find that the front runners were not as receptive to comments or high fives.

My goal was to have a good run, to not once have a demon saying you can't, just walk, etc and I not only achieved that but I also maintained such positivity during the run.  Whenever my mind would wander to something potentially negative/unpleasant I switched it around.  And with the negativity going on lately it was fantastic to instead be able to turn it around and remember the positives.  It was liberating, satisfying and humbling to be able to remember only good things.  And I need to thank those who have been there and encouraged me during my running existence.

My legs although very leaden on the last 3-4km held up and did not need to have a walk break, I ran and survived my first half marathon.  I didn't break any land speed records but I did enjoy the experience of my first half marathon and I have the medal telling me I am a 21.1km FINISHER.

I now have a baseline for future halves, I now have the knowledge I can do this and I now know that for my next half marathon I will train properly for it.  But with everything said and done I am now convinced I AM A RUNNER!!!

Injuries?  a blister on a toe and I will have sore legs tomorrow.  But they are well earnt badges for going out and giving it a go.

Sunshine in Winter

Today was an amazing day.  The sun was shining for one of the last days of Winter.  waking up to the sun shining and knowing you have the day off makes the day all the more worthwhile.

Today I had decided to do a long run.  I was feeling fine and in the zone from the weekend and as usual getting that runners high it was time to think about possibly changing "the plan". 

The plan as mentioned before was to do 10km races this year and do a few 1/2 marathons next year.  It was a carefully thought out plan, or at least that's what I was telling myself.  But then things happen and you do a good run or a bad run and things can change in an instant.  It just goes to show that your mind is one mighty powerful tool.

So as I said, today I planned to do a long run.  It was in my head that if I could do a 15-20km run today that maybe I was ready for a half after all. 

A couple of things I didn't factor in. 

• The weather was quite warm by the time I headed out which meant that running was very hot.  
• I woke late and headed straight out after a cup of tea so my energy levels depleted quickly.  
• I was dehydrated due to the weather and the lack of water already in my system.
• My lips and hands dehydrated quickly with no way to hydrate them.
• I wore a singlet which I have not done for awhile and there was mild chaffing around the underarm.
• My fat was not just crying it was screaming in pain - not that this was a bad thing except for the look.

But there was also a couple of good things to come out of the run as well.

• I tested out the skort again so I Vaselined up and did not have any chaffing issues on the legs
• The idea was to run 5km before I could walk and then only if I needed it.
• I went out with a plan of no quicker than 6:30 pace when running, which I did achieve although around the 7km mark I was feeling strong and the speed just naturally increased.
• There is no shame in walking.
• If I could do between 15-20km that maybe a half is on the cards sooner than previously thought.
• There was no negative thoughts throughout the whole time I was out side.

So after I stopped for a natter at the 14km mark my legs felt like lead, my energy levels were depleted and when I tried to run again it just didn't feel quite right.  But this didn't phase me being out in the sunshine and knowing I had put in a good solid 14km already made everything seem possible.  So yes I walked home the last 5km to make today's outing 19km.

I had managed to down 1.2 litres of water during my outing but still felt dehydrated, but out of all of this I learnt some very important lessons that I can take away with me for any run in future.  As I walked through the door I grabbed some high carb food, more water before heading off to shower, liberally rubbing fisiocream into the calves and then treated myself off to a massage on my weary legs.

 And that half marathon?  Well if I can find one that ticks all the boxes maybe it's closer than I thought.

Sandy Point - the long review

I don't tend to sleep well before a run.....go figure!!  My mind always seems more active and I awake naturally usually hours before I intend to.  Today was no different but at 4am what I heard did not impress me.  The loud sound of rain hitting the roof.  I am not adverse to running in the rain, however I tend to like to start out dry if possible.  So I roll around till I am comfortable and attempt to go back to sleep, for an hour.

Waking on and off for the next hour I end up getting up just before the alarm and realise I probably haven't left enough time to get up, eat something, dress and drive to Mordialloc with enough time to relax before the run begins.  So I grab an apple instead of having a carb high breakfast and head off.  I don't normally do the apple before a race and there is a very clear rule with runners not to try anything new on race day if possible.

There is something about heading out on your own and realising you are doing this on your own and for you.  It's very liberating in fact.  Yes I was meeting a couple of people at the start line but my normal run buddy was heading off for 21.1km of pure fun and the work colleague I was meeting I didn't expect to actually run with for very long, expecting him to race off into the distance while I plod along at my pace.

So we all meet and say a few words and then the start begins, before we get to the timing mat our group is stopped and we wait for another 5-10 minutes before it all goes again.  When it is our turn I start out with a pace around 5:45 which still blows me away that I can run at that speed and below comfortably now when earlier this year 6:30-7 min km was my average.  James and I hold very little conversation but pass a few grunts and singular words as we run.  Just after the 2km mark is a small incline and James takes off into the hill looking strong while I sit on my pace of 5:45.

There is quite a few people around but its not too crowded until we get to the first water station.  James is still ahead and I am still maintaining my pace, although I am slowly making headway to catching up with James again.  just before the 5km turn is another water station which I take advantage of and catch my breath but before I reach the end of the table I am able to run again.....this is a break through.

Just before the 6km mark I see James only a few steps ahead and he is walking....just as I am about to catch him two things happen simultaneously.  James starts to run and my HRM strap comes away.  I try and fix the strap and felt it was slowing me down so I decide to pull over and see if I can fix it while walking and then get back into it.  Unfortunately the wardrobe malfunction could not be fixed so it was time to get back on the trail and I see James ahead and he is walking again so I catch up to him and encourage him to continue running.  Instead of taking it easy he goes out hard and tries to maintain his previous pace and kept wanting to walk, so I talk him into slowing his pace and find something comfortable rather than walking.  He finds it about a km later just as we pass Richo coming the other way on his first 4km of his 1/2 marathon.  At this time James says he is comfortable with the pace and he is actually enjoying the run now and that he went out too hard.  I on the other hand wanted to ensure that I didn't jeopardise my time too much as I had a pb to beat.  So I speed up a little and find a comfortable pace of 5:30-5:35 at the 8km mark I have more in the tank so I pick up the speed a little more, at the 9km I have even more so again I pick up the pace and with 100metres to go I sprint to the end.  My official time was 57:34 which I am ecstatic with.

I learnt a fair bit about myself as a runner today.  I enjoyed the running on my own, the running with my work colleague and the catching up with others after the event.  I enjoyed no pressure from myself and  I really enjoyed cheering Richo across the line at the end of his 1/2 marathon :)

Sandy point is a lovely course, mostly flat with a small incline or two.  On a sunny day it would be magnificent to see the waves crashing and the scenery at its best.  The weather was perfect for running today overcast with a cool breeze.  It will be interesting to do this course again one day either officially or not and see what I can pull out with all pistons blazing.

A Half is a Half is a Half

I have this plan.  The plan to gently increase my running to the point of being able to run 10km comfortably to then increase to 21.1km after a year and then after another year to increase to the magical 42.2km run. 

Whenever I have run a longer distance such as Run for the Kids, City2South and even City2Surf I have thought another 7km cannot be that hard, surely I am ready for a half now?  After Run for the Kids it was a burning itch to run Gold Coast half marathon this year.  I was poised over the submit button with all my details entered and it was so hard to close the web page but I did close it and the run is now done.  I don't regret my decision to stick to my plan but that doesn't mean I don't wonder what if......

When these thoughts I could run a half marathon have been raised I have had the voice of reason on one side saying "stick to the plan" and the encouraging voice on the other side saying "upgrade Sandy point or MM or Sussans or find another run to do".

Continually one thing through this has kept me on the straight and narrow, my head is not ready but maybe the body is and other days its the head is ready but the body is not.

This is becoming increasingly harder every time it comes up and there have been times I have been so close to giving in to the other side so close I have had my details entered and my mouse hovering over the submit button but that little voice saying "the plan the plan" has always won.

Today I was thinking my body is almost ready for a half marathon, wow even saying it that way a "Half Marathon...." I know I can run 15km on flat without too many demons in my head.  I know of many runs coming up that I could use as a goal to increase the training and commit to the half I even have friends doing halves that I know I could tag along on training runs with but the voice of reason(?) shoots me down to earth saying patience. 

I have never been one for patience, if I want something I just go and get it, you always find a way or a means to get what you want but the patience thing has never been my strong point.  I am proud of my friends who have and will be running halves this year and beyond.  The ones who have their body and minds on the one track and I will watch them with pride, and encourage them and wistfully think in the background that will be me one day :)

I know that a half marathon is not a walk in the park type of scenario and that I need to train properly.  It's not just putting the K's in my legs I also need to train the other parts of the body as well.  Not like most of my runs this year where I have been doing parkrun but not actually training for anything longer.  With the run season in full force now the distance is not so much of an issue I can do 10-14km without too much of an issue but am I really ready to commit to 21.1km without firstly committing to a run program which includes actual running?

I know what I am ready for and that is being on the sidelines cheering these amazing people on and hoping that at the finish line I can be there for their stories, their tears of accomplishment and joy. What a big and amazing year this has been for all of us.  What feats we have accomplished already and how many more do we have to come.  I love my running life and where it is leading me :)