It has been far too long since my Blog update. Really, really poor effort on my behalf. Out of routine and habit, I suppose. Since my last Blog, I have run through the snow over Christmas and if it was too cold dived into the gym to use the treadmill. Participated in the Watford Half Marathon finishing in 1:29:56 and a week later running in the Sidcup 10 miler finishing just under 1hr 5 minutes. I was pleased with myself getting these two results but then running full on, twice within a week I aggravated my Achilles Tendons (again) and spent my preparation for the 2011 Virgin London Marathon by running and then spending 20 minutes a night, with two ice packs on the backs off my legs. Worst timing ever to pick up a niggle when you know you must increase your mileage weekly. Sensible people will always suggest if not expect you to back off the running and rest! But you know damn well yourself you must keep up the mileage and through gritted teeth say Nah, I'll be alright continuing the vicious circle of running through the pain barrier and risking! Injuring yourself even more!
My preparation for the VLM was to get up 04:00 Saturday mornings and run
18 miles to work. It took me several weeks of this to realise why 10 miles In I found myself blown to bits! Resorting to a run walk strategy with anger and depression as to why I was running so badly! Duh of course up, wash out for a run with NO breakfast and source of energy is clearly, why I was running on empty. Not sure how you feel but I do agree going for runs without energy beforehand forcing your body to work harder using body fat as a source of energy but trying to do this for 18 miles. Hell No! Not a good idea! So if I plan to run this far again I must have a banana before hand?
Running the VLM was again another great experience!! The week leading up to race day I found myself being a proper grouch, that I can only put down to nerves in fear of hitting that dreaded wall or expecting my Achilles to fail and give me race day grief! I had my last sports massage on the Thursday and started my carb loading. By Saturday night, I really had enough of carbs and can honestly say I was sick of seeing anything carb related.
Taking my little girls to the Expo on the Saturday to get my race number, was another great experience as I tried to do as little walking as possible saving myself for the big day tomorrow? Still found myself attending stalls and signing up to "anything" that I thought I might win. To date I have won nothing which makes giving permission to my details being used by company's a waste of time! The afternoon was spent packing my race bag and shuffling through the freebies I picked up from the Expo into piles of rubbish, importance or the not too interested pile that I only took out of politeness!
The Marathon itself was again one hell of an occasion! My third on one in a row and an event you should and I hope I can run many more times in the future. The noise, crowd support / encouragement, unusual outfits make the whole 26.2 miles one long street party! This is one race you know you are about to push your body through a horrible pain barrier which is painful enough but today my biggest complaint was the heat! My god it was horrible to run in! The pre race announcement of thinking of others and only taking water bottle at water at stations to "drink" only and not pour over your head, I'm sad to say I soon ignored! such advice.
Please don't call me selfish but I passed a few water stations before I soon started to pour water over my head and neck as often as possible otherwise I would have completely burnt up. I finished this marathon in 3hrs 25 and saw more than enough casualty's street side and this was me finishing the marathon after 13:00. By all accounts, people still running after this time really suffered pushing the police and St Johns ambulance crews to the very limit as now runners battled exhaustion from the 26 miles as well as the heat.
Even though my legs were tired and very sore (obviously). The memory of this run is firmly embedded in my memory and I really would like to run it again in 2012 and hope you have applied to run it too? I promise you will not regret it! The only downside of this marathon and I am being very serious! Is the price you are expected to pay for the photo's taken of you in the day by the official photographers. Oh my lord how much!
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