Regardless of jetlag, it's been difficult to sleep since my visit to Javits for registration. I am now ridiculously wound up - the sense of anticipation is overwhelming.
But am I nervous? Do I feel ready? These are the questions that people have asked me regularly over the last couple of weeks, and on marathon eve, I need to answer them.
I'm not nervous as such, but I am fairly wound up. It's more a pre-race excitement than nerves and I think it's probably important to be fairly pumped up at this stage but I just need to make sure I channel that energy in the right way.
As for feeling ready, I think there's two states of readiness to consider. Am I physically ready? Well, I've done the training and it's been fairly textbook, apart from having a cold a couple of weeks before my last half marathon. So I am confident that I am as ready as I can be, physically. I just hope my body agrees with me at mile 22.
There's been much discussion about finish times, and pace teams, and race tactics. I'm conscious I don't want to go off too fast, in a state of high emotion, and then end up being exhausted in the final third. But as long as I pace it right, it should pan out ok for a respectable finish time. I just need to remember not to compete with myself too much!
As for mentally, how do you tell? I'm excited, I'm looking forward to Sunday, I can't wait to get started, so in that sense, my head is ready.
But people tell you that it's mid race your head needs to be ready, when you hit a low spot. I need to remember my mantra, I need to remember I've done the hours, I've done the runs and I need to recall this current state of pre-race euphoria and remember why I'm doing it.
I'm doing it to do it - so I'm just going to do it.
See you at the finish line
LON
Saturday 31 October 2009
Friday 30 October 2009
How to get runner's high without even running
Post-run yesterday, I headed into the 'city centre' and up to Central Park to check out the progress.
The finish line is up, the grandstand seats are installed, the portapotties are out (and, just for the record, Royal Flush Inc is a top quality name for a chemical toilet company). Central Park was looking beautiful, a giant saffron-coloured arena for the big finish of our endurance test. There must have been some sort of junior fun run, as there seemed to be about 80 schools-worth of children and teachers milling about the West Drive, not to mention the usual mass of tourists and prospective marathon runners.
Just seeing the bare finish line was exciting - I tried to visualise a strong finish for Sunday (while trying not to notice the slight uphill climb to the line) but, to be honest, I found it all very emotional. If I'm that weepy just watching them build the finish line, how much am I going to be bawling my eyes out when I cross it on Sunday?
After a nice healthy carbtastic lunch in the Upper West Side, I headed down to the Rockefeller Centre to pick NY from the office so we could head over to the Javits Convention Centre for registration. The expo is massive and the registration process is slick, although I imagine it will be more of a bun fight on Saturday itself.
I now have my race bib, my timing chip and a fantastic free race t-shirt. The t-shirt alone is well worth the price of the flight, and I can't wait to wear it - after the race of course!
The expo itself is a mix of lots of clothes and shoe stores, marketing for other marathons and lots of sports gels and drinks. We did manage to get a few PowerBar freebies, a free Andalucia t-shirt and some lanyards but otherwise it was fairly low on free samples. Probably just as well, as NY and I were hyper enough without an additional sugar rush.
The goody bag is full of weird and wonderful stuff, including a fridge magnet that you adapt to read your finish time and, bizarrely, a sachet of olive oil and sherry vinegar(?). The latter is only packaged in Spanish so I think there is a strong chance that some monolingual Brit is going to neck the contents of the sachet thinking it's some sort of energy gel...
Despite having sworn blind for the last 3 weeks I would never do another marathon, I also managed to enter competitions for places in next year's marathons in Edinburgh, Seville and Sydney! Anything for a free holiday!
And to be honest, this pre-race state is so exciting, it's almost making me change my mind already...
LON
The finish line is up, the grandstand seats are installed, the portapotties are out (and, just for the record, Royal Flush Inc is a top quality name for a chemical toilet company). Central Park was looking beautiful, a giant saffron-coloured arena for the big finish of our endurance test. There must have been some sort of junior fun run, as there seemed to be about 80 schools-worth of children and teachers milling about the West Drive, not to mention the usual mass of tourists and prospective marathon runners.
Just seeing the bare finish line was exciting - I tried to visualise a strong finish for Sunday (while trying not to notice the slight uphill climb to the line) but, to be honest, I found it all very emotional. If I'm that weepy just watching them build the finish line, how much am I going to be bawling my eyes out when I cross it on Sunday?
After a nice healthy carbtastic lunch in the Upper West Side, I headed down to the Rockefeller Centre to pick NY from the office so we could head over to the Javits Convention Centre for registration. The expo is massive and the registration process is slick, although I imagine it will be more of a bun fight on Saturday itself.
I now have my race bib, my timing chip and a fantastic free race t-shirt. The t-shirt alone is well worth the price of the flight, and I can't wait to wear it - after the race of course!
The expo itself is a mix of lots of clothes and shoe stores, marketing for other marathons and lots of sports gels and drinks. We did manage to get a few PowerBar freebies, a free Andalucia t-shirt and some lanyards but otherwise it was fairly low on free samples. Probably just as well, as NY and I were hyper enough without an additional sugar rush.
The goody bag is full of weird and wonderful stuff, including a fridge magnet that you adapt to read your finish time and, bizarrely, a sachet of olive oil and sherry vinegar(?). The latter is only packaged in Spanish so I think there is a strong chance that some monolingual Brit is going to neck the contents of the sachet thinking it's some sort of energy gel...
Despite having sworn blind for the last 3 weeks I would never do another marathon, I also managed to enter competitions for places in next year's marathons in Edinburgh, Seville and Sydney! Anything for a free holiday!
And to be honest, this pre-race state is so exciting, it's almost making me change my mind already...
LON
Thursday 29 October 2009
Autumn in New York, why does it seem so exciting?
The last few days have just been a blur of packing and weather forecast checking but I'm finally in New York and on the last leg of the marathon journey.
The journey over was nervewracking for more than one reason. The tailwind was very strong which made the flight a lot shorter than normal but also made it extremely turbulent for most of the journey. The last half an hour was particularly bumpy, and there were a few moments where we were just a little bit too close to Long Island Sound for my liking, but in the end we landed smoothly, with a fantastic view of Manhattan (or the city centre, as the idiot woman in front of me called it).
The flight was made even more tense by the man sat next to me - with a cold. Germ alert, people! I am now crossing everything that he hasn't shared it with me before Sunday, as I think I would be heartbroken if anything got in the way of me running the marathon now.
I've been here less than 24 hours and I'm already feeling refreshed. I had a lovely evening out last night, eating good food in good company, and managed to get a full night of jetlag-beating sleep.
Most importantly, I've already been out for my first training run this side of the Atlantic, and loved it.
Running round Red Hook was a pleasure - how often do you get to see the Queen Mary 2 in the few 500 yards of your training run? Two people said 'hello', one man told me to 'have a nice day'- no abuse, no attempts to trip me up, just good vibes. I just can't wait until Sunday now, if this is what a neighbourhood New York run is like!
The change of scenery has shaken off the inertia and the boredom and I'm raring to go. Tonight NY and I are off to get our bibs for Sunday and pick up some freebies, and I want to pick up a couple of Clif bars for Sunday's pre-race breakfast. In the meantime, I'm going to spend the day exploring Brooklyn and making the most of being here while my leg muscles can bear it.
I heart NY!
LON
The journey over was nervewracking for more than one reason. The tailwind was very strong which made the flight a lot shorter than normal but also made it extremely turbulent for most of the journey. The last half an hour was particularly bumpy, and there were a few moments where we were just a little bit too close to Long Island Sound for my liking, but in the end we landed smoothly, with a fantastic view of Manhattan (or the city centre, as the idiot woman in front of me called it).
The flight was made even more tense by the man sat next to me - with a cold. Germ alert, people! I am now crossing everything that he hasn't shared it with me before Sunday, as I think I would be heartbroken if anything got in the way of me running the marathon now.
I've been here less than 24 hours and I'm already feeling refreshed. I had a lovely evening out last night, eating good food in good company, and managed to get a full night of jetlag-beating sleep.
Most importantly, I've already been out for my first training run this side of the Atlantic, and loved it.
Running round Red Hook was a pleasure - how often do you get to see the Queen Mary 2 in the few 500 yards of your training run? Two people said 'hello', one man told me to 'have a nice day'- no abuse, no attempts to trip me up, just good vibes. I just can't wait until Sunday now, if this is what a neighbourhood New York run is like!
The change of scenery has shaken off the inertia and the boredom and I'm raring to go. Tonight NY and I are off to get our bibs for Sunday and pick up some freebies, and I want to pick up a couple of Clif bars for Sunday's pre-race breakfast. In the meantime, I'm going to spend the day exploring Brooklyn and making the most of being here while my leg muscles can bear it.
I heart NY!
LON
Saturday 24 October 2009
The drugs do work
With one week to go, I've done my last 'long' run in training - although at this stage 10 miles doesn't even seem that bad anymore.
It certainly didn't seem that bad for the last 4 miles anyway, as today I experimented with a caffeine energy gel. I've been considering taking one of these for the final stretch next Sunday, but obviously needed to check that it didn't produce any ill effects.
Wow, those things are good. Before I knew it, I was at the crest of a hill and I hadn't even noticed I was running up a gradient. Maybe it was the rain fogging my glasses or maybe it was the caffeine, but either way, I think it might be worth safety pinning one of these to my race kit next week. I just don't know when I might need the extra 'push', although I can definitely have a guess...
So I've got the energy boost sorted out. I've also been doing some prep for the inevitable pain - I went for a bikini wax yesterday. I figure all I need to do it recall that agony at various tough moments through the marathon and it should bring everything into sharp focus!
LON
It certainly didn't seem that bad for the last 4 miles anyway, as today I experimented with a caffeine energy gel. I've been considering taking one of these for the final stretch next Sunday, but obviously needed to check that it didn't produce any ill effects.
Wow, those things are good. Before I knew it, I was at the crest of a hill and I hadn't even noticed I was running up a gradient. Maybe it was the rain fogging my glasses or maybe it was the caffeine, but either way, I think it might be worth safety pinning one of these to my race kit next week. I just don't know when I might need the extra 'push', although I can definitely have a guess...
So I've got the energy boost sorted out. I've also been doing some prep for the inevitable pain - I went for a bikini wax yesterday. I figure all I need to do it recall that agony at various tough moments through the marathon and it should bring everything into sharp focus!
LON
Friday 23 October 2009
Period of reflection #2
While the taper stage continues to be a struggle, I'm still trying to focus more on the mental side of the marathon prep.
I've already discussed what I've learnt while running the marathon, but I've learnt a lot about myself as well. People have asked me why I'm running the race and, to be honest, I don't really have a good reason. NY suggested we do it and I just said 'yes'. Any excuse for a trip to New York.
To be honest, in the few short years I've been running, the prospect of running a marathon has always been in the back of my mind. As I moved up the distances, I kept thinking, 'could I do a marathon?'. And I'd always thought if I did one, I'd want to do it somewhere scenic, somewhere overseas - a sightseeing marathon, as it were. So the offer to do NYC with a great friend was too good to pass up.
Not having a specific reason hasn't really affected my motivation either. Sure, we've been raising money for a very good cause - a personal cause - and that is an added incentive. But in a way the fundraising is just as much an incentive for friends and family as it is for myself - it's almost as if they need me to be raising money for a charity to be able to understand my motivation. I almost feel bad saying I am running it because I want to see if I can. This clearly makes me sound insane.
But I do want to test myself. I'm not just testing myself against the 26.2 mile distance either. One of the reasons I did not think I could do a marathon was the training it entailed. I thought 'there's no way I'd be able to stick to training for a marathon, not with my job/commitments/total lack of self-discipline'. But I have stuck to it and, up until the last couple of weeks, actually enjoyed it. This alone has been a revelation to me and it's taught me something about myself - that I can stick to a challenge when I choose to.
I've been thinking a lot about mantras lately. To help my motivation, I've been rereading my two best running 'bibles' - Haruki Murakami's 'What I talk about when I talk about running' and Dawn Dais 'Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and on with Your Training'. These are both very different books (let's just say Mr Murakami is somewhat more 'cerebral') but both in their own way are reassuring in that I can identify with the running experiences of both writers.
Murakami's mantra is 'pain is inevitable, suffering is optional' (I think he may be referring to the blister on my left foot), Dais' motivation is 'pineapple cocktails with umbrellas in them'. Paula Radcliffe, who will be getting a whole hour head start on me come November 1st, counts her steps. No wonder she runs so fast.
I say, whatever works for you. But when the going gets tough in 10 days time, I might repeat ad infinitum, 'I can stick to a challenge...'
LON
I've already discussed what I've learnt while running the marathon, but I've learnt a lot about myself as well. People have asked me why I'm running the race and, to be honest, I don't really have a good reason. NY suggested we do it and I just said 'yes'. Any excuse for a trip to New York.
To be honest, in the few short years I've been running, the prospect of running a marathon has always been in the back of my mind. As I moved up the distances, I kept thinking, 'could I do a marathon?'. And I'd always thought if I did one, I'd want to do it somewhere scenic, somewhere overseas - a sightseeing marathon, as it were. So the offer to do NYC with a great friend was too good to pass up.
Not having a specific reason hasn't really affected my motivation either. Sure, we've been raising money for a very good cause - a personal cause - and that is an added incentive. But in a way the fundraising is just as much an incentive for friends and family as it is for myself - it's almost as if they need me to be raising money for a charity to be able to understand my motivation. I almost feel bad saying I am running it because I want to see if I can. This clearly makes me sound insane.
But I do want to test myself. I'm not just testing myself against the 26.2 mile distance either. One of the reasons I did not think I could do a marathon was the training it entailed. I thought 'there's no way I'd be able to stick to training for a marathon, not with my job/commitments/total lack of self-discipline'. But I have stuck to it and, up until the last couple of weeks, actually enjoyed it. This alone has been a revelation to me and it's taught me something about myself - that I can stick to a challenge when I choose to.
I've been thinking a lot about mantras lately. To help my motivation, I've been rereading my two best running 'bibles' - Haruki Murakami's 'What I talk about when I talk about running' and Dawn Dais 'Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and on with Your Training'. These are both very different books (let's just say Mr Murakami is somewhat more 'cerebral') but both in their own way are reassuring in that I can identify with the running experiences of both writers.
Murakami's mantra is 'pain is inevitable, suffering is optional' (I think he may be referring to the blister on my left foot), Dais' motivation is 'pineapple cocktails with umbrellas in them'. Paula Radcliffe, who will be getting a whole hour head start on me come November 1st, counts her steps. No wonder she runs so fast.
I say, whatever works for you. But when the going gets tough in 10 days time, I might repeat ad infinitum, 'I can stick to a challenge...'
LON
Thursday 22 October 2009
Tough taper
With only 5 short runs and 10 days to go before the big day, I should be tapertastic. Instead, I'm feeling unfit, sluggish and heavy-legged. Admittedly my two runs this week so far have been a 5-mile hill interval session (on a taper! - seriously, this training programme is strict!) and an early morning recovery run. Neither of these are my favourite sessions but even by my low standards, I felt totally unprepared.
During the hill intervals, my 'fast' runs were little more than a jog, and after about a third of the session I felt like I was getting flu. I persisted, and am glad I did because the 'flu' was miraculously cured the minute I got home!
Beloved tells me it's quite normal to feel heavy-legged at this stage of a taper, but I still can't help wishing the next week and a half away - I just want to run the race now. I have had enough of training, enough of tapering, enough of chafing, enough of blisters, enough of emergency toilet stops.
Bring on the marathon, not the wall!
LON
During the hill intervals, my 'fast' runs were little more than a jog, and after about a third of the session I felt like I was getting flu. I persisted, and am glad I did because the 'flu' was miraculously cured the minute I got home!
Beloved tells me it's quite normal to feel heavy-legged at this stage of a taper, but I still can't help wishing the next week and a half away - I just want to run the race now. I have had enough of training, enough of tapering, enough of chafing, enough of blisters, enough of emergency toilet stops.
Bring on the marathon, not the wall!
LON
Tuesday 20 October 2009
Period of reflection
Now that the bulk of the hard work and preparation is done, and all that is left is a few 'short' taper runs and carb loading initiatives (burritos and cupcakes are the food of champions, you know), I've decided to concentrate wholeheartedly on mental preparation for the marathon.
I'm starting by reviewing the whole training process and how it's affected me mentally rather than physically. An ex-colleague of mine told me that the training was character-building, which left me thinking, 'Did I have no character beforehand?' 'What kind of character does lots of miles, lots of cereals and multiple laundry loads of lycra build?'
Or, as my chav teenage West London hecklers would say, 'wot fings did yer lern running, innit?'
Lesson # 1 - cereal is boring. Even when you try a different one every week (or on a bad week, two different ones), it is utterly dull. Someone please think of a more interesting way to eat carbohydrates at breakfast. Soon.
Lesson # 2 - as above, but replace 'cereal' with 'pasta' and 'breakfast' with 'dinner'
Lesson # 3 - Lycra dries really fast, so fast there is no excuse not to go out for a run on two consecutive days
Lesson # 4 - if you know there is a toilet nearby, you will want to use it
Lesson # 5 - people are mean (especially when they hurl abuse at you from car windows or try to trip you up
Lesson # 6 - people are lovely (especially when they sponsor you huge amounts of money or let you use their toilet)
Lesson # 7 - there's always going to be days when you don't want to run. The trick to get out of the house before you realise it is one of those days
Lesson # 8 - after a certain amount of training, your face stops turning a purple colour when you run
Lesson # 9 - after the same amount of training, it is impossible to get out of a chair without making an 'oof' noise
Lesson # 10 - I have a nice bum
(I think the last one is the most important, don't you?)
LON
I'm starting by reviewing the whole training process and how it's affected me mentally rather than physically. An ex-colleague of mine told me that the training was character-building, which left me thinking, 'Did I have no character beforehand?' 'What kind of character does lots of miles, lots of cereals and multiple laundry loads of lycra build?'
Or, as my chav teenage West London hecklers would say, 'wot fings did yer lern running, innit?'
Lesson # 1 - cereal is boring. Even when you try a different one every week (or on a bad week, two different ones), it is utterly dull. Someone please think of a more interesting way to eat carbohydrates at breakfast. Soon.
Lesson # 2 - as above, but replace 'cereal' with 'pasta' and 'breakfast' with 'dinner'
Lesson # 3 - Lycra dries really fast, so fast there is no excuse not to go out for a run on two consecutive days
Lesson # 4 - if you know there is a toilet nearby, you will want to use it
Lesson # 5 - people are mean (especially when they hurl abuse at you from car windows or try to trip you up
Lesson # 6 - people are lovely (especially when they sponsor you huge amounts of money or let you use their toilet)
Lesson # 7 - there's always going to be days when you don't want to run. The trick to get out of the house before you realise it is one of those days
Lesson # 8 - after a certain amount of training, your face stops turning a purple colour when you run
Lesson # 9 - after the same amount of training, it is impossible to get out of a chair without making an 'oof' noise
Lesson # 10 - I have a nice bum
(I think the last one is the most important, don't you?)
LON
Monday 19 October 2009
Last legs
I have only just realised that I supposed to run a marathon. In less than two weeks. Why did no one tell me? For thirteen weeks I have been distracting myself with trying to work 4 runs a week into my life, eating for two, working out what exhibitions or gigs I can see in New York and budgeting for an Anthropologie shopping spree.
I had completely forgotten I was supposed to get up at 5 am and run 26.2 miles. Slowly.
Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!
LON
I had completely forgotten I was supposed to get up at 5 am and run 26.2 miles. Slowly.
Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!
LON
Sunday 18 October 2009
I am woman, hear me schedule
Another week, another long run - but it's my last one before the marathon, thankfully.
I'll admit that I'm glad to see the back of long runs, certainly long runs on my own. At least when I do the marathon I'll be running with someone else, and half of New York City making a noise around me. This will be vast improvement on running round the London Borough of Ealing, being lapped by women wearing lacy thongs (for running?!?) and being abused by teenage girls for wearing glasses. Kids today, no imagination.
I am worried about the psychological problem I've developed on long runs - toilet stops. I know it's all in the mind (well, ok maybe 85% in the mind) but I need to persuade myself that I do not need any more toilet visits once I've started running. My bladder is a great big coward, frightened of anything beyond 13.1 miles. It can't even get beyond 3 miles on the longer runs, but I'm never bothered over any other distance. Maybe I need some hypnosis before the big day!!
Although the week ahead doesn't have any long runs, it's going to be a masterpiece of scheduling to get three runs in during the working week ahead. I've got lots of travel on for work this week, which makes the days long and running complicated. Combined with my recent lack of motivation, this could be a tough challenge. Let's hope my juggling skills hold out.
LON
I'll admit that I'm glad to see the back of long runs, certainly long runs on my own. At least when I do the marathon I'll be running with someone else, and half of New York City making a noise around me. This will be vast improvement on running round the London Borough of Ealing, being lapped by women wearing lacy thongs (for running?!?) and being abused by teenage girls for wearing glasses. Kids today, no imagination.
I am worried about the psychological problem I've developed on long runs - toilet stops. I know it's all in the mind (well, ok maybe 85% in the mind) but I need to persuade myself that I do not need any more toilet visits once I've started running. My bladder is a great big coward, frightened of anything beyond 13.1 miles. It can't even get beyond 3 miles on the longer runs, but I'm never bothered over any other distance. Maybe I need some hypnosis before the big day!!
Although the week ahead doesn't have any long runs, it's going to be a masterpiece of scheduling to get three runs in during the working week ahead. I've got lots of travel on for work this week, which makes the days long and running complicated. Combined with my recent lack of motivation, this could be a tough challenge. Let's hope my juggling skills hold out.
LON
Friday 16 October 2009
Weight for it
With two weeks to go, I'm finally seeing a change in my weight. I've gone through all this training, pasta-eating and crazy cravings without losing much more than a couple of pounds. While my thighs have got more toned, some might say 'taut as a tiger', the rest of my physique has stayed resolutely 'floppy'.
But this week I've dropped another 3 pounds. This is great news for marathon running - after all, the lighter I am the better my power to whatever ratio or something like that. It's also great news for my new, improved waistline. But not so great for the New York shopping trips - what if I buy something that doesn't fit me two weeks after the race.
These are things that concern me at this stage - how shallow can one person be?
LON
But this week I've dropped another 3 pounds. This is great news for marathon running - after all, the lighter I am the better my power to whatever ratio or something like that. It's also great news for my new, improved waistline. But not so great for the New York shopping trips - what if I buy something that doesn't fit me two weeks after the race.
These are things that concern me at this stage - how shallow can one person be?
LON
Another brick in the wall
Even the fact that I'm on the last sheet of A4 of the training plan is not enough to motivate me now. Getting ready for every run is still a psychological chore. Although I'm supposed to be tapering, my mileage total for this week is still 36 miles including speedwork. I'm getting tired just thinking about it.
The shorter, cooler days aren't helping much. I am filled with admiration for people who train through the winter for the London marathon. It's so depressing - dark in the morning, dark in the evening. It's like some marathon-related SAD.
But I'm still frightened enough by the prospect of running 26.2 miles without proper preparation that I can drag my lycra-d body out of the door four times a week. At least once I'm out, it's nnot too bad. I'm still enjoying the running itself to some degree, it's just the motivation to get out of the door that has left me.
Lots of people are starting to ask me if I'm getting nervous - I suppose I should be, but I'm so busy trying to keep myself motivated to finish the training, I haven't thought about it yet. I think I'm prepared, so barring injury or virus between November 1, then all I can do is head out there and give it my best shot. I just need to keep dragging myself out, in the meantime, to maintain my fitness and stamina. My mental fitness will just have to wait for another day.
LON
The shorter, cooler days aren't helping much. I am filled with admiration for people who train through the winter for the London marathon. It's so depressing - dark in the morning, dark in the evening. It's like some marathon-related SAD.
But I'm still frightened enough by the prospect of running 26.2 miles without proper preparation that I can drag my lycra-d body out of the door four times a week. At least once I'm out, it's nnot too bad. I'm still enjoying the running itself to some degree, it's just the motivation to get out of the door that has left me.
Lots of people are starting to ask me if I'm getting nervous - I suppose I should be, but I'm so busy trying to keep myself motivated to finish the training, I haven't thought about it yet. I think I'm prepared, so barring injury or virus between November 1, then all I can do is head out there and give it my best shot. I just need to keep dragging myself out, in the meantime, to maintain my fitness and stamina. My mental fitness will just have to wait for another day.
LON
Tuesday 13 October 2009
Optimal marathon nutrition
I'm now in the final 3 weeks of training or, more officially, tapering. Yes, the final sheet of A4 now graces the training programme spot on the fridge door.
I've decided that I need to treat my body as a temple for the final 3 weeks and live solely on healthy home-cooked food and healthy snacks. However, given that endurance training gives you massive sugar and salt cravings, this might be the hardest part of the whole programme.
This is just a selection of what I have craved mid-run over the last 12 weeks:
Beer
Magnum ice cream
Coca-cola
Shandy
Arctic roll
Battenberg cake
baked potato with lots of salt
miso soup
Birds Eye potato waffles
yoghurt
Natillas
Heinz baked beans and sausages
Skips
Bacon sandwich
Curry
It's a bit like reverting to childhood (apart from the miso soup) - in two languages. Obviously that's all I ate as a kid, sugar or salt. Often, I can get a craving for something just seeing a discarded wrapper in the street. Running makes you a proper tramp.
Needless to say, I haven't eaten these things (well, maybe I did drink one or two of them and I did succumb once to the beans and sausages but was sick later that day!) because when I stop running and eat something the craving goes. But it's been an interesting voyage of eating nostalgia.
I'm already dreaming of burritos, bagels and Junior mints for my runs on the other side. There's just no chance of me being a size 0, is there?
LON
I've decided that I need to treat my body as a temple for the final 3 weeks and live solely on healthy home-cooked food and healthy snacks. However, given that endurance training gives you massive sugar and salt cravings, this might be the hardest part of the whole programme.
This is just a selection of what I have craved mid-run over the last 12 weeks:
Beer
Magnum ice cream
Coca-cola
Shandy
Arctic roll
Battenberg cake
baked potato with lots of salt
miso soup
Birds Eye potato waffles
yoghurt
Natillas
Heinz baked beans and sausages
Skips
Bacon sandwich
Curry
It's a bit like reverting to childhood (apart from the miso soup) - in two languages. Obviously that's all I ate as a kid, sugar or salt. Often, I can get a craving for something just seeing a discarded wrapper in the street. Running makes you a proper tramp.
Needless to say, I haven't eaten these things (well, maybe I did drink one or two of them and I did succumb once to the beans and sausages but was sick later that day!) because when I stop running and eat something the craving goes. But it's been an interesting voyage of eating nostalgia.
I'm already dreaming of burritos, bagels and Junior mints for my runs on the other side. There's just no chance of me being a size 0, is there?
LON
Saturday 10 October 2009
I spy with my little eye, something beginning with ... 2!
Somewhere about mile 16 of my 20 mile run this morning, a small child asked his mother 'Mummy, what is that lady doing?'. Judging by the size of his mother, the only physical exercise this child has seen a grown female do is lift the lid off a cake box, but it did make me think 'what am I doing?' And what is she going to tell him? Will she do justice to my efforts?
It does gall me slightly that you've got no way of showing to the watching world that you're actually at mile 16 of a 20 mile run. They probably just think I'm a seriously unfit bird running around the block, with a bottle of water in one hand and a packet of wine gums in the other. At least when I do the marathon, the spectators will be fully aware of the 'level of challenge'.
It was not the most auspicious of starts to my long run. I set off with a relatively heavy heart, which got slightly more weighty just over a mile out when I realised I had brought no water or, more importantly, no energy gels with me. The thought of doing a 3and a half hour run with no sugar was just too much to bear, but I managed to gee myself up by selling myself an imaginary bag of Jelly Babies from the first newsagent.
No sooner had I made it over this mental hurdle, my bladder decided to get in on the act and start voicing some immediate concerns. At this point I was running possibly the most exposed mile of the whole route, and there was no chance of a sneaky pee. I carried on, convinced of a petrol station at the end of this particular stretch. Unfortunately, this was an imaginary petrol station and my bladder was starting to get quite stroppy.
Then, my knight in shining armour, Sir William Hill of Bookmakers, loomed up ahead. 'Brilliant', I think, 'bookies have loos' so decide to burst into the shop and throw myself on the cashier's mercy.
Talk about making someone's day - when I asked if I could use the loo, without having a bet on the 2.30 at Chepstow or putting a fiver on the Irish lottery, the cashier actually asked me how old I was. So not only was she going to give me the key to the loo, she thought I was under 18! The rejuvenating powers of exercise, ladies (remember this was the first 2 miles though). It got even better, the ladies' loo door lock was broken so she let me use the staff toilet. I love this woman. I was so close to offering to run the marathon to raise money for the charity of her choice when I remembered I had another 18 miles to go so I best crack on and buy some sugar.
And now here I am - 20 miles, 3h30 mins, one bag of jelly tots and half a packet of wine gums later, feeling remarkably fresh. I felt so well when I got home, I started to worry I hadn't done enough miles. In fact, I feel pretty good. Given the lack of motivation I've shown this week, and the palaver I had at the start of my run, I feel quite hopeful that my preparation is good and that I'm in a good place to do a marathon. I know that there's another hour's worth of running I've got to tackle on the day, but I'm still hopeful. And that's what counts.
Or maybe Jelly Tots need to start remarketing themselves as an athletic foodstuff?
LON
It does gall me slightly that you've got no way of showing to the watching world that you're actually at mile 16 of a 20 mile run. They probably just think I'm a seriously unfit bird running around the block, with a bottle of water in one hand and a packet of wine gums in the other. At least when I do the marathon, the spectators will be fully aware of the 'level of challenge'.
It was not the most auspicious of starts to my long run. I set off with a relatively heavy heart, which got slightly more weighty just over a mile out when I realised I had brought no water or, more importantly, no energy gels with me. The thought of doing a 3and a half hour run with no sugar was just too much to bear, but I managed to gee myself up by selling myself an imaginary bag of Jelly Babies from the first newsagent.
No sooner had I made it over this mental hurdle, my bladder decided to get in on the act and start voicing some immediate concerns. At this point I was running possibly the most exposed mile of the whole route, and there was no chance of a sneaky pee. I carried on, convinced of a petrol station at the end of this particular stretch. Unfortunately, this was an imaginary petrol station and my bladder was starting to get quite stroppy.
Then, my knight in shining armour, Sir William Hill of Bookmakers, loomed up ahead. 'Brilliant', I think, 'bookies have loos' so decide to burst into the shop and throw myself on the cashier's mercy.
Talk about making someone's day - when I asked if I could use the loo, without having a bet on the 2.30 at Chepstow or putting a fiver on the Irish lottery, the cashier actually asked me how old I was. So not only was she going to give me the key to the loo, she thought I was under 18! The rejuvenating powers of exercise, ladies (remember this was the first 2 miles though). It got even better, the ladies' loo door lock was broken so she let me use the staff toilet. I love this woman. I was so close to offering to run the marathon to raise money for the charity of her choice when I remembered I had another 18 miles to go so I best crack on and buy some sugar.
And now here I am - 20 miles, 3h30 mins, one bag of jelly tots and half a packet of wine gums later, feeling remarkably fresh. I felt so well when I got home, I started to worry I hadn't done enough miles. In fact, I feel pretty good. Given the lack of motivation I've shown this week, and the palaver I had at the start of my run, I feel quite hopeful that my preparation is good and that I'm in a good place to do a marathon. I know that there's another hour's worth of running I've got to tackle on the day, but I'm still hopeful. And that's what counts.
Or maybe Jelly Tots need to start remarketing themselves as an athletic foodstuff?
LON
Wednesday 7 October 2009
When the going gets tough, the tough hide under the duvet
As the week wears on, my self-discipline continues to slip. By postponing yesterday's morning run to the evening, I did manage to stay dry but meant I got stuck at work at a surprise leaving do, so wasn't able to get home in time to do 7 miles of intervals and just did a 5 mile easy run instead. I haven't dodged the intervals bullet for this week, but have postponed it until Thursday after work, and will have to ensure I leave work in good time, no matter who decides they're going to retire suddenly.
This morning I did stick to my task of 6 miles slow, but it was the psychological task of hauling my body out of bed that was the hardest part. For some reason, my motivation has left me. I know it's dark, and I know I am half-asleep and hungry, but it's more than just that keeping me under the covers. It's the simple fact I can't face the runs right now.
It could be boredom or tiredness or just general Autumn-phobia, but some inner switch has flipped since the weekend and it's now an uphill struggle to get the trainers on and get out there.
It took all my inner coach's efforts to keep me from taking a shortcut and heading home early this morning, and the general lack of motivation is now starting to worry me.
So far, I've managed to display unprecedented levels of self-discipline when following the training and, deep down, I know the secret to that has been (whisper it) the fact I've enjoyed the running. How am I going to continue for the next 3 and a half weeks if I've stopped 'enjoying' it?
LON
This morning I did stick to my task of 6 miles slow, but it was the psychological task of hauling my body out of bed that was the hardest part. For some reason, my motivation has left me. I know it's dark, and I know I am half-asleep and hungry, but it's more than just that keeping me under the covers. It's the simple fact I can't face the runs right now.
It could be boredom or tiredness or just general Autumn-phobia, but some inner switch has flipped since the weekend and it's now an uphill struggle to get the trainers on and get out there.
It took all my inner coach's efforts to keep me from taking a shortcut and heading home early this morning, and the general lack of motivation is now starting to worry me.
So far, I've managed to display unprecedented levels of self-discipline when following the training and, deep down, I know the secret to that has been (whisper it) the fact I've enjoyed the running. How am I going to continue for the next 3 and a half weeks if I've stopped 'enjoying' it?
LON
Tuesday 6 October 2009
Something tells me this is where it gets tricky
I had my first 'I don't want to run' moment this morning. Alarm went off and it was pitch black outside, which made me just want to roll back under the quilt. I'd been awake half the night, trying to decide whether to run before or after work - I realise this is not the best preparation for a run at any time of the day, but unfortunately this is what it's come to.
Anyway, I did put the run off, for the first time all year. Which means I have to run 7 miles worth of intervals later this evening, whatever the weather and level of darkness. Bah
I think this is only the start of the sleepless nights. I've had the nightmare about missing the start, asleepless night planning a training run and am now musing on whether to buy a cheap sleeping bag when I get to NY to use at the start (6am on a November morning seems to be a sleeping bag time of day).
While the stalling techniques are new, the blister is now quite old and getting very fat. I'm hoping this means it's going to burst quite soon but it could just as easily grow a second layer - it's a 50/50 chance. I keep thinking of Eddie Izzard recent marathon efforts and imagining how many blisters he had, just to keep things in perspective but I think it's fair to see the sterilised sewing needle looms large!!
LON
Anyway, I did put the run off, for the first time all year. Which means I have to run 7 miles worth of intervals later this evening, whatever the weather and level of darkness. Bah
I think this is only the start of the sleepless nights. I've had the nightmare about missing the start, asleepless night planning a training run and am now musing on whether to buy a cheap sleeping bag when I get to NY to use at the start (6am on a November morning seems to be a sleeping bag time of day).
While the stalling techniques are new, the blister is now quite old and getting very fat. I'm hoping this means it's going to burst quite soon but it could just as easily grow a second layer - it's a 50/50 chance. I keep thinking of Eddie Izzard recent marathon efforts and imagining how many blisters he had, just to keep things in perspective but I think it's fair to see the sterilised sewing needle looms large!!
LON
Monday 5 October 2009
slowly slowly catchy monkey
if catchy monkey is a euphemism for 'enables you to walk without stiffness the day after an 18 mile run' - am now considering whether to trade running to a goal time in the marathon for the ability to walk the next day. I suppose I have 4 weeks to decide...
In the meantime, I've learnt that the following blister fixing techniques do not work:
- shouting at it
- pleading with it
- pressing on it really hard for ages - this just gives you numb fingers
- Compeed blister plasters (rubbish!)
I am now trying Savlon blister plasters, in the vain hope they might flatten it a bit. I did briefly consider going all 1950s on my blister's ass, by sterilising a sewing needle with boiling water and then lancing it, but realised that would officially turn me into my mother, so have resisted.
I've also noticed a small blister on my right heel too, which no doubt will grow exponentially over the next 38 miles
At this rate, I will need a bigger shoe size to run the marathon, just to fit my blisters.
LON
In the meantime, I've learnt that the following blister fixing techniques do not work:
- shouting at it
- pleading with it
- pressing on it really hard for ages - this just gives you numb fingers
- Compeed blister plasters (rubbish!)
I am now trying Savlon blister plasters, in the vain hope they might flatten it a bit. I did briefly consider going all 1950s on my blister's ass, by sterilising a sewing needle with boiling water and then lancing it, but realised that would officially turn me into my mother, so have resisted.
I've also noticed a small blister on my right heel too, which no doubt will grow exponentially over the next 38 miles
At this rate, I will need a bigger shoe size to run the marathon, just to fit my blisters.
LON
Sunday 4 October 2009
Blister pack
Bye bye high mileage week, hello just as high mileage week. It's 4 weeks until the marathon and my knees are wondering when they can start to taper. I am so looking forward to doing 20 miles. I'm sure it won't hurt in the slightest.
Admittedly, today's 18 miles were a vast improvement on last week's 16 miler. I didn't suffer from any 'walls' today although last week's blister has now quadrupled in size in all directions. But I managed to get to the last mile before I really started to feel homesick, so I think that's a step in the right direction.
True, I was so hungry when I got home I nearly ate some of the stair carpet but I did manage to make it to the kitchen eventually so very chuffed with the self-discipline there.
Yet again, Mother Nature was an angel, giving me sunshine, mild temperatures and a light breeze. I can only hope she's as magnanimous on November 1st, and remembers which side of the Atlantic I'm on.
If it is possible for muscles to get bored, then mine definitely do. Today's route definitely helped. I'm such a difficult individual - I need novelty, I need a change of scenery, I need excitement. Obviously running round the London Borough of Ealing rules out option 3, but at least I managed to cover some streets that I wouldn't normally run round, so mentally I couldn't tell how far I was from home, or how long I had left to cover. With hindsight, I might have included too many hills (5) but what goes up, must come down and in general I was sufficiently distracted by my surroundings (RIP DIY shop on Bilton Road...) that I didn't really notice how long I'd been running. On that basis, I should be onto a winner with NYC as by the time I get to Queens I'll be totally lost!
Last night I had my first marathon-related nightmare - I didn't get my number in time, so couldn't get on the ferry to the start and everyone was being really evil to me, in a shouty New York airport immigration officer sort-of way, but all with a 'have a nice day' at the end of it. I even missed the Barilla pasta dinner and fireworks the night before, which obviously is the main reason for doing the race in the first place. Talk about waking up in a cold sweat!
I've made a mental note to get myself organised this week and find out my ferry time etc so that's all cleared up and there's room to have nightmares about another aspect of the race.
Bad dreams aside, this week's biggest challenge will be to try and get rid of this monster blister before I set off next weekend otherwise at this rate it's, literally, going to be the size of another, separate, foot!
LON
Admittedly, today's 18 miles were a vast improvement on last week's 16 miler. I didn't suffer from any 'walls' today although last week's blister has now quadrupled in size in all directions. But I managed to get to the last mile before I really started to feel homesick, so I think that's a step in the right direction.
True, I was so hungry when I got home I nearly ate some of the stair carpet but I did manage to make it to the kitchen eventually so very chuffed with the self-discipline there.
Yet again, Mother Nature was an angel, giving me sunshine, mild temperatures and a light breeze. I can only hope she's as magnanimous on November 1st, and remembers which side of the Atlantic I'm on.
If it is possible for muscles to get bored, then mine definitely do. Today's route definitely helped. I'm such a difficult individual - I need novelty, I need a change of scenery, I need excitement. Obviously running round the London Borough of Ealing rules out option 3, but at least I managed to cover some streets that I wouldn't normally run round, so mentally I couldn't tell how far I was from home, or how long I had left to cover. With hindsight, I might have included too many hills (5) but what goes up, must come down and in general I was sufficiently distracted by my surroundings (RIP DIY shop on Bilton Road...) that I didn't really notice how long I'd been running. On that basis, I should be onto a winner with NYC as by the time I get to Queens I'll be totally lost!
Last night I had my first marathon-related nightmare - I didn't get my number in time, so couldn't get on the ferry to the start and everyone was being really evil to me, in a shouty New York airport immigration officer sort-of way, but all with a 'have a nice day' at the end of it. I even missed the Barilla pasta dinner and fireworks the night before, which obviously is the main reason for doing the race in the first place. Talk about waking up in a cold sweat!
I've made a mental note to get myself organised this week and find out my ferry time etc so that's all cleared up and there's room to have nightmares about another aspect of the race.
Bad dreams aside, this week's biggest challenge will be to try and get rid of this monster blister before I set off next weekend otherwise at this rate it's, literally, going to be the size of another, separate, foot!
LON
Thursday 1 October 2009
Glutton for punishment
I'd like to say that I've ticked off 17 miles from this week's target of 40 but I suspect it may be 18. Or more.
My 7 mile interval session on Tuesday worked out really well - instead of doing very rigid intervals, I did 5 miles of fartlek. Apart from the fact it has the most brilliant phnar phnar name (I think it's Swedish for 'run like Pheobe in that episode of Friends), it's an incredibly liberating way to pretend you're doing intervals. Basically you just run as fast as you can for particular distance eg 25 seconds, as far as the next lamppost, up to that tree etc then you can slow down and recover, then set off again when you're ready. I do think I look a bit stupid on the fast bits - I am definitely built for comfort, not for speed - but then I do actually quite enjoy them. You can pretend you're a fast runner for a brief fleeting moment, while sniggering at the fart joke at the same time.
This morning I was supposed to do 10 miles, steady, but I ended up changing my route halfway round (thanks to Harrow council digging up the pavement I usually run on) and this seemed to be a lot longer than I'd planned for. It also meant it took a lot longer than I planned for, which meant me having to try and sprint the last mile in order to be in work on time. I am now officially pooped. Must try harder at the map reading next time...
I wonder if I can do one less mile tomorrow morning, to compensate?
LON
My 7 mile interval session on Tuesday worked out really well - instead of doing very rigid intervals, I did 5 miles of fartlek. Apart from the fact it has the most brilliant phnar phnar name (I think it's Swedish for 'run like Pheobe in that episode of Friends), it's an incredibly liberating way to pretend you're doing intervals. Basically you just run as fast as you can for particular distance eg 25 seconds, as far as the next lamppost, up to that tree etc then you can slow down and recover, then set off again when you're ready. I do think I look a bit stupid on the fast bits - I am definitely built for comfort, not for speed - but then I do actually quite enjoy them. You can pretend you're a fast runner for a brief fleeting moment, while sniggering at the fart joke at the same time.
This morning I was supposed to do 10 miles, steady, but I ended up changing my route halfway round (thanks to Harrow council digging up the pavement I usually run on) and this seemed to be a lot longer than I'd planned for. It also meant it took a lot longer than I planned for, which meant me having to try and sprint the last mile in order to be in work on time. I am now officially pooped. Must try harder at the map reading next time...
I wonder if I can do one less mile tomorrow morning, to compensate?
LON
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