One more sleep...till Marathon Number 12!

Today has been spent carb loading....

...and warming up with a walk up to Darwin Tower with my Mum and Andrew...

  

 

...very pleasant views.

Now off to have some tea and an early night before early start tomorrow...

...too excited to sleep!

3 days left....till Number 12

It's nearly here! I think running marathons is genuinely addictive, can't wait :-D

So, training finished off for the week now:

Wed 2nd Oct: 7.54 miles, 8.57 min/mile, 67:17 mins, 641 kcal
Thurs 3rd Oct: 2.01 miles, 8:59 min/mile, 18:05 mins, 170 kcal

Nice run in the rain this evening, thanks for that weather.

Now to rest for a couple of days 

This morning at uni we used a program to calculate the energy the we ate in a day from a food diary. Yesterday I ate 1685 kcal in the proportions: 

The alcohol, I would like to point out, was a small glass of red wine, which was taken for medicinal purposes and to aid relaxation after a long day at uni (well, OK, just a day) and a tough run at running club. 

But, what I was most surprised at, is how little I ate. Technically I shouldn't start carb loading until today which is 3 days before the race, but it's always important to eat poperly, especially on running days. I know the analysis isn't 100% accurate, so I could have under/overestimated how much I ate a bit. 

I also calculated that my BMR is 1200 kcal / day, so that's how much energy the body needs just to do all the stuff it does to keep you working (like all the heart beats, and the breathing, and all the chemical reactions that go on inside you), and that is calculated as if you were lying down and doing nothing all day. So, then you also have to add on top of that the energy you need for all the activities you do in the day..... 

So, 1200 plus the kcal I burnt at running club (which is 641) = 1841 kcal that I used (and that's without energy used for walking around all the general things you do in a day, which would make that figure higher) which is more than I ate (1685).

Blah blah blah, booooooring! Well, skip all that, and basically I ate less than I used, which is pretty useless a few days before a long run, when you are supposed to have filled up your energy stores to get you through. So today and tomorrow and Saturday I need to be more careful and eat properly, I think that is the message.

So, I'm off to eat my second dinner......

Mixed weather and mixed feelings

Have been feeling a bit under the weather for the last couple of days. Had the afternoon off from lectures so was going to go home and get a hot water bottle and a duvet and sit and do some work and feel sorry for myself for the afternoon. After finishing my first essay assignment (woop!) I got bored and decided to go out for a run to see if it helped. This morning it felt really cold, so I geared up in winter running stuff, but it turned out to be waaaay too hot, I am so confused by the weather right now! 

Is it still summer....

...or is it autumn now...

?!?!?!

Who knows.

Well, it hasn't really helped, but the cold/headache had better be gone by Sunday for MARATHON NUMBER 12 :-D

Been feeling pretty good since the last race, up till now, so have got a few more good runs in:

Sun 22nd September: 3.15 miles, 34:17 mins, 10:51 min/mile, 268 kcal
Mon 23rd September: rest 
Tues 24th September: 5.01 miles, 41:58 mins, 8:22 min/mile, 426 kcal
Wed 25th September: 6.8 miles , 62:00 mins, 9:09 min/mile, 578 kcal
Thurs 26th September: rest
Fri 27th September: 5 miles, 53:08 mins, 10:37 min/mile, 425 kcal
Sat 28th September: 3.32 miles, 26:37 min, 8:00 min/mile, 282 kcal
Sun 29th September: 4 miles, 35:42 mins, 9:14 min/mile, 328 kcal
Mon 30th September: rest
Tues 1st October: 5 miles, 44:04 mins, 8:40 min/mile, 432 kcal

I'm looking forward to Sunday, but it weird to think that it's the second to last one. When I think back to January and how apprehensive I was about starting the marathons, and I didn't think I would be able to do them all, I thought something like this was something other people could do and it was something that I could only read about and wish that I could do it too, and I never really thought about getting to the end of them all. And now I'm almost there and I've almost done something that I thought I couldn't, and it has been such an amazing journey, I don't want it to end. It feels like my Auntie is still here because she is the reason that I started this, and every run feels like she is here because really it's for her, and I'm scared that once it stops then it will feel like she is really gone, even though that sounds stupid now I've written it down. So, I really have mixed feelings about being at this point, I'm pleased, but I'm sad at the same time.

That's OK though. I think it's OK to feel sad as long as you recognize it and think about how you can use the emotion in a positive way. The idea of running further than I ever thought I could doesn't seem intimidating anymore, and now instead of being scared that I can't do something, I want to try it and see if I can. So, even though it's near the end of 13 in 2013, 2014 is coming up.....I'm thinking of the next thing...any ideas???? :-)

Marathon #11: Birmingham Canal Canter Marathon

Number 11 is done! What a great day, one of the best so far. I hadn't really done too much training this week as have been a bit distracted by other things, and hadn't really thought too much about the run either (other than the well advertised cake refreshments, of course), I was more looking forward to seeing my Mum and Dad and Andrew.  Once I got home though, and my parents had printed all the information and directions for the route and we started talking about it, I soon got focused and excited!

The event is organised by the Long Distance Walkers Association, and I've never done one of their events before. So the routes are organised for walkers, but often they let you run them as well if you want, and there are different distances you can do, so today there was 18 miles (which my Mum and Dad walked, and Andrew ran) or 26.2 miles (me), which was the 18 mile route (a big loop), with a few extra loops added on. I was a bit worried that most people would be walking and not many running, and as the route isn't really marked you need to navigate it yourself, although you do get given instructions, so I was worried that considering I have got lost on a couple of (well!) marked runs already, that this might not end well!

My fears were unfounded though, as there were loads of people running, hurrah! So at 9.30 am we all set off. For the first few miles it was quite busy and it was a great group of people to run with, a lot of camaraderie and joking going on. The first few miles were also pretty complicated, navigating wise, so it was good to be in a big group together to figure it out!

After a few miles the 18 mile and 26 mile routes split, and as I was at the front, we mostly ended up going in the wrong direction for our distance, oops. After turning around and successfully making it through the next couple more miles we finally made it onto the canal towpath for an easy few miles. Checkpoint 1 was at about 7 miles and I ran into (literally) my parents just before it! Checkpoint 1 was also in a pub, I've never been IN a pub on a race before! It improves it, I have to say.

There was porridge and cereal and all manner of breakfast goodies to be had, but I wasn't hungry so grabbed some squash and sweets and headed off apprehensively on my own. After a mile or so I saw a familiar looking figure in the distance. It was a guy called Brian Mills, who I have spotted on a few of my runs this year. He is a bit of a legend in the running world; he is going for the record of the first person from the UK to run 1000 (!!!) marathons. I think this was his 926^th and he’d already run over 40 this year so  I felt a bit stupid telling him about my 13, which he’d probably done by the end of January, but he was very nice about it, and a really interesting guy.

Checkpoint 2 at 13 miles (halfway!) was sandwiches and pineapple. Then I saw on the instructions that it was only 4 more miles to Checkpoint 3 which was the cake competition, so decided to push on again by myself. Feeling a bit more confident about running by myself, having made it to half way without any major navigational errors.  

The next part was more through the middle of Birmingham, through the Gas Street Basin, which felt a bit precarious on my own, but there were some walkers about which gave me confidence and I made it through! 

My Dad, near the Gas Street Basin

The next part confused me as there were runners coming in the opposite direction, but it turned out they were just a lot better than me, and were heading back from the part I was about to do. Sigh. The next part, around the Soho Loop, was completely terrifying and I thought I was actually going to die like in a horror film at any point, running along the back of creepy derelict warehouses, complete with a cast of weird people at various points. Then Checkpoint 3 appeared; wooop, cake time! I decided to go for a double hit of sugar and caffeine with a chocolate and coffee cake, nom nom!

The next part went back to the Gas Street Basin and through some more dodgy parts through tunnels, but then I caught up with another runner and we ran the rest of the way together. Two more checkpoints to go, one including trifle. Trifle!!!

The sun came out for the last few miles, and I finished in 4:44 in the sunshine :-)  Dead pleased with that. I really enjoyed it a lot, very different to the big city runs, but I enjoyed it even more. Really felt like I’d achieved something by navigating it myself, and as I wasn't at all bothered about what time I did, I just chilled out really and stopped at the checkpoints and if I was unsure where I was, and I met some really lovely people along the way and had some interesting conversations which have made me think about what I'm going to do after 13 in 2013 is over....

Afterwards there were baked potatoes, tea, bananas and custard. I will definitely do some more of these, great fun!

Andrew did the 18 miles in 2:35 and my parents in 5:40. Bravo!

One more sleep till marathon # 11.....

....eeek, how did that happen?!

What a week! I have moved to Leeds and started my dietetics course. I'm still feeling slightly dazed and confused about everything, but I think it's all good so far!

I have joined a new running club in Leeds, so have met some new people there and am learning some new routes around and about the city. The tennis club where it's based has a sauna which I am quite excited about, seems like a good way to warm up after a winter run!

This week I have just done two runs, a 10km on Wednesday and a 5km today. I accidentally broke a record on my watch today by running my fastest mile, 7.25min/mile.... not sure if that's a good idea the day before a marathon or not, but never mind! I also realized today that tomorrow isn't a marathon distance, but is longer at just over 27 miles. So, it will be my first ultra event! It's also a mostly self navigated route, so has big potential to be longer than is should be, as I am navigating, and can't. If I'm not back by evening, send help.

Just setting off now to stay at a hotel nearer the race tonight. Weather is looking good for tomorrow. Mum Dad and Andrew all coming along too. I've made some team biscuits (we'll need the energy, right):

Trainers packed, so let's go! 

Change of plan....

....my relocation to Leeds has resulted in a last minute change to the line-up of the final 3 marathons!

My next race was next weekend, the New Forest Marathon, which I've wanted to do for years and was very much looking forward to.

But it takes about 7 hours (?!) to get from Leeds to the New Forest on a train and costs a fortune, which doesn't fit in with my new student ( :-( ) budget (still adjusting to this!)....

...but fear not! My Mum got on the case and had two plan Bs before I had even noticed there was a problem, and so Marathon #11 will now be (drum-roll).....The Birmingham Canal Canter!

This looks very exciting I have to say. It's organised by the Long Distance Walkers Association, who if I may say so, seem to be a group of people with their priorities in the right order. The focus most definitely seems to be on the refreshment side of the day, I have been instructed to bring a mug (for tea stops) and at Checkpoint 3 there is a BAKING COMPETITION! This sounds altogether a splendid 'race'.

Be prepared for a Personal Worst on the time-front. I've factored in an extra half hour for Checkpoint 3 alone. 

Exciting!

The last two races will stay the same - Chester and The Spooky Halloween Challenge as they are both oop north :-)

Marathon #10: The Thames Meander Marathon: the one in the RAIN

Well, first of all, apologies for the lack of blogs for the last couple of weeks! Things got a bit mental following the last marathon......went away for Andrew's birthday, moved house (sort of twice!) and finished my job!

So, I am now sitting down taking a deep breath and taking it all in :-)

The Thames Meander Marathon was brilliant, everything I was expecting it to be! Been looking forward to it all year, but was feeling quite worried after my last (terrible) performance in Salisbury! The day began with a gentle patter of rain against the window, which threw me a bit as the forecast a few days ago had said it would be really hot, but I obviously should have checked back, oops.

Andrew came to do the half which was great! We started off together, but he ran off straight away to run an awesome 1:44:25!

I really enjoyed the route, it’s one I’m used to and I felt comfortable running there. The other runners were really friendly, I’ve never had so many comments on my running top before (which says what I’m doing), and I met several people doing similar things, and even one lady also doing 13 in 2013!

The rain was pretty light for the start as we headed through Richmond Park down to the river. Had a little mishap at mile 3 when I ran into a post, and for a moment thought I might have cracked a rib, but seemed alright, so carried on!

The river looked like a rainforest with the misty warm rain rising off the river in the trees. Held back a bit for the first half along the river back to Putney (very tempting to stop and go back home at half way!). Had some drinks and sweets at the checkpoints to keep the petrol tank full. Half way was at Putney Bridge, so we ran over the bridge to the half way checkpoint and got entangled with the football crowd going to the match at Fulham FC. Half way flapjack celebration, then decided I actually felt pretty good so decided to go for it on the way back.

Felt brilliant on the way back. As we left the river to go back into Richmond Park about 4 miles from the end, the sky went yellow, and then it went dark, and then the rain began lashing down with a terrifying fury. Wowza! It was quite a dramatic atmosphere and coupled with the fact I knew I has almost made it I really enjoyed it! As I ran up the final hill to come out of the park, a huge stag was stood at the top reaching up to eat the branch of a vast old tree, and the rain lashing down and the strange yellow darkness behind him, it was one of those moments when you fully appreciate how beauty and power nature can be.

So, back for the last mile to the finish line, which resembled a river by this point, and across the line in 3:55:11.

Off for a shower (a proper one), spaghetti bolognese and then off for a weekend in the van for Andrew’s birthday.....to Wings and Wheels and a van birthday cake...