Post Marathon High - like runner's high, but waaaaay better

Two days on from completing my marathon and I've still not came down from the high. I've been sat at work feeling so contented all day thinking about how brilliant the experience was. There's some stuff about it that I really liked that I only remembered about today and so didn't mention in yesterday's post.

1. There were loads of people handing out sweets on the course, which I took full advantage of.
2. Even at my lowest points where I was worn out and walking, people were still encouraging me on and telling me that I could do it.
3. I got to chat to various different strangers on the course like they were old friends. There's something about running that makes chatting to other people that you don't know much easier. Maybe it's because you're so caught up in running that you forget to be shy.
4. I'm still feeling the buzz from completion 2 days later and I've never had a running high that's lasted so long before.
5. I know I've achieved something that I can be proud of for the rest of my life, which is something that I'm very rarely able to say. In fact, I don't think there's anything else in my life that is such an outstanding achievement that I would be proud of it forever more.
6. A woman at around the 5/6 mile mark told me that I looked fabulous and really composed whilst running. I thanked her and continued smiling on my way. I love a good compliment, especially if it's something original. What she didn't know is that the composed look was due to me contemplating the size of the massive 24 hour Tesco I'd just ran past and thinking that I'd like a look round.
7. My biggest fear about the marathon didn't come to pass. I was so scared that I wouldn't be able to complete it within the 6 hour time limit and I'd be forced to either pull out before the end or be left running alone on the streets of Manchester with no idea where I was going.
8. I was quite lucky to be one of the ones to successfully complete it. I saw a woman that had collapsed and was hyperventilating at mile 12 and my partner tells me that quite a few runners crossed the finish line and went straight to the medical tent, plus some had to be wheeled/stretchered over the line. I managed to finish it in perfect health, despite an average of only 20-25 miles ran in training each week, including my long run. Most people would say you can't run a marathon on that measly mileage, but I did.
9. It's only the 2nd day post-race and already I can feel my body healing. I even managed to jog up some stairs.

Most of the people that I know are probably sick of me going on about the marathon by now, so I have turned to my blog to go on about it some more as I know that as fellow runners (well, I assume most of you are) then you will understand why this is such a big deal to me. Perhaps my enthusiam will remind some of you veterans of how you felt when you completed your first important event and hopefully will inspire some of the newer runners to take up the challenge of training for something that you'd maybe never seriously considered as being possible before.

Ok, so that's some more about me and my marathon. I'll shut up and leave you in peace. Enjoy it while it lasts....

The Greater Manchester Marathon 2013

Yesterday I did the most amazing thing that I have ever done in my life. I ran a marathon. It was a brilliant experience, I definitely recommend that everyone run one at least once in their lifetime. The support I received from the crowds was absolutely amazing. We all had our names printed on our race numbers and people were calling out our names, telling us that we were brilliant, and cheering us on. I don't think I've ever had so many people tell me I'm brilliant at once before, it's a fabulous ego boost. I've ran races before and there have been people there cheering but nothing on the kind of scale I experienced at Manchester. I honestly don't have the literary ability to describe how absolutely amazing the atmosphere was, I just have to beg you to go out and experience one yourself so you know what the hell I'm going on about.

Pre marathon in front of Old Trafford

I've been stressing about running this marathon for ages. I've always ran the whole intended race distance in training before ever setting out to race it and so stopping at 18 miles and relying on faith and determination alone to get me through the last 8 miles was not exactly filling me with confidence. The night before I got maybe 1 hours sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about the marathon and hoping and praying that I would be able to pull it off.

I'm the one in yellow with the jazz hands

It was pretty cold at the start of the race and everyone had goosebumps. Thankfully it got considerably warmer once we started running. It felt pretty easy for the first three quarters of the race really.I managed not to hare off at the start, although I still started out faster than I meant to. I chatted to a few different people, and generally enjoyed myself quite a lot. As I mentioned, there were people cheering me on, children wanting me to high five them as I passed and people handing out sweets, it was brilliant. That feeling didn't last though. Around 16 miles it started to get tough.

I drank all the water in my bottle and started using the water provided by the race. Their water pouches were designed to be squeezed straight into your mouth. I quickly learned that you can't do that and breathe at the same time and I spluttered quite a bit until I figured out how to use them properly. I started taking walk breaks which progressively got longer and closer together. At around 20 miles it stopped being fun. I was hurting and I was ready to stop, but I'm a stubborn cow when I want something badly and I wasn't about to let a little pain get in the way of my goal. It was getting very hard mentally to carry on. I was getting very emotional and kept wanting to burst into tears, but having to hold them back and keep my act together so I could make it to the end.

As soon as I saw the finish line, something in my body took over and I just made a bolt for it. Bear in mind that a couple of minutes previously, I was struggling to shuffle and suddenly I was racing towards the finish line. It was definitely a surprise, I didn't think I had it in me.

My medal pic

Afterwards I was able to cry and to let the reality of having ran 26.2 miles sink in. Even now, I still can't believe I've done it. Even with all the aches that I'm currently experiencing. My chip time was 5 hours 39 minutes and 36 seconds. I'm pleased with that. It's only 9 minutes more than I thought I would probably run it in.

Now I know what I can do, I've got to try and beat that time in the first ever Yorkshire Marathon in October. Lucky me. Oh well, at least I can be a lazy cow for a bit, at least until I stop aching.

Furthest I've ever ran in my life so far...

Sunday was quite possibly the most fun long run I have ever been on. My motivation had been flagging on long runs. I was finding them tough. On seeking advice from my fellow runners, they all said that company on a long run made all the difference. I finally resigned myself to the fact that I would have to get up early in order to run with other people and agreed to go out with them on Sunday @ 11pm. I wasn't looking forward to getting up early on a Sunday. But I was resigned to my fate.

Come Sunday, it was bloody brilliant. I am a lazy cow when it comes to getting up early, but running with friends is one of the few times I can honestly say is worth getting up early for. I barely noticed the first 10 miles that I ran with everyone else, we were too busy chatting and laughing and supporting each other. I enjoyed it so much. Such a shame they won't all be running my marathon with me.

The last 6 miles I ran on my own. It had started to rain/snow and I got fed up quite quickly. It started getting tough around 13mi and I was run/walking quite a bit by the last 2 miles. I kept myself going tho by using landmarks as markers to run or walk to. For example, I'd walk to the really big puddle, then run to the 2nd tree in, walk again to the big tower thing, then run again to the dog poo bin etc.

I was so delighted when I finally finished my 16 miles. It's the furthest distance I've ever ran in my life. I did it 10 seconds per mile faster than I did my 14miles last week and I finished it at 2.30pm, before I'd even be out of bed on most weekends. How cool is that?

I'm just looking forward to next weeks run with the girls....

Finally, something interesting to talk about

I have had a short break from blogging. Well maybe not that short, but if you're patient I will explain why. The last time we spoke I had just completed a 5k run with sweatshop, despite being injured and I was in a small amount of pain. I wouldn't have been in that small amount of pain if I had listened to my body in the first place and eschewed all running until my leg stopped getting twinges of pain in it. I never bloody listen. I'm kinda dumb like that.

Anyway, that small amount of pain overnight turned into A BLOODY MASSIVE AMOUNT OF PAIN!!!!!! I was walking with a full on limp for a while. You can tell it was bad because I both went to the doctors for prescription painkillers and spent money on a foam roller in the hope that it would help (it didn't, it hurt, so I was scared to use it again until I'd healed). A whole bloody month I had to take off running. Completely. I could only just about walk, let alone run. I was waking up in pain every day. Walking around Asda was a battle of will, it hurt so much. I was scared that my legs might give way, mid-shop. All because I didn't listen to my body when the first twinges of pain were there. Let this be a lesson to the rest of you.

Thankfully my legs eventually healed. I'm only just starting to trust them again. I did a 10 mile walk/run a couple of Sunday's ago and a 6 miles walk/run last Sunday. It was supposed to be a 12 miler but a hail stone hit me in the eye so I took it as a sign that that run wasn't meant to be. I had no enthusiasm for it anyway, which can be a sign of overtraining, so it was probably a good thing that i waited until today for my long run. It's only 3 days late.

Today's long run has been quite good, despite the fact that it was dark and my Garmin decided at around 5 miles that it had a low battery and stubbornly refused to show any of my run data after that, so I had no clue how far from home I was. I saw a car racing down the road which quite literally left a thick white cloud of smoke in it's wake. Part of me was a bit disappointed not to see what must surely have been the inevitable crash. Most of me was glad I didn't have any more foul smelling smoke to breathe in though.

I also saw 6 other runners. It must've been a good night for everyone to run becaue I don't usually see that many when it's daylight, let alone at night and in the middle of nowhere. I saw quite a few cyclists as well, 2 of which refused to use the cycle path which was placed for their convenience just centimeters to their right. It must be more fun for them to sneak up on unsuspecting runners and scare them half to death.

I'm started to get a feel for the different kinds of fuels for race running now. I've tested 2 different brands of non-isotonic energy gel, including a Clif Shot one which I was quite excited about because it was chocolate flavour. I have decided that I am not a fan of those type of gels. They may be lighter to carry,but they stick to the inside of your mouth and I have to use at least half a bottle of water to rinse my mouth clean afterwards. In complete contrast the SIS Go isotonic energy gels go down a lot easier. I don't have to force them down or wash my mouth out afterwards. However they are bulkier and heavier (62g) and just 83 calories each. I can get 112 calories, which would take up roughly the same space but half the weight (30g) in the form of a Jordans red berries breakfast bar. They're a damn sight cheaper than energy gels too. Then there's the jelly beans option, which would be good from the point of view that they're light and you can just line a pocket with a plastic bag, then pour in the beans, for a snack that will mould itself to whatever size pocket you have. It's a bit difficult to do the same with gels/bars.

So there we go, that's pretty much everything that's happened since I last wrote. Just a couple more things to announce. Firstly, if anyone is reading from Wakefield Council then will you please replace the bulbs in the streetlights on the road into Wakefield from Glasshoughton, it's on the stretch before the A6539 becomes the A655. That's right, I looked it up, I wanted to complain that badly. Secondly, cyclists will you please use the bloody cycle paths that the council has so kindly created for you. Stop whooshing up behind innocent runners and scaring us. Last of all, goodnight everyone :)

Running on ice

Well maybe running on ice is a bit of an exaggeration. Most of the route I ran with the Yellow Army (code for Sweatshop Running Community) was ice free, there were just a few dodgy bits where I had to run on the road. I got to run with a new girl who had injured herself too (I've strained my quadriceps). She is also training for a marathon, so we had plenty to chat about en route. I quite like running with new people I've discovered. I like being able to try and make them feel at home. I must try and do it more often.

Anyway, I won't be doing any long runs while I wait for my leg to heal. Technically I don't think I should really be running on it at all, but I'm training for a marathon and I'm reluctant to stop running completely as I don't want my fitness disappearing. My ability to do long runs should remain intact for a few weeks evenif I don't do any long runs - it's only the same as when you taper for a race. As long as I start back slow I should be ok.

So I'm in pain a little bit now. Some ibuprofen is called for methinks.

I quit Janathon, but entered another Marathon.

I've quit Janathon. I haven't blogged every day (obviously) and I haven't been running every day either. I'd much rather rest from the runs I've been doing that are making me ache. My legs are fed up running on concrete, but all my weekday runs have to be on concrete because it's dark and the only lighting is on the pavements. I only get a chance to run on a softer surface at the weekend during my long run and as all softer surfaces are currently a muddy mess from all the rain we've had, It's been mostly pavement for the long runs too.

Speaking of long runs, my last one was a 10 miler and it was sooooo hard to get my ass out that door. I had to give myself a good talking to, something along the lines of if I can't be bothered going for a 10 mile run, how the hell will I manage 26 of them in April. It worked and with great reluctance I dragged myself off the sofa and off to the racecourse for a few laps. It was an awful run. Not because it was hard. Physically, I was taking it easy and I didn't have to struggle to complete the run. But mentally I didn't want to be there and so could find no enjoyment in the run at all. I tested out a Lucozade Energy gel. OMG they are disgusting. Gloop is the only word I can think of to describe it. I won't be taking them to Manchester, I can guarantee that!

Speaking of Marathons, I've signed up for another one. Yes I know, I'm mental, but I was texted by the Jane Tomlinson people to tell me about a new marathon being launched - the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon. I've always said that Yorkshire should have a marathon, it's not like we haven't got space for it. Places went so fast, it was sold out within 5 days. I panicked and entered on day 2 because they didn't say how many places were left and I didn't want to miss out. I'm glad I entered now, although I may not be so glad after I've completed my first marathon and know how knackered I'm going to feel.

Sometimes I think denial is one of the best mental strategies in running. If you keep yourself in denial about how much you have to do and just concentrate on going a few more miles...then a few more...then a few more, then somehow it doesn't seem so bad. So wish me luck, I will keep you posted.

Janathon Day 3 -

I had a really good run today. I ran an average of 10:14/mi, which I'm really pleased with, and even better it didn't really feel too hard. There are 3 factors which I think may have made the difference.

Number 1 is the fact that I've been better hydrated today than I usually am. Usually I walk around in a state of permanant dehydration. For some reason I find it extremely hard to bring myself to drink enough water. Today I managed to drink quite a bit though.

Number 2 is that I wore less layers that I usually do. I've been overheating on recent runs so I went without the warm layer today and I was a lot more comfortable.

Number 3 is that I deliberately started out slower than I would usually. Usually at the start of a sweatshop run, it's a bit like a stampede and I set off waaaay too fast and pay for it for the rest of the run. Today I just hung back and it felt a lot better. There was none of that 'lungs-up-in-throat' feeling that I've been experiencing recently.

So it's been a pleasing day in general with the run. Is this just a particularly good run, or a return to the peak of fitness I enjoyed last year? I hope it's the latter. If so, I'll have to start going to parkrun again so I can get me some more PB's.