Week 7 Ramblings

Fall has started. Yep. While out on my runs these past couple of days I've noticed the leaves collecting on the pavement. The mornings are darker, the evenings ever so shorter. The air just a tad crisper.

I like the air when it gets like this. The breathing is easier and a sense of exhilaration fills my lungs and legs as I once more head up the first mile hill. What I don't particularly like is the shorter day. Soon I won't have the luxury of going for a late afternoon run and knowing it will still be light when I finish. I won't be able to get out extra early in the glorious sunrise, instead it will be a dark start BUT I will get to see the sunrise as I am out. That IS a bonus.

This is when I make myself even more visible with blinky lights and HVC (high visibility clothing). Just that little bit extra visibility gives me a little bit of a edge when out and about and the lighting is a bit dim.

Training is going well. Just finished a long run of 16 miles on Sunday and put my total up into the mid 40mpw range. Did a cool down of 2 miles to bring me back up the hills and home. Legs felt pretty good and have been doing the cold leg baths. BURRR....but it seems to make the tired calves easier to cope with. I have also arranged for another sports massage this week. So looking forward to it. Thought it would be a good idea with the Angelsey Half Marathon on Sunday down in Wales. Trying whatever it takes to be ready for this half.

Marathon paced mid week runs are now at 9 miles and that means I'm approaching the peak of the marathon training. I do get nervous when I head out for these runs. I guess it's the "performance thinking" kicking in. I want to be able to keep my pace for the entire distance. I focus hard and attempt to run even splits with a bit in the reserve for the final mile. I'll see how that works out this week as the distance is a mile longer then I've done yet.

I'm keeping pretty much to plan with the training. I've opted to run the NYC Marathon for a charity. Anyone reading this who would like to help out a worth cause, please give a minute to check out my just giving web page for the Hepatitis C Trust. http://www.justgiving.com/marysrunning

It's late now, and I see the rain streaking the window. It reminds of the the signs on the water rides at amusement parks: You WILL get wet on this ride! I think of that each time I go for a run in the rain.....
until next time...

Time To Update

It's now September, and summer is basically over. I wonder if there was really A SUMMER at all this year here in NW England. The hot weather didn't happen but for the very few days interspersed throughout about 3 weeks. That was it. Rain? Oh yes...lots of that!!

So getting to the point, training. NYC Marathon is now on the horizon and getting closer with each day. The stepping stones to that have been my day to day runs which now are increasing with mileage. I am using the plan I found that helped me last year. A modified version of the Hanson's Moderate and Consistent plan. It worked well for me in London this past April so I am hoping to see positive results on 2 November.

I participated in the Birchwood 10K, not my favorite distance, but I set a new PB (70:41) and that I am pleased about. However, towards the end my left quad muscle ached terribly and I needed to slow down which cost me valuable seconds. With stretching and treatment I am hoping to eliminate this from happening again.

Now I am looking on to the half marathon in Angelsey, Wales in a short 1.5 weeks. This will be a new experience running there. Looking forward to running in a new area. Of course my stomach gets a bit queasy when I think about it, but I just continue to put down the miles.

Then there is the Coniston Trail up at the Lakes. This will be my fourth time running it and I enjoy the change from road and the different locale. It's a challenging route but not as nutty as the Derwentwater or Garburn Trails.

Just a week after Coniston is the World Wide Festival of Races. I'll be doing a 20 mile training run that day of which I will count the first 13.1 miles as my World Wide Half Marathon. It will be a course of my choosing and one that I used last year.

Then on to the New York City Marathon. Now it is less than 2 months away. I figured that I have covered over 250 miles just in training for this race so far and might just complete another 250 by race day. There are some very high weekly totals looming.

How do I feel about this marathon? Hmmm.. I'm excited of course, I'm nervous, I'm wondering just how I will do, I wonder how the course will be, I wonder how the weather will turn out, I wonder if my family members who say they will be there show up, I wonder if any of my friends will be able to watch...guess I wonder about everything! The biggest concern is of course, will my training allow me to run the best time in a marathon?

This is when I have to trust my training, trust my experience, trust my routines....TRUST. Just pure and simple. I know I can run the distance, I know I can fuel myself correctly before, during and after the race, I know my body has the endurance for this. With this trust, I can push aside those concerns.

It's that one foot in front of the other mentality. Show up for each training run, each nutritional meal, each positive thought...and come race day it will all come together.I will TRUST this.

olympic Dreams

With the images of Beijing in our newspapers, magazines, on our televisions, and computers it gives one pause to ponder. I ponder about a lot of things when I am out running. Guess it is the time alone and the opportunity to relax and free float my mind.

There are amazing athletes from each country out there in China. They are on the world stage and putting themselves out there to be immortalized for what they can do. Years of mental and physical training have gotten them to where they are at this moment. It has been their dream, their goal, their passion, their drive, their life.

What about my olympic dreams. I don't mean going to THE Olympics...no as I have not spelled the work with a capital O. I'm more interested in another use of the word...perhaps leaning towards the" doing something in such a way that it takes great effort, courage, determination, focus."Making an olympian effort.

My dreams can be just that, elusive thoughts that never grow to fruition. Nothing more than fleeting mind images that wander around but never meet with true action. Enough! I have dreams and I have taken action to see them happen. I am being accountable for my training. I am being accountable for how I treat my body. It's passed time making excuses and dreaming about being THAT size, THAT number, THAT whatever else I am dreaming. Discipline and being focused is the mindset of someone undertaking an "olympic task".

Look at those images on the TV or here on the computer reports. Dedication, determination, concentration, drive, confidence,strength...... and any other word that you can think of that conjures up power. That is what I see when I watch these games. POWER! Whether the athlete finishes with gold around their neck, or staggers in their attempt. They are amazing.

I am amazing as well. You are amazing too! Just like that torch is lit at every Olympics, there is a torch burning for each of us. Do you see it? Do you even realize it's there? It signals, it beckons, it shows the world that THIS is the time.

Never ever let that torch go out in your life. Keep it lit, keep the focus to be the very best you can. Run a little further, push a little harder, eat a little cleaner, be a little wiser. Give more of yourself to those around you, do that job a bit better, be there for someone! Be an Olympian....it's not just a dream!

Run For The Fallen Challenge

Mission Statement:

Run for the Fallen is a collective of runners whose mission is clear and simple: To run one mile for every American service member killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. On June 14, 2008, we run across America to raise awareness about the lives of those who fought, to activate their memories and keep their spirits alive, to support organizations that help wounded veterans and the families of those killed (Wounded Warrior Project, Yellow Ribbon Fund, HUGSS (Helping Unite Gold Star Survivors), and the 1st Lt. Michael J. Cleary Memorial Fund), and to aid the healing process for those Americans whose lives have been affected by the war. We refuse any political affiliation or agenda, but simply honor those who have fought, and those who have fallen under the American flag.

I heard about the above organization through the running podcast Phedippidations in June. I thought it was such a great concept that I went to the website and learned more about what it is all about. That's when I knew I wanted to be a part of it. One hitch, I'm over 3,000 miles away from my homeland.

But, where there is a will...and all that good stuff, I looked over the route and saw that the RFTF would be going very close to my son's house AND the US AFB he is asigned to. So I got to thinking, why not on the Sunday the miles from his house to the connecting spot of the RFTF route and then on the Monday, run the miles to the AFB along their route! So I have committed to run approx 7 miles on Sunday 27 July and another 6 Monday 28 July, but why stop there.

I have written to my US family and said hey, why not join me on this!!?? Why not team up and see how many miles we can run, or walk to tribute the solders? So now there are miles committed from my younger brother, and my son. I'm looking forward to hearing from a few others to have them join us on this expedition. We can't be together to do this in person, but we can be linked over the thousands of miles that seperate us for this common purpose.

Then on 24 August, the final day of the event, I am looking at how I can do a tribute run. Putting the invites out again to family. Just a way of saying thank you to all those who have served.

One Hundred Eleven Days and counting....

......until the New York City Marathon! Yes, that is all that remains until I run my 5th Marathon. I've actually begun my training today with a rest day. My training schedule is taped to the inside of my kitchen cabinet, my spreadsheet is prepared and my mind is now in "Marathon Mode".

These 16 weeks are broken down to daily runs; speed sessions, marathon pace, long runs, recovery runs and strength training. My food/nutrition is being tweaked to make sure I'm as fit as possible. All of this is done a day at a time. I've learned from past training schedules that if I look too far ahead, I get nervous, anxious and doubt my abilities.

I've got 3 races planned during this time as well, and they will be taken as they come. I know I can run this distance, I know I can do the training. I've set a time goal that would be a new personal best for me. I will keep that in my sites as I run my marathon pace runs. So I take each week, each session as it comes and do what is infront of me. To do my best is my goal. Bring it on!

PS: I haven't written on here since my last marathon; London but I haven't been just sitting around. My running has been going well. I took some time off to recover from the excellent experience and eased back into my running.

I participated in my 5th Cancer UK Race For Life to benefit the charity and honour my Mom's memory. It is the only 5K (or shorter) distance I race because it is so fast. The thousands of women running is a real tribute to the cause and always brings a tear to my eye as I remember the battle my Mom experienced with her cancer. She lost her battle in August of 1990 and I attribute her battle to getting me started walking and now her memory which started my joy of running.

I also wanted to test myself with a long trail experience between London and New York. I took part in the 15.1 mile Garburn Trail in Cumbria in Mid June. It was marvelous and the sites were incredible. I've done several of the Lakeland Trail series before, but this is by far the hardest and longest of them all. I always look forward to the off road "mountain" trails.

It WILL happen...Just Keep Believing

On Sunday 13 April, it was more than just belief; it was determination, drive, preparedness, passion, pain, grit, stamina, exhaustion, elation, perseverance, and persistence that made it happen! All of the above and more got me to the finish line of the London Marathon.

Preparing for a marathon isn’t easy, but running it is even harder. I had a goal time in mind and I wanted with all my being to make that goal.

The ride down to London went smoothly and getting to the expo on Friday allowed my husband and me a bit of “look around time” before it got really hectic. We had the opportunity to meet up with a fellow P'dip podcast listener Drusy and share running experiences. The excitement started to build when I went to sign for my number. Then it was getting my timing chip and browsing/shopping the exhibitor’s stalls before heading back to the hotel located right off mile 19 in Canary Wharf in the Isle of Dogs, Docklands part of London.

Saturday morning was brisk and mostly sunny. I went out for a quick 2.25 mile run through the glass high rise office building area of Canary Wharf. I knew I would be running partly on the marathon course and sure enough overnight the marathon crew had painted the “blue line” that would be guiding the thousands of runners in just over 24 hours. I ran lost in thought of the world class athletes who would be leaving their foot strikes in this very area. Stunned I realized that I was running much quicker than I anticipated. I turned around at mile 18 and completed my run back to the hotel in a shocking adrenaline pumped time.

Sunday morning arrived quickly. I had prepared the after race bag the night before and my race clothes were laid out. I filled my camelback with race fuel and made the finishing check to all that was needed before showering, eating a light breakfast of muesli, skim milk and fruit and getting changed. My husband’s procedure was much the same as mine and we were ready to head to the Docklands Light Railroad station right outside our hotel for the short ride to Greenwich Station. From there it was like watching some sort of migration as other runners joined the procession to the start area not quite a mile up the hill.

We entered the Blue Start area and found a place to sit and wait with the thousands of others before making the final preparations to our running gear and turning our kit bag in to the proper truck to take down to the finish area. Then with a kiss, a hug, an “I Love You”, and “Run Strong” I walked in the opposite direction from my husband as I went to my pen and he to his 6 higher then mine! (The speed demon he is!!) Standing in my pen, the nerves were kicking in big time and it wasn’t any different for the others standing around me.

Then suddenly, the pack started to move forward, although I didn’t hear it, the gun had gone off and the race had started. Getting closer, I increased the speed of my walk to an increasing faster run and crossed over the starting mat with the strange electronic sound of my timing chip engaging. I was now in the race!

It was partly sunny, the air was crisp, and the crowds lined the roads and were cheering us along. My heart was elated and I watched my breathing. U2 were softly playing in my ears and indeed it was “a beautiful day!”

I had prepared a wrist race band to keep watch of my split times. I didn’t want to go out too fast but I wanted to run so as to give myself a time cushion towards the later miles when I knew my legs would be reminding me of how many miles I had completed. I was already being swept along by the other runners and by the end of the first 10K (6.2 miles) I was 5 minutes up on my time.

The crowds were fantastic and continued to urge me on to keep my pace steady. I was now passed the Cutty Sark and heading towards the Tower Bridge and the half way point. My legs were tiring slightly and at 10 miles I took a short walk break and my first sport gel. This is when the grey clouds that had now blocked the sunshine opened up! It was a downpour and not just rain, but hail as well. It felt strangely good and refreshing. Then it was a right turn onto Tower Bridge! The cheering crowds were deafening and the site amazing!

Approaching mile 14 allows runners the opportunity to see other faster runners approaching from the opposite direction. It was there that I spotted my husband, running like an engine at his mile 23! We yelled encouraging words to each other and then resumed focusing on our respective tasks. He only had 3.2 miles left! I was only just over half way!

The sun had come back out and the crowds were in force again as I approached the Isle of Dogs area and where last year I nearly crumbled with pain in my left quad. There was evidence that the distance was taking its toll on many a runner. I cautiously made my way around a runner lying in the pavement covered with a space blanket, an oxygen mask and being attended by the ambulance crew. I had to bring my focus back to myself and do a body check to see how I was feeling. Other than a slight twinge in my quads I was feeling good.

Weaving through the other runners and around the Canary Wharf area I remembered Saturday’s run and how different it was now being surrounded by thousands. Passed mile 19 and the place were I received assistance for my tired and aching quad a year ago. Then it was on to the highway and another deluge of rain!

I was aware my pace was slowing slightly, but with fatigue setting in and mile 23 approaching I was starting to take a few more walk breaks. Each time I hear my name being called by a spectator I gave them a thumbs up and an inner smile urged me to press on. I now was entering Blackfriars Tunnel. It’s a lonely stretch with no spectators and no crowds to cheer you on. It’s dank, dark, and sticky from lucisade and the low point for me. But I knew that when I emerged, I would be on the Embankment with just about 2 miles left to run.

Oh how my legs were tired, my body was aching, both my quads wanted rest and my mind just willed Big Ben closer. When I crossed the 40K mat I knew it was less than 1.5 miles and I knew also that even if I walked the entire remaining distance I would have a massive personal best time. But, to walk that was NOT an option. The finish line was just 3 right turns away, there was a medal with my name on it waiting and I wanted to get there as quick as I could. I wanted to be able to stop running, I wanted to find out how my husband had done, and I wanted to sit down! So I kept running. I made the first turn at Big Ben and now on tree lined Birdcage Walk I saw the 800 metre sign ahead! I took a final couple walk steps and then ran! The 600 metre sign approached and mentally I figured that was just 1.5 times around the track! I kept running. Buckingham Palace was coming up on my left; I didn’t look as my eyes were focused on the blue banner across the road which said, “Just 385 yards remaining”.

The slight turn to the right, then the final right turn and there in front of me were the long awaited yellow finish gates. The way was lined with spectators cheering and Union Jack flags attached to the poles. I heard the announcer say my name as my eyes focused on the finish clock and the waiting gate. I swung open my arms and embraced the finish line. I had completed my second London Marathon 24 minutes faster than last year! My time was a well deserved 5:46:37. I had obtained my goal; I at last had broken the 6 hour mark that for the previous 3 marathons I was unable to do.

The timing chip was cut from my shoe laces, a finisher medal was placed around my neck and I posed for a commemorative finisher photo. After collecting my kit bag and making my way to the meeting area I was reunited with my husband and to hear his marathon story. He had run his second fastest marathon of 3:22:54, and a 2 minute improvement from his 2006 London Marathon finish time.

So what now? First a week of rest with gentle walks, then slowly easing back into running. I have 10 weeks to enjoy running some off road, a couple of races, and then the marathon training starts all over again!! Yep, NYC awaits on November 2, 2008! Just 200 days!

London Calling

This is it, The final four miles today in my taper. Then it's down to London in the morning. Excitement to say the least! My bag is just about packed and the last of the food/fuel items awaits to be put into my backpack.

This is what I have trained 18 weeks for. This is what I have spent miles running in the rain, the cold, the wind, early hours, and late afternoons. Given up my Saturday mornings for, squeezed into my weekdays, and went out even when my mind was saying..." ahhhh you can skip it today".

This is what I ran the Liverpool Half for back in the beginning of March. Pressing on to run it to the best of my ability.

This is what I went to a physiotherapist for when my hamstring tear occurred. It's what I spent time stretching, hot baths, cold baths, hot water bottles, frozen packs of peas and applied countless rubs, ointments, creams and taken many an ibuprofen for.

This is LONDON! This is my fourth marathon. This is a test of my body, my mind, my soul. This is for me. This is to pass down a legacy to those that know me.

On Sunday 13 April I will lace up with my red laces, make my way to the Blue Start area and at 9:45 GT finish what I have prepared for all these months. This is satisfaction, living with a passion. Seizing the day and wringing it dry! Bring IT on!