After the Run...

After the 21.1kms, the rush, the endorphins, the high... naturally, comes the low and reflection.

The time has allowed me to reflect on the race and to look forward to where I want to go...

First up. When you finish a race like this, it's one of two outcomes:

1. I will NEVER do that again... never, ever, ever or

2. I am DEFINITELY doing it again, the sooner the better.

I am absolutely, boots and all, in the number 2. category!

Race In Review:

This is where I have gone over the run, think about how I can improve next time. Two Words. Training & Nutrition. I know I can train better and I know that the two weeks leading up to the race, in particular the last week... I ate too many carbs by way of "carbing up" for the day... and by way of nerves. I am an emotional eater, that's for sure!

Next time I will be much stricter with my preparation diet. I also intend to go with a pretty intensive training regime next round, one that will be both challenging and rewarding, hard but enjoyable. I've done lots of research on all sorts of preparation programs, and I think I have one which will suit me well. It's actually quite similar to the FIT program, it's a bit misleading tho, cause I assure you, I won't actually be running less.

I felt I ran pretty strong through most of the course. I asked myself frequently if I could give more, if I could up my cadence, and at times I could & did so. Towards the end I probably could have dug deeper and given more. At the time, I felt I was giving all I could, I was afraid to push and then not make it to the end. I walked a few steps... it was totally a mind factor at the last 3kms. I have to give myself some more experience before I know for sure how exactly to run this distance.

I also wonder how I would have gone on my own... I admit to I felt I was being "pulled" through the race by both Edwina and her husband Michael. I think we {runners} constantly do that, we keep our eye on a runner with similar pace and we stick close. I am not sure how I would have gone on my own for this race. I know Michael really helped me and encouraged me the last few kms. Maybe on my own I would have not been so sooky and just dug in. Or I might have walked a lot more. Shrug. I don't know. Next race I intend to find out.

All in all... I am happy with my run. I finished in a time I am happy with, not ecstatic, but happy... for my first race at this distance I think I did well.

Stats are:

Leading into a race like this, you envisage certain parts of your race in a certain way. Especially the finish... you see yourself running down the finishing lane with your children. I imagined I would give my daughter our special little "I LOVE YOU" sign language that we've been doing for years. I saw myself running with my children beside me, or in my arms... or something like that. The reality is that is goes so fricken fast !!! 

Here I am coming into the finish line...

As a spectator, you see all these runners for quite a few meters, as a runner... you see your loved ones for a split second. I called out to my children to run with me... it was raining, it had been raining the entire race, and they had been waiting for me for 20 minutes... there was no way they were coming out of the protection of their umbrellas.

Incidentally... I knew it had been raining. I mean I could tell it was raining as I ran for 2 hours... but I didnt really realise HOW much it was raining, or how very cold it was. Apparently it was only about 5 degrees celsius. I thought it was drizzling, and I thought it was intermitent... ah, no... it basically poured the entire race. It's funny, but it really didn't bother me at all. Lucky for me I did a few early morning runs with the FIT gals in the rain. 

I am aware that I look quite special in this photo... it's not lost on me! You too, might be slightly deliriously happy after running 21.1kms :)

Post Race Blues:

I got the post run blues for a day there... sore from the run and wanting to run again, but not able to... after training for so long and running about 20-30kms per week... it's hard to just stop for a week or so.

I did a weights session yesterday... big mistake. Way too early and left me feeling demoralised... Note to self: Do NOT train on a day when you are supposed to be resting! Simple!

The problem is that I am missing the consistency of training... both my runs and my weights sessions have had to take a back seat to my taper and recovery... it just feels weird.

I feel antsy... I want to run, I want to do smashing weights sessions, but I know I need to take it easy for a little bit at least. Next week I am off to the coast with the kidlets and IronMumma and her little ones... we have some runs planned and I am really looking forward to those.

Looking Forward:

Before doing the half, I thought I wanted to run a marathon. Now I know for sure that I do.

I also know it is going to be SO amazingly hard.

When you run 5kms... you think, oh yeah - with some training, I can run 10km.. then you run 15km, then a few long runs... it seems that 21.5 is quite achievable. And it is, with some pain... but it is doable, running for 2-2.5hours is something you can do.

Now go from that to double that.... that's the leap, a half to a full. TWICE the distance, time, pain... mmmm my brain can't really comprehend it to be honest, but I do know I want to do it.

Not soon tho, I was aiming for July... but I think realistically I need a year to train for a marathon... I need another couple of half marathon's under my belt before I can even consider training for a full.

I also have 3 months of sports therapy ahead of me to fix up my hip and get my gait sorted.

I am in this for the long run... so I am going to be careful.

Run's I am considering over the next year:

We don't have much of a running calendar here in Canberra. Or websites on the event, what is with that?? I find it really annoying! Anyhooooo... there is a limited amount of races I can train for without impacting too much on my family and basketball commitments.

I mainly use these two calendars to work out my schedule> My Marathon Club and Lazy Runner.

These are the ones I am looking at right now:

22nd May - 42nd Rex Foulkes Half Marathon - I am thinking of going in this as a team of two. Not sure.

30th July - Canberra Bush Marathon - Initially I thought I would do 18 weeks training and do the full marathon at this event, however I now think I'll only do the 16km run, as two weeks later I plan to do this one:

14th August - Sydney City 2 Surf - I'll be running this one with my three sisters and Mikaela. Sure to be fabulous.

9th October - Melbourne Half Marathon - I think this would be a beautiful run... Melbourne is a fabulous city, I'd love to do this.

Then I am thinking of taking a break and begin training for Canberra Full Marathon mid November.

Exciting times ahead...

Again, I want to say  a BIG thank you to all your beautiful, encouraging, inspiring messages and congratulations. 

It means the world to me :) xo

Also to those who have commented and emailed me that I have inspired you to take up running again... WOW, that is fabulous and I am so happy for you. It is some serious icing on the cake to be able to inspire other women {and men} to lace up their running shoes and get going. I LOVE IT !!! Check out the Couch 2 5km training program to get yourselves started. Nice and easy means no injury :) Goodluck and keep me posted.

Hugs

Bxo 

Comments

[Miriam]

congratulations on your run, what an achievement! :)

take care,

[Julie D.]

Gosh, so much to say...I guess I'll start with YES!! you did incredibly well!!! Congrats again on a great race. Isn't it a weird feeling to figure out where that perfect pace is in a race where you are pushing as hard as you can with out sacrificing the finish? As I'm building my base back up again, I've found it interesting to really 'feel' it, versus KNOW it based on your training/experience. I've had to 'feel' it more now. Second...I'm so excited that you will be following the Run Less Run Faster approach! I can't wait to use it for my next marathon. Can't wait to hear what you think of it and it's results. Third...YOU CAN and YOU WILL do a marathon. You've got the athleticism, the determination, and the spirit and soul of a marathon. In the mean time, enjoy the journey! Congrats again.