Last weekend, Jeannie (who's doing the Melbourne half with me) rang, saying "There's a twilight half marathon on this Saturday by the bay do you want to run it with me?". Of course I said yes. However, receiving a confirmation email at lunchtime on Friday pulled it into focus for me. I promptly started eating toast.
This was only my 2nd half marathon (officially), so for most of the time my brain was comparing the 2 experiences. The rest of the time, it was thinking the line from Anchorman - you just...run... for an extended period of time... (approximately). My thoughts, in no particular order:
1. I was really glad my new running shoes had arrived on Thursday evening.
2. Starting at 5pm was quite warm. My face felt like a bursting tomato for the first lap. However, after that it was just like my normal runs and I was back in my comfort zone. On the other hand, having us run on poorly lit roads with not great surfaces was not ideal. I spent some time dodging little potholes. Oh, and this was flat. Gold Coast was fairly flat - but had rises for the canal crossings. This was treadmill flat. No rises whatsoever.
3. I was impressed with my brain. For the Gold Coast run, I knew the route, I'd checked it on the map, I'd run it nearly a week before, I knew where the drink stations were and which ones I planned to use. For this one, I asked Jeannie on the way there if it was an out-and-back loop, or a circuit we would do twice? She wasn't sure. When we came to the first drink station I realised I had no idea where they were going to be, either. As it turned out, it was a circuit of just over 5km, slightly longer on laps 3 and 4, and the 10 km runners started with us too. And I just kept running.
4. The kilometre markings were just weird. I have no idea what the logic was - for example, we had 16 and 17 about 10m apart, not too far from the Start/turnaround line. At least it gave my brain something to think about. Then I just gave up.
5. With a shorter circuit, run 4 times by the half-marathoners, I would have hoped for more spectator support along the route. There wasn't much though, except for around the start area. It was the first time it had been held there though, so maybe in the future. That said, some of the support was not great... but the kids offering high fives were enthusiastic (I even returned one! but the sweatiness of my hand prevented me getting too enthusiastic about it).
6. Powerade is really easy to distinguish from water, even at twilight. This is good. Especially if you're having those gel things (not that I do) and need to know what you're having. I ended up having 2 waters and 2 Powerades.
7. I had no knee pain (haven't since July). I did have some foot pain (want to see a specialist about that soon) in lap 2. If any runners reading this have any tips for dealing with snot (sorry) - please let me know! The worst though was my heart. If I'm not careful with my protein or caffeine or water intake I notice it, and I guess I hadn't had enough water, because it showed. The whole last lap was painful. The almost-crying level of painful. However, this did help me get to the end - 'the faster you run now, the sooner you get to the end and can stop moving and have lots of water'.
8. I was 5 minutes faster than I was in July!!! I attribute this to a few things:
(i) I stayed relaxed for the first 2 laps, consciously tried to put the pressure on a bit in lap 3, and lap 4 I just had to get to the end.
(ii) I've been doing treadmill runs because they force me to stick to a pace. I'll do usually 5km, 900m of each at my normal comfortable running pace, then 100m at a faster sprint pace. I wasn't sure if this was helping, but I could feel my treadmill brain kick in so I think it's paying off.
(iii) I decided to get to the drink stations faster. Once I'd decided if I was hydrating at the next stop, as soon as I could see the tables I put on a slight sprint.
(iv) Again, the last quarter I was feeling good - which is even better when you can see other people flagging. Especially when they're really fit-looking. The last 200m, with heart straining, all I could focus on was getting to water as quickly as possible. And the commentator called "really strong finish here from Anna" - yay! And then I saw the clock. Crossed the line grinning, nearly knocked over the photographer, then very nearly cried.
(v) Running with a friend. We didn't actually run together, Jeannie was ahead of me for the first 3 1/2 laps, but our waves at the turnaround points were such a mood boost.
9. Compared to the Gold Coast run, I felt far less mentally or physically prepared. Although I wanted to run the whole thing (except for the walk for hydration coordination purposes) I knew this was not necessarily going to happen. I've done only a couple of long-ish runs lately, and all have been quite slow even when they've felt good. My expected run time was 2:20 - 2:30. When I first saw the clock I thought it read 2:17, so a moment later (yes, I blinked) when I saw it actually read 2:13, I was stoked.
10. Lots of water, an apple, and freebies later, we had a super warm-down walk. For about 45 minutes. Neither of us could remember which street we were parked on, and they all looked pretty much the same. We did discuss the next runs we want to do though.
11. One of the top 10 showers of my life. Possibly top 3. I say that because I can only think of 1 other that was in the same category (Singapore airport), but I don't want to close my mind too much. Trust me, this one was so wonderfully welcome.
12. Post-run food. We went to the nearest Mad Mex (it was about 9:30 by now). I don't think I've ever eaten a whole meal from there and not been stuffed. Once I got home I had a whole bottle of 'Outback Spirit Rejuvenating Water' and a bit of chocolate, too. I feel I should have had eggs today.
Showing posts with label Gold Coast Half Marathon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gold Coast Half Marathon. Show all posts
Sunday, 23 September 2012
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
In Retrospect - Second Quarter
It's that time of year. 3 months since my last retrospective, so here's how I feel I've changed since then.
Food: Something you wouldn't know - unless you've been spying on me in a serious way - is that my school lunches have changed. For quite some time (more than a year, that is), my school lunches were really predictable. This term, I've started taking non-salads occasionally. Especially welcome in colder weather to have a hot lunch! A great food behaviour change has been the introduction of No Cook Weeks. These are the greatest. I have fresh organic fruit and veges delivered every fortnight, and the week following will be a Cook Week, the week after a No Cook Week. I still have quite a stash of frozen meals in the freezer, plus it's holidays right now and I'm cooking quite a lot, so this wonderful destress habit can continue for a while. Knowing that I don't have to do anything except thaw and heat is such a calming feeling. Obviously, I love cooking, but I love not needing to cook as well. An added benefit is I am more likely to cook the fresh produce before it's past its best instead of needing to ditch it. The other food behaviour change is another not many would have noticed - I no longer buy peanut butter. I gave it up for Lent, then went a bit crazy with it after Easter. Peanut butter is no longer my friend. I had decided I couldn't trust myself with it, when a quote came up on Facebook - if you can't eat it responsibly, don't keep it in your house. Good advice.
Clothes: The 'search keywords' that lead people to this blog are usually fairly ordinary (recipes, movies, that sort of thing). By far the most searched item though is stockings. This has been a bit of a surprise... and a little unnerving... Nevertheless, I am far more adventurous with my stockings now, and they definitely initiate comments and conversations.
Organisation: I have a slightly more organised house. Not by much, but every little bit helps, right?
Photography: I'm loving the Daily Photo. Partly, it's feeling like I have an excuse to take those photos I'd normally walk past because I'm a local. But I'm also enjoying getting up close and personal with my environment again, and seeing my world through the lens again. And seeing the colours in the northwest of the state - so different from Brisbane! - made for an even more interesting trip to Mt Isa and Townsville.
Running: This feels like the big one. Running is a brain thing for me, and to train for the half marathon involved not just running but brain training as well. Taking different routes and doing different gym workouts, as well as different running shoes and tweaking little things about my running practice - these all helped the Gold Coast Half Marathon to be a successful and positive experience for me. Having run many, many kilometres in these shoes now, one big bonus about them is the grip. To get anywhere, I need to run down a fairly steep hill, which is often (usually) covered in leaves. When it's been raining, this makes for a slippery descent. Similarly, the downhill slopes on the bike path can be a bit on the slippery side after (or during) rain. I can feel these shoes really gripping though, and I no longer worry I'm going to slip.
Coffee and Movies: Looking at the list of blog posts for the last 3 months, I see a lot of coffee places listed... Now when I have a catch up with someone, we purposely find somewhere I haven't been before, so it can get to the blog. I also see on the list many movies I wouldn't normally have watched. I like that people will ask if I've seen something, then if I haven't they loan it to me. This is not just broadening my movie experience, but I am flattered that people want to know what I think!
The Term 2 Goals: Well. The facial expressions were a bit of a disaster after the first week or so - it was so hard! I am very pleased to report, though, that I was successful in putting away teaching materials after each day. I think I can say now that the practice has now become a habit. Woohoo!
Tuesday's Daily Photo:
Gin cocktails - experimental, of course! Needs something like lemonade or tonic water. But, the shelves looked far more interesting through the glass.
Food: Something you wouldn't know - unless you've been spying on me in a serious way - is that my school lunches have changed. For quite some time (more than a year, that is), my school lunches were really predictable. This term, I've started taking non-salads occasionally. Especially welcome in colder weather to have a hot lunch! A great food behaviour change has been the introduction of No Cook Weeks. These are the greatest. I have fresh organic fruit and veges delivered every fortnight, and the week following will be a Cook Week, the week after a No Cook Week. I still have quite a stash of frozen meals in the freezer, plus it's holidays right now and I'm cooking quite a lot, so this wonderful destress habit can continue for a while. Knowing that I don't have to do anything except thaw and heat is such a calming feeling. Obviously, I love cooking, but I love not needing to cook as well. An added benefit is I am more likely to cook the fresh produce before it's past its best instead of needing to ditch it. The other food behaviour change is another not many would have noticed - I no longer buy peanut butter. I gave it up for Lent, then went a bit crazy with it after Easter. Peanut butter is no longer my friend. I had decided I couldn't trust myself with it, when a quote came up on Facebook - if you can't eat it responsibly, don't keep it in your house. Good advice.
Clothes: The 'search keywords' that lead people to this blog are usually fairly ordinary (recipes, movies, that sort of thing). By far the most searched item though is stockings. This has been a bit of a surprise... and a little unnerving... Nevertheless, I am far more adventurous with my stockings now, and they definitely initiate comments and conversations.
Organisation: I have a slightly more organised house. Not by much, but every little bit helps, right?
Photography: I'm loving the Daily Photo. Partly, it's feeling like I have an excuse to take those photos I'd normally walk past because I'm a local. But I'm also enjoying getting up close and personal with my environment again, and seeing my world through the lens again. And seeing the colours in the northwest of the state - so different from Brisbane! - made for an even more interesting trip to Mt Isa and Townsville.
Running: This feels like the big one. Running is a brain thing for me, and to train for the half marathon involved not just running but brain training as well. Taking different routes and doing different gym workouts, as well as different running shoes and tweaking little things about my running practice - these all helped the Gold Coast Half Marathon to be a successful and positive experience for me. Having run many, many kilometres in these shoes now, one big bonus about them is the grip. To get anywhere, I need to run down a fairly steep hill, which is often (usually) covered in leaves. When it's been raining, this makes for a slippery descent. Similarly, the downhill slopes on the bike path can be a bit on the slippery side after (or during) rain. I can feel these shoes really gripping though, and I no longer worry I'm going to slip.
Coffee and Movies: Looking at the list of blog posts for the last 3 months, I see a lot of coffee places listed... Now when I have a catch up with someone, we purposely find somewhere I haven't been before, so it can get to the blog. I also see on the list many movies I wouldn't normally have watched. I like that people will ask if I've seen something, then if I haven't they loan it to me. This is not just broadening my movie experience, but I am flattered that people want to know what I think!
The Term 2 Goals: Well. The facial expressions were a bit of a disaster after the first week or so - it was so hard! I am very pleased to report, though, that I was successful in putting away teaching materials after each day. I think I can say now that the practice has now become a habit. Woohoo!
Tuesday's Daily Photo:
Sunday, 1 July 2012
The Gold Coast Half-Marathon
...Or, things that make me happy:
#1: Going Away (if only for a night). It is especially exciting (or happiness-inducing) when associated with a running event - the general buzz that surrounds these, as well as the mass of like-minded enthusiasts, makes for a great atmosphere.
#2: Beating the Queue. Once checking in (to a more-budget-than-expected-hotel, but blessedly close to the race precinct), we had a practice walk to the start line, then went back to the pub - it was on the way home, after all. We were about 3rd in the queue. By the time we ordered, the line went out the door and then some. Dinner in a Gold Coast pub on a Saturday night is a slice of the roil Straya. The IGA slogan, "the way the locals like it", came to mind, but there were also many runners. Some had done the 10km on Saturday (some as a warm-up) and others were just there for the half and full marathons. A large group commandeered several tables next to us and were a stereotypical bunch of runners.
#3: Although I was really tired, I couldn't sleep (heart rate was up around the 100 bpm mark) - but having a store of music in my head was really helpful. Unfortunately, I had a mariachi tune on repeat in there as well, but I tried to drown it out as much as possible with Rachmaninov's Isle of the Dead, which is my sleep music. Even so, I had very little sleep - I was still wide awake after 11, woke several times during the night, and the alarm went at 4:20.
#4: Knee Pain Disappearing. I went running Thursday and Friday, and my left knee developed a weird, new pain, which didn't respond to stretching or rolling-out. I was resigning myself to a substantial stretch of walking, but by Saturday evening the pain was minimal, and when I woke Sunday morning it was gone.
(Not sure what the weird light is at the bottom corner of these photos, we think it's something to do with the flash...)
#5: Amenities. After leaving my bag at the left luggage place (no queue), I then joined the rather lengthy line for the toilets. I was in this queue for about 40 minutes. I actually reached a toilet at 5:58am - the race began at 6am. Yes. This made me happy.
#6: Watching the sun rise over the water. How good is that?! Especially when you're not just in pajamas, hands wrapped around a cup of coffee, slippers on your feet, maybe on a balcony...or still inside because it's still a bit chilly... But running. Love it. And, seeing perfect reflections in the canals, birds waking and having a morning fly - beautiful.
#7: Preparation. Little things and big things. I've changed a few things about my longer running procedure that have made life easier. I now put pre-emptive Bandaids on each foot at problem spots (I have weird feet). I prefer to run in a cotton tank. I carry lip balm for when my lips are dry but I'm not thirsty. I wear a cap if I'll be running during daylight. I know how far I can go before I need a drink (about 7.5km is good). I am immensely glad I did the practice run on Monday. Any thoughts of that being too soon beforehand, or not a good idea to run the full length at all beforehand, vanished as my brain recognised features. Although it seemed to go quicker today (well, it actually did), I know that was partly because it was not the first time I was seeing these landmarks. Not only that, but I knew, quite consciously, that I could run this distance.
#8: Shirts. I was boring, and just wore my newest Lorna Jane. Shirts I saw that made me smile included: Like A Boss; You Should Quit Now While I'm Ahead; and Crossfit Foxes. The last was one I kept seeing as we kept overtaking each other.
#9: Running. Well, duh, but this is a big one. When I first decided to do this, I figured that a time of about 2 hours 10, maybe 15, would be respectable. But then I realised that I'm not a fast distance runner. About 6 weeks ago, I stopped trying to be fast, and started trying not to walk. I feel this has been hugely successful. Now I only walk if I'm in pain - and today, I was in no pain. Instead of having a time goal, I really wanted to run the whole way, and walk only for drink stops (so, not stopping movement at all). I accepted that if my knees were really sore - and, from experience, I knew this would probably happen - that some walking would be involved. But it was only in the last 3 km that I even noticed my knees, and it was definitely not bad enough for me to need to even think about walking. And if I did happen to start to think that thought, I'd see someone ahead of me who didn't look as fit as I feel, and I'd keep running. Having trained on a route with some hills, I am more inclined to go faster up hills - this wasn't so important on the way out, but was really noticeable on the return. The last bridge (these were responsible for the slight rises in the route) I overtook many others, and was so happy I really lengthened my stride on the way down - which was also a spot chockers with photographers. I also knew that, by doing a steadier pace throughout, I'd have more left for a stronger finish. I didn't want to be one of those who starts really strong and cocky and is walking the finish. Instead, I could feel my pace pick up in the last quarter, and I was really running the last 400m with a big sprint finish. And even better (yes there's more) - the slowest pace marker was 2 hours 20, and I only saw them right at the very end, crossing the line on her heels.
#10: Cheering Onlookers. Being a fairly solitary runner, this surprised me. But seeing kids in pajamas and dressing gowns, and people holding signs, and people clapping (or using clappers) really made me smile. And the signs! U Make it Look Easy; Smiling Makes You Run Faster; and, my favourite (my brother's too), Go Random Stranger, Go! The crowds were much thicker for the last 2 km, and hearing people cheer on strangers made me quite emotional. Especially right at the end when it was obvious they were cheering me - it was all I could do to hold back the tears. Not just the feeling of total strangers cheering me on of course, but knowing that I've run this, further than ever before, when a few months ago 10 km was a long run, and oh hello running high...
#11: Ministry of Funny Runs (followed by a coast-ful of funny walks). I have often thought, I hope I don't look that weird when I run. In fact, one of my excuses for not being a runner (before I stopped caring what other people thought) was that I probably looked silly. So, someone is probably saying the same thing about me right now, but I saw some interesting running styles. I don't mind so much when I overtake and that's it. But when a funny runner is ahead of me the whole time - what's with that?! The funniest I saw was the slap-footed, elbows out, hands by hips run. By a guy with serious hair (which always caused 'Give me a head of hair/long, beautiful hair' to start up in my head). I'm quite thankful for my body shape, with hips over knees so my thighs don't have to skirt around each other. And afterwards, seeing a whole lot of fit-looking people limping around Southport - even if they weren't wearing a finisher's shirt. On a more serious note though, watching the marathon runners... whoa. When they had about 15 to go, most were still going ok, if a little over it, but you could see some doing the knee limp. When I was waiting by the finish line for my brother to finish, I saw a man do the really serious knee limp - arms flailing and you just felt sick watching. 20m from the end, he collapsed. The announcer called for sports medicine to the finish line, but 2 other runners helped him up and practically carried him over the line. Huge cheers and tears from the crowd.
#12: Achievement (even if it's for others). This was my brother's 2nd marathon, and he wanted to do it in under 4 hours. So when I hadn't seen him yet at 3 hours 55... and then 3 59, the announcer called out that it was less than a minute before 4 hours, and all these runners ran! I spotted my brother, cheered him on, and got a bit emotional as I knew he'd made it. With, I discovered later, 10 seconds to spare. And that was the gun time so his net time would have been faster.
#13: Being Part of Something Big. There were 10 thousand people doing the half marathon. And it sounded like it! There were parts where it was fairly quiet... except for the slapslapslapslap of thousands and thousands of feet hitting the road. And although it thinned out a little, it took many kilometres for that to happen, and it was still relatively thick the whole way.
#14: Feeling Sore. For a good reason. After the practice run, I had slightly sore knees the next morning (going downstairs only) but was fine by the afternoon. Today, I have sore knees and hips and calves and ankles and arms. Chafing was not as bad though, mostly because I didn't carry my phone this time, and the preemptive Bandaids were welcome but not 100% effective. I'm not bleeding anywhere though and I think with a good stretch over the next day or 2 I'll be back to normal in no time. Having a little nap this evening I could feel my feet and lower legs twitching and this I found immensely satisfying.
But for next time... I was inspired by those who were running and raising money. So, next time will be not only a different location (it's a secret - but I wonder if anyone will guess?) but I'll sign up for everyday hero and make someone else happy, too.
#1: Going Away (if only for a night). It is especially exciting (or happiness-inducing) when associated with a running event - the general buzz that surrounds these, as well as the mass of like-minded enthusiasts, makes for a great atmosphere.
#2: Beating the Queue. Once checking in (to a more-budget-than-expected-hotel, but blessedly close to the race precinct), we had a practice walk to the start line, then went back to the pub - it was on the way home, after all. We were about 3rd in the queue. By the time we ordered, the line went out the door and then some. Dinner in a Gold Coast pub on a Saturday night is a slice of the roil Straya. The IGA slogan, "the way the locals like it", came to mind, but there were also many runners. Some had done the 10km on Saturday (some as a warm-up) and others were just there for the half and full marathons. A large group commandeered several tables next to us and were a stereotypical bunch of runners.
#3: Although I was really tired, I couldn't sleep (heart rate was up around the 100 bpm mark) - but having a store of music in my head was really helpful. Unfortunately, I had a mariachi tune on repeat in there as well, but I tried to drown it out as much as possible with Rachmaninov's Isle of the Dead, which is my sleep music. Even so, I had very little sleep - I was still wide awake after 11, woke several times during the night, and the alarm went at 4:20.
#4: Knee Pain Disappearing. I went running Thursday and Friday, and my left knee developed a weird, new pain, which didn't respond to stretching or rolling-out. I was resigning myself to a substantial stretch of walking, but by Saturday evening the pain was minimal, and when I woke Sunday morning it was gone.
 |
| Pre-race nerves. |
#5: Amenities. After leaving my bag at the left luggage place (no queue), I then joined the rather lengthy line for the toilets. I was in this queue for about 40 minutes. I actually reached a toilet at 5:58am - the race began at 6am. Yes. This made me happy.
 |
| Bring it ON! |
#7: Preparation. Little things and big things. I've changed a few things about my longer running procedure that have made life easier. I now put pre-emptive Bandaids on each foot at problem spots (I have weird feet). I prefer to run in a cotton tank. I carry lip balm for when my lips are dry but I'm not thirsty. I wear a cap if I'll be running during daylight. I know how far I can go before I need a drink (about 7.5km is good). I am immensely glad I did the practice run on Monday. Any thoughts of that being too soon beforehand, or not a good idea to run the full length at all beforehand, vanished as my brain recognised features. Although it seemed to go quicker today (well, it actually did), I know that was partly because it was not the first time I was seeing these landmarks. Not only that, but I knew, quite consciously, that I could run this distance.
#8: Shirts. I was boring, and just wore my newest Lorna Jane. Shirts I saw that made me smile included: Like A Boss; You Should Quit Now While I'm Ahead; and Crossfit Foxes. The last was one I kept seeing as we kept overtaking each other.
#9: Running. Well, duh, but this is a big one. When I first decided to do this, I figured that a time of about 2 hours 10, maybe 15, would be respectable. But then I realised that I'm not a fast distance runner. About 6 weeks ago, I stopped trying to be fast, and started trying not to walk. I feel this has been hugely successful. Now I only walk if I'm in pain - and today, I was in no pain. Instead of having a time goal, I really wanted to run the whole way, and walk only for drink stops (so, not stopping movement at all). I accepted that if my knees were really sore - and, from experience, I knew this would probably happen - that some walking would be involved. But it was only in the last 3 km that I even noticed my knees, and it was definitely not bad enough for me to need to even think about walking. And if I did happen to start to think that thought, I'd see someone ahead of me who didn't look as fit as I feel, and I'd keep running. Having trained on a route with some hills, I am more inclined to go faster up hills - this wasn't so important on the way out, but was really noticeable on the return. The last bridge (these were responsible for the slight rises in the route) I overtook many others, and was so happy I really lengthened my stride on the way down - which was also a spot chockers with photographers. I also knew that, by doing a steadier pace throughout, I'd have more left for a stronger finish. I didn't want to be one of those who starts really strong and cocky and is walking the finish. Instead, I could feel my pace pick up in the last quarter, and I was really running the last 400m with a big sprint finish. And even better (yes there's more) - the slowest pace marker was 2 hours 20, and I only saw them right at the very end, crossing the line on her heels.
#10: Cheering Onlookers. Being a fairly solitary runner, this surprised me. But seeing kids in pajamas and dressing gowns, and people holding signs, and people clapping (or using clappers) really made me smile. And the signs! U Make it Look Easy; Smiling Makes You Run Faster; and, my favourite (my brother's too), Go Random Stranger, Go! The crowds were much thicker for the last 2 km, and hearing people cheer on strangers made me quite emotional. Especially right at the end when it was obvious they were cheering me - it was all I could do to hold back the tears. Not just the feeling of total strangers cheering me on of course, but knowing that I've run this, further than ever before, when a few months ago 10 km was a long run, and oh hello running high...
#11: Ministry of Funny Runs (followed by a coast-ful of funny walks). I have often thought, I hope I don't look that weird when I run. In fact, one of my excuses for not being a runner (before I stopped caring what other people thought) was that I probably looked silly. So, someone is probably saying the same thing about me right now, but I saw some interesting running styles. I don't mind so much when I overtake and that's it. But when a funny runner is ahead of me the whole time - what's with that?! The funniest I saw was the slap-footed, elbows out, hands by hips run. By a guy with serious hair (which always caused 'Give me a head of hair/long, beautiful hair' to start up in my head). I'm quite thankful for my body shape, with hips over knees so my thighs don't have to skirt around each other. And afterwards, seeing a whole lot of fit-looking people limping around Southport - even if they weren't wearing a finisher's shirt. On a more serious note though, watching the marathon runners... whoa. When they had about 15 to go, most were still going ok, if a little over it, but you could see some doing the knee limp. When I was waiting by the finish line for my brother to finish, I saw a man do the really serious knee limp - arms flailing and you just felt sick watching. 20m from the end, he collapsed. The announcer called for sports medicine to the finish line, but 2 other runners helped him up and practically carried him over the line. Huge cheers and tears from the crowd.
 |
| Finisher's Shirt and Medal |
#12: Achievement (even if it's for others). This was my brother's 2nd marathon, and he wanted to do it in under 4 hours. So when I hadn't seen him yet at 3 hours 55... and then 3 59, the announcer called out that it was less than a minute before 4 hours, and all these runners ran! I spotted my brother, cheered him on, and got a bit emotional as I knew he'd made it. With, I discovered later, 10 seconds to spare. And that was the gun time so his net time would have been faster.
#13: Being Part of Something Big. There were 10 thousand people doing the half marathon. And it sounded like it! There were parts where it was fairly quiet... except for the slapslapslapslap of thousands and thousands of feet hitting the road. And although it thinned out a little, it took many kilometres for that to happen, and it was still relatively thick the whole way.
#14: Feeling Sore. For a good reason. After the practice run, I had slightly sore knees the next morning (going downstairs only) but was fine by the afternoon. Today, I have sore knees and hips and calves and ankles and arms. Chafing was not as bad though, mostly because I didn't carry my phone this time, and the preemptive Bandaids were welcome but not 100% effective. I'm not bleeding anywhere though and I think with a good stretch over the next day or 2 I'll be back to normal in no time. Having a little nap this evening I could feel my feet and lower legs twitching and this I found immensely satisfying.
But for next time... I was inspired by those who were running and raising money. So, next time will be not only a different location (it's a secret - but I wonder if anyone will guess?) but I'll sign up for everyday hero and make someone else happy, too.
Monday, 25 June 2012
The Practice Run
I've been having weird dreams lately. I know the upcoming Gold Coast Half Marathon is the flattest course in Australia, but my subconscious is putting in stairs, buildings, wine and cheese tastings, and sand. I also know that when I run my familiar route my brain is happier (that drinking fountain is just around this corner and along a bit so go for it - that sort of thing). So I thought it would be a good idea to do a practice run of Sunday's track. This term being what it was, though, meant that today was the first opportunity. Viola Man came with me which made it a much more entertaining run than normal.
I have heard that it is not a good idea to do what I did, that it's better to run only about 3/4 of the distance before the event. But I know my brain, and I know how it interacts with my body, so I have no regrets. But I would like to hear from others on this matter - do you make sure you can run the distance beforehand?
My subconscious can now relax. It really is quite a flat route. 21.1 km on this route was less strenuous than 18 km of my normal run. Knowing that I am a slow runner meant I could run down the other side of the gentle rises, and the last 500 m felt more like running than it does at home. Getting to the turnaround point was a tiny surprise. I did have to walk a little on the return (sore knees) but the knees didn't bother me nearly as much as they would have normally. That has been my biggest concern, as running along the river (including the hills between where I live and the river, and the lovely hill at the end of the Riverside precinct) results in the need to stretch every couple of kilometres once I've covered about 6.5.
The benefit of doing this practice run now is that they were beginning to set up everything for the weekend. We could see the road closure signs dotted along the way, and there were marquees and barriers going up around the start point. Which all means I could get this photo:
As you can see, the weather was fairly overcast. The weather was coolish - so when we weren't running and the wind was blowing, it was a good reason to start moving again! You might have to peer, but I promise this is the Gold Coast Airport Marathon sign.
We came back to Brisbane for a lunch of Mexican - great post-run food, except I ate about half my bodyweight. Nevermind. I also tried a different coconut water - this time it was Cocobella in pineapple flavour. This was much more drinkable than the other sorts I've tried so far, but I'm not keen on added sugar. I have something different to try tomorrow - I'm determined to find one that works! (Still getting the occasional cramp though).
And now, I think, it's bath time.
I have heard that it is not a good idea to do what I did, that it's better to run only about 3/4 of the distance before the event. But I know my brain, and I know how it interacts with my body, so I have no regrets. But I would like to hear from others on this matter - do you make sure you can run the distance beforehand?
My subconscious can now relax. It really is quite a flat route. 21.1 km on this route was less strenuous than 18 km of my normal run. Knowing that I am a slow runner meant I could run down the other side of the gentle rises, and the last 500 m felt more like running than it does at home. Getting to the turnaround point was a tiny surprise. I did have to walk a little on the return (sore knees) but the knees didn't bother me nearly as much as they would have normally. That has been my biggest concern, as running along the river (including the hills between where I live and the river, and the lovely hill at the end of the Riverside precinct) results in the need to stretch every couple of kilometres once I've covered about 6.5.
The benefit of doing this practice run now is that they were beginning to set up everything for the weekend. We could see the road closure signs dotted along the way, and there were marquees and barriers going up around the start point. Which all means I could get this photo:
We came back to Brisbane for a lunch of Mexican - great post-run food, except I ate about half my bodyweight. Nevermind. I also tried a different coconut water - this time it was Cocobella in pineapple flavour. This was much more drinkable than the other sorts I've tried so far, but I'm not keen on added sugar. I have something different to try tomorrow - I'm determined to find one that works! (Still getting the occasional cramp though).
And now, I think, it's bath time.
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