It's been almost 1 week since the marathon, and the hardest thing has been not running.
Running a marathon is an odd thing, you train for it for a long tim gradually building up k's per week until you run out of training time. You stop a week or so before the event, putting your self through s period without the one thing thats been driving you for so long, it's consumed your every thought for so long.
This subject of intense focus leaves a huge hole in your life, it's only a week of tapering but t feels like a year, you start to doubt your ability to run, question your preparation, and commitment.
The week after the marathon is similar, last year I waited one week exactly, then I ran a 10k. I ended up bed ridden with flu like symptoms for 3 days after that. This year I have felt ready to run since the Tuesday after the marathon. But have held back, remembering last year, I have decided to wait....but only until Monday.
Mondays we (myself and the guys at work) usually run a 5k so I will run that and see how I go. If that's all good then it's a 10k on Tuesday and another on thursday, from there it's back into routine.
I miss running, I want to be running again.
It's weird when speaking to another runner, he was very sympathetic to my marathon time, pointing out that I hadn't done enough long runs, my total k's per week were too low etc. This was kind of odd, I didn't mind my time so much, it was long, yeah ok it could have been better but at the end of the day who cares if I did it in 5 hours or 4, the point is I ran my second marathon.
I would have liked to have run more and walked less, but at the same time I probably would have ran slower and done about the same time still I did what I could.
At the end of the day people will compare you with their experiences, this guy was an experienced marathoner who when running them didn't have kids. I have managed to fit in being daddy, uni, work and training for a marathon and if that means I run 5 hour marathons until the load lightens the I will keep running 5 hour marathons.
This whole experience has put a new spin on my running and kids that I haven't realized before. If I run too much on the weekends it takes time away from my kids, and too little and my running suffered. The trade off is I run when I can and on marathon day run slower times, for now. My kids are at an age when they get upset that I will be out for 3 hours on a tun, but I imagine as they grow up that will change.
I like to think that my daughter and son will be there with me one day running their first 5k, 10k and whatever distances after that they aspire to. But I would never make them run, only show them what I get from running and see if they decide to follow.
It's hard to predict if they will or won't, I think they will want to run, but if they don't I can only hope they don't spend as much of their lives being as fat and lazy as I have.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Race review
5 hours 1 minute and 44 seconds or thereabouts.
That was yesterday, my second marathon, the second time I have run 42.2k, and the second time it's taken me more than 5 hours.
My wife asked if I was disappointed with my time, and the answer is no, I am happy. I have come to terms with being a slow marathoner. If I get faster then I get faster, if not then shit happens, while it's a race it's not just about the amount of time it takes to finish, it's as much about being a part of something bigger, and simply finishing.
So here is the buts of the race that stood out.
At the start I said goodbye and good luck to me ex-colleague who gave me a ride in as he was placing himself for a faster run. The air was filled with nervous tension from the first timers, excitement and an element of apprehension for the pain that we were all about to endure.
Across the line and away we go. I settled into a pace slightly lower than I had planned with the first couple of k's at 6:20min/k, but I didn't mind too much as at this point I had decided that chasing times wasn't really why I was here. I focused on easy strides and cruised along with the crowd.
A the 4.2k mark some dick head announced to the runners around him that we were 10% through, some people need yo learn to shut up. Shortly after this I saw one dude wearing Vibram five fingers, and another wearing bare feet....that's hardcore.
Along st kilda road I saw a guy with a hat shaped like a block of cheese, and another one with a knitted beard warmer.
I had to stop for a wee break in Albert park, and once that was sorted I was happily cruising along.
At the 9K aid station I spotted a colleague who was volunteering so I made sure I grabbed a water from him.
I noticed that a lot of the running clubs had their own aid stations for their members this year, which was great for them to pick up gels drinks etc.
We hit StKilda and headed towards Port Melbourne. I like this leg because the faster runners are on the other side of the road, and it appears that you are running to the spirit of Tasmania, along here I saw 2 people on bikes in tiger suits who were growling at the runners.....very odd indeed.
Got to the turnaround, and there is about 4k where you can see the 20k marker as it was a big inflatable arch. This was not a nice part of the race as it just didn't feel like I was getting any closer to it. Along here I was feeling good, legs were happily ticking over and although I had resolved to just run it, I noticed that the 4:30 pacer was behind me, which caused a lot of confusion as I would have sworn he was in front of me. Of course this had me thinking what if, what time etc.
At about the 23k mark, the what ifs where laid to rest when I had to start having some walking breaks, as I was starting to struggle. I had felt this welling up for about 4k and I had told myself no walking until 25k but I didn't meet that goal. I kicked my own ass back in to the task at hand and pushed on.
Somewhere between StKilda and Elwood I almost hurled. There was a stench of rotten seafood coming from some kind of creek or storm water running off, and it was bad.
We ran through a couple of parks this year and came back onto the road to continue on to the turnaround, one of the parks was awesome, we ran up a slight hill and had an amazing view of the beach and the crashing waves.
Back on the road and around the turnaround I spotted a Spartan(a person who has completed 10 Melbourne marathons) and I asked him how he was doing, he said "I'm fucked mate" I asked him how many is this for him, and it was his 10th Melbourne, and last he told me. I kept running leaving him behind, and went round the turnaround. He gave me a wave as I passed him in the other direction.
The people that live down here are really nice, despite having no car access to their houses a lot of them are out the front with lollies, some with bananas and all of them with encouragement.
Back across the puke river and on to StKilda, a lot of people are passing me now, but a lot are walking, especially after the 30k mark. I am packing a dude that looks like a midget who is running and walking too so we are constantly passing one another.
Just before the 30k marker some weird old dude is crossing the road and slows down in front of me and stares me down....all I can think is get out of way you sill old bugger..and eventually he did. I really don't know what the hell that was all about.
Through StKilda and back towards the city. Lots of people telling us we were on the home stretch now, and to keep up the amazing work. We passed all the running club tables but because their members had all passed by they were handing out everything they had left, water, gels, power aid etc. There was a guy who had gone and bought 2 boxes of icy poles and was giving them to runners. Community spirit is alive and well.
On StKilda road I spotted a runner ahead and focused on pacing him. I passed him as he was running slower, then he passed me when I was walking. We continued on for several k like this. Eventually we started to encourage each other and he offered me 2 weird looking pills. I asked what they were and he said they were some sugar lollies, so I took them. At this stage I needed all the help I could get. No cramps yet but I was hurting.
We continued to sort of run together, and had a chat, it was his first, and he had been suffering through ITB cramps since the 5k mark. That really sucked for him.
Around and under the arts center, and some other runner how we were doing for time, 4:11 which I said wasn't too bad for 36k.
At the this point we hit some minor hills through the park and back up towards the shrine,down domain road, I got chatting with a nice lady spartan at this point who was asking me how many I had done etc. When I said it was my second she said, well your in now, I replied with well and truly in probably in over my head but in all the same.
Along StKilda road back to up to Flinders now, and and there were a lot of aid stations, my friend with the ITB issues is powering a head now shooting for a sub 5 hours. At this stage I just didn't have it in me to push it was hard enough to keep running. I realized that there was about 1.2k to go.
Along Flinders st and I could see the MCG the end was in sight, I started to push, then I realized that if I could push enough then I would be able to crack the 5 hour mark....shame I didn't realize this earlier.
I ran hard passing a lot of people, pushing as hard as I could. I was running at a sub 6m/k pace which felt like I was sprinting, around through the backstreets behind the G and then onto the last bit of road...up hill....some race director needs to have his ass kicked for this. 41.9k and they have the finish line up a hill....damn, doesn't matter pushed anyway to get up there, and over the line. The garmin says it took me 5:01:44 we will see what the official results say.
Up the hill and there was my wife and the kids, screaming there hearts out in support. This gave me an amazing lift and got my ass up the hill and over the finish line.
At the finish line I almost collapsed. One of the marshals came and made sure I wasn't going to hurl collapse or both, and then we got ushered out of the finish area by a cop. I had a drink, collected my show bag, called my wife and arranged a meeting place. On the way there I got the most insanely intense calf cramps I have ever experienced.
One calf first and it was so intense I couldn't put my foot flat on the ground at all. Then the other got jealous and wanted some cramp action, I was standing on tippy toes in agony while a lot of people just looked on. Eventually I forced my feet back on the ground and hobbled off to the meeting place.
Compression socks on in the car and they have been ever since (excluding showers etc) these are amazing wonderful things and I owe them a lot. My calves feel great.
My wife made a comment on facebook about the supporters at the marathon and how its hard for them to get organised, wrangle kids and be there for their runners. I would like to say a huge thanks to everyone who made the effort to be there for runners, and all the other runners.
The supporters really made the day, from handing out snakes, icy poles, cheering us on no matter that the slower runners were still plodding along. They drove us to run when we were walking, keep running when we wanted to stop, and finish the marathon.
So I would like to acknowledge that its hard for the supports to be there on the day but it really does make all the difference. So thank you everyone.
Daniel
That was yesterday, my second marathon, the second time I have run 42.2k, and the second time it's taken me more than 5 hours.
My wife asked if I was disappointed with my time, and the answer is no, I am happy. I have come to terms with being a slow marathoner. If I get faster then I get faster, if not then shit happens, while it's a race it's not just about the amount of time it takes to finish, it's as much about being a part of something bigger, and simply finishing.
So here is the buts of the race that stood out.
At the start I said goodbye and good luck to me ex-colleague who gave me a ride in as he was placing himself for a faster run. The air was filled with nervous tension from the first timers, excitement and an element of apprehension for the pain that we were all about to endure.
Across the line and away we go. I settled into a pace slightly lower than I had planned with the first couple of k's at 6:20min/k, but I didn't mind too much as at this point I had decided that chasing times wasn't really why I was here. I focused on easy strides and cruised along with the crowd.
A the 4.2k mark some dick head announced to the runners around him that we were 10% through, some people need yo learn to shut up. Shortly after this I saw one dude wearing Vibram five fingers, and another wearing bare feet....that's hardcore.
Along st kilda road I saw a guy with a hat shaped like a block of cheese, and another one with a knitted beard warmer.
I had to stop for a wee break in Albert park, and once that was sorted I was happily cruising along.
At the 9K aid station I spotted a colleague who was volunteering so I made sure I grabbed a water from him.
I noticed that a lot of the running clubs had their own aid stations for their members this year, which was great for them to pick up gels drinks etc.
We hit StKilda and headed towards Port Melbourne. I like this leg because the faster runners are on the other side of the road, and it appears that you are running to the spirit of Tasmania, along here I saw 2 people on bikes in tiger suits who were growling at the runners.....very odd indeed.
Got to the turnaround, and there is about 4k where you can see the 20k marker as it was a big inflatable arch. This was not a nice part of the race as it just didn't feel like I was getting any closer to it. Along here I was feeling good, legs were happily ticking over and although I had resolved to just run it, I noticed that the 4:30 pacer was behind me, which caused a lot of confusion as I would have sworn he was in front of me. Of course this had me thinking what if, what time etc.
At about the 23k mark, the what ifs where laid to rest when I had to start having some walking breaks, as I was starting to struggle. I had felt this welling up for about 4k and I had told myself no walking until 25k but I didn't meet that goal. I kicked my own ass back in to the task at hand and pushed on.
Somewhere between StKilda and Elwood I almost hurled. There was a stench of rotten seafood coming from some kind of creek or storm water running off, and it was bad.
We ran through a couple of parks this year and came back onto the road to continue on to the turnaround, one of the parks was awesome, we ran up a slight hill and had an amazing view of the beach and the crashing waves.
Back on the road and around the turnaround I spotted a Spartan(a person who has completed 10 Melbourne marathons) and I asked him how he was doing, he said "I'm fucked mate" I asked him how many is this for him, and it was his 10th Melbourne, and last he told me. I kept running leaving him behind, and went round the turnaround. He gave me a wave as I passed him in the other direction.
The people that live down here are really nice, despite having no car access to their houses a lot of them are out the front with lollies, some with bananas and all of them with encouragement.
Back across the puke river and on to StKilda, a lot of people are passing me now, but a lot are walking, especially after the 30k mark. I am packing a dude that looks like a midget who is running and walking too so we are constantly passing one another.
Just before the 30k marker some weird old dude is crossing the road and slows down in front of me and stares me down....all I can think is get out of way you sill old bugger..and eventually he did. I really don't know what the hell that was all about.
Through StKilda and back towards the city. Lots of people telling us we were on the home stretch now, and to keep up the amazing work. We passed all the running club tables but because their members had all passed by they were handing out everything they had left, water, gels, power aid etc. There was a guy who had gone and bought 2 boxes of icy poles and was giving them to runners. Community spirit is alive and well.
On StKilda road I spotted a runner ahead and focused on pacing him. I passed him as he was running slower, then he passed me when I was walking. We continued on for several k like this. Eventually we started to encourage each other and he offered me 2 weird looking pills. I asked what they were and he said they were some sugar lollies, so I took them. At this stage I needed all the help I could get. No cramps yet but I was hurting.
We continued to sort of run together, and had a chat, it was his first, and he had been suffering through ITB cramps since the 5k mark. That really sucked for him.
Around and under the arts center, and some other runner how we were doing for time, 4:11 which I said wasn't too bad for 36k.
At the this point we hit some minor hills through the park and back up towards the shrine,down domain road, I got chatting with a nice lady spartan at this point who was asking me how many I had done etc. When I said it was my second she said, well your in now, I replied with well and truly in probably in over my head but in all the same.
Along StKilda road back to up to Flinders now, and and there were a lot of aid stations, my friend with the ITB issues is powering a head now shooting for a sub 5 hours. At this stage I just didn't have it in me to push it was hard enough to keep running. I realized that there was about 1.2k to go.
Along Flinders st and I could see the MCG the end was in sight, I started to push, then I realized that if I could push enough then I would be able to crack the 5 hour mark....shame I didn't realize this earlier.
I ran hard passing a lot of people, pushing as hard as I could. I was running at a sub 6m/k pace which felt like I was sprinting, around through the backstreets behind the G and then onto the last bit of road...up hill....some race director needs to have his ass kicked for this. 41.9k and they have the finish line up a hill....damn, doesn't matter pushed anyway to get up there, and over the line. The garmin says it took me 5:01:44 we will see what the official results say.
Up the hill and there was my wife and the kids, screaming there hearts out in support. This gave me an amazing lift and got my ass up the hill and over the finish line.
At the finish line I almost collapsed. One of the marshals came and made sure I wasn't going to hurl collapse or both, and then we got ushered out of the finish area by a cop. I had a drink, collected my show bag, called my wife and arranged a meeting place. On the way there I got the most insanely intense calf cramps I have ever experienced.
One calf first and it was so intense I couldn't put my foot flat on the ground at all. Then the other got jealous and wanted some cramp action, I was standing on tippy toes in agony while a lot of people just looked on. Eventually I forced my feet back on the ground and hobbled off to the meeting place.
Compression socks on in the car and they have been ever since (excluding showers etc) these are amazing wonderful things and I owe them a lot. My calves feel great.
My wife made a comment on facebook about the supporters at the marathon and how its hard for them to get organised, wrangle kids and be there for their runners. I would like to say a huge thanks to everyone who made the effort to be there for runners, and all the other runners.
The supporters really made the day, from handing out snakes, icy poles, cheering us on no matter that the slower runners were still plodding along. They drove us to run when we were walking, keep running when we wanted to stop, and finish the marathon.
So I would like to acknowledge that its hard for the supports to be there on the day but it really does make all the difference. So thank you everyone.
Daniel
Friday, October 7, 2011
Countdown Part 3
I'm starting to feel like a little yappy dog who won't stop barking. I have so much owing through my mind at the moment and it's pouring out in blog and Facebook posts.
I feel like I am starting to win the battle this morning, the negative arguments about why I can't and or shouldn't try and run the marathon on Sunday are losing any substance to their points.
The positive thoughts are gaining, and I can feel myself starting to embrace them and swim in the sea of negativity.
I can cover the distance, run (preferably), walk, crawl it doesn't matter how, what matters is the most amazing life changing accomplishment, my first marathon, will not be my last.
I guess I sometimes expect that people will love my running as much as I do, and then I get disappointed when they don't.
As runners we are surrounded by A society who have not embraced their primal instinct to run. We are designed for running long distances, which is why most first time marathoners are middle aged men, they feel an urge yo run a long way. This primal instinct comes from genetic coding, a body designed for distance running, and the feeling our ancestors got when running an animal to death.
I have said it before running is a metaphor for living, but it is so much more. Running is answering the primal urges deep within your psyche, embracing their passive efforts to move you along in search of food or water.
This becomes evident when you listen to runners discuss race strategy. As an adult talking to another adult I have never experienced some of the topics, that I have with other runners. Chaffing, pre-race poo, cutting of toenails all sorts of things that are not lady or gentlemanlike to talk about. But the primal runner knows that they are important things for the hunt.
So again I need to say, on Sunday, in 2 sleeps, I will run a marathon, I will love it, I will hunt my prey and run the fucker to death.
Daniel :)
I feel like I am starting to win the battle this morning, the negative arguments about why I can't and or shouldn't try and run the marathon on Sunday are losing any substance to their points.
The positive thoughts are gaining, and I can feel myself starting to embrace them and swim in the sea of negativity.
I can cover the distance, run (preferably), walk, crawl it doesn't matter how, what matters is the most amazing life changing accomplishment, my first marathon, will not be my last.
I guess I sometimes expect that people will love my running as much as I do, and then I get disappointed when they don't.
As runners we are surrounded by A society who have not embraced their primal instinct to run. We are designed for running long distances, which is why most first time marathoners are middle aged men, they feel an urge yo run a long way. This primal instinct comes from genetic coding, a body designed for distance running, and the feeling our ancestors got when running an animal to death.
I have said it before running is a metaphor for living, but it is so much more. Running is answering the primal urges deep within your psyche, embracing their passive efforts to move you along in search of food or water.
This becomes evident when you listen to runners discuss race strategy. As an adult talking to another adult I have never experienced some of the topics, that I have with other runners. Chaffing, pre-race poo, cutting of toenails all sorts of things that are not lady or gentlemanlike to talk about. But the primal runner knows that they are important things for the hunt.
So again I need to say, on Sunday, in 2 sleeps, I will run a marathon, I will love it, I will hunt my prey and run the fucker to death.
Daniel :)
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Countdown Part 2
3 Sleeps to go and I am starting to feel sick every time the marathon comes to the front burner of my thoughts.
I have arranged a lift in on the day which is one less thing to worry about, and the family will be at the finish line or somewhere close if its bucketing down.
All I can think about is 42.2 kilometers. about 21.1 of which I am not too concerned about, maybe that number even extends to 30 of them, but there at least 12.2ks that are the real unknown.
I am fitter than last year, and about 4kg lighter, I have run faster short distances in the last 3 months than I ever thought possible, these things have to count for something don't they?
all that is left now is to wait the remaining 3 2 full days, sleep the last 3 sleeps and then run like my body was designed by the maker of evolution (depending on your faith of choice) intended it to.
42.2k, 42.2k, 42.2k
I can do it. I can run it. I can beat last years time.
I am going to run a full marathon on Sunday faster than I did it last year.
I am going to run a full marathon on Sunday faster than I did it last year.
I am going to run a full marathon on Sunday faster than I did it last year.
Daniel
I have arranged a lift in on the day which is one less thing to worry about, and the family will be at the finish line or somewhere close if its bucketing down.
All I can think about is 42.2 kilometers. about 21.1 of which I am not too concerned about, maybe that number even extends to 30 of them, but there at least 12.2ks that are the real unknown.
I am fitter than last year, and about 4kg lighter, I have run faster short distances in the last 3 months than I ever thought possible, these things have to count for something don't they?
all that is left now is to wait the remaining 3 2 full days, sleep the last 3 sleeps and then run like my body was designed by the maker of evolution (depending on your faith of choice) intended it to.
42.2k, 42.2k, 42.2k
I can do it. I can run it. I can beat last years time.
I am going to run a full marathon on Sunday faster than I did it last year.
I am going to run a full marathon on Sunday faster than I did it last year.
I am going to run a full marathon on Sunday faster than I did it last year.
Daniel
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Countdown
4 more sleeps until I have to get up and run my second marathon and I feel like I'm drowning in a sea of self doubt.
The questions are always there nagging at the back of my mind like a neighbors dog who just won't stop barking, and no matter where you are in the house the bark bark bark bark is always there.
The questions that are really hammering me at the moment are
- am I fit enough to even attempt this distance?
- what happens if I can't finish?
- why does it all matter?
Running has changed for me, from something I need to do, into something that I am trying to challenge myself with and I don't feel like running at all right now.
So the question becomes how do I get to keep my cake and eat it too...
JFDI seems to be the only way my second marathon is going to happen Just fucking do it. Don't think about it too much, tell yourself you are going to do it, and get off your ass and run on Sunday.
Positive affirmations seem to work wonders on me, on runs where I have not made the distance on reflection I remember the negative thoughts winning on those days. For example I remember thinking why would anyone do this to themselves.
On the more successful runs I was able to quash the negative with positive thoughts like "I am going to run 30k" and repeating it in my head over and over like some weird mantra.
And I guess the issue is that I do think about things way to much, I plan for all sorts of scenarios, and the training of my job has forced my thinking way outside the usual box. This means I play out scenarios to a point where the enter the realm of extremely unlikely.
So I think the message here after a blog filled with metaphors is that I need to swim in a sea of negativity and in the mean time eat right, don't lose any sleep over it and fuck it what happens on the day happens, once it's passed I can run (for at least 6 months or so) for the sake of running, enjoy the morning runs in summertime, and love running again for a bit because I have nothing to prove.
The questions are always there nagging at the back of my mind like a neighbors dog who just won't stop barking, and no matter where you are in the house the bark bark bark bark is always there.
The questions that are really hammering me at the moment are
- am I fit enough to even attempt this distance?
- what happens if I can't finish?
- why does it all matter?
Running has changed for me, from something I need to do, into something that I am trying to challenge myself with and I don't feel like running at all right now.
So the question becomes how do I get to keep my cake and eat it too...
JFDI seems to be the only way my second marathon is going to happen Just fucking do it. Don't think about it too much, tell yourself you are going to do it, and get off your ass and run on Sunday.
Positive affirmations seem to work wonders on me, on runs where I have not made the distance on reflection I remember the negative thoughts winning on those days. For example I remember thinking why would anyone do this to themselves.
On the more successful runs I was able to quash the negative with positive thoughts like "I am going to run 30k" and repeating it in my head over and over like some weird mantra.
And I guess the issue is that I do think about things way to much, I plan for all sorts of scenarios, and the training of my job has forced my thinking way outside the usual box. This means I play out scenarios to a point where the enter the realm of extremely unlikely.
So I think the message here after a blog filled with metaphors is that I need to swim in a sea of negativity and in the mean time eat right, don't lose any sleep over it and fuck it what happens on the day happens, once it's passed I can run (for at least 6 months or so) for the sake of running, enjoy the morning runs in summertime, and love running again for a bit because I have nothing to prove.
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