#blogjune Post 13 - Oops Missed a Post

Ok so I missed a post.  But I had good reason to.  Yesterday I was up at 3.45am to head down to South West Rocks Running Festival to complete the 10km run and to support my running friend in doing her first full.

My running friend picked me up in the morning and I spent the drive trying to ease her nerves.  It is a daunting thing running 42.2km.  I did it last year and you can read all about it here.  For most people the real struggle of the marathon doesn't start until the last 10kms - and that's what happened for me.  Would that be the case with my friend?

Anyway, I saw my friend start her race at 7am and then waited 45mins for my start.  It was cold.  So I tried to keep warm best I could.  Cutting a long story short, we were off at 7.45am.  My feet were freezing so my feet were sore to start.  As were other parts like my hands etc.  I felt like it was taking a long time to get into a rhythm.

First km down and I'm thinking well that was fast but we had just come down a hill.  2nd km and I'm thinking well I'm travelling a little faster than I would normally for a 10km but I'm feeling ok.

The trouble with a 10km is it is further than a 5km so it really is all about pacing yourself so that you still have enough in the tank to get that other 5km done.  I find it a bit tricky.  This time I thought well I'm just going to hold onto this pace for as long as I can.

The course is relatively flat.  I have done the half marathon here twice but never the 10km.  I was looking forward to an earlier turn around and not having to deal with some of the sneaky hills that are in the half.

At the turn around I felt that I was going a bit slower and that continued up until 1km left in the race.  At this point I realised I was on 47min and I could possibly come in under 50mins.  This has been a goal of mine for a long time, with my best 10km time being 52mins.  So I put the peddle to the metal and put an effort in to come strong over the finish line and get that sub 50min 10km.  And yes, I did it!!  My garmin watch said 49.36.  Official time 49.45min with the net time 49.32min.  I was stoked, but no time to celebrate, I had to go out to meet my friend and get her to the finish line.

So I started walking the course out.  It was quite funny as some competitors thought I must be doing a race but going really slow - even though I had removed my race number.  Others that must have been from Brisbane, saw my GaleForce running singlet and said hello and good to see another Brisbane runner.

In my head I was trying to calculate where my friend might be on the course.  And my legs were pretty tired, so I was also not wanting to go too far out.  I caught up with her 7km from the finish.  So we ran/walked that last 7km together.  I tried my best to give the right encouragement and dismiss her negative thoughts - it is so tough that last 10kms.  You are so close but so far.  I let her lead with what she wanted to do, run when she wanted and walk when she wanted.  But not let her give in.

She made it!!  In a great time too!!  I am so proud and happy for her to achieve this.  42.2km is such a long way!  I was happy to be able to be there for her in that last 7kms and see her cross the line!

All in all it was a great day!  But I was very tired after a strong 10km and then 14km on top of that.  My legs were spent.  So that's why I missed a post yesterday!

The Marathon

I've been sitting on this post for a while - unsure how to start, what to tell and how to express it.  I've read many recaps by Facebook friends that have really captured a lot of what I have felt and experienced during my marathon so it has helped but the thoughts and words aren't forming in any kind of pattern so this could become a ramble.

The marathon day started for me at 3am due to wanting to accompany friends who were doing the half marathon to the race precinct and a little bit (well mostly) about not knowing or wanting to find my way there alone.

I followed my usual breakfast routine that I had used for long runs (the few that I did during training) and had honey on toast and a hot milo.  I thought I would bring a banana along to have before the race but ended up forgetting it.

Off to the tram at 4.20am and jumped on the 4.40am tram.  As we were the first stop, it was empty but got very full by the time we reached the race precinct.  I was feeling a bit ill by then because of being squashed in but while on the tram I managed to catch up with a fellow Coffs Harbour runner and wish her luck for the half marathon.  It's amazing how fate plays games with you on days like this.  Of all the carriages for her to hop on, it was the one I was on!!  By the way, she did a super time in her race!

It was still dark when we arrived at the precinct and first thing was to locate the toilets.  We found an out of the way block so the line up was minimal.  It seemed like it didn't take much time after that for my friends to have to head to the start line for the half marathon.  I was left standing in the dark and cold trying to watch the start from a slight hill.  I forgot I could've gone into the middle of the precinct and watched it on the big screen.

I was surprised to see people still jostling into the starting line long after the start gun had gone off - but apparently that is normal.

As it was still cool, I headed back to the toilets and sat in a cubicle for a while just to keep warm.  Not sure what to do then, I wandered around, dropped my bag off and really just stood there watching the other runners start to arrive for the marathon.

A lady from the Facebook group of which I belong, Running Mums Australia, popped up beside me and asked if I would like to come with her to find the RMA tent as there was going to be a photo taken of the marathoners at 6.45am.  It was 6.30am by then and the race was due to start at 7.20am.  Off we went to find the tent and we did and had our photo taken.  I had explained to the lady that I had forgotten my banana and she was kind enough to share hers.  We did a final trip to the toilet and headed to the start line.

I was actually wanting to run with this lady - she was aiming for a 4.30 finish time so had chosen starting group D and I was in C as I had been advised to estimate a faster pace so not to get stuck behind slower runners.  I kept trying to sneak into D but the volunteers were on my case each time so I ended up lining up at the start in C on my own.

After a motivational speech by Robert De Castella and recognition of the passing of the great Ron Clarke, the gun went off and we started moving slowly towards the start line.

I was having trouble with my Garmin watch picking up a GPS signal so was saying silent prayers it would work.  But also taking in the atmosphere and as I went up a small crest and looked down over the start line and all the fellow runners doing this run, I got a bit teary.  I told myself I could not cry because I wouldn't be able to breathe.  So put a stop to that.  I could not believe I was crossing the start line after all those months of training and I was alone but surrounded by thousands of other runners.  It was such a big event to be part of.

I have to note that not even a kilometer into the run and there were some poor runners already pulled off to the side with possible pulled muscles so their run was over - I felt for them.

I found a nice pace to run, but had a bit of pain in my ankle which just felt like I needed to do some ankle rotations but it did come good not long after.

I won't do a k by k breakdown of the race but I will say that the run out to the turnaround at Burleigh Heads was fun.  The crowd is great!  I high fived as many kids as I could along the course.  I wasn't quite sure where the turn around was so it threw me a bit because I thought it was earlier than it was.  But I had already started running into people I knew from Facebook running pages I follow and from Ipswich parkrun.

The best surprise (well there were many best surprises on the day) was hearing my name called at Surfers Paradise and seeing a lady from work there with her family.  I ran across to high five her - and would you believe, she was still there on the way back which deserved a hug so she got a big sweaty hug.  She has since sent me an email saying how proud she is of me and how inspirational I am!  It was a lovely surprise and spurred me on.

I ran into one of the running coaches from a group I run with in Ipswich when I'm up there on holidays a few times.  I would run past then walk through the drink stations and he would catch up again and then I'd run past and it would go on like that for a while.

Catching up with Green from Super Running Girls and Graham from Taking the Long Option could not have come at a better time.  From about 10km my toes felt like they had blisters on the bottom of them but it was an annoyance more than pain so I could keep going.  Green and Graham kept my mind occupied for a while.  Green had to head to a toilet so Graham and I kept running together.  Graham had a camera on a stick so was taking photos along the way.  Graham was doing a great thing for the team Run for Hummingbird House.  He was running back and forth throughout the marathon to get all the team across the line.  He ended up running around 62km instead of 42km.

After Graham left, I caught up with Adele from She Runs a Lot and Sam from Darren and Sam's Running Adventures - this was the first time I had met them although I did seem them both at the before the start and probably shocked them a bit my saying hello and "I follow you on Facebook!"

Then I ran into Shylet from the Running Doctor and also embarrassed myself saying I follow you on facebook.  I swear I felt like some kind of stalker at this stage.  I must not forget that I had also run into Running Optimistic  who was running with a friend - Jess and Tess!!

It was fairly uneventful until I came up to the bridge at 30km.  I remember people saying that this was the incline - the hill that was still flat but still a hill.  I thought, well this is the furtherest I had run in my training so anything beyond here is the unknown.  It was also at this point I saw my friends on the sidelines and ran backwards to give them a big hug.  Another spur to get me up the incline and as I crested and looked out beyond the finish line (yes I had to run past that - what torture) and saw the thousands of runners ahead and no turn around in site - my head started winning.  I will admit at this stage the legs were pretty sore - in fact in my race video you can see when I run down the hill on the other side of the bridge I'm looking pretty stiff.

The walking begins here.  I had just had the biggest boost from the supporters and my friends and now I was in no man's land.  There are still supporters, but not as many.  There are people collapsed in the middle of the road and there are lots of runners starting to walk.  I could see a turn ahead and thought that once past there I might see the turnaround and be spurred on again - instead I saw more runners ahead.  This just kept happening.  Around every turn, more runners and no turnaround.

I had been up with the 4.00 pace balloon but that had gone, the 4.15 pace balloon also went and then the 4.30 pace balloon drifted off.  My thoughts of a possible sub 4.30 marathon deflated and I just said, it's ok, I just need to finish.  Even if I have to walk it.  So lots of walking and shuffling I did.

I had seen another runner from Coffs earlier in the race who was behind me, she passed me as I hit my first walking session of the post 30km mark.  I wished her well as I continued walking.  Alas, suddenly there she was walking in front of me.  I said No what happened and she said it hurts and I said I know and we walked together.  This went on for a little while and then she said, there is only 4km to go, let's run.  So off we shuffled.  I really didn't want to run 4km - I really didn't think I could and after 2km and my stupid water/fuel belt kept slipping, I said for her to continue as I wanted to walk and fix up my stupid belt.  So off she went.

So I walked and shuffled and lo and behold just ahead the 4.30 pace balloon - woo hoo!!  Maybe my sub 4.30 was in sight again.  I kept up with the balloon and then we rounded a corner and I heard the pacer say, there's only just over 1km to go you can do this.  So I did.  I overtook the 4.30 pacer and shuffled along quicker.

I knew the RMA tent was near the finish shoot so I thought, I just have to get to there and I know I'm pretty much home!  The team tents were cheering and I was smiling again.  I was on the way out of hell!  High fives for all the RMA's hanging over the fence.  And then my friends - the girls!!  High fives for them and there was the start of the finishing shute!!!  Let's put the effort in!!!

So effort I did - although looking at the video it really wasn't that fast!  And I rounded a corner and thought where is this f**&^ finishing shute!!  And there it was and my name was called out and I threw my hands in the air and fist pumped and got excited!!  I had done it!!  I had finished and I had done it, according to my Garmin in 4.26.  Officially 4.27 and gun time of 4.31.

I stopped running and instantly my legs stiffened - it was hard to walk.  I ran into my Coffs running friend in the food and water area and we both started crying and promising to call each other should we decide to do another marathon again - so we could talk the other out of it!  I called my husband and daughter and they were so excited!!  I made my way out of the recovery area and got my medal and shirt and went and picked up my bag.  I then had to locate my friends - the girls!!

There are lots of people to thank for this journey and achievement - a lot mentioned in this post and a lot not mentioned but they know who they are!  Will I do another one?  I might, but not the Gold Coast again - not with that awful last 10k - that will never leave me!  Although they say it's like childbirth and you soon forget.  So who knows!

Blog June Post 6 &7

I was almost at the point of giving up #blogjune this afternoon due to lack of inspiration and motivation and wondering if what I'm writing is actually interesting to anyone.  Then I found some of my fellow bloggers had discussed one of my earlier posts about whether library users need to know what we do to find information.

@geocachinglibrarian shared these thoughts.  Then @seanfish suggested that librarians offer a "box with windows."  So be a place that shows those wanting to know how to find information and be a "black box" that provides information without revealing how it is done.  I like the box with windows idea!

Yesterday was a busy day with the odd start of no run.  Off I went to Coffs Harbour Library to pick up a magazine I had on reserve that my own library doesn't subscribe to.  I was pleasantly surprised last week when Coffs Library weeded their Runners World magazines and offered me the weeded issues free of charge!  I then discovered they had also done this for a friend with their Triathlon mags.  Aren't library staff thoughtful!
Then to do the rounds of Woolworths.

Home again and it was a rainy dreary day so I sat around not doing much and then went for a walk when a break in the rain appeared.  Miss A joined me so of course it poured when we were half way around.  Home again and a quiet evening followed.
This morning, up at stupid o'clock (4am) to get picked up at 5am to head to South West Rocks for the Macleay River Marathon.  I was joining 5 friends to run the half marathon as a training run for the Gold Coast Marathon.  The goal was to go slower than usual and stick with the girls.  Lyndee did a great job keeping me to task except where I got carried away atthe end where I made us do a 1km effort to the finish line.  We pulled Iin at under 2 hours which was good.  I was supposed to go and run another 8km but as soon as they made me sit down to take the timing chip off, my hip flexor said no.

I did enjoy a massage and a late breakfast. Then home and an afternoon walk ofm8k and I'm suitably stuffed.

To finish I have 2 mantras: When life hands you a wave, grab your board and enjoy the ride And There are seven days in a week and someday isn't one of them.

Blog June Post 4

Today's mantra: You get what you give

I have always believed that with anything you only get out what you put in.  And I'm sure I've discussed this numerous times throughout different blog posts.

With work, you only get out what you put in.  Not sure if this always applies.  As I find at times that you can put so much in without any result.  But as I think about this a bit more, there will always be someone who uses the library that appreciates the work you do - sometimes it's not even the tasks or projects you do that take a long time that they appreciate - many times it's the little things you do all the time that are appreciated the most.

With exercise, it's not really about how hard you work but it's the consistency.  If you are willing to be consistent then you will see results.  Obviously at times you will benefit by upping the ante or pushing yourself out of the comfort zone, but ultimately it's about consistency.  And in winter that becomes harder.  I'm not a big fan of the cold.

As I mentioned in my first #blogjune post, I am currently training for the Gold Coast Airport Marathon.  I started training back in the last 2 weeks of February.  So it has been a long journey.  It takes a commitment more than I thought.  I was going well until mid May when I started having a niggle in my right hip flexor.  It caused me to cut back distance a bit and call on mental strength to push through to get to 30km last weekend.

It is frustrating as I have been having physio but the niggle is still there.  I have been stretching, taking note of my running form and using electro magnetic pulsing - but the niggle is still there.

I know others that have run the marathon with injury but it would be nice to be going into the race feeling good and not worrying if the niggle is going to flare up during the race to the point that you can only hobble.

I have no doubt - ok as I write this I do have doubt but I am hoping mental strength and my body will hold up to get me over the finish line.  Once done, I am then going to focus on running shorter distances as I believe that my body is not designed to run further than half marathon distance (21.1k as opposed to full  marathon distance of 42.2k).  I hope that once I've done the marathon, that my niggle will disappear and I will once again run without worry.

I will keep you posted...

Day 7 - Blog 12 Days of Christmas - Achievements!

Ok I skipped this mantra: Keep your heels, head and standards high.  Because I very rarely wear high heels.  And have moved on to this mantra: It doesn't get easier, you just get better at it.

And I will let this speak for itself:

Ok as this is the last day of 2014 I thought I'd give a little run down of my running achievements for the year.  For the Run Down Under I have run/walked a total of 3828.10km's in 2014.  This has included:

• Sawtell New Years Day Fun Run 5.25k in 28min 52sec;
• Coffs Australia Day Fun Run 10k in 53min 21sec;
• Port Macquarie Running Festival half marathon (21.1k) in 1h 53min 19sec;
• Ipswich QLD parkrun 5k in 25min 18sec;
• Augustine Heights parkrun 5k in 25min 22sec;
• Mother's Day Classic Coffs Harbour, NSW 8k in 40min 48sec;
• Bellingen Show Fun Run 10k in 55min 56sec;
• Macleay River Marathon Festival half marathon (21.1k) in 1h 50min 39sec;
• Urunga Fun Run 10k in 49min 40sec;
• Ipswich Park2Park Half marathon in 1h 55min 30sec;
• Misty Mountain Trail Run 20k in 2h 10min 13sec;
• Coffs Harbour Running Festival half marathon in 1h 53min 47sec;
• Dorrigo Show Fun Run 13k in 1h 20min 57sec. 

Tomorrow it starts all over again with the Sawtell New Years Day Fun Run and some bigger running adventures planned in 2015 ---- I have registered to complete a full marathon (42.2km) at the Gold Coast Airport Marathon in July 2015!!

I know I can finish the marathon.  Well that's what I'm telling myself.  The training part scares me a bit.  I run a lot now - well 3 times a week and I average about 30-40k each week.  But I have noted that lately my longer runs which aren't that long compared to what I was doing this time last year, have been a struggle.  So the idea of running for longer than 2 hours is a bit worrying.  However, I strongly believe that if I follow a training plan, than this will not be a problem.  I can do this!!

So back to the mantra - with running yes I can say it doesn't get easier and you do get better!

But with work, I don't think I can write a list like my running achievements and this is causing me some problems. 

I am a person that likes to look back and see progress and achievement - hence why I like mowing the lawn.  There is some satisfaction in seeing what grass has been cut.  The progress that has been made.

With my work achievements in 2014, I don't feel satisfaction and I want that back.  In 2015 I want to feel some satisfaction and really note and acknowledge my achievements.

How do you note and acknowledge your work achievements?  And I don't mean through the usual performance appraisal process.  Do you use lists?  Computer programs??

Double post Friday #blogjune #19 #20

Ok so I've been slack again but we had a plumbing malfunction in the house last night so blogging was not high on the agenda.  And tonight I'm writing this on my tablet which limits me a bit.  Anyway, moving on....

Yesterday's mantra: Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
Today's mantra:  A fit life is a marathon not a sprint.

Ok yesterday I really put myself out of my comfort zone.  I headed out for my run at 5.30am with my stop watch in hand.  I did a warm up and headed for the beach.  I love running on the beach.

Anyway, once I got on the beach the fun began, starting with a 1 minute effort (faster pace then normal) then 1 minute recovery running at normal pace.  I did this 4 times.  I then upped it to 2 minutes effort and 1 minute recovery and did this 3 times.  By this time I was almost at third headland - about 6k up the beach andni has to start heading home.

Note to self, when playing games like fartleks (running term for what I described above) remember you have to run back.  And the further out you run, the further you have to run home.  It was a killer.  But I did it!  Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

The 2nd mantra I'm going to refer back to my transformation journey over the last 12 months, well 15 months.  I have made small changes to my lifestyle and have lost 15kg.  I did not lose 12kg in 12 weeks or make huge sacrifices.  And the weight has stayed off.  The point I'm trying to make, is that a fit life is a marathon not a sprint.  A fit life is a lifestyle change, not a quick fix.  This is permanent,  not something I will stop once I reach a certain point.  I am a work in progress, and like learning, it is lifelong.

She's going the distance. She's going for speed. #blogjune #18

Changed them around a bit:
"She's going the distance.
She's going for speed.
He's all alone
all alone in his time of need.
because she's racing and pacing and plotting the course,
she's fighting and biting and riding on her horse,
She's going the distance."

My computer has decided to die so I'm using my old laptop and it's playing games so some of the blog features are not working.  Anyway, I will push on!

Today's mantra: Distance makes the heart grow stronger.

We aren't talking relationships here folks!  We are talking about going the distance in a workout and making our heart work hard to make that muscle grow strong!!

The furtherest I have run is a half marathon 21.1km.  I hope to do a full marathon (42.2km) in the near future - just have to find one I can realistically work towards and dedicate the time training to. 

I did have the Cadbury Marathon in Tasmania in January 2015 in mind.  You get chocolate at the finish line and free entry to the Cadbury factory.  But financially I don't know if we could afford to get all of us (hubby, Miss A and I there).  Then a few people have suggested the Gold Coast Airport Marathon in 2015 (I did actually enter a comp to win entry to this years marathon but missed out).  But I don't really like the Gold Coast all that much.  But everyone says that it's the best one because of the support of the locals that line the course and it's a flat course.  So who knows!!  A full marathon will happen but it's a matter of when - in the meantime I continue to train for the Ipswich Park2Park.

As you read, I did hill repeats on Tuesday and I was planning on doing some intervals or speed work tomorrow at the local soccer/sports field.  But running around and around in circles does not really appeal to me and the ladies on the Running Mums Australia FB site advised not to do hills and speed work in one week.  Plus the tide is low this week which makes for a great run on the beach and I love running on the beach as the sun rises.  So I'm thinking the beach wins but I might bring my stop watch and throw in a few efforts, e.g. 1 min effort, 2 min rest etc.

And today I really had to push through my 5km lunch run.  We had done lots of squats at bootcamp this morning so my legs were fatigued and my new shoes are causing a few pains in unusual places (still trying to work out why) and then I chaffed under my arm.  So it was a bad run!  It happens sometimes.  But I still pushed out the 5k.

On a side note, one of the ladies from bootcamp is down in South Australia and mentioned she was in Mount Gambier so I advised her to drop into the library as it is very impressive (I haven't been there but I have seen photos).  And she did and she was so happy she did!!  So libraries are still on my mind!!

Sore today equals strong tomorrow #blogjune #16

I am writing this in the ad breaks while watching The Voice.  Ok, ok I know it's reality tv and it's all a bit corny but I do have my vices and this is one of them.

Today's mantra: Sore today equals strong tomorrow.

Over the past year and half that I have been doing bootcamp, this mantra has come through constantly.  It's along the lines, the harder/smarter you work, the better the outcome.  Or something like that.

For bootcamp, sore today does mean strong tomorrow.  My body is transforming and I'm becoming stronger - not just at running but in my fitness generally.  And I like it!!

At my last half marathon (Macleay River Marathon) at South West Rocks, weeks/months of training and doing hill repeats meant that I was strong on the day.  I flew up the hills and I took 3 minutes off my last half marathon time.

In 6 weeks I will be completing my 3rd half marathon for the year in Ipswich, Qld.  The Ipswich Park2Park half marathon.  I found out last week that this is labelled the most challenging half marathon in Qld!!

It is a 4 lap course which is challenging psychologically to begin with.  But on top of that there is hill after hill after hill!  So back to training and doing more hill repeats.

I'm also going to try to throw in some speed work.  I don't do a lot of speed work - because I don't sprint well and I have mentioned previously that it takes a bit of effort to get myself out of my comfort zone.  I must admit I did enjoy doing intervals with the Gale Force Running Group in Ipswich when I was on holidays.  But it's hard when you are not with a group and are trying to do it yourself.  But I will try!

Because: Sore today equals strong tomorrow.

I must apologise that my posts always seem to be running or exercise related but that's just my life at the moment.

And here's a pic of me being strong!!