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Man! I feel like a runner
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Hmmmm. Ok recap the week first.
Mon 22nd: Nothing, just lovely rest. My cold had gotten worse however, so started taking some druggie wuggies for it, as well as dosing up on Vitamin C.
Tues 23rd: Club plan had 6 miles, but I kept it to 3 as I didn't want to overdo it while the cold was hanging around. Ended up running with some of the ladies who had completed the club couch to 5k. Avg pace 11.20/m. Felt fine, legs felt good. Did yoga at lunchtime Tuesday too.
Weds 24th: Another rest day. Had to head down to my parents for the night.
Thurs 25th: Came back up from Offaly in time for club training, and kept it to another easy 3 miles (avg pace 9.45/m). Legs were feeling lovely now!
Fri 26th: Rest day, but decided to do 30 mins yoga at home. Had some really weird marathon nightmares that night!!
Sat 27th: Very easy 10 mins to loosen the legs, included a few strides, before volunteering at my sister's 50th parkrun (she PB'd
) Honestly, I was feeling good if not only a little nervy about DCM.
Sun 28th: Marathon Day.
Had headed to bed nice and early, after a little meditation, and slept really well. Got up at 6 and had the usual breakfast of porridge with banana, toast and tea. Went for the first Luas with some of the clubmates, and we got into town for 7.30, where we had the use of a house near Merrion square for gathering and photo-taking and a bit of a warm-up. (usual bit of a jog with a few dynamic stretches, probably not needed but was nice to contain the excitement and nerves).
It wasn't as cold as the day before, so I ditched any ideas of arm warmers and just brought an old hoodie to ditch at the start line. The set-up is amazing I have to say, with the waves separated clearly and moving at the right times. So impressed by it all. Myself and one of my clubmates were planning on the same pace for at least the first 7 miles, so we lined up together somewhere near the back of wave 2. It was great to finally get started!
Miles 1-4 (9.10, 8.51, 8.59, 8.47)
I was surprised at people being out cheering at Leeson Street and Stephen's Green cos how would you ever see anyone you know in those congested crowds?! It was good to see we could hit the 9 min pace early on though, not too much bunching really. Anyway, about 5 minutes in, I got this weird ache on my lower left front. I thought maybe it was some sort of stitch, and just ignored it. Massaged the area a couple of times. Didn't say anything to J as that would make it real! Legs were feeling zippy as everyone said they would, given the taper so we were constantly pulling ourselves back. Hard to judge it sometimes too by our watches; think the buildings were knocking them off. By the third mile I think, the ache had kinda moved to the right,but I just kept chatting to try ignore it, and giving it the odd massage.
Miles 5 - 8 (8.54, 8.52, 9.00, 8.40)
To be honest, I can't remember any specifics about these miles except knowing I was enjoying the race environment but somewhere along Chesterfield Avenue, the pain had settled into a weird cramp kind of feeling all across my stomach. Again, I didn't want to focus on it so chose to concentrate on attempting to keep the pace down and not hit 10k in less than 56 mins! Think we were 56.30 ish, which was close to my target for that stage, maybe 20 secs too fast. Coming up to 9 mile mark maybe, my clubmate said "this is good, I feel great! how are you?" ... and I had to admit I was feeling not so well!!! She offered to slow down but I said no, it wouldn't make a difference and my legs were fine anyway. So on we tipped.
Miles 9 - 12 and a bit
I can't even remember where it was now, but possibly after that hill near St Laurences, but my stomach just started to clench and cramp really badly. I told J to tip on and not worry about me, I'd figure something out. But I was already thinking this might not be a day for carrying on. I knew I had family up ahead between 12and 13 miles so I told myself I'd keep going to there at whatever pace. Coming up near 12 miles I gave walking a go to see if it helped, and yes the pain felt a bit less, but not comfortable by any means. I know people mean well, but it was annoying to have people tell me I'm fine when I thought I was going to vomit!! When I started jogging again, it was even worse, my belly was physically sore
so I knew, I was just going to find my family and pull out. I had one brief moment thinking, well what if you just try get to templeogue where the first of the club supporters are and all the roads you know, and my stomach clenched massively as if in warning!
Saw my sister-in-law and niece and nephew and jogged over in relief, and explained the situation. Herself and my sisters were great in checking if I'd have any regrets, but really, the thoughts of trying to ignore increasingly bad cramps for another 2 hours (or more, who knows) was not appealing. This is supposed to be fun (or at least, until the 20 mile mark).
Had a lovely walk from Dolphin's Barn along the canal then to try persuade people to let me in to get my bag... grr.
Stomach was acting up all day yesterday then, not much of an appetite and certainly none for alcohol!
Am I annoyed and disappointed? Yes, I really am. But I also know I tried very hard to get through it so I am not disappointed in myself. Seems like a case of bad luck. It was suggested that maybe the neurofen for my wisdom tooth, and cold and flu tablets might have done a number on my stomach this week, but I could be guessing forever what it was. Diet was nothing new, so it can't be that anyway.
I still have solid training behind me, am definitely the fittest I've ever been, and on a plus side, I don't need 3 weeks recovery now.
Was great to see and hear about so many great performances yesterday from my family, club and obviously the people on here!! Really thrilled for all who had the best days, and impressed by those who battled on despite things going wrong.
It was lovely to put some names to faces in McGrattan's also 0 -
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Just getting around to reading these now! Reading your race report, it clearly was the brave decision to pull out and reiterating what others have said, you have a fantastic attitude to it and fairplay for coming to McGrattans! Looking forward to seeing your shorter stuff now, and the gains you'll have gotten from all of this training! Hopefully you'll come back to it sometime and have your win 0
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Oct 29 - Nov 4
This is definitely a dull update
Mon 29th: went for a walk in Marlay, got a weird pain under my right rib almost immediately which came and went. Noted it, and thought maybe the stomach still hadn't settled. Had an appetite thank god.
Tues 30th: Walked to work, pain there again.
Weds 31st: Same thing on the walk. Finally went to the dentist about my wisdom tooth; got put on very strong antibiotics which completely knocked me out that night.
Thurs 1st: Avoided any exercise, even walking.
Fri 2nd: walked to work, still could feel that weirdness on the right side but I do also wonder if I am starting to overthink it at this point.
Sat 3rd: Needed a parkrun to clear the head. Just ran without looking at my watch, but my stomach was totally off! Finished in over 26 mins and honestly came close to getting sick at the end even though I never pushed at all. I do think this was the antibiotic though. Off to a hen then to not drink, the joys!
Sun 4th: Contemplated a run just to see, but in the end left it. I'll try a runmute tomorrow. Also, I think my quads are at me from wearing heels all day yesterday
3.1 miles for the week! Didn't even do warm-up miles at parkrun.
So what's up with me? Most obvious thing seems to be that I might well be run down. I had thought it leading up to the marathon because my skin was so bad, which is a classic sign with me, but dosed up with vitamins in an attempt to counteract it because what else could I do at that point? Not sure if it was the training had me run down, but probably the combination of that, the weather, and a couple of stressing factors elsewhere in my life. But that's how life goes, when will everything ever be perfect?
The plan from here is still slightly up in the air, but only in terms of choosing a plan to follow. My goals next year are improving over 5k and 10k. If I go near half-marathon or 10 mile times, it will be in later part of 2019, but certainly no marathons.
From now until Christmas it will be base-building and hopefully seeing if there is anything I can do to improve form. I have signed up for the Fields of Athenry 10k on St. Stephen's Day which will hopefully let me know where I'm at heading into the New Year then (insane to be talking about December and the new year..).0 -
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