Pre-Race Day

Friday: Early night last night, got 8 hours sleep (a lot for a weekday) but felt tired all day anyway. I even had 2 short naps during the day, just a lot of fatigue. Resting from running, I spent today driving a lot, around family commitments, and later tried to keep busy with housework and preparing tomorrow's lunch in advance. Still incredibly nervous, actually very short-tempered all day, not feeling the excitement just yet. Everything is ready, the clothes I am wearing, got safety pins, mobile phone is charged, and so on. One small setback, my son broke the left earpiece of my earphones, so now I can only listen to music on the right one, which is the one that never sits well anyway. That's really annoying for me, I am big on having my music on while I run, but maybe I'll feel differently tomorrow. One last thing to do is set up a music playlist on my mobile for the race, which I will do tomorrow morning, as it will be something for me to busy myself with, and hopefully motivate me. Feeling very, very nervous at the moment, hoping the nerves will calm by morning. I remember feeling very excited not long ago, and didn't expect to feel this anxious, perhaps it's a 'first race' thing. The weather is forecast to be drizzle and cold (both fine by me) and windy (damn, unless it blows me towards the finishing line). Nothing left to do really now, just hope to get a decent night's sleep before the big day.

2 Days...

Thursday: As with a lot of mornings lately, I awoke feeling sick to the stomach and struggled to get anything down as breakfast. I was determined to get out for a final pre-race run, leaving tomorrow as a rest day before the race. The new marathon socks were given a test-run, and they felt very good indeed. It was very sunny again, still very cold though, and I did a gentle and easy run, covering 1.38km in 11mins 38secs. The target was to hit the first measureable point after 10mins. I've found the last few runs have actually taken my mind off the race, being in the park has been rather relaxing today. A nice change from feeling stressed about it all, which I have gone back to now. I was on my feet all day, shopping and exchanging training gear (getting the right sizes and so on), plus taxi-ing the family around, and exhausted though I am at the end of the day, at least I have everything for Saturday. I even bought safety pins for pinning my race number to my top, just incase. During the school run, I had an interesting chat with a parent I know is into running. She isn't doing the Salford 5km Run, though hopes to do a race on Sunday (back permitting) and was telling me how she did her first race (without any training) in 32mins (5km), which added to my anxiety, as 3.5months of training has me within touching distance of a pathetic 34mins. I know I shouldn't let targets get to me too much (as some say on fetch.com) but the thought of doing 5km in a rubbish time is just hugely depressing me. I hate to admit, I have already had the first pre-race tears :o( The parent told me I ought to be excited for my first one, that her favourite is the first race she did, and it's something to be treasured. I'm going wrong somewhere because instead of excitement, I want to be physically sick (not happened yet, wish it would though, get it out my system) and I keep breaking down in tears. Maybe being with a club would have helped my nerves, but I doubt it, as it would have been extra pressure to compete with people way out of my league, so maybe small mercies and all that. The kids were asking if they could come see me race, bless them, but I persuaded them to wait and see me race in Edinburgh, as I know the other half's mocking is putting me off right now, and will add to my nervousness if they are there. I'm just hoping I'm going to wake up on Saturday and feel fine, as at the moment, it's incredibly stressful and stomach-churning, just waiting now.

Lycra and Logistics

Wednesday: Despite online trainer advice saying I ought to rest today and tomorrow, I was eager to try out my lycra pants and truthfully still feeling a little underprepared. It was very sunny today and I felt the cold keenly, perhaps since I didn't have my warm tracksuit bottoms on. I had Lucozade Isotonic with me and considering the advice carefully, I decided to run for 20mins and not 30mins, as originally planned. This is supposed to be a tapering off period, before the race. Today's run was fine, some hard bits, some good bits. I stuck to a flat route, thinking it wise to avoid uphill so close to the race, and covered 3.57km in 24mins 11secs. Wearing lycra pants took getting used to: once I got over the initial feeling that I was naked from waist down (worrying feeling, very worrying), I was fine once I got into the run. I felt lighter, albeit colder, but it was definitely better. Later in the day, I managed to purchase a top for the race, but I am considering exchanging it for a bigger size, it wasn't as loose fitting as I expected. My heart is actually set on getting a fetch.com top, in time for the Great Edinburgh Run in May, but it is £26, not quite in my budget, plus I am waiting on finding out if my size is available. I didn't have time to get general running socks or safety pins (the latter necessary for pinning my race number on me, the things you don't think about). I managed to get through to the race organisers about not getting my race number in the post and was told I would get it on the day, which is strange as I was under the impression early registration meant it came in the post. As advised, I am trying to stay on top of the logistics pre-race, it's more stressful than I expected. The studies are also weighing on my mind, though a good distraction from race anxieties, one would think. Tomorrow is a running day, a 10min easy run, with lots of walking, to keep the legs going. I think it's best to use Friday as a full rest day before the race, am I doing the right thing, well, only time will tell. Runners on fetch.com and my runner friend have all been terribly supportive and full of helpful advice, which is greatly appreciated and lessens the race anxiety somewhat. But one cannot help but fear over all the things that could possibly go wrong, I think I can't wait for the first race to be over, just to not have this heavy feeling in my heart, convinced it's not going to go well :o(

100th Post

Tuesday: This is the 100th post, 100 days since I decided to take up running. Have I changed much? I have gone from being obsessed about getting time for running and having a hat for it, to... well, perhaps little change there, then ;o) It is funny looking back at earlier posts, being excitable about being able to run for 4mins non-stop, and I'm surprised by how much I ached at the start. My right calf and knee still trouble me on/off but I think my body's now a lot more used to running. I have to smile wryly at posts insisting this hobby is for fun and not to be taken seriously; if someone said to me, 101 days ago, that in 101 days' time, I would be days away from my first race and in training for two 10km races in May, with the long-term view to completing a half marathon in September, I would have thought that person was a little k-razy. But here I am, one stone lighter, feeling a lot fitter, and 4 days away from an undulating 5km race. Today was a rest day as I plan to run on Wednesday and Thursday, leaving Friday as a rest day before the big race on Saturday. I managed to negotiate the nursery run with the other half and went to the city centre to shop for my much-yearned for training gear. Up & Running is the only specialist running shop in the area and it was a very informative trip. I had a gait analysis done, which involved me running on a treadmill whilst my running technique was filmed and analysed by computer. The assistant told me I was a neutral with a slight tendency to over pronate, but nothing to worry about, and I tried on some shoes which were best suited to me. The best pair for me were a Mizuno Wave pair, very light and comfy, as if moulded to my feet. However, despite receiving cash as an early birthday present, I cannot spend £72 (£80 without the 'newbie' discount) on shoes right now. It was reassuring to hear that the pair of New Balance shoes I have were a very good choice for a beginner, though the Mizunos would be a great improvement on them. I plan to stick to what I have, as the assistant agreed they were fine for now, and will keep an eye out for the Mizunos at a lower price for the future. I bought specialist marathon socks (2 for £12) and lycra capri pants (£25) from the shop. I also bought a £20 sports bra from M&S (technically £8.50, due to gift voucher) but when I got home, I realised I should have tried it on and not guessed the size (due to time contraints) as the size I got was a little too big. This will need changing fast. I had a problem finding tops which were both affordable and to my personal taste, as I am keen to find loose fitting tops in a long length, preferably long sleeved, but this is proving hard to find. I know I will need to buy the 'proper technical' tops once I start training in June for the half marathon, but for now, I know I can cope with cheaper cotton alternatives. Later in the day, I felt very weak and tired, and I managed a nap and had salt to increase my blood pressure. This was very worrying, I had only been walking a little for shopping in the morning, yet I could barely stand late afternoon. I hope this is just a temporary blip, I am anxious enough about Saturday without this adding to it. Due to feeling unwell, I was unable to shop for tops and general running socks. These are the last items left, which I hope to get tomorrow. I won't be purchasing a watch until after the Salford 5km Run, I want to try using my mobile phone's features for this one. And I had been so pleased to think I had found a relatively cheap hobby for myself... But I do believe this is the most cost-effective hobby for me. My other half spends around £25 per month on gym membership which he uses up to four times a month; including today's shopping, I have spent no more than around £80 on running so far - this is considering I am in my 4th month of running, I have run at least 3 times per week since I started and most of the costs are 'start-up' costs, which won't be repeated for a long time, and the main costs in future will be entry fees for races, and all of this will still add up to being hugely cheaper than joining a gym. 100 days on, I am still as keen as ever on my running, actually more serious than ever about it, and determined to keep going with it. My only regret is not having discovered the wonderful world of running earlier :o)

5 Days To Go

Monday: I have never less wanted to be in the park as I did today; I had plans which fell through at the last minute, and so I reluctantly got a run in today. It was very sunny, much to my dislike, though at least the temperature was cold. I found my Rugby Six Nations hat, thankfully in time before the run. I downloaded an entirely new playlist of music before the school run, mostly slower and more melancholic music, with a few faster beats, which I found to be very good to run along to today. Today's run started really well, I found a good rhythm quickly and consciously kept slowing down. The intention was to run for at least 30mins, and I have to mentally slap myself for constantly putting speed before endurance. The bigger picture requires I focus on endurance, because after all, I am supposed to be doing two 10km races in May. Drinking Lucozade helped re-energise me during a deliberately undulating course. Running downhill, I find, is the most enjoyable form of running, or is that the lazy newbie in me... I covered 5.14km in 35mins 21secs, with the last 2mins being particularly torturous as I had a stich all around my right side. I seem to be getting more of them lately, which is a slight worry, particularly when I feel like I was slowing my pace to increase my endurance. Nevertheless, a good session today, I stayed focused despite a lot on my mind and the body did mostly as the brain asked of it. The cool down walk followed a sit-down which made my knees ache a little, as I sat with folded legs. No other aches or pains to report, just some tiredness. 5 days to go to the first race and a little panic is setting in, about the usual things, e.g. not wanting to be last, not wanting to finish in a ridiculously slow time, somehow walking half the route due to excessive fatigue, going the wrong way etc. A lot of it is silly really, but I can't help but feel incredibly nervous as the big day nears. Am wondering if I should have just stuck to non-competitive running, worried about making a fool of myself on the day and so on. But I've registered, paid and all that, put so many hours into this, and I know I need this race badly as practice for the Great Runs in May. Best perhaps not to think too much about the day until it gets here and just focus on the training in the meantime. Only 5 days left though and the stomach is beginning to churn...

Rest and The Bigger Picture

Sunday: Woke up in a foul mood today, as sleep deprivation caused by the kids is getting a bit much. I was too late to go for a run, which worsened my mood somewhat. I am keen to be fully prepared for the forthcoming race though one can only hope that the rest days are going to help big time. My mood improved on hearing about a runner friend completing a 10mile race in 1hr 18mins, a massive and inspirational achievement. The nerves are creeping in but I have my studies and the housework to distract me from the race and that is definitely a good thing. The body feels fine today, no major aches or pains to report. I did some leg stretching exercises to test my right calf and it was a lot better than in previous weeks. Hopefully, as long as I rest sensibly and continue to apply the calf gel, it should behave for Saturday. A little bit of disappointing news, I hadn't checked the 10km training programme I was following, for a while, and whilst I had been doing a lot more than it said for a while, I am technically behind the programme now. I am supposed to have been increasing my time the last couple of weeks and next week, I am supposed to be doing 3 runs - 2 x 20mins and a 50min at the end of the week. This news is verging on depressing but I think I can work it out. My mind has been so focused on the 5km race plus other things in my life, I lost track of the 10km races in May, the bigger picture. But self-chastisement has limited constructive effect and I now need to get myself into gear, at least I know what to do and I have time to rectify my progress accordingly.

One Week To Go

Saturday: Rest day today. The online trainer is calculating a sub 30minute time for next week's race, which is wildly optimistic and nutter-like. My (a) target remains 30mins, which is out of reach, a dream of mine but very unlikely to be achieved. I am keen on hitting the (b) target of 34mins, as my training has me under 36mins. The (c) target is 38mins, which is definitely achievable. A few concerns about next week, all normal, really. Yesterday's practice run boosted my confidence and allayed a few fears. I am concerned, however, over the effect of running with people. I do prefer being on my own, maybe too much so. As for choosing a pace runner to try and keep up with or beat, I think I would rather concentrate on me. That's the biggest issue for me at the moment, how I will run with other people around. As a lone runner, I hope I won't be too put off or moody about it, because after all, one has to be used to people if one wants to do races. This will be great practise for the Great Runs, in so many ways.