Impending doom at Kimbolton Castle

I'm signed up for the Kimbolton Half Marathon this coming weekend.

Eek!

It's my first "race" since running a slow 10k around Victoria Park in 2005.

Eek!

It's all part of my end of September Berlin marathon preparations, so I'm actually secretly looking forward to it - just a little bit. Or I was until I read the part about the medal ceremony taking place at 12.30pm or after the last finisher crosses the line. Which will probably be me. I'm wondering if the potential risk of public humiliation will help me find the extra speed to finish by 12.30pm?

To help me on my way, I've been out and got another pair of new trainers because the New Balance ones I bought a couple of weeks ago just aren't doing it for me. I feel like I'm running with solid plastic lumps on my feet. The tiny over-pronation they are supposed to be fixing on my right foot just isn't worth sacrificing the comfort of my left foot.

Thankfully, I stumbled across an updated version of my favourite Saucony shoe that is now glued rather than stitched around the toe area ... so I get the glove like fit without the blister causing stitches.

Hurrah!!!

I also took the opportunity to grab a few different types of gel to try out and some sports beans. I'm looking for a rocket fuel effect, but I think I may need to manage my expectations a little. I'm also mindful of the nasty effect such items had on my brother when he first started taking on endurance events.

It's Monday now, so that gives me 5 days to prepare for race day on Sunday. It's time to practice pre marathon eating, drinking, training, sleeping and dressing; and maybe a bit of hypnosis for good measure. Who knew there would be so much to it?

There's a lot of conflicting advice out there,but I'm going to do my best to get to the bottom of where current thinking lies on race preparations. I suspect there will be a certain level of bias as I'll undoubtedly be drawn more to the research that makes better sense to me. 

I'll share what I discover. I'd be grateful for any corrections or shared experiences. I need all the help I can get!

I'm such a geek

Who would have thought there was so much to learn about running?

It's surely just something that we do? Something that we were designed for?

That may well be the case, but when you've spent much of your life sitting on your bum, while filling yourself with all kinds of yucky stuff and stressing yourself out with work and life, it's worth searching out a few pointers to get you started.

And basically, I don't have time to get injured, so I found some expert help and did a bit of research. I got a couple of IronMen to put together my training plan, booked in for monthly sessions with a sports massage person, got properly fitted running shoes, improved my diet, and ran slow and steady.

I've read some inspirational books including Finding Ultra by Rich Roll, Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, A Life without Limits by Chrissie Wellington, Spark by John Ratey, and Marathon: You Can Do It by Jeff Galloway.

With 6 weeks to go, I'm really enjoying my runs. Slow and steady. Run ... walk ... run ... walk. Kilometer after kilometer.

Now I've got a whole raft of new questions to answer:

1. Is there any avoiding gels and sports drinks? 
2. Will Jelly Babies and coconut water be enough?
3. Why am I so emotional the day after my long run? 
4. How can I avoid having a dicky tummy on long training runs and on the big day?
5. How best to up my speed just a little without causing injury?
6. Why have I stopped losing weight despite all the training?
7. Shall I get new running kit before the big day or stick with my rather tatty but reliable training kit?
8. Exactly how much stuff am I going to be able to carry on the day?
9. What's this whole thing about getting your body to be better at fat burning?
10. What are the best things to do to speed recovery after a long run?
11. Why does it feel so good when I lie with my legs up the wall?
12. How do I get to the starting line uninjured?
13. How do I build the mental strength to get me to the finishing line?
14. Will I be smiling or sobbing when I cross the line? both probably

And plenty more besides.

I wasn't expecting running to be an intellectual exercise, but it turns out if can be if you want it to be.

I'm such a geek.

The joy of running

Yesterday, I ran 22km.

Ok, so it was on the treadmill, but who cares ... this time last year, I couldn't run for a bus! Not that there are any buses to run for here.

I decided a while ago that I'd like to run a marathon, but it's taken a little while to get on with it. So on 28th September 2014 you'll find me sitting at the back of the field in Berlin waiting to step across the starting line.

I'm only running to finish. I won't be racing. If I make it across the finish line within the 6hours 15 mins cut-off time, I will be over the moon. I've still got a lot of work to do to get there, but the journey so far has been amazing.

• December - gave up smoking

• January - cut back on cake and alcohol and lost 20lbs

• February - started walking ... a lot

• March - started running using the C25K (that's couch to 5km)

• April & May - oh dear .. moved house and dealt with some traumas

• June - back on track, but a bit behind

• July - as daytime temperatures rose, got on the treadmill - 8km, 11km, 13km, 16km

• August - so far .... ramping up the long runs 19km, 22km

• August - to come ... Kimbolton Half Marathon, and some really long runs

• September - a couple of really long runs, 2 weeks tapering and then the big day

My mission on the day will be to finish. It's not going to be pretty, but there's other years for that. 

I'm aiming to enjoy it. 

All of my running so far has been run / walk. That just felt natural for me given my low starting fitness level. As far as is possible, I think I've checked my ego at the door, so even if I'm last on the day I shall be grinning from ear to ear.

I've just discovered Jeff Galloway's books on the run / walk method and it soooo works for me. If you'd like to run, but you think you could never go further than a 5k, then read one of his books and try out his suggestions. Just suspend disbelief and give it a go. I think you'll be surprised.