This Running Life: 2014

Thursday, August 14, 2014

So, What Next?

Thursday August, 14, 2014
I have not run a step since Grandmas Marathon eight weeks ago. I ran Grandmas for so many personal reasons. My mother was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer just before I flew out - not sure how long she had to live - I almost cancelled the trip. I decided to run as a way of celebrating every ounce of my wellbeing and to honor the person who gave me the gift of life. She passed away three weeks ago. I held her hand as she passed away, at her home where she has lived for over 40 years. Submerged by a tidal wave of overwhelming grief can be paralysing. Everyday I am mindful of all that I have to be grateful for - I have had my mother in my life for such a long time. It is time to pick myself up off the floor and start getting through it the only way I know how - through action. To greet each new day honouring the gift.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Grandmas Marathon 2014, Duluth, Minnesota

Grandmas Marathon June 21, 2014

SOOOOOO HAPPY....my comeback road marathon done and dusted - Grandmas Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota. Very very happy with how I ran and my overall time of 4.07 with a 3 minute negative split. In all the marathons I have done this is the one with the least volume of training and the least confidence in my body. It is a pleasant change to run a race where you are constantly holding back to stay on pace rather then burning through at an unsustainable pace and then limping home.

My 5km splits 29.31, 29.22, 29.33, 29.21,29.32,29.18,28.52, 27,42,(10.47+a bit) . My quickest 5km split was 35-40km - who would have thunk. A negative split for the marathon by 3min...woo hoooo. I had the usual pain in the left upper hamstring and the right Achilles plus the front of my lower right shin felt like a dull bone ache towards the end. But none of these signals got any worse as the run progressed. so I just kept on going They were just there. I finished feeling strong and full of beans. That bloody diet is amazing. At not point did I feel energy lags or down times. Just even - I took a gel at 10, 20 and 30 - I saved the Gu Roctane for 30 and kept saying to myself wait till 30 when you get rocket fuel and so it was I just felt amazingly strong. Goes to show that carbs as fuel are overrated - last nights dinner was chicken breast grilled with Parmesan cheese and three slices of kumera, cabbage salad with avocado and olive oil dressing. Breakfast on race day was 2 cups of coffee with milk, a small yoghurt and banana. I got up at 4am for breakfast and then transport to the start line at 5.45 - the race did not start till 7.45. Spent about 1.5 hours standing around in light drizzle with fog shrouding much of the surrounding view. It was cold but not as cold as Boston in 2007 where I shivered uncontrollably for hours until the race started.

The overcast foggy weather certainly helped. While it did obscure the view it also meant I could not see too far in the distance. I just observed runners around me and took in what I could see of the view. It struck me that a lot of runners in this race are religious, if their T-shirts are anything to go by. I think I could have read the whole of Scriptures just from back of peoples T-shirts. Nothing wrong with that, we all need something to believe in. The other observation is the respect for the military - who were providing First Aid - people called out to them as we passed - to thank them for their service to the country.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Bring on Grandma

June 15, 2014 (Race week - Grandmas)

A week of travel through New York and Chicago before race day on Saturday. June 21. Flu has worsened while in New York but by the time I arrived in Duluth on Thursday it has almost cleared.

While I have not been for a run since last week I have done plenty of walking and I feel strong. Not too worried about not getting out for a run. What is of concern is that two nights before race day I have developed really painful spontaneous cramping through the night which was common during the worst of the disease flaring. It has left me with painful calves and arms - a day before the race. Will massage and go out for a light jog at lunchtime Friday.

Race day is predicted to be cold (7-12 C) and raining. Can't wait to start and see what happens when the pain and suffering begins.

Countdown to Grandmas

June 9, 2014 (1 week to Grandmas)
For a whole lot of reasons managed only one run in the second last week before race day. A short interval session on Tuesday. I was intending to run again before I leave on Friday but have started to develop a flu with scratchy throat and fever. Thought it better to give the body a chance to recover - hopefully quicker.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Frosty Morning

Monday June 8, 2014 (2 weeks to Grandmas)
A week of way too many commitments and bad weather meant that sadly running did not come first. Managed to get out three times: a hill session on Tuesday, a 2*2km interval session on Saturday and a long run on Sunday.

Spent a weekend in Canberra over the Queens birthday holiday staying at Redbrow B&B on Ninimia Rd, Murrumbateman. We were fortunate with the weather, clear star-filled skies at night and sunny in the daytime.

The long and undulating road on the way to our accommodation was perfect training for Grandmas. Setting off with Hammer on Sunday morning, the countryside was quite and peaceful, there was frost on the ground and a cool breeze was blowing from the south. We ran past paddocks where black Angus cows stopped to stare as we passed, lots of kangaroos on various farms.

Hammer was struggling from about 20 km so we cut the run short. Just as well as I was getting a little bit concerned about unusual tightness in my left hip - very similar to pain of stress fracture. Better to be safe.We turned around near a horse ranch with a beautifully designed garden filled with huge bronze statues.

On the run we discussed strategy for Grandmas. My goal is to finish and depending on how things go, it would be fabulous to get a Six Foot qualifier for next year, just in case. So secondary goal is to run under 4hrs20min. I had planned on starting out at 6.10 min/km pace and seeing how I felt at 30 km, but Hammer convinced me that 6min/km is possible and would give me a little buffer for a qualifying time.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Hello Grandma

Monday June 2, 2014 ( 3 weeks to Grandmas)

An insane week that has too much happening for my sugar deprived brain to handle. From calm seas to turbulence in all areas of my life except running. Running happy has not been an outcome but running nevertheless. Running towards what until this week seemed like a lofty, overreaching goal. I knew for me to be confident in my ability I had to run a few strong, long runs on the road.

This week I can tick that off, Sunday I completed 30km in 3:18 over a tough hilly course. Very pleased with how I felt during and after. Think I am also getting the energy supplement strategy for the race sorted and may try that on my last long run before I leave next week. One confidence boosting long road run and I think I can do it ...now to get accommodation is my next challenge.

On Saturday I raced the NSW Athletics Cross Country 4*4km relays - ran the first 2km strongly then got a stitch and limped home for a slowish finishing time. Always surprises me how these short events can be so hard.

Thursday I got out for a 2*5min intervals with 8*30sec hard hill sprints. Should be adding to leg strength.
Wednesday - only managed 10km in the morning before the IVIG infusion.
Tuesday - Intervals at North Head followed by a fasting blood test.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Confidence Boost

Monday May 26, 2014 (4 weeks to Grandmas)
It has been an absolute pleasure to be outdoors this past week. Unseasonably warm weather has meant a delay to dreary winter. As much as I know winter will eventually arrive, I do feel like cramming as much as possible into this welcome return of summer.

Smoke shrouded the city from backburning in parks surrounding Sydney on Thursday. The air felt like and smelt like summer.

Great week of quality runs. My confidence has been boosted especially by last Sundays long steady run - the Tourist Trot STaR. First time since my return to running that I managed to I keep up with the 6am pace group. Wonderful conversation pace running through the city which sparkled in the morning light. My goal was to run at consistent pace for around 20-25km. Finished 22km in 2hr11min - bouncing off the walls with delight the rest of the day. Particularly pleased as I can feel the low carb eating has kicked in - I don't feel any energy lags running at this pace.

Previous Thursday completed a 3k TT in 14.45 at North Head, a tempo 14km to Long Reef on Wednesday and on Tuesday 15*30sec hill repeats. Total mileage for the week 50km. Happy me!

Monday, May 19, 2014

Great North Walk

Monday May 19, 2014 (5 weeks to Grandmas)

Consistent week of running for a total of 60km over five days. Painful heel on every run but otherwise feeling a bit quicker and stronger. Still panicked about my ability to run the marathon distance but a little bit more confident after completing a long run on Saturday.

Tuesday: I did 4*1km intervals at average pace of 4.50min/km. Also celebrated Training Shirt Tuesday by wearing the very bight GrandmasMara training shirt. It is all beginning to feel very real now.

Wednesday: a 14km tempo at Long Reef at average pace of just under 6min/km. Dare I dream of being able to sustain this pace for 42.195km?

Thursday: 12*30sec intervals with 30sec jog recovery, at an average pace 4.30min/km.

Friday: strength training at the gym.

Saturday: Long slow trail run on the Great North Walk from Bobbin Head to Crosslands and back. A total of 30km over 5 hours. I wanted to see how my body would react to being on my feet for a long time, moving at a moderate pace and on low carbs. Except for the painful heel, I felt terrific the whole way- there was no energy lag. The last 3km were the quickest at just under 6min/km pace. This is my longest run in 3 years. It will be interesting to see what happens covering the same distance at a more consistent pace on the road (and with carbs added).

Sunday: Walked over the Harbour Bridge to photograph the SMH Half Marathon. With well over 12,000 runners it was a bit congested in many parts. It was great to see parts of the city I have not visited in a long time. The conditions were pretty close to perfect. My observation is that the suffering looks the same whether you are a front, mid-pack or back of the pack runner. It is just the front runners suffer for a shorter time :-)

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

On my way to Grandmas

Monday - May 12, 2014 (6 Weeks to Grandmas Marathon)

I had meant to keep a weekly update of my training progress towards my return to running a marathon, but the return was looking so uncertain that the blog got a bit neglected. I thought I cleared all the hurdles, my doctor now knows I am running (a little) and she is OK with that, she is happy with my overall progress and is happy to consider weaning me off all treatment over the next 12 months. But my confidence in the ability of my body to handle the challenge has taken a battering. Each week I tried to ramp up either speed or endurance there has been a setback requiring a visit to the physio and time off from running. It made me question if what I was asking of my body was maybe just too much considering the underlying damage.

Over the past six weeks I’ve managed a, not nearly enough, total of 200km. Not a lot of running that would inspire my confidence to tackle a marathon. Anyhow I am still optimistic especially after a strong Sydney 10k on Saturday May 2 at Homebush. I exceeded my expectation, whilst not a blistering pace it was quite a bit quicker than I thought I was capable of at this stage of my progress.

I am on a quest to find the right pair of running shoes that will take me through a road marathon. I am convinced that is the main problem now and if I can get that resolved I should be fine, providing I don’t run out of time. Currently running with a painful R heel, muscle cramping in R calf and high hamstring tendinopathy (just back to normal I guess). Almost weekly physio visits are keeping me on the road.

Over the next month my focus will be on building my long slow distance runs and work on building my mental strength. Each run is a mental struggle to keep going, partly due to a change in diet and partly due to lack of conditioning. I am waiting for the breakthrough moment when running feels smooth and natural and I will be able to run feeling like I have an extra gear – if needed.

BUT despite feeling slow and clumsy at the start of each run, it is absolutely thrilling to be running again – highlights in the a past month include a five day running camp in Alice Springs over Easter – not a huge amount of running but plenty of interval running on soft surfaces and the most amazing scenery.

I also returned to Athletics NSW competition in the Novice X-country event at Scarborough Park, Ramsgate and Hammer I went to the Sky Run at Mt Buffalo in early April, he ran while I spectated.

Rangers cabin on top of Mt Buffalo

And lastly I did a 20km slow run walk in the Blue Mountains during the Mt Solitary Ultra in late April. Five weeks to go till Grandma's marathon – trip is booked just need to get a few long runs to boost my confidence.

Monday, March 31, 2014

One Step Forward

Sydney has had an almost perfect summer - long, warm days filled with clear skies and sunshine. It has been sensational to re-engage with the rhythm of the summer season by getting back into the running routine. I rejoined the Striders and started back on group runs by joining the Six Foot Track training group. Build up in distance and endurance was going well until early January.

I may have over-reached at the Ourimbah run on January 4th where I ran 27km in 3hrs 35min. Although I felt fine after the run and did a long evening of race photography, the next day I ended up with a dicky left knee which was painful on walking stairs. Intense chiropractic and physio treatment stabilised the knee but then developed and excruciating pain in the right calf which prevented any running. All up eight physio and chiropractic visits in January and February and I was back on track by late February. Still a few niggles which I will continue to work on.

Dermatomysositis treatment review is this week and in the meantime I continue to dream. This week I start a 13-week marathon training program - Grandmas Marathon in Duluth Minnesota.