Got My New York On

Sunday November 1, 2015 - New York Marathon

 What an event, what a day and  I finished. I still can't believe it. I certainly had a lot to be worried about. It was probably the least prepared I have ever been for a marathon. Ongoing problem with a torn calf muscle and inflamed achillies and just as it was all settling down and I was starting to increase the distance, a death in the family put a halt to all running. At a time of  personal loss and grieving, keeping to a training program did not seem all that important.  And I am going through a trial of going off all treatment to see how the body responds.
So 4 weeks out from the marathon I found  a 4 week training program. It assumes that you've done some 15 to 20km runs recently.  I struggled to do the long runs in the program. The longest run I ended up doing was 22km and I was slow and labouring on every run.  I enjoyed the shorter speedier sessions but I now know that I just did not have enough time to build up the stamina to do the long runs. Another 4 weeks would have been handy.  But life dishes out what it will and you just have to make the best of it. As aresult I am not sure how much of the aches and pains I am experiencing are due to being off treatment and how much is due to accelerated training.
So I arrived in New York on Tuesday, spent a couple of days walking around taking in the magnificent colours of Central Park and the Halloween decorations on houses. It was cold on most days, with biting wind.
Expo on Thursday to pick up my race number was overwhelming.  The race merchandising was huge. The Asics stand took almost a third of the pavilion. And as the day progressed the line to the cash register jut grew. Friends who went on Friday, said the line was almost a kilometre.  The rest of the expo was pretty much like Boston.
Race day was approaching and I was strangely calm. I guess I did not really have any expectations, except to finish. Race morning, I met another Strider and we got the subway to the Staten Island ferry. From the ferry to race village was a bus trip. All up from leaving the hotel at 6.20am to arriving at the race village took almost 3 hours. By the time we arrived it was time to go into the starting corrals.  My race started at 10.40. Race numbers were around 50,000 entrants and the movement of so many people was very orderly and appeared to work without a hitch.
Did not spend too long at the race village before it was time to head to the corrals and get final preparation done. Lining up in my wave we were lead to the start line by a line of soldiers with linked arms. I guess to prevent surging to the front. They stood there until just after the anthem was sung, we were facing the Verezanno Bridge and the first big uphill. The gun was fired and we were off.

I found myself running with ease at 5.30-5.35 pace and I knew this was quick for me especially going uphill. But I just could not slow down. I ran at sub 6.00min pace, which was my target, for most of the first 15 or so kilometres.  I slowed a little on the undulations which were quite sneaky.  You don't realise you are going uphill until the inexplicable laboured breathing.  I found the conditions a little bit too warm. I was expecting colder weather. The crowd support was phenomenal.I had my name printed on my chest and to hear your name called out with words of support was so uplifting.  I got to halfway feeling OK in a time of 2:04. I realised that a Boston qualifier was a fools dream with such limited preparation. And I don't know if it was this acknowledgement but soon after I let thoughts of all the painful spots in my body seep into the present my running race was over and by 27km I was starting to walk. This also coincided with the awful Queensboro Bridge that leads to Manhattan. This bridge, with no supporters allowed, seemed to go on forever and seemingly all uphill. There was short downhill, an offramp from the bridge which leads to Manhattan. And as soon we turned the corner the crowds and cheering were off the scale. I get goosebumps even now when I think about what a lift that gave me.

From here it was a walk 100m/run 400m stratagy. When that got too hard, I would walk 200/run  300m. I ran all the downhills. And so I reached Central Park and the final turn into the finishing shute. I still can't believe I made it. I crossed the finish line  in 4:29:58 and just like in Boston, as soon as stopped running i had trouble breathing and was crying. Tears of joy and relief.  It took another hour after crossing the finish line to get out of the athletes area, wearing my poncho. And then it was another hour walk to my hotel.

New York State of Mind

Tuesday October 20, 2015 - 2 weeks to New York Marathon 
Since the last post, 3 months ago I have totalled  400km in training with the longest run being 22 km in distance. There has been much frustration over  the calf spasms and the painful right ankle. The injuries along with a death in the family has meant that running has taken a back seat for much of the time.

But now I am back running and while it is not comfortable most of the time,  every now and then there is a little breakthrough run that gives me hope that all will come together, maybe not on race day but eventually.  But not much I can do about it now but accept that the marathon will be painful and it will be ugly.

View of sunrise over the Derwent River Bridge on  my early morning run

So for the Good:
 -  I am off all treatment since mid July to test how the body holds up. So far so good with a review due in late November;
 - I found I new pair of running shoes I love - Mizuno Hitogami.  I ran the Sydney Striders 10k at North Head (in August) in them and ran a season PB 50:09 off limited training. They are a joy to run in and are great for shorter runs.  The shoes in addition to the Physio sessions has been the end of calf pain;
 - I raced a short run at the Southern Highlands Challenge on August 23. Great day out discovering new trails; and
 - I raced the Sydney Striders Homebush 10k in October, off no running at all in the preceding weeks and finished in a better time than I expected (54.15).
 - I spent two days in Hobart which included a run along the Derwent river early in the morning. It really was glorious. I haver forgotten how beautify Hobart can be.

Mizuno Hitogami - love them!

Southern Highlands Challenge - short run. Feeling slow and sluggish, two days after a  tooth extraction. I really should not have been running

The Bad:
 - trying to return to running with a heavy hearty;
 - still trying to find a shoe that will be OK for the longer runs. I tried going back to the two pairs I ran in the last two marathons (Brooks Adrenaline and Hoka Huakas) and each caused pain and  trauma to my lower legs. Latest test is a pair of Mizuno Sayonara, which are like the Hitogami with a little bit more cushioning.  My longest run in them (22km) felt great - so they will have to do for New York.

The Ugly:
 - this week has just been very, very hard. I have no bounce in my legs. I am slowing down and even at a slow pace I have a high heart rate and I don't know why.

Middle of Winter

Monday July 20, 2015 - 15 weeks to New York Marathon (10km)

Have absolutely loved getting out of my comfort zone by joining a new training group in a new location. Twice a week I have been running interval sessions at Centennial Park. Very energizing, if only I can get my body to agree.  Twice weekly and long intervals has  resulted in a chronic calf injury which  keeps flaring  when running on any slight incline. So this week I have decided to stop all running and let the calf settle. Then start working on base fitness before rejoining the  interval sessions. I am still not panicking as  NY marathon is still some time away.   I need to get this calf issue sorted for good so that I can start focusing on a training plan.

Boston Marathon Blues

Monday June 22, 2015 - 19 weeks to New York Marathon (45km)

It has been 8 weeks since the Boston Marathon and running has been spasmodic at best. It took almost 3 weeks to get over the flu I picked up before the Boston Marathon. Since returning home, it has been cold and I have lost momentum to get back into any regular running routine.  In the period since Boston I completed dozen or so runs including three races: 10km race (52:50),  a 4km cross country relay (22:30) and a trail 22km (2:38). Hardly any consistency and just when I was ready to get back into base fitness building I fell and broke a few ribs during the Glow Worm Tunnel Trail Running Weekend (June 13-14). This put a delay on starting a regular program of runs.  But despite the broken ribs and the car not being able to start on Sunday afternoon, visiting the Newnes area was an absolute highlight. Getting out of Sydney was enough to kick me out of my post-Boston funk. 

Contemplating running the marathon the next day - Newnes camp-ground

Gees its cold and my ribs hurt. How am I going to sleep in a sleeping bag?

Great camping spot - Newnes.

First outing for a replacement REI Half Dome tent. It was excellent at sub-zero temps overnight. 

Views from the tent at sunrise.

Remnants of buildings, along the Pipeline Track.

Railway artefacts

Runners passing through Newnes, midway through the marathon.

Railway artefacts.

Railway artefacts.

Newnes Hotel - I spent 4 hours in front of it, waiting for the NRMA.

So ten days after breaking ribs at the Glow Worm Tunnel Half Marathon, the pain is manageable and I have kicked off the New York Marathon build-up.  I have joined a training group twice a week to motivate me to get out of my running comfort zone.  This week I ran four times including:

Tuesday - pyramid interval session @ 400, 800, 800, 1200, 800, 800, 400 averaging 2.0-2.15/400m for the longer intervals.

Wednesday - a hilly 11k on the road, feeling remarkably strong on the hills despite the pain in the ribs.

Friday - intervals 8 x 620m (last one at 4.27min/km pace)

Sunday - Davidson Recreation STaR 14k. Freezing cold at the start and it did not get too much warmer by the time I finished. Wonderful to run through the leafy north shore streets where there are still quite a few houses with large yards that including big front lawns, pools and tennis courts.   I had intentions of running longer but decided to be sensible since it is my first proper full week back so I cut the run short. I was running hills strongly ans was very happy with how I felt throughout.

Boston Marathon

Monday April 20, 2015 - Race Day

Race day had finally arrived and I was feeling a lot more more nervous about running than I would normally feel before a marathon.  In addition to a head cold which was slowly getting worse as race day approached,  I almost  had a medical emergency the day after I arrived in Boston. I was on the train heading out to Concord, I was looking at the paddlers out on Charles River when all of a sudden  I  lost vision in both eyes. I was unable to focus my eyes, everything was blurry, left and right fields of view overlapped and spun around like a kaleidoscope.   I thought I may be suffering a stroke. I was aware that I was thinking clearly  and with eyes still closed I wriggled my feet, moved my arms...all OK, so probably not a stroke.  Each time I dared to opened my eyes, it was apparent that whatever it was,  was passing... My vision was slowly coming back into focus and eventually it passed completely.

Later I reflected on how frightening this was, I was on my own, heading to a small town where I knew nobody and shit happens. I would really be relying on the kindness of strangers to get help. It has made me look at people around me wherever I am, with a whole new perspective. I still don't know what caused this but Dr Google suggests a transient migraine.  I won't know until I've seen a doctor back home.  I was frightened by this and for a little while I considered maybe not running on Monday.  But I figured if anything happens, the Boston Marathon course is the best place for it to happen, as help would be close by.

So I made a decision to put this in the back of my mind. And then the next day, Thursday I wake up with a head cold, razor blade throat and stuffy nose...Maybe Boston Marathon was just not meant to be this year. I nervously waited for race day to roll around, hoping that the the cold would not reach my chest before Marathon Monday.

There was also the lack of confidence that I was fit enough to actually do this. The common advice at time like this is to trust in the training. But what training?  I ran less than 550km in 12 weeks since my foot stress fracture in December.  I realised that having committed to Coastrek and Six Foot Track Marathon in early March has meant that I could not get the confidence building, solid long road runs done, when I should have been in peak marathon training. While I enjoyed both events enormously, I regretted doing them now, as I knew that Boston was my  main focus.

Added to my physical health and preparedness worries, the weather for race day was predicted to be rainy, cold and a strong easterly wind...which meant that we would be running into the wind the whole way and that it would be getting stronger as we approached the city. Oh joy! Almost a repeat of my last race here in 2007, when the race was almost cancelled for the first time in its' 119 year history.

I was being hosted by the Sydney Striders sister club in Boston. Being with them has really added to my experience. It was great not to have to spend hours sheltering from the rain and freezing wind in the athletes village on race day. I was toasty and warm in a club members house until 45 minutes to my start. I literally got off the bus, walked towards the athletes village, found a shelter and stood under it for about 10 minutes and it was time to line up in the corrals. I was starting in Wave 4 at 11:15am.

I was in the corral for about 15 minutes before the starters gun was fired.  A steady rain was falling, it was cold but the sound system was blasting out a Sheryl Crow song "Soaking up the sun". Someone had a wicked sense of humour.  The gun went off and runners around me started tearing away. Its down hill for about 6km, I knew I did not want to get carried away here. I was warned.... if you think you are doing about the right pace here then slow down....you are going too fast.

So this is how my race unfolded... as soon as I started running messages started arriving at race central.....what? you want to run...but you have a cold, are you serious? You shouldn't be doing this! I tuned that voice down a little when another message popped up...right ankle here ...remember me.. Never did get fully sorted out, feeling stiff and creaky. Then left foot sent a message ...nerves are pinching between the toes...what the?...where did this come from?  Thankfully the left hip and hamstring were sweet, the physio saw to that. I acknowledged all these messages while looking around at the lovely Hopkinton woods we were running through. Wonderful to see so many people out shouting and cheering in the rain. I checked my watch..... oops..... too fast, slow down. I had intended to stay on 5.45min/k pace all the way and then whatever it took for the hills.  Before the course started to flatten I noticed a tight pain in my chest.... gees that can't be good. Dr Google warned about this if running with a cold. So I slowed down and my whole race became about slowing down to manage my heart-rate and hopefully staying out of the medical tent.. My heart-rate was spiking with any slightest undulation in the course and I had not even reached the 10k mark.  I had to stop myself from thinking too far ahead knowing that the hilliest part of the course is around 30k..So instead of projecting too far ahead I decided to pull myself right back into the present and get out of focusing on what was not working right - I was still running. I read a slogan a few days ago..It is about the finish line, not the finish time.  I was going to enjoy the present moment,  as long as it lasts.

Every time I passed an aid station the wonderful volunteers were smiling and shouting words of encouragement.  They were standing in this horrible wind and driving rain...what right do I have to feel miserable about my physical well being, when I am doing what I love and being enabled and cheered by all these people? From then on I made sure I smiled at as many people as I could make eye contact with, thanked the hundreds of volunteers, high fived the kids, doffed my cap to police officers and tried not to cry when I thought about the evil deed that was carried out here two years ago.   And so the race unfolded with 5k timing mats appearing before I knew it. I deliberately did not look at my race time, just heart-rate and pace.

The rain and the wind did not let up. By the time I made it to Newton Fire station,  the first right turn in the race and the start of the hills, my legs were so stiff. The first hill was a killer, it felt never ending. I have little memory of the Newton hills from my previous time here in 2007, except that I reached the top of Heartbreak Hill before I even knew I was on the hills. This time I felt every step.  I put my head down and slogged away, knowing that all I had to do was keep moving, it would eventually end. And so it was...the runner next to me patted me on the back and said 'You made it'!  Woo hooo....celebrations. Just another 10k and I am done.

After Hearbreak Hill my legs were toast... did not really feel like co-operating. I felt like I was standing still...my watch claimed I was running at 5.30m/k but that could not have been right. The crowds along the last 10k section were enormous, everyone was screaming out and if you acknowledge them they went wild. I was getting so emotional and teary, not the first time it had happened along the course. And it was fun  - even if my body did not think so. Two more turns, a right into Hereford Street and a left onto Boylston Street for the final run to the finish line. I so wanted to finish and stop running so the pain would end but at the same time I wanted time to slow down so I could savour the experience. And it does seem like you run on Boylston Street for a long time without the finish line getting any closer.  Eventually it draws near and you know you will cross it soon. Images of my mother dying while I held her hand  were racing through my mind as I crossed the finish line. She died only nine months ago and I miss her more than anything.  I had lit a candle for her a day before the marathon at the church just by the finish-line.  I burst into tears of sadness, joy, relief and happiness all mixed up. With my face in my hands, I was sobbing so much  I had trouble breathing,  I was gasping for air. Medical help came almost immediately... I managed to collect myself, draw breath and start moving to collect my medal.

If I had I finish line photo, this is what it would look like.

Mentally and physically this was the toughest race I have ever done.  I had to draw on reserves I did not know I had, in order to overcome the mental chatter, the pain and the discomfort I felt almost from the start.  It's not how I imagined this race would  pan out for me when I entered way back in September last year, but it is - what it is. I did the best I could on the day and surprised myself. I personal best in so many ways...my race time of 4:07:55 placing 20,193/26,610 and 274/606 female in my age group.  My finishing place was 4,800 spots ahead of my qualifying ranking. So you might say I had a good run.

All images from the race are Getty Images/Boston Globe

Countdown

Week 12: Monday April 14, 2015 - One week to Boston (0 km) 

I have a week in Boston before the race. I hope to get out for a few little runs as I've only had 12 weeks of running preparation since coming back from the foot stress fracture.  Not a huge volume of training in terms of mileage. I have focused more on interval training with longer slow run/walks in preparation for Coastrek and the Six Foot Track earlier  in March. Will see what happens come Monday.  

I arrived in Boston on Tuesday night and on Wednesday I spent the day out at Concord walking in the woods surrounding Walden Pond where David Thoreau wrote his famous work "Walden_A Life in the Woods".The next morning, Thursday I woke up with a raging sore throat and blocked nose.  Don't panic I thought, its only Thursday, plenty of time to get over it.   As it was,  the  cold did get worse. On Friday night the bones in my head hurt so much I had to take painkillers in the middle of the night.  Thoughts of.... it will be impossible to run on Monday with this cold.... were churning in my head, along with the pain. I tried not to dwell too much on that, just one day at a time. Got some anti-inflammatory medication to try and reduce the pressure off my sinuses. This seem to settle it during the daytime.

Googling symptoms seem to suggest that it was OK to run with a cold,  if it is not in your  chest. That was enough for me. Now if only race day could arrive before the cold makes it south to my lungs.  Less than ideal but what can I do?

In total,  a zero running week with a fair bit of walking around town.  By race registration I really did feel like an imposter. I have hardly run at all in the last two weeks and here I am about to run a marathon with a head cold. So in effect my total training for this marathon has been about 10 weeks. Not really enough to fill you with confidence.

Easter Bunny Shot Through

Week 11: Monday April 6, 2015 - Two weeks to Boston (10 km)

Anxiety is at an all time high this week. Have not run much at all as I feel that a flu is developing. I have a virus sore starting on my lip. This only happens when my body is stressed.  I ran a local 10k on Wednesday and saw the physio afterwards for a final tune up.  The run was OK, an easy run with a 3km time trial at 80% in the middle.  Happy with the pace. 

The rest of the week was spent indulging a wee bit too much, in all the wrong kinds of food, while supporting Hammer in a race in Bright, Victoria.  Beautiful autumn weather with a bright sunny day on Friday and a bit cooler for the 75km event on Saturday.

Love that feeling of being around runners when the race is done and the celebrations or commiserations can commence.  My test is just around the corner.  At the moment I am feeling wobbly and bloated but maybe by the time I arrive in Boston,  my running body will be back.  Hope these images which I took early in the 75km Sky run event, will inspire me to fight-on. 

Buckland Valley, on the way to Mt Buffalo.

Taper...Time to Panic

Week 10: Monday March 30, 2015 - Three weeks to Boston (58 km)

Monday - hill repeats & gym, a total of 4km with 15 short and fast hill repeats. Another gloriously warm morning and a chance to run in bare feet on dewy grass. It really is the most beautiful feeling. I wish I could do all  my runs with such joy and freedom.

Tuesday - rest, my old friend has returned,  left hip and hamstring insertion pain. Damn I have not had any problems with it for some time.  Lots of stretching and foam rolling to release back tension. Made an appointment to see the physio for a  tune-up.

Wednesday - mid pace run. A terrific thunderstorm was raging when I woke up. So I waited for the worst of the storm to pass before I set off for what should have been a 90 minute pace run. After about 20 minutes, the hamstring pain was so acute I decided to turn around and head back. A disappointing run - a total of 7km at a slower then marathon pace. My back just feels like it is completely out of whack. 

Thursday - physio. I was scheduled to run   2*2km intervals today but  ended up visiting the physio instead. So pleased I did. An hour later I was moving freely and with advice on how to reduce the muscle tightening. Also got to visit my favourite cafe...a win win..

Friday - social run on Good Friday. Having missed the scheduled interval session yesterday I thought I would squeeze it in before an easy social trail run in the morning.  I set off in an unfamiliar street, in the dark with  light drizzle falling.  Undulating terrain and very dark streets spooked me a little and I ended getting lost and  running at a slightly quicker pace just to get back in time to meet the rest of the group. So the intervals were kind of not done. Met the rest of the group and we headed off along Perimeter Track then onto Long Track in Kurringai National Park. Great to run with friends and chat while the kilometres ticked over.  We ran to the lookout over Cowan Creek before turning around. The return lap ended up being a fair bit quicker for me as I was running with a much faster runner. All good I thought, a kind of mid-long threshold run on return. 

Ended up being a very tough morning workout for me. Running on no breakfast beforehand and no water during the run - finished completely dehydrated.  A total of 22km, at a quicker pace than I was planning on running this morning. The trail was great for a group run and the lookout over the creek was quite nice. I wish I had brought a camera.  A great catchup afterwards over some hot-cross buns while a light drizzle continued to fall. Great start to the Easter holidays. On reflection, it is nice nice to be tested - to step outside our routine. So a change of pace, unanticipated distance and no fuel beforehand were all challenging in different ways.  (Photo Credit: Friends) 

Saturday - race 10km, woke up to heavy rain and strong winds. It was dark, the last morning of daylight saving, not very inviting conditions in which to head out to Lane Cove to race in the Sydney Striders 10k.  I knew I had to run, as I wanted to have a gauge of my current fitness to use to set my marathon race pace.  Hammer agreed to come with me. We arrived at Lane Cove, pouring rain with runners sheltering under the few picnic shelters. It was a relief top find that at least the air temperature was pleasant. As Ii did not have breakfast before the race - I ate a Gu Chump in the car on the way there. This I realised later was a big mistake. A 10 minute warm-up, a quick stretch under a picnic shelter and we were off. It did not take a long for me to realise that it was going to get quite ugly.  I was off my planned pace before the first kilometre ticked over and I knew I just could not go any harder. My stomach was revolting and I wanted to throw up. Thoughts of stopping, or ducking off into the  into  bushes kept me occupied until the turnaround at the  Rangers Hut.  At this point my legs were so heavy I felt like I could barely lift them. Had a stop for a drink and huge burp  - this flipped a switch and  I was back in the race. Focused on holding form till I crossed the finish line in 51.52.  A bit disappointed with my time but happy to have had a strong second half where I felt like I was actually running at my planned race pace. (Photo Credit: Surf 2 Summit Photography)

Sunday - LSD at Sydney Striders Roseville Ripsnorter. Daylight saving has ended, it was going to be a sparkling Easter Sunday and somewhat optimistically I headed out for a 20km run hoping to cram some more kilometres in before I fly out.   The course has been revised and is all on road. A challenging course which starts with a short hill, then a bigger and longer hill, then a bit of downhill then more uphill, a bit more downhill and then more uphill. I  stayed with the group till the first short-cut,  my glutes and hammy were revolting - and I ended up cutting it short to head back to the start along Warringah Rd. A total of 15km, not sure what it achieved in terms of training benefit. But so happy to be out and moving on such a beautiful sparkling Sunday.  And got to have plunger coffee with hot cross buns at the end.