I get it, I get what this running lark is all about now, I can see why people get a little addicted to it. Never thought I'd turn into a running junkie but it appears to have happened. I'm actually looking forward to the Brighton Half Marathon and already thinking of my first Marathon - now will it be London, Paris or New York?
I did the 12 mile run last Saturday. If I'm completely honest, I was a little apprehensive about it. Not because of the distance but because I suffered so much after the 11 mile run the week before. I was concerned about feeling like that again. Plus I had a blind date (of sorts) the next day and I really didn't want to find myself walking like someone who was about 97. Nor did I want to struggle to stay awake. Post 11 mile run, I could barely move. A combination of extremely stiff muscles and immense tiredness. On the Sunday I didn't wake until after midday - I thought I was being lazy but I think my body was actually taking cover from attack! In between 11 and 12 miles, my training trailed off. I didn't choose that, it just happened like. Which meant that after the 11 mile run on the Saturday, I didn't run again until Wednesday (and it was little 3 mile run). I actually felt better for having a rest. Still didn't stop me from feeling mildly apprehensive about doing the 12 mile run, especially as when the day came, I was awake from 4 in the morning. Not due to the run - I've been waking at this time a lot recently - last week it happened 4 times. I've given up trying to fight it or get back to sleep - there's too much adrenaline so I've started doing work at 5 in the morning, sat in bed with my laptop - weirdly I seem to concentrate best if I'm up with the birds!
My last couple of long runs I've done in Dulwich Park but I decided to go back to Peckham Rye as I much prefer running on that open space. As I can't count laps or keep track of distance on the Rye, I thought I'd keep running for as long as I could before I checked my gizmo (the name I've given to the gadget to measure distance, time etc). I started running and found myself enjoying it somewhat. I kept running and running, oblivious to the distance I'd done. Somewhere around the 7 mile mark, I noticed a change - I felt like I could just keep going on and on and on. My breathing was much deeper, as if I was using bits of my lungs I'd never accessed before (or certainly not while running). I actually felt high and stayed this way until about the 10 mile mark. It did feel quite amazing! A bit like when I felt as if golden champagne bubbles were cascading through my body once when I was on my 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat. I guess these are the endorphins people talk about....
I was so into the running that by the time I checked my gizmo, I was close to the 9 mile mark. How did that happen? My legs weren't hurting, my lungs weren't hurting, everything felt very different to the previous week, particularly at distance. The last 3 miles were great and I listened carefully to what my body was telling me it wanted. Some lucozade as soon as I'd finished and a soak in the bath. I decided that it was time for a little bit of pampering - I'm asking so much of my body with all this running that I do need to give it a bit of tlc. I put some of the Arbonne re-mineralising bath soak in the water and then used 3 different scrubs (face, body and feet) for additional pampering. I don't normally like baths, well I do but I end up getting too hot and having to stand up to cool down again but not this time. The hot water heated up my muscles and it was just what I wanted. I was anticipating the big tired feeling after this but you know what, it never came. In fact I felt positively energised!
Post-run I had a think about why this one had felt so good. Not running so much in the week made a big difference. I've been following my training plan religiously but perhaps wasn't giving my body the rest it needed. A couple of days without running does work wonders. I know I can run the distance (even if I don't do it before the big day) - now it's all about finding out the things that help make it a great experience! I started doing some yoga every morning, maybe about 10 minutes of sun salutations A and B. A great way to start the day and the extended stretching in my legs stopped the muscles from contracting as soon as I finished my long run. The yoga also helped to build upper arm strength which meant my arms didn't ache while I was running. I also made sure I had pasta and bread the night before, increasing my carb intake and this clearly helped with my energy levels. It's been interesting learning these things as I go along, seeing how a run goes and then making changes - there is something to be said for tracking your progress, no matter what you do!
Just over two weeks to go. The focus has to be on fund raising now - my minimum target was £225 and I've reached that but the goal I've set for myself is £1000. And you know something, if I can get myself up to running a Half Marathon, I can certainly raise at least £1000 for Pass It On Africa!
