Goals

So after spending the weekend with friends and talking about my upcoming marathon I thought I better start biting down my goals. This all cane about because I was asked how long I thought it might take me. When I first signed up for my marathon I had that dream that I could run a sub 5 hour time. As my training has gone on I have realised that this is probably quite close to impossible. My husband in the nicest way possible and with no negative comments is telling me my time will probably be between 5 1/2 hours and 6 hours. He is basing this on my currently training runs. Me? I’m still holding a glimmer of hope that I will at least come in at under 5 1/2 hours. I guess only time will tell and in another 33 days I will know what the outcome is. Until then I can only keep on training and watch the amazing training of others in absolute awe!

The longest run!!

Today's planned run was to run for 4 hours.  I didn't really know what sort of distance I would manage to cover over that time, all I knew was that I wanted to achieve being on my feet for a long time.  The foot had still been a bit touchy this week and some will argue I should still be resting it but in all honesty, I feel like I am running out of time to get these runs in.  I set out around 7am as the sun was trying to get up and shine.  I decided I would just go up and down streets and see where I ended up.  I was guttered when around the 11km mark I accidentally knocked my watch and 'finished' the run.  I guess I just needed to restart it again and keep on trucking.  I will not lie, it was not easy.  It was even harder to hear my own mother say it looked like I was struggling when she went past me with about 2km to go.  BUT ... I have always known it will not be an easy achievement!  I am so proud and still in a lot of shock at what I did achieve today.  Just over 31km and just under 4 hours!  The longest I have ever run in distance and time and the longest it will be before May 5 and that first marathon.  And I have discovered podcasts thanks to a great friend and am finding they are helping A LOT with these long runs!  Until next time

Fear

I currently have this fear.  Many would probably say it is an irrational fear but it is very real and very alive for me.  It has mostly stemmed from how I have felt getting home after my last two long runs and I experienced it also two years ago when I ran The Great Forest Run for the last time.  It is that feeling of wobbling on your feet, not being able to move any further forward, feeling so hot that you want to vomit and as a last resort, that feeling that you are going to pass out.  I experienced it quite badly after running 26km on Saturday.  This was my longest run to date and one where I was glad I walked in my gate when it did and I sat down as soon as I could.  I had refuelled during the run, had plenty to drink but I just felt like shit basically (excuse my language).  And it took a good hour to feel normal again.  I really made me worried.  Worried about how I am going to get through this marathon.  And this is a real shame because out running on Saturday I felt good mentally, I kept on putting one foot in front of the other.  I finally felt like I could achieve this marathon because of the support of everyone else that will be out there on the day.  And then it hit just as I was arriving home.  I don't want to be one of those people who doesn't make it to the finish line because their body won't let them carry on.  I don't want to collapse as I cross the line either!  I am really very scared about this side of it.  I will be trying again this coming weekend and somehow I need to find a way to put this fear to bed for now!