Keep on running

It has been a while since I last time shared my training with you. Apologies for that, it has been all about keeping going, make sure the everyday life runs smoothly and even with little motivation to force myself to go out for a run. As despite of all, there is no run I had regretted afterwards. But I sure had if had not done them.

While ago I really lost my motivation to train. I was extremely busy, there were many things going on both work and private and I was tired all the time. I could have slept days long and every morning a colleague was asking how I was doing, my answer was "I am tired." I still today do not know where it came from but I am really glad I feel normal again. And most importantly, I do not need to force me out for a run (or training) but I actually long for it if not regular. 

Last weeks I have been following my training plan for Hannover half marathon, the same overall program every week: Intervals in the beginning of the week, tempo on run on the mid-week and the long run during the weekend. I have actually made long runs a bit longer than recommended by the program I am following. I have still not decided if I will run Berlin marathon this year, I got my place, I paid my participation fee but I am still indecisive if I want to have all those long runs during the summer. Should I? At the moment the long runs do feel good, however I have not done longer than 19km so far. And actually it is more about the time I end up spending on the road that I am concerned, I still need to work, I want to spend time with my family and see my friends. And I wonder if it is possible to have it all. 

It is another 42 days to go to Hannover, training is going well and I feel great. In a one week time I have break from running and focus on skiing, I am sure my legs appreciate the change as much as my mind loves the mountains and full day outdoor activities. So keep on running my friends and of course, follow #runnover in all social media.

Yesterday I run in one of my favourite routes in Solling forest, what a beautiful day and a beautiful run. Just love it.

So how it is to run 42 km?

It is almost a week now that I finished my first marathon. I was well prepared, had hardly any problems during the training and was mentally really ready to go. The last few short runs my legs felt tired and heavy, but I assumed it was due to all the training and it should be fine by Sunday morning. I was very confident on Friday morning when we sat on the train to Berlin and was much looking forward to the weekend.

It is absolutely great idea (not) to combine your marathon weekend with a sightseeing tour in a new city. It is exactly the kind of rest your legs are not looking for and after full day walking around Berlin as well as visiting the event expo, my legs were ready to crash on Saturday night. It was too late to regret or change anything, so I just decided to have a nice pasta meal, do some stretching and go to bed. After all, the alarm was set 5:40 next morning, on time to have a breakfast at the hotel and head to the start. I arrived to the entrance area around 7:30, to put my stuff to the storage and to get ready to start. One would think 1,5 hours before start is a lot of time, well it isn't if you end up queuing 30 min to the toilets. Clearly I did the beginners mistake of not reading the instruction leaflet properly, as if I had done that, I would have known there are also toilets at the start area and most likely to be less crowded. Around 8:30 I headed to the start area, just on time to see a warm up aerobics going on in my starting block. Well I skipped that part, for two reasons: I really do not like aerobics and I did my short warm up on the way to the start and decided to do some quick stretches while waiting to get started.

The atmosphere was awesome: the sky was clear blue, air was fresh, 40 000 people were ready to start running, chatting around with fellow runners and listening the welcoming ceremony on 60 languages. As I had no previous marathon time, I was placed on the very last starting block. I could see the starting line was somewhere ahead, but could get close to it only 30 minutes after the first group was gone. The start was done in three parts to split the people a bit on the route. This really made the running of the first 30km more convenient, as the route stayed relatively free to go ahead.

So finally around 9:30 my group could start. We were joking the winner would probably finish soon and if we should congratulate him before we start. By the time it was ready to start due to all that waiting and excitement, I was hoping to find a toilet so I decided to have a short break after first water supply point (which I did)... I managed to get on quite front row of my starting block and easily found a free route to run and could settle to my own speed. The first 10k were a bit faster, then I decided to slow down a bit as I realised I might be going too fast. I had a small bottle of water with me which was enough until 20k, I cannot drink too much while running and I decided to have my own bottle to control I won't drink too much and to ease passing the first drinking points. The next 20k I was focusing on running steady and slowing down the speed a bit, after hearing all kind of horror stories how the last 10k of marathon can be, I was over careful. The whole marathon was like a huge party. The streets were full of people supporting the runners, there was music, dancing, singing the whole way through. You almost forget you have a marathon to run :) 

After 30k I decided to go a bit faster. Or I wanted to. But it was not as easy done as said... Now it was time to realise what it means to start in the last block. And see what "the marathon starts after 30k" statement means in practise. Literally when I passed the 30k line, the biggest challenge was to pass all the runners who crashed. And they were not a few. So the last 10k I wanted to increase the speed but ended up speeding, then stopping and going around people, then speed up again until the next person was in front of me. And it is not easy to pass those people who are suffering and only thinking how to make it to the finishing line, forgetting they are not alone on the route. I'm sure I lost 5-10 sec / km by trying to pass people. I am glad I felt still really strong and focused and had no pain, as it is really hard to do that sideways dancing when you actually want to run! 

Once I got to the 40k landmark, the party just got more intense. One couldn't run anymore, you had to fly to the finish line. The atmosphere was so intense, the crowd supporting was really high, so were the runners. The feeling when you go under the Brandenburger Tor and see the finish line in a few hundred meters ahead, I cannot describe it. My legs were tired, but good tired. I finished the marathon in 3 hours 56 minutes and 47 seconds. Crossing the finish line was amazing experience and I felt so great afterwards. All the work I did for the preparation, all the kilometers I spent on the road wondering why I was doing this, was all worth it. 

So will I run the marathon again? I don't know. Before the race I was sure I won't, all the training is too much time consuming and I couldn't justify the hours I spent on the road for long runs (which I also found really boring). Now I know why people keep running marathons, the feeling afterwards is addicting. So never say never but too little time has gone to say for sure yes. I am really glad I have this experience and I am really glad I hve been able to share it with you.

I know many of you have been reading this blog. I was glad to see so many of you involved with my running, all the support and encouragement I got from you on the way. I really appreciate it and it made this marathon project worth it for me.

It was a memorable day in Berlin :)

Count down time

I have run some 675+ km since first of June, have spent some serious number of hours on the road, have explored many new beautiful sceneries and have gone beyond my comfort zone again and again. And during the last week I have slept. I did not know it is even possible for me to sleep so much, I did not think it can feel normal to sleep on average more than nine hours a night plus a nap of 1-2 hours both Sat and Sun. I truly hope it is my body's plan to prepare for the marathon rather than the sign to prepare for the winter sleep.

There is another six days to go and I never thought I would feel so confident to run a marathon. Even though I took the challenge serious from the beginning, somewhere in the back of my mind I was asking myself if I will succeed. But now I am not anymore, I know I can run it. I know I will enjoy it even though I know it will also hurt. The question is how much and if I should go for more intense pain or longer pain... What do you think? Either way, it is part of the game and it cannot be anything compared to tonsillectomy nor delivering a baby.

So dear people, Sunday morning at 9 am (CET time) it is time to start running. Seriously. And some four hours later, it is time to party. Whatever the reason, party will be good. So please keep your fingers crossed and vote for number F11126 :)

27. September is getting closer

The date for the marathon is getting closer; I have another two weeks to go before the start.

The last couple of weeks have been high in kilometres and relatively high in intensity. I feel my legs being tired, as is my whole body. I am glad the coming days is focusing on tapering and the intensity and time spend on the road is much easier. 

Despite being really tired, I feel good. The training has gone well and it feels easy to run, even the long distances. Thanks to the core and flexibility training I have trained free of major injuries and I have learned to appreciate the balance and stability via the core. When I was rowing, it took it for granted that the core has to be strong, part of it comes automatically when on the boat or rowing machine, but it is not the same when running. You really need to take care of that and systematically add it into the training program, only then you will feel the difference.

So I have another two weeks to go before the marathon. When I started this project, I feared for two things. Firstly, I was not sure my head could handle the long runs. Well, it has not been easy but I made them all. I had my last 25k today and the rest of the runs are easy compared to that. Secondly I was not sure my legs could handle it. Not from the physical exercise point of view but regarding injuries. I have a history of shin splints and all that comes with it and I was not sure how my legs would react for serious increase in training kilometres. Even I had some challenges on the way luckily nothing so serious that it had caused any break in training. So all in all at the moment I feel pretty confident that I can do the marathon, surely I am aware that it is a long distance and anything can happen, but overall I believe I will be fine!

Pain and all that comes with it

I passed the half point of my marathon training, this week was the ninth week out of my 16 week training plan. So far I have run 382 km and I have spent about 35 hours on the road since I started this project. I still enjoy the most of my intervals and tempo runs, but surely there are mornings when I would prefer to just stay in bed and sleep another hour before going to the office. The biggest challenge I have with the long runs, knowing myself it was anticipated that those will be the hardest part of the project and I am still not complaining about it. I know I just have to get my head over it and I will get there.

But what I was not prepared of was the pain I have for whole Sunday after spending three hours on the road. Or the pain I have in my feet after the long runs for couple of days (until the next long run is scheduled) or the pain of walking the stairs down in the mornings. Or the pain of falling toe nails and the fact that wearing sandals does not feel like a natural choice when the temperature outside is over 30 °C. Still so far I consider myself lucky as I have no issues with blisters or any kind of chafe, falling toe nails came from my own thoughtlessness and will slowly heal, and I found a physiotherapist who seems to be good (I only met him once so far). The cause for the pain in my feet (especially the right one) seems to come from a nerve which is pressed by a tight muscle and with his miraculous hands it seems to get much better. I am so glad that probably for the first time in my life I realised to look for help before it was too late and it seems I can continue training as planned as I have no pain during the running and as I have at least one rest day between runs, I normally have no issues with the recovery. 

So once the cure for the pain after the runs is there, I only have Sunday afternoons to suffer and hopefully those get also a bit easier when the heat is less.I have another 7 weeks to go with the training and if I keep myself together for the next five long runs (as I trust I do), I am going to be very fine for the marathon :)

My thoughts about Long Runs

It has been a while I have updated my training blog and shared how it is going with my marathon training. I continued the training as planned; I have done my three runs per week, cross-trained, played some tennis in between and not forgotten to stretch. But somehow the coming home from holidays and return to the office, reworking the daily routine again has taken more effort than I expected and I have felt really tired the last couple of weeks. So tired that I just did not have the energy to update my blog.

I have lengthened my long runs now up to 27 km and when I really was suffering after 17k in my first long runs, I can now comfortably do the whole training as planned. I am surprised how easy it feels physically and by now I am convinced that anything after 30k at the marathon is mental. I am convinced on that as I realise it on my own training, when I leave the house mentally strong (compared to the days when I felt lazy/tired/not motivated), I finish the training also as planned if not faster or easier. I realise it during the runs when I remind myself to stay strong instead of feeling sorry for myself, I do stay strong and feel comfortable to continue. 

Still I have not concluded if I in general like the long runs. I don't hate them, which is good. I don't love them either which is not surprising. I surely tolerate them to the level I feel comfortable leaving the house with the running belt full of liquids and energy gels. There are moments when I really enjoy the tiredness in the muscles after 20k and I am proud my legs are still carrying me on, but on the other side I am sometimes so bored to go for another 15k or just can't find one good reason why I should spend whole Sunday morning on the road. So meanwhile I figure out what to think of those long runs, I am really glad and proud of the charity funding which keeps me going on those moments of doubt and that I have so many dear people around me supporting my project!

Let the (serious) training begin!

I am ready, I can go for it! The last few weeks I have prepared myself mentally and physically to follow my marathon training plan. I do three runs a week plus some cross-training, my weekly kilometres are around 40k, I feel comfortable with the variation of intervals, tempo, long runs and trails and I am disciplined to do my stretches. Sounds easy, right?

I have been training in my comfort zone and luckily not been travelling too much lately. But the last week was different and a two day travel, leaving home at 4 am and returning next day at midnight, demonstrated me how easily my training balance can be disturbed. I went for morning run in beautiful Vannes and enjoyed the change of scenery, kept my runs constant three but it took me one full day to recover and ended up skipping the cross-training the day after. It is a good reminder for me that I need to plan my trainings properly if something breaks the daily routine, but I am glad I got that reminder now and not one of those days when I have a hard training ahead.

By building my training routine during the last few weeks I have learned my weaknesses. And I got a reminder that I hate strength training. This hit me really hard as I know it is really important with the kilometers I plan to run to stay healthy, but I just hate it. I have never ever liked strength training and for that reason I have always avoided it. And now I volunteerly plan to torture myself with that horror weekly. Therefore to force myself a bit, every time I skip the strength part of my weekly training, I donate additional 15€ for my charity project.

So the plan is ready, tomorrow morning I start my day with the first training of my official training plan. I have about 650 km ahead during 16 weeks, feels like a lots of fun & pain. May the force be with me.

The joy of business travelling is to see the sunrise in new cities, this time in Vannes in France.

Reality check

I must say after my great runs last weeks, I was hoping if not expecting the success to continue. Well I can tell you there are no two weeks alike and after the sunshine comes the rain, or whatever. There was no rain though, but serious reality check to remind me that this project is not going to be easy.

Sunday morning I headed for the long run, looking forward to see how it goes this time. Instead of going flat along Weser, I decided to head up to the hills instead. Whether it was the additional altitude but after 23 km and 2h10min, I could conclude my body is made to run 18-19 km and anything beyond that hurts. Not just a little bit but seriously to make me consider to stop. And considering that it is just about the half way of the marathon, it feels a bit scary. I know the point of long runs is to get your body used to the purpose, still if the Sunday's experience is going to repeat the next 18 weeks, I will have a challenge to motivate myself to head out of the door.

At the positive side, my morning run routine is going well and I begin to enjoy the early morning runs with fresh air hearing only birds singing (and neighbours rooster) and slowly waking up my muscles. I'm certainly not fast that time of the day, but it feels good. I need to get the tempo a bit higher, but I'm sure it comes. I included also some hill training this week and despite that it is hard, I like it. 

So all in all, it wasn't that bad training week. I only need to find a way to lenghten my runs beyond 20k and it will be just fun.

Time to get serious

After Couple of weeks easy going training after the half marathon in Hannover it is slowly time to get back in the serious training mood. I had first long run today. Well, creating my training plan for marathon, I realise long run is a relative term. I did today 15 km run, which was long for my half marathon, for marathon my long runs starts from 16 km... Time to do the mental adjustment.

Another adjustment I need to do is with my eating during the run. I am not used to eat or drink while training, which was also not necessary for the half and the shorter trainings. So today my objective was to have the first step with food during running and see how my body reacts. I found an energy gel from cup board, so that seemed like a good idea to start. I decided to have it around 8k with some water - and the last 7k I ran with a roller coaster in my stomach. So need to do some research how to handle that part.

I have also predrafted my training plan. I will follow my philosophy of less quantity more quality. Normally it is adviced to train around 800 km for marathon, my plan is about 650 km spread over 16 weeks. Additionally I plan to cross train 1-2 times a week, to keep it more fun and hopefully help to prevent injuries. This plan is actually direct copy of Furman Institute's marathon plan published in Runner's World magazine.

I will therefore start my official training in early June, meanwhile I aim to build the weekly kilometers to 30+ and lenghten the long runs up to 22k.