Belfast City Marathon blog 5

Hi everyone, I feel like it has been a long time since I last blogged and I’m so glad to be back. I had a few niggles with my shins a few weeks ago not long after I had completed a 10 mile run. After some investigation and intense questioning of Damien (fountain of all knowledge) I came to the conclusion it was shin splints. I tried to run but it was too painful so I took two weeks off to recover and completely lost motivation. I was gutted that I had to rest and that an injury was getting in the way of my training. However, I persevered, iced my legs, rested and became all the more determined to run the Larne Half Marathon on Saturday 24 March.

My boyfriend enrolled with me to offer moral support and we both met some of the Operation 26.2 team there, I even bumped into an old work colleague, who I subsequently ran beside, and my best friend and her boyfriend. There was such a great buzz before it even started and I couldn’t wait to start and complete my first half marathon.

I set off with hundreds of people surrounding me but completely zoned in and focused on myself, my speed and getting to the finish line. It was such a glorious day and a beautiful run and I found the first half to be okay but as soon as I hit that hill at 7 miles I started to struggle. A quick 30 second walk and I was back on track feeling fantastic and thinking to myself ‘get you running a half marathon!’ Well, needless to say this positivity soon evaporated once I hit the 11 mile marker. Positive thoughts commending myself turned to harshly criticising and insulting myself. Why is it we do that to ourselves? If a friend was struggling we’d never discourage them and tell them they’re rubbish but yet we do it to ourselves. Luckily, inspirational Damien came happily jogging up to me in and around the 12 mile mark and offered words of encouragement and a big happy grin. That, coupled with Michael Jenkins (another Mr Motivator), clapping and telling me ‘fantastic’ really spurred me on to cross the finish line. I did it in 2 hours 25 minutes – it was a slow burn but I never set out to do it in a certain time, as this year is a first for me, both in completing a half marathon and indeed the full marathon, just completing it and finishing it will be a big enough achievement. I’ll aim for a better time next year! A huge thanks to Michael, Damien, Claire and the others from Operation 26.2 for such a great day and great support.

I’m so excited for the big day and can’t believe it’s less than 6 weeks away, I hope you’re all excited too and I really hope everyone’s training is going well.

I’m looking forward to a big run with Michael and the gang this Sunday, 16 miles will be a big milestone for me, once I get that completed I’ll be hoping to do a couple of 18 mile runs before the big 20 miler in April.

Will update you soon how it’s all going but until then take care and happy running!
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Belfast City Marathon training blog 4

It feels so long since I last did a blog and erm... that’s because it has been. If I’m honest I started to lag a bit in my training – January was going so well, then as soon as February hit I began to lose motivation. Luckily it didn’t last too long and after enlisting the help of a personal trainer and purchasing some new running gear from Up and Running, I felt full of motivation again and had three good runs this week.

I went for a nice run on Wednesday afternoon, after finishing work early, around my usual haunt – the Lagan Towpath. It was lovely and quiet, full of peace and tranquillity and I managed to do a good 6 mile run. I tried isotonic gels from the first time and was most unpleasantly surprised! They really are disgusting aren’t they? But I hear they really do work so I will have to persist with them, perhaps will try a berry flavour next time as that orange one was truly rank!

I met with my new personal trainer on Thursday - David Graham from David Graham Fitness and he is fabulous! He ran through some great core exercises for me, very similar to those that were shown to us at Queen’s PEC strength training – lots of planks, squats, stretches etc. I thought I was doing so well until the next day I was in agony! So it’s really highlighted the need for me to do more core work and build on my strength, a must if these legs are to get me round all 26.2 miles! He’s also worked out a new training plan for me which I’m determined to stick to, so I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.

It was great to take part in the Runathon at Bloomfield Shopping Centre, Bangor on Saturday and even better to beat the previous Runathon at Lisburn by racking up over 40 miles on the treadmill! Myself and Colin from Operation 26.2, were determined to beat the record and between us contributed 12 miles on the treadmill. In addition to the euphoria of that, there was much excitement at the large box of jelly babies available as a pre and post workout treat! Which, a reliable source tells me, serve almost the same purpose as those vile isotonic gels - so all in all a thoroughly enjoyable and informative day! Thanks to everyone who took part and don’t forget the next Runathon will take place in the Tower Centre, Ballymena on Saturday 25 February.

For my long slow run on Sunday I decided to take to the Comber Greenway – thanks to the person who recommended it to me on the Marathon Facebook page, sorry I can’t remember who it was! I managed 8.6 miles before my hip seized up and I had to practically be carried the remaining 0.4 miles by my displeased and unsympathetic running buddy – i.e my boyfriend. I don’t know what happened but it was very painful and I could barely walk, I felt desperately sorry for myself and even shed a tear but I’m a big sissy and luckily the pain subsided after a short period and then I was a little bit delighted that I’d had my first real injury – made me feel like a proper runner! I really enjoyed running on the Greenway but I do have to say my run was somewhat ruined by big, scary dogs not on leads – please put your dog on a lead especially if it’s a 10 stone Rottweiller – very unnerving! Aside from that it was lovely and I’m looking forward to hitting the greenway next weekend, aiming to do 10 miles, if my hip allows it – gosh I sound like such a pensioner!

Chat soon, happy running! L x
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