Rfc’s comeback HM: I am going to write and... - Bridge to 10K

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Rfc’s comeback HM

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10
79 Replies

I am going to write and post this today. I wondered if I should leave it a couple of days and see if I can write a more positive post but sometimes it is good to show the other side. This is a tale of two parts of the same day and how and good event can turn rotten.

Firstly the start of the day couldn’t of been better. I got a text from mfamilias To say she had made it and she was waiting by the info tent, I hotfooted over there and saw her waiting for me. It is a strange feeling waving at a complete stranger you have never met in person but having the feeling you have know each other for years. The next hour was taken up by chatting, chatting and more chatting, it was brilliant. So nice to put a face to the name and lots of fun.

Then our wave started moving forward, we said our good lucks, as I knew. mfamilias Would need to get going through the mass of crowds and I needed to get myself tucked in to the side. Even if I wanted to get off to a flying start I couldn’t as it was very congested at the start line. The first 4km were fantastic, my cheeks were aching from all the smiling, I felt strong and confident. I had waited 2 years to do this event and here I was.

Then between 5-6 km it all changed a bit. I started with a blister on my left ball of my foot and my glutes started hurting a bit. Between 6-7 km I was starting to struggle. By 7km I realised that I was only third of the way through the event, mentally that hit me like a tonne of bricks. By this time each step I was taking was hurting somewhere. Looking back today I have no idea where I found the resolve to keep going by 17km I was counting down each 0.5km and fighting back the tears. By the time I went past the finish line I was in floods of tears. My best friend who met me took care of me she put lovely woollen gloves on my cold fingers because I couldn’t use them at all, she put a hot cup of tea in my hands and set me off home in a taxi right to my front door.

I was struggling last night. By 8pm I was feeling uncontrollably thirsty. It took me half an hour to realise I was not going to drink enough to cover the thirst as it was electrolyte imbalance, salted, diluted orange Juice and a good multi vitamin and minerals sorted that out. I have a blister that covers the whole of the ball of my left foot and my muscles feels like they are shot today. I fell asleep without taking my thyroid meds last night so I have a headache. I can’t believe I am going to turn myself around and do it all again in 11weeks.

So my time 3:31.

My thoughts. Out of the last nine weeks of training 6 of them were impaired, 3 with flu and 3 looking after my Dad. I am not as fit as I used to be. It is one year on 9th March since the kidney donation, I haven’t got back to full fitness yet.

Hehe it was not the comeback I was hoping for but as my best mate said you did it!

Happy healthy running to you all.

Rfc x.

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Realfoodieclub profile image
Realfoodieclub
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79 Replies
neddytime profile image
neddytime

Wow! You are amazing!

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toneddytime

Thank you, hehe don’t feel it today 😀

neddytime profile image
neddytime in reply toRealfoodieclub

I did my first 10k yesterday, I know the aches are going to get me later! Take care of yourself.

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate10

Gosh RFC you are certainly made of strong stuff to finish... you certainly earned that medal...... The mental determination to continue is exhausting and you must be utterly shattered today in every sense. You have had so much to cope with over the last year and as your best mate said, you did it.... huge well done and take good care of yourself this week.... XXX

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toju-ju-

Thanks Ju. I am shot today, can’t keep my breakfast down either, but will take it very easy. I think this medal will go at the top of list of. the hardest earned medal.😀.

Millsie-J profile image
Millsie-J

Well done Rfc, again you have shown your true grit and determination!

Take extra good care of yourself and recouperate well. Don’t underestimate the emotional aspect of all you have been through over the past twelve months so be kind to yourself a while xxxx

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toMillsie-J

Thank you. Yes, I think a lot of what was going on yesterday was a fight within myself, I was determined,come what may to prove I could do this and I probably wasn’t that ready. My electrolytes feel terribly out today, I dosent help that I am throwing up my refueling either. Couch day for me today, I think.

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduate10

My goodness you are made of stern stuff! It's sad when such a triumph is actually a deeply unpleasant experience... see how it goes, it may improve with the mists of time! A really covetable medal you've earned there too.

Hope you feel much better very soon, sounds like your whole system will take a little while to settle and those ball of the foot blisters are *sore*.

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toGoogleMe

Thank you. That medal will go front of place now, I think. Steady away with recovery and thank goodness for memory foam slippers 😀.

Sparkin78 profile image
Sparkin78

Sounds pretty incredible to me!! Amazing well done!😃

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toSparkin78

Thank you 😀

Whatsapp profile image
WhatsappGraduate10

Well done. I did a HM in Eastbourne yeaterday (my first) and I can testify that the last few Kms are tough. The weather was also quite awful to boot. Well done again, very funky medal.

The pain is temporary, but the glory will last forever!!

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toWhatsapp

Well done on Your HM. Epsome salts in your bath and good food with rest the pain will heal quicker. Take care and bask In The joy that is your first HM 🥇.

Whatsapp profile image
WhatsappGraduate10 in reply toRealfoodieclub

All I could think about after that run was a hot bath!

HeleneCorsa profile image
HeleneCorsaGraduate10 in reply toWhatsapp

Well done!!

Wizziewood profile image
WizziewoodGraduate10

Wow!, what an achievement, well done you. You have my total respect.

I hope you're taking a rest for a few days, the mental and physical effort were enormous, you must be very strong.

Take care!

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toWizziewood

Thank you. Total couch day today, MrRfc is doing all the cooking and I am catching up on telly . Hehe I might just get used to it. 😀.

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnGraduate10

True Grit.

You are an inspiration to us all RFC. ☺

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toIrish-John

Thank you Irish-John 😀.

SaskAlliecat profile image
SaskAlliecatGraduate10

Wow! It was a tough one, but you kept going. Thank you for sharing with us that it isn't all roses and sunshine. It will help those of us that are in a similar position of running a HM despite not feeling completely prepared. I know I'll be thinking about your grit and determination when I run mine later this month.

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toSaskAlliecat

Thank you. I have always said you don’t do a HM lightly and I really thought it would be fine, I guess I was still believing my base line fitness was better than it actually is.

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toSaskAlliecat

SaskAlliecat Rereading this this morning what I should of actually said was good luck for your HM, take it all in your own time and you will be fine 😀.

SaskAlliecat profile image
SaskAlliecatGraduate10 in reply toRealfoodieclub

Thanks RFC. Mine isn't an organized event but a virtual run through virtualrunneruk. I'm not sure if that'll be a benefit or a detriment. I won't feel the pressure to go too fast because of other quicker runners and atmosphere, but I also won't have the atmosphere to help push through the last few km. That is why posts like yours help. I'll just have to think how you did it and persevered. Hope you're recovering well.

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate10

You made it to the finish line Rfc...what tremendous effort and strength of character that shows.

I've seen it said on here before, that its getting through the really tough times that shows your mettle, and to push through the pain and exhaustion like you did shows how brave and strong you are.

You so wanted to compete in that HM and you did! The medal is amazing and you fully deserve to be proud of yourself, and you will once you have recovered.

I hope everything starts to ease very soon and you begin to feel better.

Huge Well done and my respect too.👏👏👏👏👏

😊xxxx

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toBluebirdrunner

Thank you. I still have no idea how I did it .😀. Hopefully I will feel a bit better tomorrow, I am still struggling today. ☹️.

Madge50 profile image
Madge50Graduate10

Oh wow Rfc, so well done 👏, you are brilliant, I’m not sure I could have continued, but you did, you made it. The thought of that blister is making me wince..... rest good and proper now. Be proud, very proud of that bling, you’re no wuss lady, look what you did..💪🏅

Big hug 🤗

Mx

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toMadge50

Thank you. Oh that blister is going to take some time to heal I think. Every HM I have ever done I have got blisters. I had talc, pop socks and socks and still it happened, never does in training though.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate10

Gosh and gosh again.

Thank you for sharing that.. so emotional and inspiring...you have had so much to deal with... and always for other people...as ever:)

You did it.. you did amazingly, now take care of you and recover. xx

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toOldfloss

Thank you. I am even allowing myself to be pampered and looked after today, it feels so strange 😀.

Decker profile image
Decker

Huge respect to you RFC. The mental and physical resolve you drew on to complete this race ran very deep and is a real inspiration. You have been tested and come out the other side. If I had a hat it would certainly be off to you.

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toDecker

Thank you. I find it hard to quit once I have started, my Mum used to call it my pig headed stubbornness. 😀.

Decker profile image
Decker in reply toRealfoodieclub

Well, whatever you call it, you made it work! 👍🏼💪🤜

Megzy24 profile image
Megzy24

You are a inspiration!! Very well done!!!!

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toMegzy24

Thank you 😀.

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeGraduate10

We knew you were tough............

Some runs are good, some are bad, but they are all runs.

Well done.

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toIannodaTruffe

Thank you. This one will definitely go down in my personal history books as the toughest, but hey I have a book of runs, how cool is that 😀.

Fionn42 profile image
Fionn42

You are an inspiration but oh gawd, that blister sounds awful. I once had blisters so bad on my heels I was actually sick with the pain.

Get better soon and flipping well done for completing that mighty challenge! I am in awe!

🥇🏆🤸🏼‍♀️😁

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toFionn42

Thank you. For some reason I always get a blister while doing an event, still working on a solution.

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate10

Yes you did do it! Love the medal by the way. It was worth to get that baby, right. Not being shallow or nothin 😁

I’m sorry it didn’t go according to plan but we can’t know. It’s always a leap of faith isn’t it. Good on you for even doing it! 💪👍

Rest up now matey 🙂 Get some extra 💤 if poss 🙂

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply tomisswobble

Thank you. It is a great medal isnt it, should sleep well,again tonight. 😀.

AndyD profile image
AndyDGraduate10

Awesome!!!! Many people would have DNF'd, but you had the grit and determination to finish the job... Really well done and lovely bling :-)

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toAndyD

Thank you 😀

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate10

You are a fighter RFC , Massive respect to you for getting over the finishing line.

Congratulations to you ( I was welling up reading that )

Really Well done !

Hope youre feeling a bit better xxx

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply topoppypug

Thank you Pops. I was thinking of you. At one point I got overtaken by a girl on stilts and I thought of you and your giraffe. 😀.

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate10 in reply toRealfoodieclub

Ha ha 😁

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate10 in reply toRealfoodieclub

Ha ha ! :-D I am hoping to see him at the GMR in May for the revenge match ! :-) xxx

Fishypieface profile image
FishypiefaceGraduate10

wow....wow.....wow.... and WOW! Am in complete awe, in spite of everything you still did it. Just flipping amazing.

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toFishypieface

Thank you. 😀.

Cornet-Carolyn profile image
Cornet-CarolynGraduate10

Wow what a day. Congratulations on finishing I can't imagine how that felt. Well done on your well deserved medal 🥇

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toCornet-Carolyn

Thank you. hehe it feels a bit different today than it did Sunday.

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate10

I was thrilled to meet you, you are one gutsy lady. This forum is magic, creating links between people.

I wouldn't have lasted with a blister like that, you're nothing short of awesome. I hope it feels better soon. I hope we get to meet up again the next time I'm in the area :)

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply tomfamilias

Thank you, it was so good to meet up, best start of a run I have ever had. Feeling so much better today, just a little ache in my right calf and blister healing. it really was the Lucozade. Already printed off my next training plan this morning ready to start in two weeks. By the way on Twitter they are asking us to send the shoe tags back as they thought we would be too cold at the end to have us standing around waiting for them to be taken off. there is a prepaid envelope that came in the pack.

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10

Oh, a half marathon may be tough -but you are made of stronger stuff!! Rfc you are, as always, an inspiration and I salute you!...Just rest up well now please!😁x

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toSandraj39

Thank you, I am resting for the next two weeks then start again ready for 20th May. I am feeling so much better, it really was an intolerance reaction to the Lucozade.

Nictwit profile image
Nictwit

You are AMAZING. That is all 😀

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toNictwit

Thank you so much.

pollyp1 profile image
pollyp1Graduate10

Wow. Just wow.

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply topollyp1

Thank you.

PippiRuns profile image
PippiRuns

You certainly did it RFC! Wow. You have my deepest respect! And you are BACK!

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toPippiRuns

Thank you, Now that I have got over the intolerance feelings from the Lucozade. I feel great and very energised, Yes I do feel back.

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Graduate10

Wow, what a race report! Sorry to hear about your pain but many congratulations for finishing. I love the medal 😀

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toskysue16

Thank you. I love the medal, just a little different. feeling great this morning.

I am completely in awe of the way you kept going, the deep well of fortitude that you found. You should be very very proud!

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply to

Thank you. luckily it is becoming a distant memory every hour.

HeleneCorsa profile image
HeleneCorsaGraduate10

What grit and determination. I am sorry the experience was not what you would perhaps have wished for but you showed yourself (again) to be made of very strong stuff.

Well done on your hard-earned medal, and I hope you feel better very soon.

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toHeleneCorsa

Thank you. I am already feeling loads better. I can walk on the blister without memory foam insoles, so it wont take too long to heal.

agedsnailspace profile image
agedsnailspaceGraduate10

RFC, I was there, too! Ìt was a tough run (those cobbles were killers). When the sun came out at the start, we thought we were going to have a great run, but as things progressed, it turned colder and despite running got very cold towards the end (I was fantasizing about a mug of tea from about 17k - Would have killed for one!). My friend and I ran well till the cobbles. She has a weak ankle and they just about finished her off. Well done You on getting round with blisters! I don't think I would have had the grit to keep going. In 11 weeks time, it will be a whole new ball game - you will ace it!

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toagedsnailspace

Thank you. It has done me so much good to read someone else's account of the weather because I just put it down to me not coping rather than there might of been external factors that were happening as well. The cobbles...... they will always go down in my history as the most embarrassing, it was then that the girl on stilts over took me as she moved on to the pavement and I couldn't keep up with her.

agedsnailspace profile image
agedsnailspaceGraduate10 in reply toRealfoodieclub

I saw her - awesome! We were roundly beaten by a rhino and a tractor, but were stoked that we managed to come in ahead of the Ghostbusters in their car. How those guys managed, I have no idea.

Well done again. It was not an easy run.

wallruns profile image
wallrunsGraduate10

You are totally inspirational. Hope you feel better soon.

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply towallruns

Thank you, I am already feeling so much better. I have found out It was an intolerance to Lucozade sport that caused a lot of my illness.

ancientrunner profile image
ancientrunnerGraduate10

As your mate said Rfc - you did it, and I certainly admire you for doing so. That's an incredibly long way to go with a blister. Hope you are feeling better now and can appreciate your achievement in such circumstances and interrupted build up. Hopefully worth it for that very nice medal. Read your later post as well and have to agree why the need for sweeteners in an energy drink. Bizarre isn't it to just get blisters at events. I only have nausea problems at events but now feel that's probably adrenaline or something, but blisters are different. Very well done, rest up now and the next one will be better.

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toancientrunner

Thank you, I am feeling so much better that the main pressure must of come from the drink. The news today is that they are pushing for more sweeteners to be put in our food chain. yippee. The blisters I really don't know what to do, this time memory foam insoles. proper socks, pop socks and talc. I suppose the good news is only blistered on one foot rather than both, so I suppose that is a positive. Nausea must be difficult. I hope it goes soon after you start.

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphGraduate10

You are amazing, Rfc. I've just read your other post about the Lucozade and that makes it even more incredible - not only did you have the blisters etc but you ran this while being poisoned! Talk about grit and determination - you are awesome.

Rest up now and recover, and appreciate your stupendous achievement in the face of such odds.

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toAnniemurph

Thank you. Now I am a day away I really feel like I was poisoned. I felt so ill yesterday I nearly rang the doctor for advice. I suppose because it was the first since the donation I was worried it was kidney related. It was only when Mr Rfc had gone to the pharmacy for advice on electrolytes that pharmacist couldn't find one without sweeteners in, including Sport in science Hi 5, then it dawned on me what had happened, checked the ingredients of Lucozade and it all made sense. An antihistamine later and I started coming round.

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphGraduate10 in reply toRealfoodieclub

The first time I went to Arizona (a long time ago before I started running) and was staggered by the dry heat, a friend told me to keep drinking and drinking, and if I started to feel odd, to make my own recovery drink. She always carried with her small packets of salt and sugar from fast-food restaurants which she could add to water. I still follow her advice when I travel even now! It is weird that sweeteners are everywhere, with our heightened awareness of allergies and intolerances.

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toAnniemurph

I like the idea of the sachets, that is a great way to just use what you want when you need it.

Ajs07 profile image
Ajs07Graduate10

Wow, that is determination and you are one tough cookie!! Massive well done xx

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate10 in reply toAjs07

Thank you. 😀.

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