It is the day after my HM.
I usually write a report on how it went, this year is no different in some ways but in others ways there is a massive difference.
It was my last HM for a couple of years. My physio and doctor have advised me to take a break from distances as my body needs to fully adjust to one kidney and menopause. Predominantly menopause. I am struggling. It is putting my thyroid meds out and we can’t get the dose right so I don’t have the energy I need. I will be doing 10km events instead.
Yesterday was my last HM until 2021/2, but I can promise you it won’t be my last one ever 😀.
It wasn't a Pb, but it also wasn’t my worst time either I did it in 3:10:58. My physio had advised a breakdown of 2 mins Race Walk and 30 seconds run as I have a weakness in my hamstrings that he has been treating me for since April.
I thought my post today would be about the things that are not in the training plans.
The night before. I set out everything on the dining table. I double and triple check everything I need. Water bottles/ backpack. 24 hour stay put water proof make up (yes I’m that person😀) clean clothes, music, bib number and safety pins. Shoes for afterwards, preferably with soft memory foam insoles. Keys and mobile with some cash in it.
I never sleep the night before an event, I am like a kid on Christmas Eve. I wake up every hour to check I haven’t slept in 😀. I am so excited.
My event was 27,000 people. As you travel to your event you see everyone heading in the same direction. I live in London so a train and tube to my event. There are groups of running clubs, groups of friends and singles but you all have the same purpose and there are little smiles between us all. We all know what we are going to do. We all have the same see through bag that goes to bag drop. You can sort of tell the new HM’s they look a little frightened but everyone gives them an extra smile if they are on their own. My first event a group of girls sussed out I was on my own and talked to me all the way to the event and calmed me right down. You see it happen so much and I do it myself if I see it.
My strategy is bag drop first then loo. That way I know exactly how much time I have to wait to go to the loo. If you are a fast runner in an early pen you will have less time for this. I always try and go to the loo before it starts but if I don’t then I will stop en route and go (my event has loos around the course) I have only ever not done this and I ended up with a kidney infection, never again, no Pb is worth that.
After the loos I go out on my own for a few minutes if I have time, I like to focus. You will see people dotted around the perimeter just mentally getting themselves ready. Personally I don’t do the big warm up, I do my own as I am worried I will pull something just before I start.
The start of an event is a strange time for me. It is a slow walk forward then as you near the start line the pace picks up gently by the time you pass the line you are moving with your group and you feel part of the pack. This is when it is really difficult to judge your own pace, I try and tuck myself into the left hand side and find my own pace. My first km is always the fastest of them all because of this. By about 3km I have levelled up into what my pace should be.
Mentally I break the run down two ways.
2 x 10 km plus the extra 1.1km
3 x 7km plus the extra.
I train in km’s, I have tried changing to miles but I really didn’t like it.
My HM training plans always have lots of 7km runs, it is a distance I love. I call it my headspace distance. During the event I will check my watch while thinking about my training times.
For me 10km to 17km goes by the quickest, I zone out and it is my favourite time of the run. By that time i have got to that distance I’m over the halfway mark and on the home stretch.
From 17km to the end, I’m mentally changing the finish time in my head as I calculate what sort of time I’m going to get. This keeps me motivated and spurred on all the way to the end. I am often found chanting to myself, “you’ve got this.” Over and over in the last Km. 😀.
So I’m across the line with my medal and goody bag.
I walk to a quiet patch and sit down. I take my shoes off first, leave my socks on. I stretch my legs and just get my breath. I look through the goody bag for refuel stuff. Yesterday it was a lovely peanut Kind bar and a bag of pop chips. I also got a sparking electrolyte drink so down the hatch that went as well. I decided to forego the two cans of Michelob Ultra lite beer 😀. I noticed quite a few didn’t.
Then it’s off to the changing area. I have a skirt that my lovely Mum had in The 80’s, it is a size 24 and knee length with an elasticated waist. I always take this to my events, it is great for hitching up under my armpits and getting changed with dignity. You can buy posh things for this but they cost a fortune and this works perfectly. Full change and quick wipe down with a towel. I prefer that to wet wipes as I find they dry my skin out and at this time I am dehydrated. My feet love the fresh socks and soft shoes.
Back home after a detour to Greggs, Yes I know! It is my guilty pleasure and there just happens to be a Greggs on the way to the tube. So it is a pasty, hot chocolate and a Pret almond croissant, these are my HM treats, I just love puff pastry so much but I don’t have it very often at all. I had a big pot of homemade chilli at home waiting for me full of all my veg. So all in all a nice balance 😀.
Epsom salts bath 250g for a big soak. It helps with the recovery.
It will take me two days to get back to full hydration and a few weeks for my immune system to bump back up to full strength. So the next few weeks it is the time to treat yourself kindly and don’t push too hard on the exercise.
So the Garmin stats for yesterday
Steps. 42,716. (My HM includes a 5km walk)
Kcalories 4,819. ( even a Greggs doesn’t dent that too much )
With training, planning HM’s are fun. Never to be taken lightly but I do love being in my 50’s and doing them. I will miss it for a few years but I will come back to them.
Photo of the bling 😀 it was a heavy one this year.
Happy running
To you all. Rfc x
it was enlightening to read ur report. Enjoy the next few days resting. 
Run/walk half marathon?
Completed First Running Event
First 5K Event
Janda at Brentwood (Weald Country Park) Half Marathon
