I was feeling better.....then this turned up! 😱

[Madge50]

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear........there was me starting to feel a bit happy at getting 20k last week, one more planned for tomorrow........, then this came through the letter box, the immediate feeling of butterflies/nausea.........and the need for the loo! 😂

And do you know what I'm really worried about......toilets! Yes, toilets......😂, I'm panicking that, 'just in case' there aren't any on the course........ to date, I've been fine on my runs - so I'm not sure why this is haunting me.......plus it will be an early start so I will have got rid of my morning tea by then.....😄.

Or is it because I'm a lady of a certain age, going through a certain change, that does occasionally cause an 'oooppps' moment........

Aaarrrggghhh! 😱😱😱😱😱😱

Mx

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon]

Oh Madge you'll be fine! Come to my house if you need a wee!

[Madge50 Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

Ha ha......I just might do that......😂.......honestly, this is such a roller coaster.......my head was on the floor last week, at parkrun I felt better and a little excited.......now I'm nervous again....I need to get that last 20k out the way tomorrow.....then maybe I'll start to believe I can actually do it......😂

Mx

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Madge50]

I can understand that, running is always like that for me. I get my high at weird times of day, and I'm up and down most of the time. Of course you can do it, you've done the training and I have faith in you!

BTW I was interested in volunteering, couldn't find anywhere to sign up.. any ideas?

[Madge50 Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

There's an email address

[e-mail] or there's a sign up page:

osbevents.com/volunteers-we....

Try those - that's very good of you, I think you get some freebies......😄.......

Mx

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Madge50]

I saw a man running in a Cam HM volunteer jacket a couple of weeks ago, I'd like one of those! Thanks for the info, I tried searching but only found ways to volunteer in charity shops....

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

Request sent. It's just a week away! Are you tapering?

[Madge50 Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

Will be tapering after the 20k tomorrow.........😬

Mx

[benwill Marathon]

Your be great! don't worry there are always plenty of toilet's if not I heard Cambridge has lots of bushes! If you do your 20km its only more 1km (and 100 meters) and thats nothing so your easily do it.

Just split it up to 4 park runs, we all know how easy one parkrun is. So you just need to one more and your half way there!

[Madge50 Marathon in reply to benwill]

Thanks Ben, calmed down again now.....(a bit..) I chunk it into 5k bits actually - which is where I've also added the fuel/water, I'm pretty excited too, never been involved in such a big event....

See it's ok for you blokes......a bush is ok for you....not for the laydees! 😄 But then there's always a 'paula' aka Paula Radcliffe (roadside squat!) 😂

Mx

[benwill Marathon in reply to Madge50]

keep calm and just breath easy. everything will be like floating on a cloud.

[AnneDroid]

Yikes!

I can feel that adrenaline pumping from here! But it's all part of the experience and afterwards you'll think you enjoyed the feeling and want it again.

[Madge50 Marathon in reply to AnneDroid]

Hi Anne, yes I expect I will - in amongst the tears of sheer relief...😄

Here we go.....come on...!

Mx

[Hidden]

Oh I know exactly how you feel. I would worry about 'toilets' (I hate queues too) and me being a running imposter! I am sadly a very early woman of a certain age (just about 40yrs when it kicked off) so I totally get the sudden need lol. Fortunately I have not had any issues with this when running but I haven't managed anywhere near your distances. I am very impressed with your training and I am sure you will be fine. I always find the pre-emptive anxiety so much worse than when I just 'do it'.

[Madge50 Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Thanks H, I know, .....running imposter you say.....I don't think that's true for you. 🤔

Once I get there I'll be itching to go.....😄

Mx

[Dunder2004 Half Marathon]

Two weeks eh?

No worries, Madge - I am sure you will be absolutely fine. You have done the training and have already done, nearly, the full race distance and as long as you are properly fed and watered you will be on 'autopilot' for most of the time.

All the best.

[Madge50 Marathon in reply to Dunder2004]

Many thanks Dunder.Mx

[poppypug Marathon]

Eeeek Madge ! It's really real now ! I must've gone to the loo loadsa times before my HM , and then when I got on the starting line I thought " I need a wee !!! " I think it was a combination of nerves and the cold weather !

They had portaloos around the route , but once I got going , I was fine and it never crossed my mind again

Have you sorted out your nibbles and drinks for the route ? xxx

[Madge50 Marathon in reply to poppypug]

Thanks pops, other half did it last year and recalls there were some portaloos somewhere, but the route does go past a pub about 7-8 miles out, so that's an option 😄.......if needed.......there is always the 'paula' if I get really desperate 😂

I have tried dried fruit in the past but found it too 'dry' with bits getting stuck on my teeth, I try to avoid anything too dry as I mouth breathe - especially towards the later stages, tried jelly babies, they're ok, but I can only take a max of 3 at a time as I find them too sweet and end up with a sicky feeling if I take too many. I'm using caffeine free gels and jelly babies, gel at 5k + a bit of water, jb's at 10k + water, gel at 15k + water, then a standby stash of Jb's. There are gels and water on route - about every 3 miles, so I'm only going to carry jb's and maybe one gel.

I will have a stash of homemade oat energy bars in my bag for afterwards 😄

Fingers crossed it'll work, although, I'm not sure whether to wear my fuel belt anyway (2 water bottles) for that reassurance?

Mx

[poppypug Marathon]

Ah sounds like a good plan Madge, I am paranoid about not having enough water , but I only took one bottle as there were lots of water stations, ( more than you could shake a stick at tbh ) I had a glug of it when I had some raisins and a piece of my protein bar every 5k .

You will be fine xxx

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Oh Madge? You mean you are really doing a proper, real Half Marathon? As in with lots of other runners? All running a very long way and stuff?😉 ... You'll be fine on the day and toilets will not be an issue if they never have been before. Am really excited for you and just think, you will be bouncing around, celebrating in your bling and I will still have a week to wait!😮 Good luck with your next long one tomorrow too! x

[Madge50 Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you so much Sandra.......I am actually looking forward to tomorrow's '20' 😄.............strangely enough!......

Mx

[aliboo70 Half Marathon in reply to Madge50]

You'll be fine Madge! I'm terrible for worrying about the loo but I don't think I've needed it on any of my long runs. I think it's definitely psychological which is why I always have a last wee just a bit before the start ! I'm sure a big race like yours will have ones on the course if needed.......

Exciting stuff!!! And your number looks like a lucky one. Enjoy your run tomorrow 😆

[Madge50 Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks aliboo, .......I'm also looking forward to hopefully achieving that 'half marathon' badge on here......fingers crossed......😄

Mx

[Madge50 Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Oh and, not sure about the bouncing around, I'll be representing the 'it's all over emoji' by laying in bed......sleeping......with my medal on! 😂

Mx

[ancientrunner Half Marathon]

I know all those feelings, the next thing is odd running related dreams. Did need a wee on the GNR and bizarrely spotted a solitary portaloo up a side street with no queues, but there were lots about anyway. You will be fine, I recall you saying you did 20k 3 times on your programme and think that's really good, mine just went o 19 once. I will be starting training for the GNR again soon and am definitely going to adjust the plan myself to fit that in. I just know you'll be great.

[Madge50 Marathon in reply to ancientrunner]

Thanks ar, the plan only went to 10.5 miles twice, it assumed no longer distance than 10k, as I'd done two 10 milers I just adjusted it a bit and went up in kilometres instead of miles for this last few weeks, I.e 3 x 15k, 1 x 5k, 1 x 20k, 1 x 8k, then today's 20k, then it'll be max 8k x 2 + possibly one walk/jog 5k - if I can fit it in....😄

This roller coaster is daft! Feeling better again now and had a dream about taking a selfie in the starting pen.....😂

Mx

[ancientrunner Half Marathon]

With that behind you will be flying. I went to the athletics last weekend and saw Mo Farah run. I was so tense and the outcome doesn't really affect me. I can't imagine how he must feel, I suppose it is all down to self belief.

[Madge50 Marathon in reply to ancientrunner]

Wow, that must have been fantastic, how exciting! He is amazing.

Well I've done the 20k, it was very hard, a fair few walk breaks in there, but I finished it, glad to be tapering now!

Thanks for your lovely comments and encouragement 🤗

Mx

[aliboo70 Half Marathon in reply to Madge50]

well done Madge thats brilliant

[ju-ju- Marathon]

... and breathe....they usually do have loos on the way, or a bush at least!!! Good luck!!!

[Tomas Marathon]

Wow, it's getting exciting now with the bib arriving and everything. You'll do great, you have proven that you can stand the distance, and I'm sure there will be toilet facilities. Just focus on having a brilliant run

Btw, I also chunk my long runs up into 5 km chunks. Great minds and all that

[Madge50 Marathon in reply to Tomas]

Thanks Tomas, I'm glad my last long training run is done, the training really is the hardest bit...😬.......one thing this has taught me is a great respect for the distance, I am shocked at how some people hardly prepare at all and expect their bodies to carry them - at speed, for over 13 miles........😱

Mx