HU Spring 23 HM

[Freecloud]

I will hopefully try to keep this as brief as possible.

I am pleased to say that I completed the HU Spring 23 HM. However, it was not an easy on as almost everything from the start seemed to try to put a spanner in the works. Firstly I woke up at 4am this morning and my brain just did its usual of thinking it was time to wake up now and went into its usual hyper self, so that was it for the night. I’d set the alarm for 7:40 but was almost ready to sleep again by that time. I had 2 snoozes and just gave up on the 2nd one and got up.

Then my brain must have cunningly told my gut that I was going for a run. It always knows this and tries to stop me. Usually it tries and if it doesn’t succeed it makes sure I have to stop me somewhere and let me know who’s boss… Anyway, I start to make silly mistakes and sometimes need to take a break from work as a result of the lack of sleep. This unfortunately was one of those times where I was at a very low point and the last thing I needed to do was a marathon… Boy was I wrecked waiting there that morning at Stormont. But I’m a stubborn so and so and don’t give up. I have written a bit about the marathon but not posted it yet and not sure if I will. Its mostly to do with lack of sleep the reasons why, what I have tried and how running has helped.

Back to this morning, I changed into my gear and the trainers I chose for the run, went downstairs and started to mix my tailwind drink and pour it into my hydration bag. My gut said hello again and I had to dash off. Back to the bag, had a banana, got some jelly babies for the run and a couple of gels just in case. I was already running behind schedule at this stage so was in a bit of a calm panic (if that’s a thing), I got my glasses and hat, locked the front door and my back felt wet. I was in a bit of a dilemma, walked a few steps away and then saw sense and went back, changed the bag for my other one and quickly set off. I set the HU playlist earlier and paused it at the start of the first song. I had also set NRC up for the half marathon run and started that and started my watch. I must have pressed unguided run on NRC by mistake and had to stop again to reset everything and set off again running up that hill. I chose to run slowly up the steeper hill as its only about a km, the hill the other way is about 4km, not as steep but a bit draining for a long run sometimes. I got halfway up the hill and I felt wet again only this time it was much worse than before. The hell was I going to waste more time by going back so I carried on running whilst trying to work out what to do until I passed a work colleagues field transferred what I could from the bag to the pockets in my shorts (luckily I had purchased shorts that have a build in belt pocket band going all the way around waist, a bit like decathlon ones) dumped the bag and went off running again. My back and shorts were soaked and my hands were all sticky, they will dry. I carried on and apart from my heartrate was grand. I tried to control it by slowing a bit and in the end I decided to walk just before I hit 6k, it went down to green and I waited for it to go into the blue for a few seconds before starting off again.

The reason I concerned about my HR was that my intention was for this to be a nice slow run at a nice manageable pace. I was running at the pace I wanted but the heart was 10 – 15 beats faster than it should be and I didn’t want that to continue. I have been working very hard with low HR running over the last 4 months or so and didn’t want to mess it up. I only really started to settle down at this point and started to listen to the music. Proud Mary with Ike and Tina came on and I thought this was great and what I needed and I really found my running rhythm with it when it got so the faster beats. Then another song came on, I liked that, and another, and another and I liked them all. Yeah I had my suspicions at proud Mary but there was no way I was stopping again. I did stop to take a couple of pictures of a great view on the mountain, unfortunately photos never do it justice.

The rest of the run was quite normal. I did feel the fatigue from the marathon and lack of sleep quite heavily during this run and walked for another small bit going up a small steep hill where there happened to be a small dog in the garden and I didn’t want it hopping the wall and going for me. I have had that a couple of times recently and its quite scary especially when you feel them at your leg and start running like a deer…

I did think about running faster for the last 5k, I only barely managed it for ¾ of a km and then listen to the almighty Bennet and followed his sensible instructions. In fact I think his coaching throughout this run was what kept me going. He gives very good advice and I mostly tried to follow it.

Anyway, run done and report done. I have a 10k to do next. Looking back I should have had common sense and did the 10k today. It honestly didn’t register with me that I could do that. I had planned to run it on Wednesday and in all honesty, there is no way I am going to be foolish enough to do that. I have another HM organized next week (yes I know) and I will only be doing 2 small timed runs before then. So I will be doing what Kevin did today but will be extending the 10k to HM distance……

Goodnight.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Oh wow Freecloud, well done on that hard earned HM. You did it - I’m sure I’d have called it a day with all those hiccups! You’re clearly made of strong stuff. Really well done, and good luck with your 10k too. 👏👏👏

[Freecloud Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks very much Cheekychipmunks. Ah, It was just another run with a little something thrown in to remember it by 🤣. I will get 2 chances to get my 10k right next weekend 🤣. I'm seriously contemplating not running at all before it to give myself time to really recover. However, I might go on a cycle or 2.

[Skiddle1 Marathon]

Well done for completion and for the self discipline! Hope you slept better last night. 😴

[Freecloud Marathon in reply to Skiddle1]

Thanks very much Skiddle1. I am very pleased to say that I had a better than usual sleep last night 😀.

[Cowladyrunning Marathon]

Wow you sound like you have loads of runs planned. Very wel, done for getting this one done despite the challenges!

[Freecloud Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Thanks very much Cowladyrunning. I sure have run a lot of events recently 🤣! I only have 2 left so far for this year, the one on the weekend and another HM in a beautiful part of the country in Kilkee in the west. I'm also contemplating another marathon or maybe 2 for the year and that should be it. Last year was my first full year running and it all went so well, I thought I was on a roll and booked 4 HMs, a 10 miler and a marathon for this year. Then I injured my knee at the end of the year.... Luckily I managed to work with it and get it ready in time, but it did teach me a lesson (I hope).

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to Freecloud]

Ooo very ambitious! Glad you came back OK from knee injury. (Ps I agree with IP below - definitely share your marathon story - my daughter is dyslexic and uses all sorts of free apps to help her write her documents / reports. Technology is useful sometimes!) (Also a lot of the time she is better writer than me)

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

That sounds more like an obstacle course than a run! But hats off to you for carrying on and completing it 💪 Well done.

You should definitely post about your marathon experience. All experiences, good or bad, make essential reading for us runners. And I’m sure many of us (myself included) can identify with those horrible lack of sleep feelings so we can sympathise with you.

[Freecloud Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks very much IP, I will post about the marathon, it's something I want to do when I have worked out the direction on how to write it. I know it will take time, especially since I’m a slow writer and having to consistently stop, change words and rewrite sentences due to my dyslexia.

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

That run shows how determined you are, a beautiful place to run and the distraction if CB and music really seemed to keep you going, nit sure if I'd have carried in after the first wet back and the second would surely have sent me home. Lack of sleep really impacts, so I'm super impressed and hope you can rest now

[Freecloud Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks very much Sola, it is a beautiful if hilly place to run, right next to the sea and mountains. I think its determination and need that keeps my going on in the runs when they don't work out, it also gives me something to write about 🤣.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Wow you're busy! Congratulations on getting through that despite the bumpy start! Well done!!!

[Freecloud Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks very much linda9389 😀

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

I have been reading about things people do in the build up to “big runs”. Last week I started thinking about things I might need to change for this week. Fortunately I found an article headed 9 things not to do in the build up to a run. My bad ideas included trying to lose 4lbs in weight, did I need new shoes (I almost put my cloudflyers on for my HM this morning by mistake!) , should I do some weight training and so on. Bit of big occasion tension.

[Freecloud Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Yup its mostly always the big runs that get me and I do try my best to eliminate them from happening on the day. I have read articles and most of them offer the same advice. I stick rigidly to the ones I can control, such as clothing and shoes. The ones I cannot control could be anxiety related or just bad luck 🤣.

[Kevin41 Half Marathon]

Amazing to think you managed a HM with all that going on and straight after a Marathon. You really are the benchmark for determination and resilience!!!

Huge congratulations on completing it and best of luck for a great run in next weeks HM.

[Freecloud Marathon in reply to Kevin41]

Ha ha, I think it's like my addiction 😂. Thanks very much Kevin.

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Determined and strong...What a run.... very well done you!!!

[Freecloud Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks very much Oldfloss, much appreciated 👍