August 2017 Running Challenge

My First Marathon – Sunday August 27 2017

On Friday I rested while travelling 500 km in 9 hours to get to my Auntie’s house which was 2 km from the event. I slept really well on Friday night, and on Saturday I walked parkrun and met several people who were at the event on Sunday and we were able to cheer each other on.

Saturday night I got to sleep before 7 pm and woke at 4 am after a nightmare about not waking early for my marathon and not being able to find my favourite leggings with the pockets I needed. Once awake, I had my usual breakfast, and got ready in good time with no panicking.

I arrived at the event at 6:35 for a 7 am start. Quick loo stop, then I met 2 women I know from an Australian running Facebook group and they waited with me in the 4 degree Celsius breeze. J was doing the 10 km and the other was doing the half. The start was delayed 10 minutes while we waited for traffic lights to be sorted. There were 70 people running the marathon.

I was few seconds faster than my goal race pace (my aim was 6:42 per km (10:47 per mile)) for the first 7 km but I wasn’t checking my pace after the watch alert for each km, rather just what it looked like at the time I looked, so I thought I was on target. My 2 friends cheered me at 14 km, the end of the first lap (1 of 3). I noticed I kept speeding up when they, other runners, and volunteers cheered me on. Had to watch out for that and reign back!

It was a nice course, round a lake and along concrete and bitumen paths beside the Goulburn and Broken Rivers. Lots of gum and wattle trees, so the scenery was nice to enjoy.





I’d made friends with 2 marshals along the way, and exchanged happy banter with them each time I passed them. It’s so nice to cheer others along and to be cheered, I was smiling a lot throughout the race.

My pace gradually slowed after I passed the half way mark. My left shoe felt too tight but my fingers were numb so I didn’t attempt to retie it.

My fueling strategy worked well, though. A Wiggle lemon & lime gel every 8 km up to 32 km, then one again at 37 km, 5 gels in total. I wore my Camelbak which held the water I needed to take with the gels, and had pockets for the gels, tissues, emergency supplies. I didn’t need to stop for any of the water, energy drink, or lollies kindly offered at the ample aid stations.

My wonderful friend J turned up at the 32 km point and videoed me and cheered me on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B20lj5kVBsw

33 km was my slowest split. My hip tendons (?) were starting to hurt, and my black toenail on my right foot was getting a matching blood blister. But I’d done 34 km in training, so passing that mark was a psychological boost and my times improved again.

I kept running the whole way, with the memory of the words of encouragement from all my running buddies and close friends reminding me I could do this. I also told myself I’d walked 50 km and been on my feet for over 10 hours in May, so FFS, woman, sort yourself out! Passing my marshal friends for the last time was a huge milestone too.

J turned up again at 40 km and ran with me for about half a km!

Then the final section near the lake, and crossing the finish line! J was there to cheer and video again!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4pkGpzGCWE

I was given a lovely medal.



My Garmin still said 42.1 km so I had to do an extra 120 metres to get my marathon onto Garmin/Strava. That hurt!


TLDR: I ran my first marathon! I finished in under 5 hours! I ran all the way!
Official Time 4:54:43. Average pace 6:59 per km (11:14 per mile);
12th of 17 women who ran it; 8th of 12 in my age group 40-59.
Incredibly happy with myself and incredibly grateful to all my friends for supporting me.

JessicaMcB wrote: »

@skippygirlsmom if you and Skip are ever in the Canadian rockies drop me a line! @juliet3455 would probably know way cooler places to run than I would but you know, I'd bring myself and an absurd amount of gear to the table

@JessicaMcB I am with you in that if any MFP runner - friend - athlete comes into our neck of the woods ( and my schedule allows a mini vacation ) I would gladly join them for a run through the Northern/Central AB Mountains or Bush trails. With all the events in Alberta/BC a visitor could stack events a week apart if they could recover in time.
A friend from our little club just did the Blackspur Ultra 54 k and Fat Dog 70 miler. She is a Beast, all 110 lbs - 4ft 11in of her.

I don't know if my running areas are cooler than anyone else's, some of those Trail Pics you post are so tempting. I am a minimalist when it comes to gear, My Nigel pass run in Jasper this summer - Day Bag, 2 liters water, hat, light jacket, mini First Aid Kit, lunch = 9.5 lbs.
I am already starting to plan next year so I can hit the NATS with two events in May " May 2 (Grande Prairie) and May 27 (Grande Cache). " Jasper HM in April and after having so much fun at the Emperor's Challenge it is definitely on my list for next year. Not to mention I want to go back and get a Silver Medal to go with this years Bronze Medal.
My niece and her neighbor want to do CDR as a team so I am probably going to be support for them. So this spring/summer I plan on getting to GC to run ( walk) a few legs with some of my Peace River and Grande Prairie friends.

Just got back from a weekend at my brothers Cabin at Slave Lake so time to go for a run.

Intended to run 10 this morning and headed out with Hobbes in the 68F (90% humidity) morning. Unfortunately it was 80F by the time I hit 5 miles and Hobbes was way too hot. I knew his feet had to be burning even though we were keeping on the dirt as much as possible, mine were hot and I had shoes on! Instead I just headed home but if I had known I was so very close to my goal I would have gone one lap more around the cul-de-sac!
Tomorrow I am off in the morning to Dallas and hope I can get my intervals in on the treadmill in the gym.

I hope anyone who is in the in the Harvey zone or have family there that you and they are safe!

Date........Miles.......Total
08/01......5.49........5.49 - + Strength Training
08/02......0.00........5.49
08/03......5.13......10.62 - Treadmill
08/04......0.00......10.62 - + kr30dc day 1, Strength Training
08/05......9.69......20.31 - + kr30dc day 2
08/06......0.00......20.31 - + kr30dc day 3
08/07......4.47......24.78 - + kr30dc day 4, Agility
08/08......0.00......24.78 - + kr30dc day 5, Strength Training
08/09......5.09......29.87 - + kr30dc day 6
08/10......0.00......29.87 - + kr30dc day 7, Strength Training
08/11......4.44......34.31
08/12......4.91......39.22
08/13......0.00......39.22
08/14......3.52......42.74 - Intervals + kr30dc day 8, Agility
08/15......0.00......42.74 - + kr30dc day 9, Strength Training
08/16......0.00......42.74 - + kr30dc day 10
08/17......5.50......48.24 - + kr30dc day 11, Strength Training
08/18......4.65......52.89
08/19......8.10......60.99
08/20......2.00......62.99 - Dog Beach walk/run
08/21......4.01......67.00 - Intervals + Agility
08/22......4.81......71.81 - + Strength Training
08/23......0.00......71.81
08/24......4.31......76.12 - Intervals+ Strength Training
08/25......5.30......81.42
08/26......0.00......81.42
08/27......7.52......88.94



My completed and upcoming
02/05/17 - Surf City Half Marathon
07/23/17 - San Francisco 1st Half Marathon
10/14/17 - AIM for the Cure Melanoma 5K Walk/Run
12/16/17 - San Diego Holiday Half Marathon
02/04/18 - Surf City Half Marathon
07/22/18 - San Francisco 2nd Half Marathon

8/1 - 5 miles
8/2 - 4 miles
8/3 - 6 miles
8/4 - rest day
8/5 - 8 miles
8/6 - 3 miles
8/7 - 0 miles - rest day
8/8 - 5 miles
8/9 - 5 miles
8/10 - 5.6 miles happy birthday run - see what I did there 5.6 miles
8/11 - rest day
8/12 - 4 miles
8/13 - 10 miles
8/14 - 3 miles
8/15 – rest day rest day my legs said they need a rest day
8/16 - 5 miles
8/17 - 2 miles
8/18 - 5 miles wow it was like running a swamp out there today
8/19 - 2 miles
8/20 - 0 miles decided to take a rest day
8/21 - 5 miles
8/22 - 4 miles
8/23 – 0 miles rest day
8/24 - 6 miles
8/25 - 5 miles
8/26 - 3 miles
8/27 - 4 miles
8/28 - 4 miles

103 of 100 miles



I'm probably going to take the next 2 days as rest days. I need the day tomorrow for use and Wednesday morning I'll be out of town with Skip and have zero plans to run through the city of Montgomery.

Well, Sunday didn't happen.

I had a great time with my son most of the day, but then I had to take him home for the week. That got my depression going, and I just felt too down and exhausted to do anything but hang out in bed and listen to the radio. It happens. I still feel somewhat guilty about it, primarily because so many people were running huge distances this weekend and I was just like, meh, too lazy.

My anxiety and depression have been really bad this month, and it's definitely affected my running. It's also made my IBS act up big time, which also affects my running. So it's just not been a good month for mileage, which sucks because the weather has been mostly good for getting outside.

I probably won't be here for September's challenge. I want to take a month off and concentrate on my mental and physical health. I'll still run, I'm sure, but I don't want to feel pressured or guilty about it, which I frequently do when I follow what other people are doing.

I may look into other forms of exercise for a while. Maybe I'll get a bike. Maybe I'll walk more. Maybe I'll take up yoga for relaxation. Who knows. I just know that I need to do this for myself and not to try to impress others.

I hope everyone has a great rest of the month, and best of luck to everyone in September. I'll be back.