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Everything's easy when you know how

Applegirl26

I've always enjoyed reading the various logs here on boards. I was very lucky that I discovered boards not long after I started running and I spent hours reading thread after thread, writing down many a little nugget of wisdom to help me on my way.

I wanted to start this log before DCM. I joined the novices thread in June and the wonderful mentors there took me under their wing. They have taught me how to run and I will always be indebted to them.

This week is a mega milestone for me and it just felt like the right time to start this log. Who knows, maybe someone out there will enjoy reading it too.

I started running 2 years ago and it quite literally changed my life. I'd even go as far as to say my very first run changed my life.
The word saved could also be used here!

I studied ballet for 11 years and martial arts for 7 years so I was always fairly fit. I had always been interested in running but thought it was something athlete's did and I wasn't an athlete.. For a long time I held a secret ambition to take up running but my shyness held me back.

Okay, short version :

One day I went to the PP with the intention of taking a walk. I thought of my yearning to become a runner and I started to run. I don't know why or how I had the courage that day but I did. I ran down to the zoo without stopping. I was out of breath, I had a stitch, my throat hurt but oh my gosh, I will never forget how amazing it felt. My first experience of that lovely runners high and I was hooked! I went back the next day and did the same thing, soon I was running 4 times a week.

My PB’s aren't amazing but with hard work and the right training I know they will improve.

My times are:
5k: 27:20
10k: 58:32
HM : 2:14:33

So that's me. If I survive this taper madness (it's a real thing y’know!) I'll let you know how the big day goes. This has been my first time to follow a training plan and I've loved every second of it. I think back to that day in the park, after I finished my first run. I was in bits, but glowing. I couldn't help but think of my Daddy who had been a runner, a marathoner, and I wondered what he would say to me if he was there.

“Don't ever forget what you just did here. This is only the beginning for you”.

And it was.
I run DCM in 3 days… Yay!

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Applegirl26

Baby75 wrote: »

I used one for DCM 17 when I was part of the novices group I had it in a bladder I think I had about 1.5 litres in mine but did not need it all. I have a proper hydration vest now which can hold a bladder and two soft flasks in the front

you can play around with it in training and see what works best for you, I like carrying it in the two soft flasks mixed at a stronger concentration making sure I drank plenty of water at the aid stations. that's what I am going to use for Dublin (FX) and mixing up more when I run out at aid stations.

Thanks so much for the advice Baby75. I might have some questions about the pack and tailwind when I start trying it.

Your vest with the bladder and two flasks on the front sounds just like the one I got. I'm dying to try it out! All in good time....

coogy

L, that's such a wonderful race report.

There's clearly still an incredible bond between you and your dad which you write so beautifully about.

I really love how you go into as much detail with the non-racing elements of your report as you do with the actual running itself.

Well done again on a super performance. You rock!

Applegirl26

OOnegative wrote: »

You have a fantastic expressive writing style, really a great read and we still have the Berlin report to look forward to later this year. Delighted you managed to get to the start line & over the moon you squeezed a PB out for yourself.

Am sure your Dad is super proud of you!!

Enjoy the recovery and hit the ground running again in preparation for Berlin.

Thanks so much OOnegative! That means a lot to me.

I sure hope he is, thanks.

Ah Berlin... Its going to be epic. I can't wait to get started but I'm going to do it right. I'm not gonna train harder, I'm gonna train smarter!

I've taken two full weeks out since Manchester. I needed it mentally as much as physically.

effibear

You’re a superstar. Amazing report. I know how hard it is facing into a marathon on the back of injury, but you’ve such an amazing attitude I had a feeling you’d smash it!

Rest up - looking forward to all the training updates for Berlin!

Applegirl26

ariana` wrote: »

Definitely race report of the year material from you again. Truly epic. Such an honest and raw report. I could identify with lots of it but have to admit i doubt i'd have had the strength of character to make that trip on my own. You're so brave. I have no doubt your Dad is very very proud of you, he crossed that line with you as you did with him so many times in the past, what an amazing bond to have. Congratulations on an amazing achievement - you're an inspiration.

Thanks so much ariana. I put some personal stuff in there and I hymned and hawed about taking it out. I decided to leave it all in the report as it was my experience and it wouldn't be an honest report without it. I hoped there'd be others reading who would identify.

Ah you might have gone too ariana. You led us novices last year and that was incredible. You are very strong.

I hope I'm brave. The older I get the more I regret NOT doing things I wanted to when I had the chance. I didn't want Manchester to be on that list.
Thank you so much, I hope he is proud of me.

Applegirl26

coogy wrote: »

L, that's such a wonderful race report.

There's clearly still an incredible bond between you and you your dad which you write so beautifully about.

I really love how you go into as much detail with the non-racing elements of your report as you do with the actual running itself.

Well done again on a super performance. You rock!

Thanks so much coogy, that's lovely to say.
Running has helped me so much to heal. For twenty years I couldn't talk about him no matter how people tried to get me to open up. One day I went for a run in the PP and I've been able to talk about him ever since.
Running is awesome.

You should see my journal! You guys get the edited version believe it or not! Ha!

Thanks so much! Yay!

Applegirl26

effibear wrote: »

You’re a superstar. Amazing report. I know how hard it is facing into a marathon on the back of injury, but you’ve such an amazing attitude I had a feeling you’d smash it!

Rest up - looking forward to all the training updates for Berlin!

Thanks so much effibear!
I had to make the best of it.

Oh yes Berlin.... I have my plan picked and I'm raring to go, just need to do some base building first.

Huzzah!

Applegirl26 wrote: »

Thanks so much for the advice Baby75. I might have some questions about the pack and tailwind when I start trying it.

Your vest with the bladder and two flasks on the front sounds just like the one I got. I'm dying to try it out! All in good time....

Just to note that there was a size limit for hydration packs last year for Berlin. I think it was a litre but I’m not 100% sure.

What an absolutely epic journey you’ve been on with a report to match. We were watching closely from the sidelines and never knew you’d as much going on in the run up as you did. You’re a fantastic inspiration to your boys. That was a really special read; thanks for sharing it with us.

Applegirl26

Huzzah! wrote: »

Just to note that there was a size limit for hydration packs last year for Berlin. I think it was a litre but I’m not 100% sure.

What an absolutely epic journey you’ve been on with a report to match. We were watching closely from the sidelines and never knew you’d as much going on in the run up as you did. You’re a fantastic inspiration to your boys. That was a really special read; thanks for sharing it with us.

Thanks so much E.

Ah yes you're right about Berlin and their restrictions on hydration packs. Their guidelines say they permit bladders up to 2 litres.

Murph_D

Many congrats on a strong performance, and well done on dropping that annoying pacer!

You certainly went on a journey and took us with you. Well done.

Applegirl26

Murph_D wrote: »

Many congrats on a strong performance, and well done on dropping that annoying pacer! You certainly went on a journey and took us with you. Well done.

Thanks so much Murph_D. I really appreciate you saying that. Thank you!

tbukela

Congratulations on a truly gutsy and determined race. Your report is amazing, so honest & moving, epitomy of what makes this forum so special. Simply brilliant. Enjoy your well earned rest. Looking forward to following your training for Berlin.

Mr. Guappa

My fingers feel stiff and swollen as I make a fist. I was working too hard to notice the signs. My sodium was low. If only I'd taken another zero tab here….

Thanks for this little piece of information too. It's not something I was aware of, but by chance it's something that I noticed on my run today and remembered the above from your report. Cheers!

Singer

Amazing report, thank you for taking the time and talent to write it up so wonderfully. Well done on the tough marathon!

Kellygirl

I was checking in the whole time for your report since Manchester and it was worth the wait. Somehow you really bring people through all the emotions and story with you. It was a great read. I’m so delighted you got to do the race considering the run up to it. Delighted you are so proud of yourself too. It’s very well deserved.

Dying to hear what plan you are following for Berlin?

Applegirl26

tbukela wrote: »

Congratulations on a truly gutsy and determined race. Your report is amazing, so honest & moving, epitomy of what makes this forum so special. Simply brilliant. Enjoy your well earned rest. Looking forward to following your training for Berlin.

Thanks so much tbukela! That's very kind of you.

Applegirl26

Mr. Guappa wrote: »

Thanks for this little piece of information too. It's not something I was aware of, but by chance it's something that I noticed on my run today and remembered the above from your report. Cheers!

No problem. Delighted I could share something useful! Ha!

Applegirl26

Singer wrote: »

Amazing report, thank you for taking the time and talent to write it up so wonderfully. Well done on the tough marathon!

Thanks so much Singer. Ah it was my pleasure to write it up. I love reading the logs and race reports here, I always come away learning something new! I'm over the moon so many people liked mine.

Applegirl26

Kellygirl wrote: »

I was checking in the whole time for your report since Manchester and it was worth the wait. Somehow you really bring people through all the emotions and story with you. It was a great read. I’m so delighted you got to do the race considering the run up to it. Delighted you are so proud of yourself too. It’s very well deserved.

Dying to hear what plan you are following for Berlin?

Thanks so much Kellygirl. That means a lot to me, truly it does.
I had the trip of a lifetime which sounds mad as I was only there for one night. My physio's encouragement cannot be overlooked either. He felt like my coach at times, making new training plans with me and telling me I deserved to go get my medal regardless of the time I'd get.
Without his encouragement I don't know what might have happened.

I have my plan for Berlin and I'm 99.9% happy with it. I just need to check out a few more things. I'm going to be so smart about my Berlin training. I learnt some hard lessons training for Manchester and I won't let that happen again.

Wubble Wubble

L, is tuairisc iontach é seo! Thaitin sé go mór liom.

Is duine chróga thú gan amhras. Tá súil agam go mbeidh neart scéalta eile le teacht anseo. Maith thú!

Applegirl26

Wubble Wubble wrote: »

L, is tuairisc iontach é seo! Thaitin sé go mór liom.

Is duine chróga thú gan amhras. Tá súil agam go mbeidh neart scéalta eile le teacht anseo. Maith thú!

Go raibh míle J!

coogy

Applegirl26 wrote: »

Suddenly I hear the bold 4:45 pacer on my tail. He has appeared in a rush. There's some chat going on around me about him. People are starting to give out. All I know is that the noise of him that gave me a laugh in the beginning, is now grating on my nerves. He seems to have picked up the pace again.

L, did you ever find out what happened to the pacer during those few miles?

Unthought Known

Just catching up on this now. Fantastic report and a really great, gutsy run. Well done!

skyblue46

Well it's taken me 3 days to digest all that! Bottom line is that I'm in awe and was taken to a place beyond my comprehension! I simply can't get a handle on the fact that you can think of so many things during a marathon. All I can think of when racing is pace, time and how the body feels... repeated hundreds of times!! Haha.

Congratulations on exorcising a few demons, having a life changing experience, running another marathon, getting a PB, showing huge guts and determination, having only one beer and managing a good recovery period since you got home. That all adds up to a great end to that particular journey. Well done! :-)

Baby75

Applegirl26 wrote: »

Thanks so much for the advice Baby75. I might have some questions about the pack and tailwind when I start trying it.

Your vest with the bladder and two flasks on the front sounds just like the one I got. I'm dying to try it out! All in good time....

Happy to help if I can

yido1882

Well done on a great marathon and the unbelievable commitment to training, you're a machine!

Great race report again, really enjoyed it.

Look forward to following your build up to Berlin

Strawberry Swan

Such a great race report. So well written that you really make the reader immersed in the experience. Love all the little details around the race that brings it alive. That pacer would have wrecked my head with the uneven pacing and playing loud music. Maybe at the start would be OK but the whole way through is really inconsiderate. Good on you for pushing past him and going outside your comfort zone in so many ways. All your D's and C's gave you a result to be proud of :-)

You say you'd do things differently for Berlin, just wondering what specifically? So others, myself included could learn from.

Younganne

Wow, wow, wow that is some journey, a fantastic report where you had me glued to it and encouraging you all the way.
What an inspiration you are and you should be very proud of yourself as I'm sure your family all are.
Congrats on the PB too, the icing on the cake.

hillsiderunner

Your reports are wonderful! Feel like I was there. Well done on striking out by yourself and a good run despite the injuries ðŸ™‚

Applegirl26

hillsiderunner wrote: »

Your reports are wonderful! Feel like I was there. Well done on striking out by yourself and a good run despite the injuries ðŸ™‚

Thanks so much.
Although it definitely wasn't planned, I had to break away from that pacer. He drove me nuts. Ha!