Dream big, work hard, achieve your goals - My DCM '19 Journey

Tues 1st of Oct- 2m w/u, 35mins @8.15/8.30, 5mins jog,30 mins @7.50/8.05, 2m c/d

Mile 1 - 10.06
Mile 2 - 9.50
Mile 3 - 8.17
Mile 4 - 8.20
Mile 5 - 8.17
Mile 6 - 8.25
Mile 7 - 1.38(.20mi)
Mile 8 - 5.00(.49mi)
Mile 9 - 7.54
Mile 10 - 8.03
Mile 11 - 7.52
Mile 12 - 6.09(.75mi)
Mile 13 - 10.40
Mile 14 - 10.35

Total - 12.44mi

Thankfully the rain held off for this run but i could definitely feel a chill so opted for my long sleeve running top. Set my watch up & off i went. The 1st 2 miles felt ok, felt like my legs were heavy. Then i did the 1st 35mins at pace & i loved it. I kept the pace as steady as possible & it felt nice & controlled. Went into my 5min jog which too felt ok. Then i went into the next pace for 30mins. Was worried i might not be able to keep this consistent but again once i got into the flow it felt great! It's nice having a bit of variety & testing my abilities
Took it really handy for my cool down, at this stage it was pitch dark again so was happy to be home.
Overall i really enjoyed this session:D

ReeReeG wrote: »

Nice positivity around here. Just wondering, have you changed from the Boards plan?

Thanks a mill! Yes the positivity is here! Training is going really great and I'm not feeling over tired at all.

I am mostly following the boards plan. I have taken a bit of advice on changing the sessions a little bit cos it was pointed out to me that I ran 10 miles in the medics half marathon faster than I raced Frank Duffy :eek: I just wanted to challenge myself a bit without overdoing it now in training.

Thursday 3rd Oct - Easy run

Mile 1 - 9.55
Mile 2 - 10.20
Mile 3 - 10.22
Mile 4 - 10.27
Mile 5 - 10.16

Was determined to get this done 1st thing this morning incase it was too bad weather wise but it just didn't happen. Was glad when i got home to see the weather wasn't too bad at all. I set off & decided to change my route slightly...big BIG mistake!! I ran by a few bungalows & this tiny, extremely ANGRY terrior came charging for my ankle:eek: It was fight or flight mode & i certainly didn't fancy taking on the little fecker so i legged it & thankfully got away from him! I looked across to see some bloke in stiches laughing...yeah bloody hilarious:(
So with my heart racing i continued on my run & completely slowed my pace down.
Almost another week down, starting to feel very real now:eek:

Sat 15th Oct - 3hr LSR - 17.79miles - average 10.09min per mile

Warning - animal theme continues:rolleyes:

Got up with the intention of heading out early! Had my brekkie, sorted my stuff & was ready to head out the door when my daughter called me to go into my son. He was sitting on his bed googling "what does it mean if my tongue is blue?" As he has asthma i took him straight to A & E to be told he may have a small virus but nothing to worry about. They also told me to watch him because like me he sleeps on his tummy & he remembers when he woke up that is face was right in the pillow:eek: Got him home & all tucked up on the sofa & headed out!

Why oh why did the 1st few miles feel so tough??? My legs felt heavy then those stupid doubts i thought i had put to bed crept back in
What if i let people down? What if i let the mentors down? What if i let myself down?? I had to tell myself to snap the hell out of it...this isn't me, why am i letting these thoughts in???
I shook myself off & decided to think about the positives...how up till the beginning of this year i thought 10k was long distance, how when i went on my 1st 8mile run after getting to mile 4 i'd be thinking, oh god ive only ran 4miles :eek: but now when i was running 18miles & get to mile 8 i'm saying yes 8 miles already only 10 to go:) The difference in my running is unbelievable, i fully committed to this & have given all i possibly could, so for that i will be proud;) After thinking all this it was like it was a different run!! I felt so much lighter & the running felt easier which was really helped by all the huge smiles from fellow runners - taper was defo in the air
Another huge positive is the money i have raised so far for the Irish kidney Association, well past my target which is brilliant. My friend Sandra came to Vegas with us & told us how much personally they have done for her which is great to hear:)
I headed down the canal towards the 9th lock to add miles on my run. As i was running i spotted ANOTHER loose dog, only this time it was a husky as big as myself :eek: He was in the estate so i carefully ran past & was hoping by the time i had to turn back he'd be gone...nope...he had decided to head out onto the canal...the path i was running on!!! No way was i passing him so i headed into the estate with the intention of avoiding him Imagine my horror when i turned the corner to run straight into him:eek: i just stopped & walked very slowly, he came over & sniffed me then some man let a little shout & he wandered off
...i thanked the man & continued on my way giving out about people letting dogs out without leads for a bit and wondering if this was Karma biting me in the ass for me slagging Mr Guppa a few weeks ago with the dogs in Citywest:pac:
It started raining as i headed back out onto the new road but i actually welcomed it as it was quite mild!
Have to say once i banished those silly thoughts i really enjoyed the rest of the run!

Another week closer now, feels mad to think where i was compared to where i am now...what a journey so far:D

Wk 16 - Tues 8th Oct - 5m easy

Ran an average of 10.22mins per mile. Was a nice run, very blustery out but a bit refreshing too!
Felt extremely weird not running yesterday after last weeks efforts but glad of the break too(once i convinced myself it's OK to rest too haha).

My thoughts are definitely on the marathon almost all of the time:pac: Still unsure of a few things but will figure them out one way or another

Sat 12th Oct - 13m lsr

Tried to keep the paces between 9.50 - 10.00

9.54, 9.54, 9.54, 9.49, 9.53, 9.50, 9.56, 9.55, 9.53, 9.50, 9.50, 9.57, 10.11

I ended up heading out a bit later than usual as i got stuck into Kipchoge breaking his record!! It was amazing watching it & inspirational if nothing else! I really love that he had a dream, a goal in his head & heart & worked hard to achieve it...i don't really think you can ask for more

So i headed out on my run feeling all warm & fuzzy ha! The weather was fab actually felt like perfect running conditions for me! Was thrilled to see the 1st 3 miles so consistent, although i had to slow it down a few times as my legs felt very fresh so it would have been easy to get carried away, definitely something i will have to watch on the day!
The next mile was slightly faster but thats became a chap that i have passed every sat for the last 12 weeks at least ran up beside me & we chatted for a few mins so lost track a little, his 1st marathon too,he headed off & i slowed back down
The rest of the run was really nice especially as it was ONLY 13 miles imagine at the beginning of all this i couldn't have even imagined running that distance!!

Can't believe it's almost another week over!! I can't wait to give it my all & hopefully reap the rewards on the day, if the day doesn't go my way i am proud to say it won't be from the lack of training & determination

Sure if Kipchoge can get sub 2 surely i can get sub 4

Weds 16th - 1.5m w/u, 10min@8.15/8.30, 4min jog, 8@7.50/8.05, 4min jog, 10@8.15/8.30, 4min jog, 8@7.50/8.00, 1.5m c/d

Went out for this session after work so was concious of the time & wanting to get it done before the dark!
I really enjoyed this session, enjoyed the slow parts but the fast even more. I think i paced it well & was able to keep them very consistent! Didn't make it home before the dark but i was back on the main road with lights etc so wasn't too worried:)

Thurs- 17th 4miles easy

10.01, 10.08, 10.10, 10.17

Nice easy run, legs felt good no complaints!

Sat -19th - 8mile LSR

10.11, 10.08, 10.14, 10.10, 10.14, 10.12,10.12, 10.33

Went out early enough for this run & really felt the cold! Took a couple of miles to warm up properly but was fine once i did. Took it really slowly & enjoyed it. Thoughts kept straying towards the big day & the fact that this was technically my very last lsr(for this training plan) then a few songs came on that reminded me of people or why i actually decided to do it...cue the tears it actually made me feel quite emotional so prob a good thing i won't have my music on the day(absolutely nothing to do with Skyblue46 harping on & on & on about no headphones;) ) It's been an emotional as well as a physical rollercoaster but one i have thoroughly enjoyed
My confidence has really come on & it feels amazing but by no means is it cockiness!! I have a plan and i hope it goes my way but just as the distance is unknown territory to me so is my plan! I have always been into sports or just keeping fit & i'd say i literally tried my hand at most sports but i had to try really really hard to be any good! I joined a women's soccer team in my late 20's and i think they tried me in every position, eventually keeping me in defence. In fairness i was good there but even with my speed i couldn't score in an empty goal:eek: my aim was shocking!! Point is i really had to work hard to even get a game each week, absolutely nothing wrong with that in fact you learn so much but with running its unreal...i just feel like i am naturally good at this, even before i knew what paces & race plans were i was getting told my pbs were really good for someone starting out :eek: this filled me with confidence & infact gave me the push to enter my very 1st marathon which i will be completing in almost 1 weeks time :eek:

Maybe just maybe i will have my dream day next Sunday:D

Bananaleaf wrote: »

That football team don't know what they're missing!

Good luck with the final week :eek::eek::eek:

Hahaha thanks so much In fairness i wasn't a natural footballer:eek:

Best of luck to you too! I really think this taper business has me all emotional;)

Kellygirl wrote: »

I love your enthusiasm and confidence. Your training has been excellent and your positivity always shines through. You deserve a great day next week. Just smile your way through it and have fun high fiving the kids and enjoy the crowds. Skyblue frequently accuses me of showboating throughout my first DCM - but I enjoyed every minute and that’s what I remember more than any time.

Thank you so much. I think i have found something i really love(as in the structure & discipline of the plan) but also the glory in the day I am definitely a smiler & believe its contagious so that won't be a problem, i really can't wait to soak up the atmosphere
Haha i'm sure thats what has been thought of me too

Can't believe this time next week it will be my final sleep before my very 1st marathon:eek: