The blog is dead long live the blog

As I've now run - Ok run and walked, a marathon this blog has come to an end. It isn't however the end of my blogging days. I've started a new one over here. I couldn't think of a decent name for it so its just called Run Rob Run. Hopefully you may want to drop in and say hello.

One last thing - I've not added up all the figures up yet but it seems that I have raised somewhere between £1100 and £1200 for the Anthony Nolan Trust.

Cheerio

Job Done 

Final Score

I've been putting off writing this entry because in a way I'm ashamed of myself, but after my first post marathon run I realise I shouldn't be.

The Good News : I finished
The Bad News : 4hrs 20 mins and 49 secs

If you're a regular reader of this blog you'll understand this is outside of what I was hoping for by some 50 minutes.

So what went wrong?

MrsW and I travelled to London on Saturday and collected my number before the big queue developed. Had some lunch at the pasta party and headed off to hotel. I put my feet up and watched the Rugby while MrsW went to out.

Went for an early dinner of yet more pasta. Just got back to the hotel when I had a couple of urgent calls of nature. I put this down to nerves because I was so looking forward to the race.

Woke up after an uneasy nights sleep, but I was expecting that. Went for breakfast to find the restuarant was still closed (its 6:45). Finally opens at 7. I then discover that they don't do cereal only bread, croissants and danishes or the full english! Hmm guess which I went for.
Head off to the start to get myself sorted out, no problems here strip off and get into the pen. MrsW has been able to secure herself a place by the pen and we have a few final words before the off.

Mile 1 was as expected crowded avoided the temptation to dodge in and out I knew that people would tail off quickly and it would open up.

By Mile 2 it had settled down, I was at my cruise pace and I could enjoy myself giving the kids high 5's. I then glanced at my HRM it was showing 172! This fails to compute, routine 8 m/m is only about 158-160 what's up. Perhaps it'll settle in a mile or so. It didn't by mile 6 it was high 170's something was badly wrong. By mile 8 I had lost all energy, taking an energy gel made me feel worse. It battled on to mile 13 but my pulse was reaching 182 my 1K reps is 185. I have no option but to stop running and walk. And that was that I was reduced to a run walk routine for the rest of the race and even that was hard work. I was now in my own personal hell. I wanted out but there was charity money at stake to I kept going.

Met MrsW at mile 15 gave her a hugh and started crying but was told to keep going. Reached the RW supporters at Mile 17 and got a banana and some jelly babies. Met MrsW at mile 20 again and really wanted to give up but she wouldn't let me and then the long slow slog to the end. Fortunately I managed to get picked up by a few other Anthony Nolan Runners that got me to start running every now and again.

I don't remember much more about the race apart from the finishing straight, rounding the corner and seeing the finishing line seemed like the holy grail to me. I even managed a sprint.
Having talked to a few people I reckon I must have caught a virus/bug on the Saturday. As people say bad things happen.

So what I'm I going to do about it? Well, there is a little race called the Abingdon Marathon in October and I have a personal score to settle. I may even start a new blog

3:30 or bust!

Final Thoughts

This is my last post before the big day. MrsW and I are traveling up to London Fairly early tomorrow so that I can get registered.

It doesn't seem that long ago that I got my letter telling me I would be accepted into the marathon, but the time has gone the training has been done. I've just looked at my running log, since I started training back in September I have covered 910 miles. Only 26.2 miles now stands between me and finishers medal. I feel good and I'm looking forward to the off. I expect Sunday to hurt but I have a mantra that I will repeat when it gets tough "Pain is only temporary, failure is forever"

With a lot of help from some relatives I have raised £973 of sponsorship for Anthony Nolan, though I would like to especially thank someone in Glasgow for donating £250.

I'd also like to say thanks to the people that have left comments , especially Pixie, Laura and of course the Mr Iceman, Leon

To everyone taking part Good Luck and enjoy your day

Robert

No No Not the Ice Bath

What : Last longish run of training
Distance : 9.75
Time : 1:17:09

I'm a day behind again, but yesterday's run went well. I spent 5 minutes warming up on the exercise bike to ensure any tightness got loosened up before setting out. Once I set out everything went more or less to plan. 1st mile was deliberately slow as it will be on the day, then then gently up to marathon pace and finished off with a quicker couple of miles.

I've decided that since I've effectively lost 4 of the past 5 weeks of training, trying to show off and get a fantastic time is only going to end in failure. I am stilling aiming for sub 3:30, but just 3:29:59 would do lovely. With this in mind I've adjusted my steady pace to be about 7:55. This is marginally faster than needed for a 3:30 but will allow me to recoup the minute or so I expect to down in the first mile and a bit.

The marathon pace was OK but I struggled to do the quicker miles and was a bit worried when my right hip ached at the higher speeds going up hills. Again I took the hint and backed off the pace and went back to my marathon pace.

The aching hip worried me a little, so as a precautionary measure I made a great sacrifice. I ran myself a bath, but without the hot water - cold only. I would have put some ice in it but there wasn't any in the freezer. I then proceeded to sit in the bath for 15 minutes getting some sarcastic comments from MrsW which I won't repeat here.

Anyway it is now all systems go for the 17th and boy am I looking forward to it.

PS its now 16:12 BST on Sunday when do you think Leon (AimHigh) will make a comment about the ice bath? Answers on a comment to the usual address.

Pain Free

Shh - got to say this very queitly in case my body hears me, but I was able to do 3 miles on the treadmill pain free at marathon pace. I only stopped because I got bored and was being tempted to push the go faster button.

So far there have been no after effects and I'm off for a massage this evening to keep it that way.

I'm now planning to do a 10 mile run on Saturday at marathon pace, provided I get through that OK then it is all systems go for the 17th!!

Fingers crossed!

Impulse Engines Restored

What : Shakedown
Distance : 4.4
Time : 36:25

Pain free for the first day in several weeks so I decide to go out for a gentle jog at lunchtime. Alright when I say pain free I mean only an occasional twinge but nothing when walking or going up stairs. Everything was OK for the first 3 miles then the hip started aching. Took the hint and headed home. Was fine once I stopped but was iced a couple of times during the afternoon as precautionary measure.

That was yesterday I'm glad to say that the improvement has continued today. I did however decide not to risk a speed session, I'm so close to being back to fitness that I wasn't going to risk it. I opted for intervals on the exercise bike instead. That nearly finished me off!

Here was me minding my own business working really hard on the pedals and the seat decides to slip down to the bottom with a clang! The only thing stopping me following was the fact I was pushing so hard on the pedals I pushing myself back up. Anyway I managed my 20 min interval session plus a cool down period without injury so that is a plus. Tomorrow is a scheduled rest day and that is exactly what it will stay as. On the whole today is the first day I have felt really positive about FLM in a month, I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it!!