– I have run marathon last weekend.
– Really? How much you have run 5 or 10 kilometres?
– No, it’s marathon?
– So, 10 or more?
– Marathon is 42.2 km or 26.2 miles…
Marathon? How many km is that?
The world cup fever
With the surprisingly good summer weather came start of the World Cup, the 6 weeks long event designed to grab all of our attention. Well at least some of us.
It’s a chance to put on the old jersey on and scream your lungs out or throw stuff at the TV, take your pick. It unites, divides, creates conversational fires (which can only be put out by beer). This is the time when we let it all out. The likes and dislikes, usually deeply rooted in each country’s history. Social media is flooded with world cup news. Who cares about international conflicts and European recession as long as the Spain-Netherlands game is on!
Rest day…
I hate that… but time to time you have to have at least one rest day. And it seems that today is that day.
I would like to run but can feel that my body need rest from running. Only exercise probably I will be able to do will be core muscle exercise but not cardio. For me such a days are like torture, I feel like somebody cheating and not doing what I suppose to do… But you can’t do anything with that. Last rest day, without running (but still with forest Via Ferrata) was Saturday week ago, so means that I was running again for 7 days without any break.
Sounds French…
I have decided to focus my efforts on running marathons. Of course that doesn’t mean that I won’t participate in other shorter runs but they will become warm ups and preparations for the marathon season… I know that can sound absurd having just one marathon under my belt. Decision has been made. Marathons are the targets… As many as I can. And seriously I’m thinking about 5 a year. Started midyear 2013 I would be happy to get 3 by the end of December.
I want to breath…
I don’t know if that’s because I run marathon last week or just… because it’s so warm in gym but for the last couple of days I cannot run distance I would like to run…
It seems that I’m sweating now more and I’m losing breath and can’t run any more. I know that after marathon I decided that I need to lower mileage I’m doing daily. Before marathon it was about 30 km daily on the week days (not Wednesday) and about 28 km daily over Saturday and Sunday. Now I would like to ‘downsize’ to 25 km and 25 km…
Nice marathon
So it has been decided… Next marathon will be in Nice at 9th of November. It should be a really nice one when it comes to views. Whole route between Nice and Cannes leads just on the Mediterranean seaside. Considering that we both, me and my Wife, love the South of France, Alpes Maritimes (or as they are calling that region here French Riviera). So coming back there in different time than Summer would be nice and connecting that with running marathon will be great…
Surprise
Before marathon me and my Wife we had two days pasta party to get as much carbs into body as possible (at least me 😉 )… Was trying to avoid irritation to stomach. Just in case before run I had bar of chocolate. And everything seems to be working well (was just missing my runs during weekend).
Everything went well
Now that all the marathon excitement had settled it’s time to summarize the fundraising efforts. I must admit I wasn’t expecting such a good result in both race time and amount collected. It was a challenge and my first time in both cases. But having committed myself to that task I had to deliver 😉
1st marathon completed
After nerve wracking last couple of days today I have finally faced my fear… first marathon.
I woke up today quite early to be sure that I eat my breakfast two hours before the run and avoid unnecessary surprises. That sounds like I was quite reasonable but still couldn’t find a place for myself in the morning. 7 times checking if everything is ready, checking my hamstring and planned to leave the hotel at 7:30 (marathon was starting at 9 and to get there we needed only 15 minutes)… So nerves…
Nervous wait
OK… Tomorrow, 9 AM I will start my first marathon.
I wasn’t this nervous in a long, long time. I don’t know if I will last 26.2 miles, will I get stomach cramps and how would my pulled hamstring behave… So many unknowns… I’m probably overreacting but over-thinking the run is my thing. Usually nervous before the race and on the start line but just 2-3 minutes in and I’m enjoying it again.