me running…
Christmas it the time of the year when you start to think about these less fortunate and maybe sometimes unlucky…
This year I have decided that I will support Make-A-Wish foundation which is helping sick children by granting them their wishes. It will be better if I will use theirs description…
Clonakilty is always really nice race to run. Doesn’t matter if you are running 10 K, half-marathon or full marathon the atmosphere is always great. You always getting that special vibe here. You can feel like between members of family. Great buzz and much needed support for town itself. Usually there are two runs during the year organized by Clon crew (sometimes more). Ia and Bob always make us feel very welcome. I think that easily you can call that marathon the friendliest marathon in Ireland. And it doesn’t matter if that is ultra marathon in Summer or chilly marathon in December. This year was no different…
After all the running this year my body was broken (maybe still is). Too much running? Or maybe not proper training program? Needed more rest that’s for sure. Anyway, since late Summer my fitness was slowly decreased till complete meltdown. I had to do something. I could feel that my body is needing nutritions but I wasn’t fuelling it with proper food. I was using shortcuts. Sweets to give me energy and junk food to fill my hunger. So, instead of helping I was making the case worse. My weight went up, body fat as well and strength down. I have decided that 8 weeks fitness program could be a good way to start recovery…
It looks that end of the year will be time when IBS will be coming back. Crap… Last year I wasn’t able to spot the beginning of the RETURN and I have was still trying to race every weekend. Tried in Clonakilty, had to use toilet about every 7 km. Ended up walking with my Wife almost 20 km. When walking could avoid pit stops. Then was Clontarf where I had to DNF cause of time on the half way (couple pit stops) and had to bring my Mom and Wife to airport. Had to finish in 3:30 or under to manage that. And cause of IBS that wasn’t possible. And than was famous ‘Lock up the year marathon’ where I have spent over 20 minutes in bushes. It took me couple of weeks to put sickness back into remission. But if I would spot earlier symptoms, especially when I was running previous races or on the training sessions I could start intensive treatment earlier and probably stay out of races. Same thing this year. But now I’m little bit more aware of all simptoms. I know that remission is gone and sickness is back. Decided that I need now to stop running races. I will be training but need to be healthy again to seriously race again. For now training and medication. My last marathon run where I wanted to get 3:25 (that is ok time for me now when my body is so beaten up after whole year of running) suppose to be one in Ballina…
That will probably never happen again. I won lottery to get into New York City Marathon… but still wasn’t sure if I will go. Expenses very high. Marathon, trip, accommodation, all adding up to quite an amount. But eventually everything was sorted but had to keep rest of the costs to minimum…
That was my third visit to Venice and must say that this time I was enjoying it quite a lot. First time when I was here was almost 15 years ago and from that of experience day I remember just an awful smell. Said to myself that Venice is not worth visiting again. But you never know what life will bring. Second visit in Italy and Venice was maybe 7 or 8 years ago. Short stay, just off email full day here. Decided to go to San Marco, left water bus at Rialto and walked there. Saw Piazza, got quick lunch and decided to walk back to car. But used streets not so popular with tourists. And has change my idea of Venice. Do not go where everybody goes. Use your imagination and allow yourself to be lost in Venice Right then you will start to feel that city,. That was second visit in Venice. And now we had in front of us prospect of another stay there. Wanted to surprise Bozena with that trip but as easy is to hide all preparations (organising B&B, flights, one day off from work with her boss) it is very hide to hide all that bill when they are appearing on the credit card. And Bozena is frequently checking our card spending for any unusual activities. So, there was no surprise for my Wife, she knew all before the trip. She told me that she was actually glad to know about that surprise cause she had could prepare proper clothes for herself and not counting on me being lucky with my choice. There was another thing as well added down the road. Bozena straight from Venice was flying to work conference, so needed to be prepared for that and probably surprise trip (idea was to pick her up from her office just 1.5 hours before the flight)…
…and no. Vincent I wasn’t lost again when running. There was little bit confusion when was trying to get to VIP area to pick up my bag and get quiet and hot shower. On the finishing line me and Volker (other pacemaker) went right to queue in the line for medal. Got it and start to ask question where is VIP area. Got couple mixed answers. Some were sending us up the stairs and then down, some saying that we should just go there (pointing in random directions). Eventually, after running stadium steps up and down twice, crossing marathon route we got to our VIP shower. That was nice. Hot shower after cold run. Then little bit snack in VIP lounge… Ok, but start from the beginning.
Wanted to be in my best shape this season in late September and October. Won’t happen. I think I already got my pick for this year and it was in July. I was able to pull off b2b on the hilly course in 3:17 and 3:14. And after that it was slippery slope for me. I know that I just let myself to do things I shouldn’t. Ate too much, ate crap food. Haven’t been working on my core muscle enough. Basically I just let additional kilos to stick to my body and muscle were substituted by bad, bad fat. I never was very skinny but last year was able to put so much work that actually weight went down quite a bit and the ‘belly tire’ was gone. That cost me a lot of work but was able to do that. So, seems that now I’m just lazy and cannot force myself to do the same.
In my case weight has a huge impact on my running abilities. Every additional kilo is slowing me down. Lack of core muscle adding up to fast tiredness during the race. I never loved running. Even now I’m not very convinced that I like it (especially when results are not as I would expect). I enjoying very much when running ok race. Hate when making mistakes on the course. I’m not very talented runner. I think that all I have achieved till now was a result of work I have put into training. So, now, when training (running and diet) not going as suppose I suffer. I again need to find my Zen… Should stop complain and start ‘doing’. Last week I have tried a fruit and veg diet, with some addition of sushi. Was actually doing OK till couple of days later we started to be very busy in work. No time for lunch break (running or proper food) and I was trying just to grab whatever I could just to kill hunger. I was even able to do 24 hours fasting day. Didn’t have that in ages. But it was just 24 hours and after that I just everything what was in the fridge.
I hope that sharing with all of you will somehow motivate me to get back on track again. I know that support is very important. Thanks Theresa. Sorry, slipped a little bit with my diet but will start again and hopefully for good this time. And if food will be sorted fat will disappear as well. And when fat will disappear muscles should start to grow again. And that should give me good platform to get good times again.
So, my chain would be:
diet –> fat ⬇ –> weight ⬇ –> muscle ⤴ –> health ⤴ –> speed ⤴ –> times ⬇ –> Alan ?
And happy Alan is the ultimate goal. Of course if that would bring as well sub 3 marathon then that’s class.
…or maybe it is just visually appealing. But board of Blog Awards Ireland (http://www.blogawardsireland.com/) has decided that madITrunner.com is worth considering as a good blog…
First long-listed and now at the moment my blog has been short-listed for an Blog of the Year award… But most important thing will happen on the 7th of September. For two weeks, you, readers will be voting for best blog. And I would like to ask you for you help. I would like to ask you for your votes.
What is happening when you are injured? You not training. You trying to rest as much as can and try to recover. All good and sounds easy enough. But what if you injured and same time on holiday? Then you can be sure that your weight will go dramatically up. And that what just has happened to me during our recent holiers in Canada… Could run and train… but had always food in front of me. I know that I should be able to resist but food was so good that… I just gain couple of kilos. Now need to work on loosing these and getting back to proper fitness levels…