me running…
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…
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.
… “all what can go wrong will go wrong”… and it has.
On Thursday I have slipped when jogging and stretched my hamstring. Not nice. I was trying to avoid guy, who was blocking the path, ‘playing’ with his mobile in the middle of it. I diverted onto wet grass patch and slipped (I know that my lovely Wife will tell you that paths / roads don’t belong to runners, but… it just annoys me when people do not respect others on the road – whether driving / walking / jogging / cycling). Avoided falling but when trying to keep my balance I felt discomfort in my hamstring.
Officially I’m ready for my first marathon…
Shoes – ready (slightly worn already),
Number – known already, need to pick up before race,
Belt – bought,
Energy gels – tested, know which ones I will be using (no stomach problem after these),
Cap – missing, but not a big problem to buy,
Socks – ready,
Shorts – ready,
Singlet – that was the last piece of the puzzle missing. But I was able to sort that out with help of Martha from company OOYO Sports in Lucan (http://www.ooyosports.com). They have printed for my singlet with my logo and it looks really good. Now the last thing for marathon is weather. Hopefully it will be very nice.
Everybody likes their own Garmins, TomToms or Polars GPS watches… I know that, just love my TomTom Multisport (actually have preordered new model recently)… but when running sometimes you focusining on it too much. You are glancing all the time, just to check what is your time, pace and you are forgetting to enjoy the run (maybe that is a little too harsh, but you are getting the idea). So where the pace bands are kicking in.
Hi All,
As you know already I will be running Cork Marathon on behalf of Cara Scoil in Cork.
I would be grateful if you would be able to help me raise money for that school. You can donate via PayPal (donation at the right side of the page) or you can contact me via Contact page to discuss donation details.
Yesterday I thought that I was unlucky and I wasn’t drawn to participate in Paris Marathon in 2015… but today have received below email. Still need to pay for registration but I’m in now.
“Hello! Please click on the following link to validate your pre-registration. –> link <– In certain cases, the link might be inactive. In this case, please copy the address to your internet navigator. Thank your for your confidence. We hope to see you soon! The Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris Organizational Team” That is email which I have received and now I’m waiting… The draw will take place next Tuesday and with a little bit of luck… I will be allowed to run Paris Marathon next year. At this stage I haven’t run even one marathon but have a strange feeling that I will like it.
Hopefully on 2nd of June I will be very happy finishing my first marathon in Cork. Never did that before… Will see…
I have decided to do that marathon to raise some funds for Cara Junior School in Cork. That is special school which at the moment is placed in temporary building. To, ease at least some pain of getting money for new building I will try to get donation from whoever I can.