Keep on believing!

I’m back in action! My last few blogs have been a bit depressing and I was finding it tough to gear myself up for another marathon. But after a fantastic 15 mile run I remembered why I signed up for this madness! 

Since I joined the Born to Run club last year my whole life has changed and for the better and I know I can do any challenge I want to. 

26.2 miles is tough - but it can be done. And the only way really is to believe in yourself. I had forgotten that for a while - there will always be bad runs when it seems like you are not making progress, but you are, as every run means you are putting in the miles and getting fitter. 

It doesn’t matter if the 12 miles was tough or the 14 miles, every run is different and will stand to you. 

Maybe my fitness has improved in recent weeks as I found the 15 mile run relatively okay. I won’t say its was great - 15 miles is still 15 miles - but it wasn’t that bad. 

Not even Barrow could beat me and I made it up, slowly and surely. I always find the route from Barrow to Fenit long but this flew by as well, and while I was tired when I made it back to the Oyster Tavern, I think I could have managed a few more miles. 

The 16 miler was a little tougher. I did this on Friday evening after work as I wanted to take the weekend off and enjoy an alcoholic drink for a change. 

Once upon a time I was out every weekend - now it’s a rare occasion and one that must fit in around my training. So off I set on Friday evening so as to make sure I did my run too - that’s dedication for you! 

I actually missed running the route. As it was in Tralee it was obviously flatter but tragically I can’t say this made it easier. The first 12 miles were fine and I felt comfortable but 12 is my limit it seems, as I had to pull myself through the last four miles.

A fall at mile 6 also didn’t help and nearly resulted in an injury when I put my hands out to save myself and jerked my shoulder. 

Still feeling the effects of it, but I am hoping it is nothing serious. It’s not stopping me training - so that’s what counts.  

We included the last few miles of the marathon into our Tralee route and I am not at all taken with the ‘skinny mile’ as it has become known, from Mounthawk to Rock Street. It is the longest mile ever.  

I hear the conditions for the Saturday morning runners was tough, so fair dues to everyone who completed it in the wind and the rain. I had it easier and still found it tough.  

This weekend is only 12 miles so I am super excited as it is not a real long run. Imagine - 12 miles can now be considered a short run! 

We’re doing the 10 mile Valentine’s Route so I am looking forward to running that in advance. However, it has to be said I am not looking forward to The Kerries. Those few miles last year in the marathon were so tough that I have pretty much written The Kerries out of existence and I refuse to go there, unless absolutely necessary. 

I’ve made a promise to myself that I will not keep looking at my times anymore and just enjoy my training. 

Once I finish, I finish - but I had to have a sneak peek at last year’s 15 mile and 16 mile run and I’m on average 15 minutes faster than this time last year, which is a result. It may not translate on the day of the race but fingers crossed it will. 

Our next long run is 18 miles and then the Valentine’s 10 mile Road Race and a 21 miler and its time to taper down. 

That’s all that is left in our training programme and already I am having withdrawals. 

It has gone so fast this year it’s unbelievable. But it’s also exciting that in a short few weeks I will have another marathon under my belt. 

It never gets easy

Since my last blog, I’ve managed two long runs, and with a 14-miler and 12-miler under my belt I’m feeling slightly more confident. Which is a good thing with just weeks to go until we’re all standing on the start line.

Fourteen miles was tough going. It was my first long run since before Christmas, and I must say I was scared. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I had it in me. But thanks to Marilyn O’Shea and Caroline McConnell - and of course the rest of the Born to Run crew - I got through it and I was actually pretty happy. 

It was my first time out on the course since the day I did the marathon on St Patrick’s weekend last year, and it brought back memories - not all of them good. 

I had forgotten just how tough the course is and I found it quite hard. Some of those hills were hell - but everyone kept pushing me on and even though I wanted to give up, I kept going and I finished the 14 miles. 

Thanks to my wonderful Garmin I can now compare last year’s runs with this year’s training - and it’s great to see. I’m somewhat faster than last year - but not that much. 

This is very disappointing, and I think it is kind of throwing my training. I want to do it faster this year - but what if I don’t? 

Running a marathon is all about being positive and when I see that I haven’t improved all that much it affects me, and is really not helping me get ready for this year’s event. 

I know it’s all about just doing the training and not putting myself under pressure - but that’s easier said than done.   

I have to say - categorically - it’s not easier the second time around. I know everyone thinks its great that I have one done, but it’s not great at all. 

To be honest, it’s way worse second time around - first of all because you don’t have the excitement of completing your first 14 miles, 15 miles and so on, but also because you have to do more than cross the line this time around. I want to go back to being a first-timer! I looked back at my blog for last year’s 14 miles and I was definitely more positive - so hopefully the positivity will return. 

The 12 mile run wasn’t too bad, but I did find the hills tough enough especially Barrow again. It just keeps on going up and up. I barely managed to make it. But of course once I did, I was delighted. 

I’m finding the hills tough this year. You’d think I’d be better at them by now, but then that doesn’t seem to be the case at all. If anything, they’re worse this year. 

I’m supposed to be very fit by now but I’m not seeing it - how unfair is that? 

Also, this fitness lark should surely at the very least help me lose a few pounds, shouldn’t it? 

Again - not the case, even though I’m really trying to be good. Of course I deserve chocolate after my long runs - we all do - but other than that, I’m on a health kick.

The scales are ignoring it, but I’m going with the premise that muscle is heavier than fat. If it’s not, I’m in trouble! 

I’ve also begun a strength and conditioning class with Tralee Triathlon Club. My plan is to do a triathlon this year. 

If anyone had told me last year I’d be considering a triathlon, I’d have said no way - but as I’ve said before, running does change your life. And for the better. 

I also swim with the club at 7.15am on Friday morning. Yes, I think it’s perfectly acceptable to get out of bed at 6.30am to train. God knows why. 

Apparently the strength class will help me with my running and make me faster. That’s what they said - so it’d better work! 

In the meantime, it’s all about the marathon and this Saturday is fifteen miles. Here’s hoping I conquer it! 

Panicking big time!

Last year was was definitely not my year for training. As if the weather wasn’t enough to prevent me from running during Christmas, a chest infection and cold definitely put paid to my training for the past week or so. 

I’ve now missed a 10-mile and 13-mile run, and I’m absolutely gutted. I was so looking forward to reaching the half-way mark before Christmas, but the rain and wind prevented us all from completing the scheduled run - and I’ve been too sick since then to fit in much training. 

I did attempt a three mile run but I ended up coughing so much I couldn’t breathe. I thought I’d lost a lung. 

I managed six miles on St Stephen’s Day but got caught in the rain, which definitely didn’t help my chest. Since then I have been staying indoors for fear of getting worse. 

I read the training schedule this morning and nearly had a panic attack. There’s only really five more long runs left before the big day! Yes, it’s definitely time to panic. 

Next week its 14, then a 16 miler, 18 miler, 19 miles and 21 miles - that’s all that’s left. 

I better stop thinking about it or I’ll have a nervous breakdown. I had great plans for doing a faster marathon this year - that might not be the case now; at this rate of going I will hardly make it over the line at all.

On the other hand, maybe the rest will have done me the world of good and I will be faster than ever! 

I’ve been reading the Facebook updates all Christmas and the lovely runs that everyone in Born to Run has been doing, and I’m jealous - particularly of all those who last weekend reached that 13 mile mark. It’s the half way point and if you can do that at this point, you can definitely do the marathon - so no self-doubts please.

The weather has really not been kind to runners in recent weeks but getting out there shows the dedication of anyone training for the Kerry’s Eye Tralee International Marathon, and they should be so proud. 

It is a great achievement and with only five longs run to do there is no excuse not to keep going and make 2014 the year you do your first marathon or the year that you do a PB. 

Yes, I have all the running lingo now - who would have thought that within a year my life would be all about running. 

There’s another change - most of the gifts under the Christmas tree this year were running related, including a mini iPod which I plan to use to get me through the last six miles of the marathon. I figure it might be better than crying this time around. 

I also got a triathlon and marathon refuelling kit - so I’m all set with energy gels and recovery shakes for the rest of the year.

Let’s hope they get me through the marathon, and also help me in my New Year’s resolution - which is a triathlon. 

I also have new running clothes to. Now I just have to get back to training.

Hopefully after this bout of illness I’ll be raring to go this week and I might even manage 14 miles at the weekend. 

I’m not sure if you should increase from 10 miles to 14 but hopefully I have it in my legs from last year and I will be able to complete it. I’ll have to give it a go anyway and see how I get on. 

It’s scary how fast we seem to be increasing. I don’t remember it going so fast last time around but the weeks are flying by. 

I can’t wait now for the next long runs to get back out on the marathon course and get ready for St Patrick’s weekend. 

Running is my life

If you’re a runner, Christmas is cancelled - there’ll be no rest for us during the holidays. Instead, the season of goodwill is the season of more miles. 

And really, we can’t afford to put the feet up. The time is going by so fast and it won’t be long before the big day on March 17th. 

I’m trying very hard not to panic here, but someone put up on Facebook last week that it’s only 100-and-something days to the marathon. I nearly had a nervous breakdown. 

It feels like we only started training recently but we’re in week nine already, and at eleven miles. And it’s fantastic to be nearly halfway there. I did this week’s run alone and only did ten miles, after somehow picking the highest route I could find, at home in Kilgarvan. 

For those who know it, I ran to Morleys Bridge up to my house, which is seriously high. It’s towards the highest pub in Ireland, which says it all really.

I missed the company of my fellow runners when times got tough, but it’s a long one done and dusted - although I’m feeling a bit stiff two days later. Not sure if that’s a good sign or a bad one. 

My pelvic and hip injury is still flaring up, which is really not helpful to my training and although it eases out when I run, I know its probably not going to get better if I don’t rest.

But I can’t rest - because I’d miss running too much, and it’s too close to the big day. 

However, I’ve become very good at doing my stretches and strengthening exercises, which is one good thing I’ve learned this time around. So hopefully I won’t have to take time out. 

I am really enjoying the shorter runs and I’m definitely improving my speed a bit - not much now, but I can see an improvement, which really pushes you on. 

I love the routine of running and meeting at the Aquadome every evening after work for a chat and a run. It doesn’t even feel like you’re going training, just going to meet friends after work. 

Many of my friends who don’t run just don’t understand why I hate missing a run, but it’s seriously addictive once you start. 

It’s not only about the running but about meeting people and reaching your goal. Like maybe doing the three miles faster or running up Ballyard without feeling like dying. 

I wasn’t even sure after last year’s marathon that I would ever want to do one again, but I actually can’t wait to increase the mileage after Christmas to the really long ones - 16, 18, 20 miles. Madness I know, but there’s a great sense of achievement on the long runs. 

It’s hard to get all the training done and the run up to Christmas is the hardest. This weekend I have two Christmas parties which is going to really affect my long run - sorry Marcus, I know I shouldn’t miss one, but this might be a slight exception. God, I feel guilty and I haven’t even missed it yet! 

But then, running becomes such a part of your routine that if I you don’t do it you just feel bad, so it’s nearly easier to do it than to live with the guilt. 

It’s a bit like having that extra chocolate when you know you shouldn’t, but you do anyway and feel bad afterwards. I can’t miss a long run without feeling like that. 

I suppose that’s a good thing. Maybe it means I really am a runner.  

It's tough going

Marathon training is tough, there is no doubt about that, I was completely wrecked after running 10 miles last Sunday. In fact you would think I had done the marathon itself I was so tired. So after completing the double digit number it was off to bed for a few hours to rest. At least I have an excuse for going to bed in the middle of a Sunday afternoon! Time seems to be going to fast this year I can’t believe we are at double digits already. Only a few weeks go we were only working our way up to long mileage and this weekend we did 10 miles. Its sounds fantastic to say I ran 10 miles on a Sunday morning before most people were even up. Yep, it is boasting but all of us training should be -after all we are getting out of bed at 7am on our weekend to run. The nine mile run was tough I felt every mile and couldn’t get into the run. They say you have days like that and definitely the nine miles was one of those days when running was not my thing. Such runs actually help get ready for the marathon though as you have to learn how to keep going when you don’t really want to and this is how you are going to finish on the big day by pushing yourself forward when you don’t want to and you can’t. So, a bad run is actually a good thing the trick is not to give up and keep going no matter what you just have to finish the long run. And again this is where Born to Run comes in all of us have had bad runs and good runs and the group are there to support you and help you finish, so Gretta thanks for coming out to meet me on the last of that nine mile run. I am glad when it was over but overjoyed that I finished. The nine mile route took us around the new bye-pass and although there is some sneaky hills they were worth it for the run down Oakpark. It’s actually a nice running route around Tralee for anyone looking for somewhere different to run. 

I don’t care what anyone says it is an achievement to finish nine miles and the buns and jaffa cakes served at the ‘Dashboard Diner’ is an incentive to keep all of us running again Gretta and Catherine thanks for the mobile 

cafe that is there to meet us every Saturday morning! 

Thankfully, the 10 mile run was not as bad as the nine mile run and I enjoyed most of it although I still can’t find some-one who runs at my pace and I end up behind or ahead of most of the group. 

Hopefully my next run will out on the marathon route. I missed the first excursion out there this week. 

I am both dreading and looking forward to doing that route again. I haven’t been out in that direction since completing the marathon last year but at least this year I already know every bump and lump in that road and I will know them even better by the time March comes again this year. Sometimes I think I am mad to be doing any marathon training - it takes up so much time, its all I think and talk about and its tough and then I remember that it is all worth it when you cross that line. I am feeling the pressure this year to do the marathon faster, I am after all supposed to be fitter this year, but 26 miles is still 26 miles, so I can’t see how I am going to do it that much faster but we will have to wait and see. In the meantime, its onwards and upwards in training although I have to admit I’m going to be bold this week and miss training all weekend as I am away for a few days. And already I feel guilty that I am going to miss it not sure if that is good or bad but I will make up for it I promise!

I'm back

It’s official - I’m going to do my second marathon on March 16th next year. And just to scare you all, that’s only 16 weeks away from this Sunday!

I sincerely hope I’m fitter than I was when I started running this time last year -  although I’m not so sure about that, having seen how fast those first-timers are moving already. 

I’m kind of regretting cutting down my running during the summer months now, as I see how many people have improved by doing Dublin City Marathon and other runs during the summer. 

I decided not to do so many to concentrate on training for the Ring of Kerry Cycle, and the rest of the time on my social life and holidays! I have done a few runs, so it’s not as if I’m starting from scratch - but still, the thoughts of building back up to the 26.2 miles is daunting from where I am right now. 

I know everyone thinks the second marathon is easier, but I’m not so sure. Last year I had no idea what lay ahead, and how tough the long runs would actually be. This time, I know all about it!

There’s a certain sense of achievement in managing your first eight, nine and ten miles. I’ll never have that back again - so all first-timers, enjoy those milestones. They’re what marathon training is all about. 

Still, I was fairly chuffed with myself last Saturday, when I finished my first eight miles in a long time. I have to say it’s the support of the all the Born to Run members that got me through. 

In my defence, my recent lack of running is also because I’ve been injured with a rotated pelvis for the past four weeks since the Carers 10km run. 

According to my physiotherapist, Micheál Lynch - whose patience I definitely push to the limit  - I should be taking more time off. 

But I miss running too much to take that on board - sorry! It’s only when you’re told not to run that you realise how much you love it and you don’t want to miss any more training.

Having tried cycling over the summer and swimming with the Tralee Triathlon club, there is nothing that compares to running. 

The buzz of completing a long run - or even a short one for that matter - just can’t be beaten. 

When I come back in the evening after a run, I feel like I’ve achieved something even if it was just a three-miler. 

The eight miles were tough enough, as my longest prior to that had been four, but I took it nice and easy and managed it somehow, and thankfully we had no rain. 

I did struggle for the last two miles but all in all it wasn’t as bad as I expected. 

The Born to Run group has definitely expanded since last year, which is fantastic to see, and I’m in fact quite jealous of the first-timers who will get to cross that line for the first time in March. 

I’m also going to try to cross it again, and just because I did it once doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy to do again. 

I’m actually quite nervous about what lies ahead, particularly because I’ve missed training in recent weeks, and also, I still can’t imagine running 16, 18, and 20 miles again.  

Oh God! The thought of it is enough ! Last January and February was the last time I did that sort of mileage. 

This week, the training target is nine miles. Sounds great doesn’t it? Nine miles! 

See - that’s why we do it, just be able to say next Saturday, I ran nine miles. It’ll be worth it all. 

Won’t it?

You can't have another first!

I’m actually jealous - that’s a terrible thing to say - but all the newcomers will this year get to run their first-ever marathon, and I can’t ever have a first again. 

I remember someone telling me last year to enjoy every minute of your first marathon because you can never have it again.

It’s the one piece of advice I’d pass on to anyone thinking of the Kerry’s Eye Tralee International Marathon next March. 

I didn't listen at the time but I wish I had because honestly the lead-up to the marathon is as good as the day itself and over the next few months your life will change. Yeah, I bet your are laughing, but it is true. 

It may not seem like it now, but if you’ve signed up the next few months will be like nothing you have ever experienced, as you face some of the toughest challenges you’ll ever have. 

Of course not all of it will be a high but the highs far outweigh the downs and even if not the more difficult it is is the more of an achievement it is. If it was easy it wouldn't be an achievement.

And believe me it is all worth it!

When you cross the line on March 16th, the sense of achievement will be overwhelming.

I met many of the new runners last week, some who were even afraid to come out of their cars, others who said they wouldn’t be able for it, more who are unsure if they can run or if they are fit enough.  

Well, forget all your doubts -just do the training and the Born to Run Club will get you across that line.

You may crawl, you may walk - you’ll probably run, but it doesn’t matter. You’ll finish the marathon.

I know anyone who’s only beginning training, and has never run before, will find that hard to imagine. 

But it’s true. The one thing I learned along the way as I trained last year, is that the only thing stopping you is yourself. You must never give up that's the secret. Keep training no matter what and if you have a bad run put it behind you and keep going. 

The fitness and the running will come with training, so don’t worry about that. But you have to convince yourself that you can do it - and believe me, you can.  

So enjoy your training for the next few months as a new chapter in your life. This time next year, you’ll be a marathon runner encouraging others to take their first steps too.  

Some-one told me that when you look back on your life, running a marathon will be among the best memories you will have and it will be. 

Signing up to do my first ever marathon really did change my life. 2013 was the year of first's for me and not just my first marathon. Doing a marathon gave me the confidence to do other things I never thought I would do. I did my first Ring of Kerry for example. I never even thought I would cycle not to mind do the Ring of Kerry and I managed to cycle 180km in one day. It was a wonderful achievement and I am delighted but it didn't beat the marathon - that still stands out in my mind. 

I actually am looking forward to my next marathon and getting back to training for the big day. It may be my second but it is still going to be a great journey. And first-timers enjoy it. I mean it, I wish it was me!