The Marathon Diaries 2 10 weeks to go

How did three weeks just pass by? I JUST wrote about it being 13 weeks to go, didn’t I? DIDN’T I?!

When I first started training I thought about how tiring it was going to be dedicating FOUR MONTHS to the London Marathon, but now the cliché has well and truly shown itself by proving that time is flying by. I’ve finished six weeks of the training plan already, and the super long runs are slowly creeping up.

Oh boy.

So, here’s what I’ve learnt and thought, and what else has been happening, in the last three weeks of training...

I’m actually getting fitter!

It sounds obvious, but all this regular, longer running is actually making my running better. My pace is naturally getting more even and fast, I’m able to run for longer without wanting to die, and I can speed up within the last three to four minutes of a run now instead of 20 seconds. It’s impressive. 

But I’m still very good at comparing my running to others’  

I know that, in comparison to other distance runners, I’m pretty slow. And I accept that. That’s fine, my body is still pretty great and I’m definitely improving… but, my God, being involved in various marathon and charity WhatsApp and Facebook groups is exhausting, and don’t even get me started on Instagram. 

It’s AMAZING that social media can be used to group runners together, to share tips and tricks, have a moan for a pick-me-up after a bad run, and generally encourage each other throughout this absolute mission we’ve put ourselves on, but sometimes it’s overwhelming and I often find myself thinking, “HOW ARE THEY SO FAST?”, “I can’t believe they’re running 16 miles already,” and “They buy so much training and nutrition stuff, I don’t even know what this shit is.” And sometimes it’s hard to quit that… I’ll just have to try harder. 

My foam roller is my evil baby

I bought a foam roller nearly a year ago now, but did I use it? Of course not. It just made me feel professional having one in the corner of my room. But after reality hit after the Royal Parks Half last year, and I realised running can REALLY HURT YOUR BODY, I appreciated the nasty, awful, disgusting, purple, cylindrical, knobbly, foam demon a lot more. Various parts of my body have caused a fuss in the last six weeks (my feet, then my hip, then my shins, then my arse…) but I’ve made sure I’ve foam rolled before and after every run. It really does make a difference. Even if foam rollers are pieces of shit.

I’m very conscious of my attitude towards training and diet

It’s good that I’m dedicated to this marathon, right? It’s good that I’m following a plan, doing my research, using my time well, and adapting my diet to ensure my training is the best it can be… right?

Right. But sometimes I feel like I’m a little too dedicated and I’m slightly worried that soon it will become unhealthy, or that when the marathon is over I’ll still be intensely focused and mildly obsessive over training and nutrition. I don’t want that. I may be thinking too much into this, but I know how my mind works so I want to be open and honest right now about it. Sometimes I need to step back.

I AM ALWAYS SO TIRED AND THIRSTY, OH MY GOD

SO TIRED, SO THIRSTY. SO THIRSTY, SO TIRED. JFC. WILL IT EVER END.

I’m worried about getting bored…

There’s a little park at the bottom of our road which is great for running… for about half an hour and then it gets a little tiresome. I don’t want to get bored of running, but I really don’t like running around roads, and I’m not overly keen on travelling out (spending money) to run in other parks. But needs must. I’ll run around the park in the shorter weekday runs, then jump on a bus to a larger park for the long weekend runs. And I need to keep adding to my running playlist. If anyone has any of their own running playlists or can suggest any good running songs, hit me up!

All in all, it’s going well. And I’ve been saying that a lot. Because a lot of people have been asking. In the last three weeks, Ryan and I have been to three very different running events. So, buckle up, I’m not finished talking yet…

RunThrough Battersea Park 10k

On Saturday 21st January, we ran our first RunThrough.co.uk event at Battersea Park. It was so fun! It was cheap to sign up, super popular, a lovely course (we’d never been to Battersea Park before - definitely a contender for longer weekend runs), and the medal was cute and fancy. I ended up getting a PB (beating my time by a whole four minutes!) without even trying. 10/10. 

Virgin Money London Marathon’s Meet The Experts Day 

This was a pretty exhausting day. We went along to Central Hall Westminster on Saturday 4th February with lots of other London Marathon runners to hear from a bunch of experts, in areas from nutrition to psychology, and clothing to pacing. I felt like I was back in university lectures all day and there was a lot of information to take in, but Ryan had the chance to meet with his charity, Against Breast Cancer, and we got a goodie bag, so. Can’t complain. 

Guild of Health Writers’ Anxiety Epidemic event, with Heads Together

*deep breath* This was quite a night. On Monday 6th February, Ryan and I gave a speech at Chandos House in front of a bunch of journalists, the Heads Together charities, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It was my fourth time meeting them (seasoned pro, what can I say) and Ryan’s first time, but it was nerve-wracking. We gave a speech. Like, a super personal speech on mental health that was filmed and is now floating around the internet being watched and commented on by thousands. 

I don’t feel vulnerable and exposed at all, no, what on earth do you mean?

Despite the nerves, anxiety, and exhaustion, it was a pretty cool night. We met some super inspirational people, had the opportunity to share our story to support others, had free wine and food (bangin’), and sat next to The Duke and Duchess for hours. We were touching shoulders, and whispering between speeches like schoolchildren in assembly. It was surreal. The quality of Kate’s tights is solid, by the way. Great tights. 

Ok, I'm done now. I promise. Who knew so much could happen in three weeks?! I hope the next few weeks are more chilled, but this training is only going to get harder and harder... let's go.

The Marathon Diaries 5 4 weeks to go

               My mantra. Massive thank you to my pal Charlotte for surprising me with this t-shirt!

It’s happened. The number of diaries I’ve now written is now more than the amount of weeks to go until the Virgin London Marathon 2017. Excuse me while I shit myself. 

Speaking of shitting myself, that’s a section in this edition. Yep, we’ve reached that stage now. We’re smack bang in the middle of the LONG long runs (I RAN 17 MILES YESTERDAY) and I have very little dignity left. 

I hope you’re ready for all this…

I managed to run 4 miles less than 24 hours after the Dartford Half marathon

Let’s start where we left off. The Dartford Half marathon. If you wouldn’t mind a detour, let me cast your minds back to last October where I was a broken woman after the Royal Parks Half Marathon. I was an injured, exhausted mess and couldn’t run for a month. So, obviously, I was expecting just the same this time… but… what is this… I ran FOUR MILES the DAY AFTER a HALF MARATHON RACE?! I did. Yep. Affirmative. I felt fine and ran four miles. CHUFFED. I've said it before, I'll say it again: the training works!

Running 15 miles on your period is Not Great

I don’t let my period stop me from running, but OH BOY, sometimes it’s brutal. My uterus was having none of it during a midweek run and I had to stop to be sick on the side of the road, so the thought of doing 15 miles that weekend wasn’t filling me with too much hope. I did it, obviously, because I’m fucking superwoman, but please don’t ever underestimate the effect a period can have on a body. It’s not just all moaning and chocolate, lads. Which leads me to…

BUM CHAFING 

I'm all for TMI. Sorry Mum. I wear pads on my period (don’t talk to me about tampons or the mooncup) and figured that I could be the victim of fanny chafing on a three-hour run, so smothered myself in my lube stick. I was pretty smug with that forethought, but it wasn’t my fanny I had to be worried about, it was my arse. Jesus H Christ. I farted during that 15 mile run about 11 miles in and THE STINGING. OW. The hot water in the shower afterwards didn’t help either. I had sore lumps all over my bum, and now just my knickers are encouraging them. They ain’t going. Ryan’s had to lather my bum crack in Sudocrem. Seriously, this marathon. WHY.

But look how cool this running map looks...

I always think I’m going to shit myself at 11 miles

I’ll stop talking about my arse in a minute, I promise. But there is something about the 11 mile point that makes my insides want to fall out of my holes. I have to clench tight for half a mile until the feeling goes. I have absolutely no science, wisdom, or learnings from this, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I’M SCARED I’M GOING TO SHIT MYSELF AT 11 MILES, OK. (Mum - if you want to stand on the day at 11 miles with some Immodium, that’d be top.)

My little toenails are going to fall off

I always thought it was your big toes that suffered during marathon training but, of course, my body has to be different. I get the gigantic Satan-filled blisters on my big toes, but my little toes feel broken. I've kept them painted for weeks and I ain't looking to see what's underneath. I’m just keeping them as short as possible. But they ARE going to fall off. I’m prepared for the grief. I’m ready to let go. RIP.

I literally can’t stop eating 

Over the last three weekends I have run 13.1 miles, 15 miles, and 17 miles. That’s a lot of running in one go. What I didn’t expect, perhaps stupidly, was to be permanently hungry for the rest of the weekend. I cannot stop eating. Nothing fills me up, my stomach will rumble as soon as I’ve finished a massive roast. I’m having two lunches, two dinners, and a million snacks in between. I can only imagine the amount of food I will want in my face after 26.2 miles…

Final instructions magazine arrived, and my race number! THIS IS ALL TOO REAL.

I’m not running on my own anymore!

In non-body news, Ryan’s started running with me. I don’t know if he feels sorry for me or really does want to slow his running down (his pace is fast), but I’m not complaining. I’m slightly worried I’m ruining his training but I LIKE HAVING A RUNNING BUDDY. It’s forcing me, again, to not wear earphones and trust my body to be able to run without distraction… and gives me someone to swear at when I’ve run 16 miles and CAN’T DO THE LAST MILE, THIS IS FUCKING AWFUL, I HATE EVERYTHING. (I can, and I did.) 

Also I have someone to take photos of me...

Ryan’s smashed his £2,000 target for Against Breast Cancer!

And finally, the last of Ryan’s fundraising events was last Saturday and he raised a fantastic £580. That took him to nearly £2,000 for Against Breast Cancer which was all he needed to say for people to donate that little bit more for that golden target. What an amazing feeling and weight off! Thank you so much to all those who donated. 

If anyone else wants to donate, please visit here! https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/ryanhutchings1