November 11, 2008 · 1 Comment
I’m sure most of you have seen race walkers?
They are those people in races who do the funny hip sway thing that makes me want to laugh out loud, but which I’ve learned to respect after coming across these walkers in some of the races I’ve done, and battled to pass because they were actually going faster than me…
On Sunday I took part in the Cape Times Big Walk – being the optimist I am I signed myself and 3 of my friends up for the 30km route from Simonstown. I had sold it to my friends with the promise of spectacular scenery over False Bay and the fact that we would just be walking…
There were serious walkers in this race but it is also quite a social event and we thought it would be a good time to bond PLUS proceeds were going to Breast Cancer research which we all know I feel strongly for. Starting out with high spirits we managed most of the route without too much trouble (read: complaining) but in the last 5km it seemed our wheels were in grave danger of falling off entirely.
Stiff hips, blistered feet, sunburn and on the verge of a sense of humour failure, we all stepped over the finish line together. The 3 friends I walked with had never walked this distance before and considering we did it in 4 hours and 53 minutes (which is an average of 6.5km an hour) they all deserved a big pat on the back for doing something like this – no training and just for the fun of it!!
I do have to add that I haven’t been this stiff after an event in a very long time. Barely able to get out of bed on Monday morning and painful grimacing every time I stood up from my computer at work made me wonder how I managed to run almost 3 times the distance I walked on Sunday… Honestly I’m surprised that I can be so running fit, but walking fit is a totally different thing!!
Oh, and for my friends Amanda, Nicolene and Jeanene – you girls rock!!
In closing I’d like to repeat myself on something that has been proved to me yet again - how do you know what you are capable of if you never push yourself??
PS I’ll post the picture of all of us when I get it, its a keeper 
Categories: Race · Reluctant runner · Running · Sport · motivation
Tagged: Charity, Friends, Race, Walking
On Sunday I found myself standing at the start of the race where everything began – the VOB Grape Run, known as one of the toughest but also one of the most beautiful half marathons in the Western Cape.
The morning was clear and warm as we went winding up into Groot Constantia then hitting the dirt tracks around the vineyards and through the forests, giving us unobstructed views over the southern suburbs of Cape Town.
This being the only race I’ve ever done twice, I was pretty eager to see how much I’d improved since last year’s run with my mom – in tennis shoes, talk about a beginner
Finishing at a sprint (after really huffing and puffing the last 2 kilometres with my music blaring so loudly I couldn’t even hear what JayZ was saying), I came in at 2:01 – that is 17 minutes faster!!
Another great surprise was bumping into a lady who I’d run part of the Comrades with and who had essentially been the deciding factor in me leaving my mom at half-way. I also happened upon Reluctant Runner readers who, when I caught up to them (they were walking at this stage) were very quick to motivate me to try for the 2 hour mark!
To Summarise
Two and a half full marathons (I didn’t finish the one I started with the flu), a bunch of half marathons and the Comrades Marathon later – I feel like the first chapter in my running career has been written and is drawing to a close.
I would like to dedicate my next year of running to all the wonderful people I’ve met and who have motivated me to reach my goals this year. I also have to warn everyone that I have decided to take a few weeks off from running to give my body a break and indulge in the other things which I love doing and which have taken a back seat (my surfing has been reduced to beginner level and I don’t even want to talk about Yoga) so that when I start training for next year’s Comrades, I’m refreshed and ready to take on the challenges that surround getting my body ready for another 89km race…
Categories: Comrades Marathon · Preparation · Race · Reluctant runner · Running · Training · motivation
Tagged: half-marathon, Plans, time
On Sunday I do the Grape Run – the first half marathon I ever did – exactly a year ago…
With this landmark coming up I’ve been thinking about the past year (I tried not to because it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long – but I failed) and what I’ve achieved. It’s been a pretty hectic year for me career wise, emotionally and financially and to be honest I’m not sure I would have weathered it as well if I hadn’t had such a massive goal to work towards.
Yes I complained about running monopolising my time, it was the cause of some pretty substantial physical pain and I managed to blame it for everything that didn’t go right in my life – but it is also responsible for my biggest accomplishment.
This is what I have learned over the past year:
- I proved to myself by training, participating and finishing the Comrades Marathon – that I can do anything I put my mind to, which is empowering in so many ways.
- Blogging has been my outlet for running frustrations and indirectly some of my emotional turmoil (which is for another type of blog all together) and has put me on a new career path I hadn’t even considered.
- Fundraising is not only easy but immensely fulfilling and is something I’d like to carry on with into the future.
- The ability to run and motivate others is infectious, and I seem to be good at it.
- Not to take myself too seriously because it forms barriers against having to pee behind cars and bushes in a race – and not care if anyone is looking.
Moving Forward
I realize now that I’m not really the “Reluctant Runner” anymore – although I most certainly started out as one and some days still feel like that person, but I’m going to have to shift my focus a little where this blog is concerned.
I’ll fill everyone in on my plan in the next week or so but for now I’m going for a run – coz I want to…
Categories: Comrades Marathon · Fund Raising · Preparation · Race · Reluctant runner · Running · Training · motivation
Tagged: future, Plan, Realizations
On Sunday I did the Gun Run and decided to see how fast I could actually run 10km if I just pushed a little. I guess this is why normal people run time trials but in order to NOT have running take over my life and in trying to achieve some balance with my career and social life, not forgetting to leave some quality time for myself – I guess time trials didn’t even make my list of “To Do’s”…
A unique feature of this race is that the start is signified by the firing of a canon – at this point I’d like to say this race should NOT be run by people prone to fright or heart attacks since I almost jumped out of my skin, being unprepared for how a canon sounds from roughly 10 metres away.
Pushing hard from about the 5km mark I managed to come in at 51 minutes although I could feel I had pushed it and felt mildly nauseas when I was done, something which hasn’t happened to me since school Physed classes.
After the race I was chatting to an older gentleman who had also done the 10km run and who had come in at 46 minutes, he was 76 years old!! This reminded me of WHY I run and one of my motivations for having started on this journey which has resulted in me loving the sport and trying to persuade other people to start running too.
My next race is the Grape Run which is the first half marathon I ever did. I anticipate it being rather emotional but I’m excited to see how much I have improved in a year, on the same course.
Categories: Preparation · Race · Reluctant runner · Running · Training · motivation
Tagged: balance, half-marathon
I came across this website the other day.
I would love to think that all you – my loyal and dear readers – ONLY read my musings on running and what it takes to train for a long distance race, but in the interest of giving you a more technical view on things I’m going to say have a look at this site. It is a collection of a few resources which includes a marathon training blog, a triathlon training blog and a few other things.
Check it out
http://www.ontri.com/
Categories: Preparation · Race · Running · Training · Uncategorized
Tagged: Long distance, Marathon, Triathlon
The other day I received my Comrades Marathon race photos in the post… With great excitement I opened the envelope to examine my crowning glory of coming into the stadium – as I recall, alone thinking to myself how wonderful it was to run over the finish line with nobody blocking my way or obstructing me.
This memory of running not only into the stadium alone but onto the field and over the line with nobody else in sight, holding back the tears is still so vivid to me that when I looked at the photo I was shocked to see that, in fact I wasn’t alone…
Isn’t it amazing what the mind can do (keeping in mind at that stage I’d been running for over 11 hours)!! Check it out…
Running over the finish line
Not so alone...
Categories: Comrades Marathon · Reluctant runner · Running
Tagged: Marathon, Photo
The mention of new running shoes has sent me into intense procrastination mode over the past few weeks. I knew I was due for a new pair after the Comrades Marathon but I just couldn’t bring myself to even think about replacing my ol’faithful New Balance Pronation shoes.
Common sense would say just go with the same make and brand, but back in April when I went to the Orthopedic surgeon for a knee injury (not acquired through running – unfortunately) he had said I should get neutral shoes.
So, having slight pangs of anxiety about paying for new shoes and having them not work for me - developing some injury in the process of wearing them in, I decided to head to the New Balance store in Access Park where they test your running and recommend shoes, this is also the place I’d bought my first pair of shoes (in November last year – hard to think I’ve done 1 000km since then), which I also brought in for them to have a look at.
After explaining the whole story to the guy helping me, he made me put on neutral shoes and have a quick run (in the shop, pretty random considering I wasn’t really dressed for the occasion). Apparently my right foot goes off on its own mission before it strikes the ground, which I’ve seen on various race pictures (please take note of good vs bad photography) , but just conveniently ignored.
About an hour later (and a few more km clocked on the treadmill in the shop), I walked out - huge grin on my face, clutching my new pair of shoes – the same make and brand as my old ones, just a newer model and a different colour.
I know my mom has had some pretty horrid stories regarding shoes and 8/10 toenails falling off – I’m sure there are more out there – let me know I’d love to hear them…
Categories: Comrades Marathon · Reluctant runner · Running · Sport · Training · Uncategorized
Tagged: New Shoes, Running Shoes, New Balance
September 22, 2008 · 1 Comment
6:30am on Sunday I found myself in a crowd of runners, getting my mind into gear to run 42.2km in the Cape Town Marathon. Standing with my friends Nicola and Jess who were running their first marathon, I realized how far I have come since my first in February.
I felt fabulous the whole way, except when a very angry looking marshal yelled at me for wearing my iPod – this put me in a bit of a rage, I’ve heard some talk about banning MP3’s and iPods from running races but if they are going to do that then they had better ban all the supplements and energy packs people consume on the way – all of which do the same thing as music by giving runners the energy and motivation to keep going , especially on longer races (I will be talking more about this when I get feedback on what the rules are in this regard). Needless to say as soon as the marshal (with his red little face) was nowhere to be seen, I promptly put my iPod back on…
Bettering my time by almost 20 minutes, I came in at 4:12 – qualifying for next year’s Comrades Marathon and Two Oceans (should I choose to do them…).
I want to say thanks to my mom for meeting me along the way with potatoes and much appreciated support – also to my usual trusty seconds, Nicolene and Jeanene and the surprise appearances of Carla, Tammy, Amanda, Steve and Nathan – it means so much to me that so many people made the effort – thanks a mil guys!!
Oh and well done Nicola and Jess on finishing your first marathon – hope to see you guys on more in the future and to Anne who ran the last 4km with me, thanks for distracting me from the gigantic blister on my foot and aching legs – I hope I can return the favour one day!
Running on the Promenade - 5km to go
Categories: Comrades Marathon · Preparation · Race · Reluctant runner · Running · motivation
Tagged: Cape Town Marathon, iPod, Marathon, Suppliments
September 20, 2008 · 1 Comment
I’m going to need everyone to send me good vibes tomorrow morning, starting at 6:30am!! You can stop at around 11:00 which is when I should be finished running the 42.2km Cape Town Marathon…
Somewhat unprepared in that I haven’t done any long races since Knysna, although more fit since the first marathon I did back in February – I’m still nervous and am hoping that my legs remember the 89km Comrades Marathon.
My mom will be seconding me on the route for the first time which I’m really excited about, my aim when I signed up for this race was to better my first marathon time of 4 hours and 30 minutes (my only marathon coming to think of it) and try bring it to as close to 4 hours as possible.
I’ll give you the race rundown on Monday probably, oh and if you are in the Cape Town area tomorrow morning look out for me – my black skirt and top with a green crocodile across my chest is pretty hard to miss!!
Categories: Preparation · Race · Reluctant runner · Running · Sport · Training
Tagged: Cape Town Marathon, Comrades Marathon, Marathon, Race Day
September 14, 2008 · 3 Comments
Last night one of my friends Erin (who also happens to be a trusty second) announced that she would like to do a half marathon (and she was sober). The one she has decided to call her debut will be the Two Oceans Half of which I’m doing the 56km Ultra. Erin’s dad is breaking out his running shoes and wants his daughter to accompany him, which sounds extremely familiar…
This is said to be one of the most beautiful races on the South African racing calendar and next year is the 40th year that the Two Oceans Marathon will be held – so a great starting point for Erin.
I am thrilled that she has decided to do this and I have decided to take on the job of main motivator – which is one of the reasons I started this blog in the first place. I’ll keep everyone in the loop as to how Erin is doing, we have 5 months to whip her into half marathon running shape and the prospect of wielding the whip is mildly exciting for me…
Anyone else interested in joining Erin on her little adventure into the running world let me know – I promise to be kind
Categories: Jogging · Preparation · Race · Reluctant runner · Running · Sport · Training · motivation
Tagged: half-marathon, Ultra-marathon, Two Oceans Marathon, Racing calendar
