Marathon

I FINALLY DID IT!! I RAN A FULL MARATHON AND HAVE A MEDAL AND T-SHIRT TO SHOW FOR IT!! I CAN TICK IT OFF MY BUCKET LIST!

It is the hardest thing I have ever done. I can't believe I managed to get through it after everything. It's been over a year in the making for this 1 day - plenty of blood, sweat and tears. Officially since the first run last year on the 9th June 2018 - I've done 75 runs covering 465 miles. Injury, rain, snow, hail, sleet, wind, everything that could have went wrong for me the week before did, I said so many times I didn't want and couldn't do it and my worst nightmare of it raining on the day happened but I did it!!

I know I love a good moan but I live by the motto - Once you've started you've got to finish So I knew no matter what if I was crossing the start line I'd have to make it back to cross the finish line. Unless I physically couldn't run no more I was doing it. 

I hit my wall at mile 15 - I just felt like I couldn't breathe and did shed a tear. I was running but didn't feel like I was getting anywhere. People were walking and I felt like I was going at a snail pace. The 4 hour pacer went past me at like mile 8 but I did try my hardest to stay in front of it but I couldn't. 4:15 pacer went past me later on and I physically couldn't go any faster to keep in front of it. The 4:30 one was creeping behind me near the end and I was like I can't let it beat me. At mile 22 I don't know what happened but I sped up to keep in front of it. I basically sprinted the last mile like I did after my first half marathon. I don't know where it came from but it happened. The last 4 miles was the longest part of the rest. Both mentally and physically draining.

I didn't finish before 4:30 though as my chip time was before the 4:30 pacer which was annoying but I'm glad I did speed up to get finish with a faster time.

6:45am - Breakfast 1 - Porridge with banana, frozen berries and walnuts.

8am - Breakfast 2 - leftovers from the night before Rice, chicken, char siu and veg. Only managed a couple of mouth fulls.

Pre race before Angie did the half at 9am.

Coming up to the first mile

Just after I hit my wall at mile 15

This was the end tears of actual relief and joy - Never ever have to do that again and I can retire from long distance running!

This amazing woman finished 3:44 nearly an hour before me. I knew she was going to beat her time. She's mad for running the marathon again and to be able to beat her time by 13 minutes is such an achievement! 

Thank you so so much for training with me - I know you only signed up because I said I needed to it after not being able to do it last year. All them hours and weather conditions training and running basically everywhere. Thank you for listening to me moan and go on about how hard it is and that I wouldn't be able to do it!!

Well done to Michael - Jo from work's cousin for finishing his first full marathon too! He only ran his first half at last year's Rock N Roll and just thought I'm gonna try and go for the full. You did amazing! 

Angie got her pb in the half and did it in 2:02! Her 5th half marathon - you've done 2.5 full marathons... Well done Angie you're knocking minutes every race you'll be able to knock that 2 hour barrier for sure! 

Everyone did amazing but no one is more amazing than Sarah. Through everything she has managed to finish it and got through it when no-one thought she was going to. She was losing hope in herself in the morning but still managed to get through it in one piece. We all knew she was stubborn and determined but she's also injured, only ran up to 15 miles, worked the night before, been constantly drinking, constantly tired but still did it. Like you definitely can't wing a marathon but she finished it. I'm so so proud of you like we all got through it but after everything you did it and proved everyone wrong!

We got a quick shower then went to Amalia for food as it was 2 for 1 on Meerkat movies. Sarah didn't come with us though she had to go to a family party - Couldn't think of anything worse. I wasn't even hungry I just wanted to go home and go to bed I was exhausted but knew I needed to eat something. My head was killing cos I think I was dehydrated.

All 76 runs... I've been waiting a whole year to be able to write this post and to make these collages! Even had green hair when I started training.

Thank you so so much to this amazing little group of people for getting me through it. Without yous I wouldn't have been able to do it.

Thank you to everyone else for listening to me moan and go on about it for the past year and knew I could do it when I didn't think myself I was going to be able to. 

Thank you to Jo Shaw for all the advice and tips and yesterday for being there for us - being our photographer, number 1 supporter, the water and sweets!

Everything from the waist down hurts, I just want to be lying down forever right now. I can't walk, my head and throat hurts as I think I'm still dehydrated. I don't think it's fully sinked in that I've ran a full marathon and not full convinced it's worth all this. But I will definitely look back and be glad I did it and don't have to do it again!! My legs are definitely going to be thankful that I'm retiring from running for a while.

This medal will be treasured forever and no one can take it away from me. I am still sad I never did it within 4 hours like I really wanted but with my injury and after everything that has happened I'm just glad I did it and finished it in one piece - I don't feel like I'm in one piece right now but I can just about walk which is enough.

Well done to everyone that did the full and half marathon yesterday and good luck to you if you plan on doing the full marathon next year because I definitely won't be joining you at the start line running it!

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11 miles

Ran 11 miles this morning with Jo and it was hard. Legs are so achy and sore right now. I think I might have actually burnt myself out. All this running really is taking its toll on me and I'm feeling it. Training for a marathon really isn't easy at all trying to get all these miles in! It's getting harder for sure. Definitely due a sports massage soon.

Don't believe anyone who says they can just run a half marathon like that with no training - no way! Definitely not a full marathon either. Like you've got to train and build on it. Dreading having to do 12 miles next week!

Ran 3.5 miles on my own on Friday night. 

17.8 miles done this week as I ran 3.3 miles on Wednesday.

Just need to keep telling myself I can do this!

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10 miler

Ran 10 miles on Sunday morning. Back on track and following the plan sort of.. The past couple of weeks have been bit of a write off due to the weather. Only managed to do 5.5 miles the week it was snowy and icy. 

Last week was a bit better I did 6 miles on my own but so slow - I just don't seem to push myself and plod a long when I'm on my own just to get the miles in. When I'm with other people they drag me a long and I follow or I want to be ahead of them so will go faster. At the moment I'm not running for time anyway. I'm just running to get them miles in my legs. On the day I know under race conditions I will go a lot faster - don't know how much faster but I know I'll definitely pick up the speed!

I feel like I'm really not cut out for long distance running as I'm injured again! I've got a pain running down the front of my quad. Not actually sure what muscle it is just aches and hurts. I think it may be down to running on the treadmill the other week when I couldn't run outside I was running different as I'm used to running outdoors now? Who knows but at the moment running is bearable it just aches. My legs are just aching all over right now and I'll be happy if I never have to run again!

Every post I keep saying I can't wait for this marathon to be over so I can retire from running which is true as I have no desire to run another half, full or 10 miles. Probably not more than 10k if that.

Did 5km last Wednesday night.

Fast 5km tonight!

Hopefully back on track and no more weather issues!

My phone has updated to the new Android Pie and my GPS just isn't working properly so Strava and the Nike Running + app isn't clocking my runs. Anyone else on Android having this issue as it I had no issues before the update??

Also I did end up wining that competition with the zodiacs from Chinese New Year! Me and Jo have won a banquet for 2! So worth running round town for.

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Tired legs

Run 43 - 8.5 miles this morning.

This morning's run was hard - legs were heavy and tired. Earphones broke so had to run with no music. Lucky it stopped running as we left as it was pouring down on our way to the gym!

I've pulled a muscle in my left shoulder on Monday night and that was hurting. You'd think pulling a muscle in my shoulder means I can run just can't train upper body.. Nope when you run you use your arms and shoulders to move. I kind of tense my shoulders as well when I run. I was given a tip to not have my arms so high up as it'll conserve energy so with an injured shoulder this is the perfect time to learn my new technique!

It was a complete contrast to last week's run when I felt amazing and was really happy with it. This week was the opposite but you get weeks like this, just have to push a little harder. I've still managed to clock them miles - 15.2 miles this week. Slowly building them up. At the moment no run is a bad run. Every run and mile counts. It's days like today when you just need to push a little harder and just keep at it and rest more.

I haven't ran since Thursday night and did take Friday off which was the first rest day since New Year's day. Maybe that Pizza Hut I had last Saturday did help - maybe pizza is the answer to doing long runs? 

Not going to run till probably Wednesday night now so that's 3 days so hopefully have a good run in me by then and my shoulder is better. Just annoying when things go well and I get injured but that's part of training you will get injured just have to be careful and push through it!

Went to Cheshire Oaks again but with my mum and dad yesterday. Bought 2 tops from Nike in the sale and some kids pjs from M&S for £5!

Finally got myself a pair of Adidas NMD's. They were £41.95 and I managed to get myself student discount so paid £37.75 for them which is a bargain as they were £160 I think originally. These are more fashion rather than the gym and training. Still got another 2 pairs I want on my list.. Nike Air Max 270 and Nike React Element 87. But the list goes on as new pairs come out all the time. I don't really have the space for them all but I can't help it!

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Run 40

Run like the wind

Run 40 - week 2 of the marathon plan. Ran 7.7 miles this morning with Jo, Sarah and Angie. The plan was to run 6 miles but yet again we went over. It's quite hard to plan routes and to get it exactly to that distance. 

It was a good run this morning felt really good even though we were fighting gale force winds. We started running against the wind which is what we wanted as we run in a circle we wanted the wind to be behind us on the way back to push us through. I've got way too much hair for this - even though I had my hair in a pony tail it didn't even feel like I had my hair tied up as it just kept blowing in my face and being really annoying. I badly need a hair cut it's weighing me down as well!

I usually struggle going up Beaconsfield Road and drove up it the other day and was thinking how do I even run up this road as it's so steep my car isn't even flat but got up it pretty easily today. I think I'm getting my fitness back up to before I had my injury! 

I ran on my own on Friday night and did 3.4 miles which takes this week to 14.6 miles. Which I'm happy with as we're on track. Going to be doing the exact same runs next week and do the same route next Sunday morning as we're ahead of plan with us only suppose to be doing 6 miles this morning. 

This mornings run was fueld on a cereal bar, handful of Shreddies and Cheerios and a banana. I wanted to have porridge but we had no milk and I can't have it with water. Also last night's pizza. Me and Sarah went to Pizza Hut last night - had half a Hawaiian and Half BBQ Americano. We wanted to go to Wagamamas but the queue was out the door we forgot it was Saturday night and didn't think to book it but did book the cinema to see The Upside with Kevin Hart which was really funny. Hopefully I've fully burnt that pizza from last night now and had porridge when I got back with a banana, frozen berries, walnuts and sunflower seeds.

So glad we ran this morning as it's pouring down as I'm writing this post right now. Dreading having to run in the rain. I've finally got rid of my cold but I am definition of run down and my face shows it all. I've got a cold sore and spotty. I've not had a cold sore in years but I guess the stress of this marathon is real and showing. Things are going well and I'm sticking to plan so I'm definitely not feeling as stressed as I was and I'm hoping it stays that way!

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Marathon Plan

Run 3 of the year - 5.6 mile run this morning. Questioning a bit how I'm going to manage to run 26.2 miles 20 weeks today. It's going to be so hard and I can't wait to get it done and be able to have that medal to say I've finally ran a marathon!

I was stressing yesterday and decided I need to get this plan done so I know where I'm at and where I need to be. Got it printed in my room to tick off each run as I do them.

So we're going to do 2 short 5 km / 3 mile runs on Tuesday and Friday night. Then a long run every Sunday morning and add 1 mile each week. Hopefully building up to 22 miles 3 weeks before the race. I'm pushing this training hard though as you're not really suppose to do more than 20 miles before the race as on the day the adrenaline should get you through it and I should be easing off the miles at least 3 weeks before but I'm dropping only 2 weeks before. 

I don't think this plan is going to be set in stone really as I don't think I will end up doing more than 20 miles. When I trained with Jo to try and do it last year we really struggled doing 17 miles I was injured but it was still hard even if I wasn't. So that extra 3 miles will be hard to get through.

I'm feeling a bit better after doing this plan as I can see I do have time but then still in a way feel like I don't. As long as I stick to the plan as close as I can and keep up the training injury free it will be fine! (So I keep telling myself). Going to be covering a lot of miles 388 miles training then with the race 414.2 miles! I will be ready to retire from running after this race for sure.

It's not the just the running and training - the diet and what I eat will be super important to keep me going.

For breakfast I had porridge with milk, a banana, handful of blueberries and raspberries - slow releasing carb breakfast with some sugar to burn on the run.

 After the run today I had a Nature Valley Nut Putter Peanut butter bar before my shower then after I made scrambled eggs with 4 eggs and some smoked salmon.

Plenty of protein packed lunch and plenty of water. An apple as a snack before my dinner. Then for dinner I'll be having rice with plenty of veg and meat maybe some steamed fish.

Got to make sure I'm eating the right amount of carbs and protein to keep my energy up especially with the long runs. It is both scary and exciting training for this marathon and it will be all worth it in the end as not everyone can say they ran a marathon in 4 hours!(hopefully)

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New Years Eve 2018

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's officially 2019! I spent New Years Eve in Jo and Rich's after work. Went round we watched Crazy Rich Asians which I've been dying to watch since it come out in the summer but didn't get round to seeing it then we tried to watch it on Christmas Day in Nanny Wing's but it stopped once we got to 40 minutes in. It's a good film I really like it! Could have so been an extra in it!

We had some food, Rich taught me a card game then we watched Deadpool 2. Don't really know why as I didn't even like the first one. We were like half watching it me and Jo could barely stay awake watching it then missed the last half an hour of the film as it was the new year countdown. Once it turned midnight I came home and went straight to bed. So that's how wild my start to 2019 was! But my 2019 will definitely be wild it will get better...

Jo and Rich made these fancy mini fish pies in a shell! We also had rice, chicken and veg but I forgot to take a photo.

New Years Day

New Years Day night went to Nanny Wing's for dinner but it was a smaller than usual gathering as my mum and dad didn't go as they're ill from when they went on their cruise. Laura was in Manchester and Gary, Kirsty and the boys didn't come either.

Me, Tracy, Gavin, Brandon and Uncle Ray played Monopoly - Pokemon version.

Tracy left as she was going home, Gavin went bankrupt, then Uncle Ray so it was left between me and Brandon. He had more money than me but I had more hotels so I thought he was going to win but then he landed on my version of Mayfair and had to pay me £2000 in rent but couldn't afford it so I won! The first time I've even won Monopoly so that must be a sign to a good start of 2019? 

Did my first run on the year today with Jo and Sarah. It was only a 5.5 km but the plan is to do 2 short 5 km runs through the week then Sunday morning we're going to do a long run. Starting this Sunday with a 8 km then each Sunday we're going to build up and add another 2 km which will hopefully get up to the 22 miles I want to do before the race come Sunday 26th May 2019. I'll post a proper plan in my next post as I'm still working on it.

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Last Run

Last run of the year

Did my last run of the year this morning with Jo. A little 5k done before the last gym session of the year. 

Post Christmas 5 km on Friday night.

35 runs since the 9th June 2018 when training for the Liverpool Rock n Roll Marathon 2019 started. Should be at least 40+ runs but I was out for nearly 2 months injured which could've only lasted 2 weeks but I just let it drag out. But now that injury is sorted and I have all the right gear there shouldn't be any more set backs. I just need to set a proper plan so I don't go too hard too soon to save my self from being injured again. Slowly build up them miles week by week and I should be able to get that 4 hour time I want. 

Sunday 29th May 2019 is quicker than I think for sure as this year has flew by. Training for the full marathon started with green hair and I finished the half marathon in March with green hair. But it's actually been 6 months since I had it dyed back black!

It's been a crazy year but one of the best. I ticked running a half marathon off my bucket list in a time I wanted. Going to be ticking a full marathon off next year also hopefully within the time I want!

Dying my hair green was one of the best decisions I made even though I did have a bit of a breakdown afterwards but green hair Julie was living her best life for sure. Them 4 months were mad and I can't wait for Curfew to start on Sky in the new year. No start date as of yet but it's meant to be early in the year. 

Sarah got me an Independent Liverpool Card for Christmas which means plenty more eating and drinking for 2019. The blog will be super busy with all that and marathon updates. 86 posts for 2018 lets beat that for 2019!

Hope you all had a great 2018 and an even better 2019!

Happy New Year!

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