What’s a runner without any races?

For me, my busiest racing period ever was the 8 months from September 2011 to May 2012. During that time I ran:

17 Sep 2011 – Dublin Half Marathon
13 Nov 2011 – Poppy Half Marathon (Bexhill)
20 Nov 2011 - Old Deer Park 10K (Richmond)
07 Jan 2012 - Southern California Half Marathon(Irvine)
19 Feb 2012 – Brighton Half Marathon
04 Mar 2012 - Regent's Park 10K
24 Mar 2012 - Maxifuel Half Marathon (Dorney Lake, Windsor)
27 May 2012 - Edinburgh - 4:49:28 (PB)

Part of the reason for this was my obsession with running a sub-2 half. The other reason was because I enjoyed it! Races were no longer scary events that I knew nothing about. The whole race day routine became normal—I knew how to prepare and what was going to happen. Easy!

While I’m very proud of all the races I did during that time, @brazilliangunner pointed out that one of the reasons why I might not have cracked that 2 hour mark was because I was racing too much, and that I should focus on a few big races a year. TBH at the time I was doing a lot of running and enjoying the races too much to think about it. But now as I struggle to find time for my training, it feels like the right thing to do.

Last week, I signed up for the Brighton Half Marathon. There have been some serious organizational issues every time I’ve run it (Conegate, anyone?), but it’s my home race and what could be easier than hopping over to the start line a few miles away?

I had originally planned to focus on 2-3 big events next year, one being a marathon. But after I didn’t get into London I decided that I would just wait for now, and see how things were going after the Brighton Half. Besides, at the moment just getting through a half marathon training plan will feel like an accomplishment.

For the first time in a long time I will have only 1 race on my calendar. It feels strange and kind of lazy, but for me it’s the right thing. I will be able to focus on getting that balance between running and work, and I hope I find it in the end.


So what’s a runner without any races?


A runner who is trying to find her running self again!

Yes, I’ve been scared to run!

I love running.....so why have I been so scared to do it?

Since starting a new job in March, my tweeting, blogging, and running have been sporadic to say the least. I went from running 40 miles a week to not running for weeks at a time. I was able to squeeze in enough training to run my first marathon in May, do an open water swim in June, and then eeked through a sprint triathlon in August. But I was so slow on the bike that I was one of the last people on the course! 

I thought the sprint tri would reinvigorate my training, especially with the London Triathlon coming up, but it didn’t. Post-tri I did well for about a week, but then crazy work hours and travel got in the way once again. After struggling so much on the bike in Seaford and not being able to get any more training in....I reluctantly withdrew from the London Tri. Well....I was reluctant, but very relieved. 

Once I withdrew from the London Tri, I should have just run for fun whenever I had the time. Randomly during the week when I could and on weekends, definitely. No pressure, right? But instead I avoided it. Partly because I knew that I was out of shape. But mostly because I was scared. 

Yes, scared to run.

Scared to start clawing back some of my fitness only to have to lose it again when things got crazy at work. Scared to feel the stress of not being able to train when I had a race coming up (even though I had no races planned). Scared to feel like I was running for the first time ever.

Typical work stress and trying to fit my running around work had turned something I loved into something I dreaded. Suddenly I was scared....I just didn’t want to do it. 

Irrational and stoopid, I know. And an all-around poor excuse. I see so many of you with such an amazing commitment to getting it done. Day after day, getting up hours before sunrise, going on runs at the office, running at night after dinner! How do you guys do it?!

So the bottom line of all this fear and whinging is I haven’t been very good at fitting running around work, despite my efforts to become a dedicated member of the 6am club before I ended my career break. I don’t think it’s going to get any easier, but I finally hit the point where the stress of not running finally outweighed the stress of finding time to run. (Okay, the fact that I couldn’t get one of my skirts over my butt the other day was probably another contributing factor).

I have finally accepted that any running was good running, even if it was ‘only’ 2ish miles. No longer will I worry about fitting time in for 4 miles or 6 miles or 8 miles, and then giving up because there wasn’t enough time. I will now be happy with anything, even if I’m just running around the block. Or up and down the hall in my flat!

I ran for the first time in 5 weeks this morning. I struggled as I plodded along, nearly hyperventilating. And while I felt scared before I took the first few steps, I have to admit that it felt like being with an old friend by the time I got to the end of the road.

One day down, and my goal is to just get out there every day this week.

No more fear. I hope.....

Review: South Coast Triathlon, Seaford - 18 August 2012

Yesterday, I did my very first triathlon--the South Coast Tri in Seaford. I wanted to do a sprint triathlon in preparation for London and this race seemed ideal: a good one for beginners and just a short drive away from Brighton.

One of my biggest worries about my first tri was the weather. I'm a very inexperienced and fearful cyclist, so the last thing I wanted to deal with was cycling on wet roads. Luckily, it turned out to be a beautifully sunny day! Almost too sunny...

The sprint tri had a very civilized start time of 11:45, but since it was my first and I didn't know what to expect, we left the house at 9:00 to leave plenty of time. By the time we arrived at 9:30 some of the other races were in full swing, and I could see cyclists and runners out on the course. No wait to register, just collected my race packet and had my number written on the side of my arm and leg. I also picked up my goodie back which included a bottle of Gatorade.

After running to the loo (I'd been hydrating to prepare for the heat) I headed into the transition area. With other races in progress, it was busy and crowded with bikes and lots of kit. I finally found a spot to rack my bike and lay out my stuff. Lots more to think about and prepare for compared to my usual running races, but pretty soon it was time to get into my wetsuit and head over to the swim start.

Review: Speedo WomenOnly Swim, Dorney Lake, Eton - 10 June 2012

Yesterday, I 'raced' in my first ever open water swim! @rowenanews and I are both training for triathlons, and a few months ago she suggested we do the WomenOnly Open Water Swim at Dorney Lake. I'd just done the Maxifuel Half there, and a women's only event sounded just right for a first-timer so I happily agreed! There were three distances available and I signed up for the 1500m event.

Up until a few weeks ago I was focused on the Edinburgh Marathon, so I didn't have any huge expectations for this event. I'm comfortable with swimming and I knew I could finish, but not really race. My goal was to stay comfortable, get some experience with open water swimming, and see what it was like to swim in a wetsuit.

We left Brighton at 6:45am and got to Dorney Lake by 8am. The weather was cool, but at least it wasn't raining. It was quite a long walk from the parking area to the Boathouse, but when we finally arrived it just took me a few minutes to register, get my swim cap, stickers, and timing chip. Unlike most running races that I've been to there was no queue for the loos so I quickly popped in and tried to figure out what to do next. It was all feeling very unfamiliar! I decided that I'd better try to get my wetsuit on in case I got stuck.

Luckily for me, BodyGlide made a real difference, and it didn't take me very long to get suited up. From there I went to the Boathouse balcony...and happily found @rowenanews and @becsowengardner! It was so great to finally meet both of them, and then the very nice @windsorAndy arrived to cheer us on.

View of the lake from the Boathouse balcony. The race start was by the left landing,
left of the yellow buoy. The bike racks were set up for the triathlon later in the day.

Twitter wisdom for first-time marathoners

Before I ran my first marathon in Edinburgh, I asked Twitter one question:

What is the one thing you wish you knew before you ran your first marathon?

I was lucky to get lots of interesting responses and advice, including an entire race day guide from the amazing @braziliangunner! (If you are interested, check out his comments on this page.) So as promised, here are the things the wise Twitter Running Family recommended the most:

Top 5 Tips for First Time Marathoners

5. Don't stress or panic, either during the taper or the race. Try to stay calm--the stress won't help you. @nylonruns said ' I wish I'd known how much I would enjoy it, I wouldn't have stressed so much!' 

4. Hydrate properly. Hydrate enough but not too much, and make sure you take some salts to prevent cramps.

3. Understand how you should fuel for the race. Nutrition is an important part of running a marathon, and lots of people said you should test this beforehand and know what works best for you. @brazilliangunner put it best: 'If you get carbload + race day nutrition right you won't hit the wall, as simple as that.'

2. Don't go too fast at the start. It's so much harder to stick with your pace and go slow at the start of a marathon. But as @mikew30 said 'Go off slower than you want to and if the first few miles feel the right pace, it's not slow enough. If it feels slow, it still probably isn't slow enough.'

1. Enjoy the experience. This is what most marathoners said BY FAR. As @ruggedradnage said, 'You'll never have another first! :)'

These were the tips I heard most often but I also got other great advice:

@rhianonruns: During your taper spend all the time you would usually be running on stretching

@runreadrant: Trust your training!

@mikew30: Wear a vest with your name on the front so people shout your name

@_martyn_fisher: Remember during the hard bits that loads of people are rooting for you

@runlikeacoyote: After...keep walking and moving. It really helps keep you from stiffening up

So now that I've run my first marathon, what's my tip?

Run with someone during the race if you can. I usually train alone these days so I never thought much about this at all. But I was very lucky that an experienced runner found me during the race and I think it made a difference! Running with that nice lady forced me to focus on my pace (and make sure I wasn't getting carried away). Best of all, it meant that I didn't feel quite so alone during the tougher moments. So if you can find a friend to run with you that's great. But if not, try to tag along!

All the advice really helped me to feel both physically and psychologically ready for the Edinburgh Marathon. So a big THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to share their wisdom!

And if you are running your first marathon (or thinking about it), I hope these tips will be as helpful to you as they were for me!

Review: Edinburgh Marathon - 27 May 2012

This is a few weeks late after traveling for work last week....but I just HAD TO review my first marathon!

After a rocky return back to the working world and long hours the last few months, Edinburgh Marathon really snuck up on me. While I was able to get my 20 mile runs in, my overall mileage each week wasn't very consistent and nothing compared to what I was running before March. But it was my first marathon and all I wanted to do was finish. I wasn't as nervous as I could have been because I had no pressure to beat a time. A nice feeling after struggling to break 2 hours in the half.

Hubs and I flew to Edinburgh the day before the race and were greeted by beautiful sunshine when we arrived. We had a great pre-marathon day. We wandered around the city and then gave my legs a rest by watching 'The Avengers Assemble' in 3D. That evening we had an early dinner (spaghetti and meatballs for me!) before chilling in our room and an early night.

The Edinburgh Marathon started at a very civilized 10am (the half marathon started at 8am) so I was up and eating breakfast at 7am. It gave me enough time to relax a bit in the hotel room before getting geared up for the race. Our hotel was just off the Royal Mile which meant a very short walk to the start line at Regent Road.

So tell me....

I know, I've been a terrible tweeter and blogger these last few months. Work and general exhaustion have been getting in the way, but I'm going to try my best to make sure I stay connected with the amazing Twitter Running Crew.

So I'm back....and looking for advice!

All of a sudden, it's less than two weeks until I run my very first marathon in Edinburgh. I'm a little bit nervous as it will be the first time I've ever run more than 20 miles, but I'm excited to just soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the experience! 

I keep thinking, though--there must be little tricks of the trade or important things that just haven't crossed my mind. Random thoughts keep going through my head: what about fueling, hydration, how do carry all my gels, do I need to worry about chaffing, what to do if I need to pee (or worse) and there's no toilet, what if I get a blister, what if it rains....? Things that are bound to happen that will make be think...why didn't I think of that?!

So what I would like to know is......

What's the ONE thing you wish you knew before you ran your first marathon?

Yes, that's right....the ONE thing. Please share your running wisdom by commenting below or sending me a tweet @diminutiverunr. I'll summarize and share all the advice next week before I head to Edinburgh.

All advice welcome and nothing is trivial!

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Step away from the training plan!

Going back to work after a 6 month career break was a real shock. Not only because I'd gotten used to doing whatever I liked all the time. But also because the culture of my new company turned out to be so different to my old one. In ways that I'd never imagined.

Even though my hours haven't been too long yet and I won't start traveling until after Easter, the stress of the adjustment has really made these last four weeks a struggle. I was more tired than I expected and even though I had practiced getting up early for @6amClub, the reality was much more challenging.

But still, my running had been going pretty well and I felt ready for my next half. I had to skip Berlin (at least I can get a discount voucher for next year) but I was able to sneak into the Maxifuel Half at Dorney Lake last weekend instead. Work meant I didn't really dwell too much on it, and just went in feeling positive about running a sub-2.

Dorney Lake is a very flat course and the weather on the day was perfect. But it wasn't meant to be and for the first time ever I had fuelling issues. To my absolute surprise I felt like I was hitting the wall at MILE FOUR and actually wanted to pull out of the race. But I refused to give up and finished, at a time about 6 minutes slower than my PB.

After 7 half marathons I still haven't been able to break that sub-2 mark. But then I realized, in just over 6 months I've run 5 half marathons and 2 10Ks. I've gone from one training plan directly into the next, with no real time off. So after Dorney Lake I decided to take a break. A real break. Right in the middle of my training plan.

I HAVEN'T GONE RUNNING FOR A WEEK!

I could hear the collective shudder from the Twitter Running Family as I typed that, and it did feel like I was being very, very naughty. But in a way it felt liberating. Taking a break meant I had one less thing to worry about as I stressed about my job. I got a little extra sleep. And mentally it helped me to put half marathons aside (for now...I WILL run a sub-2 one day) and focus on two new challenges: my first marathon in Edinburgh and my first triathlon in London.

So while I never thought that I needed to take a step back from running, the break has done me good. My spirit and body feel refreshed. I feel a little less stressed about my job. And I'm ready to run again.

Hmmm....maybe I should take breaks from running more often. Maybe. :)


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Taking a moment to say....

I am extremely social media shy.

I do not have a Facebook, Google+, or MySpace account. When I finally decided to join Twitter and Blogger last summer, I knew I didn't want to use my real name. Even my friends and family don't know my secret identity!

Most people will probably think that I'm completely paranoid, and maybe there's some truth to that. But I'm still just not sure about having myself totally out there. I'm not sure if I want random people to be able to see parts of my private life that I never said they could see. So until then, I will be happy to just be The Diminutive Runner.

So why I am I even on Twitter?

I decided I needed to understand how social media worked because I'd be behind the times if I didn't. When I took a career break about 6 months ago, it seemed like the perfect time to dip my toe in. I knew I wanted my profile to be based on one of two obsessions--food or running. And in the end running won out.

To make a long story short, I was completely surprised to discover the amazing network of Twitter runners. I've been so grateful for the:

• SUPPORT. You're the best cheering squad ever!
• ADVICE. I get to tap into the minds of so many wise, experienced runners.
• INSPIRATION. Your challenges and goals inspired me to sign up for my first triathlon and marathon.
• UNDERSTANDING. You know how I feel after I've had bad race, worry about niggles, or buy new running kit.

It's back to work for me tomorrow. After a two week induction (crazy, right?) there will be travel and long hours....and I probably won't be able to tweet as much as I would like (which Hubs says is all the time)! So before things get too crazy I just wanted to take a moment to say....

You've shown this shy girl a positive side to social media!

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Reflections on the Brighton Half, or How I'm feeling after missing the sub-2 mark--AGAIN!

@rowenanews called me a "small ball of fury" this morning. When I told Hubs he laughed and said, "Sounds like she knows you well!"

My disappointment on Sunday was replaced by fury yesterday, when the Brighton Half officially acknowledged the distance error and made time adjustments. I know many fellow runners were happy but I wanted to scream when I saw my adjusted time of 2:00:24.

This was my 6th half and my 4th where I was trying to run a sub-2. If the distance had been correct I would have known how close I was to the 2 hour mark. I would have pushed even harder to the end. But I chose to trust the mile markers and when I hit 11 miles I believed I had missed the sub-2 already. And I know it made a difference to how I ran the last part of the race.

2:00:24 would have been a PB for me, but I just don't....can't....WON'T....think of it as one. I can't help thinking about how things might have played out differently if the distance had been marked correctly. True, maybe I still would have just missed it. But I FEEL like I'll never know. For me, this will always be a 2:03:21 for a 13.42 race.

I admit, my fury is probably down to the fact that my time was so close to a sub-2 AND because I've been pursuing it for so long. Would I be as upset if I had run a poor race and my time was no where near 2 hours anyway? Or if I had blown away the sub-2 mark even at the longer distance? Or if it had been my first half? Probably not. But for me, the circumstances of Brighton Half ended up as perfect storm for anger, frustration and disappointment.

The morning after my fury has dissipated. Stepping back and looking at the race (without considering the distance mistake), here are my thoughts:

• It was a tough race for me. In general, the race just felt tough. I didn't have as much energy as I thought I would, and my legs didn't feel that fresh. Around mile 7 my legs really started to tighten up, and I didn't feel like I had enough left to push it for the final 3 miles. I actually felt much better running the Southern California Half when I was tired and jet-lagged! We have good days and bad days...and for some reason it wasn't my best.
  
• I need to re-think my race strategy. My plan for this race was to stick as close to 9:09 pace as possible from the start, and then push the pace if I could starting at mile 10. But my legs really struggled and I wonder if this plan is counter to how I usually run best. Slow start, pick up in the middle, strong finish. Perhaps I should be starting underpace the first 3-4 miles, build up, and end up faster than goal pace the final 3 miles. Thoughts on this appreciated.
  
• I have to work on my mental toughness. I did get flustered when the mile markers started to go wrong. I had been keeping pace better than I had in other races....so I just couldn't understand how I was actually behind when I hit the race mile markers. Instead of pushing through and fighting harder, I think I let it affect me more than it should have.
  
• I am nearly there. I've never been THIS close to a sub-2 (my PB is 2:01:43), and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed to have missed it again. Wouldn't you be? I've tried 4 times and I've been working hard, and yet somehow it still eludes me! BUT after this race I should have no doubts in my mind that I can run fast enough.

So I've learned a lot from this race. I'm going to put the Brighton Half behind me and dive back into my training. Lots to work on and more hard work needed because I just can't give up now. Not ever.

And of course I'm already itching for my next race, if only as a release for any residual anger. If you are racing and see a small ball of fury go by.....IT WILL BE ME!


PS
I know we all say it, but the Twitter Running Family is amazing. Thank you for sharing in my anger and frustration, letting me wallow and whinge, and reminding me to stay positive!

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Review: Brighton Half Marathon - 19 February 2012

I first ran the Brighton Half in 2010. At the time it was my second half marathon and I was just hoping to improve on my first. It poured rain for the entire race and there were a few organizational issues, but I had a great time. After I missed it due to injury in 2011, I was excited to run it again this year.

It's been unusually cold these last few weeks so I was worried about the weather. Although rain is always a bummer I was more worried about gusty winds...since on the seafront it usually means running directly into the wind at some point! But after a rainy Saturday we had beautiful sunshine, even if it was still freezing!

We only live a few miles from the race start. I wanted to get there by 8:15 so Hubs just took me in the car and dropped me off. I hopped out near Old Steine and Madiera Drive, and it was exciting to see all the runners heading down from all directions.

The queue for the first set of public toilets was already pretty long so I immediately joined in. As with last time it was a long wait, and by the time I was done it was already 8:45.

As I headed for the starting pens the warm up was already starting. It was really crowded and I felt like I was being shuffled along in a giant sea of people. I only saw a sign for a 1:45 goal time but no others after that. It was hard to see where you could enter since most openings were unmarked and there were so many people. But I finally found a gap in a barriers and squeezed in. After a few words from the announcer we were off!

The race route was different to when I ran it before, but familiar since I run most of the course every weekend. It was reasonably crowded at the start as we headed up and around Old Steine, before heading east toward Rottingdean. Past the Marina was a little hilly and narrow at some parts, but I didn't think it was too bad for passing if needed.

After the turnaround I new it would be pretty straight forward from there--east towards the Hove Lagoon before heading back along the Promenade, and from there about 3 miles until the finish. There were lots of people cheering along the most of the course which gave the event a great atmosphere.

I usually carry my own drink but the water and Lucozade stations were as advertised, and I thought having bottled water was a nice touch. Easy to drink from and you could take it with you if needed.

The finish line was a little disorganized (at least I was able to cross it this time!) but as you walked through you could pick up a foil blanket, medal, goodie bag, bananas and Lucozade. I don't expect a goodie bag but feel if you offer one some effort should be made. Mine didn't have anything except a voucher and an advertisement. What's the point?

The medal was a nice one, though:

When I crossed the line my Garmin clocked 13.52 miles. It had been off compared to the mile markers since mile 5 or so...but since GPS can be inaccurate I assumed the mile markers were right. But soon after the race there was lots of grumbling about the course length, and it may have been the cones were incorrectly placed at the turnaround.

Brighton Half says they are investigating now, but I wonder whether they will actually 'fess up if they made a mistake. For now I will just stay that if it really was too long, I'm disappointed that the organizers could have made such a basic error.

So I've run 2 Brighton Halfs now and both had basic organizational issues. In 2010, I couldn't cross the finish line because it was too crowded--organizers had placed people removing timing chips too close to the line--and now this year the race may have been too long! I'm think I'm jinxed when it comes to this race.

However, as my local it's one I'll keep going back to again and again. I love running on the seafront, and despite any organizational issues the support you get from the crowds just can't be beat. Here's to a better race next year!


Overview
A mostly flat seaside course with lots of PB potential. Still seems to have some organizational issues year to year despite being a well-established race, but the great atmosphere and support from the crowds makes it an event worth running.

Stats in 2012:
Date: 19 February
Entry Fee: £29 unaffiliated
Number of runners: 7000+
Timing chip on race number
Goody bag (without any goodies)
Medals for every finisher

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Ten reasons why I'm ready to run the Brighton Half Marathon

On Sunday I'll be running the Brighton Half Marathon. When I ran it for the first time in 2010, it was my 2nd half. This time it's my 6th half...and the 4th time I'll be trying to run a sub-2.


I've been giving myself little pep talks. Visualizing each mile. Seeing myself charge across the finish line. I've worked hard. I feel good. I'm ready....and here are the 10 reasons why:


10. I've built a strong running base. I've been running 40-45 miles per week for the last 3 weeks. More than probably needed for a half, but now I feel like I have a good solid base to train for any race. The Edinburgh Marathon is already in the back of my mind!

9. I've focused more on speed work. I've always done fartleks, intevals and tempo runs, but this time around I did more at speeds faster than HM goal pace. @BrazilianGunner encouraged me to do mile repeats for the first time at 8:30 min/mi. Scary, but I hope they've made a difference!

8. I know the race route. Most weekends I do my long runs on the Brighton Seafront. I've run the route countless times...I even know the direction the wind usually blows! There will be no surprises.

7. I have great support. Hubs, family, friends....not to mention the most amazing runners on Twitter. Thanks for your encouragement!

6. I've been feeling consistent. It's not that I don't have any bad days....but I have far fewer awful days.

5. I'm a pseudo-early bird. My last few weeks of @6amClub have made early starts feel a little more natural. A little. No worries about getting up on race day!

4. I'm not jet lagged. My last half was in California, and after traveling from the UK, to Abu Dhabi, to LA....jet lag was definitely a factor. It's nice to be in the right time zone!

3. I haven't been sick. When I ran the Poppy Half I was recovering from a bad cold that hampered my training. This time I've been healthy and I'm feeling strong.

2. I have a race strategy. I learned my lesson after the Dublin Half....you have to go in with a plan! This time it's not just about staying on pace, but staying steady through the middle section and (hopefully) having enough energy to push it at the end.


And finally....


1. I love running. Plain and simple.


I. AM. READY.

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Week 11 Recap - Subzero temps and 6am Club

After an extended holiday season with lots of traveling and jet lag, these last few weeks have finally felt normal again. Last week my focus was on a big change: to start running in the morning as a devoted member of the @6amclub!

As a natural night owl (see my previous post here), trying to get up at 6am really frightened me! I was worried about fueling before my run (could get by without it?) and whether I'd actually be able to get out of bed! And as luck would have it, last week also happened to be the start of a major cold spell. Would I really be able to go to bed early, climb out of my warm bed, and then step out into subzero temps at 6am?

Turns out I am!

Wednesday was my first attempt. After being uncharacteristically organized and getting all my running kit ready the night before, AND getting myself to bed around 10:30....it wasn't as miserable as I thought it would be. In fact I was so determined to do it that I slept restlessly, anticipating that I needed to get up. On Wednesday morning I woke up, got dressed, and went out the door. I did it quickly, so I wouldn't have too much time to think about it.

The cold definitely affected my runs last week, but I was happy to find that I could get through a run without having something to eat first. I stuck with the early starts until Saturday, when I got up to eat breakfast before my long run.

I felt good about my mile repeats on Wednesday (nearly at target pace!) and long run on Saturday (my longest run ever by a wee bit).

Just two weeks until the Brighton Half Marathon. My 6th half! One more week to keep pushing before a mild taper. The plan is to continue with @6amclub to make sure I'm ready for it when my new job starts in 4 weeks.

So now I know....I CAN be an early bird!

But a questions still remains. Will the night owl return....?


PS
16 weeks until my first marathon in Edinburgh! Hopefully training for Brighton means I'm well on my way!

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Night owl to early bird

I have always been a night owl.

When I was about 3 years old, my parents let me stay up one night as an experiment. Just to see how long I'd last. When I was still happily playing at 2am, they finally gave up and put me to bed!

I'm also a procrastinator--a dangerous thing for a night owl. If there are things I need to do I spend all day dragging my feet...and then (surprise surprise) feel very productive when I stay up all night doing them! It just fuels my nocturnal tendencies!

As a result of this I have NEVER been a morning person. I hate getting up early (especially for flights)! I always prefer to start work a little later in the day and work into the night. I've had the wonderful luxury of doing just that these last few months. But of course, you don't always get to decide your own schedule!

Now that I've taken this job my biggest focus at the moment is figuring out how to keep running a priority. I'll be working long hours, often at client sites. My days will vary but it still means most of the time....I'LL HAVE TO GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING BEFORE WORK AND RUN!

Did I just say that?!

Somehow this night owl will have to morph into an early bird. It means @6amclub for me. *GULP*

I know I shouldn't freak out or whine about it. Amazingly there are so many of you getting up even earlier, not just for work but for your families! That is some serious running dedication!

So you know what? I'm going to prove that I'm dedicated, too! I will get up early even if I have to set 2 alarms, and I'll make sure that I run enough to train for the Edinburgh Marathon or whatever challenge I decide to go for next.

So starting Wednesday (I'm a procrastinator, remember?) I'm going to be a faithful member of the @6amclub so it's not such a shock to the system when I go back to work. I know it won't be easy, and I bet there will be a few bumps along the way. But a part of me is excited to see how I do.

Can night owls ever become happy, successful early birds? Or only very tired, reluctant ones?

I guess I'll have to wait and see....

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Leaping into the unknown

I've spent the last few weeks trying to decide whether or not to take an unexpected job offer. For the first time in my life, I wasn't just thinking about my career. I was thinking about quality of life and having time for something I love: running.

When I shared my dilemma I never expected such open, varied responses. Some felt the job should definitely come first. Others said that if running was important enough, I would find a way to prioritize it no matter how busy I was at work. A few of you were thinking of changing careers one day so that running could play a larger part in your lives. Then there were those of you who made some big sacrifices to ensure a balance between work, family life and running. Thanks so much to all of you who took the time to share your thoughts, dreams and stories. I loved hearing them.


On Tuesday--after a lot of thinking and re-thinking--I accepted the job.


I'm a little anxious about the challenges a new job always brings, and I'm afraid I might not meet the expectations of my new employers. Most of all, I'm terrified that running will slowly slip away from me without my realizing it, and one day I'll wake up to find that running was just something I did a very long time ago.

But these fears and challenges are precisely why I decided to take the job. I know that facing them will make me a stronger person. And no matter what happens, I'll learn a lot. I still have dreams of changing careers one day and living a life with more time for the things I care about. But for now, I feel like I have nothing to lose by taking this opportunity.

I'm still waiting to confirm a start date, but it will likely be the beginning of March or April. Luckily that gives me some time to start planning how everything is going to work. Because even with this new job I have my first marathon and triathlon to train for....and I want my running to improve! Some big changes are ahead.

@rowenanews recently shared some sage words from the athletes she met at Run and Become. One quote in particular stuck in my mind:

There's no such thing as failure, only experience.

I'm going to take a leap into the great unknown and try to enjoy every experience this new life brings.

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Stick 'em up! Your running or your job?

The past 6 months I've been running more than I ever have before. It's not only made me a better runner--I was thrilled when I started running an average of 40-45 miles a week in December--but renewed my love for running. I realized I wanted to continue challenging myself so I signed up for my first marathon AND triathlon. And of course, I still have that pesky 2 hour mark to break in the half!

All this has been possible for one main reason: I've been on a career break since September. I'd been working long hours and become frustrated with the work I was doing and the people I was working for. After 6 years it felt like the right time to go....and I consider myself very lucky to have been able to take some time off.

My plan was simple. To recover and relax, and take some time to think about what I should do next. Although I had a few random interviews and conversations, I didn't want to actively start looking for a job until after the new year. That meant I could really take a good chunk of time off until I started working again. And run, run, run!

But just before Christmas I got a job offer. Suddenly, I needed to make a decision about going back to the working world.

I spent a lot of time thinking about it over the holidays. For the past few weeks I've been negotiating as well as meeting a few of the people I'd be working with. So I can't stall any longer, and next week I have to let them know if I'm going to take the job.

Never, ever did I think that running would be a consideration when it came to deciding about my next job. It's a great opportunity but there would be long hours and travel. The reality is this job will average about 60 hours a week. I've done that before but now these questions keep playing over and over again in my head...


When will I fit in all my running? At my old job I never managed more that about 23 miles a week. How will I ever fit 45 miles in?


Even if I did fit 45 miles in, would I just be completely exhausted all the time?


What if I really can't find the time to run at all? What happens with my marathon? Or my triathlon?


What if taking this job means that running is no longer a priority?


Will this be the beginning of the end of my running life?


Some people might think that I'd be crazy not to take the job. But I've actually thought--maybe this is my chance! I can change my career! Try something new! I can have a job that allows me to ALWAYS make running a priority and leave those crazy hours behind.

But these kinds of thoughts can take years to ponder and now I'm down to a few days. I can't help feeling a little bit like I'm being held up and forced to choose between two incredibly important things.

So....my running or my job.

What would you do?

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Cutting myself a little slack

After I ran the SC Half on the 7th January, I was feeling great. It wasn't a PB but I felt like I did really well considering jet lag and all that. I was SO READY to get back home and continue with my training for the Brighton Half.

Don't know about you, but I'm usually on a bit of a high after I run a half marathon. Even if I don't get a PB I always feel like my running has hit a new level. I mean, I just ran 13.1 miles much faster than I normally do during training. I have it in me! So post-race I take advantage of that feeling by keeping up the intensity of my training program with a renewed vow to work even harder.

I finally got back to the UK last week, ready to really start my 2012. But while I've been running, I've been lacking motivation and that usual spark. The spark I had while chasing down that 1000 mile mark at the end of the year. And I couldn't help scolding myself and saying, "You are being lazy! You can't rest! You have another race in 4 weeks AND YOU MUST RUN A SUB-2!"

Yesterday it just seemed so cold and I just did not want to run. But with the encouragement of the Twitter Running Crew I got out there and did my 8 mile fartlek. When I got back I was feeling much more positive and I started thinking....you know what? I can do it. I can run. And I NEED TO CUT MYSELF SOME SLACK!

I took a step back and realized that since Christmas Day I have run 107 miles and raced a half marathon in California....on top of traveling 17,716 miles!

That's not too shabby for the holiday season, is it?

So I'm telling myself that it's okay if I'm feeling a little tired and unmotivated. This jet lag is nearly over. I'm going to hang in there, get my miles in...and be ready to really to rumble next week!

I have 4 and a half weeks until the Brighton Half...and I know I'll be ready.

Review: Southern California Half Marathon, Irvine, CA - 7 January 2012 (+ meeting a running hero)

It was December and I had my first race of the year all planned....the Brighton Half in February. Then my sister innocently told me that there was a half marathon nearby when we were visiting just after the new year. Hmmmm....another half? The seed was planted and I just couldn't say no!

The Southern California Half Marathon is a race in Irvine, now in its 21st year. One of the official warm up races for the LA Marathon, it is organized by Woodbridge High School to raise funds for their athletics program as well as other participating schools. Irvine is about 15 minutes away from where my sister lives, so it was an easy choice. Plus, there was no cap on participants when meant I could register for the race on the day.

The time change between London and LA is one I'll never get used to. Some visits are better than others but this time I struggled--probably because we were still recovering from Abu Dhabi when we left. I'd been waking up early but the night before the race I just didn't sleep well. I woke up at 3am and couldn't really go back to sleep. Too much excitement!

Plan was to leave at 6am to give us plenty of time to get there and register. I had my usual toast and peanut butter for breakfast and then we were off. Traffic was light that time of morning so we got there about 6:20. The race was near the freeway and sign posted, and we were quickly directed into the parking lot.

The registration tent was nearby and I was surprised to find them manned by students! I had forgotten that the race was organized by Woodbridge High School. The teenagers directed me to the various places and then I picked up my goodie bag and t-shirt.

After getting my shirt, one of the parents overheard me lament, "This is a small?! It's still so big!" and laughed. He said that there should be some Youth Large sizes around and very kindly exchanged it for me! Still big but less like a sack on me now!

There were lots of portaloos and no queues.....was able to pop in twice, no waiting!

By then it was the moment I'd been waiting for. No, not the race start...but my first tweetup! I was going to meet not just any running tweeter, but the amazing @runlikeacoyote! When she heard I was doing the SC Half she said she would do it, too! She's not much bigger than me, and she looked so fresh considering she had just run her first ultra only a week ago. I got to walk with her to the start line and start the race with her!

As @runlikeacoyote and I waited for the start, we noticed there were a lot of students. I hadn't really thought about it but they seemed to be everywhere, many of them wearing 'Students Run LA' shirts. I almost felt left out. I later learned it was a program for at-risk kids to train for the LA Marathon--so cool. But I did feel like I was one of the older participants!

After some fanfare (including the singing of 'The Star Spangled Banner'), the race started. Before the gun I told @runlikeacoyote that I was thinking about racing it. But I knew things were iffy given my jet lag and general lack of sleep. From the moment we set off I knew I was tired because I didn't feel that usual spark at the start of the race. So I immediately decided to try and keep a steady, comfortable pace...and go for it at the end if I felt okay.

When I signed up for the race I could see part of it was on closed streets, and when it said "SD Creek bike trail" I thought it would be a little bit like the canal path in Richmond. Turned out the San Diego Creek is dry this time of year so it was more like a reservoir or flood control channel. A large part of the race was spent going back and forth on paved bike trails to each side of the creek. Not the most scenic place, and I lost count of how many times we went around it.

I was able to stay steady for most of the race, and felt good enough at mile 10 to pick things up a little. I decided to increase my cadence by singing 'Son of a Preacher Man' to myself over and over again in my head. At this point other runners and students were getting tired and I started passing people. This always spurs me on and I kept telling myself...THIS IS WHAT I TRAIN FOR!

Once I saw the finish line I sprinted as hard as I could and crossed the line. I already knew that I was not under 2 hours but was happy to finish in time of 2:03:04.

Overall, I was really happy with my run. I felt like it was a good effort considering how jet lagged I was...and that I entered the race at the last minute. Hopefully this means I will be more than ready for Brighton!

I had fun during the race and while I generally don't mind looped courses, I found this one to be very repetitive. I didn't really like running up and down the "creek". Also, while it was great to see so many students out there they kept cutting in front of me to shout at their friends or stopping at inopportune places!

So glad that I did the SC Half, if only to meet @runlikeacoyote. Who by the way zoomed on her post-ultra legs and finished in 2:11!


Overview
The race had a lot of energy with a high number of student participants. Well-organized. The route is repetitive with lots of ramps and turns, with few people cheering. Some sections were busy and narrow enough to make passing difficult. Registration fee a little pricey. Worth thinking about if you happen to be in California.

Stats in 2012:
Date: 7 January
Entry Fee: $65 (~£43)
Number of runners: ~4000
Timing chip
Cotton T-shirt
Medals for every finisher

Tackling 2012

I'm still on a bit of a runner's high after hitting my last-minute 1000 mile target for 2011. But no rest for the wicked...2012 is here so new plans are already under way!

It's so easy to get carried away but this year I'll be focusing (some might say obsessing!) on 4 main goals:

1. Run a sub-2 half marathon. A no-brainer, especially since it was my main goal last year and I just didn't get there. I WILL do it this year, no matter how many half marathons it takes. I've already signed up for the Southern California Half (7th January), Brighton Half (19th February) and Berlin Half (1 April).
2. Complete my first marathon. I've always shied away from marathons, worried about whether I really had the time to train. But after seeing so many of you challenge yourselves at this distance, I just couldn't say no any longer. I've signed up for the Edinburgh Marathon on 27th May. For now, I just want to enjoy the race and finish.
3. Compete in my first triathlon. Like the marathon, it felt like one of those things I had to try at least once in my life. I used to swim in high school so I'm not too worried about that (even though it's been decades since I've really been in the water) but the bike TERRIFIES me. I've never taken to riding a bicycle and the last time I owned one I was about 12! I've signed up for the London Triathlon on 23rd September, with a sprint in Seaford to warm up in August.
4. Run 1500 miles. I was very, VERY tempted to go for 2012 miles. But I'll probably be working again soon and will likely have crazy hours (more on this later!)...and back at my old job I never really averaged more that 20 miles a week. So for now I just want to improve on last year, and 1500 seemed like a nice, round number!

Plus there's the usual small things I need to do in order to help achieve these things--stay hydrated, eat right, sleep well. But they're a given these days, right? :)

So there you have it. These are the goals I'm going to tackle in 2012. But in line with one of my non-running resolutions--don't stress too much about the small stuff--no matter what happens I'm just going to try and enjoy the ride!

What challenges have YOU dreamed up for 2012?