So it's been about a month and a half since my race. Sorry that it's taken me this long to post an update - life is just really busy.
In the 4 weeks leading up to the race (and following my last post), the weekday runs continued at 5 miles with the Sunday run getting ever longer. I threw in a 10k on a Sunday to give myself a bit of a break and topped out my training distance with 10 miles the following week.
And then I started having a lot of pain in my right foot. Doing what research I could, I decided that it was probably the start of plantar fasciitis which was not a good sign. The Sunday before the race I headed out for a long run and had to turn around almost instantly. I knew that it wouldn't be a good idea to try to run in pain and would probably end up only making it worse. The last thing I wanted to do at that point was have to withdraw from the race.
So I went home, rolled a frozen water bottle under my foot and rested. And I hoped that it would start feeling better.
Then on Monday or Tuesday I went to TK Maxx on my lunch break to see if they had anything in stock that I might need. (TK Maxx is just like TJ Maxx - only the name is different. No clue why.) I walked past the exercise equipment stand and on the top shelf was kinesiology tape. I've never used kinesiology tape before, but I started wondering if it might help. I did a quick Google search to see how one would tape up plantar fasciitis to make sure it was possible and then purchased a roll.
When I arrived home that night, I taped up my foot and was immediately amazed at the difference in how it felt. Something about how the tape supports your arch which in turn gives your arch a break. I don't understand it all - but I am a believer. From that moment, I wore the tape 24 hours a day. I didn't have any pain walking. I was able to complete my last 2 pre-race runs - 4 miles and 2 miles. And I was able to run the entire half marathon with little to no pain.
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| With Alice. At the start, waiting for the countdown. |
Since the race was held just outside of Cambridge, we opted to take a taxi to get there deciding that while cycling there might be an okay warm-up, neither Alice or I wanted to have to cycle home. We arrived with plenty of time to get checked in and warm up. We took off in the 3rd wave - letting all the really speedy people get out in front.
Mile 1 was pretty quick - you've got an entire mass of people high on adrenaline and keen to get moving. You just get swept up in what's going on around you. But by mile 2 we had settled into our race pace of 9 minute miles. I was super thankful for my Christmas gift from Luke at this point - my Nike GPS watch. We knew we could relax a bit and enjoy the run. 13 miles is a long way to go if you're overdoing it.
Miles 2-7 were really good. Cambridge isn't very big - even when you get outside the city, so the course covered lots of different areas. After leaving Histon, we headed up the busway for a bit so the track was paved and nice and flat. We then veered off into the country a bit, running through some fields and along some back roads before we connected with the busway again for a long, windy stretch. The wind felt nice, but this was probably the least exciting section of the course.
We turned off and started to make the return trek. It was at about this point that I started really feeling it. I'd been running for over an hour. I was tired. And I had an hour still to go. The tricks your mind plays on you at that point are just mean. So many times I just wanted to say 'Screw it! I'm done!'
But that run wasn't about me. I wasn't running it because I like to run. I wasn't running it to lose weight. I was running it to raise money for Alzheimer's. So I pushed those bad thoughts out and thought about Grammy and about my friends and family who were supporting me in this race. And so I pushed.
I am not exaggerating or blowing smoke when I tell you that I could not have done this without you. Just days before the race I had reached my fundraising goal of £300. I had also set a time goal of 2 hours for the race and was therefore determined to hit it.
By the time I saw the mile 10 sign, I had mostly surpassed the tiredness and 'I can't do this anymore!' feeling. I dug deep and did what I could to finish strong. I lost a few seconds on my split times, but was still on target to finish in time.
By miles 12 and 13 I had started passing quite a few people who had started in the earlier heats. This was encouraging and helped me to keep pushing to the finish. And I did! With almost 2 minutes to spare. My official time was 1:58:14.
I walked it off, stretched it out and then got ice cream! As one does after a half marathon. (Sadly there were no London Prides at this finish line.)
Overall it was a great experience. If you asked me at miles 7-9, I would have told you that I hate long distance running and that I was never going to do that again. Ask me today and I'm not yet sure what I'd say. I'm just now getting back into running in the mornings and that should start to pick up after next week. I don't yet know what fundraising event is next for me. Only time will tell, right?
Again, thank you so much for all your support throughout this race. It means so much to me.
And while I know that Grammy doesn't understand to say thank you herself, I think she would thank you if she could. I know that the £300+ pounds raised with go to Alzheimer's research and support.
With lots of love,
Aubs xx
