Brenda Noonan - On My Bike
  • Home
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
  • 2017 - AUST-3
  • 2016 - USA
  • 2015 - UK
    • Overview
    • Ride Supporters
    • John O Groats to Helmsdale
    • Helmsdale to Tain
    • Tain to Inverness
    • Inverness to Kingussie
    • Kingussie to Pitlochry
    • Pitlochry to Kinross
    • Kinross to Dalkeith
    • Dalkeith to Jedburgh
    • Jedburgh to Ponteland
    • Ponteland to Guisborough
    • Guisborough to Scarborough
    • Rest Day - Scarborough
    • Scarborough to Barton-upon-Humber
    • Barton-upon-Humber to Thorpe-on-the-Hill
    • Thorpe-on-the-Hill to Ibstock
    • Ibstock to Stratford-upon-Avon
    • Stratford-upon-Avon to Cambridge
    • Cambridge to West Huntspill
    • West Huntspill to Crediton
    • Crediton to Bodmin
    • Bodmin to Camborne
    • Camborne to Land's End
  • 2014 - AUST-2
    • Supporters
    • Accommodation Supporters
    • Scarborough to Dee Why
    • Dee Why to Toukley
    • Toukley to Heatherbrae
    • Heatherbrae to Bulahdelah
    • Bulahdelah to Taree
    • Taree to Kempsey
    • Kempsey to Nambucca Heads
    • Nambucca Heads to Repton
    • Repton to Mullaway
    • Mullaway to Grafton
    • Grafton to Broadwater
    • Broadwater to Hastings Point
    • Hastings Point to Labrador
    • Labrador to Northgate
    • Northgate to Scarborough
  • 2013
  • 2012 - NZ
    • Participants
    • Getting to the Start
    • Fund-raiser for NZ Gynaecological Cancer Foundation
    • Zonta
    • Our Wonderful Supporters!
    • Bluff to Clinton
    • Clinton to Dunedin
    • Dunedin to Oamaru
    • Oamaru to Winchester
    • Winchester to Christchurch
    • Rest Day
    • Christchurch to Cheviot
    • Cheviot to Kaikoura
    • Kaikoura to Ward
    • Ward to Picton
    • Picton to Mana
    • Mana to Foxton Beach
    • Foxton Beach to Mangaweka
    • Mangaweka to Turangi
    • Turangi to Tokoroa
    • Tokoroa to Huntly
    • Huntly to Orewa
    • Rest Day
    • Orewa to Whangarei
    • Whangarei to Coopers Beach
    • Coopers Beach to Cape Reinga
    • After completing the ride
  • 2011 - AUST-1
    • My "Crew"
    • My "Bike"
    • Preparation
    • Poems
    • Supporters
    • Scarborough (WA) to Northam
    • Northam to Kellerberrin
    • Kellerberrin to Southern Cross
    • Southern Cross to Coolgardie
    • Rest Day
    • Coolgardie to Norseman
    • Norseman to Balladonia
    • Balladonia to Caiguna
    • Caiguna to Cocklebiddy
    • Cocklebiddy to Madura Pass
    • Madura Pass to Eucla
    • Eucla to Nullarbor
    • Nullarbor to Nundroo
    • Nundroo to Penong
    • Penong to Ceduna
    • Rest Day
    • Ceduna to Minnipa
    • Minnipa to Kimba
    • Kimba to Port Augusta
    • Rest Day
    • Port Augusta to Peterborough
    • Peterborough to Olary
    • Olary to Broken Hill
    • REST DAY
    • Broken Hill to Dolo Hill
    • Dolo Hill to Emmdale
    • Emmdale to Cobar
    • Rest Day
    • Cobar to Nyngan
    • Nyngan to Warren
    • Warren to Gilgandra
    • Gilgandra to Coonabarabran
    • Coonabarabran to Narrabri
    • Rest Day
    • Narrabri to Moree
    • Moree to Goondiwindi
    • Goondiwindi to Lake Coolmunda
    • Lake Coolmunda to Warwick
    • Warwick to Kalbar
    • Kalbar to Doolandella
    • Doolandella to Scarborough (Qld)
    • Rest Day
    • Week 1 - Scarborough (WA) to Balladonia (WA)
    • Week 2:- Balladonia (WA) to Penong (SA)
    • Week 3:- Penong (SA) to Peterborough (SA)
    • Week 4:- Peterborough (SA) to Cobar (NSW)
    • Week 5:- Cobar (NSW) to Moree (NSW)
    • Week 6:- Moree (NSW) to Scarborough (Qld)
    • Heart Foundation
    • The "Media Tart"
    • Competitions
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2013
THE YEAR OF
​MY SECOND MARATHON

This is the year of my big 60 ............. what am I going to do to remember they year by?? After running my first marathon at age 55 in 2008 and vehemently stating NEVER again - this niggling little thought kept coming into my head ........... maybe I could try another one!!

Because I had been doing so much cycling, and not being a natural runner - my running fitness levels were extremely low at the start of the year. I thought if I had to train for this it was going to be a long slow process!!

I read lots of running books, studied several different training plans, and in fact, probably spent hours coming up with the plan I was to follow.

I listened to lots of different people, I got various stories (often conflicting) on what I should or shouldn't be doing - but in the end, used all the information to come up with a plan that I thought would work for me.

I don't think there is any marathon training plan that suits everyone, let alone a 60 year old planning to run her second marathon. Once I had my plan on my computer, I tried to stick to it as closely as possible. What I have recorded below are the kms I actually ran during training. In some instances they varied from what was on my original plan for various reasons. The main reason was that in the last month I did start to suffer quite severely from foot issues that were more serious than black toenails!!

But - at the end of the day - I was thrilled with how I went and felt that, for me, the plan had worked!!

There is NOTHING like the feeling of crossing the line at the end of a marathon!!

I had set some time "goals" in my head - but knew things could happen out there running 42.2 kms that could impact on this. I was delighted with how I felt with 10 kms to go - sure I was tired, but I was well within my hoped for time, and even - with a bit of luck - despite being 5 years older and 5 kgs heavier than when I ran my first marathon - maybe ................ just maybe .............. I could beat that time!

To cross the line is a thrill - to read the clock and realise I was 5 minutes faster than my previous marathon was the icing on the cake!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll never forget that day!!!!

Have I said I'll never do another one??? I've said I am "unlikely" to ...... but who knows another 5 years down the track ..............................
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You may notice in the training schedules below that from the 16th February onwards my Saturday run was always 5 kms. 

That day I discovered the joy of "parkrun". It is a fabulous concept - free, timed, 5 km runs in a park near you every Saturday, at 7:00 am. I think start time may vary in various states and countries. It was started 10 years ago in the UK and just keeps spreading and spreading!!

Run by volunteers (which you are expected to do 3 times a year) they are a wonderful way to meet like-minded people - and a great way to start the weekend!! 

I enjoy volunteering as much as running - and I love the way you build up your personal results chart on the parkrun website. I urge you to click on the logo and go find out more about parkrun!!
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