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 ..............................
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!! |
