28/01/2011

Well, all of you that know me know that I am not a great runner. When I run only ducks get jealous. I have great "duck like stride" but it is not against the rules, so here I am. I am prepared to take this challenge with all my heart. I was told that you need a big heart to do this challenge, and i was also told that running helps improve heart, therefore there is nothing to lose and lot to gain.

         On my first training run I managed the whole mile running, walking, skipping, jogging and thinking the distance from my house to the shops was at lease three miles. And you can guess that I was greatly disappointed to learn that it is barely 1/2 mile to get there and 1/2 mile to get back. I still took the whole day to rest and recover from my first mile run. Still, I didn't stop. Didn't give up. I've looked at the training calendar printed in the Virgin Marathon Magazine and decided to set a realistic goal. Realistic and achievable if I stick to training three times a week. I was well aware after my first run that I will need day rest after each training day and therefore decision to train three to four times a week was an realistic goal. Whilst I considered myself initially as : young, fit and healthy there were, I must admit some indications that some of my beliefs are indeed completely wrong, unrealistic and somewhat inflated.

         Well, everyone is wrong at sometime or another so, please forgive me for expecting too much of myself. My goal is, however very simple. I have decided to train regularly in order to complete the marathon in less than 6 hours. I really hope I can do it and with the help of all of you I should put my 100% into it.

         And there are also Make A Wish children and their families. They will most definitely be my continuous inspiration. They do not give up. They make every minute count. They are in and out hospitals and operating rooms but still motivated to live it to the full.

        Over the five years of being volunteer with the Make A Wish, I have been so privileged to meet many children, and have spent hours on end chatting to them and their family members making sure we can provide a moment of magic for them and their family. This is the moment at which we have them all smiling. Moment that apears to stop the time and create the magic whilst leaving long lasting, happy memory through somebody somewhere donating their hard earned money to support such a moment.  I am extremely proud to be part of this process and have given number of working hours to this particular charity.

         Knowing the insides of this charity relentless work and effort I will be, whilst training and running, thinking of all the people donating and of all of my colleagues’ volunteers. With my efforts, I guess I am saying great big thank you to all of you who will in the days, weeks and months to come be there to give me support, help my motivation and help me achieve the goal of making wishes come true for many more children.

Sometimes all they wish is to become a postman for a day, to fly in a helicopter, to own playhouse or to be a princess for a day. If any of you my dear family, friends and colleagues would love to take a small part in those wishes coming through please donate but do not feel obliged.

Love to you all and thank you for your support.

If you personally know of any children living with life-threatening illness please go on MAW website and tell us about them. 

Well, this is me for now but i will most certainly be updating you on my running progress.

         I am at the moment on my 5th training week and have, to my surprise, managed to run, last Saturday with my beautiful daughter, the whole 5 miles. This took us 1 hour and 20 minutes suggesting that there might be a chance of me completing the marathon in less than 6 hours but there is still lot of training to be done.

         So, off I go to do exactly that right now whilst I hope some of you might stumble upon this "short" message.  Please keep your fingers cross that my training doesn't end in disaster.

         To get best advice that is out there I have read Paula Radcliffe "My story so far" and an absolutely wonderful book written by Dean Karnazes 50/50. Those books are full with insights into importance of regular training in combination with adequate hydration and nutrition. Karnazes in particular highlights the importance of eating well, eating good, simple, and honest, "cave men food" free from all nasties. What he is suggesting is so much in line with my beliefs and I must tell you I am following his advice on hydration before during and after training, I am eating protein immediately after the run and I am doing all of the suggested core stability exercises. I am so impressed with his achievement of running 50 marathons in 50 days that I would probably be very disappointed if at the end I do not manage to achieve my goal but I do understand that to really do it properly I should have started few months back.

         Still I am doing everything I can. Even glass of red wine in the evening is under the lock and key!

 Thanks for taking the time to visit my Just Giving page.

Please look for regular updates!

30/01/2011

After my first page and run that followed i have felt very positive and inspired that i have shared my goal with all of you and exposed my doubts regarding my ability to achieve set goal.

I have read that it is good to share those goals with friends and family but i didn't know that the effect of it will be so good and positive.

I went that day for my planned short run and it felt realy good untill a huge cramp in my right calf brought me to a halt. I could not continue to walk let alone run but i was told by some more experienced runners that this is expected. Maybe i just pushed too far too soon. Instead of stopping completely i walked very slowly, stopped to massage my calf, thought about possible reasons and ways to speed the recovery and through just feeling good and positive i was in no time back home for a rest tucking into the wholesome calcium rich lunch.

The pain didn't disappear immediately but it is most definitely feeling better after the day of rest.

This morning was my fitness training day where I run only short distances, in the garden, with the weights, in order to improve my strength and stability. It went well and yet again i was pleased to be able, at the end of it, to dive into the good, large portion of chicken and fresh salad. This was followed with large amount of fresh fruit sprinkled with freshly ground linseed,and sunflower seeds. Charlotte, who is also training for the Marathon, but at much faster pace, keeps saying "finally i can eat as much as i like" and I must admit that this is something that has crossed my mind as well. It is a great feeling of just eating and enjoying food without worrying of eating too much.

I was also aiming to train my mind today during training. Paula Radcliffe has said that at the toughest moment in a marathon, you have to concentrate on staying in the present. Literally, to think about putting one foot in front of the other and to go from one mile to the next. To block other thoughts from my mind, I decided to count from one to eight 10 times and then to eigt to one ten times and so on untill i need to stop. This training will help me to have rehearsed routine that i can apply to ward off negative thoughts, to keep me in the moment, and to be as in control as I can be when tiredness attacks.               Only after I have decided to take up this challenge have i become increasingly aware of the simple fact how 26 miles race is a daunting challenge not only physically but also mentally. Getting prepared for all those mental obstacles is definitely important to consider and prepare for. 

I can do this at any point, even when lying in bed, mentally I can practice my routine, develop my plan and visualize my performance. Running at an steady slow pace, focused and calm. Whilst writing this there is this other voice telling me different, telling me that i cannot plan on everything and that by me putting it all in writing is like tempting the destiny. It is telling me that something will most definitely go wrong. And considering that i am only planning to finish the marathon in one piece i am increasingly becoming aware of the pressures that our elite athletes are under when training and performing at such events. What i am experiencing is nothing when compared to their efforts and pressures and I must admit that with the level of understanding I am at the same time developing increased level of appreciation for their achievements.

11/02/2011

I need wings!

            I have been running and training regularly for the last few weeks. I have been eating well, sleeping well and reading some wonderful inspirational books in the meantime. Book that I am reading at the moment is the one written by Nelson Mandela “ Long walk to freedom”. His words and his tale are giving me lot of unrelated things to think about when running. It is helping me achieve that frame of mind when running is simply easy because mind is functioning at another level, looking at enhancing its own philosophy and understanding of life and order.

            As for my running technique, I believe that it has slightly improved and my motivation is still up there aimed at running the marathon in less than 6 hours. I know that there was the point when naively I thought that 6 hours will be easily achievable but my 6 hour walk on Saturday has shown me the true size of the task with all its demands. The fact that I have managed to cover only 20 miles in six hours has made me more determined to increase my training from 3 days a week to 4 days a week. And I am aware that my target of running/walking in less than six hours is going to be tough one to achieve.

            To help in every possible way I am taking advise given by Runners world postings and have started more intensively to spread the word about my efforts. I am admittedly getting out of my comfort zone when asking people to sponsor me, knowing that more people I tell and more people, not only will I have a greater feeling of badly needed support I will also have that so important support to keep me going. I do not know how many people do I need but I know that more people know about it will make me feel more eager and more responsible. It works that way with most people and I have to admit that it gives me great feeling of comfort when people say “Well done!”  “Good luck!” “I will definitely be thinking of you on the day!” “Do not worry you will be fine!” “ You are brave!”…

            Today presented itself with fantastic opportunity to do just that and as a consequence my motivation was given an extra boost. I went to a local ladies coffee morning and whilst I didn’t know many of the ladies present I have decided to tell the story about my challenge to run a London Marathon. I also asked if they would be willing to sponsor me.  Everyone who has tried, knows that it is not easy to ask for sponsorship and money. However I have managed to get out of my internal comfort zone and I was pleasantly surprised. I was welcomed and greeted with support and sponsorship and subsequently further encouraged to continue with my efforts.

            Whilst I have registered with Justgiving and with Virgingiving and have had great response so far, this additional personal effort of asking seems to help greatly. It made me feel like I belong to the community, to my little group of givers, and this feeling seems to be able to successfully ward of moments of doubt and negative self-talk. This negative self talk of worrying that it will be only me left out there still running, or better to say walking after everyone is gone home, or even worst that it will be me sitting on the edge somewhere, crying as I cannot go any further due to the injury, a cramp or a complete exhaustion…

             I have to be honest and say that I have visualised every possible option and in my mind I am prepared for it. At the same time: with my training, resting and recovery, with my carefully selected diet I am also preparing for the ultimate result of finishing the marathon.  

I am just keen to find more ways and opportunities to spread the word. For now I am so grateful to all of you who have stepped forward and before you know it I might even get the wings.