November’s Lessons

Lesson 1: Marathon training involves some great highs and some low lows

High

This month I ran a 30 minute parkrun to support new 50 club member Clinton to a 30 minute PB. Ben brought the right pace, Adrian brought the music, I brought the camera and Clinton brought his heart and soul. The 30 minute train left the start line and pumped all the way around the 5km course. I was happy to learn that I’m not the only one who starts to get audible when the pain sets in about the 4km mark. Clinton gave it everything and while he only just missed his sub 30 goal, he still set a 5km PB. The parkrun spirit flowed freely that Saturday and I was thrilled to be a part of it.

Clinton “Batman” Bishop – click the photo for a link to his blog

On a side note, if you ever fancy sprinting ahead of a running pack in order to secure some great video footage with your phone, note that your phone will record the greatness, the determination, the anguish. It will also record your ridiculous heavy breathing over all of that.

Low

It’s been an emotional month. I have no doubt the emotions run with hormonal cycles. At the start of November I had an entire week off running. I just. Couldn’t. I didn’t even think about “getting back out there” for a whole week. I didn’t miss it. I didn’t want it. I was happy to go without it. I always hear about runners who are gagging for a run if they’re on holiday or something but I dunno, maybe the fact that I did not miss it meant I’m not a serious runner? Does it? Is it ok to miss a whole week without regret?

High

I ticked off my very longest runs ever (30km and 32km) and I felt wonderful after both of these runs. The first 30km run I did with Alicia who is also training for 6 Inch. It was cruisy, we chatted a lot and at the end of it we timed it so we could toe the start line with the parkrunners at 8am. It was really lovely to be swept into the parkrun community by our friends who knew we’d punched out 25kms already and they encouraged us to keep going! 

Before my 32km run I put the call out for a buddy as I didn’t fancy running at 5am alone. Running bestie Renee put her hand up even though 5am isn’t really her style and I was thankful for the support. I was even more stoked to rock up to the carpark at 5am to see 2 other parkrunners who’d come down to join us for a 5km lap (5am people – wtf!!). Abdul, Tom, Renee and I cruised around the course. We chatted, laughed, I nearly fell over… the boys said seeya after 5km and Renee and I continued on until Renee had completed 21.1km (ftw!) and on my final lap I was alone, until Tom popped up again unexpectedly with his daughter India in a pram and he helped me finish the final 5km. He’d been home, got India up, fed and dressed and come back down again! I am incredibly thankful for how much support I got from my friends. I’ll admit, the night before I actually had a cry because I thought I’d not be able to get my long run in because I couldn’t go alone at 5am. Parkrunners to the rescue. I love the parkrun community.

 

 

Low

I’d ummed and ahhed about the prospect of running the 100km Anzac Ultra in Sydney in April 2015. Only 5 months away but coming off the back of 6 Inch training, I was at least flirting with the idea. My husband (a quiet supporter) sighed, but said I could do it if I really wanted to provided the house didn’t go to shit with all the training. Coach Scott was hesitant. Not because he didn’t think I could do it, but because the training would be a lot, and there’s a family/running life balance to be struck and this might tip the scales. Anzac Day is my birthday. Also the 100 year anniversary won’t come around again. The race is a one off.  I really wanted to do it.  However, I have 4 sons. Two of whom will start high school next year. There just are not enough hours in my day to be able to do the right amount of training AND keep my family together. Maybe. But it’d be a fucking stretch, I’d probably be grumpy a lot, and I’d likely push my very tolerant husband to the edge. And that’s no fun for everyone. So, sadly, I had to set this one aside. People I spoke to said I was crazy for considering it because I have so many kids to care for. It bums me out a bit that as a woman, as a runner, I have to put some goals aside. Apparently I need to wait until they’re older and it will be easier. I’ll tell the world right now, I’m not waiting for 15 years before I get going on my ultra dream. Fuck that. Yes I am a mother. But I am also a woman separate from that role. That’s a whole blog post on its own I think….

 

So… November  has had its ups and downs….

Lesson 2: Blisters are absolute balls

Seriously – I have socks almost literally worth their weight in gold and every long run I’m plagued with some serious blisters. I tape all my toes (do you know how hard it is to tape little toes at 4am?). I tape down the insides of my feet. I think my shoes take on the “Pimp My Feet” challenge with every long run. They see how many new blister additions can be squeezed into the available space. Toes are taped? No worries, we can squeeze in some painful skin rubbing just above that tape. Oh heyyy… how about a blister underneath the tape just for something different. Haven’t taped an area? Let’s see how tough it is… And yes yes yes! A double whammy challenge: blister on a blister. That shit is possible. And painful. Jerk feet. Jerk socks. Jerk shoes. My feet are getting rougher and take more punishment than usual, but still, I almost couldn’t finish my last 5km on the weekend because my feet were all chopped up.

Lesson 3: Don’t be offended when people underestimate you

This speaks for itself really.

This “cute” “pocket rocket” runner right here has her feelings hurt just a little bit when people tell her she’s crazy for wanting to run so far, or perhaps, so fast.

Lesson 4: I take a mean “4am up for a long run” selfie