Half Marathon Training Progress 9: Preparation

For any kind of run it's not simply put your running shoes on and get running, it takes careful preparation or something of a ritual at least for me.

This all comes down to personal criteria of course but for me it takes a while to get properly ready and primed for a run. If I am running on the road I would definitely wait for that window of opportunity where the weather is just right or the roads aren't too wet (especially in these days). Even temperature wise, being a student does give me some benefits in this regard, meaning that I decide for myself when I go for my run, I usually take early afternoon so that the weather would be a little bit warm (in winter) and so it won't be such a sock to my body for both before and after the run, although during the run after the first 1 or 2 km all feeling of coldness would be taken away.

Nutrition wise (before any nutritionist goes nuts I would like to say that I know it's wrong) but I usually eat something very light way way beforehand or even sometimes nothing at all. The day before I drink plenty of water and herbal tea but I read that you may continue to drink up to two hours before any run otherwise you'll be dodging in the bushes throughout the run, but as you start running you can consume as much fluids as you wish. And don't forget the numbers 1s and 2s ;-).

Physical preparation over, mental preparation is perhaps the most difficult to do especially when starting up in my opinion. Tell any person that you did a 10km run today and they'd raise their eyebrows. But why is that? I mean sure it takes a while to be able to do that way under an hour but why do many people see this as such a large distance? Mentally you just split this distance into intervals according to the route you take.

So I say this to anyone who wishes to start running; don't give up every stage of your training is important even if you just run for 5 minutes, that 5 minutes might someday snowball into 10, then 20 then an hour and perhaps even a marathon. Rome wasn't built in a day =)

Half Marathon Training progress 8: Early starts and sacrifice

One of the most grueling things which I find requires a lot of sacrifice from my part is the early morning run. As many people who know me would vouch for, I am definitely not a morning person.

Of course this is subject to personal attributes every person is unique after all, I know people who do not want to be seen running or else people who enjoy running in the sun rather than the cold.

They say that the road to victory is paved with sacrifice and I guess to run any kind of race be it a 5k, 10k, half or full marathon, it does take considerable sacrifice. Most days you want to stay in, just study or else even lazy around watching TV but the image that I have formed in my head of me finally arriving at that finishing line is worth every second of lazying lost, not to mention the fact that mentally and physically you do feel proud of yourself for overcoming that feeling.

What I say to you know is that there is no point in saying you're going to do something be it quit a nasty habit, start a new project etc. Just get off your behind and work for it even until it hurts, then you work some more! =D

coldplay

Half Marathon Training Progress 7: The freedom of running

Many professional long distance runners would understand this perhaps better than I do. It's something most psychologists and medical professionals call "the runner's high", a state of mind where all the senses just calm away and your body just becomes a well oiled machine. If you felt cold before; it just stops feeling cold and starts feeling great, knee hurting; just stops and feels great, etc. only when one stops you feel these 'barriers' coming back slowly but thankfully adrenalin is a powerful drug.

Today I am kind of proud to say that I am starting to crack the 9 minute/mile barrier which is kind of a big deal considering I haven't been running for many weeks (this religiously). I am telling you the great sense you get when you just see things zooming past when previously you used to slowly see them come towards you and thinking 'when is it going to end?!', now I say 'already over??'

Hope you guys are having a great start of year!

Thanks for your contributions so far to the Half Marathon Charity I have set up =)

Mark

I leave you with a great new song I found perfect for that awesome bit of juice during the run ;)

Kasabian - Days are Forgotten

Marathon Training progress 6: the big ones

As will be almost every Sunday from here on in, today I had to do a long run which usually entails having a run longer than an hour or 10km.

Usually for these types of runs I takes some time to plan a route, maybe some scenery I would like to appreciate more or perhaps even something new to experience. Today I choose to take a 12 mile route taking me from my home to the outskirts of Hal Ghaxaq - Along the parallel road of the airport - down to Hal Far - Birzebbugia and then straight back up to my home. I knew this route had to have some really challenging hills and also good downhill slopes to rest.

Started off great slow steady pace, no need to push today was not about timings it was about finishing really, managed even to wave to some friends passing by along the way, all was great. The first of a few challenging hills was rapidly approaching; the part which leads to the airport a steady unsought of ups and downs but managed fairly well. As I approached the airport well I was really not focusing on the pacing and more on the planes (as some people close to me may know why). But unfortunately I got a constant stream of bugs being splattered onto my sweaty face and neck so perhaps that is a route to be avoided in the cold months or winter.

Downhill to Birzebbugia via Hal Far all great except I was really getting thirsty and craved water but I pushed through. Birzebbugia went by like a dream but then I found myself facing the worst hill of the route; the hill next to Ghar Dalam. It was a nightmare, every step uphill was a challenge and I kept constantly telling myself "one more step, one more and its over!", "come on Mark push it a little, no speed just keep running, no stopping to a snail's pace or worse walking pace".

At that moment I have to admit I was this close to giving up but then after I got through that stage, I am sure as hell glad I didn't give up! Something one can adapt in real life perhaps this might be my new year's resolution! Even if the pain is so great you cannot stand one more second of it, try and try and try harder, the rewards of finally conquering that uphill run would truly be satisfactory!

Hope you all have a wonderful new year filled with all kinds of great and positive things =D

Marathon Training Progress 5: Music

It's a somewhat controversial subject among those who run professionally and on the novice level. Some see it as an annoyance, some see it as a distraction and some see it as motivational.

My opinion is that music is something that drives me to run and perform faster. I admit that I do have a selected playlist of 'power' songs so to say, songs that pump up your blood. Some songs do not even make sense being played at standstill but play them during a run and you become a beast.

Today I got to thinking why is that? Why do most people resort to music? Is it a way to take away the boredom? Or is it that we all want to feel like that famous Rocky scene?

Well my answer, would it be asking too much for a bit of both?! Truth be told when a really good song comes on I do feel that surge of endorphins which just takes the pain away and gives me that extra push to climb that hill or keep that pace.

So if for you running is para-para-paradise or else you're looking for the Eye of the tiger.

Put in your headphones and run like hell =D

Hope you all have a wonderful new year filled with all kinds of good things =))

Half marathon training progress 4: Genesis

Today I had my first ever "all out" speed run; I'm telling you I've done this route tens of times and I always do enjoy the challenging hills and the long straights but today I felt relieved when it was all over.

During the run today I started thinking about how I had started running and the difficulties I faced, I know it sounds so melodramatic but it is true that I had to overcome some barriers so to say before I got to this point.

The obvious reason would be of course a very inspirational and influential character in my life; my father. Of course back in his days he used to post great timings and train really hard and I do admire him for that but one thing I admire the most I think is how he started. I was only about 4 years old when he started but I do remember one factor which hit me greatly;

First week of training the coach gave him an ultimatum "Smoking or running" decide what you want to do and let me know. I really admire my father for quitting the habit cold turkey and resorting to something healthier instead.

Now going forward at about when I was 9 years old, I started having real trouble breathing especially on cold days and at night. I consulted a doctor and a specialist and I got diagnosed with asthma and allergies to dust, pollen and any animal hair (my room being where 3 cats usually sleep). I couldn't even go to the playground like most kids and run around on a cold day because I would get horrid wheezing sounds and sharp pains throughout my chest. The chances of me ever running for such distances where bleak.

Later on as time progressed I handled the 'condition' well enough with regular doses of inhalers and antihistamines. Trust me I tried every brand of them but to no avail. My nose usually looked like Rudolf most days and you wouldn't catch me without a half used packet of handkerchiefs. Yeah right I cant even bweed much lews wun.

One day I decieded to hell with all these pills and stopped right there, and thought OK to get healthier I needed some sort of sport, simple athletics.

Started off with small hops really compared with today, usually before going swimming in summer my mum would drop me off at a particular point and I would run (sometimes walk) to where they would be. Sure it felt good to finally be doing something healthy, but still it felt like such a long distance compared to now. I felt great! So you can say I kind of grew out of my asthma and allergies!

Moving on, I then started exams and stress levels escalated so again I resorted to my run. Mentally it used to clear my head even if it was 20minutes run (3km run). I remember being out of breath most times. But I persevered, I continued on running this route (sometimes joined by my dad who used to take the mickey out of me because I didn't do it as well). Until that day I felt at peace with running; at one point on a spring Sunday morning my dad told me "OK lets start off as we usually do but half way though I want you to stop the stopwatch", Fine so I trusted him. We started off great at a jog pace but little did I know this was to be my first ever long run and I enjoyed every second of it. The spectacular scenery which you don't appreciate as much while driving with a car, the fresh air, it all felt just right. And so I wanted this feeling to continue on and that is how I got to hear. =)

I urge anyone who wishes to start running for any reason be it health, mental relief, weight loss, etc to stop thinking and just do! Set a goal like running 10km one day or perhaps even more ambitious like the half marathon, risk big but you have to be willing to make sacrifices and train. Trust me when I say it's a 110 % worth your while! =)

For any information of tips please comment or email me on markpace123@gmail.com

Marathon Training progress 3: Treadmill vs. Road vs. Track

During today's speed work training I got to thinking the actual difference between running on a treadmill as oppose to running on normal tarmac and pavement (road) and also track.

Well I guess the obvious difference is the environment sure, on the road it gets a little trickier to run and pace yourself (unless of course it's an empty road) but even the surface is different; uphill, downhill, winding road, pavement, tarmac, there is no real consistency to your run.

In contrast on a treadmill you can just set the machine at a certain speed, uphill elevation and with some you can even programme it to your requirements, some can even monitor your heart rate and push you accordingly. Smart stuff right?!
It's considerably less dangerous on the treadmill of course, no danger of a car running you over or a crack on which you can twist your ankle. But is it worth while?

Track well I guess it would be the best of both worlds, only you cannot elevate the track but you can monitor your pace consistently much better seeing that there are many, many markers which one can use. The track is also considerably the best in terms of grip so every step counts.

But which one if you asked me would I enjoy the best running on?

My answer is that it depends really because of many factors ....

All of them have their advantages and disadvantages and it depends mostly what kind of run you are doing. When training for any event I would require some time doing speed work, that is where a nice stable flat surface would be excellent so the track is perfect of that kind of workout.

I am also a firm believer of hills training, it gives you the muscle build-up an athlete requires without resorting to weights and tightening your leg muscles. There are many roads that would cater to such a thing I for one have a great road just 5min jog away so its very ideal.

For rainy days (such as today) you have to resort to something inside and so far I haven't heard of an indoor full size athletics, so therefore a treadmill would be convenient.

However and this is my utmost favourite for the long distance runs you have no substitute for a great piece of road with spectacular scenery if you can! Also an advantage of the road is that if I start to give up half way through, well then f**k it you've come this far continue on now! Again psychologically the road in my opinion is better because on any treadmill or any track its very convenient to stop for a breath.

So for me the road is the ideal place! Its a place of heaven!

Check out the difference in graphs from treadmill to the road:

Treadmill speed work run

Road long distance run


Please feel free to comment.