MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 8 DAY 7 - ADELAIDE MARATHON DAY

Today, for some it was marathon day. For me it started as a 12km long run up to the city to meet Sam and cheer on the marathoners and the halfers. The day finished very differently.
Was up at 5:45 and out the door by about 6:20am. It was fresh but perfect running weather.
Sub 1:40 not a bad time for the 12km. Met up with Sam and we based ourselves at the weir for cheering. My friend Julia was running her first marathon and I had promised I would have a bit of a run with her each time she passed. This plan also finished differently. Like me she is a back of the packer. She had had a sprained ankle 7 weeks out on a 30km run. She came past me at 13 km and off we went for a bit of a trot, just 1/2km to get her under the bridge and on her way.

Good morning!

Not a bad time for a training run

Sam and I at the weir, preparing for cheering duties

After that, we waited for some people to come past on their way back around to the botanic loop. Steve Moneghetti was running and Sam and I managed to get this selfie as he came past.

Not sure why but I am all cross eyed. Sam, Steph, Ev and I!

So the girls had left and I knew that Julia would be coming around the weir again at about 27 km to head back up the hill to North Adelaide. She was in a bad way. There were tears and talks of pulling out. I wasn't having a bar of it. You can't come 27 km of a 42 km race and pull out. So we joined forces and we walked the next 15 km to the finish. Her ankle was sore, everything was sore. I get that, I've been there. Twice. If it never hurt, everyone would do it. The ankle was a bit of a worry but she wasn't limping and was still moving forward, so I was confident she would be ok. So for 15 pretty brutal km, we talked, we walked and we got to the finish. At about 38km we had got a message from Julia's husband who was at the finish that they had saved a medal (she was only a little over the 6 hour cut off). That was enough to spur her on to keep going as honestly, it's the bling that makes this idiocy that we put ourself through worthwhile. We got there, and so my day went from a 12 km training run to actually around 30 km ( if you count the back and forths from the weir to the oval and then my walk to Currie St). The bus was going to be 26 mins so I got a cab.

Today was one of the first times, since volunteering a year ago in NYC, that I have been able to give back to some one in the running community. To see someone become a marathoner for the first time is really truly amazing. It was a great day and topped off by Julia's daughter putting her medal around her neck as she came over the line. I only had one day off this week and I spent most of it at this running festival. Great, great day. 

So what you need to know is this entire day was fuelled by a honey stinger wafer and a medium cappuccino. I do not condone this type of fuelling for this distance, but it can be done. At no time was I hungry, AT ALL. Nor did I feel that I was lacking energy.

Needless to say though, I nearly cleared out the local supermarket of food and have since inhaled that and a piece of Red Square Cheese (cheese = protein).

I've had a shower and a snooze and am currently wearing all sorts of compression. 

My unplanned afternoon of compression

And hideous minutes on this tool of torture

This is me.

NYC HALF MARATHON RACE WEEK (WEEK 18) -DAY 7 RACE DAY 15/03/15 FINISH LINE CHEER SQUAD

After passing the Mile 10 squad, there was one more sign I was looking for and it was this one. I hoped to find it at the finish and I did. It was Kathi's sign. As John and I rounded the last bend, and I pulled every single ounce of energy that I didn't have, I saw this sign and started waving like a mad woman. I was so excited to see them. Maria had run the race and I was hoping it wasn't too cold for her to wait around. I was about to smash my PB. I remember seeing them and pointing at my watch yelling "I'm going to get it". Out came the knife hands and off I went sprinting to the finish.

There is nothing better than seeing friends and family along the way and at the finish cheering you on and especially when you round the last bend and then they finally see you. 

Thank you to Kathi, Maria, Steph, PG and the lovely Kel for waiting for me and cheering me across the line.

I did my best demonstration of "knife hands" ever.

NYC HALF MARATHON RACE WEEK (WEEK 18) -DAY 7 RACE DAY 15/03 MILE 10 CHEER SQUAD

Cheer squads are now a staple of #dasherlife. The NYC Half was no different. My gorgeous friend Rebecca bought a cow balloon and came up from Jersey. Zrinka came from Phildelphia and L Del came up from DC. It just goes to show, how far we will go as a group to see each other and make each other's day just that little bit easier.

I saw that damn balloon from about 350 yards away and had to do everything in my power to not cry (with excitement and relief as they were at the 16 km mark). I was on track for a PB, but still had to stop and say high. There is video footage somewhere of Rebecca screaming "knife hands" for the entire time I was at the cheer zone. I hadn't seen these guys since November. I just adore them. Lots of other pics of our #Dashers running thru the cheer zone.

Rebecca and her balloon

And with our sign!

Me meeting Zrinka

Finally getting to them.

L Del

Our Janet

 

Our medical miracle Scott

Jess

Wonder Woman Susie

Melanie

Melanie seeing Katie

 Melanie and Katie

Melanie and Katie

John- who I wasn't too far behind and eventually caught up to and crossed the line with.