Day of Awesomness

Today has officially been renamed the Day of Awesomeness. Possibly not the catchiest name, certainly not as succinct as "Sunday", but I think it gets the point across that it was a very successful day in VLM training. In fact, this week there seems to have been a shift in my mental and physical ability, because I've worked hard in all of my training sessions, and felt like I've managed them more easily and capably than even a week ago. I've enjoyed all my training this past week; I managed heavier weights in body pump, I had more energy in body attack, my runs were faster and I had a good PT where TT actually said I was making progress, and I too felt like I gave a good representation of my abilities. But the piece de resistance has to be my long run today.

After last Sunday's difficult LR I wasn't viewing today with a huge amount of enthusiasm, the only saving grace being that I had arranged to run with Sarah from NWR. The last time I ran with Sarah was on the MoRun, and I was at the beginning of major physical decline and my body was beginning to protest at the fewer calories I was giving it whilst still trying to run. Sarah was such a soothing and reassuring companion at the MoRun that I knew she'd be perfect for me at this point, and keep me going. Whilst I was waiting for her to arrive I was so nervous that my hands were actually shaking. I think for me it was a case of that if it all went wrong, normally I have no witnesses but what if it went spectacularly wrong and someone was there to see it all? I needn't have worried though, because from the second we broke into a run it felt really good, and it only takes me a few strides to ascertain whether it's going to be a good run, or tougher than combing your hair with your hands tied behind your back.

Spot the deer

Today wasn't a good run. Today was a great run. Fantastic, amazing, wonderful and all those good adjectives. My legs just felt filled with energy, and I felt light as a feather as we worked our way around Wollaton Park. The best bit was, whereas I've recently needed to have frequent walk breaks as I've been unable to maintain a running stride for too long, today I felt like I could keep on going forever. I was so in the zone that when we passed the deer in the picture on the right, I would've run straight past the them had Sarah not pointed them out to me. It was nice to have a companion, because long runs can get lonely, and as we ran and chatted I couldn't help but feel grateful for belonging to such a great running club. It was started a year ago from nothing, but slowly it has developed into a proper club with beginners classes, tops with the club logo on and is almost at the stage where is is affiliated. And the best bit is that the women are just wonderful. I feel like someone always has my back. If I want to run with someone there's always at least one person happy to come along. We're all different ages and abilities, but the camaraderie is second to none and I really needed that feeling of belonging somewhere.

Me and Sarah

After 12k, I took Sarah back to her car and we parted ways. I had to continue the rest of my run alone. This was to be a good test as to whether I could continue to run when already pretty tired, and when left on my own. I grabbed my iPod back at home and cranked up the volume, and set off to continue the remaining distance (TT had prescribed 18k for today). Those first couple of km on my own were tough; I think I had begun to stiffen up whilst saying goodbye to Sarah and refuelling at home, and I really felt it for the next 2km. My breathing felt erratic and my legs were on fire, and that self-doubt started niggling at me, then really began to harass me. But I ignored it, because, as I reasoned with myself, if 30 minutes before I had felt like I was flying, things don't really change that quickly, so I gave myself a stern talking to and got on with the job. What amazed me as I approached 16k was that suddenly, things began to feel easier again. I got back in the zone, I got into a rhythm, and I just ran. I reckoned that if I slowed to a walk, my body might not let me start running again, so on I went. Just to that lamp post, then at the lamp post it was just to that car. And so it went on like that, running from one point to the next, repeating positive affirmations in my head, concentrated on left leg right leg left leg right leg, and even threw in some strides to jazz things up a bit. Then finally I had finished. In the amazing time of 1 hour 59, I ran 20km. 20km!!!!! That's flipping made my year!!! From one Sunday to the next I have gone from feeling like a complete beginner to Paula Radcliffe!

But what really changes in a week? Certainly nothing physically has changed. My food intake is still well below what it should be, I'm still exhausted a lot of the time, partly because of food and partly because lack of food promotes poor sleep. My stress levels are still pretty high although I did receive the exciting news this week that I have an interview to study Graduate Entry Medicine, allowing me to finally complete my medical training. But one thing that has changed is my attitude to myself. After the GSR then my physical deterioration I lost so much confidence in my running, I shied away from social runs feeling like I was going to be the rubbish one and knowing that it would be my fault if that did happen because I couldn't eat properly. But now I feel like I'm a real contender. That I could run VLM and not be caught by the sweeper bus and actually run it in a decent time. Maybe, just maybe, I can not just do this running thing, but actually be quite good at it too. So much of what is covered in my PT sessions is not just to develop me physically, but also to strengthen me mentally, and I think both are beginning to pay dividends.

As a final note I would like to mention something that is effective in post run recovery, but that is also an instrument of torture: the ice bath. I've always been a fan of a nice hot shower after a run to freshen up, then on with a jumper to stave off post run shivers, and on with compression socks to aid recovery of my lower legs. TT has mentioned the benefits of ice baths before, and thinking it was just a quirky fetish he has after a training session I never paid heed to them. Until today, where I ran faster and further than before. So I thought my poor legs might appreciate something to help reduce inflammation and get them back to full working capacity as quickly as possible. So after a cool shower (there is no way I am washing my upper body or hair in ice cold water!), I got into a freezing cold bath. I do believe my response was something along the lines of: *&!£$#%**!!!!!!! The air turned bluer than I thought my toes would in the cold bath. In fact I was actually concerned about frostbite for a minute. But I sat in this icy hell, silently cursing TT's name under my breath and pining for a hot, steaming shower. I got out when my shivering, chattering teeth gave way to full body judders as the coldness crept in and chilled me to my core. But you know what? My legs don't feel half bad now, so maybe there is something in it. Of course I'm fully expecting to groan as my feet touch the floor tomorrow morning, but right now I feel better than I'd expect.

Next weekend is exciting as Saturday is my "runiversary", ie 1 year that I've been a runner, and the day before my birthday And what better way to celebrate that a half marathon with the NWR with a lovely bit of bling c/o Virtual Runner UK?

Sometimes when you think all hope is lost and things seem bleak, there is always a path through, no matter how difficult it is to find. And on that path are people willing to travel with you. You just need to look hard enough.