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Running a Marathon? How hard can it be?!!!

I first started running in 1995. I use the term “running” very loosely because in those days running meant the odd run around the block probably covering a distance of no more than 1km before collapsing on the ground in exhaustion. I lived in Belfast then so if you were daft enough to do anything vaguely energetic you really had to redeem yourself in front of your mates by taking yourself off to the pub for a few bevvies and a fag (by that I mean cigarettes!)

I persevered with running with the help of my sisters (Ali and Julie) who also ran. It was much less embarrassing if you ran with other people because seriously not a lot of people ran back then and you were openly starred at and considered quite odd! I improved somewhat (especially after I gave up smoking) and was able to comfortably run 5 or 6km on a fairly regular basis. It wasn’t until I moved to Australia however in 2004 when running became an integral part of my life.

Running became something more than a hobby for me or something you “should” do to keep fit. It became time for me, time to escape the stresses of daily life. Life at that stage consisted of a husband, 5 year old twins, a 12 month old baby and a full time job. Believe you me I was stressed to the nines!

Fast forward to now, 2015. I run regularly with a great group of runners at Life Fit in Kiama. Kiama, if you haven’t been, is a beautiful seaside town on the South Coast of New South Wales. It is very picturesque and incredibly hilly. Our group have been running together since April last year and in that time we have tackled the Gold Coast marathon (where I did the half) in July, the City to Surf in August, the Husky Half in September and finally Run Wollongong (12km) in October. This year a bunch of us have decided to take the plunge and try our first marathon!! (Scary but exciting!!)

We have devised a 13 week training schedule trying to encompass all the do’s and don’ts of training for a marathon. We have put strength in there to make sure we engage our gluts and quads, we have thrown in interval to increase speed and of course longer runs to build endurance so we should be fine…. Shouldn’t we??

My first week went okay ish. I only managed one strength session instead of two and didn’t make it to interval training at all but I did my two 6km runs and one long run of 12km so not too bad. I am going to chronicle the next 12 weeks of training, wish me luck!

 

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