I wasn't as prepared for this week as I probably ought to have been. A 20 mile run and conference talk on back-to-back days warrant a serious degree of preparation. With injury plaguing my efforts in recent weeks and much ground left to cover in my subject area, doubts consumed my mind as to whether I'd be fit and able to take on these unprecedented challenges.
First, the run. Wednesday was the mid-conference break and the perfect time to attempt my first and only 20 mile run. I ventured along the promontory, starting in Jurata and heading up towards the Baltic coastline. Perfect weather, no traffic and a breathtaking close look at the sea. As I gazed ahead at the seemingly endless body of water, all the time focused on the precious three yards of ground ahead of me, the runner's high that has long eluded me came flooding back. Minor shin splints were a tame effort to spoil this; no camera to capture the moment but it will stay with me for a while. As a result, the first hour flew by. Of course, soon after I began to feel it, with my hamstrings stiffening up as they did at the kilomathon. Still, I felt I was far from done even after returning to my starting point around 16 miles and 2h 10 in.
Then came the defining period; at the kilomathon I'd hit the wall by this point, yet here I felt eager to continue. Every stride was by now a chore and soon I was in pain all over, but the incentive to hit 20 miles got me through, despite some steep inclines late on. I had been expecting the infamous "wall" to confront me; that moment where the body runs dry on glycogen stores and has nothing left to give. However, aside from the pain, which was quite severe by the end and would no doubt intensify if I went beyond 2h 45, I was absolutely fine. Breathing was easy and my upper body seemed to be holding up. Maybe the jelly beans were to thank, or my recent physical therapy and added rest. I managed to push the wall back a few miles and hopefully the progression will continue into Paris.
For the first time I felt I was bigger than the marathon. I have built up the last part of the race so much in my mind that I feel I can deal with whatever comes my way. But complacency may be my fiercest enemy and I'm well aware that the slightest factor could yet thwart my efforts. But for now, I'm over the hill and can spend the next two weeks easing the mileage and getting fresh for Paris. Just a day after the biggest run of my life, I feel almost fully recovered. I'm not sure how it happened, but I seem to have made the defining breakthrough at this crucial stage of training. Let's hope I can see it through the final period.
Buoyed by this success, but still incredibly nervous, I delivered my talk at the Maths conference. It seems I talk way too fast when on stage and it was far from inspiring. But I'm grateful for the experience (my first conference talk) and for not being lynched by the audience. It is no doubt a significant step to regaining my academic mojo.
Accommodation and travel are booked for Paris. Only a last gasp travesty can stop me now. I wouldn't rule it out, but for now I'll revel in my first 20 mile run.
Thursday 25 March 2010
Monday 22 March 2010
Let epsilon be positive
The culmination of my training for Paris is proving to be surreal. The setting is Jurata, Poland, on the Baltic Sea, at a ten day Functional Analysis conference. In many ways, the situation is utterly shambolic. The conference itself is manifesting itself as a real joy, with an atmosphere ripe for creativity. Having breakfast with the leading experts of your field, whose work has astounded you over the last few years, is really something. My feelings may switch to those of trepidation when I deliver my own talk on Thursday, but by then I hope to have an extra spring in my step, for I hope to have completed my last long run of training.
The conference aside, my efforts are being hampered somewhat by the sheer lack of civilisation in the local vicinity. With the hotel food an absolute chore, and just one shop in the area, most of my meals consist of bread and cheese. Decent for keeping up the carbs, but annoyingly my masterful plan of bringing pasta with me has fallen flat on its head since there is no way to cook it. With cold weather, a strong wind and much snow, training conditions are far from ideal.
Still, the marathon runner's mentality has at its core the appetite to turn negatives into positives. Our hotel is located on a 20km promontory, which is mainly flat and perfect to run along. Today I managed to track down a swimming pool at a nearby, swankier hotel. Despite its tiny size, it was sufficient to give me a much needed workout. I've also squeezed in two runs since arriving here on Thursday (after an eight hour coach ride from Warsaw) and am set for the long 'un come Wednesday. The target is to run for 2h 45 with brief stoppages only. Jelly beans and water are at the ready and I have all of my kit (minus the headband; somehow forgot to bring it along). With a decent bath and kettle that just about boils, and freezer that just about keeps ice packs cold, I am able to maintain the healing regime in between runs.
If I do get through Wednesday's run, I will begin to entertain the prospect of Paris, to the extent that I'll book flights and accommodation. From that point, tapering will take over, as I'll ease off on the mileage, instead focussing on keeping my muscles fresh and stretched. I hope they'll have healed suffieciently by Thursday to allow me to stand whilst delivering my talk.
I'll be in Torun next week as a guest of their Mathematical Institute, before returning to England the Monday after. These are hectic times; in many way defining. It's game time.
The conference aside, my efforts are being hampered somewhat by the sheer lack of civilisation in the local vicinity. With the hotel food an absolute chore, and just one shop in the area, most of my meals consist of bread and cheese. Decent for keeping up the carbs, but annoyingly my masterful plan of bringing pasta with me has fallen flat on its head since there is no way to cook it. With cold weather, a strong wind and much snow, training conditions are far from ideal.
Still, the marathon runner's mentality has at its core the appetite to turn negatives into positives. Our hotel is located on a 20km promontory, which is mainly flat and perfect to run along. Today I managed to track down a swimming pool at a nearby, swankier hotel. Despite its tiny size, it was sufficient to give me a much needed workout. I've also squeezed in two runs since arriving here on Thursday (after an eight hour coach ride from Warsaw) and am set for the long 'un come Wednesday. The target is to run for 2h 45 with brief stoppages only. Jelly beans and water are at the ready and I have all of my kit (minus the headband; somehow forgot to bring it along). With a decent bath and kettle that just about boils, and freezer that just about keeps ice packs cold, I am able to maintain the healing regime in between runs.
If I do get through Wednesday's run, I will begin to entertain the prospect of Paris, to the extent that I'll book flights and accommodation. From that point, tapering will take over, as I'll ease off on the mileage, instead focussing on keeping my muscles fresh and stretched. I hope they'll have healed suffieciently by Thursday to allow me to stand whilst delivering my talk.
I'll be in Torun next week as a guest of their Mathematical Institute, before returning to England the Monday after. These are hectic times; in many way defining. It's game time.
Wednesday 17 March 2010
Polishing it
Warsaw provides the backdrop for this overdue post, as I arrive in Poland for a three week academic stay. With much going on in all aspects of my life, finding the time to keep this blog up to date is proving a chore. But the show must go on.
The highlight since my last post was undoubtedly Sunday's kilomathon. A 26.2km/16.3 mile run from Nottingham to Derby (my place of birth) proved testing, but not impossible. My goal was set at a tentative 2h 15. I consciously chose not to push the lead all the way like I did in Birmingham last October, as I needed enough left in the tank at the finish to convince myself Paris is still realistic. However, my lack of training due to injury in recent weeks showed and by mile 10 I was visibly slowing, with swarms of runners overtaking me. By mile 15 I'd hit the wall and my only focus was on finishing without stopping. This I managed, just. And the decent early pace ensured I met my target. Happy days.
Still, it makes me shudder at the prospect of adding 10 miles to this in four weeks. I was completely gone by the end, with my hamstrings seizing up to the point where even just standing was painful. I still intend to run Paris, though my target is revised to under 4 hours. I'll also need to get some serious training in whilst in Poland. It's not the ideal setting, particularly with the streets covered in snow, but I'll take what I can get.
The coming weeks will no doubt provide some defining moments in my life. Here in Poland, I am due to present some work in front of a star-studded audience (stars in the world of Functional Analysis, anyway). This is both exciting and daunting, but perfectly feasible in comparison to the prospect of Paris. The marathon is giving me added confidence in other walks of life. A talk at a conference suddenly seems natural, as it is just another mechanism by which to perform. And in maraton training, one develops the ability and confidence to perform at a supreme level. The decisive moment will come on April 11 though, if/when I do enter the race and inevitably hit the wall. My hope is that training will get me through to 18-20 miles (which I will attempt in Poland). After that, all bets are off.
The highlight since my last post was undoubtedly Sunday's kilomathon. A 26.2km/16.3 mile run from Nottingham to Derby (my place of birth) proved testing, but not impossible. My goal was set at a tentative 2h 15. I consciously chose not to push the lead all the way like I did in Birmingham last October, as I needed enough left in the tank at the finish to convince myself Paris is still realistic. However, my lack of training due to injury in recent weeks showed and by mile 10 I was visibly slowing, with swarms of runners overtaking me. By mile 15 I'd hit the wall and my only focus was on finishing without stopping. This I managed, just. And the decent early pace ensured I met my target. Happy days.
Still, it makes me shudder at the prospect of adding 10 miles to this in four weeks. I was completely gone by the end, with my hamstrings seizing up to the point where even just standing was painful. I still intend to run Paris, though my target is revised to under 4 hours. I'll also need to get some serious training in whilst in Poland. It's not the ideal setting, particularly with the streets covered in snow, but I'll take what I can get.
The coming weeks will no doubt provide some defining moments in my life. Here in Poland, I am due to present some work in front of a star-studded audience (stars in the world of Functional Analysis, anyway). This is both exciting and daunting, but perfectly feasible in comparison to the prospect of Paris. The marathon is giving me added confidence in other walks of life. A talk at a conference suddenly seems natural, as it is just another mechanism by which to perform. And in maraton training, one develops the ability and confidence to perform at a supreme level. The decisive moment will come on April 11 though, if/when I do enter the race and inevitably hit the wall. My hope is that training will get me through to 18-20 miles (which I will attempt in Poland). After that, all bets are off.
Saturday 6 March 2010
Painful truths
With the kilomathon looming, it was prudent for me to step up training this week, despite ongoing foot pain. The pain is proving to be one of the most intriguing characters in the epic tale that is my marathon journey. Or perhaps more the relentless villain, hell-bent on ruining the dream ending.
The condition seems to be gradually worsening, as one would expect with an increase in mileage. As a result, I am resting as much as possible in between sessions, even limiting my daily walks. With hot and cold remedies in the mix, I seem to have it under control for now. The good news is that during runs the pain seems to peak in the first half hour and then settle down to a manageable state. I upped the distance to 12 miles today and despite an early struggle, came through with energy to spare. Perhaps worryingly though, the pain spread as the run went on; an ominous sign of things to come. The kilomathon should be fine, but the prospect of going 26.2 miles is more daunting than ever.
Make no mistake, the marathon is a notch above its worthy predecessor, the half. It was perhaps too optimistic of me to imagine that the tougher breakthroughs were at the bottom end. I hoped that with increased distance, it would be easier to keep adding miles. But adding even a mile beyond the twelveth takes considerable effort. Presently, the 16.3 mile distance of the kilomathon seems just about plausible. Then perhaps 18, at a stretch. But the fascinating aspect of the marathon is that training ends at the 18-20 mile mark. It as at this point that the body begins to break down, running out of glycogen and experiencing unknown discomfort. Only on race day will I know if adrenaline and the occasion is enough to get me through.
Five weeks until Paris and the dream that last year seemed futile is within touching distance. But the crucial period lies ahead and with a three week trip to Poland on the horizon, it will be anything but standard.
The condition seems to be gradually worsening, as one would expect with an increase in mileage. As a result, I am resting as much as possible in between sessions, even limiting my daily walks. With hot and cold remedies in the mix, I seem to have it under control for now. The good news is that during runs the pain seems to peak in the first half hour and then settle down to a manageable state. I upped the distance to 12 miles today and despite an early struggle, came through with energy to spare. Perhaps worryingly though, the pain spread as the run went on; an ominous sign of things to come. The kilomathon should be fine, but the prospect of going 26.2 miles is more daunting than ever.
Make no mistake, the marathon is a notch above its worthy predecessor, the half. It was perhaps too optimistic of me to imagine that the tougher breakthroughs were at the bottom end. I hoped that with increased distance, it would be easier to keep adding miles. But adding even a mile beyond the twelveth takes considerable effort. Presently, the 16.3 mile distance of the kilomathon seems just about plausible. Then perhaps 18, at a stretch. But the fascinating aspect of the marathon is that training ends at the 18-20 mile mark. It as at this point that the body begins to break down, running out of glycogen and experiencing unknown discomfort. Only on race day will I know if adrenaline and the occasion is enough to get me through.
Five weeks until Paris and the dream that last year seemed futile is within touching distance. But the crucial period lies ahead and with a three week trip to Poland on the horizon, it will be anything but standard.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
