Okay so today O and I were due to do the Invadar Half. Last Saturday we were over theirs for dinner and I casually mentioned that White Star Racing (WSR) had announced a few spare marathon places O and then a short conversation followed where I asked WSR if there were two and then what followed was that me and O were now signed up to do a marathon. Shit!
So I have experienced a range of emotions this week, I was and the wasn't and then was going to do it. But ultimately it is happening. We have been called nutters amongst other things and I can't disagree. So here I am on the way to the Invader MARATHON at 06:47 with O and Ley.
I went for a 6+ mile run Monday and that was okay. Today is going to be hard and it will hurt for sure. O had a plan (much more comprehensive than I was expecting but reassuringly detailed enough to put my mind at rest.
Goal is to finish. And not be last.
That means less than 7.5hours. So the plan. Well plans....(fully quoted from O)
Anyway, the plan. I actually have 3 plans, all very similar but with slightly different outcomes.
Plan A. (I am going to call this, the realistic plan).
Aiming for approx. 5 hours
Average 7min ks. (That is about a minute slower per K than my usual pace so pretty comfortable).
Walk most hills, anything that I feel the HR starting to elevate, or where my quads start to burn it gets walked.
I am going to sup goo after the first hour, and then every half hour after that.
Plan B. (I am going to call this, the feelin’ good plan).
Aiming for approx. 4:30 hours
Average 6:30 min ks. (Still easy on).
Walk most hills, anything that I feel the HR starting to elevate, or where my quads start to burn it gets walked.
I am going to sup goo after the first hour, and then every half hour after that.
Towards the end, approx. 5k. If I feel there is more than enough left in the tank, I will pick up the pace and try to use up anything that is left.
Plan C. (This is called… Why Hannah? Why are we doing this?)
Plan C may kick in at any time.
Aiming to finish is now the only plan.
Sod the averages, probably keep looking at the watch mournfully wondering why I am doing 20 minute Ks.
Walk. Walk everything!
Proclaim often that I hate things, especially marathons and other runners.
So I reckon we'll start with B then move to A and then C will kick in at some point. I think 5-5.5hrs and O is going for 5 but both prepared mentally to be moving for 6+hrs as needed.
We have both been drinking lots last few days and eating well. I personally drank 3litres+ every day of squash and O was playing a non drunk drinking game of everyone go to the loo drink another glass.... He reported to be going to the loo increasingly frequently (surprisingly!).
I have also been deliberating over a new gadget and to cut a long story short I had my Garmin FR920XT delivered yesterday and it is now set up tested and ready to use. I have no idea what alerts it's going to give me though. I am going to record on my phone too in case of failure.
Sleep: I've have 2:40hrs last night.
Breakfast: two slices of toast at 4:30, porridge, honey and blueberries at 6:30.
Race fuel: I have a new Camelbak with 2litres of water with 2 electrolyte tablet things, 6 gels, and some dried apricots.
I have music for later if needed.
I am okay, bit nervous about some niggles that I have particularly with my back/hip but if we take it easy should be okay. CV wise I can do it, it is just the very high risk of injury.
So. Here we go then. Let you know how we get on.
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