Final thoughts on week 16

“Are you ready?” people keep asking me over and over.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I reply.

It’s a response on autopilot, having been asked the question so often, but it couldn’t be more accurate.

Marathon outfit

I’ve completed 16 weeks of endurance training on a marathon running plan.

During that period I’ve ran a total of 406 miles, as well as an additional 58 miles between signing up for the event and starting my training plan.

I’ve battled the elements by running through frost, snow, rain, wind (a storm in fact), darkness, midday sunlight and heat.

Not to mention the hills. Oh the hills! Dundee’s full of them.

The intensity of my training programme, together with my enthusiasm to progress quickly rather than build up the mileage gradually, led to injury early on in my training plan.

On week two I developed shin splints and spent the next seven weeks doing everything I could to try to get over it.

I rested, then cross trained with swimming and yoga, then returned to running (too soon) and fought back tears as I tried to run through the pain.

Products

I had physiotherapy and acupuncture, invested in a number of muscle injury products and strapped my legs with kinesiology tape before running.

It was an emotional period. I seriously considered pulling out of the marathon as I didn’t think my leg would get better in time for race day.

But I wasn’t ready to give up and decided to focus my energies on fundraising for a while instead.

The main reason I’m doing the London Marathon is to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland in honour of my gran who has dementia.

Since diagnosis her illness seems to be rapidly taking hold of her. She’s confused all the time and struggles to follow a conversation.

Fundraising

Nearly a year ago she moved into a care home but she still constantly asks when she can go home.

It’s heart-breaking having to repeatedly explain that the care home is her home now.

And to see her relive the pain of losing her own home every time, as if it’s the first time she’s heard it.

What’s worse is that she doesn’t feel safe or secure in the care home.

She forgets she’s moved things, such as chocolate biscuits or nighties, and thinks people are coming into her room to steal them.

On several occasions she’s started arguments with other residents accusing them of wearing her clothes.

To us it seems absurd because it’s just so illogical but to her it’s real – and very frightening.

All my family and I can do is be there for her and knowing she’s getting the help and support she needs at the care home is reassuring.

Seeing my gran struggle with dementia made me want to help others in her situation.

Raising awareness

I set myself a target of raising £2,000 and at first I had no idea how I would achieve it.

By week nine of my training plan I’d asked everyone I know to sponsor me and raised around £700 which was a brilliant figure, but a long way off my target.

I’d previously considered organising a club night, although decided it was too much of a gamble in terms of making money.

Then I decided to host a pub quiz night and raffle, which turned out to be a great success.

Through that I raised £817 with much help and support from friends and local business people.

For two weeks I was so busy organising the quiz, sourcing raffle prizes, selling raffle tickets, and promoting the event, that training was placed on the backburner.

And when I returned, it was as if I had a new leg – my injury was completely healed.

Changing my focus to fundraising really lifted the pressure and gave my body and mind time to recover from my injury.

Week 16

Over the next four weeks I cranked up the mileage, squeezing in many long runs of up to 16 miles, before starting to reduce the amount I was running (taper) last week.

It’s not as far as I should’ve gone if I’d managed to remain injury free but I’m damn proud of myself for making it that far given the setback I faced.

Donations continued to flood in and last week I managed to reach my target of £2,000 with more pledged on my sponsorship form to be collected after the event.

Now with just three days left until I take on the biggest physical challenge of my life, I’m feeling on top of the world knowing that the hard work is behind me.

I honestly can’t wait to go out there and give it my best shot, for my gran, so many others like her, and for myself too.

It’s been a fierce journey but I’ve made it through. All that’s left to do now is enjoy the experience.

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I’m running London Marathon 2016 to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland in aid of my gran who has dementia. Please sponsor me. All donations, no matter the size, extremely welcome via my fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SheanneMulholland

xxx THANK YOU!! xxx

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Running au naturel on week 15

At first I felt self-conscious and slightly anxious but it didn’t take long before I realised how freeing it was.

For the first time in years I was running au naturel.

I’d left all my gear at home – my watch, music, kinesiology tape, energy gels, water.

It was just me and the road, no timing, no pacing, I just ran.

Pre-run stretching

Although it wasn’t exactly planned.

After my last run I’d forgotten to charge my watch and when I turned it on again it was flashing low battery.

When I’m training, my watch is the boss.

It tells me when to speed up or slow down and when to put more effort in depending on mileage.

But it was late and I didn’t have time to wait for it to charge, so I reluctantly decided to run without it.

I’ve read many articles preaching the benefits of a weekly run without gadgets, allowing your body to be driven by effort rather than pace.

“This is as good a time as any to try that,” I thought, and decided to leave everything at home.

Surprisingly it was one of the most enjoyable and stress-free runs I’ve had since starting my training.

Week 15

I felt great and covered my usual ten mile route with ease.

When I got home I checked a stopwatch I’d left running (okay I’ll admit that might count as cheating as far as au naturel is concerned).

I did ten miles in 1 hour 41 minutes which is the same pace as my current marathon pace.

It must be drilled into my legs at the moment and realising that is a huge confidence boost.

Only one week to go until race day!

This is my first taper week. It feels strange to be running a reduced number of miles so close to the marathon but I know my body will appreciate being fully rested for the event.

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Breakdown of week 15:

Marathon training

Mon: 4 mile walk (to work and back), rest

Tue: 4 mile walk, 9 mile run (1 hour 35 minutes)

Wed: 4 mile walk, 1 hour yoga session

Thu: 10 mile run (1 hour 41 minutes)

Fri: 4 mile walk, rest

Sat: 1 hour 30 minute squash session

Sun: 9 mile run (1 hour 34 minutes)

Total: 16 miles walk, 28 miles run, 1 hour yoga, 1 hour 30 minute squash

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I’m running London Marathon 2016 to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland in aid of my gran who has dementia. Please sponsor me. All donations, no matter the size, extremely welcome via my fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SheanneMulholland

xxx THANK YOU!! xxx

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Peak long run on week 14

I probably looked like a maniac, grinning through gritted teeth – my face a mixture of pain and elation.

Knowing that every step I took was further than I had ever run in my life was an incredible feeling.

I was so proud of my wee legs and how far they’d carried me but they were aching, heavy and tired.

When I finally clicked the stop button on my watch at the 16 mile mark, I dropped my pace to a walk.

Putting the miles in

I walked for about a quarter of a mile, letting my legs cool down, before stretching and thinking about how far I’d come.

Shin splints knocked me out of the game for weeks and I’ve not long returned to training because of that, and yet here I am ploughing through the miles as fit as ever.

It’s the most positive I’ve felt about my ability to complete the marathon since I signed up.

Not only was that the longest run I’ve done in training but it also marked the beginning of my taper – a period of reduced running in the lead up to race day.

Week 14

Tapering allows the body to replenish glycogen supplies (essential for providing energy) which have been lost through prolonged excessive training.

It also allows muscles time to repair and rest, meaning that when race day comes I can give it my best shot rather than being tired.

I’m not sure I’ve done enough long runs to justify a proper taper but the frequency of my training has been intensive enough that I feel it would be beneficial.

I want to arrive in London feeling rested and ready to take the challenge of a marathon head on.

Now I know I can do 16 miles and still feel strong. What happens after that I’ll just have to wait and see.

I’ve got this far through sheer determination, nothing’s going to stop me completing it now.

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Breakdown of week 14:

Week 14

Mon: 4 mile walk (to work and back), rest

Tue: 4 mile walk, 10 mile run (1 hour 42 minutes)

Wed: 4 mile walk, 1 hour yoga session

Thu: 10 mile run (1 hour 44 minutes)

Fri: 4 mile walk, rest

Sat: 1 hour 30 minute squash session

Sun: 16 mile run (2 hours 51 minutes)

Total: 16 miles walk, 36 miles run, 1 hour yoga, 1 hour 30 minute squash

16 mile run

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I’m running London Marathon 2016 to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland in aid of my gran who has dementia. Please sponsor me. All donations, no matter the size, extremely welcome via my fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SheanneMulholland

xxx THANK YOU!! xxx

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Food and fuel on week 12

Now my leg is healed, I’m starting to really look forward to running the marathon.

But there are still a few things I’m yet to practice ahead of race day.

One of them is proper fuelling, both on race day and in the days leading up to the event.

This month, everything I put into my body is going to have an impact on how I perform at the London Marathon.

It’s time to give up the sweeties and junk food and concentrate on eating more healthy foods, including carbohydrates for energy and protein for muscle growth.

Pumpkin and sunflower seed bars

That’s not too big an ask as far as meals are concerned – on the whole I’m pretty healthy and eat mostly fish or chicken with veggies.

But I do love to snack, so I made up a batch of pumpkin and sunflower seed bars which I can have with my morning cuppa instead of a chocolate biscuit.

I’m impressed with how tasty they are. It almost makes the two burns I received when cooking them worthwhile.

The first time I made them a bit of boiling honey flew out of the pan and onto my thumb.

My automatic reaction was to lick it off rather than put my thumb under cold water, which left me with a nasty scab.

This time I burned my arm taking the tray out of the oven.

I think the recipe is jinxed because I cook and bake all the time and never burn myself, so anyone who wants to try making them – you’ve been warned.

Week 12

Fuelling on race day is also extremely important.

My plan is to stock up with a sturdy breakfast of porridge and a banana before the race and then have one energy gel per hour during the race.

Energy gels are essential for replacing carbohydrates and other essential nutrients lost in the body through prolonged physical exertion.

I don’t take them when running less than half marathon distance (13.1 miles) but I know I’ll need them for the added mileage of a full marathon.

Digesting food at the same time as running can be a little confusing for the body so I’ve decided to introduce gels into my training gradually.

I had one for the first time ever during a 12 mile run on Sunday. I took it in small doses at mile five and it felt fine in my stomach.

I didn’t get a “hit” after taking it but I didn’t really need the energy at that point, it was more of an experiment to see how my body reacted to it.

Next week I’m going to try out different brands and see how I get on with them.

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Breakdown of week 12:

Marathon training

Mon: 4 mile walk (to work and back), rest

Tue: 4 mile walk, 10 mile run

Wed: 4 mile walk, 1 hour yoga session

Thu: 10 mile run

Fri: 4 mile walk, rest

Sat: 4 mile run

Sun: 12 mile run with 1 gel

Total: 16 miles walking, 36 miles running, 1 hour yoga

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I’m running London Marathon 2016 to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland in aid of my gran who has dementia. Please sponsor me. All donations, no matter the size, extremely welcome via my fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SheanneMulholland

xxx THANK YOU!! xxx

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Buzzing from the runner’s high

Glistening in sweat, I grinned from ear to ear as I sang along loudly (and badly no doubt) to my current favourite tune.

I’d comfortably ran 7.5 miles and still had two miles to do until I was home – but I felt like I could run for another ten.

Suddenly both my arms swung out above my head in a fit of euphoria, as if I was an Olympic runner crossing the finish line first.

Runner’s high

I felt AMAZING.

I was experiencing the runner’s high and it’s been ages since I had it, so I was lapping up every minute of it.

The runner’s high is caused by a surge of endorphins in the brain, which act as a natural pain killer.

However they are only released when the body is in discomfort, rather that excruciating pain, so finding the balance can be tricky.

Too easy a run won’t produce enough discomfort to trigger a rush and the effort needed for too hard a run will outweigh the feel good factor of endorphins.

It’s been such a long time since I’ve had a comfortably challenging run because of my shin splints.

Endorphins can’t override injury pain, so to feel them confirmed I was well on the road to recovery – but it’s been a roller coaster ride getting there.

Marathon training

When I signed up for the London Marathon people warned me training would be tough. I just didn’t realise quite how emotional it would be.

Two weeks ago I was nearly crying mid-run and seriously considered pulling out of the marathon due to the unbearable pain in my leg.

And now I feel like I’m on top of the world and can’t stop smiling as I clock up the mileage with ease.

It took 1 hour and 43 minutes to do 9.5 miles, which is the best I’ve ran since getting my injury.

Not every run is as easy as my runner’s high one but I’ve had many more good ones than bad this week and I’m finally starting to believe in myself again.

Running on endorphins

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I’m running London Marathon 2016 to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland in aid of my gran who has dementia. Please sponsor me. All donations, no matter the size, extremely welcome via my fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SheanneMulholland

xxx THANK YOU!! xxx

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A new attitude on week 11

All I can do is give it my best shot – that’s what I’ve decided.

It’s only five weeks until the London Marathon and I’m so far behind my training plan – due to lost time with my injury – that I’ve stopped looking at it.

But I’m making a conscious effort not to stress out about it.

I’m training at the rate my body will allow me to and on race day I’m just going to do the best I can.

If that means I have to walk some of it, then that’s okay.

I’ll be happy as long as I can complete the whole 26.2 miles because that in itself is a big achievement.

Running in Wormit, Fife

When I first signed up I was aiming to finish the marathon in less than four and a half hours.

I know I won’t get a time like that now so I’m going to forget about timings and just go with how my body feels.

More importantly – I’m going to enjoy it.

The pressure to get a good finishing time was only coming from myself and now that I’ve let go of that I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

I’m getting stronger and stronger each time I go running and my times are getting faster.

My injury’s nearly gone, thanks to acupuncture, but it’s more than that – it’s as if my mind has healed too.

I’m enjoying running again, which is one of the main reasons I signed up for the marathon.

The other reason was to raise £2,000 for Alzheimer Scotland, a charity which is close to my heart as my gran has dementia.

Week 11

And meeting that target is much more important to me than getting a race time of under four and a half hours.

I have no doubt I will meet my fundraising target. I’m a determined soul and don’t give up easily.

Then I can relax and look at the marathon as a reward, knowing all the hard work is behind me.

Come race day, I’m going to make the most of every minute of it, no matter how I’m feeling.

And now I’ve decided that, I can’t wait to do it.

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I’m running London Marathon 2016 to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland in aid of my gran who has dementia. Please sponsor me. All donations, no matter the size, extremely welcome via my fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SheanneMulholland

xxx THANK YOU!! xxx

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Bearing my soul on week nine

Firstly, I should apologise for not blogging on week eight.

It’s not that I didn’t want to, I just wasn’t sure if anyone wanted to hear what I had to say.

I’m aware I’ve been harping on about this injury for weeks now and it’s not the most inspiring thing to read about over and over.

But the reality was I’d reached breaking point and that’s why I decided not to post.

My left leg had completely seized up and the pain down the front of my shin and foot was unbearable.

Frosty park run

I couldn’t point my toes or pull them towards me. It was as if I had a wooden leg.

It was stiff all the time, constantly exasperated by walking to work in the frosty mornings and challenging training sessions in the cold evenings.

On top of that, interval running was killing me. Despite advice from my physio to train this way, I didn’t feel like it was helping my shin splints.

For three evenings in a row I fought back tears mid-run and yelled out in pain.

I began to consider pulling out of the marathon. It was only six weeks away and I just wasn’t sure if I could manage it.

As sad as that made me feel, running is something I hope to continue doing for as long as I physically can. The last thing I want to do is push on and cause permanent injury.

On Saturday morning I went to see my physio and told him my thoughts.

He suggested an acupuncture session instead of the massage therapy he had been giving me, and I agreed.

In all honesty I wasn’t convinced before trying it, but I haven’t been feeling very positive about anything these last few weeks so I thought it was worth a go.

My leg didn’t really feel that different after the session but the next day it felt strange.

Camperdown Park, Dundee

The pain down the front of my shin and foot had disappeared.

The sharp pain in the side of my leg (the original pain) was still there, although it was much less severe.

My leg has felt floppy and weak since the acupuncture. It’s still not strong enough to run on but I am happy with the improvement.

I’m going to cross train with swimming until it feels back to normal.

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I’m running London Marathon 2016 to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland in aid of my gran who has dementia. Please sponsor me. All donations, no matter the size, extremely welcome via my fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SheanneMulholland

xxx THANK YOU!! xxx

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Interval training on week seven

“Try to run faster,” he said.

Run faster? Run FASTER!

I looked at my physio bewildered – unfortunately I have one of those faces which is unable to hide my true thoughts.

He explained that if I ran faster I wouldn’t get so much pain in my shin as my feet would spend less time on the ground.

I guess it made sense, but I knew I couldn’t maintain a long distance sprint.

Again he read my unconvinced facial expression and explained I could take 20 second walk breaks whenever I wanted.

Week Seven

He said that during cardio exercise there’s a 20 second window when you can stop and it doesn’t have an impact on training.

Okay, I thought, like intervals.

“Just do intervals” he said, almost echoing my inner monologue.

I realised I’d been doing it all wrong.

As soon as I noticed my shin pain I’d rested, then began to run slowly, and cut intervals out of my training plan.

“Okay, I’ll give it a shot,” I said. But the reality was a lot harder than I imagined.

The next day I did a five mile run, interval style.

For the first mile or two I could only manage two minute bursts of running before taking a 20 second walk break due to stabbing pain in my left shin.

Interval running

After that I got up to around five minutes before walking, then for the last mile I was back down to two minute bursts.

On Tuesday I did a six mile run in the same way, and on both Thursday and Sunday I did 10 mile runs.

For the longer runs I used intervals to warm up for the first three miles, then dropped to a slow steady pace.

My leg actually felt ok during these runs but afterwards I struggled to put any weight on it, particularly the morning after.

All in all I’ve finished this week having run 31 miles.

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I’m running London Marathon 2016 to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland in aid of my gran who has dementia. Please sponsor me. All donations, no matter the size, extremely welcome via my fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SheanneMulholland

xxx THANK YOU!! xxx

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Physio says “Yes!” – Week six

He probably had no idea how much that tiny little word meant to me but when I timidly asked my physio if I could return to running and he said “yes”, I nearly jumped up and hugged him.

It felt like I’d been waiting months for someone to give me the all clear to get back into training.

In reality it had been just short of two weeks since my last attempt to run, but I’d been fighting against shin splints for nearer five weeks.

Aware of how quickly the marathon was looming, I’d started to think I might have to rename my blog “A Wee Lass No Longer on a Mission”.

Week Six

I’d already tried everything I could think of to cure it – rest, slow running, shin straps, pain killers, icing after training, foam rolling, and yoga.

The pain just wasn’t shifting and physiotherapy seemed like the last resort.

I was so desperate to be fixed that I arrived 15 minutes early to a 7.30am appointment on Saturday.

And after hobbling down a flight of stairs, half asleep, and into a sports physio treatment room in the basement of a private gym, I was met with good news.

The physio checked my bone for fractures then located the source of pain where my soleus muscle and tibia bone meet.

He said the area was inflamed and scar tissue had formed, which was causing tightness – a condition called Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, also known as shin splints.

He assured that treatment would soothe the inflammation, break down the scar tissue and free up the muscle.

The first treatment session was actually quite a painful experience as he prodded at my tender leg, carrying out massage and ultrasound therapy.

But it was worth every second when he told me that with regular treatment and a few adaptions to my training plan and running technique, I could continue to run.

Run at Caird Park, Dundee

It was the best thing I’d heard in ages and I couldn’t hide my happiness. In fact I was grinning all day afterwards.

It’ll take time to get back into training properly, but just knowing I can continue has given me a huge boost and restored my faith in my ability to complete the marathon.

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I’m running London Marathon 2016 to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland in aid of my gran who has dementia. Please sponsor me. All donations, no matter the size, extremely welcome via my fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SheanneMulholland

xxx THANK YOU!! xxx

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Finding the balance on week five

It felt like someone was stabbing me with a knife in the lower inside leg each time my left foot hit the ground.

I’d fought through the pain for over a mile that Tuesday evening, but I knew it was madness to be running like that.

For the very first time in my running “career” I stopped mid-run, turned round and walked home.

There was nothing I wanted to do more than carry on and complete that run but my body was telling me otherwise.

When I got home I held ice to my poorly leg and realised just how overwhelmed I felt.

Not only did I feel under so much pressure that I’d forced myself to run with an injury for weeks, but training was also taking over my social life.

Yoga to relax and stretch

I decided to take the week off to rest my leg and to use the time to de-stress and regain balance in my life.

Since starting my training plan I’ve been to very few social occasions because I’ve been using both Saturdays and Sundays as running days.

I’d already intended to take Sunday off as I had a friend’s engagement party on Saturday evening, but I thought I might as well make the most of it and take all weekend off.

And it’s made such a difference, I feel so much more relaxed about the weeks ahead.

My leg is starting to feel better too. I went to a yoga class on Wednesday evening.

The class itself didn’t feel particularly strenuous, but I fell asleep as soon as I got home so it must’ve done the job.

I think all the stretching has helped it a lot so I’m going to try to do as much yoga as I can from now on.

Although I’ve not done any running this week, I actually feel stronger than last week, both physically and mentally.

Yoga has helped stretch my calves, which reduces pain from shin splints

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I’m running London Marathon 2016 to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland in aid of my gran who has dementia. Please sponsor me. All donations, no matter the size, extremely welcome via my fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SheanneMulholland

xxx THANK YOU!! xxx

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