Monday/Christmas Eve: Rest (& last min Christmas shopping!)
Christmas Day: Turkey
Boxing Day: Turkey
Thursday: Threshold training - Lots of pain doing 5 sets of 5 mins fast with 2 min recovery in between
Friday: Turkey
Saturday: Attempted 10k run to blow away the cobwebs after all the Christmas parties. I now realise that a diet consisting of mainly chocolate & alcohol makes the body far less efficient. I spent a good part of the run with a massive stitch & had to walk in parts - oh dear, not looking good for the 10k race tomorrow........
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/bamber-bridge/283251342
Sunday: Ribble Valley 10k run, managed to do better than yesterday (not difficult) and finished in 37 mins 01 seconds.
Mission Accomplished
I managed to complete the 26.2 miles in a time of 3hrs 23min's and 29seconds coming in a respectable 3,509th position.Proof is available at: http://results-2008.london-marathon.co.uk/index.php?lastname=Harrington&firstname=Mathew&club=&gender=&nation=&event_id=MAS&position=&split=FINISHNET&Submit=show+results+%3E%3E&a=d&o=s&start_no=21792&ostart_no=
A Big THANK YOU to everyone who sponsored me, sent me a good luck message or came on a training run with me (even if it was on a bike!) I think I used up all those good luck messages just to get me round the course without doing further damage to my calf. Also a big thanks to the physio who made it possible for me to even run at all. I started the day with one leg taped up and finished with two taped up!
So, how was the race?
Horrible, painful, slightly more painful, then excruciatingly painful. Because i haven't been able to train for 3 weeks prior to it, my legs had no strength in them so by mile 16 they had nothing left & I had hit the dreaded wall. Its strange because in all my training runs I hadn't hit the wall once, & I had reached the 22 mile mark twice, with a sub 3hr time, so I was used to running a lot quicker. Anyway, from mile 16 onwards I just had to do my best to get round without doing further damage to myself. There were loads of people dropping out all over the place from mile 14 onwards. To those of you that sponsored me, you kept me going for those last 10 miles. I was trying to come up with a good excuse as to why I dropped out but I couldn't think of one so I carried on! It was hurting so much I was doing some pathetic running towards the end and was being overtaken by all kinds of people. I remember a clown going past me, and a man with a prosthetic leg, even my Grandma at 83 could have wandered past me I think.
Ive also been asked a few times if I will be doing it next year:
No thanks! I would have liked to get a sub 3hr time and certain that I could if I stayed injury free, but I think the amount of effort that needs to be put in to running a marathon is a lot more than I ever expected. I think I will let someone else have a go next year, I can think of a few likely candidates to put forward..........but never, say never!Mat
PS,
I will put some pics up when I get them as further proof of my ordeal (Ive not seen any yet but I will be very surprised if I'm smiling on any!)15/04/08 UPDATE:
I’ve been told that the money raised will pay for around 40 nursing hours. This could help one person or several people but either way they and their family will be eternally grateful for the support of a Marie Curie Cancer Care nurse at such a dark time in their life.Once again a big Thank You to everyone who sponsored me, because of your donations, tonight there will be a Marie Curie Cancer Care nurse going to the home of cancer patient to look after someone in the familiarity of their own home with their friends and family around them. All this is provided free of charge thanks to the money raised.London Marathon 08
OK, I'm trying to raise as much as I can for charity. I feel like Ive done quite a few charity events over the past year or so, either the Great North Run or various charity events for Water Aid with work & I imagine most people are getting fed up with being asked for sponsorship (or at least some people probably think that its all fun and they are footing the bill for my enjoyment.)
So, I figure that the best way is to show everyone the pain I'm going to go through to get my ass round the 26.2 mile course in as fast a time as possible. Ive never done a marathon before, only a few half marathons which I managed to come through unscathed (relatively - except the last one where I had man flu the week before & felt like I was going to die when I finished - I think the picture says it all)!
Anyway, in order for me to show you all the pain that my brain & knees must go through I thought that I would start a training blog telling everyone the training I have been doing each week. I'm also hoping it will make me stick to the training and not just stay in bed every morning when I need to get up & run in the wind & rain. The other potential bonus for doing this training blog is hopefully it makes some of you feel guilty and lets me feel smug about myself.....and suddenly it all feels worthwhile :)
So...if your reading this, please visit www.justgiving.com/matspage and sponsor me! All money is going to Marie Curie Cancer Care, a very worthy cause. In short:
Marie Curie Cancer Care provides high quality nursing totally free, to give terminally ill people the choice of dying at home supported by their families. Your local Marie Curie Hospice actively promotes quality of life for people with cancer and provides support for their families. The services are completely free to patients. World class scientists at the Marie Curie Research Institute are investigating how cancer develops to find better ways of treating the disease in the future. That's the brief overview but obviously for more info visit www.mariecurie.org.uk (Charity Registration No 207994)
Feel free to add comments or replies (especially if you don't think I'm pulling my weight), although I may just force you to come on a run with me if you do ;)
So, I figure that the best way is to show everyone the pain I'm going to go through to get my ass round the 26.2 mile course in as fast a time as possible. Ive never done a marathon before, only a few half marathons which I managed to come through unscathed (relatively - except the last one where I had man flu the week before & felt like I was going to die when I finished - I think the picture says it all)!
Anyway, in order for me to show you all the pain that my brain & knees must go through I thought that I would start a training blog telling everyone the training I have been doing each week. I'm also hoping it will make me stick to the training and not just stay in bed every morning when I need to get up & run in the wind & rain. The other potential bonus for doing this training blog is hopefully it makes some of you feel guilty and lets me feel smug about myself.....and suddenly it all feels worthwhile :)
So...if your reading this, please visit www.justgiving.com/matspage and sponsor me! All money is going to Marie Curie Cancer Care, a very worthy cause. In short:
Marie Curie Cancer Care provides high quality nursing totally free, to give terminally ill people the choice of dying at home supported by their families. Your local Marie Curie Hospice actively promotes quality of life for people with cancer and provides support for their families. The services are completely free to patients. World class scientists at the Marie Curie Research Institute are investigating how cancer develops to find better ways of treating the disease in the future. That's the brief overview but obviously for more info visit www.mariecurie.org.uk (Charity Registration No 207994)
Feel free to add comments or replies (especially if you don't think I'm pulling my weight), although I may just force you to come on a run with me if you do ;)
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Week 3 - Christmas is coming!
Monday: Spinning once again to rest the aching knees after the 17 mile run yesterday, followed by 5 a side footy
Tuesday: Went to the track with Rik, did 8 x 400m with a 90sec recovery in between...nearly killed me...cheers Rik!
Wednesday: In another bid to have some knee cartilage left by the time im 40, I thought some off road running would be a good idea. That was my first mistake! The second was not planning a route resulting in me getting totally lost!
Anyway I managed 6.5 miles at an easy pace (50mins) but resulted in a very muddy me arriving back with very tired legs from wading through the mud. http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/cuerdon/351863169
Thursday: Another 6 miler in the morning at an easy pace. Then a trip round the Trafford Centre to do all my Christmas shopping (this was more tiring than last weeks 17 mile run) followed by some snowboarding at Chill Factore opposite the Trafford Centre
Friday & Saturday: Didn't do anything - oops!
Sunday: Made up for Fri & Sat with a 13.5 mile run on a very hilly route. Thanks to Andy & Alex for accompanying me on bikes, although less of the mocking next time when your free wheeling down the hills!
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/bamber-bridge/218276321
Tuesday: Went to the track with Rik, did 8 x 400m with a 90sec recovery in between...nearly killed me...cheers Rik!
Wednesday: In another bid to have some knee cartilage left by the time im 40, I thought some off road running would be a good idea. That was my first mistake! The second was not planning a route resulting in me getting totally lost!
Anyway I managed 6.5 miles at an easy pace (50mins) but resulted in a very muddy me arriving back with very tired legs from wading through the mud. http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/cuerdon/351863169
Thursday: Another 6 miler in the morning at an easy pace. Then a trip round the Trafford Centre to do all my Christmas shopping (this was more tiring than last weeks 17 mile run) followed by some snowboarding at Chill Factore opposite the Trafford Centre
Friday & Saturday: Didn't do anything - oops!
Sunday: Made up for Fri & Sat with a 13.5 mile run on a very hilly route. Thanks to Andy & Alex for accompanying me on bikes, although less of the mocking next time when your free wheeling down the hills!
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/bamber-bridge/218276321
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Jack Frost
Getting out of bed on cold, dark frosty mornings is proving to be quite a task. I hope it starts to warm up soon since my motivation for getting up is slowly waning.
Monday: Spinning (45 mins) to save my aching knees & 6 a side footy (60 mins)
Tuesday: Recovery run at easy pace (45 mins)
Wednesday am: Threshold training 4 sets of 5 mins (fast pace) with 2 mins jogging in between - painful! (mental note not to do this very often)
Wednesday pm: 5 a side footy (30 mins)
Thursday am: 45 min run at an easy pace (6.3 miles)
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/bamber-bridge/664209141
Thursday pm: 7 a side footy (40 mins)
Friday: Well needed rest day!
Saturday: Too hungover for anything constructive
Sunday: Long Run - 17.5 miles of pain (130 mins). It was a very hilly one which didn't do much for my legs, especially after about 16 miles when they seemed to go quite numb, but thanks to Alex for accompanying me to take my mind off it, even if he was on a bike! Its just hit home how hard this marathon is actually going to be.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/bamber-bridge/694069608
Monday: Spinning (45 mins) to save my aching knees & 6 a side footy (60 mins)
Tuesday: Recovery run at easy pace (45 mins)
Wednesday am: Threshold training 4 sets of 5 mins (fast pace) with 2 mins jogging in between - painful! (mental note not to do this very often)
Wednesday pm: 5 a side footy (30 mins)
Thursday am: 45 min run at an easy pace (6.3 miles)
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/bamber-bridge/664209141
Thursday pm: 7 a side footy (40 mins)
Friday: Well needed rest day!
Saturday: Too hungover for anything constructive
Sunday: Long Run - 17.5 miles of pain (130 mins). It was a very hilly one which didn't do much for my legs, especially after about 16 miles when they seemed to go quite numb, but thanks to Alex for accompanying me to take my mind off it, even if he was on a bike! Its just hit home how hard this marathon is actually going to be.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/bamber-bridge/694069608
Thursday, December 6, 2007
To Fail to Plan is to Plan to Fail.......?
Ok, I had a plan & ive failed to follow it, although I feel that I have a legitimate excuse! My tonsills have been the size of golf balls this past week and so training has taken the form of going to bed as soon as I get home from work. Oh well, the real training can start next week......Promise!
I did actually manage to do some training on Thursday, Friday & Sunday so hopefully by next week I will be fully recovered & fighting fit:
Thursday am: Pressed snooze twice on the alarm until guilt made me get up. It was p*ssing it down & pitch black so I couldnt see a thing running through the park. I got fed up after 2 miles when a thorn bush attacked me so headed back home. Only ended up only doing 4 miles in total....not a great start to the plan. I think I need to rethink this early morning running, or at least buy a head torch!
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/preston/916908227
Thurday pm: 6 a side footy
Friday am: Managed to drag myself out of bed for my first real training session with a nice 8 mile run (58 mins) in the wind & rain. I dont mind the rain so much but the wind just makes it hard work.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/preston/135347772
Friday pm: Circuit class for an hr followed by a well deserved jacuzzi.
Sun: Managed to do Half Marathon distance on a hilly route, taking in the delights of bamber Bridge, the A6, Brindle & Samlesbury. 13.2 miles in total (1hr 50mins) and thankfully I found an unsuspecting volunteer to come with me so I wasnt so bored, cheers Dan!
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/bamber-bridge/149883002
I did actually manage to do some training on Thursday, Friday & Sunday so hopefully by next week I will be fully recovered & fighting fit:
Thursday am: Pressed snooze twice on the alarm until guilt made me get up. It was p*ssing it down & pitch black so I couldnt see a thing running through the park. I got fed up after 2 miles when a thorn bush attacked me so headed back home. Only ended up only doing 4 miles in total....not a great start to the plan. I think I need to rethink this early morning running, or at least buy a head torch!
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/preston/916908227
Thurday pm: 6 a side footy
Friday am: Managed to drag myself out of bed for my first real training session with a nice 8 mile run (58 mins) in the wind & rain. I dont mind the rain so much but the wind just makes it hard work.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/preston/135347772
Friday pm: Circuit class for an hr followed by a well deserved jacuzzi.
Sun: Managed to do Half Marathon distance on a hilly route, taking in the delights of bamber Bridge, the A6, Brindle & Samlesbury. 13.2 miles in total (1hr 50mins) and thankfully I found an unsuspecting volunteer to come with me so I wasnt so bored, cheers Dan!
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/bamber-bridge/149883002
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