websiteilliteratedon'tknowwhatthisbitis
Running Through China
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Race Pictures
  • Nutrition For Runners
  • Contact Me

Run Happy, and Training for a Longer Run

10/21/2014

12 Comments

 
Picture
Thanks so much Hendrik! I love this mid-race photo you took! Not only because I think it pretty much sums up how I was feeling at the time (pretty stoked to be there running in this awesome, huge event), but because of the guy in the blue's expression - is he horrified, or excited, or amazed to see me pulling my best peace-sign-smile-for-the-camera pose?!
Another thing that I am stoked about - I just checked the official website, and the results are out. Apparently I cam SECOND in my age/gender category (female, 30-40, in case you're wondering, lol...) and SEVENTH woman overall (out of 1227), and EIGHTY-FIRST out of everyone (total number was 4352)!!! (The shouty capital letters are because I am AMAZED!!! And excited...) Quite amazed as I started way back in the massive throng of runners, almost at the back of the pack. STOKED. Check it out, here's the 'official' version for your humble perusal:


Picture

Ok, now, I'll calm down and get to that 100km training. Hmm, it's coming up so fast that I'm not sure I have enough time for exactly 'perfect', adequate training. But then, you know? Who ever really is completely, and perfectly 'ready'?? There is always more we think we could be doing, and sure, usually I would be thinking that I"d need to have put in a few months of training prior to this massively challenging event. However, I just don't have that option. So, I'm relying mainly on my habitual running habit and of having a solid-ish running base to start from, although I am clearly lacking some longer runs. In order to make up for this, the next couple of weekends (my only chance before the event in November) will be kicked off in appropriate fashion with a long-long run early on the Saturday morning. I'm planning for 26-28km this Saturday, and then 30-32 on the following one, with the usual 12km or so runs throughout the week, and a few yoga sessions too. Any advice for how to prepare for a kind of unexpected, once-in-a-lifetime event when you're pushed for time would be greatly appreciated!! The event kicks off on Friday 7th with a 42km leg, then the NEXT DAY there is ANOTHER 42km, then the third and final leg features a 25km. Yes, I know what you're thinking - this is MORE than 100km! You'd be right! I'm confused too... Let's just say when I'm out there, I will be needing the following motto and mantra like never before: If you can do THIS, you can do ANYTHING! This is far beyond anything I've ever attempted before, so I'm nervous and excited in equal measures.

Have you ever taken part in a multi-day event?? What tips do you have for rest and recovery between legs/days??
12 Comments
Karen link
10/20/2014 10:05:47 pm

Yaaa! Wow, that is exciting to place so well among so many runners!!!!! and you were going at your just for fun pace lol awesome! That is a huge event, I have never done anything like it. I have no idea on tips, but hiking over the years I will say pumpkin seeds always have a super effect on me :) They are light,give you energy and protein, do you like them? might be a good snack in between events. I love your picture :) The guys expression is something lol

Reply
lou link
10/20/2014 10:18:22 pm

Thanks Karen!! yeah, I am especially surprised as the place was jammed full of full marathoners (WAY more of them there than halfers) and we were all running together. Apparently that was almost 30,000 other runners! Thanks Karen, I'll try pumpkin seeds for sure - they have an awesome array of seeds on offer over here, hopefully I can find some. Haha, I know right? He looks downright disgusted with my presence perhaps :0

Reply
running schlub link
10/21/2014 12:26:38 am

Wow that picture is epic lol.not sure what that guy is thinking but that is awesome!! Congrats on the AG 2nd place, totally cool.

What the?!?! Where have I been?? Your running a 100km multi day race?? You are going to do great. Get your two long runs in and your overall training will take over during those days. Can't wait to read about it.

Reply
Lou link
10/22/2014 11:22:38 pm

Thanks Schlub!! yeah, in only two weeks time now!! Eek ,every time I explain it to a student or another teacher a little voice inside my head goes 'WTF?!' It was a very recent decision, but I'm thinking, once in a lifetime yes? So, I HAVE to give it a go. I will definitely be writing all about it! :)

Reply
Amy link
10/21/2014 01:18:02 am

Congrats on placing well! When I ran it, we did not even have a chip/net time. We all had to go under the clock time. So some improvements have been made!

Your next adventure sounds amazing! I love Guizhou. Just be sure to take each run easy and not wear your legs out too much. You can do it!

Reply
Lou link
10/22/2014 11:24:48 pm

Thanks!! Yeah, luckily there were chips as I was a full 9 minutes behind the clock time I think. How many people when you ran it Amy? You did the full yes?? Was there much smog on that day? It was pretty terrible here on Sunday...
Thanks - slightly worried as think there are cut-off times of 6 hours for the 42km and I'm not sure for the 25km day. Hope I can make it and take it easy enough too! :)

Reply
Kristina link
10/21/2014 03:21:16 am

WHOO! Congrats on the AG result!

I wish I had any kind of good advice to give you, but I don't! haha. The only thing I can say is that I think this multiday race is all about what your body can endure, which means MOST of it will be mental. As long as your mind is strong and can tell your legs to keep going, you will accomplish what you set out to do. You have a great base and you're a strong runner so I think physically as long as you don't get injured, your body will handle it as long as your mind pushes you! Which it will because you're mentally tough too! Anyone who can run the great wall half marathon and come in first place woman is mentally tough!

Reply
Lou link
10/22/2014 11:26:11 pm

Thanks so much Kristina!! Now that IS good advice!! Thanks - I will have to remember that you think I'm mentally tough and bring my toughest mind ever to this event! Thanks for the support!

Reply
Kristen link
10/21/2014 07:58:23 am

I think the guy in the blue is amazed that a woman is keeping up with all of those men! There is not a single female, aside from you, in that photograph. Way to kick butt! That is so awesome that you finished 7th overall woman and 2nd in AG! You seem like you did it effortlessly.

Reply
Lou link
10/22/2014 11:30:04 pm

Thanks heaps Kristen!! I was SO surprised with my placing hey! Didn't expect that at all. Makes me wonder if the bad air was affecting everyone else or if most of the women got stuck way back in the queue, as surely there would be many more faster women than me?? (There were with the Shanghai one, when I came 27th and my time was a full ten minutes faster than this one). Anyhoo, I am stoked nonetheless! Thanks! :)

Reply
Kim link
10/21/2014 11:20:57 am

I think that guy just looks panicked because he thinks (knows) you are fixing to beat him!
Great job on the race - awesome!!!

Reply
Lou link
10/22/2014 11:34:30 pm

Thanks Kim!!! Yeah, this was one of those gigantic races where all the marathoners and half marathoners run together (and start pretty much at the same time too, but with the major disadvantage of all the half marathoners starting BEHIND the full marathoners, so you spend the whole race weaving and dodging to try and get in front or to pick up the pace a bit). So, maybe he was thinking, 'why doesn't she do the FULL marathon like all the rest of us? What a slacker...' lol... :)

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    A 30-something's running and travelling experience around the world.

    Archives

    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Categories

    All
    27th
    50km
    Abs
    Acting
    Active Recovery
    Afghan Hound
    Albert Einstein
    Amazeballs
    Angry
    Anhui
    Annie
    Anniversary
    ARD
    Australia
    Auto-pilot
    Autumn
    Awesome
    Bacon
    Badass
    Bali
    Barefoot Running
    Beautiful
    Beijing
    Ben Elton
    Besties
    Biryani
    Bliss
    Blog
    Blogger
    Blue Sky
    Boobs
    Books
    Bread
    Brighton
    Busy
    Calves
    Camelback
    Caravan
    Carbo Loading
    Carboloadingf2e058d5a9
    Cardio
    Caring
    Carpet
    China
    Chinese
    Chinglish
    Chocolate Milk
    Christmas
    Cleaning
    Close
    Coach
    Coffee
    Coincidence
    Cold
    Cooking
    Core
    Covert Mission
    Cross Training
    Cycling
    Dad
    Date
    Deepak Chopra
    Dehydrated
    Dough
    Driving
    Duck
    Excited
    Expectation
    Feeling Tired
    Flowers
    Flying
    Food Addiction
    Fresh Food
    Friday
    Fuel
    Full Moon
    Gangsta
    Garmin
    Genghis Khan
    GM
    Gods
    Gold-coast
    Goldilocks
    Goose
    Grass
    Grasslands
    Great Wall
    Green Tea
    Grief
    Grumpy
    Hair
    Halloween
    Hangover
    Hangry
    Hangzhou
    Hard
    Hasfit
    Hastings
    Hazara
    Health
    Healthy
    Henan
    Herbs
    Hohhot
    Holiday
    Hotel
    Huangshan
    Hui
    Hulunbeier
    Humid
    Hungry
    Hunter-valley
    Husband
    Ill
    Inner Mongolia
    Internet
    Jiangxi
    Jiuhuashan
    Kickboxing
    Knee Pain
    Lembongan Island
    Liebster-award
    Lijiashan
    Longmen Caves
    Long Run
    Lushan
    Mantra
    Marathon
    Mask
    Massage
    May-day
    Medical Exam
    Meh
    Memory
    Monday
    Mongolian
    Monsanto
    Mood
    Moon
    Morning
    Mother
    Motivation
    Motivational
    Mountains
    MTB
    Negative
    Nerves
    Newcastle
    New Job
    New-zealand
    Night
    Oatmeal
    Off The Beaten Track
    Oil
    Over Trainingffa29052b5
    Pain
    Past
    Pb
    Peanut Butter
    Photos
    Ping Pong
    Pingyao
    Playing
    Pollution
    Pool-running
    Porridge
    Positive
    Poyang-lake
    Procrastination
    Program
    Progress
    Pumped
    Pumpkin Pie
    Puppy
    Pussy
    Pyjamas
    Qingming
    Questions
    Quickie
    Rain
    Ready
    Recovery
    Red Belt
    Rest Day
    Riverside
    R-kelly
    Rob-schneider
    Rocky
    Runners-world
    Running Bracelet
    Running-group
    Running Movies
    Santos-bonacci
    Sav Blanc
    Scam
    Sex
    Shaanxi
    Shanghai
    Shanxi
    Shaolin Temple
    Shoes
    Sickness
    Singing
    Skittles
    Sleep
    Slow
    Smog
    Snickers
    Snow
    Solo
    Sore
    Speech
    Speed
    Speedwork
    Sports Bra
    Stationery
    Steps
    Stiff
    Strength
    Students
    Teaching English
    Temple
    Tempo
    Terracotta Warriors
    Text Message
    The Bund
    The Wall
    Threshold
    Time
    Tired
    Tofu
    Tongliao
    Track Workout
    Trailer
    Trail-race
    Training
    Triathlon
    Turkey
    Turmeric
    Twice
    Two
    Universe
    University
    Unsatisfied
    Vo2max
    Voice-over
    Water
    Weather
    Wedding
    Weekend
    West Lake
    White-horse-temple
    Whitney Houston
    Wine
    Worried
    WTF
    Xiamen Marathon
    Xian
    Xilinhot
    Yiwu
    Yoga
    Yungang Caves
    Zongzi

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.