Born to Run (as if)

Second time London Marathon runner who really doesn’t like running. Not sure how I ended up here again? Ran 2016 for Myositis UK. Running 2020 for ‘fun’. Apparently. Follow my training, rants and regrets.   

[borntorunasif]

So it's almost a week since the #LondonMarathon. Body is starting to feel normal once again. I like these stats because it shows me that despite my wobble at mile 22 I managed to push through reasonably well👍#marathon #run #running

[borntorunasif]

Did it for her. #LondonMarathon #sister #myositis #myositisawareness

[borntorunasif]

Delighted to announce I finished the #LondonMarathon in 5:18:25 today. Very chuffed and pleased with that. Want to thank the crowds and fellow runners who kept me going and my friends and family who have supported me through this, not just today but through months of training. Its been tough on all of us! Special thanks to my boyfriend Callum for letting me hijack his birthday to pull this crazy stint, to my sister Paula who has been one of my number one fans even dragging her big baby bump to London today, and to my parents for going hard on the fundraising on my behalf! I've laughed, cried and can currently only move in a crab-like manner from side to side as my legs don't straighten anymore. But it was totally worth it - you've helped me raise (now confirmed) at least £3,000 for Myositis UK with more to come. This is fantastic news for a small charity fighting a rare muscle disease. Also want to congratulate the rest of the amazing #teammuscle runners and everyone who took on the beast today. We did it! #run #running #marathon #London #thisgirlcan #smashedit #nailedit #neveragain

[borntorunasif]

Got my number! #oneinamillion. Last minute sponsorship more than welcome uk.virginmoneygiving.com/lauraoakley88 #LondonMarathon #marathon #run #runner #running

[borntorunasif]

Final dress rehearsal for Sunday. Right down to the running belt contents and homemade apple pay 😂🙈. Can't wait. Look out for me! Running for #MyositisUK. #LondonMarathon #marathontraining #marathon #run #runner #running #runninggear #myositisawareness #myositis

[borntorunasif]

5 things I’ve learnt while training for the London Marathon

I did a fair bit of reading before I committed to taking on the London Marathon. Could a person with average fitness like me do it? How would I prevent blisters? What exactly does an energy gel do?

Luckily there’s a lot of info out there. From a few quick scans, I decided this was a challenge I could reasonably take on.  

But despite my research there were still a few surprises.Here are 5 things I learnt while training for the London Marathon:

1) You won’t necessarily fall in love with running. 

I really believed dragging my ass out of the house at least three times a week for increasingly longer runs over a period six months would ignite a new passion. Everyone raves about those happy endorphins. Well it didn’t happen. That’s not to say I don’t feel good now that I can casually run 8 miles and feel perfectly fine the next day. But I’m not itching to join the local running club. In fact, I think I’d rather run away from it.

2) Running makes you snot. A lot. 

It surprised me every time I finished a long run how snot would just fly out of my nose from nowhere. I’d have been breathing steadily for hours while running. But slow the pace down and voom – snot flies. There’s not much you can do about it. Embrace your snotty photo finish.  

3) Set training plans become useless the moment you get ill or injured. 

To create my training plan I researched about half a dozen on the internet and then merged them into something I could manage. It was really useful. However, the moment I had a problem with my shins, ended up ill in bed or had a bad run, re-jigging those plans without clear guidance was tricky. Do I make up a run? Do I cut mileage? Everyone has an answer, but none of them were the same. My injuries were not worthy of paying a physiotherapist and the more general response would be ‘listen to your body’. Problem is, body and brain start lying to each other. Body says I feel better, brain says no you don’t – it’s raining outside. Body says oh yes you’re right, I feel poorly again. You are in no position to make a fair judgement call. Get someone who knows you well and has seen you recently to help nudge you to a decision instead.

4) You should know your route really well before setting off. 

I always mapped my route out before running. I would research a point where I could use a loo (thank you Battersea Park) and buy water too. But sometimes on the longer runs, I would be running in relatively unknown territory. I might know the area, or know the road by day – but not that well. And that can make a real difference. In the London Marathon you have everything marked out and people cheer you along. In training you have to remove any obstacles that might make you give up. Getting lost or feeling uncomfortable running along a specific road can ruin a training run. I ended up in a flood of tears in Roehampton around 8.30pm on a Monday night at mile 12 out of 16. Without my boyfriend on the other end of the phone willing me on, I would’ve got in a taxi there and then. Instead I made it to 16 miles. And then called the taxi. Don’t just know your route, know your route. 

5) Other runners will annoy you. 

Let me be clear, not all other runners will annoy you. But there will be plenty who do. There are those who run at you in the opposite direction expecting you to move – normally part of some organised mass/club run. And there are others who run two, three or four abreast and won’t go into single file no matter how narrow the path is. And there are some which do both. If you’re a slow runner like me, they especially like to take the piss. Just practice your inner Zen and remember you’re building up to a marathon. Chances are they zip around the park for 20 minutes once in a blue moon. And if they are a regular runner, well they should know better so are clearly just a bad person. Avoid.

[borntorunasif]

Soon this will all be over. Last #20miles long run for London Marathon training. Hellooooo taper! Side note - saw a guy out running in a tshirt that said #runningsucks. 😅👍 I want one. #marathontraining #marathon #LondonMarathon #runner #run #running #justdoit #thisgirlcan #trainingrun #longrun

[borntorunasif]

A beautiful sight out running this evening during what was the run from hell. After failing to find the time for a 16 mile run while in Brussels at the weekend, I had to fit it in after work today. I was happy enough up until mile 8 but then realised I'd made some errors in my route. I ended up lost and alone in the dark, in a part of London I barely know. And once I found my way back, my route was full of steep hills I struggled to climb. I almost gave up twice and walked far more than I should have. But I did reach 16 miles. I'm still gutted. When I got home I burst into tears. When your time and pacing are bad it's hard to feel like you achieved anything. My body hurts and is very aware it has to do this all again at the weekend. Marathon training is tough. #run #runner #running #LondonMarathon #marathontraining #London #night #bridge #Battersea #albertbridge

[borntorunasif]

First running medal. Only planning on getting one more - London Marathon 2016! #runner #run #running #halfmarathon #marathon #surreyhalf #LondonMarathon #medal

[borntorunasif]

Half marathon down in 2h19. 6 weeks until the main event - London Marathon 2016 #LondonMarathon #surreyhalf #training #running

[borntorunasif]

Finished the Surrey Half Mararhon in 2h19 this morning. Very chuffed as was aiming for 2h30 at best. Not quite sure how I feel about doing double this distance for London Mararhon but definitely a confidence boost! Raising money & awareness for Myositis UK. Sponsor me at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/lauraoakley88 #running #runner #surreyhalf #surrey #halfmarathon #training #trainingrun #LondonMarathon #woking #run #thisgirlcan #justdoit #surreyhalf16

[borntorunasif]

Check out my 13.3 mi Run on Strava:

[borntorunasif]

Check out my 13.3 mi Run on Strava:

[borntorunasif]

10.7 mile run with Dad this morning. I was feeling pretty tired before we even started but he kept me going. Grateful for his running wisdom! #marathontraining #LondonMarathon #runner #running #10miles #fatherdaughter #run #longrun

[borntorunasif]

Sunday runday funday. Completed today's 14 mile long run with a smile on my face. Got a bit wobbly around 9 miles but once I hit 10 miles the rest felt, dare I say it, easy? Minimal leg pain & tried my first gel (and kept it down). Happy days. Also first time I've run with some sunshine! Don't like it. Ha. ❌🌞😅 #runner #running #longrun #marathontraining #LondonMarathon #surreyhalf #14miles #justdoit #richmondpark

[borntorunasif]

First race pack has arrived! Surrey half marathon in just under 3 weeks time #surreyhalf #racepack #marathontraining #halfmarathon #running

[borntorunasif]

Check out my 12.1 mi Run on Strava: