Too much running? - Week 12 Half Marathon Training.

Liquid Motion Try a Tri for beginners.

• Monday April 4th Inferno Hot Pilates.

• Tuesday April 5th Running Chicks group run 8.5 miles of hill work 80:16.

• Wednesday to Saturday succumb to dehydration. 

• Sunday April 10th Liquid Motion mini Duathalon challenge with the Strandurance21 crew                       run 2.5km, cycle 14.8km, run 4.9km at 82:46.

Another Monday, another Inferno Pilates class. Really enjoying these classes. They are extremely physically demanding but I always feel like I have accomplished something when I finish out all my reps successfully and I try not to complain too much when we move from burpees straight into mountain climbers (my absolute nightmare!). 

I had planned to go out on Tuesday night with the Running Chicks and then do hill work on Wednesday evening with Ann and some of the other Ballina A.C members. 

However when I got a text from Ann from asking me to switch to Tuesday for hill work I was game. Ann had said 8 miles at the back of the woods. Surely she meant 8km, right? What crazy person does 8 miles of hills? Me apparently. I was in such a rush to make it to the track for 5 I hadn't eaten properly that day and I definitely hadn't re-hydrated from the previous nights Inferno session. Usually I only eat a small brown bread roll before my long Saturday morning runs so I though I'd be grand.

5 of us headed of through the woods for a 3km warm up and then we hit the hills. I started off well enough  using the hill techniques Ann had advised and she would call me back if she thought I was pushing off too quickly. Again as I hadn't run this full route before I couldn't believe how slow the miles seemed to go. I was still feeling fine around 4 miles in, but my breathing was strained. I focused on long quick breaths as I did the uphills and this seemed to help. 

However once we were about 2 miles from the finish my breathing became extremely laboured and I started to see stars in my eyes. For the first time since week 5 I had to stop for a rest mid run. I took a minute to catch my breath and then continued on.

I felt so much better after that quick rest and we made it back to the track having done over the 8 mile goal. 

I can't believe how fast the dehydration hit me. I was fine one minute and the next I was down. I felt nauseous, dizzy, and unable to gather any strength. I had the worst headache, it felt like someone had punched me in the face and I had to lie down in the dark as the light killed my eyes. I was getting sick and unable to keep down water.

 Luckily I had bought electrolyte tablets after we had chatted about supplements on our group run the previous Saturday. I bought the PowerBar brand in raspberry flavour from Holland and Barrett and thank God they didn't have the salty taste that electrolytes usually have. 

I had to force myself to slowly sip down 2 of the tablet drinks throughout the night. The next day I felt so much better, but I still felt weak and exhausted. I couldn't face doing any other  exercise for the next few days.

Fortunately by the time Sunday rolled round I was feeling much better. Barry our coach from Strandurance21 marathon group organised the run/cycle duathlon with the Liquid Motion Triathlon group. When you meet all these positive people who are exceedingly PERSUASIVE and tell you that you can achieve anything you tend to believe them (not unlike a cult!).

Before the race.

As I have no cycling experience I was borrowing a bike and helmet from a friend on the day and had no time to practice but I saw it as more of a fun morning than a serious challenge.

To make us more confident the race was handicapped so that our Strandurance21 group would go out first and the fastest Liquid Motion athlete would go last. That way we would hopefully all end the race in or around the same time. I did well on the first run, as I knew it was short and wouldn't pose a problem for me. 

The bike however was a different story. It took me at least 5 km to get comfortable on it, it was a lovely bike to ride but I could feel every bump and dip in the road. I couldn't believe how quickly the LM guys were able to catch up on us, its amazing just how fast they were. I  kept my head down and tried to enjoy the the cycle stretch. By the second loop I was flying along and I knew where to avoid certain lumps and bumps in the road. 

Getting off the bike for the last run was the worst! I couldn't shake the jelly leg feeling and I couldn't tell if I was running fast or slow, it felt like I was in slow motion. I was constantly overtaken by other runners who offered words of encouragement and told me to keep pushing on. 

The last incline to finish line was tough, I could feel the toll the cycling had had on my legs and I struggled to keep a steady pace. I had to remind myself to breath properly and I was delighted to round the corner to the finish line! Our group had done amazingly well, we all finished and with smiles on our faces. 

The event was organised brilliantly and the LM crew could not have been more welcoming, there was tea, coffee, cakes and fruit after and we got a lovely little carby goodie bag afterwards. And a special shout out to the kids who cheered us on at the finish line who then went on to do their own event, it was wonderful to see such young children interested in these types of races.

I was so elated after finishing that I agreed to do the LM Try a Tri event, a taster for beginners interested or coerced into doing a triathlon for the first time. Luckily the swim is taking place in a lovely warm hotel pool, I don't think I could face getting into a lake or river at this time of year yet!

All in all an eventful week, ups and downs. But I have learned my lesson about drinking enough, fueling properly and taking some supplements to ensure I don't have to miss anymore training sessions. 

Onwards and Upwards!