Training Log Archive: Rosenstiel

Lots of jogging, dynamic stretches at the blue start. Amazing atmosphere!

Race went to plan for 9 miles (I went through in just under an hour, so was running about 6:45/mile), but then my chest started feeling really tight and it was difficult to breathe. I ended up borrowing an inhaler off a St. John's ambulance crew, but ended up wasting 5 minutes. After the ambulance people helped me I set off again, but started cramping up (specifically my quads) on tower bridge just before the halfway point, which wasn't ideal! Had to get my legs massaged and stretched by physios on the side of the road...3 times in about 5 miles. And then the last 10 miles was just me trying to avoid getting cramp again, and shuffling along painfully and slowly. In the end, I just had to try and enjoy the experience because I knew my body had let me down a bit- and it was a fantastic experience, the crowd and other runners were just incredible!

Looking back on my preparation, I certainly wasn't thorough enough. I think I was in good enough shape to run a fast half marathon, but maybe not a full marathon. I just had too many interruptions to my training schedule, i.e. the geology trip to Spain in late March. Also, I think the fact that I cramped up so much suggests that I had some sort of salt deficiency, so needed to think more carefully about my nutrition close to the race. The breathing issues probably relate to the exercise-related asthma I had when I was younger. So maybe I should consider getting an inhaler again.