Running

After a total break following my previous marathon (spent a week in bed due to over-exhaustion), I’m giving it another go, end of the year (November 27). This time around my training schedule will be the upper limit, not the bare minimum. I clearly need a PT to restrain me 🏃‍♂️

I made a rough training schedule, mostly to get me safely to a next level of fitness. The two long runs in the weekends are very gentle (almost walking), but I realize I’ll need to balance it with more distance during the week. That will be a training objective in August 🏃‍♂️

Clawing my way back to marathon fitness with base training. I understand that low intensity running is how it should be done, including walking. Hopefully next time my fitness won’t take a nose dive after a marathon race 🏃

I’ve looked into the Maffetone method for base training (running), since my slow 20 km run two weeks ago felt so hard. It takes a really long time (like many months) to adjust your body, and slow running (8 min/km or 13 mpm in my case) means either low mileage or many hours 🏃

The day before yesterday I fell while running and yesterday I strained my hamstring (again, after I did two weeks ago). I feel bruised and strained like an apple that fell from a tree. Yay for foam rollers and pain medicine 🏃

Ran for the first time this year, after a fortnight break. It wasn’t easy, despite it being “only” 4 km 😓 🏃

I ran my marathon Sunday November 28 in a cold, somewhat wet, yet blistering (puddles) 3:59:06🥇

It was over six years ago I ran my previous, so this one could’ve been my first, physically, not mentally, because your first marathon is special, precious, with tears and crying. 🏃

The only 2022 winter or spring marathon that’s available to me was almost full, so I registered myself with an early bird entry. It’s the Two Rivers Marathon on February 6, 2022. It’s my first time running there. It will be 10 weeks after my next marathon on November 28, 2021. 🏃

I did my third long run in preparation of a marathon on November 28, 2021. A marathon under 4 hours is feasible, as is one under 3h45'. The reason it was so much easier this time is that I ate more protein for recovery. It did wonders, slept like a rose, woke up ready to go! 🏃

I suppose today will be a show of strength of character, as with a very tired body I’m going to run a 10 km race in Utrecht, the Netherlands, called Maliebaanloop. It’s 4+ hour of travel for a 50 minutes 🏃 race. I expect to be exhausted when I come home.

I’m doing a kind of dress rehearsal for a marathon, by doing a 32 km long run today, 10 km race tomorrow. I didn’t sleep well, woke up at 4:30 am, for a run starting slightly before 7 am, in the dark. The sun’ll rise after 8 am. To say I’m nervous is an understatement 🏃

I believe this lovely 😊 flower is called Policeman’s Helmet in English. I saw it today on my run and stopped to make a (live) photo. 🏃🌸 🌱

Commenting on Strava instead of a thumbs-up takes a lot more time, especially because I want it to mean something, and have to dig into an athlete’s history. I personally don’t fave anymore, because I now see it as bookmarking in public, no longer as a sign of encouragement 🏃

According to both my calculated fat percentage and BMI I’m no longer overweight, nor obese: 75 kg, 1.74 m. 🏃 Good position to be in for my upcoming marathon, November 28. I lost 18 kg (40 lbs), or half my body fat mass, in 17 weeks.

Found this beauty alongside a bike path on my 🏃 Already yesterday, but I forgot to take a picture then, awestruck as I was 🌸 I’m told it’s an evening primrose.

Had to share this one from 2008. Numbers 1, 11, and 111! You don’t get to see that very often in a running road race. 🔢 🏃 Also, total toddler 👶 cuteness there.

I jogged 🏃 around a nearby artificial lake, called Binnenschelde, after the nearby river Scheldt. It was peaceful and quiet, and I greeted many fellow runners and hikers. Some had isolated themselves with headphones, obviously not interested in nature sounds💨🍃🦢

I was in a good mood when I left home for a long slow distance run. Nothing wrong with being positive about what’s to come. It turned out even better than I expected. So, apparently, I wasn’t positive enough. Lesson learned, be ecstatic before each 🏃 Anything less is undeserved.

Running in a group of 🏃 🏃‍♀️ between the heather just before sun set.🌳🌅

While 🏃 17 km I went underneath my personal honor gate. Well, in my mind, anyway.