the great-and-really-really-ridiculously-hard-in-parts nosh
well first off I can categorically say that this mornings outing at the Nosh was the hardest run I have ever ever ever done. it may in fact be the hardest thing that i have ever ever ever done. but nonetheless I survived (relatively) unscathed with only a few bruises to the ego :)
it was great to catch up with loads of people and meet some that i feel like i've know forever. jen_runs, the owl, go girl, 2P, bristol something FC, don juan,mph, wildthing and crew, steve from japan, and many others that were too fast for me to remember...
the race started after the indecision about layering and weather resolved itself by ditching the long sleeve top. good decision as i was pretty warm pretty quickly... i started out with the owl and jen, quickly losing jen to the speed monster. the owl and i kept together until about half way when my substandard fitness levels really started to let me down. I had a girl tailing me for the first 6 or 7 k's - she was literally walking and running exactly when i was - but just stood behind me rather than chatting - v disconcerting!! she overtook me too eventually.
So the first 4 k's were fine and i felt alright - no doubt that is why i went too fast too soon and crashed early. at about the 4km mark i started to feel a bit sick (thanks 2p for talking me through that one!!) and started walk breaks. that turned to a quite painful stitch at about 5.5k's. dearie me what was i thinking pretending that i could run with the big kids????
anyway - a combination of walking up the hills (especially the ones that weren't so much hills as vertical piles of rocks as high as the eye could see (i'm not kidding!! possibly overexaggerating but that is how it felt)) and then running the flats and downhills (which were significantly lacking as i am sure the starting point was lower than the finish overall!!!) got me to the end essentially in one piece.
A massive thanks to 2P who came and picked me up for the last kilometre. it was massively appreciated even though i couldn't verbalise and still run at the same time ;)
once i finished i was fine, but man it was tough! it definitely highlighted just how unfit i am, particularly in relation to hills. almost makes me want to give it all up because i almost feel like i might as well have just walked it. but i won't. i will however have to add more hills into my regular training runs which i don't really get around the park. still on balance i am pretty sure that i am glad i did it.... but might need to process that one a little more... and i really enjoyed my two giant killer pythons. i figure that combined with a big bottle of water it was the same as having a sports drink!
phew. i need a nap. or something.
E
posted by Ellie80 @ 3:14 pm
13 Comments:
Congratulations on finishing. A tough introduction to trail running, but it does get better if you hang in there!
It is disconcerting to be followed by a stalker; often it's because he or she is too stuffed to do anything else. And it's a compliment that your pacing is good.
Ellie, you ARE of the big kids :-) Anyone eating a snake that size MUST be :-)
Congrats on your run today Ellie. Don't be hard on yourself chicky - you only started running at the start of the year so finished unscathed was a huge achievement! Well done :-)
Thanks for the lift back to the start - there was no way I was running back!
HUGE effort Ellie. Good on you girl ! Hey that sounds like fun. I've never even heard of the G/Nosh before. Wow a trail race in the heart of Sydney ! Might give it a go next year too. :)
Atleast you gave it a go.
Don't ever give up.
Hey Ellie!! Woo Hoo! Hey do not be disapointed... that is one tough bloody run! Awesome effort to have finished! You will be sore tommorow. Can't wait for the gory details on Tuesday. Now go and have hot bath and something yummy ( not PASTA!!) :-)
Congrats on finishing a REALLY tough course Ellie.
Yep - i reckon you're a big kid now.
A great post, Ellie, and I enjoyed reading it, pythons and all. You had me perplexed though - can't verbalise and run at the same time??? Does that mean you can't say your verbs when you run or what????
ok - i meant vocalise!!!
Ellie - you did really, really well out there today.
When you were having your little moment at 4k I wondered if you would make it. It is a testament to 'who' you are that you did.
And you did it in style ;-)
Big kids they are...I hope you realize that these cool runners are super mutant speedsters from the planet zoom, and that they in no way reflect the average recreational runner. I see you starting to mutate! oh no!!!
Great effort to make it through the course Ellie, from all I've heard it's a tough one! Keep up the great running and when you do it again in a year or two you'll be amazed at your improvement :)
Well Ellie, now you really have been sucked into the cult - there is no turning back :-)
You'll be running ultras on no time Ms 80! :) Well done.
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