• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Operation Move

Online Running Coaching

  • About Me
  • Contact me
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Coaching
  • Run Club
  • Personal Plans
  • Ebooks
  • Shop
    • Learn to Run
    • Downloadable Plans
    • My account
    • Cart
    • Checkout

Mobile Menu

  • About Me
  • Contact me
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Coaching
  • Run Club
  • Personal Plans
  • Ebooks
  • Shop
    • Learn to Run
    • Downloadable Plans
    • My account
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

It’s time to find out who you are and who you could be

July 8, 2016 //  by Zoey

0
SHARES
ShareTweet
SubscribePinterestMail

gold-coast-sunset

The first time I ran at the Gold Coast Airport Marathon I was doing the Half Marathon and I was walking back to Surfers and a local said to me the running gods always shine on the Gold Coast. And it stayed with me. And three years later, it’s still true. I’ve had fast runs, slow runs, half marathons and now a marathon, but I’ve never had a bad run.

IMG_2822

(From 2014. That was a pretty good run.)

The morning of the marathon I woke up and I thought I was going to have a bad run. I had one of those ghastly sore throats where it feels like razors every time you swallow. I’d had zero sleep because I watched too much election coverage and felt a bit nauseous from the self-inflicted lack of sleep. And to add insult to injury I was about a day away from my period and my breasts hurt enough walking, let alone running. For probably the first time ever I thought I might have to pull out of the run. It seemed like the planets had aligned to create catastrophic conditions to go out and run a marathon.

pre-marathon

But you never know right? And I had loads of time down at the start line because I was down there for my husband to run the half marathon which starts about an hour and a half beforehand. Plenty of time to wake up, inhale coffee and mentally get ready for a five hour run. After all, I’d eaten all the carbs the night before, it would be a shame to waste them.

carb-loading

Carb loading isn’t the best part about running a marathon, but it’s almost the best part.

When I hit the start line I had a vague goal of running it in under 5 hours. For no other reason than it can help to keep you motivated through the harder parts of the run. I’d never trade the minutes I spend chatting to people on the run, or high fiving kids for fewer minutes on my watch at the end. But it can help to have a goal to keep you focused. My idea for my training this year was to treat the marathons as training runs and run my way into training form through races. And so far, I’ve enjoyed it. My really long runs are marathons and I do more maintenance stuff in between. As I go I’ve been fine tuning it, so this run I wanted to really focus on my nutrition which I’d not paid enough attention to at South West Rocks and I really suffered in the last third of the run because of it.

start-line

I started off way faster than what I intended to run the race for so I could catch up with Carolyn and see how she was going. It was lovely to chat for a bit and then I dropped back so we could both run our own races. And I got to run the rest of my race knowing she was doing really well and got to see her flying on by with about 5km to go too.

I stuck to my plan of one shot blok every fifteen minutes and a GU gel at 14km and 28km and it was great to see how much more my body was capable being properly fuelled for the distance. Although next time I might even add more to that. It was about 30g of carbohydrates every hour but I think I could probably use about 40g. And despite having inhaled about a litre of coffee before I started my stomach was really settled the whole way which let’s face it is like the holy grail of marathons.

So for the most part I got to really enjoy my run. The conditions were stellar. You get to see so much of the water as you are travelling along.

 

It is a long time to be out there with yourself. All the best parts of you and all the worst parts. The part of your brain who believes you can and the part of your brain who thinks you are a fraud. But it teaches you things too. Like patience. I hit a bit of a wall around 17km which is pretty early but my shoes were irritating my ITB a bit, or maybe it was just that start of the section coming up to half way which is a struggle because you still have so far to go. But if you wait it out, you get that second wind. Mine came at 25km. 8km of patience waiting for it to show up, but it did. And then you get to feel invincible for about another 10km.

I’m fond of saying that on a bad day, a run will remind you who you are and on a good day it will remind you who you could be. Marathons always prove me right on that score. I had everything aligned for a crap run, but I showed up and I couldn’t have asked for a better one.

garmin-post-marathon

Never met a finish line I didn’t want to kiss though. I was counting down steps towards the end. It’s what I do interval runs too. It gives me something to focus on, and before you know it, you’ve done the impossible.

42

And now it’s your turn. Maybe it’s time to find out who you are and who you could be.

0
SHARES
ShareTweet
SubscribePinterestMail

Category: InspirationTag: gold coast airport marathon, marathon

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

Mindset - How to get excited for all the work that lies ahead

How to get excited for all the work that lies ahead

Title image - mentally stronger for workouts

5 ways I get mentally stronger for workouts

It’s nearly November. Time for something big.

Mental toughness requires more softness than you think it does

The secret is you are never going to feel like it

Embrace your glory wall (A Medal Displays giveaway!)

What patriotism, Learn to Run and loving your body have in common

Ever feel like time is getting away from you?

Lessons from Finishing Last

Reading the map inspiration gives you

Fall in love with the process of running, not the goal

Why starting over is the worst idea you’ve ever had

Become a Patron!

Previous Post: « Podcast: Episode 12 – Managing Commitments {But how do you fit it all in?}
Next Post: Podcast: Episode 13 – Am I Ready to Run a Marathon »

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

Podcast: Episode 139 – How to create a run-specific cross-training plan when you aren’t running

February 12, 2021

Podcast: Episode 138 – Why your running (or new habit) motivation falls off a cliff after 3 weeks (and how to fix it)

January 15, 2021

Podcast: Episode 137 – Creating the bubble and the environment for the change you want in 2021

January 8, 2021

Everything I want you to know about learning to run

December 31, 2020

Footer

On YouTube

«
Prev
1
/
4
Next
»
loading
play
How to create a run-specific cross-training plan when you aren't running
play
Why your running (or new habit) motivation falls off a cliff after 3 weeks (and how to fix it)
play
Creating the bubble and the environment for the change you want in 2021
play
How to build an aerobic base when you are new to running
play
Adductor raises
play
Who starts a training log when they have a stress fracture? ME
play
Ultra Race Romania but in Geurie
play
Plan, Train and Adapt with Nicole Avery
play
How to improve your running with more ownership of your sessions
play
Running in 1 Hour - Maintaining your running fitness in lockdown or when you are just short on time.
play
Resilience for Runners - Hip Release and Activation
play
When different, not more is what makes you better
play
127. The Year of Mini Goals
play
126. Why We Run
play
#123 I've lost fitness, speed and endurance. How do I trust the process in my comeback?
«
Prev
1
/
4
Next
»
loading

 

On instagram

opmove

Running Coach 🏃‍♀️ and Operation Move Podcast 🎙
@runfastergear and @athiaskin ambassador
Transform your Run.
Learn to Run 🏃‍♀️ April 12th

Zoey Dowling || Running Coach
Caught an Osprey in flight today. I’ve been a bi Caught an Osprey in flight today. I’ve been a bit quiet as I get all my ducks in a row. University starts in a couple of weeks, new virtual assistant contract starts now and very soon I’ll start in person sessions in Alstonville on a Tuesday and a Friday morning. 

So it’s a lot. The running has been happening, but less talking about the running 😜

This morning as I ran up to the end of the North Wall there was a killer headwind and rain spitting teeny little rain bullets into my face and I kind of thought about turning around before the end of the wall. 

It seemed silly not to go to the end though. As I turned, some other brave all weather runner smiled at me “NOW we get the easy part”. 

I mean sure it’s a slog, but sooner or later you are flying.
It’s #longrunday snd I had my longest run in abo It’s #longrunday snd I had my longest run in about five months with zero leg niggles 🙌

I shall now celebrate with all the coffee.
Finish line feels! #operationmove #parkrunau Finish line feels! #operationmove #parkrunau
Nothing like running at #parkrun to make that temp Nothing like running at #parkrun to make that tempo run feel about ten times easier. View didn’t hurt either 🙌
The bonus show is up! You can support Operation Mo The bonus show is up! You can support Operation Move on Patreon from $1 per month. All tiers get access to all bonuses, it's a contribute what you can model! 

This week I'm talking a whole lot about my training week and collisions with life 🙂 

{link in bio}
Get the #podcast in your ears this week! I'm talki Get the #podcast in your ears this week! I'm talking about the hierarchy of running-specific cross-training options, how to mix it up so you don't get bored out of your skull and how you can use cross-training even when you are running to help you break through plateaus. 

{podcast in your favourite app or link in bio too}
Considering the idea of 2 x weekly in-person coach Considering the idea of 2 x weekly in-person coached sessions for runners of all levels locally. If you are around Ballina, Alstonville or Lismore or have a sudden burning desire to move here, let me know if you’d be interested. 

#operationmove #northernrivers #runningcommunity
Workouts are cool, but when easy starts to feel a Workouts are cool, but when easy starts to feel a whole lot easier, that’s even better 🙌

Second week back into school being back and starting to find my feet a bit. We have a meal plan for the week, tantrums about socks/hair have drastically reduced and I’m finding it easier to get out the door on time so I don’t feel rushed on my runs. 

I’ll take progress in any form 💜
I always get teased because so many things I say s I always get teased because so many things I say start with ‘I was listening to a podcast’. 

What can I say? Audio is my jam. It’s how I learn best and I absorb it even more when I’m listening and running. Actually a scientific thing to do with your learning centre in the brain going into neurogenesis when you do low level aerobic activity. 

I probably learnt that on a podcast. 

Anyway, I was listening to a podcast which was talking about having the courage to let go of the part of your business that on paper is by far the most lucrative, but is the least sustainable and stopping you from doing the things that matter. 

And I guess there’s something there, because I’m still thinking about it a few days later.  I’ll let my subconscious work on that for awhile longer. 

Anyway today I ran 2km @ 4:34 pace (the pace of my half marathon pb) and after 5 months of injury recovery I needed the reminder that I’m not done yet 💜
My favourite day is #longrunday and today I had a My favourite day is #longrunday and today I had a bit of extra pep in my step thanks to watching the nsw 5k championships last night 😉

Thank you to @athleticsnsw for putting together a great live streamed event that so many people enjoy!
I’m always pretty excited for the post-workout c I’m always pretty excited for the post-workout coffee part of my early mornings, but this is a nice reward too. 

When you are making changes, you’ll often default to outcomes. Look deeper and you’ll find how committing to the process can sustain you. But ultimately, if you want to change you have to find your way to the core: who do you believe you are?  Or who do you want to believe you are? 

Take all the things you want to believe about yourself and find baby steps that make it so.
Your reminder that when you are under a bit of pre Your reminder that when you are under a bit of pressure doing what you can, when you can is great. 

Picking the things that are easy and not hard is great too. 

It was a chocolate on the couch kind of week. 

Be cool with the version of yourself who is able to get out there and do all the things and the version of yourself that doesn’t.
Peak Thursday. This is why our take away night i Peak Thursday. 

This is why our take away night is Thursday, not Friday because that’s the day when you are almost at the end of the week but not quite that you need that extra bit of help, or a nap. Preferably both.
The secret to any good workout is to only worry ab The secret to any good workout is to only worry about how it feels until after it’s done. 

Because until then, you have no idea. How could you? 

That’s where the adventure is.
When often it seems like the rest of the world see When often it seems like the rest of the world sees running or training as a chore, how do you hold on to how you see it? 

It would be easy to let the weight of those perceptions seep into your body, take hold of your mind and behave like they belong there. 

You have to hold the centre. 

You have to nurture that part of yourself that fell in love with it all a long time ago. There were no ‘shoulds’ or ‘have tos’. 

You don’t need time off from happiness. You just have to make sure that you are holding on to the centre of it.
This week is kicking my ass and I know it’s bare This week is kicking my ass and I know it’s barely Tuesday! 

Maybe it’s the high school thing, maybe it’s a particularly heinous period with hormones going crazy, but I’m so teary. I’m not sad, I’m emotional and yay to being old enough to tell the difference I guess?

Anyway because of that I figured maybe nice the runs around, do the easy one and put off the tempo run. And that’s not necessarily a bad idea - sometimes you need that. 

But today I went and ran the tempo- sometimes you need that one thing you can do, without qualification, and hope that it allows you to do other things the same way.
When you have to do a sick bay pickup 30 minutes i When you have to do a sick bay pickup 30 minutes into the school day (she’s okay!)

I’ll get to have a coffee alone tomorrow, right?
Working on my hill legs this week. There are loads Working on my hill legs this week. There are loads of way to challenge your body and pace is only one of them. You get strong on hills, it’s going to show up on the flat too.
Bone injuries tend to be more a problem of under-r Bone injuries tend to be more a problem of under-recovery rattler than over-training. 

So the recovery is the opposite of what got you there: Sleep first, Eat first, Treatment first, Strength first, Mobility first and after all of that only then do you get to run. 

Progress is slow and you have to be patient and trust that your fitness will come Bir from the running, but from the recovery and doing all of those things right. 

It takes time. Yesterday I was laughing that my 2:00 efforts were in fact slower than what I’ve run 21km before. 

But if I look back on that time it’s easy to remember the running and gloss over the hours of strength imbalance work, the fortnightly massages and treatments, the sleep habits or how well I was eating. 

But it’s all of those little things that allow the magic in a run to happen.
I’ve lost track of the amount of times that clot I’ve lost track of the amount of times that clothes have been marketed to me as ‘not having sweat marks’ because our culture is obsessed with women working out, but never looking like they are working out. 

Women sweat. And when they workout, they often look like they are working hard. It’s okay to look like you are working for it. 

It’s not for anyone else, it’s for you.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

As seen in

  • About Me
  • Contact me
  • Sitemap

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • About Me
  • Contact me
  • Sitemap

Copyright © 2021 Operation Move · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme

Try out Run Club! Free for the first 14 Days. Dismiss