Almost Ready To Roll!

In a week's time, I'll be heading out to i-City Shah Alam to embark on my first full marathon adventure there.

I am ready as I'll ever be for this. Jitters has set in. Cold feet. The feeling of not enough training. Scared shitless of the distance. The list of excuses for not wanting to do this is loooooong. The list of the reason I want to do this is equally as long too. Huhuhu

Piffles Inc has a great post up to handle the days leading to race day. Go over and read it. Trust me (and her). After all, she's a speed demon and a podium finisher to boot! :-)

Preparation for this marathon started early for me. Training, of course. Months beforehand.

I started taking supplements when I started training for my half-marathon last year. My GP was the one recommending me to take the glucosamine supplement as I was having problems with my knee before.

I've read about the benefits of taking glucosamine (& chondroitin) for runners beforehand but it was only after my GP (the one who will be running at SCKLM this year) actually said yes to me did I take it. It was the standard panel clinic ration at first but I didn't like the taste so I just get it at the pharmacy instead. 

(I actually like Blackmores better than the one I'm taking right now. But... the Biolife promoter was so convincing that day) Bwahaha

Fish oil - well, fish oil has anti-inflammatory benefit. It's like a natural painkiller for sore, overworked muscles.

I have problem remembering to eat supplements (multi-vitamins, EPOs, all that stuff you know), even medicines but for these two; I take almost religiously. Anything for running, eh? ^^

Tampon and pads, your choice. What's it got to do with running? It's got a lot to do with running if'you're lucky enough to get your period on race day like me! Three times!

Had my period the night before SCKLM 2012 so I was running at the heaviest time at the race. First day (had it the morning of the race) at Taiping International Marathon 2012 and third time was at Putrajaya Night Marathon 2012. Lucky, lucky, lucky me. 

Again, Piffles Inc has an excellent post on how to handle period while running/racing. Justiffa has a good post on that too plus some other stuff or us lady runners to take note of, too. :)

Wearing a sanitary pad may cause serious chafing, I tell you. So be prepared. Be prepared for chafing at other places too. Along the sports bra line, panty line, running tights line... I had a number of scars from chafing and it made me look like some torture victim! @.@

So don't skimp on those Vaseline. Or Body Glide, if you have those. Chafed skin + shower = PAIN!

Plus, if you have the tendency to blister, either have it Vaselined (is there such a word? o.O) or taped. And oh yeah, must not forget sunblock too!

Fuel and hydration planning - I'll get a simple PB&J breakfast and maybe a handful of nuts on race morning. Or maybe those choc & banana spread. Or both. ^^

I'm thinking of carrying a bottle of isotonic during the race, just in case. And a whole lot of gels (well, just two and a pack of energy chews).

I don't really take gels or energy chews during my run. I usually force maybe one of those Hammer solids and usually do OK with drinking water and a bottle of isotonic during my LSD but this is a 42km we're talking about. Better be safe than sorry!

I experimented with just drinking plain water during one of my LSD (21km two weeks ago) and I suffered after the run! Muscle soreness lingered for three days!

On the other hand, I fared fine after my 30km run last week. I scheduled taking a "solids" at 10km, isotonic at 15km, a gel at 20km and drinking plain water in between and no soreness afterwards. Just a bit "mental" for doing 20km around my apartment's carpark before finally heading out to run the hilly route to and fro Mines! 

I actually like Hammer gels the best because they tasted just like real (mashed) fruit and aren't as sweet as other brands but can't find them so I'll just settle for the ones shown in the photo above.

Talking about fuelling, carbo-loading is something I joked about and never really do properly or seriously before any of my half-marathons but things are different when someone is doing a full, aren't it?

So carbo-loading we must. I'm starting way early so I should be prepared for weight gain by next week! All the carbs and weight gain due to that "time of the month" also. Verrrrry niceeeeee.... Uhukhukhuk

My plan for next week's marathon is one Solids, a glass of water with ORS before the race. Water for up to 10km. Maybe a gel at 15km. Isotonic. Then, energy chews. We'll see. This will be a kind of experiment too, as I've never done more than a 30km before. I'm open to advise.

 

Gear.

Still undecided on which shoes to wear.  Uhuhu

Bunny ears & tail may get left behind this time. But I'll put on a pink vest, I think. Pink cap, of course.

And I need to find somewhere to stash this at the route. I just need one chilled can, so the rest can be drunk by others. Zaini said he doesn't mind stationing himself somewhere towards the 36km. ^^

So am I ready or am I ready?

Just go and run lah, I suppose.

Anyway, this post is just me preparing for my first full marathon. It is not an advice post or anything. I'm very much a noob in this running thingy. What do I know about running anyway?