My first ever half marathon! 初ハーフマラソン!

At the suggestion of my lovely friend Sinead, I have decided to write in detail about my experience in running my first half marathon.

大好きな友達シネードのおすすめで、初ハーフマラソンについて詳しく書こうと思う。

Let me just start with, unless you have time to train and follow a proper nutrition plan, I don’t think a half marathon is ideal. A 5km or 10km you can wing to a certain extent, but a half marathon will cause some serious burden on an unprepared body, especially the joints. My knees and ankles really hated me during the race and for several days after as well. I could barely climb the single flight of stairs to my second floor apartment.

まず、体を鍛えるトレーニングと栄養プランがないと、ハーフマラソンはきついと思う。5キロや10キロのマラソンだったら、なんとかなるけど、ハーフマラソンの場合、準備しないと体の負担が大きい。特に関節。走っている時から数日後まで、膝と足首がすごく痛かった。２階にある自分のアパートまでの階段がきつかった。

So let’s talk about training. I have been running regularly (approx 2-3 times a week) for about 2 years now. My usual distance is 4-5km which I can run easily under 30 mins. I sometimes push myself to do a longer run of 6-8km, which I can also run without too much effort. I have participated three 10km races, slowing improving my time to 62 mins.

ここで、トレーニングについてちょっと書きたいと思う。２年間、週に２，３回走っている。いつも４-５キロぐらい３０分ほど走っている。たまにもうちょっと長く、６-８キロを余裕をもって走れる。今まで３つの大会で１０キロにエントリーして、自己ベストを今の６２分までだんだん更新してきた。

Pre-race photo shoot - my awesome coworkers.

Four weeks before the race, I realized that I should probably start seriously training. I stopped belly dancing, and instead incorporated 3 strength sessions into my weekly training. I have to give a huge shout out to my sister who is a personal trainer in Australia, for writing me some killer strength workouts. Even after training for just four weeks, I felt stronger than I have in years. I can even see the beginnings of muscle development, especially in my core. On top of the strength sessions, I also started running 10km on the weekends, and joined yoga class once a week.

今回の大会の４週間前、トレーニングをもうちょっとしっかりしなといけないことに気づいた。ベリーダンスを休んで、その時間週３回筋トレをしていた。オーストラリアでフィットネストレーナーをやっている妹にはすごく感謝している。筋トレのプランを全部立ててくれた。４週間しかやってないのに、数年ぶりに少し以前のような体力が戻ったと感じている。特に体幹の筋肉が少し付いたことが分かるようになった。筋トレの上に週末に１０キロ走ったり、週に一回ヨガをしたり、した。

So ready for this!

Nutrition is probably my weakest point. After Christmas I decided I wouldn’t drink alcohol before the marathon, but that resolution didn’t last. I didn’t drink excessively though. As the amount of exercise I was doing increased, so did my appetite. I was hungry all the time. Unfortunately, I chose to remedy this mostly with snacking at my desk. I also ate an entire jar of Nutella in a little over a month. My blood sugar levels were probably through the roof. Now that the race is finished, I am trying to slowly ween myself off of the sugary snacks.  I just need to figure out how to convince my co-workers to stop giving me chocolates and other delicious things that I can’t help but eat.

栄養バランスを取れないことが私の弱点かもしれない。クリスマスの後、大会までお酒を飲まないと決めたけど、結局飲んでしまった。酔っぱらうまでは飲まなかったけど。

運動量が増えると食欲も増した。いつもおなかが空いていた。残念なことに、お菓子ばっかり食べた。１ヶ月でヌテラ（チョコレートスプレッド）の瓶を一人でまるごと食べた。血糖値がやばかったはず。大会が終わってから、お菓子をあまり食べないように頑張っている。同僚へのお菓子のお断り方も練習しないといけない。本当に貰いすぎ！

On the positive side of nutrition, I did succeed in not upsetting my stomach before race day, which is one of the most important things. I also did fairly well for a first attempt at carb-loading and fuelling during the race. The day before the race I had a big lunch of rice, vegetables and pork skewers. I followed this with a small dinner of Japanese curry rice (not-spicy). The morning of the race I ate granola with yoghurt and a banana for starters, then 1 hr before the race I had an energy jelly. During the race I ate a small piece of chocolate and some kind of sports candy which has the consistency of chalk. At every water station throughout the race I went for the sports drink, except for the very last one where I got water. With this combination, I found that I was adequately fuelled for the race. I didn’t run out of steam, and even had the energy to pick up my pace at the end of the race. This was pleasantly surprising, because during my previous race, a 10km in December, I was extremely fatigued and unable to pick up my pace in the last 2km. There is definitely something to be said for good nutrition and adequate fuel!

成功したことは大会前におなかを壊さなかったことだ。非常に大事だね。それにカーボ･ローディングという疲労を防ぐための栄養摂取法と走りながらのエネルギー補給も成功したと思う。大会の前日、ご飯、野菜炒め、串カツの大盛りランチを食べた。晩ご飯は小サイズの甘口カレーライスを食べた。当日の朝、グラノーラとバナナとヨーグルトを食べた。レースの１時間前、エネルギーゼリーを飲んだ。レース中、チョコとスポーツ用キャンデイも食べた。最後の給水場で水を飲んだ以外、それ以外の給水場ではスポーツドリンクを飲んだ。このプランで最後までエネルギーを保てた。途中で使い切ることなく、最後の2キロで速度を上げることも出来た。12月に10キロ走った時は疲れすぎて出来なかったからうれしい驚きだった。ちゃんと栄養を考えることは本当に大事だなぁと思った。

The course was relatively flat and straight. On the positive side, no crazy hills to overcome. On the negative side, you are constantly battling boredom. I started the race slow, wanting to conserve my energy for the second half, which I knew was going to be the biggest challenge. There were two checkpoints, one at the halfway point, and the second at the 15km mark. Both of these checkpoints had a time limit, which participants had either to make or be stopped from continuing the race. I made the half-way point with 4 minutes to spare. I realized at that point that I should probably pick up the pace just a little and avoid cutting it so close. But the road was straight and boring, and my song playlist had almost come to the end. My left knee which had been hurting since about the 7km mark threatened to give way as my hip-flexes began to stiffen and complain. My doubts that I could finish the race, which I had been trying to ignore for the entire race, were slowly crowding into my mind.

コースは平坦でまっすぐだった。よく言えば、坂がなくて楽。悪く言えば、退屈との戦い。一番辛いはずの後半のために、エネルギーを温存したかったから、最初はゆっくり走った。チェックポイントが2つあった。折り返し地点と15キロ地点で制限時間に間に合わなかった時は、バスに収容されるところだった。折り返し地点で4分あまりで間に合った。ギリギリすぎて、速度をちょっと上げないとやばいかもと気づいた。でも、道はまっすぐでつまらないし、音楽のプレイリストも切れてきた。7キロ地点から痛かった左の膝がレース後半になって腰がだんだん硬くなったせいで痺れてきた。レースの最初からあったけど無視していた、「完走できない」という不安がさらに増した。

At the 13km mark, I moved to pass a couple who were running together. As I was passing them, the husband greeted me, and asked where I was from. I took out one of my headphones and started talking. I think another huge thank you is in order for this stranger, who kept me entertained for about 2km along the most boring and mentally draining stretch of the race. Talking with him gave me the mental strength I needed to pick up the pace and ultimately finish the race. I also need to thank my long-term running partner, Rick, for preparing me to be able to maintain a conversation while running without losing my breath. I wish you were still in Miyazaki enjoying this running journey with me, but I am glad you are doing well back home.

13キロ地点、一緒に走っていた夫婦を追い越そうとしたところで、「出身はどこ？」とご主人に声をかけられた。イヤホンを耳から外して、話し始めた。一番つまらない、精神的にきついところで相手をしてくれたこの人にすごく感謝している。この人のおかげで、元気を出して完走出来た。後、息が切れず、走りながらおしゃべりができるようになったのは一緒にランニングしてくれた友達のリックのおかげで感謝している。このランニングの話が一緒に楽しめるようにまだ宮崎にいたら、よかったのにね。でも、アメリカで元気でよかった。

Do I look like I am in pain? Cause I most certainly am in this pic!

Along the final 2km stretch the locals lined the road, shouting out words of encouragement as I passed. I wondered if my smile was starting to look pained rather than happy, because I was feeling both emotions simultaneously. Waiting for me at the finish line were my co-workers. As soon as they saw me approach, they started waving and snapping pictures. I felt like some kind of champion runner, complete with fans. They handed me a bottle of apple flavoured water, and pointed me towards the certificate collection zone. My time was 2hr 26mins. I had managed to finish 9 mins ahead of the time-limit, which was set at 2hrs 35mins. My legs, hips and lower back felt like I had just run to Australia and back. I doubted whether I would be able to move them at all if I stood still for two long.

最後の2キロ、地元の人が沿道沿いで応援してくれた。嬉しさと苦しみ。この二つの感情を同時に感じていたからその時の「笑顔」が幸せよりも辛さが出ていたのかなぁと思った。ゴールで同僚が待ていてくれた。私を見た瞬間、手を振ったり、写真を撮ったり、してくれた。応援団が付いているチャンピオンの気持が体験出来た。りんご水を渡してくれて、賞状をもらう所まで案内してくれた。完走時間は2時間26分だった。結局、制限時間の２時間３５分より９分も早くゴール出来た。

ここからオーストラリアまで走ったら、こんな状態になるかなぁと思えるほどの痛みだった。しばらくの間動かないと2度と動けなくなるかもと思った。

So happy to see the finish line!

1,664 calories and 21.1km later...

I sat by the river with my co-workers and ate the bento lunch and pork-miso soup. I couldn’t sit on the blue tarp on the ground with everyone for fear of being unable to get up again, so I sat on a small bench to the side, stretching out my legs as I ate. I just ran 21.1km, without dying. I actually did it. It hurt, but I did it. I think I want to do it again. Am I insane?

同僚と一緒に川のそばで弁当と豚汁を食べた。立てないかもしれないという恐怖で地面に座ることが出来ず、近くのベンチに座った。ランチを食べながら、足のストレッチをした。死なずに、21.1キロ走り切った！本当にやった！痛かったけど、出来た！もう一回やりたいかも。

私クレイジーかなぁ？