Dubai Marathon 2015 - FULL report (ugh!)

Ah ha, here it is again. A full report on my good 'ol 6th career marathon, hence the "ugh" in the subject line. This is pretty much ONLY for my own reference so I guarantee it will be a dull and bor-ing read for anyone else. I actually referred back to my other fairly detailed (VERY detailed) from a year ago and it is helpful. Soo.... for all of you, I won't take offense if you skip this one!

Soo... a few things, well, many things were different about this marathon compared to last:

1. I ran all last summer (2013). This summer I took the whole summer off from running, wanted to take a break because got a bit scared with my back flare-up.
2. Last year I was VERY VERY motivated. My prize was Dubai Marathon, was focused, determined and 110% committed. This time around I didn't decide to run it until... what was it? Maybe early to mid-December when I conveniently was doing the long runs with the group and it was almost a "well, if I'm doing all the long runs, why not?" BUT NEVER had ANY intentions of racing it as last time, from day 1 said I was using it as a training run and really believed that. Soo... having said that, motivation and focus was there, just not so much. I officially registered the last few days before it closed, so that says something (whereas before it was months in advance).
3. Weight. I did drop from my summer/fall of indulgence but prob was am a couple of kg (few pounds) heavier. That makes a BIG difference.
4. Food. REALLY watched what I ate, fairly strict, for what seemed like forever, but a good couple of months. This time around was eating healthy, but when I gave myself cheat days, it definitely was a cheat day!
5. Training. I'll bore with those details later. Some changes, and I am still ?? which tactic was better. Hmm...

The marathon was January 23rd, and in December the distance varied from 26-32km. Fair enough! Then in January it was 35.5 km (3 weeks out, the longest run), 26.5 km, then 20km the week before the marathon, which mind you, was waaaaay too much. Hmph! That 3rd week before the marathon, felt really in shape, doing stairs, strength training, swim, yoga! Then the whole taper process, I know it's needed and warranted, but when you cut back your activity, I really feel my body gets soo lazy! And with the carbo-loading, felt the weight I had lost crept back up (just a little bit).

The actual run: I forgot how much I mentioned in my previous blog, but pretty much unlike EVERY training run I've ever had, usually I am known for my consistency and pacing, I was TOTALLY all over the pace. About 5-6km saw a friend and she said we were running about 5:30 min/km. I thought perfect! Last year, again, although am not nearly in as good of shape, started at the same a
nd when looking at my splits, felt it was almost too slow. So I swear I thought I thought i picked it up just a bit and it only was a couple of km later when these guys next to me said we were now running at 5min/km. Eh? The whole run was like that, never really found my groove. Felt was too slow, picked it up and then went too fast, then back down again. AND oddly, at about the 7-8km I already felt my quads were tight/a bit tired. Eh? So weird! I mean, they were fine, just I could feel them and of course as the run progressed, more and more. Found a decent groove halfway through the race but even then felt like I was going to poop. And I did! The last 12 km were never-ending and got that crampy sensation as last year (but it was much later) and felt hot and dehydrated. Usually I sip the water they hand out but I drank a whole thing and even took one with me and sipped it along the way.... this made a huge difference and the crampy niggles went away. My legs felt super heavy and just at the turn around point, around 35km saw some friends.... kept up with them for a little bit, was a head a bit, and then the last 3-4km they passed me and were like "come on" and ... just couldn't. Literally was running 5:50's I think... my legs just felt sooo heavy. Sigh.

My splits:
15km: 5:15 pace
35km: 5:13 pace
42km: 5:49 pace

Ha!!

My final time was: 3:44:56 with avg pace at 5:20km.

SOoo.... funny enough, I really had it in my head and was telling people I would aim for between 3;45-3:50, and there you have it! So was a smidge happy that I got under 3:45, BUT .... I guess although I performed accordingly to the shape I feel I was in, just got a wee disappointed by not only being 7 minutes off the time from last year, but more so that I had such a yo-yo and haphazard run.

My training was somewhat similar with running 4ish times a week, always long run on Fridays, it was a bit different in that the intervals I was doing last time were long intervals and I also was doing them on a Tuesday night and then would do a longer run (15km'ish) the next morning. Basically, running on tired legs. This time did "shorter" intervals on Monday morning and a LSD (long slow distance) run on Tuesday. Who's to know what's better or not? I also added personal training to my regime this year. I think strength training is super important and have felt a HUGE difference with it because when I first started running, was sooooooooooo sooooooooooo weak! Now I can do squats and lunges just fine. BUT, my only hesitation now is that with the added muscle there is added weight and... I swear, being lean does have a say with runners and leaner people fair much better than bulky people (and I bulk easily). I dunno... will have to play around a bit with it. Besides that, most other things the same, swimming twice a week, stairs 1-2x/week, spinning 1x/week (am weaning from that though), strength training and of course running.

So now my "prize" is Boston in April. Have 3 months almost exactly. Obviously have a good baseline and according to some, don't need to do too too much to prepare. I will continue with the routine, but to me know DIET is the key, need to loose a couple of kg (a few pounds) to feel ready to run. I can always engorge AFTER the marathon! It is soo important to stay light I feel!

My recovery from the marathon has been okay, actually got super busy with other stuff, so pretty much did nothing until Wed when I did a 6km easy run and then bikram yoga at Wed night. Then swim the next day and then again, long'ish distance with the club.

Here are some glamour (ha!) pics, starting with most flattering to least, ha ha:

Love this pic! Look strong and relaxed, the last few meters of the marathon. Too bad felt totally the opposite! I know I have this in my previous blog, just liked it so much had to post it again! 

Giving the thumbs up at approx 25km... think I was in a good groove at that point!

Besides a good pic of my leg muscle bulk and at least my facial expression isn't like the dude behind me, an okay pic!

Another view of the final stretch, front on - shoulder elevated, arms swinging, definitely can tell in this one (no hiding) I was pooped! 

And of course I couldn't have done any of this without my fab running group, Dubai Creek Striders! We stumbled about them takings this group snap before the marathon I'm somewhere in the back'ish and right (looking at the pic), my head is popping up somewhere.

Soo.... all and all, my 6th marathon and 3rd fastest. The pressure is on for this next one, my lucky number 7 and hopefully my last. Just need to revamp a bit and re-focus! One big change I just did is actually open the box and start my Garmin 220. I know I went on and on and on about how running how I feel is the best way to go, but as this "training run" was quite a training run in the sense that I saw firsthand how all over the place I was without knowing my pace, it is time to put aside the stubborness and get in with the times of technology! Let's see what it does for me!!! I have been talking with a few other runners, about the importance of LSD (long slow distance) versus killing ourselves with these long runs (as far as going with a quicker pace) and also "less is more." My good friend pulled off a 3:28 with that tactic and I am absolutely amazed!!!! Soo... will come up with a good scheme :-)


p.s. Whoa whoa whoa! Have some fun news!!! So long story short, our parent company is Dubai Holdings, and they sponsor us for the run (which is awesome because it's $150). So being that so few people run the 42km marathon (most do 10km), last year I tend to make it near the top of the group, which is good because they give prizes! Last year got an ipad! Soo this year, somehow, out of the so few people, I got the fastest time in the company, ha! So funny! So they sent me an email about some silly awards thing, which I was about to ignore until I saw "cash prizes." Hmm.... So I happen to have been off that day and decided to go, why not? Well, I'm glad I did because you know what my prize was? $1300!!!!! I almost died! So that was super super super good news and made my day. I've had a lot of expenses lately so immediately put it in the bank in order not to spend it on silly stuff. Then took out some good friends for dinner to say Thank You for all their support. So yay!! Although the run is a total drag (sooo bor-ing!), hey, now I'm motivated to run next year! heheh

Dubai Marathon 2015!!!!

Well, there you have it. I've been REALLY MIA recently and part of why is the above subject line, I ran the Dubai Marathon ... AGAIN! It's been really really really REALLY crazy lately, I hardly have had a minute free (gasp, even my apt is a mess. And anyone that knows me knows I am a bit OCD with cleaning and when things get messy, it's a bad sign!), but just wanted to check in to say I'm alive and survived my 6th marathon! It wasn't my worst, 3rd fastest to be honest, but probably the worst as far as pacing. Boy, was I all over the place! Was too fast, then slow, then fast, I probably didn't hold the same pace for more than a couple of km which is TOTALLY unlike all the training and other races I've done. Besides me starting late in getting into shape and losing my summer weight gain, I know my body and "declared" before the run I wanted to use it as a training run for Boston and was predicting between 3:45-3:50. Well, I got 3:44:56!! I was probably on pace at some point for a sub 3:35, then realized that and panicked, and that is when things went up and down and up and down. The last ... umm... 12km was H-A-R-D! Felt like my legs were like logs and was just stomping away. Also I felt super dehydrated and felt all these little niggles and almost cramps about to pop up and thank gawwwd I recognized that and really jugged some water and held some to sip during the run. So although the pic below has gone on social media and I look super strong, actually, if I do say so myself, quite a picture for a last stretch before the finish line of a marathon, I was TOTALLY dying within! Ha!!!! 

And this is me after (the below pic),  and I mean right after. I wanted to keel over like the guy behind me but my friend who had run the 10km ,poor thing, was waiting in the heat the whole time for me to finish so had to act happy although I couldn't feel my legs. And yes, anyone that knows me knows my fake smile, ha ha. 

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Have another picture, but have to do the process of getting it on my phone out on this thing, so it might take a little bit.

So probably overall time is decent, but quite a disaster with the pacing. I was still stubborn with my success of NOT running with a watch, as I went on and on and on about last year, but now I think I will start. The Boston marathon in April is a BIG o one, and with the hills and all, REALLY don't want to die... especially with people coming to watch me. Eek! The pressure!

I will detail (hehe, again, this is for ME! It actually really helped with the last couple of weeks before the marathon to review my blogs from last year to help strategize. Boring for everyone else though) soon enough. Have sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much going on these days, hardly can keep my head straight. But once things settle, hopefully in the next week or so, will detail about this and the other stuffs that have been going on (nothing bad, good stuffs, just super busy!).

Soo... now time for recovery eating! hehe! Am taking this week off from training and dieting, but REALLY need to crack down the next 3 months. After this week (off) have officially 12 weeks till Boston. The general consensus is I need to lose about 2.5-3kg, so about 5-6 pounds. Sigh. Despite recently losing a little bit of weight, did feel a bit heavy during the run and it DOES make a HUGE difference to be lighter. But after 12 weeks and the marathon, it's official pig out time because I will be in the States!!!

Happy running!

Happy New Year from Dubai!!! Welcome 2015!!

Happy New Year!

Wow! I don't know where the recent months have come and gone. I was meaning to do an update, buuuut.... well, life catches up. 

Had some work obligations:

Worked a 5km run

And below pics from 7 Emirates Run, a combo of work and play! My work happened to sponsor this run my friends did, running through all the 7 Emirates, something like 512km over 2 weeks! Super crazy, and no, I would never do that!!

And below, random sunset skyline picture as I was driving, couldn't resist!

I've been a wee bit busy with guests! As they say, when it rains it pours and at one time it's been back to back guests. All good and all fun, but just gets busy. One of them was one of my best friends from home, we did an almost Sex and the City theme, so spas, afternoon teas, you name it!!

Spent Xmas day (and Eve) working (that's what happens when you work in a Muslim country!), but had a lovely Xmas run with my running group and then dinner with friends afterwards:

As you can see, the run was more like a jog and just about 10km in the nippy 70F temperature, ha ha. Actually, during the run we stop for mince pies (UK thing)!

Hehe,someone sent this to me and I thought it added some desert Xmas spirit!

Since i had to work, I gave our work logo a little Christmas spirit, he he.

Below, Steph and Jez, they were awesome and hosted. We had a 15kg Turkey! (lots of leftovers though!)

Soo.... with all that, I decided (as of last weekend) to run the Dubai marathon again! As I've mentioned earlier, my age is creeping up to me because it has taken me soo long to get back into shape! Now I'm probably 60% of the shape I was in this time last year and the decision came only because I'm running the long runs with my group that are training for it AND I could use it as a training run for Boston. I am NOTABLY slower and less motivated than last year, VERY MUCH SO, but alas, know that it will be a slower run but just want to keep steady and not race it as I did last year. I don't want to peak too early! Anyhoo, I've become an "all or nothing" kind of person, so with the training (and eating) the last month or so, I've really cracked down. BUT unfortunately, as everyone else, I've gotten a bit sloppy over the holidays, so I REALLY need to get back on track again with my diet. Ugh, it's so hard sometimes! Anyhoo, will get through it. 

For the New Year have a friend here from the States and we got lucky in our "winging" it approach by last minute (literally, almost 10pm) being invited to the same building where I celebrated last year (with the fab view) just a few floors down. It was relaxed, low-key, and we avoided the mayhem traffic and chaos of the downtown Dubai area. Phew!! Here are some snaps:

And....  below is my annual little NY shout out:

Dear family and friends,

I wanted to wish you a healthy and prosperous New Year from Dubai! Now
that 2014 has come to a close, it's nice to take the time to reflect
on the year just passed and also to look ahead to the next year.

2014 marked my 3rd year in Dubai! I can't believe how fast the time as
gone. From the start of the year, I was off up and running, literally
and figuratively, as I not only got my best time at the Dubai marathon
after a 10-year gap in marathon running (which reminded me that age is
just a number. Happy to have achieved a great race result a decade
later!), but also I qualified for the Boston marathon!! So look out
for me April 20, 2015... which will be followed by a visit home to
Chicago (just for a week, the last week in April - very short time!).
I also had for the 3rd year in a row the opportunity to work alongside
ATP players during the Dubai Tennis Open where let's say I really got
friendly with the the pro's including most of the Top 10 players :-)!
Another amazing experience!

As no surprise, this year was also kept busy with some great travels!
I met my family in Serbia and Greece, then did a month long segment
(out of 6!) of an Overland trip through Central Asia, my first
somewhat camping experience. It included Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan,
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. These were all different and
unique places, and as can be imagined, each country offered it's own
distinct sightseeing and cultural experiences. If you're ever
interested in hearing about it, just let me know and I'd be more than
happy to share, he he. Shortly thereafter, I combined a professional
growth opportunity to get a Certificate in Orthopedic Manual Therapy
(COMT) in my field with travel as it was held in Portugal! So I spent
a month there and managed to spend a long weekend in Paris beforehand
(my first time, believe it or not!), Sevilla, Spain, and weekend trips
along the Argave area in Portugal (where my lovely sister joined me).
Beautiful! So yes, can't complain about the ample holiday time I have
over here!

Living as an Expat makes me appreciate my family and friends all the
more. Sometimes life can sweep us all in varying directions, but
please know that although I may be physically far away (or close!), I
often think of you and appreciate hearing from you and likewise, try
to keep in touch the best I can. So please be in touch!


All the best in 2015!!!