Tag: Marathon

Kicking the Brick Wall

if you’re angry, you’re wrong

ClaireLeave a comment

Yes, you did read that right….. and what a really stupid thing for me to do!

2008

The year was 2008 and I was training for my first marathon. I was about 8 months into my training (out of 11 months in total) and was on a significant 16 mile run. Up until then, everything was going perfectly in my training and this particular Sunday morning run, started off really well.

I got to about 12 miles in, and soon, a little knee niggle became a huge big, pain in the butt – so much so, that I had to stop running at the 13 mile mark.

To say I was furious, was an understatement – I was so ANGRY and FRUSTRATED, that I started to agressively kick the brick wall next to me. I kicked that wall so hard that I nearly did myself some serious damage, but thankfully, I realised how stupid I was being and eventually stopped.

This ‘kicking the brick wall’ incident was very ‘out of character’ for me, and as I reflect on it today, I feel very bewildered by that ‘manic behaviour’ – it really made no sense at all!

LIFE

The ups and downs of Life WILL put our true emotions to the test and it’s our job to have internal control over how we respond to these emotions. Anger, frustration, aggression and crazy behaviour, NEVER EVER works…. period!

I recently watched a video interview of a former Royal Marine, who shared one piece of learning that was so POWERFUL. In this interview, he said, “if you’re angry, you’re wrong” – WOW . . . . . just think about that for a minute.

RERUN

So let’s take the aforementioned running incident and deal with it all over again, today, as it was back then. What would I do? Well, as soon as I felt the little niggle at the 12th mile – I’d stop, flag a taxi, rest the overworked knee and celebrate my progress to date, with my favourite bar of chocolate!

*IMPORTANT NOTE – no bricks walls were harmed in this 2008 incident, only a bruised EGO that needed to learn a hard lesson!

By Clarabelle, London,UK
Created on 9 August 2022
Posted to Blog on 31 August 2022

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Great Spirits of the Loch Ness Marathon 2013

Claire9 Comments

Medals, Loch Ness Marathon 2013

It is with great pleasure that I share this blog post with you today because it is about the successful completion of my third marathon since I did my first one in November 2007. Yes, we did it, my friend Jamie Haugh and I successfully completed the Loch Ness Marathon on Sunday, 29 September 2013 in Inverness, Scotland.

At the start of the Loch Ness Marathon
At the start of the Loch Ness marathon

If I’m honest it was my toughest marathon course to date because it was very hilly, much control is required at the downhills and much strength and stamina is required on the up hills and there was quite a lot of them!!

Coffee for Clarabelle, before the marathon
Coffee for Clarabelle, 1 hour before the start of the Marathon

It was a marvelous day though and I was very mindful of embracing the day as much as possible, as I was thinking this was may be my last marathon.  🙂

Jamie Haugh at the marathon start line
Jamie Haugh at the marathon start line

Great Spirits

Jamie and I were in great spirits before the marathon started, we had such a laugh and got chatting to some other runners….I would like to give these people a mention:

  • Thank you to Mo whom I met on the train heading to Inverness, Mo was doing her first marathon and I am delighted to say she successfully completed it in an amazing time.
  • Thank you to the other marathoners who were staying at No.29 B&B Accommodation in Inverness, we had a right laugh at breakfast on marathon morning….Frank was doing his first marathon and I am so pleased to say he did it. He has already committed himself to doing it again next year, he’s on a mission to break the 4 hour barrier.
  • Thank you to John Tougher, a friend from High School, whom we met for dinner the night before the marathon, John is “proper” runner and the Loch Ness was his 10th marathon, well done John on completing your 10th marathon in an amazing time.
  • Thank you to Martin who was doing his first marathon, I used to work beside Martin’s lovely wife Ruth and we had been updating our marathon training progress on Facebook.  It was lovely to bump into Martin at the race start, amongst the sea of 4000 runners, there he was standing just in front of me.  It was great to be able to personally wish each other well.  Martin successfully completed his first marathon, well done Martin, you did it!!
  • Thank you to Gerry whom we chatted to for a while before the marathon started, Gerry had some wonderful stories to tell us, he made us laugh, I don’t know how Gerry did but he has completed many many marathons so I have no doubt he successfully completed it…no doubt whatsoever, so I will say in confidence, well done Gerry.  🙂
  • Thank you to all the other marathoners we had a wee chat to along the route, some really inspirational people running for some great charities and it was really wonderful to see and be part of.
  • Thank you to all the supporters along the route and the hundreds of people lined across the streets of Inverness leading up to the finish line, I always had a smile for everyone of you because you helped me get through the last few miles much easier.  “Go girl in the orange top”, thank you to the lovely person who cheered me on at the last mile I significantly remember you shouting that at me.  🙂
  • And last but certainly not least, thank you to Jamie Haugh for his company throughout the whole trip, we had such a laugh, played the “Positivity” game at 13th mile and the “I Am Strong” affirmation game at the 15th mile and you kept my spirits high, you did it, your second marathon this year, what an amazing achievement and you should be so proud of yourself.  Well done Jamie 🙂 🙂 🙂

Nessie at the marathon finish line
Nessie at the marathon finish line

The question is on, “Will I do another marathon?”, well, I haven’t broke the 5 hour barrier yet, I am 1 minute out……it is kinda annoying me hahahah, let’s just wait and see, I am contemplating it…..contemplating!!!  🙂

Loch Ness Marathon

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Loch Ness Marathon Coming Soon…..

Claire10 Comments

Training Plan

The last 4 months I have been training vigorously for the Loch Ness Marathon to be held this Sunday, 29 September 2013.  This is my final week of training and I am pleased to say that it has all gone reasonably well with only some minor injuries and a few cuts and bruises.  This is my third marathon, I did the New York Marathon in 2007 and the London Marathon in 2010, both really challenging but amazing experiences.   Below is a photo of the training plan I have been following for the Loch Ness Marathon 2013:

Loch Ness Marathon Training Plan

I am excited about the Marathon run this Sunday, it can be a very exhilarating and highly emotional experience as you push your body past the realms of capability.  I am not sure if I will commit to doing another Marathon, I may look for a new fitness challenge, so this Sunday I am going to embrace the whole experience fully and be so thankful for my health, energy and fitness levels to take me past the finish line.  Below is a photograph of my running medals since I started road running in 2007:

Marathon Medals

I have learned a lot about myself whilst setting myself these running challenges or any challenge for that matter.  I know when I fully commit to a goal that I want to do, my determination and tunnel-vision focus will always see me achieve it.  It is like I have this inner dial in my subconscious mind switched to whatever the goal is and I know I am going to do it, I have absolute faith and belief that I will achieve that goal…..but it has to be a goal that I am passionate about doing!!

inner dial

Of course, just like any goal you want to achieve in life, you have to have a plan and you have to introduce new daily rituals which will support you and move you towards that goal. Just like my Marathon Training Plan above, then all I have to do is follow it…..simple!! Hahaha, well sometimes not so simple but I know you get my drift.  🙂

So there you have it, this Sunday, 29 September 2013,  I will be running 26.2 miles in an around Inverness, Scotland and I look forward to sharing the success story in a future blog post.

What goal have you always wanted to achieve and why?  Maybe, today is the day you decide to commit to it fully, set the inner dial on your subconscious mind to whatever it is and just you go for it.

Much love to you today,  Clarabelle

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London Marathon 2013

Claire6 Comments

London Marathon 2010
Clarabelle & Gina London Marathon 2010

It was the London Marathon on Sunday, 21 April 2013, and I just want to say a massive congratulations to everyone who took part in the run and also to the most amazing support from the thousands of people who stand for hours along the side of the road to cheer on the runners.  I have run a couple of marathons before so I really do know what it is like to feel the wonderful support and encouragement from the crowd, it really does motivate you as a runner and really puts a smile on your face.   I did the London marathon in 2010 with my good friend Gina and we raised a good amount of money for a charity which is very close to Gina’s heart, Alzheimer Scotland.  I don’t often share a lot of videos on this blog but I thought it might be nice to share the video I personally made in 2010 of our London Marathon experience, it is quite good fun to watch, you will see from the video how excited I am – so please be prepared.  I feel there is at least one more marathon in me and as I write this I am seriously contemplating doing another one this year – which one, I don’t know you, but I will let you know when I have decided.

So please enjoy the wee video, I hope it makes you smile and maybe even inspires you to take on the challenge of running a marathon.

Much love to you today, as always, Clarabelle.

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