Hi there,
This is my London Marathon 2009 training Blog. Before I write loads and loads of training plans, programmes and sessions, I thought I would introduce myself by telling you guys who I am, what I am doing and why.
My name is Fiona Oakes and I am very honoured and proud to be a Patron of CAPS. I am an Elite Marathon runner with a p.b. of 2hrs 38 minutes and I also run my own animal sanctuary (Towerhill Stables Animal Sanctuary) where I single handedly care for around 400 rescued animals. I am also a retained Fire-fighter. I decided to ask CAPS if they thought it would be appropriate if I run the 2009 London Marathon for them in an attempt to raise awareness of the terrible suffering some animals have to endure. I have set my sights on trying to get in or around the top 20 in the race (I have achieved this before) and running a fast time (well, fast for me!) of around 2 hrs 45 minutes. Although I cannot run in a CAPS vest on the day (I have to run in UK Athletics approved clothing) I am going to try and do everything I can before, during and after the race to publicise the great work CAPS do. By the way, it's not all bad that I cannot run in a CAPS vest as my running club is Vegan Runners so I can at least publicise veganism as I run. The Elite Ladies race - the one I will be in - actually goes off 45 minutes before the main race so it is a great opportunity to run through the streets of London never really seeing another athlete but the crowd being able to see you and you only. One of my best running moments was coming up The Mall, totally alone, with the MC screaming out over the microphone "here comes the Vegan Runner who is going to do a fantastic time". Just the thought that all the waiting crowd of several hundred thousand people had heard that made me find that little bit extra at the finish.
Anyway, that's enough off living off past highs. The hard part of the Marathon starts now for me. Sure, on the day it is 'the business end' of task but the hard work will (hopefully) have been long done by then. I figure it is like saving up for something. You take little bits of money to the bank week in week out, and then on the day you want to make your purchase you go and draw it out. Every week you do the same, hard, laborious, tedious training sessions knowing that on the day every session will count and your hard efforts could be repayed. I say could because anyone who has ever run, or attempted to run, a Marathon will know that it is a complete beast of an event and anything can go wrong at any time whether it be during the preparation, tapering or race itself. You only have to ask Paula Radcliffe about that!
A couple of weeks ago I did a race in Berlin - 10k - and came in a shade under 35 minutes. That is a pretty good guide for me as to where I am currently at and what work needs to be done. I am currently hitting around 75 miles a week and will probably continue with that until the New Year when I will move up a gear to around 100 miles a week. I am not a talented runner, I need to run big miles to get results. I never even consider myself to be a runner - I always consider cycling my first sport and that which I had a modicum of ability. I am not built like a long distance athlete and have to make up for the lack of talent with lots and lots of hard work. I am currently 'weighing in' at around 50 kilos - which is not heavy for someone of 5 foot 6 - but it is pretty hefty for someone trying to run a quick time in a Marathon. Any excess weight in those last few miles really takes it's toll. Having said that, I have to be careful as the workload at the Sanctuary is huge and extraordinarily heavy. I use around 10 tonnes of feed and hay a week which all has to be lifted, by me, manually. I shall just see how I feel on a day to day basis with my nutrition but it is not straightforward for me as I am trying to balance two lifestyles which are completely at the oppositve ends of the physical scale.
Today was a tough day training wise as I had the local newspaper coming round to the Sanctuary to take photographs for a feature they are doing for Xmas. Sadly, I usually end up with more animals as a result of these stories, rather than new supporters and donations! I am pretty much up to my maximum now and I am always one to know my limitations, so it really isn't the type of publicity I need. The guy was here for over an hour so this made me late getting out running. When I did eventually set off it was very, very hard. There was an icy cold, notherly wind which just ripped into my face for the first few miles. Despite having hat, thermal tights, gloves and glasses etc. on it was freezing to start with. I eventually got going though and it was a pretty productive 10 mile session. Just really getting used to the mileage playing with the pace - sprints, a few hills etc. - I guess you could just call it a a bit of a jumbled up Fartlek session. Even though I would not consider I am training really hard at the moment I try to run 6 days a week, just to keep my body familiar with that sort of excercise regime and my mind familiar with the discipline it takes to write a run into your daily schedule and make sure you stick to it.
Motivation can also be a problem, especially at this time of year. I always say the London Marathon is great if you can just go off to some hot climate during the winter and prepare for it. Meanwhile, back on Planet Earth, us mere mortals have to pinch an hour or two here and there to get out in the most atrocious of conditions dodging the cars and rain clowds for all we are worth. I guess when I get really down about it the best thing to think about is the animals in captivity who have no freedom and are confined to cages leading miserable lives through no fault of their own. At least I have the option, they don't.
More to follow ...........................
Posts
