Runner in training - Part 4: Ready, Steady, GO!

It has been just over a month since I competed in the 2014 Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon and such time has given me hindsight to reflect upon the event. Yes, if you haven’t heard, I did finish the race and no; I did not test positive for performance enhancing drugs!

Much of the excitement of the event isn’t the race itself, but the pre-race build up. For me, that means the excitement of consuming high amounts of carbohydrates the days before the race to supplement my body with plenty of energy, simply put; I loved eating loads of pasta. Yes, you guessed correctly, Italy was my favourite country when I travelled Europe last year, because of the pasta and no other reason!

As a self-confessed health nerd, I had arrived in heaven at the pre-race event expo, with all the latest and greatest running equipment, gadgets, thingamajigs and whatchamacallits. I was very impressed with the onsite Body Composition Analysis machine which revealed I am the same height – 181 cm (and as good looking) as Brad Pitt. I was also able to sweet talk my way into receiving some free rock (kinesiology) tape from one of the stalls. Not bad, considering I was only expecting to pick up my bib!

Before I knew it though, I was on the very early first train into the city, unknowingly playing out in my mind how I thought my first long distance event would pan out! And I wasn’t disappointed! Just minutes before the race started, the atmosphere was absolutely fantastic. At least from what I could gather, as I may have spent these precious moments soaking up the ambience with some other nervous people lining up for the toilets.

The race itself was very eventful! A debilitating stitch after only 1 kilometre was a very harsh lesson for steering away from my normal pre run rituals, that is; I never eat a couple of hours before I run and to that end, I will never eat a couple of hours before I run again! After shaking off the stitch, I would then experience an incapacitating blister on the inside arch of my right foot. Funnily enough, I trained for this event for 5 months and suffered no blisters. Why today? Well, it was my luck that the top layer of my orthotic would begin to peel off at the 5 kilometre mark. Every step onto the right foot would be a painful reminder for the rest of the race. A paramedic would later say it was the worst blister he had ever seen from a runner (never let the truth get in the way of a good blog!)

Stitches and blisters. The players currently participating in this year’s State of Origin Series (where there has been around 15 players injured from 2 games) would not be able to fathom the brutal nature of this sport!

At least there were some distractions during the race to keep my mind off the pain! A few remaining intoxicated patrons were still roaming the city in the early hours of the morning after a big Saturday night. Around the ten kilometre mark, one drunk Irishmen slurred, “I will buy you a beer after the race”. I’m not sure why, but it was at this stage of the race that my cadence improved remarkably.

Additionally, after stopping for a drink of water at the fourteen kilometre mark, I accidentally threw my empty plastic cup into the face of a fellow runner, when attempting to throw it in the bin. I was very apologetic and kindly offered for her to repay the favour at the next drink station. But she insisted I not run with her just so she could have the chance to throw a cup into my face. She didn’t quite comprehend the sarcastic nature of my request!

I must admit the last two kilometres of the race were very difficult. Thankfully, the distraction of the fellow runners inspired me to continue when the body pleaded ‘no more!’

1 hour, 47 minutes and 22 seconds later, I crossed the finish line. My usual post run routine of stretching went out the window as I lied down in Hyde Park for a solid amount of time, waiting to catch my breath. The distribution of free Gatorade and bananas eventually awoke me from my slumber. Trust food to wake me up from a post-race coma!

So all in all, I was very proud of my achievement and I have continued my running training since the race. But what will it be next? The City 2 Surf? The Bankstown ‘Half Hidden’ Half Marathon? Or the Sydney Blackmore’s Running Festival Full Marathon? You will have to wait and see!

Daniel Piggott - Physiotherapist, Back In Motion Bankstown

Daniel Piggott (pictured ) is a physiotherapist at Back In Motion Bankstown (NSW), he holds a Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Physiotherapy from the University of Western Sydney. Daniel particularly enjoys assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal and sporting injuries. In his spare time he enjoys sport playing football, oz tag and basketball and has recently taken up running with the goal of completing the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon in May 2014. You can follow Daniel's journey as he blogs about his experience leading up to the run.

Read part one, part two and part three of Daniel's running journey.