After deciding during my Hypnotherapy course in March that I wanted to complete my first half marathon before the end of the year, it finally happened. The Lanzarote International Marathon 07-12-2019.
I needed to be sure that I had set myself some clear goals to prepare for it, SMART goals with the aid of bodybuilder champion Gary Hill to guide me which involved discipline, training tactics, having the right mindset and good time management. SMART is for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. Thanks for the support and guidance Gary!
Also I had delved into my tutor’s book ‘Hypnosis For Running’ by Adam Eason and used many techniques which are a mixture of cognitive sports psychology, cognitive behavioural therapy, hypnotherapy, self-hypnosis, mindfulness and meditation processes. Thanks Adam on being a wonderful tutor and what a marvellous book you’ve written! It’s my running bible.
I had a realistic goal of completing the race in windy conditions within 2hr 15min (the direction of the half marathon means running into the wind virtually all the way). I’m not a fast runner but my endurance is good. I’ve learnt to embrace the Lanzarote wind and not battle with it.
The day was perfect. Yes, there was wind but it was manageable and the temperature was just right. A little bit of drizzle for a few minutes but nothing more. A change in the course with an extra hill thrown in due to roadworks but everything else as planned.
My husband also ran the half marathon. In his late teens and early twenties he had ran many half marathons and so was excited to be reliving an old passion. We both understood that we were running at our own pace and that he would be ahead of me and I was not going to try and keep up with him!
That’s my husband in blue with the white hat following the 1hr 50min pacemaker.
One of my key preparations for this race was finding my optimum level for performance. Not too over-anxious and not under-energised at the start. An important technique I learnt from Adam’s book on ‘arousal’ levels (snigger!). I engaged in self-hypnosis and found the right balance for me to start the first few kms into the race at a comfortable 5m45s per km. I felt great despite noticing that in the pack around me a lot of over-excitement and nerves. Runners charging like crazy, some irrate and swearing, a few pushes. After 3km things seemed to spread out a bit, a few runners were already walking and some were panting from pushing too hard.
As I ran past Playa Honda I was expectant to see my friend with my two sons waiting to cheer me on. There they were. My friend, Vanessa was shouting, “Go, Amanda Mandry!” and my two sons looking rather nonchalant! It was me ending up cheering my boys on to put some spark into them! Anyway I felt great.
I’d describe this run as the most mindful run I’ve ever done. My awareness was so on my interior. I was only aware of the sound of the patter of feet, both mine and other runners, my breathing, and a comforting feeling of unity and peace. At times there seemed to be sheer silence. My body felt strong and relaxed, my breathing was comfortable and I don’t even remember how I arrived to Arrecife, that’s how so absorbed and focused I was on my interior! My mind was the quietest it has ever been on a run. There were moments when I was thinking “I’m loving this!”
My first 10km was kept at a constant rhythm of just under 6min per km. I knew exactly where the water and iso-drinks and fruit stops were. At the 11km 500m mark I felt I was ready for putting some more energy into my leg muscles. I grabbed without stopping a little iso-drink and a piece of banana and used all of my Celtic hypnotic witchery(!) and imagined charging the banana with magical properties that would boost my leg muscles. It worked a treat! I could really feel a buzz in my legs which got me up the hilly parts well. In fact the only time I had any unhelpful thoughts during the race was as I passed the Art Museum Castle on the hill and I felt annoyed by the fact that the local political party had removed Jason deCaires ‘Rising Tide’ sculptures from the sea and there instead was moored a luxurious yacht! I quickly let this thought go, recognising how of little benefit it was to me at that moment. I went back to my breathing and telling myself “I am strong, focused and relaxed”.
I saw the sign for 5km to the finish and my thought was “Only 5km to go! Nearly there! I’ve got this.” All the time breathing in strength and telling myself I’ve got more left in me than I think and pushed a little harder. Running through Costa Teguise seemed like a blur and I don’t remember the running journey until I suddenly saw the sign for last 1km. I noticed a number of runners were really dragging and I told myself “Give it everything! I can do it.” I activated my gazelle (hehehehe!) and breathing hard and pushing myself I ran with big strides, until I saw the finish in sight and drove myself even harder. That last 1km I did in 4min 58s, proving that there really is more left in me than I perceive.
Just about to arrive at the finish.
As I was approaching the last 100m I remember thinking clearly, “This is great! When’s the next half marathon?!” There was my friend with my two sons (still looking nonchalant!) waiting near the finish.
I recovered very quickly after passing the finish line and felt satisfied. The endorphins ran for some time through my body that day and I felt really energised until the adrenaline ran out and I had the best sleep I’ve had in a long time!
Hubby finished in 2hrs and had a less satisfying experience saying he suffered the last 10km. On reflection he realised he pushed too hard at the beginning and did not refuel properly during the race. He struggled across the finish line perceiving the race as a suffering experience. A race experience that was so very different to mine. He had hoped for a faster time and he would have got it too if he had gone into the race differently. Next time for sure.
I’ve now got a clear goal of reaching that 2hr mark for my next half marathon and I know I can do it. We’re already signing up for the Benidorm Half Marathon on the 29th February, 2020 and there will be more as I build up to my long term goal of running a full marathon distance.
Alive & Kicking.