second 26.2m always comes..Hard like rock`n`roll*

Before this race I found one great quote: "Success lies outside your comfort zone."(c)Eric Brown

After I`ve completed my first marathon, my heart and mind try to reach another possibility to became more stronger to fit my body and mind, to improve my results in race of 26.2 miles.

My second long race was chosen randomly. In the beginning of december 2012 I heard about race in Bratislava (on 24th of March 2013), but I have no idea if there will be free place for me. Anyway I decided to train myself maybe not for this event, maybe for some else - but I need some improvements.

On 14th of December 2012 I entered in Ventspils Maratona Klubs and I received opportunity for going to Bratislava. I started to train harder.

My training plan consisted of long races 10-20 miles, short but fast 3-5 miles and some cross-fit workouts. Before I made only long races, no speed works, no cross-fit, so for me it was double harder to start and to get used to them. I started with hard, but very helpful week of 65 miles (week: 31st of December 2012 till 6th of January 2013). Honestly, I thought I`m dead at wednesday,  but at friday I became alive :) So going through this hard work I expected to make my body more or less hard... So next weeks my trainings consists of 1x week speed work, 1-2x cross-fit and lots of long endurance runs (my favorite ones). Weeks was divided by easy (20-25 miles), comfort (30-35 miles) and endurance (45-50 miles). Changes were only at long runs.

this how you need to look afer good SpeedWork session

The most hard trainings for me were Speed Works (SW). Somehow I`ve done SW before, but it were only 10 times in last year, but to improve my speed I need to make them twice per week. I don`t like to run fast with high HR, so at this workouts I did not have a great mood..especially first three-four workouts. Then after my mind was in one bout with my soul and body, I made them with pleasure. Honestly, as you like long runs, where you can listen to music, talk with you partner or sing, even dancing, here you have only time to see and to feel the finish. As faster you run, as greater you feel after. But speed and distance needed to be chosen by your coach or training program!
The most exciting was the last long run on 20 miles. I planned it for 3th of march (three weeks before the race). At this day I wake up and saw that weather outside it not good for this type of training. It were very cold ~minus 10`C, wind about 14-20 m/s and sure it was snowing. OMG! Horrible weather! But I knew that I need to go through it. I asked my friend to help me with this run. He took a bicycle and my water belt. SO together during more that 3Hrs we overcome 20 miles through the coldest weather I ever run in.

What I have learned from above mentioned type of trainings: after speed works need to be rest, like after long runs; before cross-fit need some easy running and after some running/cycling recovery; two days before long runs take rest completely (no homework, no cycling, nothing) and in one day before hard long run take a small 2-3 miles easy run, so it will help your body to prepare for hard work.

If i knew this things before, I escaped from injury and illness that bring me lots of difficulties.

The most important were: pain of peroneus longus (long muscle connect your knee and ankle) - very fort and unexpectable pain; weakness of the whole body immune system - temperature, headache etc. during the five days, as a result one day in hospital. So after I overcome them, I learned that I need to hear my body. The voice inside will tell you when you need to relax to avoid injury.
As all the bad things are happened to me only two weeks before the race, I tried to soothe myself, that my body is trained enough to complete 26.2 miles. During these two weeks I trained very easy: long runs only till 10 miles, speed works not on my best results and cross-fit only two times per week.
Two day before race I took one easy 5 miles run and next day went into PASTA PARTY (pasta party`s always my favorite thing before the race :)). Race day was at 24th of march. It was snowing, cold ~minus 3`C and windy 10-15 m/s. I look at my race clothes that I choose before and... need change everything to winter clothes, cause I understand that I couldn`t run fast, and it will be very cold for me. 
About the race: 
Before the beginning I made two options I need to go through: 1st lap (~21k) to make HR above 170 and to run faster than 5.4 min/k; 2nd lap (rest 21k) to make HR above 170 and NEVER stop!
First lap was easy for me. Going on new road, seeing new people, new buildings, new emotions - also FIRST time I saw runners from Kenya. They run as fast as motorbike drive :)
Crossing the chiptime-count line at 21k, I saw my shoe lacing was out. So I made fast stop, get them tied and continue my running. I thought that after laying down my body will get some craps, but none! So if you stop and made everything fast, you body will not realize what happened :D
Second lap started good: 22nd, 23rd, 24th km niceee... Then I realized that I`m hungry. I saw water/eating stop, run there, but I did not find any food. Runners that come before me, ate everything, except one lemon piece. So I took it. Not so tasty...but ok. After some 2-3km I felt that my legs started to hurt. You know pain before cramps? Something like going in cold water. As I forgot all my gels and Mg+ at home, my roommate gave me only one, I ate half of it (other 1/2 I leave for hard 35th km). But anyway cramps did not stopped, and I very fast (sure as fast as I could) run till eating point and ate 3 banana pieces, took some isotonic and continue my race. After some time I have recovered fully and I start to enjoy running - then I saw "35.1km/ 7km left" and my legs hurt again. I ate gel again. But it dind`t help me. I took some water, no effect. Ok - I made music louder. And the great song began... *You can go hard or you can go home...[will.i.am] Oh my goodness, this beat is so hard...I'mma go hard, hard to the core... Yeah, next km is bitten! Then next one...and next. I start to outrun people. Saw " 40.1km/ 2 km left".

39km keep smiling

Then one guy with glass came to me. I asked: Is it champagne? He was shocked. I said: Than no, thanks! :) You know, I will drink champagne after 10 min., so why they now offer to me water :))) Great music, hormones of joy and happiness filled out my body! And 500 m left, I saw my victim near me...some guy try to get close to finish line. I switch speed to 5th and outrun him! Yeah! Finish line. I cross it! I did it - improve my time for 7 min. New personal Best - 4h15min09s
I felt myself like nothing happened to me: no pain in legs, no tired - everything was perfect. I took one cup of tea and one bottle of water. Ask to exit for eating/taking some warm clothes and I saw stairs. I asked if I should go there, the answer was -YES. how? How after marathon can I go upstairs? Doh...making some massage...step by step...you know it comes harder than at 35th km. Finally I`m upstairs and I need to do down...step by step. What I see... girls standing with Redbull. not bad :D Ok I hit stairs and I`m free to do whatever I want: eating, drinking, celebrating!!!
I wish I could feel this moment one more time! It was amazing moments - whole 26.2 miles ;))
Listen to your heart and remember: If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. [Ecclesiastes 11:4]

*Will.i.am "T.H.E (The Hardest Ever)" with Jennifer Lopez and Mick Jagger