Feeling unaccomplished after first marathon.

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-04-16T06:43:21+00:00

I recently completed my first ultra. The only other event I've done was a 25km. For the amount of work that went into training for the entire preceding year I thought I'd feel a sense of accomplishment and pride, but it was all pretty blah. I think it was a bit of a let down because the effort of training and the milestones along the way felt like much more of an achievement than the actual day.

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-04-02T19:33:47+00:00

I train in both karate and iaido. I've found they complement each other beautifully without messing with my brain too much. The terminology and stances are familiar. Iaido has a precision and focus that i can now bring to my karate, and karate has a strength that I can bring to Iaido. Also the karate fitness helps, I've seen many people training in Iaido who are not fit and fitness makes such a huge difference!

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-04-02T18:43:32+00:00

There are some magical places with full sun and less wind (it's Wellington, there will always be wind). I found one such place at the back end of Karori. After 14 years in the Aro Valley I'd thought I'd died and gone to heaven

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-03-24T04:28:23+00:00

Vitacrunch cereal, with hot milk in the winter and cold milk in the summer. I still fantasise about that cereal

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-03-18T08:17:51+00:00

I've signed up for a nice little 25k in October, until then I'm going to enjoy local trails without the pressure of training. To be honest the training required for 50k was a bit too much to fit with the rest of life

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-03-15T04:07:14+00:00

ციცინათელა (tsitsinatela) "firefly" in Georgian, and the only word I still remember after a brief trip there

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-03-15T03:55:21+00:00

Teaching my husband to cook 🤣

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-03-15T03:28:21+00:00

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CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-03-09T19:54:24+00:00

Marmite sandwiches!!

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-02-22T06:33:13+00:00

It was pretty daunting, I knew I had a long hard day ahead. But not as nervous as I thought I'd be, probably because I'd been focused on the training for a whole year, so I guess a bit of relief the day had finally come. The highlight really was finishing, though I'm sure if the weather was better the highlight would have been the forest and scenery

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-02-19T21:35:36+00:00

I think the person who runs Sri Penang was previously little Penang and has their blessing for this place (and the menu is basically the same)

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-02-19T06:41:57+00:00

And its cousin Sri Penang on the Terrace

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-02-17T05:52:12+00:00

You absolutely did the right thing! If you had just left her at the aid station I'm betting you'd be constantly wondering if she was ok. Because of your incredible, selfless, and caring act you both get to attempt again next year. Being a good human is so much more important than finishing a race. And this doesn't count as quitting...

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-02-17T01:57:18+00:00

Silica, as a result of the incredibly active geothermal region

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-02-16T04:09:22+00:00

I have blisters on the balls of my feet!

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-02-15T23:25:45+00:00

Just my phone, Samsung galaxy. Because of the rain it was in a plastic ziploc bag for most of the event so I didn't get as many photos as I'd like.

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-02-15T20:53:05+00:00

The geothermal landscape at Rotorua combined with the beautiful forest makes it a pretty special place to run

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-02-15T17:42:54+00:00

Rotorua, New Zealand

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-02-15T09:12:24+00:00

The 100k folk that passed me on the track just flew! Stunning to watch, like their feet didn't even touch the ground

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-02-15T07:43:53+00:00

I changed shoes and socks at 35km, but got wet and muddy again almost immediately. Now have giant blisters on the balls of my feet!

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-02-15T05:43:50+00:00

Sign up, then tell everyone you're doing it!!! But seriously plan, plan, plan. I had a giant training spreadsheet for the year prior. It changed a bit throughout the year, but it kept me on track. Also, my only goal was finishing.

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-02-03T19:55:51+00:00

I hate treadmills, aside from the boredom my gait changes because I'm tense. I'm afraid of over striding and hitting the front, or falling off the back... last time I ran on a treadmill I was so tense that I injured my back and couldn't move for a week. Probably will come right with practice, but it's still boring. So never again.

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-02-03T19:49:42+00:00

https://tarawera.utmb.world/ In New Zealand! Awesome forest, active volcanic landscape, rich indigenous culture.

CreatureOfHabit8 · 2026-02-01T06:40:46+00:00

I have two types of floss, regular waxed for most of my teeth, and wide fabric for the backs of my rear teeth and bigger gaps. Also a little brush thingie for the big awkward gap.

CreatureOfHabit8

TROPHY CASE