Starting to believe

6 weeks into training now and I'm starting to believe I can do this. Come to the conclusion I actually prefer the long slow runs to the short faster paced stuff, mainly because it's done on the weekend in broad daylight, rather than after work in pitch black.
Slight sense of trepidation Saturday morning as my longest run to date- 15 miles- loomed before me. But with my new best friend- the garmin- in place I can do pacing. Running at one minute per mile slower than race pace felt scarily easy. In fact, come the end of the 15 I felt I could have carried on. I'm taking this to be a good sign. The sense of achievement after a long run is hopefully the thought that will see me through come race day.
Now for the downsides of running- blisters forming on ends of toes, putting ON weight (damn that muscle), boobs getting smaller and permanent sports bra chaffing marks. Despite clothes feeling much loser, getting on the scales and seeing you've put pounds on is suicide inducing. In fact, it could be said you'd be better off sat on your arse eating a donut.
But.... I think I'll save that til after those 26 miles.......

Got my mojo back

A week on from the 'incident' and I'm feeling back on track. The eye has gone down and no scarring thank goodness. 
Decided to take the plunge and invest in a garmin. My trusty nike + had served me well, but now I'm taking my running to the next level I felt the time was right to invest in some slightly more hi tech gadgetry. It's so big I feel like penny in inspector gadget. A childhood dream fulfilled, hopefully one day I will get the book too....
Some good solid runs this week, and a long 12 miles on Sunday which felt comfortable.
Long 14 this weekend. I'm starting to believe again.

Not sure I want to do this anymore

Had a tough 4 miles last night, ended thinking 'I'm kidding myself with this'. Ventured out tonight and was going much better, until 3 miles in when I tripped, fell and smashed my face on the concrete. Got up, saw blood pouring everywhere and immediately thought I'd broken my nose. Was vaguely aware of a woman who'd pulled over shouting 'are you ok?' Ran up to her car and shouted at her 'I'm bleeding, is it my face? IS IT MY FACE??' She said 'yes but it's just your eye. But the blood is pouring down your face' She kindly gave me a pack of tissues and I then had to walk 2 miles home whilst trying to stem the gushing flow of blood from my head. It's hard to say what was my injured- my face or my pride. By this point my head was banging and passers by were looking at me as if I was mental. Can't really blame them, I unfortunately had a while top on, which now had blood all down the front. Eventually got home to survey the damage. One side of my face resembles Gordon Ramsay post hair transplant. Dreading waking up tomorrow morning to a bruised cheek and elephant man black eye. Ended the evening with a bag of frozen oven chips clamped to my face.
Not sure this is what I signed up for

The adventure starts here

Almost at the end of week 3 of training. Currently veering between 'I can do this, nothing's gonna stop me now!' and 'Dear god what the hell am I thinking'.
Thankfully the snow has stayed away throughout January, although this does mean I have no excuse to speak any mileage. For the first couple of weeks of January you couldn't move for runners on the pavement, we were tripping over each other. Now the new years resolution gang are starting to fade away again.
I have also come to the conclusion that running clothes are just not made to be attractive. Cold weather= running tights which in turn= HOT.
Not.
No pain, no gain.