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.......
Monday 14 February 2011
Wednesday 2 February 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday 26 January 2011
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
Not sure this is what I signed up for
Thursday 20 January 2011
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.
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.
Thursday 11 November 2010
Winter sucks
After the Portsmouth exploits I decided to give myself a well earned rest. One whole week of no training. I've been easing myself back in the last week or two, but am only doing short runs. Come January I will basically have no life so from now until then I am taking it easy! It's no fun running 8, 9 or 10 miles in the dark, wind and rain after work so as I'm not in training at the moment- whyon earth would I bother?
It really is most liberating to decide on the way home 'nah it's raining, I'm not going out in this' and not have to feel guilty about it!
It really is most liberating to decide on the way home 'nah it's raining, I'm not going out in this' and not have to feel guilty about it!
Monday 25 October 2010
Great South Run, Portsmouth. 24th October 2010
I signed up for this race back in March, as I was very keen to compete in a Great Run. What I didn't fully consider at the time was that this would be in Portsmouth. In October. But wait....who knew the sun could shine on the coast of England? We were truly blessed with perfect running conditions- most importantly no rain. Plus, with a race start time of 11am, we didn't have to set off at what usually feels like the middle of the night. Indeed, not encountering Saturday night stop-outs on their way home who look at you like you're mental for being in running shoes at 7am on a Sunday morning made a pleasant change.
One of the best things about these big city races is getting to the start line. Stepping off the train and not having a clue which way to go is always made fun by playing a game of 'follow that runner' and with 23,000 people running this race, we were never going to get lost.
Waiting on the start line, I was nervous as training had been a bit, well -thin the last couple of weeks. I was also thanking the lord I was able to feel my fingers and toes- the sun really did have his hat on by now.
And off we went! The first couple of miles of these big races never feel that tough because you're too busy concentrating on not getting knocked flying.
Usually at this point I start to settle into my steady race pace of about 5.30mins p/km. However, every time I checked my pace was hitting at least 5mins p/km- my 5km or 10km (on a good day) pace. I was flying! Every time I tried to slow myself down I started to feel more tired so decided to keep pushing on. Before I knew it, I was at 5 miles in about 43 minutes. I was easily going to make my target of 1.5hours.
Great support round the course kept me going at this super hero (for me) pace. 7 miles and still going strong- where was this coming from?! However, at this point I knew what was coming- the last two miles straight back along the coast. I was fearing the worst so forced myself to slow down. But rather than the expected sea breeze, I was greeted by simmering heat, which did start to wipe me out. The Bupa energy station (i.e jelly babies) perked me up slightly. But where oh where was the 9 mile marker? It must be coming up soon? After what felt like 3 days it finally appeared. By this point I was almost conked out. But nothing has ever, ever looked so good as that '400 metres to go' sign. I was almost on the verge of tears, and a quick check at the time almost tipped me over the edge. I wasn't just going to make 1.5 hours- I was going to blitz it! In fact, if I could pull out a sprint finish I was going to smash through 1 hour 25 minutes. So some how I forced my jelly legs to move as fast as they possibly could and practically fell over the finish line in 1 hour, 24 minutes and 30 seconds! (The official time later said 1 hour 24 minutes and 44 seconds but my Ipod is usually spot on for time, and other people have said the timing was off so I'm sticking with mine. Up yours Bupa chip timing)
This is the first race when I've genuinely felt in danger of throwing up on the finish line, which I took as a good sign that I'd given it everything I had! I felt slightly delirious for a good 15 minutes after.
Overall, a great race. Fast, super flat course and luckily great weather. Really chuffed with my time and surprisingly my legs felt pretty normal after. I finished in 3660th place which is not too shabby.
All topped off with fish and chips on the pebble beach and a trip round the arcade. Couldn't ask for anything more. Thank you Portsmouth!
One of the best things about these big city races is getting to the start line. Stepping off the train and not having a clue which way to go is always made fun by playing a game of 'follow that runner' and with 23,000 people running this race, we were never going to get lost.
Waiting on the start line, I was nervous as training had been a bit, well -thin the last couple of weeks. I was also thanking the lord I was able to feel my fingers and toes- the sun really did have his hat on by now.
And off we went! The first couple of miles of these big races never feel that tough because you're too busy concentrating on not getting knocked flying.
Usually at this point I start to settle into my steady race pace of about 5.30mins p/km. However, every time I checked my pace was hitting at least 5mins p/km- my 5km or 10km (on a good day) pace. I was flying! Every time I tried to slow myself down I started to feel more tired so decided to keep pushing on. Before I knew it, I was at 5 miles in about 43 minutes. I was easily going to make my target of 1.5hours.
Great support round the course kept me going at this super hero (for me) pace. 7 miles and still going strong- where was this coming from?! However, at this point I knew what was coming- the last two miles straight back along the coast. I was fearing the worst so forced myself to slow down. But rather than the expected sea breeze, I was greeted by simmering heat, which did start to wipe me out. The Bupa energy station (i.e jelly babies) perked me up slightly. But where oh where was the 9 mile marker? It must be coming up soon? After what felt like 3 days it finally appeared. By this point I was almost conked out. But nothing has ever, ever looked so good as that '400 metres to go' sign. I was almost on the verge of tears, and a quick check at the time almost tipped me over the edge. I wasn't just going to make 1.5 hours- I was going to blitz it! In fact, if I could pull out a sprint finish I was going to smash through 1 hour 25 minutes. So some how I forced my jelly legs to move as fast as they possibly could and practically fell over the finish line in 1 hour, 24 minutes and 30 seconds! (The official time later said 1 hour 24 minutes and 44 seconds but my Ipod is usually spot on for time, and other people have said the timing was off so I'm sticking with mine. Up yours Bupa chip timing)
This is the first race when I've genuinely felt in danger of throwing up on the finish line, which I took as a good sign that I'd given it everything I had! I felt slightly delirious for a good 15 minutes after.
Overall, a great race. Fast, super flat course and luckily great weather. Really chuffed with my time and surprisingly my legs felt pretty normal after. I finished in 3660th place which is not too shabby.
All topped off with fish and chips on the pebble beach and a trip round the arcade. Couldn't ask for anything more. Thank you Portsmouth!
Monday 18 October 2010
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