Holding Blog!

I last updated my blog almost a month ago to the day. 

In the last month, very little has changed since my last post.  Well, actually, that isn't strictly true as so very much has changed but I think that's fairly symptomatic of me, my life, my family, my work and the dramas that I perhaps invite into my life!  Having said that, so many of the changes are just life experiences: half-term holiday (not that I actually felt the 'break' in anyway), 10 days of Shanghai experiences and the usual parenthood and being part of an extremely large family.  All good though!  :o)

... and there's the running!  So, I'm still under the care of the docs and not allowed to partake in any endurance running.  Now that I've got my head around it, I'm appreciating the fact that by ignoring the advice is not only ill-advised it's also incredibly selfish considering that I have two beautiful princesses at home.  So I am being good (ish), by not pounding the roads or treadmill for hours on end.  I am still running and probably pushing myself a little harder than what the doctor suggested but I've capped myself to 40 minutes (5 miles) but typically am working at 4 miles (30 minutes) sessions on the treadmill followed by low impact cross-training (stair master, rowing machines etc).  Basically, I think I'm maintaining a reasonable level of fitness although any modicum of marathon fitness definitely appears to have gone by the wayside!

It's now only 13 days until the Hereward relay that I have spent almost a year thinking about. Something fairly meaningless to perhaps so many people but it has been an incredible driving force for me.  An event that both filled me with utter dread but also instilled a sense of excitement, anticipation, pride and determination in me.  A challenge that amongst so many of my commitments, seemed nigh on impossible but was the one challenge that I was hoping to be able to tackle.  I can't say that there isn't an impending sadness that I will be reading results from perhaps 30-40 runners who have completed the 2012 event and thinking that perhaps it will be me one day.  Just not this year, it would seem.

My next tests are in 5 weeks from now (not that I'm counting).  I'm being so good with my vitamins, my diet and my medication... and desperately hoping that my red blood cell count, cell size and haemoglobin levels are all 'normal' (Not that I could ever claim to be normal!)  and that I can then begin planning my 'redemption' event.  I'm focusing on being able to plan for something else albeit from an unknown quantity.  I'm yet to start looking into events for next year as I don't want to pin my hopes onto something if my physical state and lack of training isn't conducive to marathon success - I need for my physical state to be a known quantity before I begin committing to anything.... frustrating but sensible!

In the meantime, bring on the gym and low impact training.  :o)

Shifting the Goal Posts!

Being forced to take a detour from the planned route!

So, I've avoided writing for the past couple of weeks.  My last blog, which whilst fairly brief, was so very upbeat.  It was the first time in a couple of months where I was actually enjoying my running again.  The legs had started to feel recovered and I was willing Leicester City Marathon on.  In what was always going to be a year of 'highs and lows' of my running, I had definitely found myself climbing back up the hill onto a high again.  Such a good feeling!

Then life and reality kicked in again, with a vengeance!  The difficult term, increased working hours and life pressures had started to take their toll.  I love my job, my children and my life and always knew that the marathon challenge given my circumstances was going to have its pitfalls and prove to be far more a challenge than what most people would anticipate.  I recall talking through my circumstances back in February when I first started blogging and felt that it was these very same reasons (demanding job, single mum, large family etc) that simply added more value to my running challenge for the year.  Perhaps I hadn't anticipated the severity and impact of such a personal task for the year. 

Today, I am 42 weeks into my 48 week training plan.  I should be sat here tonight simply beaming having completed marathon number 5 of the year.  I should have driven home tonight, sore and aching after running all 26.2 miles of the Leicester City Marathon.  I knew my running wasn't as strong as it was back in May but it was certainly stronger, or rather I felt stronger, than I had 6 weeks ago at Wolverhampton.  The past two weeks however have served to create a total about turn on the training and marathon front - if only for now.  Having experienced so many minor niggles on the health front over the past couple of weeks:  lethargy, pins and needles, breathlessness, nausea, dizziness, sore throat to name but a few, I finally conceded and visited the doctor.  (If the truth be known, I think I'd grown tolerant to almost all of the above over the past couple of months but facing a marathon today and a work trip to China next week meant that I wasn't prepared to leave my sore throat go unchecked any longer.)  A couple of blood tests later and I'm suddenly diagnosed with Chronic Anaemia.  That in itself isn't the end of the world rather than my lack of iron and B12 seems unexplained - it's certainly not due to a poor diet.  Given my lethargy and rapid heartbeat/breathlessness when walking up the stairs, the doc said that I shouldn't be running today.  I'm told that endurance athletes are more susceptible to anaemia although I thought I'd been careful in terms of nutrients and food intake this year.  Either way, I'm currently facing a road block and a diversion sign!

Three weeks ago, I was counting down the days until marathon number 5; today I'm counting my woes.  Actually, I'd spent the best part of the week resigning myself to the fact that I wouldn't be competing today so busied myself with my children instead.  To be fair, I've felt incredibly tired, aching and nauseous so the thought of running at all brought no hankering or sense of regret.  I did run 5 miles on Friday night which felt slow but good - I'm determined to not lose all of my fitness over the next couple of weeks whilst I'm in the recovery process but it's brought about a reassessment of my training plans and forced a shift in the goal posts.  Today was supposed to be marathon number 5 - a fairly gentle marathon with a short recovery and then counting down to the big one.  The target event of the Hereward Relay Challenge as a 40 mile ultra race is the one event that my year has been gearing towards.

I leave for China on Saturday with work so will be spending this week getting ahead in terms of work but also trying to reconfigure my running agenda - I shall wait outcomes of tests and appointments first so that I have a foundation on which to build.  As I sign off tonight, it is for the first time in 42 weeks that I no longer have a clear plan.  I'm now looking forward to getting better and deciding where exactly the goal posts will be moved to. 

I'm far from ready to finish... merely facing another hurdle in a long year!

Loving it!

Not enough hours to train but enjoying every session all the more for it!

Well, more than two weeks since my last update and I'm going to keep this one brief.  If it weren't for the fact that I'm in the throws of work which seems to be sapping every spare second of my time, I would have blogged before now or would be making the most of this update... alas.

Anyway, this is the first blog in quite some time where I'm not only an eager beaver in terms of wanting to train, I'm actually loving it - all over again!  After my lull over the summer where every step felt like a slog (worse than that, it actually hurt) to the point where I wasn't enjoying running and had to talk myself into training each day, I've now moved on.  Although my training opportunities are severely limited due to the commencement of a new term and having the girls at home with me - not to mention a new job (hours are even more demanding), I'm actually looking forward to my training sessions and enjoying them.  My legs are feeling good and my times are improving again.  In fact, I'm back to that stage that I know so many runners will identify with, whereby I'm actually getting itchy feet that are desperate to get out and run each day.  (Oh, how I've missed this feeling!)

I'm now more than 39 weeks into my 48 week plan (I know - where did these last few weeks suddenly disappear to?) and I'm enjoying the challenge in the same way that I did during those early weeks of enthusiastic running.  I still cannot quite get my head around the fact that in just a few weeks time, I'm going to be starting (and hopefully finishing) the Hereward Ultra race.  In fact, having just looked at the history of the finishing times, I get so nervous as I know I really cannot compete with the competitors finishing times to date... my coping mechanism, therefore, is to not think about it and to simply concentrate on each of my individual training runs and the next couple of weeks ahead. 

I've moved on from the early stages of training in that I can now look forward to the next marathon rather than the next training run and am actually looking forward to my next challenge.

Training since Wolverhampton has been varied and generally fairly pleasing. 
The week directly after was a slow, recovery week with a couple of 5km jogs but nothing more.  The following week saw me start to build up again, culminating with a 17 mile (very slow) run starting at Walsham and through the surrounding villages (was meant to be 16 miles but it would appear that both my friend Emma (bike support) and I have a dreadful sense of direction.  I really enjoyed this (despite the warm weather) and actually felt as if I could take on the world again. 
Last week saw me having the girls virtually every night so it was a case of stealing 30-45 minutes after work where possible.  On the plus side, the lack of long runs meant that I could focus on my speed work and even knocked out a 4 miler in 29.40 (slow for some but it's the fastest I've ran since May). 

My plans for the next week or so in terms of running:
Today - rest day (not by choice - work and family dictate this)
Tuesday - 10km (hard)
Weds - 5-6 miles (easy)
Thurs - rest day
Friday - 5km jog
Saturday - 20 mile slow training run.
Sunday - rest day.
The week thereafter will include a couple of 8 milers (I hope) but generally slowing down a little bit in preparation for Leicester on the 14th October.

I'm really hoping that I can work well over the next week/two weeks and benefit from some decent training.  First and foremost, I want to complete the Leicester marathon but more than that, whilst I may not be at the standard I was in April/May, I'd quite like to achieve something to be reasonably proud of. 

To finish - all is good in my running world today.  What a difference it makes to my life... the same works in return!  :o)

I am the Wolverhampton Wanderer! :)

Marathon 4 of the year - check!

To start...  I have recently read a couple of articles on the causes and symptoms of over-training which transpired to be a bit of an eye-opener for me...

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/overtraining/#axzz257uDWzZQ

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/overtraining/a/aa062499a.htm

Thankfully, without even reading the articles, I knew that I had been struggling with the running and had taken steps to cross-train when the running was proving difficult.  As per my last update, I genuinely felt that I had recovered from the over-training but was grappling with the simple fact that a marathon was fast descending upon me and the preparation was more a case of 'under-prepared'.  Having just read through my last post, it's clear that writing that particular update proved to be a real turning point for me.  After a definite period of over-training, I was on the verge of either reducing the event to a half-marathon or not competing at all.  Whilst actually writing the blog, my mindset changed.  What was very much a starting state of feeling defeatist, by the end of the post, I had regained some of my fight and optimism again.

I knew that I was not of the ability to complete the marathon with any amazing times or at a pace to be proud of but I also knew that my 2012 challenge was matter of completing the marathons.  By the time I'd finished my post, I was very much of the state of mind that I'd rather start and struggle with the marathon but complete it, however slowly, than to not even participate at all.  So complete it I did!

Last Saturday therefore saw me, my girls and my sister-in-law Tara head across to Wolverhampton.  A good feed up on the Saturday night, X-Factor in bed and chilling with my book was in order.  For the first time in years I wasn't at all nervous.  I think that the decision to take part and complete the event in the knowledge that I wasn't strong enough to achieve a time to be proud of, really took the pressure off me. 

So, I took it slowly!  What started off as a cloudy morning soon became a sunny and warm day but the early (9.15am) start time saw most of the race underway before the heat kicked in.  I ran the first 9.5 miles with a lovely man, Scott, who was struggling and eventually pulled out.  The pace was extremely slow and although it cost me more time, it also provided me with pleasant company and a gentle start to a long run.  Once Scott pulled out, I felt ready to up the pace and push myself a little more although I wasn't working at any kind of level that would have achieved a good time and I was genuinely OK with that.  My breathing was good, legs were feeling fine and I was enjoying myself.  The course was two laps that started from West Park in the centre of the city and worked its way further afield.  I had imagined that the second lap would feel rather deathly having to go through it all again but it was anything but.

During the 19th mile, my calf muscles ceased up so I had to power walk for a couple of minutes.  This became a bit of a pattern throughout the last 7 or so miles.  Walking for 1 minute, running for as many minutes as I could (sometimes 1, other times I completed almost a mile).  Strangely enough, when I was capable of running, my pace (9 minute miling) was the same as that during miles 10-18.  So even with walking, I was clocking sub 11 minute miles for the remainder of the event.  I somehow (not sure how) managed to hold and even improve my placing throughout these last miles.  I suspect that my incredibly slow start played a very large part in terms of the fellow competitors I was mixing with in the latter stages of the race.

I eventually finished in 4hr26 minutes.  I could perhaps have shaved 10 minutes off this if I hadn't ran with Scott BUT it still wouldn't have been a time to be proud of and it enabled me to enjoy the event that much more.

All in all despite the time which, although slow, was a time I had anticipated I completed it.  I even had surplus energy reserves, ending with a slight sprint finish and a smile upon my face.  My placing (not great, 150th finisher out of 260) was still amazingly showing me as the 16th female overall and the 4th finisher in my category.  My legs are recovering nicely since the weekend which is one of the few bonuses of having a 'lazy' marathon so I should be able to up the miles without too much stress. 

 

So, now here I am, more than 36 weeks into my training plan with fewer than 12 weeks to go until the ultra-race and I'm actually feeling positive.  I have 5 weeks and 3 days until the Leicester City Marathon and am looking forward to it.  Bring it on!

Downer!

Struggling to pull things around!

I haven't written a new post in this blog for almost 3 weeks and have been actively avoiding doing so.  This summer is proving to be a particularly low period for me on the endurance running front.  Lower than I had imagined and low for a whole myriad of reasons, not least of which is the battle with getting my head into the game.

It has been a tough few weeks aside of running (long story, lots of details but not worth boring the reader over) but the ultimate outcome has been a set back on an emotional, physical and psychological level.  After my last post, I had just received a massage and was looking forward to a 14 mile training run with Zoe M.  It turned out to be a hot day and one that reminded me that I simply do not cope with running in the heat.  At the end of mile 9, my back and right calf started playing up so the next couple of miles became intermittent with running, jogging and walking.  Zoe was her usual great self, so full of praise and encouragement but I simply slogged my way through running for the last 10 minutes and finally completed a 12.25 mile session in 2 hours.  Two days later however, I managed 11 treadmill miles without too much difficulty but was conscious that my right calf felt tight.

Other than that, I've been exercising at every opportunity but several factors have been limiting my training, my progress and my confidence.  Firstly, having the children at home with me over the holidays has meant that I'm not able to 'steal an hour here or an hour there' after work and when I have been able to find the time, I've been pretty much limited to an hour on most occasions so the distances aren't really happening.  The heat (even on those days that aren't actually that hot) seems to affect me as soon as the temperature reaches 20.  The last couple of weeks in particular seemed to feel so muggy (and an awful lot hotter in the gym) that even when my muscles and breathing are up to par, my head isn't.  I suspect that most of my lack of progress is mental although I certainly haven't been shying off training. 

Having had a week in Devon with my niece and daughters, I ran most mornings (5-6 miles) although the Brixham terrain is slightly different to that of Suffolk.  Hills galore and woodland were both welcomed and beautiful but extremely tough.  That said, my training time was limited to 50 minutes maximum and whilst maintaining a reasonable level of fitness, the progress isn't being made.  I had originally intended on running a longer distance this last weekend but well, after running on both Saturday and Sunday morning at 7am and literally melting whilst doing so, yet another weekend has gone by without any more than a 5 miler as a training run.  So, having ran a marathon almost 6 weeks ago, my longest distances since, were over 2 weeks ago and nowhere near long enough to give me the confidence in myself in this next impending challenge!

I've always prided myself on my fight and ability to grit my teeth and work through even the toughest of situations but I'm genuinely struggling to keep my head held high and believe in myself where training this summer has been concerned.  Each and every time I head out for a run with the best of intentions, I seem to find the whole session a bit torturous - give me a step machine or a bike however and it seems to be a different story.  Still, I'm trying and am really hoping to get 8 miles completed tomorrow evening.  I have a couple of opportunities this week to train although nothing more than an hour until this weekend.  I'm hoping that some rain at the weekend will enable me to get some miles in - from that point onwards, I'll be in a better position to determine just how I'm going to cope with Wolverhampton.  I'm so worried that I won't get around or that I'm so under prepared that it will be 5 hours of torture - or worse, that it'll knock every bit of confidence out of me where the running is concerned ahead of future events.  On the flip-side, by not even attempting it or by reducing it to a half-marathon training run in preparation for other events, I know that I'll be 'failing' in the challenge that I've set myself by my own volition.  Given that I set myself this challenge for my own personal reasons, I'm just not fully prepared to give up on Wolverhampton. 

So, from this point onward, I'm just going to (try to) remain positive and give it my best, although my best may just not be good enough on the day.  TRYING to keep some of my grit and determination about me (just worried, under prepared and terrified of the heat, the hurt and stuffing up)!

Holidays, Heat and Training

Trying To Stay Motivated!

It has now been almost 3 weeks since my last marathon and only a month until my next challenge.  I have, as planned, allowed my body to get some well needed rest and am now in a position where I can kick start the training back in again.  If I'm honest, allowing myself to rest came so much easier than I had thought - not only was I physically incapable of running (I hurt beyond belief in the days following the last venture), I was also extremely tired and, to boot, had also managed to lose the will to even 'want' to run! 

I had anticipated that the end of term tiredness and emotional state would kick in at some point and when factoring a marathon into the equation, I was even more tired than I had planned for.  The inevitable need for rest and anything other than running had, by mid July became too much to ignore.  Perfect timing!

So, in the days following the marathon, I ran very little but instead swam, walked and used the stepping machine.  For someone who has been a hobby runner for years, I'm surprised as to how much I had stopped enjoying the running and have really appreciated the lack of intensive training runs.  On the downside, my muscles have clearly suffered as a result of the marathon training: the constant fatigue, tightness and ache in them has not been fun.  To the point that even the gentlest of runs has been painfully hard and any real exertion has produced a much lower performance than I thought could ever be the case.  If nothing else, I've learnt that repeated training at this level actually lowers performance.  I suspect that a lack of stretching, recovery exercises and rest before setting the training in again has ultimately not served me well.

Note to self - RECOVERY is as important as the training:

http://www.howtobefit.com/marathon-recovery.htm

I knew when I actually ran the endurance event in July that I wasn't really prepared for it.  The over training between Edinburgh and the track event had knocked me back.  So, now I'm in a position where I've had to rest and am now trying to pick up the pieces and train for another event that is only 4.5 weeks away - Wolverhampton.  Having spoke to a few people, read several forums and actually applied some common sense, I've now put together a training plan that will, I hope, give me a chance of coping with the next marathon.  In reality, however, I've lost some of the enthusiasm that I had at the start of the year and the warm weather isn't doing me any favours... with this in mind, I'll happily take getting round unscathed!

My training over the last week (1.5 weeks after the marathon):
w/c 23rd July (start of school holidays, woo hoo)
Monday - around Nowton Park.  Hot, slow and very difficult but actually easier than I thought may be the case
Tuesday - 5 treadmill miles
Wednesday - 5km (slow and painful) followed by 20 minutes of cardio on the step machine (my right calf and Achilles were really not good!)
Friday - 10km on the treadmill and surprisingly easy!  Go figure.
Saturday - 10 miles in total but over two sittings (6 miles and 4 miles) before heading out on the hen night for the lovely Jess. 
Sunday - I had hoped for a few slow miles but too many Pimms and Wine on Saturday put pay to that.  (FYI, too many Pimms by my standards probably serves as little more than an aperitif for most hen party participants; I am officially dreadful at drinking.)

So, now well over two weeks since the last marathon, my legs should be feeling OK but yet the fatigue has still been prominent.  5 miles on Tuesday felt slow, painful and almost unbearable at times.  Until today that is when Sheryl worked her sports therapy magic on my legs.  This afternoon I actually feel as if someone has given me a new pair as an early Christmas present.  So today, Wednesday, I wanted to enjoy this feeling of happy legs a little longer so merely worked for half an hour on the stepping machine.  Tonight I plan on drinking plenty of water and am hoping to complete a slow 14 miler tomorrow, Thursday (hopefully with a cycling companion in Zoe).  I think my legs are ready and mentally, I'm ready to give it a go but I'm also nervous.  Ridiculous really given that I know I can do this but I've been shying away from any distances and hard miles of late so this really does feel like yet another challenge to overcome!  Rest day on Friday, a short run on Saturday and hopefully 10+ miles on Sunday with a few of the Pacers.  Bring it on!

I hope that tomorrow works well for me so that I can actually look forward to Wolverhampton in the way that I had originally set out to do almost 32 weeks ago!

Marathon Hurdle Number 3 - Done and Dusted! Woo hooooo! xxx

Who would have thought that running round an athletics track could be so rewarding?

Well, today, 15th July should have been marathon number 3 but my last minute decision to change the event to an endurance track run on Thursday instead was SO the right move.  If nothing else, having the freedom to lay in bed today having already completed a marathon this week felt REALLY good!  Although, my calves may have a different opinion of what 'really good' feels like for they, most certainly do not feel 'really good'.

However, my marathon number 3 of the year is now complete!  As of today, I have now ran for 29 of my scheduled 48 weeks and completed 3 of my marathons.  That's me being well and truly past the half way mark!  Woo hoo!

As planned a couple of weeks back, I'd made the decision to run on Thursday.  Very low key in many respects as it was me running during my school's annual sports festival.  Running round and round (and round and round) the West Suffolk athletics track.  As part of the festival's opening ceremony, my challenge for the day was announced to the students.  Where I have been casually raising sponsorship for Macmillan Cancer Support, I'd chosen that any funds raised that day would donated to Sports for Rwanda, in line with the basis on which our sports festivals are built.

The set up for the day is that the opening ceremony finishes at 10.20am whereby the 'games' begin which, with the lunch, the games continue until nearly 2.40.  Just in time for the closing ceremony.  Given that our closing ceremony included the welcoming of a couple of the Rwandan Olympic athletes, it was to be quite a big deal.  My running therefore was limited to a little over 4 hours. 

If the truth be known, this suited me to the very core!  As per my last updates, the past 6 or so weeks have been really tough in terms of maintaining the training and my recovery between runs (I wholly accept that running 21 miles TOO fast only 18 days after Edinburgh was more than a bit foolish... Oh, the beauty of hindsight).  With this in mind, anything I achieved on Thursday was going to be less than anything I am truly capable of and would, therefore, be an achievement in its own right.  I was set on completing a marathon but with the time allowance being a lot less than originally anticipated, I wasn't going to complete much more... although once I'd set off, I was still hoping that I could push for 120 laps (30 miles).

So, my first lap started at 10:25am, anti-clockwise around the track.  Before the end of my first lap, a sixth former joined me and the company began.  Sometimes I was joined by only 2-3 others (students and staff), others by entire tutor groups and more... I think (although I could have been slightly delirious) that there was in excess of 100 students/staff with me at one point.  I am especially grateful to Simon (teacher) who ran with me throughout what could have been a very lonely and quiet lunch hour; to Ali (teacher) who pushed himself harder than he had in years and completed 10 miles with me; to Brian (teacher)who has over the past few years lost 7 stone in weight and managed the last 9 miles with me.  More than this however, the many laps run by staff and students on and off.  Joe (Year 12) who also kept me company over lunch and beyond with nearly 10 miles of company and the Year 11 lads (Oli and Jordan) who completed the last 8 miles with me.  Over and above this was the overwhelming support by the many students and staff who kept me focused and positive with their many words of encouragement and cheers throughout the entire day.  The weather was far too hot for my liking (on the ONLY day of sunshine this week, it happened to be sun-burning hot - this transpires to be the day THE day that I ran a marathon).

I was slow, really slow and my calves hurt, really hurt!  My 'clicker-counter' for each lap became my new best friend.  Initially I counted in 20's up until 60 laps in.  I then counted to 70, to 80, to 85, to 90, to 92 and then stayed in 2's from thereon in.  I knew that 104 laps was 26 miles and once I'd reached 85 laps, I was just working towards the marathon or rather 105 laps to give me those important extra few hundred metres.

Once I'd reached 100 laps, it suddenly all felt easier.  Those last few laps seemed to fly by and I suspect that my mental state released chemicals that helped to kill the pain!  One or our students who had been selected as a torchbearer ran the last lap with me (this was meant to be the 105th lap) but being that I was part of a school event, things could never go quite to plan and at the end of this lap, the Year 6 Primary School dance was well underway... I was then told to run around again (actually, I think I was asked to stop but I didn't cotton on to the waving by other members of staff until too late) and then ran another lap... this felt amazingly easy!  So, I finished after 106 laps or 26.5miles.  Around 4hr 15 mins of very slow running but I loved it, really loved it.  (Apart from the times where it felt really hard and I kept snivelling to myself.  Oh, and the time that my left calf seemed to cramp up.  And the time that I bent down to get my sports drink and felt a sharp pain in my back when standing up again.)

I'd originally intended to change direction at various points throughout the day but I can't bear running clockwise around the track.  Psychologically, stopping to do an about turn was more than what I could handle.  This was absolutely fine on the day but my goodness, I felt the inner/outer abs on my left hand side come Friday!

So today, my abs feel fine.  My quads and hamstrings are amazingly fine but my calves are stinging like you wouldn't believe.  A gentle swim yesterday, a gentle walk today and lots of sleep has and continues to do me the power of good. 

Next steps - another week or so without any real runs and then a sensible training plan to build me up to Wolverhampton which is 7 weeks from now.  I think I'll walk, swim and use the rower over the next few days although my training this week is severely limited on the basis that I'm working, hosting tea-parties and have the girls everyday/night with the exception of Thursday.  Me, being me, thinks that this constraint is probably a good thing right now.  Recovery most certainly aides improved results... advice I really need to pay heed to!

So, 19 weeks to go and Wolverhampton is my next hurdle on the horizon.  Bring it on.  :o)

Heat - Eugh and Last Minute Amendments!

Dilemmas, decisions and discipline needed!

Please excuse the fact that I didn't post an update last night but a faulty laptop and post-weekend away catch up won!

Anyway, it has now been 15 days since my last update and although my legs are beginning to recover nicely, my ability to run fast (by my standards) seems to have gone by the way side.  If I'm truly honest, this is definitely attributable to the fact that my work/family/social life balance have been winning over the training where motivation is concerned.  The training has been happening - just somewhat half-heartedly at times.  I'm still awaiting a much needed massage which I'm hoping is going to happen this week although, my legs feel infinitely better than was the case a fortnight ago.   I think I need to be really disciplined over the next couple of weeks!

SO, I don't have any major excuse for not training and have been trying to stick to some sort of training plan that would both enable my legs to recover and also help to prepare me for my next marathon venture.  In my last post, I said that I would try to spend a week mixing up other cardio-vascular routines with running which actually worked quite well.  Over a period of 5 training sessions, I mixed running with using the step-machine.  So ample time was given to training but running was limited to between 5k and 10km per session:

Monday 18th June - Interval training - 10km treadmill run plus 40 minutes of step machine
Weds 20th - 5 mile run
Thursday 21st - 6 mile run after work plus 40 minutes of step machine
Friday - 10km broken into a 4 mile, 6am session and a 2.25 mile jog after work
Sunday - 5km hill running (on the road) in Derbyshire.  This REALLY hurt but that wasn't down to tired legs, or pushing it too hard but more a case of Southern Jessie tackling the hills.  In total- fractionally under 27 miles.  Nowhere near enough to bank a reasonable marathon time but very well needed plenty of cardio-vascular endurance in there too.

Last week was disappointing in terms of getting the miles in but the effort was there - although the heat wasn't my friend.
A good start to training with 8 comfortable miles on Tuesday.  What was meant to be 18 long miles after work on Thursday (knowing that I was away at the weekend) was a struggle.  I hadn't arranged for a running partner/bike support so figured that the headphones, treadmill and the tv was a sad but acceptable alternative.  That seemed like a good idea until the lack of air-conditioning, lots of bodies and a very hot gym got in the way.  So nigh on 2 hours later, I'd managed plenty of exercise but only around 8 miles of actual running.  So physically hot, that I constantly moved between power walking (sub 12 minute miling), the step machine and actual running (8 minute miling).  To compensate for this, I ran 11 miles from my sister's house on Friday which was a slow, training run.  Having worked quite hard the day before, I couldn't have been much quicker anyway and it was intended to be a training run anyway.    The girls rode their bikes for a short while so that I could jog next to them on Sunday.  In total, around 29 miles this week which is still 5 or so miles fewer than I had planned for.

This brings the first dilemma - I really want to get another slightly longer session in prior to the next marathon but don't want to wait until the weekend as the event is only a week or so away now.  With this in mind, my schedule for the week:

Monday - STRAIGHT after work, 12 miles (ideally more if time permits before collecting the girls)
Tuesday - camping with the school but may be able to squeeze 10km in
Weds - 4 early morning miles, ideally
Thursday - Rest
Friday - 6 miles
Saturday - rest PLUS the Olympic Torch relay passes through Bury St Edmunds (very excited)
Sunday - 6 miles... I hope!

This also leads me to my second dilemma.  I have been working towards my marathon event number 3 of the year.  Fairlands Valley marathon event in Stevenage on 15th July.  This was always going to be difficult event as it's cross-country (which is ok, just a bit daunting) but is also the day after a wedding - my head won't want to know.  I've also just figured out that through a careless lack of planning on my part, I skipped the small print stating that it's not a properly marshalled event and is a bit of an orienteering challenge for the vast majority of the marathon distance (slightly longer than a marathon at 26.4 miles, IF I don't get lost).  This 'orienteering' I'm not up for when running by myself with only a small field of competitors... I'm going to have some experience of this in my ultra-race at the end of the year but not to the extent of this marathon.  That's the sort of thing I'd rather do with a large group of runners and make it a day of fun, just for the sake of it.  Having said that, with Summer being the season of shorter distances, there aren't many local marathons in the offing (plenty abroad - perhaps I should have been more willing to spend out on yet another weekend away and planned for it accordingly).  So, what to do, what to do? 

The decision:  As a teacher, my school holds an awesome 'sports day' every year, or rather a sports festival.  As part of that, the lovely Zoe has organised a staff running-relay.  A relay that will see a constant flow of teachers/support staff running around the West Suffolk Athletics track for the full 5.5 hours of the sports day, all in a relay, each running from 5 minutes upwards (most running for approximately 20-30 minutes), all in aid of Sports for Rwanda/Sports Relief.  As an alternative to an orienteering marathon that I'm really not brave enough to run, I am going to run a longer than planned for marathon for the full 5 and a half hours to support the staff in their relay and as a constant challenge for me.  Each lap of the track being 400 metres (1/4 mile) for a full day.  I have no idea how this will pan out for me.  The terrain will be easy (flat, track).  The support will be amazing (900 students and staff in the vicinity plus another member of staff on the track lapping me throughout the day, I hope).  The preparation has been going.... ok.... The only things against me are the lack of SERIOUS distances over the past 3-4 weeks, my legs don't feel as strong as they perhaps should, the weather (in whatever form that may be) and the sheer endurance of pure track running for such a long period of time (I've estimated that I could probably complete between 120-132 laps of the track or 30-33 miles). 

Now that I've made the executive decision for this to be the case (assuming that the weather doesn't defer the sports day until the following week), I'm hugely excited about the whole thing... a real sense of trepidation too but excited all the same.

I just now need to ensure that I train tonight, ease up properly, eat and drink properly over the next couple of weeks and then, well, act like Forrest and run! 

New Shoes, New Routes, New Aches and Pains!

Factoring in the off-road miles.

Well, this is the blog where I should be feeling rather chuffed with myself. This weekend saw the end of 25 weeks of training which means I have well and truly passed the half-way point in my 50 (actually 48 weeks) of training. This should be a good feeling - one where I can tell myself that I have worked really hard to achieve something, despite the many odds of 'my busy life' being against me. In part, of course I feel like this... I'd be mad not to acknowledge the fact that I've reached the hump in terms of my training time. If the truth be known, however, I'm having a week of feeling overwhelmed.

I may have survived the half-way point in terms of time but the real challenges are yet to come. I've still only completed 2 of the scheduled 6 marathons, 2 of the next 4 are off-road and the last is an ultra-race. So many of the first 16 weeks of training were building up to and becoming physically strong enough to cope with the demands of a marathon. My current state of training is about maintaining the momentum, distance and making the transition to factor in more off road running. I had seriously underestimated just how hard this would be and trying to run 20+ milers every 3 weeks as part of my 'training' is now taking its toll on me. I'm seriously struggling to find the time needed to put these distances in and then recover quickly enough to get back on with my life again with legs that are also beginning to command some recovery time. I think that any normal marathon runner would train for and participate in a marathon and then spend the next month or so avoiding running like the plague. For me, this hasn't been the case. Although I've allowed myself some recovery time, the very nature of the my frequency of marathons has meant that the recovery periods are short.

Now that the throws of work have kicked back in, the sleep is also beginning to suffer again.

SO - factoring in the off-road running, severe lack of sleep, sore (sometimes intensely so) legs - especially the Achilles and insufficient recovery time, I'm physically not feeling in a 'good place' this week. BUT it's all self-inflicted and as much as there's a need for this to be addressed, it's my place to address it!

The past week hasn't served me well at all:
10km at Nowton Park on the Monday (11th June)
Thursday saw me run 20.75miles (33.2km) on the treadmill AFTER 9 hours at work, following a 5 hour night's sleep... this felt ok (although I have NEVER ran 3 hours on a treadmill before).
4 miles at Nowton Park on Friday (this was horrid - legs were like lumps of concrete).
I was planning on running 8-9 miles on the Sunday evening but my legs were too sore to even knock out one mile. Instead I went on the stepping machine for 25 minutes and then headed out on my bike for a half-hour burn out.  None of which has been helped by my daughters' hamster dying yesterday.  Two forlorn children; one formal burial and a whole lot of hole digging (for the coffin) has only served to add to the stresses, trials and tribulations of a single, working, running mum's life!

My plans for this week are trying to keep active but also to respect the aches and pains a little.
Monday - 10km run and 35 minute stepping machine.
Tuesday - No exercise (work and girls)
Wednesday - 1 hour of tempo training on the treadmill if the legs allow it. Cross training otherwise.
Thursday - Some gentle exercise - maybe a slow (VERY slow) 4 mile jog
Friday - Bury 5 (if the legs can cope)
Saturday/Sunday - I'm away for the weekend but would quite like to try and squeeze in a 10 mile run (somehow).... although this is very much dependent upon the legs!

If all goes well this week and that my legs are able to recover a little, then I'm really looking to up the off-road miles next week but for now, let my legs get through this week first. To say that I'm nervous about a multi-terrain marathon in under 4 weeks is playing it down a little. I'm excited about it and am telling myself just to enjoy the experience but I would always want to do myself proud.  I know that with my legs feeling the stresses of training as has been the case over the past few days, then this is unlikely to be the case. I will, therefore, allow sense and sensibility to prevail when necessary. (Or am I just telling myself that in order to placate myself?)

Anyway - I have new trainers which I'm hoping aren't contributing towards my niggles. I've changed the terrain a little... I'm hoping this won't contribute towards my niggles. I NEED sleep which really won't help the niggles so intend on getting a couple of earlier nights in.... on that note, at nearly 11pm already, I'm risking falling at the first hurdle!

Edinburgh Marathon 2012

Edinburgh Marathon via Garmin Forerunner

Marathon Hurdle Number 2 - Check!

Edinburgh - done and dusted!

Well, a week or so after my last post and 8 days since my second Marathon hurdle of the year - and I still have the 'tan line' medals to prove it!

After my last update where it was evident that my nerves were picking up again, I found myself, yet again, looking for reasons to not take part.  The heat - yes, it was hot but that's no excuse.  The tiredness - yes, I was absolutely shattered but did I ever think that running a marathon at this point in the academic year would be anything different?  Tiredness is no excuse.  My tonsillitis - OK, fair point but I was nowhere near as bad as I could have been and was definitely out of the 'other side' by the time race day came so that's no excuse.  SO, being all out of excuses, I ran on Sunday 27th May as planned and trained for.

After a long drive up with my friend Emma and two of our children on Friday night, the 380 mile journey (not 360 as expected) which saw the most beautiful sunset, not one but TWO speed camera episodes, 3 burger/loo stops, lots of gossip and the entire world put to rights, we finally arrived at our hotel at 12.30am.  I'd love to claim careful planning on my part but it was purely coincidental that our hotel was about 20 seconds from the A1 and extremely close to the finish line - this made life SO easy on Sunday.

Saturday was spent being a lazy tourist in the city - I haven't been to Edinburgh in years and forgot just how beautiful it was.  Although the heat and lack of desire to be a tourist on a mission saw us spend the best part of the day sat by the new parliament building paddling pools and in restaurants although the castle and park were duly visited.  Too hot and sunny to even want to do any more than that, factor in the fact that I was running a marathon the very next day and the urge to be any more active on the Saturday was in serious decline!  I did however run (well, jog) a couple of slow miles early on the Saturday morning which, as expected, added to my nerves as it was already hot, hot, hot!

So, after a lovely day on Saturday, lots of pizza, olives, pasta and water (SO much water, having an aversion to running in the heat, I was taking no risks here.), I managed a reasonably early night.  A good feed up on Sunday morning, a taxi drive to the start with some random fellow marathon runners staying at my hotel, a mocha in a nice little cafe near the start line (I was, unbelievably, early for once in my life) and several loo visits, I was in my starting bay and a bag of nerves but ready to start.  The temperature at this point was a mild 15 degrees. 

The course itself is beautiful: starting in the centre of Edinburgh and moving out and down along the East coast, following a loop back on itself and finishing near Musselburgh Race Course.  I actually quite enjoyed most of the run and made a point to run at a pace that I might perhaps have felt a little fast but I knew that I would suffer in the heat and wanted to get as many miles under my belt before that time.  This was a REALLY good move and was on for a PB until well over 20 miles in.  My 30km split was 2 minutes ahead of the same split in Milan but then the heat really kicked in.  In the early stages along the edge of the coast, it was beautiful, sunny and benefited from the sea breeze.  By 12pm, this was NOT the case and by 1pm, I was desperate for a breeze, some shade and a light shower.  Sadly, nothing other than heat and sun!  I spent very little of the entire run without a bottle in hand and made sure that I took every opportunity to drink before and throughout the event - SUCH a good move as there were an awful lot of people not looking too well at the edge of the course, especially in the last few miles. 

By mile 21, nausea had kicked in and the pace slowed.  My earlier average of 8.25-8.40 minutes/mile changed slowed to 9 minute miles and at one point, I'm sure I clocked a 9.30 mile.  The typical mind over matter and literally 'talking myself through' the steps, the 400 metre marks (1/4 of a mile, 1 lap of the track) throughout the last 3 miles was SO hard.... and then, suddenly, I saw the 26 mile marker.  Lord only knows how but I then sped up.  My elation was so great I think that I managed to speed up to an 8 minute/mile average for this last section.  The little video of the finish clip that I have actually shows me speeding up and overtaking.  (To be fair, I was probably running so very slowly but others were running slower still.  I'm more than willing to admit just how deceptive the video actually looks.)

My final finishing time: 3:49:43  Exactly 95 seconds slower than Milan but given the conditions, I'm really pleased with this.  A part of me is berating myself for not going faster but sore hips kicked in at 18 miles and I genuinely couldn't have done any better.  Hence, I'm trying to focus on the fact that I did as well as I did.

My placing:  I was the 1991st finisher in Milan of approximately 6000 finishers.  In Edinburgh, approximately 23000 runners, I was the 1992nd finisher.  On that basis, I'm all the more proud of my time.

My highlight however was being passed by runners from Norfolk Harriers and Wymondham running club in the early stages but passing ALL of them again in the last 5-6 miles of the course.  Good to see other local East Anglia runners in the event but better to have beaten them (forever the competitor)!

Even happier when I arrived back in Suffolk after the long, stiff and tiring 380 mile journey home again.

So, the last week has seen me recovering from sore hips and tight hamstrings.  A lovely massage from Sheryl and I'm ready to go again.  I only ran 8 miles last week and have been deliberately lazy.  This week picks up the miles again a little but I don't really want to run any more than about 20 miles in total (including the Stowmarket 5 on Friday night) and then the serious training kicks in again next week.  The Stevenage marathon is in 6 weeks from now and is also partially cross-country/trail running.  My training plan will have to take this into account but more to follow on that one!

Nerves.com

A BRIEF update before Edinburgh!

Well, given my update which was fewer than two weeks ago - when I was having a particularly low period, it's nice to feel as if I'm coming out of the other side.  Although, if the truth be known, for the majority of the past fortnight, I've been on a slight wind down.  Perhaps my ease of mind is attributable to that.

So, the sun is shining, the weather is warming up, Summer appears to have begun (Whatever happened to Spring? It seems that Winter has morphed into Summer with no dividing season.) and the build up of excitement, anticipation, trepidation and nerves for Edinburgh has begun.

27,000 runners, one of whom will be me!  I genuinely don't know whether to actually get excited and try to feed off the elation that I felt after completing my Milan marathon OR whether to suffer with my nerves.  I'm trying to opt for the former but this heat and sunshine (bearing in my mind my intense dislike of running in the heat) coupled with the onset of a sore throat (I'm recognising the symptoms of tonsillitis - sincerely hoping otherwise) isn't serving my confidence particularly well.

Furthermore, and I hate to admit it, but the 'body' that I had been commenting upon in recent posts is reverting back to normality again.  The muscle tone is very much in abundance (I LOVE my abs!) but a month of sleep deprivation has seriously increased my need for substinence and, in particular, I've been relying on sugar and chocolate to get me by... this, it now seems, is the devil's food!  So, even though it may only be a couple of pounds, these are another couple of pounds that I have to carry with me on Sunday.  Let's equate this (being the mathematician that I am) - you just trying carrying around a bag of potatoes whilst running a marathon!  Oh yes, it is a big deal!

Anyway, the 360 mile drive to Edinburgh takes place tomorrow - Eugh!  My friend Emma and two of our daughters (my supporting entourage so to speak) and lots of love and support from my friends and family, are going to help me get through the drive there, the drive back and a little run on Sunday.

I genuinely hope that I can do myself proud and have been really careful over the past couple of weeks in terms of my training - not too much, not too hard (with the exception of a fast 5 miler at the start of last week) and an increase in fluid (sometimes, must try harder).  A well needed sports massage tonight from the lovely Sheryl should, I hope, prepare me nicely.  Given the heat, if I can finish in sub 4 hours, I'll be satisfied.  Deep down however, I know that I would really like to match if not better my previous marathon time of 3hr 48.  Either way, let's just get marathon milesetone 2 out of the way!

Until my next update - wish me luck! xx

Numbers, numbers and more numbers.

Fractions, Decimals and Percentages - and lots of miles!

Well, that's week 20 over and done with... and what a beautiful, sunny way to end another week of training.  So lovely.

It's been a funny couple of weeks as we're now heading into the exam season at work so the pressures of supporting students, setting and marking mock exams and keeping up to date with the 'day job' has been unreal.  Consequently, sleep deprivation has kicked in and late nights of marking has become the norm.  At least it's only for a short period but for now, tiredness is outweighing most things.  Furthermore, trying to combine this with the children and the training has not been an easy task.  The thought of trying to knock out yet another 10km or even a ten miler... and longer, after the 3rd consecutive night of sub 5 hours sleep is becoming less appealing.

I guess this is one of the 'lows' in terms of actually enjoying the training.  Rather than finding it as an escapism that I enjoy so much, it has, on occasion, felt more like a burden over the past couple of weeks.  The constant juggling of things in order to squeeze yet another hour of running into my day and then being too tired and hence not recovering quick enough between runs is no fun.  I know that I love running.  I know that I wouldn't set myself this year of training at this level if I wasn't inspired in some way or other.  I know that challenge of seeing the running agenda through is what is driving me but today, when I'm tired and still have sore calves from the last run, I find myself questioning everything.  SO, in order to 'get over myself' (a phrase used on the school field, that I never tire of hearing), I've now booked myself into the next marathon. 

So, Edinburgh in only two weeks from now which is suddenly looming and 7 weeks after that, it's the Fairlands Valley Stevenage marathon - a touch more local!

Training has been reasonable over the past fortnight but with the demands of work being so great, my mileage has been restricted more than I would have liked.  Certainly fewer miles than I would have preferred but enough to get by.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have found myself increasing the mileage after the 2 recovery weeks post Milan.   I've really been mixing up the treadmill training and road running just for a bit of diversity but also to take off the pressure on my legs a little.  I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to learn that they're still in the recovery process and are now fighting against the increase in tempo and endurance.  Anyway, more importantly are the random thoughts that go through my head when running.  I suspect it's the mathematician in me but every aspect of any run is broken down into fractions, decimals and percentages.  How far have I gone in percentages?  How many laps of the track is this intended run equivalent too?  How many have I completed?  (20 laps for 5 miles - always a nice feeling once I've completed 3 miles and only have the equivalent of 8 laps remaining.)

So, my training for the weeks that has gone by has seen an up in the mileage including routine 5 milers or 10km straight after work where possible and a 21 mile VERY SLOW training run that saw me leave Bury and head around some of the lovely surrounding Suffolk villages.  An extra special thanks must go to Nicki for her bike support.  Where I was hot, she was quietly freezing but still coaxed me through the last hill on Moreton Hall when my legs were battling mile 21 (one street lamp at a time, of which I believe there were around 10 to get me up that hill).  I had hoped to complete 40 miles for each of the past two weeks but this week has only seen me total 32.  The plus side is that the longer distances that were planned have been finished including a 24km run today (That's equivalent to 60 laps and about 15 miles... other geeky statistics: each 1.2km (3 laps) made up 5% of the run; 240m being 1%.  Like I said, fractions, decimals and percentages.) and a mini bike ride with the children thereafter.  I had spent the morning dreading this afternoon's run but once it begun, I found it enjoyable and a well needed reminder that the training isn't always the doom and gloom as has been the case over the last couple of weeks.

Given that Edinburgh is only two weeks away, this increase in tempo for the shorter runs and distance in the longer runs are now going to subside again whilst I prepare myself for Marathon number 2 of 2012.  Next week therefore will see a dip in training again (and hopefully a well needed massage at some point too) with a few shorter runs and a 10 miler mid week but nothing more than 22 miles in total.  The following week will see a maximum of ten miles in total... at a VERY SLOW pace, prior to race day in Scotland.

Wish me luck!

Week 19 beckons.

Getting back into the swing of things.... Or rather trying to!

So, having missed a week of blogging it, this is me TRYING to get back into being motivated for my year of endurance running.  To be fair, I REALLY needed the wind down post marathon week and subsequent break from blogging, break from thinking about intensive training and some recovery time.  As you're aware from my last post, I was extremely pleased with my time and worked hard to achieve what was a great time for me but less than mediocre for many.  What I hadn't anticipated what the physical and mental aftermath in the days following my first marathon of the year.

Absolute exhaustion ensued.  I had hoped to jog for a couple of miles 2 days after the marathon but simply slept instead.  The sheer elation of my achievement settled into some sort of dullness of questioning whether I should have been able to do better or even if I would be able to replicate it again in Edinburgh at the end of May.  The (expected) constant fighting against a cold, sore throat and irritating cough from where my immune system had been left drained and now exposed.  I think the adrenalin in the build up to and exertion on the day of the marathon leaves you feeling somewhat mixed afterwards.  My memory of running London in 2005 or rather FINISHING my marathon in 2005, served to remind me that I now owed my family and friends some of 'Sarah' again as the training commitment often put those that I love the most, second.  It is only now that I'm having this same realisation, this same feeling of owing those around me my time, that the impact of demands on my time for another 30 or so weeks is hitting home.

On the plus side, it has become a real talking point for my daughters amongst some of their friends.  Sharing the Milan experience with them has given them a sense of pride, some understanding of the demands of running a marathon and an appreciation of setting a challenge for yourself and working hard to achieve it.  So, even if my children aren't always getting their mum at her best this year, they are getting a role model in some guise or other.  At least, that's what I'm telling myself when, yet again, I apologise to them for being cranky!

Anyway, talking through my running for the past two weeks:
In the week directly following my marathon, I took it very easy.  Having been too tired (stiff, sore, walking tenderly and feeling as if I'd morphed into a 95 year old woman) to run for the first few days, I jogged/slowly ran 5km on the Friday evening.  My left calf and Achilles were VERY sore and tight.  I repeated this on the Saturday and although I sensed the same aches and pains as I had on Friday, they were nowhere as intense.  I then ran 4 fast miles (30 mins 24 sec) on Sunday with not a single niggle.  I was REALLY pleased with this!  The following week was still very much a recovery week but also striking a balance with the ongoing training.  So, a steady 10km on Tuesday, a steady 10 miles on Thursday and a 5 mile run tonight (Sunday).  Do note that tonight's run was the first non-treadmill run since the marathon.  (Well, other than 3km of start/stop jogging in the rain with my youngest on her bike yesterday but I'm not convinced that it counts).  So, I have managed over 20 miles this week but, unlike the treadmill miles, the road run tonight felt tough.  This comes after a few days of birthday celebrations with my youngest who has now turned 6 and has partied harder than most adults I know!  (NB - now that she's 6, my plan is to encourage her to attend the Junior Pacer sessions wherever possible.  Work permitting.)

This IS the week where the miles really kick back in though so I'm hoping that a well needed sports massage will be on the cards sometime very soon.  My plan for the week:
Monday - 4 FAST treadmill miles straight after work
Tuesday - 5-6 easy miles
Wednesday - track session I hope! 
Thursday - Rest
Friday - 5km jog/rest
Saturday - 22 mile (at 9.15min/mile)... any offers of cycle support would be really appreciated here!
Sunday - I have the children all day with me so another rest day.  Depending upon how far I run on Wednesday, I should certainly clock up nearer 40 miles this week (more if Wednesday becomes a slightly longer run).  Bring it on!

One more thing, I have made a conscious decision to take my blogging down to once per fortnight.  Mostly due to simply needing some sleep and having missed a week, appreciating the earlier night I got on a Sunday.  Secondly, I now feel that my 'blurb' can be more condensed now that my training has become more habitual (never really easy) than it was earlier in the year.  THIS is of course subject to change.  For now, let me just get back into the swing of things as I now begin week 19 of training. :o)

Hurdle 1 - Milan. Check!

Marathon 1 - Done, Dusted and Dead Legs!

Well, it's a day later than my usual update but due to lack of internet access last night, it has had to wait.  Anyway - FAR more important than my blog timing... my marathon! 

So, the week of training wasn't quite as planned.  I didn't actually get a chance to run until Wednesday and then despite telling myself to slow down to approximately 8.45 min/mile pace (Does everyone find it so hard to really slow down their comfortable pace to something so incredibly slow?), I ran 4 miles at 7.55 pace.  That said, given the fast (by my standards) run the previous Sunday, it still felt comfortable.  I then didn't run again until early Saturday morning which WAS a very controlled and steady 2 miles.  I wasn't too bothered by such low mileage in this week of 'wind down' running as I knew that I wouldn't really be taking anything away from my performance at this stage but me, being me, would have liked to clocked up another 5 miles in the run up to the weekend.  Hey ho.

We arrived in Milan late Thursday night AFTER arriving at the gate just as they were about to close it.  I don't think I've ever manage to cut something so fine before and think that my eldest was quite traumatised by getting herself so distressed over the possibility of missing the flight.  We didn't miss the flight however, and arrived in Milan to light drizzle.  We were staying very close to the train station and so were hardly caught out in a downpour so all was fine.  Well, all was fine until late Friday morning when en route to the Duomo (stunning cathedral and gives St Edmundsbury Cathedral a run for its money), I was either incredibly lax or just unlucky by managing to have my purse stolen from my handbag.  Purse, money, cards, travel passes et al - all gone.  I did not appreciate this unlucky Friday 13th start to my weekend away.  Now, I'm not especially superstitious but sometimes these little kicks make you feel as if you have real reason to be nervous... more so than I already was!  SO after many phone calls and several hours in a central police station in Milan, I was once again ready to get a spot of sight seeing in.  Or I would have been if it wasn't now 5pm and raining! Instead, I took the opportunity to attend the Marathon Village.  Very much like the London Marathon Expo but on a smaller scale.  I think I waited a grand total of about 90 seconds to collect all of my race information, number, t-shirt and goodies.  I then looked around a few of the many stands, drooled over some of the beautiful Mizunos and then headed back (in the rain) to meet up with my friends and children at the hotel.  Saturday was a much nicer day without too much rain for the most part.  A decent look around the Duomo this time, window shopping for me (there's a real hint of guilt attachment when unexpectedly borrowing off your friends until you return to the UK), the public gardens (these are lovely but I honestly think that the Abbey Gardens win this one) and the castle grounds and aquarium.  Of course, being pre-race day my nerves were kicking in so I was doing everything I could to keep myself occupied.  A MASSIVE pasta meal (perhaps too much food but I wasn't taking any risks) to prepare for Sunday - this is, of course, one of the big benefits of running a marathon in Italy; pasta dishes come in a million varieties and are served in virtually every restaurant.  I had also been really good in ensuring that I was staying hydrated throughout the week so was getting into good habits. 

I tried hard to stay focused on Saturday evening (hours of faffing - packing/unpacking/repacking my bags are a giveaway to my nerves) and even managed a pre-11pm bedtime.  That was until what had been a nice, quiet hotel, was overtaken by a very loud stag party weekend of sorts!  Thanks for that chaps! 

Onto Sunday, race day!  A total wash out for the entire day.  I was a drenched missy with running mascara before the event had even begun (and yes, I wore mascara).  At the last minute, I put another vest OVER my Pacers crop top (apologies for this Pacers but it was just a little too cold and damp not to).  Now I like running in the drizzle as a spot of rain always helps to keep me hydrated but this amount of rain water was a touch extreme!  My nerves were dreadful up until about 30 minutes before the start but a few jokey conversations with some Italians who clearly spoke MUCH better English than I do Italian (this isn't hard by the way), lots of Gatorade, a little bit of protein and I was excited, ready and desperate to run to get myself warmed up in the cold rain.  The Italians, it would appear, are a very patriotic bunch: 1 minutes of silence (personal prayer time I think but I can't be sure), nearly 6500 runners singing the Italian National Anthem and group well wishing before the gun. I had intended to try to stick to 8:45 min/mile pace but it was obvious after about 4 miles that my body was going to stick to between 8:34-8:38 pace.  This obviously suited me fine but I had the underlying fear that I was going to pay for it later.  The first ten miles felt extremely comfortable and I often had to talk myself into NOT speeding up for fear of suffering in the later stages.  In terms of the scenery, well the starting zone (Rho Fiera) was fantastic - the National Exhibition Centre for Milan.  The next10 or so miles were less impressive and mainly consisted of motorways, industrial estates or residential areas.  We hit the castle grounds at the half-way point which was rather torturous as it was also the finishing point.  At 14.94 miles my Garmin lost its satelite reception and never regained it.  Whether this was the rain, the tall buildings or something entirely different but the control freak mathematician in me who had been avidly watching the clock throughout the last 2 or so hours suddenly had to go by how I felt instead.  So, from 24km onwards (as opposed to mile markers like us old fashioned Brits) I tried to run at a pace that would secure 5min25/km (good job I do love my numbers) which would equate to 8mins40 mile.  Amazingly, I must be a steady runner as EVERY km between 24 and 36km fell between 5.23-5.26 pace.  Given that I developed cramp in the left foot arch at the 31km mark, this steady pace really surprised me, although considering the cold rain water that flooded many of the roads, the actual cramp came as less of a surpise. 36km completed, the challenge really kicked in.  Running that distance for that length of time became a case of talking myself through the kilometres and being so very grateful that I'd been taking a gel shot religiously after every 45 minutes of running and drinking plenty of water.  So despite feeling tired and sore, I never felt that my energy levels had stooped too low.  My muscles argued against the final few miles but I was encouraged by the sheer fact that I was overtaking so many people (according to my split times I was ranked as 2437 at the half marathon mark, compared to 1990 across the finish line).  I think in the last 6 or so kilometres, I lost approximately 30 seconds where I had slowed down a little and literally counted my way through the minutes of the last 3.2 km (17 minutes 14 seconds to be precise).  A HUGE cheer, lots of shouting and waving from my daughters at the 250 metres to go point was all I needed to speed up (or at least it felt as if I sped up) for the final few metres.  Oh how good it was to see that blue finishing line!  I was determined to get under 4 hours but was hoping to achieve the 3:50 mark and would be really pleased with anything quicker than that.  My official finishing time was 3 hours, 48 minutes and 8 seconds.  SOOOOO pleased.

Official stats:
Finishing position - 1990 out of 3975 full marathon finishers (slowest recorded finisher was at 6 hours) (this isn't that great)
Gender - 101st female out of 407 (I'm pretty pleased with this)
Age category - 25th V35 female (out of 82 V35 finishers, I'm pretty pleased with this too)

Typically me, I cried as soon as I stopped although I think the rain hid those tears rather well!  Lots of cuddles, dry clothes, a hot shower, recovery milkshake and a nice coffee later, I actually felt on the mend.  Today - tired legs, back ache (although I put most of that down to the plane and car journey home this morning) and bizarrely enough a sore bone at the top of my left foot but on a nice high.

Next steps - a couple of very light recovery jogs this week but I'll let my body determine the distances whether they be 2 or 4 miles.  The following week - I'll see how I feel this week first!  Then of course, it's moving on to the second hurdle of my year of running, Edinburgh.  In only 5 weeks and 6 days from now, I hope to be blogging about that!  The good thing: I know I can do it.  The not so good thing: I vividly recall the pain, teeth gritting moments, sore muscles and more pain of yesterday that doing it all again so soon and wanting to match (or dare I say improve upon my performance) seems to be a task that I'm not relishing. 

I do love a challenge.

15 weeks of training in...

Trepidation, anticipation and a touch of anxiety!

Week 15 down! As mentioned last week, I'm now off work for the Easter break.  It has therefore been a week, as planned, of catching up with others, decorating and enjoying my daughters.  It has also been a week of thinking about the marathon, thinking about whether or not I'm actually going to get a reasonable time (Why can I not just be satisfied with completing it?), thinking about the logistics of taking my children and a couple of friends with me and managing to get ahead with work over the next few days as I won't be working next weekend.  I swear that my brain has invested more time in running-related thoughts than it has on everything else combined, let alone the physical running itself!

As for my body... WELL, I'm a naturally slim person anyway but as with most women, I would always be happier for the scales to suggest a lower number!  That said, my weight plummeted throughout December/January but as the training increased, so did the need for my food intake so the weight has increased a little again and stabilised quite nicely.  I'm not unhappy with the current weight (that's good for me - I'm ALWAYS unhappy with my weight despite being only a couple of pounds heavier than I was nearly 20 years ago) but my body has changed beyond belief.  I now have thin but rather bloke-like arms suddenly.  Where did these muscles come from?  I haven't lifted a single weight in the gym for years and yet...  Also, I've always been quite proud of my legs but suddenly have extra sinews that have seemingly appeared from nowhere!  I've now worked out that I can only wear my new skinny jeans on the day that I HAVEN'T had a hard run.  My calf muscles are always just a touch too swollen to be able to pull the jeans over them if I've had a tough training session.  So, bloke-ish arms, skinny jeans restricted to rest or very easy days, disappearing hips and a washboard stomach which given the fact that I've not had time to even think about my abs is a REAL bonus although I do think that my body is bordering on the teenage-boy rather than the svelte-woman look (this is not a good thing).... and don't even get me started on the toe-nail debate!  I think the excessive chocolate and lower mileage pre-marathon will help to rectify the curves a little, so all is not lost just yet.

I've managed my running quite nicely this week and am looking forward to a REALLY easy wind down week in preparation for next Sunday (OMG!).  So, my week that was:
Monday saw me completing the longer run that I hadn't managed the previous Sunday.  15.25 miles at exactly 8.45 min/mile.  This felt quite comfortable and although my legs were tired from running several 8 fast-ish miles the previous week, they climatised after about 6 miles (it took 6 painful miles for this to happen, mind) and were pretty much ok until about mile 13.  The last couple of miles were uncomfortable to say the least.  That said, I think I'd quite like to maintain this pace for the Milano City Marathon, so long as my legs feel rested beforehand.  I didn't end up running on Tuesday or Wednesday but managed a reasonable 10 miles on the treadmill on Thursday (1 hr 20 mins) which was a comfortable speed but lacked any terrain/hill challenge but an ok run regardless. I ran TWO whole miles early on Friday morning before collecting the children from their dad's - I didn't enjoy this.  Not sure which of the late night out on Thursday, the early morning on Friday or the 10 mile run on Thursday morning contributed to my Friday am tiredness... perhaps a combination of all three!  Rest day on Saturday and a quick 5 mile loop from Moreton Hall to Great Barton Church and across the Cattishall crossing on Sunday.  I really enjoyed this!  5 miles in 37.25.  Actually, I really enjoyed the first half, detested the hill at 3 miles up to the church and survived the final 1.5 miles.  I just wanted to run my longest distance for the next 7 days as fast as I could.  I know that so many of you run an awful lot faster than that but I don't.  I haven't clocked that time since 2005 shortly after turning 30, so to be in that position 7 years later feels really good.  I knew I had it in me!  :o)

So, the final week of training is ahead of me - and a busy week of living/working it is too!
Monday - rest day
Tuesday - 4 miles
Wednesday - 4 super slow miles
Thursday - 3 miles (flying out to Milan on Thursday evening)
Friday - rest day
Saturday - 2 slooooow miles
Sunday - oh my, 26.2 miles, I hope!
As is typical with me, my children and my lifestyle, this may change slightly but there will be no exertion until Sunday so all will be slow, all will be easy and all will be short.  (I'm really looking forward to this considerable lack of training!)

15 weeks of training in, 35 weeks to go!  So, given the fact that in 7 days from now, I will have hoped to have crossed my first milestone of the year, I am anxious, excited, full of trepidation and anticipation on this and other impending adventures.   Wish me luck!

Excited.com

Another week down, 14 weeks into my training plan and all is good.  Well, despite the need for sleep which STILL doesn't seem to be happening!  Tonight, I plan on staying asleep beyond my usual 6am get up time for it is, after all, the school holidays and I simply don't need to wake so soon.  Yes, I have now officially broken up for work for a couple of weeks and although I have plenty to do, I am able to relax into my break and then get in the 'final preparation for a marathon' mode!  It has been a long tough half-term but I've survived it and managed, by and large, to stick to a reasonable training schedule that should see me survive the first of my marathons.  More than that, I've really managed to get some miles in (by my standards) and am looking forward to the next two weeks and beyond.

Other than a bit of school work, really enjoying being with my children, decorating and training (albeit the next two weeks will see a steady decline in terms of the distances and hours on my feet), I am simply going to enjoy life!

My training this week has been regular and actually rather fast but lacked the longer run that I had wanted to get in.  That said, I've really noticed the speed improving at long (long) last.  So, my week that was:

I swapped my nights in terms of the children around a little this week so ended up being child-free on Monday so only managed a 5km run.  Partly due to having tired legs after the long 22 miler at the weekend and also feeling a little rushed due to going out on Monday night (actually, mostly due to having tired legs from the long run).  Tuesday was a rest day for me and well needed.  Wednesday and Thursday saw me hitting the treadmill for reasonably fast 8 miles on both days (62 minutes on Weds, 63 minutes on Thursday).  I was quite pleased with these times... although as anticipated, my legs HURT on Friday so took another rest day.  I ran with a friend around Norton on Saturday - a fast-ish 6.5 miles in 49:30.  I was really pleased with this given just how tired the legs were only 24 hours previously.  Sunday however, after a late night, poor sleep and simple tiredness meant that I cried off today's long run.  I managed nearly 8 miles which felt comfortable and averaged 8 min/miles but I wasn't up for any more than that.  So, not quite the 35 miles that I had expected or wanted but still got in nearly 34 miles this week and am actually not unhappy with that.

I do however need to think very carefully how I play this week.  I still want a longer distance at the start of the week to compensate for today's shorter (if nearly 8 miles is short) run but need to be mindful that the next two weeks also involving winding the miles down a tad, so the plan:
Monday - 15 (I hope) slow/steady miles.  Perhaps 8.45 pace, I'll see how the legs feel given how hard I ran today/yesterday.
Tuesday - 5 easy-ish miles.
Weds - rest day plus being mum!
Thursday - 10 miles if possible although time permitting with the children etc, this may only be 8 and even spread out over two shorter runs. 
Friday - rest day as I have the girls with me.
Saturday/Sunday - resting as I have the children at home but I'm hoping that I may be able to get 10km in if I can rely on my parents to help out.  I definitely don't want to go much over 35 miles and would ideally like to be thinking of only 30 but want the longer run on Monday.

Thereafter, I'll really be in the week that counts... the first of the marathons! Excited.com!

I was trying to convince myself that running 2-3 marathons within 2-3 weeks is a much bigger challenge than I've given myself this year but upon thinking about it, it SO isn't.  So much of my challenge is to be able to adhere to a training plan for an elongated period of time.  50 weeks is FAR greater a challenge than 16.  Being able to start, build up and sustain 40 miles per week, nearly 2000 miles this year is a MASSIVE challenge for me (perhaps a walk in the park for so many of you).  It's also a challenge that really requires thought, energy and discipline to stick to it.  A challenge that, by and large, I'm loving although some days and weeks are better than others!  Although I'm REALLY loving the fact that I simply cannot get enough food inside me. 

The only other thing to think about is just how my body shape and physique are changing so drastically.  More to follow on that one!  For now, it's late and I'm looking forward to the sleep that I've been craving all day. 

Woo Hoo!

So, wow, another week has yet again flown by!  I'm sure that I ask myself the same question on a week by week basis but, truly, where does the time go?  It's been a hectic week to say the least.  Less intense than last week but no less pressured, draining or busy to say the least!  It has been the week where work has decided to be full on with report writing, training primary school maths teachers, after-school coursework assessments, marking and meetings galore.  All I can say is, thank goodness that the end of term is nigh!

Having said that, I've been very fortunate that the girls have had a couple of days with their dad which has enabled me to work late and still focus on my running.  Consequently, I have happily made up for the lack of distance from last week.  I've been really tired and am typically on around 6 hours maximum sleep per night but have SO enjoyed my week and really feel tonight that things are coming together.

So, the week that was:
I hit the school treadmill on Monday straight after work to squeeze a steady 8 miles in (65mins 45 seconds) which is fine by me.  Not my best but I wasn't trying to achieve that, it was as planned, just a happy and steady run.  I had intended to run on Tuesday night but between work and going out, there simply wasn't the time (not good).  Also not a great session on Wednesday night due to having such a late night out on Tuesday but did manage 5 miles of fartlekking at the gym (I could not have managed a single metre more if I tried) - so followed this up with a reasonably fast 4 miler first thing Thursday morning before work.  I took Friday as a rest day as I had made the decision to sack the Joe Cox half on Sunday and put the distance in on Saturday instead.  It was actually quite a tough decision to make as I know I'd have run better in race conditions and really wanted to don my Pacers vest but felt that I needed the miles and not the pace.  So, with my sister-in-law Tara on the bike next to me to keep me sane, I ran 22 miles on Saturday.  22 VERY slow miles on Saturday.  I'd set my pace at 9.15min/mile which felt horrendously slow for a very long time.  I did, however, want to be in a position where my legs would recover quite quickly and that I could complete the route.  On the positive, I DID complete it and whilst I had had enough (I SO had had enough), there was enough fuel in the tank to speed up for the last 3 miles or so.  This is encouraging in itself and also knowing that I've spent 200 minutes on the go is, perhaps, the sign that I needed to be convinced that I can happily complete the Milan marathon.  It is now Sunday and I've completed 39 miles this week. So, woo hoo!  :o)

My plan for this week is to get some miles in still but to drop the LONG run slightly down again:
Monday - highly likely to be a rest day due to meetings and parenthood
Tuesday - I could probably get 8 miles in at some point, depending upon whether I have the girls at home or not.
I could probably get 10km in on Wednesday straight after work.
Thursday - rest day.
Friday - 10km perhaps
Saturday - 3 or 4 SLOW miles
Sunday - I would quite like to get 16 miles on the clock but time permitting may push for a fast half instead.  I'll play it by ear as I have to with pretty much most things!  Either way, I certainly anticipate on completing 35+ miles this week.

I also plan on getting some more sleep in which looks to be quite achievable as the workload this week is far less intense than in previous weeks!  Also, given how 'fine' my legs are today, I'm certainly geared up for Milan and beyond.  By the way, when I say 'fine' I really couldn't just knock out another 22 miles tomorrow but I'm walking fine, managed an afternoon of rollerskating with my daughters and am looking forward to my next (shorter) run.  There's a lot to be said for slow running sometimes! 

21 days until Milan, 63 until Edinburgh!

Sleep beckons...

Where do the days go?

4 weeks from now and I will have, or rather I hope to have completed my first Marathon of the year!  I am genuinely so excited about it!

That said, I'm also shattered and am deliberately keeping this short tonight as I've promised myself some well needed sleep.  I always knew that this was going to be a tough week work-wise/children wise and hence have little training time but didn't quite anticipate the severe lack of sleep! 

I have however, really focused on my foods and in particular the protein/carb/water intake.  I certainly don't drink enough and am genuinely trying to rectify this but really think that my conscious effort to eat protein/carb rich foods soon after running is helping.  That and less running although the latter won't really aid me in the long term training plan!

So, in keeping it brief - my week that was.
A steady 5 miles on Monday directly after school which was ok given that I ran hard on Saturday and also ran on Sunday.  I had the children on Tuesday, no training :o(  Worked on Wednesday and then drove straight to Birmingham with work and was tied up with work until gone midnight.  Again, no training :o(
5.45am get up on Thursday morning for a quick 4-miler before breakfast and a day spent on training other potential/existing Heads of Maths (tiring but good) before driving back to Suffolk for an evening with my daughters at the school's Rockestra concert at the Apex.  Home at 10.15pm, worked until 12.30am... SO tired!  I did however manage to squeeze 7.5miles in at the school gym before collecting the girls on Friday after work.  I was playing mummy all weekend and visited some friends in Rochester, Kent for the evening - great fun but a late night/early morning (5.55am wake up call from my daughter who seems to have misinterpreted the whole Mothers' Day point).  I did however manage a fast run to the local Marina and back, only 4 miles in total but the return leg was a killer hill!  I actually managed 20.5 miles this week which was further than I had anticipated and the legs are feeling great!

This week however, the miles creep up again:
Monday - 8 miles directly after school I hope, time permitting!
Tuesday - 5 miles
Wednesday - if I'm able and don't have the girls, I could really push for a longer run on Wednesday (8+ miles) but I'll play that by ear and may even be able to run early on Thursday morning. 
There WILL be a longer run this weekend, I'm just not sure when/where yet.  I'm hoping to run the Joe Cox half but really wanted to get another 20 miler in!  Decisions, decisions!  Even so, I should easily get nearer the 40 mile mark somehow by the end of the week.

I just know that all the healthy eating and drinking will serve me well but without the sleep, I'm never going to feel great.  Surely, others must sleep more than ever when they're in training?  I know I need to and yet...

So, on that note, good night and have a great week!