WEEK SIX - DONE

This has been the hardest week so far for many reasons. I don’t feel I have done much running at all!

Highpoint – Haagan-Daz Ice cream on Sunday night!

Lowpoint – The whole week but especially Wednesday!

Inspiration – A Plant Pot

My week day by day

Day 36 Monday 8th February 2010 - Flat

I feel very flat today, my spark has gone. I went swimming at lunchtime but more because A) it said it on my programme so thought I had to. B) It meant I could delay going back to the office. Didn’t manage my usual distance, was more a recovery stretch in the pool. Have a headache. I know this feeling will pass and I just have to be a little kinder to myself till it does.

Congratulations to Nicky tonight on passing her final practical assessment to become a qualified Masseur – think I might have mentioned I can recommend her.

Bed time now, well actually it was bed time about 2 and a half hours ago!

Day 37 Tuesday 9th February 2010 - Thank Heavens For Run Club

I struggled to get to sleep last night and in the end had about 2 hours altogether, feel shattered. It is mostly work things that are running around in my head. Have even texted myself through the night to remind me of things I need to do today. When I get to work I suddenly remember its Adele’s parents evening and I haven’t made an appointment yet so this is the first job. Before I can tackle my to do list I get a message re an urgent piece of work that needs doing straightaway, my colleague in another area is sick and so I have to ensure I do for both areas. I remember a couple of other items I have to do that aren’t on my list and by this time its lunchtime. I have a quick dash to Morrisons to buy ingredients to bake a birthday carrot cake wondering when I’m going to manage to do this! Next I have to cover a meeting for my sick colleague and I leave the office only having done half of my must dos and the two biggest pieces of work I haven’t touched!

Pick Adele up from her Dad’s and off to school we dash! I’m not sure if it’s just me but the way they mark and assess them is so complicated these days. On her sats she is on target in two areas and above target in reading on another scale the foster family something or other she is above target in all areas! But most importantly she is working well and always makes a good effort. The teacher tells me they are hoping to get the school to take part in the Run for All - Fun Run and asks if i would help!

I drop Adele back at her Dad’s and back home to check my emails and grab something to eat before run club, I should go to Abs with Nicky but just don’t feel I have time!

Arrive at Run club a few minutes late and Russell is lined up to take group 2 as they didn’t know I was there! Some of the team are looking a little worried as Russell talks about pacing and time I tell him (in a nice way) that ill take the group. Russell still ran with us which was good as it was a large group with some runners stronger than others. Was a good run, I chatted to lots of people on the way and it was great to hear what everyone is up to and it gave my mood a little lift. As the group was mixed I worked hard, hope everyone else got what they needed from the session.

Home, a bit more work, omelette and veg for tea, consider baking carrot cake but decide is too late, go to bed fall straight asleep till about 1.30 and then its......

Day 38 Wednesday 10th February 2010. Stop the world I want to get off!

2.00am, wide awake again my mind is whirling with work, adjusting my running programme, run club things, my mobile phone upgrade, spring cleaning at my mums, coaching course, work, work, work, blog, sorting laundry, route for my 16miler, preparing for an interview to do ILM course, need to enter Trimpell 20 miler, Adele changing schools, need to bake a carrot cake, have to apply for my new lease car, what am i going to do about childcare for half term, need to buy gels and a new water bottle, work, work, work, will I need to buy more trainers before VLM, how long till pay day??? wonder how my 3 big brothers are - must call them, planning my London trip, someone mentioned Nottingham run club trip – wonder if I could do two marathons in a year!

STOP STOP STOP!

At 3.30am I get up and find something to eat (fruit) at 4.30am I give up trying to sleep and get back up to sort my 16 miler on www.walkjogrun.com Its 5am now and I’m updating my blog notes, next I’m going to wash up (forgot to do it before i went to bed) put some washing on and then bake a carrot cake!

I could do with some time away from work to catch up but I know my main worry is work, I have some deadlines looming so can’t afford the time off. It’s a vicious circle as i struggle to balance work deadlines, home chores, training, family & friends and most importantly the kids. I can feel myself worrying and getting stressed its keeping me awake so that I am even more tired and not able to work effectively or train as hard as I would like to and then I worry more don’t sleep and .. . you get the picture!

I feel like I’ve lost my “Super Woman Powers” this week

Right its 5.30am – now where is that recipe for the best Carrot Cake in the world 

8am and I’ve just taken the cake out of the oven and off to work I go!

Am tired through the day but manage to get through loads of work, feel a little better, not quite on top of things but better.

Sarah Q pops in at lunchtime and we have a real good chatter catching up on things and helps put things back in to perspective.

The afternoon passes slowly yet I’m still struggling with how I’m going to fit everything in, I want to train but am tired. And when TSR calls and suggests meeting for a coffee and a chat after work I tell myself l can fit that in and still make it to body pump and then do my interval tread session after . . . well that didn’t happen!

Am so tired this evening I end up having a little cry when on my own later, but sleep better tonight.

Day 39 Thursday 11th February 2010 Birthday Carrot Cake -Done & Delivered

Have to get up early to make the frosted cream icing for, the Birthday Carrot Cake which I need to deliver today. Am a little concerned as it has sunk a bit in the middle and I want it to be perfect a “10 out of 10"
Take my kit with me to work hoping that I can make up for yesterdays lost tread session at lunchtime or after work.

Don’t get a lunch break, can’t deliver cake till late in afternoon, have to dash back to office to prepare for two meetings tomorrow and check my email, leave work late, have to pick kids up earlier than normal and so no Interval tread session happens today! Am cross with myself for letting life get in the way of training.

And then i get a text that horrifies me. When I had Daniel I made friends with a small group of other new mums and we have meet up regularly for the last 13 years, originally with the kids but nowadays we meet on our own or treat ourselves to a meal out. Sue is moving to Devon and trying to arrange getting together tomorrow evening, but as I can’t go out (no sitter) sue suggest they come round to mine – I am filled with horror – no way is my home in any state to have visitors and no way have I the time or energy to put this right before tomorrow!

Day 40 Friday 12th February 2010 - And then the tears came

Alarm goes off at 5.30 not sure I want to get up for spin am still feeling rubbish that I missed my interval tread and body pump sessions. I feel unfit and it seems like a disaster. Takes me about 10minutes to talk myself round and realise I’m being irrational. I know doing spin will put me back on track and drag myself out of bed get there just in time just one bike left. 45min later I am feeling more myself and ready for the day.

But the day got the better of me and all the stress of the week comes to a head as I have a conversation with someone at 4pm who wanted something doing yesterday. I didn’t know about it so couldn’t have done it, but still I sit at my desk and cry and cry and cry! For once I don’t bring any work home with me, my working week is done.

Thankfully one of the other mums has volunteered to invite us all round for Spaghetti Bolognaise which means I can take Adele with me and catch up for an evening of mum talk and reflecting on how our children have grown over the last few years. Will miss sue, but looking forward to a possible girly weekend down in Devon!

Day 41 Saturday 13th February 2010 – Start new Job!

Park Run – slightly faster than last week but nowhere near my PB, but am conscious have 16 miles to get through in the morning. Daniel ran today and he caught me up but said he didn’t feel well, but he stuck with it and finished, not sure if it was all the talk last night but as I watch him run I find it hard to believe that my baby has grown so much.

Daniel  above at one year old

And

Daniel now a young man in the making, wearining his running top with pride! 

I couldn’t make it to body pump though as we were having a Run Club meeting and we had lots to discuss. Amongst this was to announce that Debra, who has done a fantastic job as Club Secretary since the club started, was formally resigning. Debra, as I think I’ve probably mentioned has been a great support and inspiration to me since I joined the club, I have been chasing her for four years and just as I get faster so does Debra and she leaves me standing again! So when Debra first said she was going to resign I volunteered to take this role over and fortunately or maybe unfortunately when this was put forward no one objected and so today I formally started my new role. This is my way of giving something back to the club, I just hope I can do as good a job as Debra!

Day 42 Sunday 14th February 2010 – I am a Plant Pot!

Have a 16 mile run planned for today. I feel my training has not been on form this week I haven’t done any strength training and am behind on my miles but know today is my last day this week to get a good session in. So get up focused and fill up on porridge. Have a complicated route planned 5miles on my own with what I’m now beginning to think off as Trevors faithful tunes on the ipod. As always the first 3 miles hurt and the first hill I walk a little. Even so my pace was quicker than I think it should be but I had set off about 10mins late and I knew Helen B was waiting for me at mile 5. Helen and I then dropped down on to the canal and we chatted as we ran waving to Bernadette and Hilary as we came across them running towards us. Helen (bless her) stayed with me for a little longer than planned and helped me up Spen Lane before leaving me at mile 11. Text Nicky to say on my way, ipod back on and I made my way to Otley Road. I knew that H and Russell were doing a 20 miler and would be coming back along Otley road but as my mind did the maths I thought they would have long since gone by! I struggled a bit now and took a short walk break then in the distance i saw a blue coat and a high vis jacket sure enough it was H and Russell, their cheery hello and waves helped my pick my head back up and kept me going till I saw my saviour Nicky running towards me. Nicky kept me going for the last 3 miles, during which we also saw Michael looking strong on his 18 miler. I was so pleased to see Nicky, though her fresh legs were a little too fast for me. A slice of homemade Wheatbix fruit loaf and drink and Nicky delivered me back home.

Now I’m not given to flowery slushy words but today i sent someone a silly Valentine’s day text. This resulted in a telephone call during which I was affectionately (at least i hope it was affectionately) called “A Plant Pot” which made a change from the “silly sausage” I normally get! Now some might think this was a bit harsh but then you’re not privy to the term I had used!

However as I did my Sunday afternoon chores I thought about being a plant pot. What is a plant pot for, what does it do? Its role is to protect something, a small seed, it keeps it safe, keep it warm, it brings together all the things that seed needs, soil, water, warmth and nutrients, it nurtures the seed and provides a stable place for roots to grow so that the eventual plant can grow and sprout into something strong bright and beautiful. Sometimes the pot may crack but somehow it still manages to hold all these essential things together!

And therefore though I know this might not be the analogy that was intended I am happy to be “A Plant Pot”! - that protects and nurtures a seed. Now that seed might be my children, a thought, a friendship, an emotion or indeed simply an idea and passion to run Virgin London Marathon!

And with this thought i thankfully bring this week to an end and treat the kids and I to some Haagen-Daz icecream to celebrate the beginning of week seven! Yum!