Highlight – Another Race, well run. Another PB!
Lowlight – None!
Inspiration – Kara K & Ellie D (Junior VARR) super efforts and superb PB at park run in recent weeks!
Day 77 Monday 22nd March 2010 - Groundhog Monday returns
Get up (somewhat groggy) go to work, go swimming at lunchtime, back to work, take work home with me. Have tea with kids, potter, don’t do work, go to bed tired! Like I said groundhog Monday!
I did get a call this morning to say I have got a place on the ILM 5 Course! It starts about 3 days after the Marathon. . . . . . I was wondering what I would do with all my free time! lol
Day 78 Tuesday 23rd March 2010 - Ticking off my to do list
Feel quite good today, tired but good! Got a few of my bit & bob jobs done, pay bill, pick up mandate, post parcel, see mum, ect
Dentist this afternoon for another hour in the chair, but this time I didn’t fall asleep and no pain once injection wears off, yippe! Told Mr Woods I hoped I would not be seeing him again for a while, at least not till August when kids and I have a check up!
Cold sores are beginning to heel as well so hopefully by weekend my Mouth may be back to normal!
Run club, not as many turned up tonight, was rather wet, though that nice kind of rain that you often welcome in a hot run! So just 6 or 7 in group two tonight, the group ran well and they certainly pulled me along at the end. Brought my coaching course in to action and had them running in a single line with the runner at the back sprinting to the front, nearly killed me off but the group seemed to enjoy it!
Have felt quite hungry through the day and so was glad I had put a jacket spud in the oven on a timer for when I got home
Day 79 Wednesday 24th March 2010 - Am selfish and sticking to my training
A busy but good day at work, not the day I planned which is why I probably enjoyed it! Really trying hard to eat well this week, so was good and took tuna and some couscous salad and plenty of fruit to work for my lunch but left it in my base and found myself elsewhere at Lunchtime starving with only biscuits and such! Not good!
Nearly wavered and stayed late to catch up (not that I ever will in my job) but in end stuck to my training programme. 40 min session on tread, warm up then intervals, finishing off with 2 @13 followed by Nicks Body Pump Class.
Day 80 Thursday 25th March 2010 -
Another busy day at work, can’t really remember much about it other than that! Finally managed to speak to Daniels Head of English about his report that stated “serious concerns” for his English, she was puzzled by this as says have had supply teacher after supply teacher so doesn’t know who would have written this as none of them would have known Daniel well enough! NOW I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS!
Arrange to meet Nicky for a run after work, can tell its one of those days, if either one of us had said shall we have a cuppa, cake and chat instead, then the other would have agreed straight away. But never of us did and our effort was repaid by what turned out to be a lovely run along canal and round abbey. We got wet but both felt better for it!
Day 81 Friday 26th March 2010 - I want to spin!
Really want to go to spin am missing it and I find it helps get me through my Friday morning team meeting. But I know I need to have at least one rest day before Sunday Half Marathon and so I miss it again.
The dreaded Friday am meeting starts at 8.30 and is still going when I have to leave at 12.30 to attend a S&M Training course (that’s Statutory and Mandatory before you get the wrong idea!). My car is just about out of petrol, I cross my fingers and coast as much as i can to the petrol station hoping I can pick up a sandwich for my lunch as well. Turns out to not be the sort of garage to do sandwiches and so lunch is a grab bag of cheese Doritos! Arrive a little late for my course and spend the next three hours on a conflict resolution training course in which I learn absolutely nothing, ah well at least I’m up to date, ticked the box, and the trainer was quite entertaining! Have to fly back to the office as not been anywhere near my email or post today. Adele rings me as she is waiting for me to shop so that she can make cookies and biscuits for the Rugby tournament that her team is hosting tomorrow.
Finish up as quick as i can, home, pick up Adele, supermarket, home, baking, finally sit down grumpy and tired with a cup of tea at some point in the evening. Give Trevor a quick call about tomorrow. Give up on my day and go to bed without having a proper tea!
Day 82 Saturday 27th March 2010 Mr Dooley nearley laps me twice at Park Run!
Dan is up before me but seems reluctant to do park run, persuade him to come by telling him that when he gets a sub 30min I’ll give him £10. Vikki is running with Kara today and asks to borrow her Garmin as Kara is going for a PB. Feel naked without it!
Event is a little short of Marshall and Mr Dooley starts proceedings.
Dan only manages a few steps before stopping saying his foot still hurts (I had forgotten that he had dropped a hand weight on the other day)
Mr Dooley must have joined in the race a little after everyone else started as he passes me on the first corner of the first lap.
I carry on in my own little world at a relaxed steady pace, I’m in no rush today just want to loosen my legs up for tomorrow.
As I pass the finish line for the first time (for those of you that don’t do Park run you pass the finish line 2 before finally crossing it after your 3rd lap!) the lead man passes me, gosh either he is going super fast or I am going super slow. Begin to wonder if Mr Dooley might even lap me a second time. And indeed as I pass the finish line for the second time I have a quick look behind me to see Mr Dooley storming home, 30 seconds faster and he would have lapped me twice!
I finished in a very relaxed paced in 33+ mins and Kara flew home with an outstanding PB
Stop at up and running to get gels for tomorrow then home to start what I like to call the transformation process for lunchtime drinks.
Am just about ready when Trevor calls to pick me up, he enjoys a couple of glasses of red wine while I pull faces at my rather tart traditional lemonade with more than a hint of ginger! But if I’m going to race well tomorrow cant indulge in a glass of vino so settle for a cappuccino! I’m promises that a bottle of chilled champagne will be waiting when I’ve done the Marathon!
Spend the evening with Daniel, buying some CD which has the words “bass” and “addicted” in the title! Emmm ear plugs will be required I think! I finally get a new mobile phone hand set the nice red one I have wanted for so long, not only do they give me it at no extra cost but give me a discount on my monthly rate! Well happy!
Only as I don’t know the phone I don’t know what time to set the alarm for, as I’m not sure if the time will automatically update or not, decide to go for the option that may wake me up two hours early rather than the one that may wake me up an hour late! But was so worried that i wouldn’t wake up I didnt go to sleep!
Day 83 Sunday 28th March 2010 Liverpool is very windy!
At four o’clock old time and five o’clock new time I crawl out of bed! Make porridge, just doesn’t taste right at this time in the morning! Have most of my kit ready, just need to throw things in a bag and set of shortly after 6, stop for a cappuccino and go for Vikki, get to Julie and Davids just as Julie is getting home from work! Don’t know how she does it! David is more groggy than I am but we are soon on our way to Liverpool.
As we get to Liverpool we seem to have loads of time and I am bursting for the loo so we stop at Macd’s and I have a second cappuccino! Then we try make our way to the race only we get stuck in traffic, finding some where to park is a nightmare and we end up in a multi-storey. As we get out of the car and start to hurriedly get ourselves ready Paul Warren pulls up next to us. He too has been stuck and struggling to find somewhere to park. After a lot of messing about and a first (Vaseline my bits up in the middle of multi storey car park) we set off to find the start. There is only 10 min till the race starts and I’m desperate for the loo again but don’t want to be late, we pass a hotel and Paul tells me it will be fine to go as will take time for crowds to get to the start line and as we are wearing timing chips it doesn’t really matter! As we come out someone tells us the start is delayed any way and feel so much better. We actually get to the start line about 10 minutes before the race starts. There is a cold wind coming of the Mersey and I worry that I might be too cold in my vest . Look out for Harp, Kate and Michael but don’t see them, David and I join in the crowd just before the pacer for 10 min miler passes.
Now when I had meet with Tom a few weeks ago to talk about race and pace strategy for Liverpool half, tom had simply said – GO FOR IT – only I wasn’t sure I was able to go for it today, think not fully recovered from Trimpell, feel my training has taken a little dip and think I might be fighting off a little virus, so I was happy to see how it went. I would quite like to get a 2hr12 min as iI missed out on this by just 4 seconds at Brass Monkey !
I don’t remember much about the course, there was a hill early on which slowed my pace a little and the 10 min milers passed us, but I wasn’t aiming for that pace so that was ok, I felt I was running comfortably, not talking much, but seemed to settle into things quite quickly. As we entered the park David disappeared to see a man about a dog and said he’d catch me up. Now I have to confess a small part of my brain did click in here and said, No you wont and my pace picked up. I found myself with the 10 minute milers and thought i’d try running with them for a while to see if I fancied doing this in London. But I hated it! I felt traped and as if I was going to trip up so I did a quick side step and sprinted passed them till I had space in front of me, checked Garmin way too fast, slowed and settled in to my pace again! 10 mins gone and no sign of David catching me, I smiled to myself relaxed and enjoyed things, checked garmin and was surprised to see how far had already run, felt strong and comfortable, still no David! Then a voice says “so as I was saying . . . “ . . David was back! Dam it! He asked me if I had picked up the pace, no no not at all I lied!
I couldn’t tell you how long David stayed with me but he did push on in the end! I wasn’t feeling in the least bit hungry but had a gel at about 8 mile, I heard myself think “its over half way and don’t feel like I have been running for long, only 5 miles to go that’s easy” Excuse me is that really my voice I can hear inside my head!! “Oh look there is a bit of a uphill in this path, never mind slow the pace, little steps up you go” i begin to think my mind has been taken over by a being from out a space!
9 mile - check my garmin - a PB is on the cards unless the wheels come off! Then at mile 10 we rejoin the walkway running alongside the Mersey for the last three miles, the wind blowing off it was a shock and took your breath away and sapped your energy! I pause for 30 seconds to fill my water bottle, off again, start to struggle with my breathing, but im having this, a PB is in site! The 10 min milers catch me back up and pass me, i stick with them a while but they take the whole pathway up and i feel cramped in again and so drop back. I instantly regret this as i hadn’t realised how much shelter they were providing from the wind! We moved away from the front a little and ran through some kind of warehouse car park and I thought this would give some relive from the wind, but in fact it was worse as it seemed to be coming from all directions, back on to the front I check my Garmin, have slowed its going to be close but can still get that PB, want to go for it but have just over half a mile left so pace, steady my pace, see Vikki get ready to pick my pace up, pass a group of scantily dressed roman soldiers, very nice, sense I’m close and start to pick up my pace to find I’m actually already at the finish line! So yes I get my PB, 2.09.29 but am cross with myself as if id know was so close and picked up the pace earlier id have got a 2.09.00 and if it wasn’t for the last 3 miles of wind I think I would have got a 2.08.00. Vikki tells me off and reminds me I have actually taken 2min 35sec off my PB on a harder course!
So yes Tom I Kind of went for it, think I could run it harder, but not to day, but I feel fine after which makes me think could have given more! But as I sit here reflecting on it I’m well pleased, my first half Marathon just four and a half years ago took me 2hr.27min and I felt very ill afterwards!
When I got home Adele asked me if how my run had gone and told me she thinks it’s amazing that I can run for 14 – 20 miles without stopping! So Do I, blooming amazing!
Ps a few of you said struggled to leave a comment so I have reset the settings so if you want to leave a comment you should now be able to do so much easier by doing annoyminously!
Tuesday 30 March 2010
Monday 22 March 2010
WEEK ELEVEN – DONE - Just five weeks left!
Highlight – Sunday afternoon when a handsome young man brought me my favourite large cappuccino as a recovery treat
Lowlight – Having not just one but FOUR horrible cold-sores! Not a good look!
Inspiration – An email from my eldest big brother (thank you)
Has been a strange week, feel a little bit stuck with things!
Not sure if I’m just tired, fighting of some virus or at some level a little bored, actually the word tedious comes to mind! This week in addition to my normal busy, work, kids, training, home chores schedule, I also had to prepare a presentation, complete a self evaluation questionnaire, an on line personality type test and right a short paper all as part of a selection process for a course!
The result is I haven’t done my day by day blog notes but here is a summary of my weeks training!
GOALS – Now There is a word . GOALS - food for thought, GOALS
Now some of you may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned my specific goals for this Marathon.
That is partly because if I tell you, you will have something to measure me against and once you have a measure you can either succeed or fail!
I find that when you tell people you are running a Marathon you generally get one of three responces . . .
• “WOW, how far is that, is it as long as New York marathon/Great North Run/ or some other run they have heard off?” This response delights me as it means I have a non runner who I bore silly with my tails and who are amazed at my efforts!
• “What time are you aiming for?” – To this I generally say well I’m not bothered but would be nice to beat my Edinburgh time of 5hr 21mins
• And then there are those who ask me my 10k or half marathon PB and start to predict my finish time for me. – This again gives a measure (not even my measure) against which I can either fail or succeed!
This happened after my Brass Monkey PB in week 3 and after this I made a conscious decision not to share my race or training run times with anyone except a few of you that give me constant running counsel!
I have managed to avoid discussions of Marathon finish times until last week when Liz captured my Trimpell 20 mile time on camera as I crossed the finish line! Now I have to say I am very pleased with my time, it was some 17 minutes faster than what I was hoping for. But as I thought, this has been followed with a week of individuals predicting my Marathon finish time!
So I think it’s time to share MY goals with you
1. To arrive at the start line strong, fit and healthy having the best possible 16 weeks training!
2. To finish and enjoy what I know will be an amazing event
3. To run it all (apart from fuel stops)
4. To run it as hard as I can. If I do this I will achieve the best possible time I am capable of at this stage in my running life!
Those are my primary goals, the only ones that really matter!
Time is not important . . . . . . . or so I tell myself. . . . . but if in doing the above I manage to improve on my Edinburgh time of 5hr 21 I will be pleased . . . . . if I take 20 min off my time like I did between Dublin and Edinburgh times I will be thrilled . . . . if I break sub 5hours I will be ecstatic!
You see if I’m honest with both myself and you a sub 5hr is what I want, I can feel it, I can almost taste it! There you are, I’ve said it
Just five more weeks, 5 more swims, 20ish more runs, 8ish more cross training to get to a sub 5.
So how am I going to get through the next few weeks strong but fresh?
REST, rest and more rest – but not too much,
FUEL 5* got to get this right now, complex carbs for energy, protein to rebuild and recover, plenty of fresh fruit and veg to provide essential vit & minerals to keep me well and healthy! Wonder if I can do 5 weeks without chocolate, biscuits and sweets? Alcohol not a problem not had a drink since November anyway!
SMART TRAINING – keep to my programme, amend if necessary but don’t miss it just because . . . because!
BE SELFISH - training comes first! Everything and everyone else I’m afraid will have to wait!
FUN – make sure my training is fun, mix it up, do it with others.
SUPPORT – Your support and encouragement is amazing and keeps me going, so keep with me guys, just five more weeks!
X X X
- Mon – an unplanned rest day as couldn’t fit a swim in.
- Tue – run club, but I took advantage of being group leader and walked slowly up the hill on Spen Lane while I made group 2 run up and down the hill around me several times!Wed – Tried to do my interval tread session but after a warm up and 6min of intervals it was obvious it just wasn’t happening and decided a rest, hot chocolate and a chat with Nicky was more needed.
- Thurs – Planned rest day
- Fri – Am lazy and have a 3rd rest day!
- Sat – Park Run aimed for a PB. I missed it by about 40seconds but I did run as hard as I could. Also did body pump, which unusually I didn’t enjoy very much. Perhaps this is another sign that I’m still tired.
- Sun – Long Run 14 miles. Found the whole run hard going and am glad Helen B joined me for about 8 of them!
I have mixed feelings about my training this week. I know that rest and recovery are important parts of training, but even after 3 days rest I still struggled with my long run! I worry I’m not as fit as I’d like to be or indeed need to be to achieve my goals!
Now some of you may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned my specific goals for this Marathon.
MY GOAL IS SUB 5 HOUR!
Thursday 18 March 2010
WEEK TEN – DONE
Highlight – Trimpell 20 Mile
Lowlight – Feeling ill for a lot of the week
Inspiration – Listening to Tom Williams
Day 63 Monday 8th March 2010
Up, bath, work, meeting 1, meeting 2, meeting 3, chat with work colleague, buy lunch, meet boss, go buy boss lunch, meeting 4, 1:1 with boss, home, hug kids, head hurts glands feel sore, cup of tea, bed, (kids make own tea) do work emails, post blog, chat to Trevor, view blog, blog is broken, chat to Vikki, get up, make cheese on toast, back to bed, read book (Julie Walters biography), sleep.
No swim – didn’t have time for a proper lunch break and too tired after work.
Day 64 Tuesday 9th March 2010
Yippe finally going back to the Dentist today and he is taking the nerve out of my bad tooth!
Spent an hour in the dentist chair and despite having a mouth full of mental drills plastic tubing and a sterile gum guard I started to fall asleep as he worked! I was obviously tired! After my little nap I went back to work and all was good until the injection wore off and then OMG my mouth is very sore, I cannot bear the slightest pressure on my tooth and I just can’t eat!
Still I manage to get to The Edge where run club has been invited to look round this evening. I’m not sure I’ll run but am keen to look at the facilities and meet with the management. I did run in the end and felt better for it. But when I got home and searched my cupboards for something I could manage to eat without chewing the only thing I could come up with was porridge, but even this was a challenge and I couldn’t eat much. I take comfort from the fact that at least I know when the swelling has gone down I will be free from the horrible pain I have been having!
Day 65 Wednesday 10th March 2010
Wake up feeling below par, my mouth is still sore; eating is too painful all I can do is suck on my cereals! My head also aches I feel like the dentist drill is still rattling around! Go to work because I want to do my interval training session at lunchtime and body pump this evening!
Feel off colour all day and fatigued because of a lack of food. Have a coaching session with Tom this evening and decide not to train because I just don’t have the energy. Will do intervals tomorrow.
Talk to Tom about pacing and miles for Trimple20 on Sunday, agree goals are
• Don’t race it but run it as if it is a marathon (ie at mile 20 feel I could run more)
• As it is flat aim for a more even pacing of approx 11.15 min miles
• Run it all, no walking if possible
Get a text to say Hotel for London is booked. One less thing to worry about!
Day 66 Thursday 11th March 2010
Training doesn’t happen I allow work to get in the way and so I have a second rest day, mouth still sore though I am able to eat a little more.
Day 67 Friday 12th March 2010
Today I had planned as a rest day but as I haven’t done anything for two days i’m not sure what to do! But I don’t manage to get up early don’t have a lunch break and have to get straight home after work as Dawn is popping round. And so I have my 3rd day rest in a row.
When I get home Adele has done more baking, buns, biscuits and something she has adapted from a recipe that she calls “Lumps” and I wonder why I can’t lose weight. The baking is in honour of Dawns visit, but Adele presents me with a lovely card she has made me for mothers day.
Day 68 Saturday 13th March 2010
Get up early to do a few chores and have porridge before Park Run, finally feel I can eat and tooth no longer sore! Daniel takes a lot of getting up this morning. I put on my new trainers which I need to break in before Marathon day, they are exactly the same model size and colour as my others just very bright and very white!
Get there in time to do just a half lap warm up and then I chat with Nicky, Barbara and Stu at the start line. I already know I want to run this slowly, and set off very leisurely chatting to Nicky, Dan is soon in front of me. But all of a sudden for no reason I can fathom my lower back goes and I am in pain each footfall agonisingly jarring. I have to stop and walk, Nicky runs on, I try to stretch, consider stopping altogether but know if I do ill lose a point in my race with Russell to 50 Park Runs and my prize of a Hot Chocolate! Somehow I manage to finish but my back is so painful after I struggle to move.
Wasn’t planning on doing body pump today but there is no way I could if I wanted to! On way home I need to nip to up & running to buy gels for tomorrow and get out of the car like a 90 year old!
By the time I get home I also feel quite nauseous and don’t know what to do with myself, start my Saturday must do chores but only the barest minimum gets done. I put Marathon Talk on to listen to as I soak in the bath. Begin to wonder if this is just another of my pre race nerve episodes that I get, but how would that make my back so painful? Panic about tomorrow, should I even think about doing Trimpell 20 feeling like this, how can I? But I have to, its on my programme, David is doing it because I recommended it and Julie treated me to this race entry for my birthday, so I just have to do it! No way am I backing out! Feel like I could just soak in the bath all day but Trevor is calling round so have to drag myself out of the bath and struggle to get dressed.
Trevor takes my mind off how ill I feel and helps me to relax and I begin to think I will be ok to do Trimpell, that is until he goes and I try to stand up but my back cease up and for a moment and I can’t move, I see a look of worry on his face and he suggests maybe I shouldn’t be racing tomorrow. Somehow I get myself moving again and pretend i’m ok, but i’m not and I can’t muster the enthusiasm to go out and look at his shinny new car.
At tea time I go visit my mum then call into the supermarket and by the time I get back home at 7ish I feel absolutely dreadful again! But by now I do think that my symptoms (except the bad back) are pre race nerves. I don’t feel hungry but force myself to have my now ritual pasta chicken and veg.
I take some pain killers before going to bed and do manage to get some restless sleep.
Day 69 Sunday 14th March 2010
Alarm goes off at 6am, back feels easier but am careful not to make any sudden movements, another soak in bath a bit of stretching, get kit ready, porridge, dressed and off to Julie & Davids. Race isn’t till 11 so I buy a cappuccino on the way. Get to J&D by 7.35 (only 5 min late which for me is good), Julie drives we take the more scenic route and chat as we go, I have had some pain killers before setting off and my back is comfortable. After about an hour I start to feel sick again but I think this is motion sickness and when we get there about 9.30 I feel much better.
I go to get my race number and realise I have forgotten my confirmation email but am not worried as you don’t normally need it at such events. I go to the table, “Fawcett, please” the man looks “Adele Fawcett” “Eer freaky, thats my daughter but no” we look again i’m not on the list! Panic starts I haven’t got my email! “ which site did you register through” he asks getting his lap top out “I don’t know!” then as he gives me a, what a blonde look, I explain my friend registered for me! “John Schofield” I remember, Julie joins me and I tell her I’m not on the list, someone else approached the table and starts to go through some numbers to retrieve his . . “your there” says Julie noticing my name on the back of one of them! “No that’s Kay Jefferies” says the guy at the table . . . “yes yes that’s me” he gives me another you really are a blond look “it would help if you knew your own name!” “sorry . . . mid divorce I mutter” make a note I really must get that sorted now!
We have over an hour before the race starts which is just as well as I change my mind and my kit 3 times as the weather warms up and the sun comes out. Sip water eat malt loaf and two bananas, hoping this will be enough to top my porridge up without causing digestive problems!
I see Michael then am surprised to see Chris and Liz, Chris has taken Gills Number so there are 3 of us from VARR running. It may be a small team but its a VARR team non the less!
VARR MARATHON BLOGGERS
And so to the race . . . the start line is on the track and I catch up with the boys my nerves disappear, the sick feeling goes and even my back feels ok, I think this is because I can’t do anything else now but run it. Whatever decisions I’ve made, food, gels, kit, music it’s too late to change it so I stop worrying. Now it’s all about the pacing and i keep going over Toms words 11.15, even pace, fuel at 8,10,12,14,16, even pace, run it all, even pace to the end, feel like you can run further!
And we are off, a circuit of the track followed by some back and forth round a cycle course and then on to the cycle/foot path. David and I ran together chatting some and listening to our music, my garmin bleeped at me constantly telling me to slow down and I kept trying but my legs were still in their warm up mode and wouldn’t do as they were told!
Quite quickly we were faced with the lead runners going back at us in the opposite direction quite worrying at only two miles into a 20 mile race! But soon we also came back round this first loop and headed back the way we came. And here was a classic moment as we approach a small group of supports (now remember we had probably only been running about 30 min at this point) David spotted Julie waiting to cheer us on then as he noticed the large shopping bags around her came a cry of “what on earth have you being buying now?” Brilliant, he couldn’t do or say more as he had another 16 miles to run and by the time we got back he was too tired to care what Julie had bought!
David stayed with me till about mile 8 or 9 sometimes chatting sometimes not but when I slowed to have my 2nd gel David pushed on worrying that I was going too fast to run at his pace. But I still kept a steady pace though I did speed up just a little. But according to my Garmin I was still going to fast. A little after this I saw, first Chris and then Michael, both looking strong, pass me as they head on the return journey back. I cant remember where, but I stopped to fill my water bottle but wasn’t more than 30 seconds and then I was off running again.
I kept checking the garmin and my lap times were pretty even though i was still going faster than my target 11.15. I was conscious of having gels regularly which I managed to do as I ran only tried to time them so that I could leave the wrappers at the water stations. Even dumped one on a spectator at one point saying I hate to litter!
At mile 14 I had another 30 second stop to fill up my water bottle and then after I started to run again my hip suddenly started to hurt which took my breath away and slowed me a little but i knew that if I stopped even just to walk one step I would not be able to get running properly again so I tried to block the pain out and kept running. This was really hard as at this point there were times when i couldn’t see any other runners and it felt more like a training run than a race. But gradually I gained on runners in front. It wasn’t my intention to do so but very gradually I gained and over took about a dozen runners in the next 5 miles. My hip continued to bother me to the point where at the last water station I gave someone my bottle to fill up ran on and then ran back to collect it as i knew if I stopped even for 30 seconds I would not be able to run on!
At mile 18 I had to fight back the urge to speed up, two miles is still a long way – but I must have speeded up or at least maintained speed as when we renetered the cycle track I found myself amongst many runners and continued to slowly overtake a few more.
This part of the race was mentally tough as you could see the track where the finish line was but the garmin said still another mile to go round and round the cycle track and then a very cruel 2 laps of the track. But I did manage to sprint across the line!
Had been chasing these gents down from about mile 17 and took them in the last mile!
Lowlight – Feeling ill for a lot of the week
Inspiration – Listening to Tom Williams
Day 63 Monday 8th March 2010
Up, bath, work, meeting 1, meeting 2, meeting 3, chat with work colleague, buy lunch, meet boss, go buy boss lunch, meeting 4, 1:1 with boss, home, hug kids, head hurts glands feel sore, cup of tea, bed, (kids make own tea) do work emails, post blog, chat to Trevor, view blog, blog is broken, chat to Vikki, get up, make cheese on toast, back to bed, read book (Julie Walters biography), sleep.
No swim – didn’t have time for a proper lunch break and too tired after work.
Day 64 Tuesday 9th March 2010
Yippe finally going back to the Dentist today and he is taking the nerve out of my bad tooth!
Spent an hour in the dentist chair and despite having a mouth full of mental drills plastic tubing and a sterile gum guard I started to fall asleep as he worked! I was obviously tired! After my little nap I went back to work and all was good until the injection wore off and then OMG my mouth is very sore, I cannot bear the slightest pressure on my tooth and I just can’t eat!
Still I manage to get to The Edge where run club has been invited to look round this evening. I’m not sure I’ll run but am keen to look at the facilities and meet with the management. I did run in the end and felt better for it. But when I got home and searched my cupboards for something I could manage to eat without chewing the only thing I could come up with was porridge, but even this was a challenge and I couldn’t eat much. I take comfort from the fact that at least I know when the swelling has gone down I will be free from the horrible pain I have been having!
Day 65 Wednesday 10th March 2010
Wake up feeling below par, my mouth is still sore; eating is too painful all I can do is suck on my cereals! My head also aches I feel like the dentist drill is still rattling around! Go to work because I want to do my interval training session at lunchtime and body pump this evening!
Feel off colour all day and fatigued because of a lack of food. Have a coaching session with Tom this evening and decide not to train because I just don’t have the energy. Will do intervals tomorrow.
Talk to Tom about pacing and miles for Trimple20 on Sunday, agree goals are
• Don’t race it but run it as if it is a marathon (ie at mile 20 feel I could run more)
• As it is flat aim for a more even pacing of approx 11.15 min miles
• Run it all, no walking if possible
Get a text to say Hotel for London is booked. One less thing to worry about!
Day 66 Thursday 11th March 2010
Training doesn’t happen I allow work to get in the way and so I have a second rest day, mouth still sore though I am able to eat a little more.
Day 67 Friday 12th March 2010
Today I had planned as a rest day but as I haven’t done anything for two days i’m not sure what to do! But I don’t manage to get up early don’t have a lunch break and have to get straight home after work as Dawn is popping round. And so I have my 3rd day rest in a row.
When I get home Adele has done more baking, buns, biscuits and something she has adapted from a recipe that she calls “Lumps” and I wonder why I can’t lose weight. The baking is in honour of Dawns visit, but Adele presents me with a lovely card she has made me for mothers day.Get up early to do a few chores and have porridge before Park Run, finally feel I can eat and tooth no longer sore! Daniel takes a lot of getting up this morning. I put on my new trainers which I need to break in before Marathon day, they are exactly the same model size and colour as my others just very bright and very white!
Get there in time to do just a half lap warm up and then I chat with Nicky, Barbara and Stu at the start line. I already know I want to run this slowly, and set off very leisurely chatting to Nicky, Dan is soon in front of me. But all of a sudden for no reason I can fathom my lower back goes and I am in pain each footfall agonisingly jarring. I have to stop and walk, Nicky runs on, I try to stretch, consider stopping altogether but know if I do ill lose a point in my race with Russell to 50 Park Runs and my prize of a Hot Chocolate! Somehow I manage to finish but my back is so painful after I struggle to move.
Wasn’t planning on doing body pump today but there is no way I could if I wanted to! On way home I need to nip to up & running to buy gels for tomorrow and get out of the car like a 90 year old!
By the time I get home I also feel quite nauseous and don’t know what to do with myself, start my Saturday must do chores but only the barest minimum gets done. I put Marathon Talk on to listen to as I soak in the bath. Begin to wonder if this is just another of my pre race nerve episodes that I get, but how would that make my back so painful? Panic about tomorrow, should I even think about doing Trimpell 20 feeling like this, how can I? But I have to, its on my programme, David is doing it because I recommended it and Julie treated me to this race entry for my birthday, so I just have to do it! No way am I backing out! Feel like I could just soak in the bath all day but Trevor is calling round so have to drag myself out of the bath and struggle to get dressed.
Trevor takes my mind off how ill I feel and helps me to relax and I begin to think I will be ok to do Trimpell, that is until he goes and I try to stand up but my back cease up and for a moment and I can’t move, I see a look of worry on his face and he suggests maybe I shouldn’t be racing tomorrow. Somehow I get myself moving again and pretend i’m ok, but i’m not and I can’t muster the enthusiasm to go out and look at his shinny new car.
At tea time I go visit my mum then call into the supermarket and by the time I get back home at 7ish I feel absolutely dreadful again! But by now I do think that my symptoms (except the bad back) are pre race nerves. I don’t feel hungry but force myself to have my now ritual pasta chicken and veg.
I take some pain killers before going to bed and do manage to get some restless sleep.
Day 69 Sunday 14th March 2010
Alarm goes off at 6am, back feels easier but am careful not to make any sudden movements, another soak in bath a bit of stretching, get kit ready, porridge, dressed and off to Julie & Davids. Race isn’t till 11 so I buy a cappuccino on the way. Get to J&D by 7.35 (only 5 min late which for me is good), Julie drives we take the more scenic route and chat as we go, I have had some pain killers before setting off and my back is comfortable. After about an hour I start to feel sick again but I think this is motion sickness and when we get there about 9.30 I feel much better.
I go to get my race number and realise I have forgotten my confirmation email but am not worried as you don’t normally need it at such events. I go to the table, “Fawcett, please” the man looks “Adele Fawcett” “Eer freaky, thats my daughter but no” we look again i’m not on the list! Panic starts I haven’t got my email! “ which site did you register through” he asks getting his lap top out “I don’t know!” then as he gives me a, what a blonde look, I explain my friend registered for me! “John Schofield” I remember, Julie joins me and I tell her I’m not on the list, someone else approached the table and starts to go through some numbers to retrieve his . . “your there” says Julie noticing my name on the back of one of them! “No that’s Kay Jefferies” says the guy at the table . . . “yes yes that’s me” he gives me another you really are a blond look “it would help if you knew your own name!” “sorry . . . mid divorce I mutter” make a note I really must get that sorted now!
We have over an hour before the race starts which is just as well as I change my mind and my kit 3 times as the weather warms up and the sun comes out. Sip water eat malt loaf and two bananas, hoping this will be enough to top my porridge up without causing digestive problems!
I see Michael then am surprised to see Chris and Liz, Chris has taken Gills Number so there are 3 of us from VARR running. It may be a small team but its a VARR team non the less!
VARR MARATHON BLOGGERSAnd so to the race . . . the start line is on the track and I catch up with the boys my nerves disappear, the sick feeling goes and even my back feels ok, I think this is because I can’t do anything else now but run it. Whatever decisions I’ve made, food, gels, kit, music it’s too late to change it so I stop worrying. Now it’s all about the pacing and i keep going over Toms words 11.15, even pace, fuel at 8,10,12,14,16, even pace, run it all, even pace to the end, feel like you can run further!
And we are off, a circuit of the track followed by some back and forth round a cycle course and then on to the cycle/foot path. David and I ran together chatting some and listening to our music, my garmin bleeped at me constantly telling me to slow down and I kept trying but my legs were still in their warm up mode and wouldn’t do as they were told!
Quite quickly we were faced with the lead runners going back at us in the opposite direction quite worrying at only two miles into a 20 mile race! But soon we also came back round this first loop and headed back the way we came. And here was a classic moment as we approach a small group of supports (now remember we had probably only been running about 30 min at this point) David spotted Julie waiting to cheer us on then as he noticed the large shopping bags around her came a cry of “what on earth have you being buying now?” Brilliant, he couldn’t do or say more as he had another 16 miles to run and by the time we got back he was too tired to care what Julie had bought!
David stayed with me till about mile 8 or 9 sometimes chatting sometimes not but when I slowed to have my 2nd gel David pushed on worrying that I was going too fast to run at his pace. But I still kept a steady pace though I did speed up just a little. But according to my Garmin I was still going to fast. A little after this I saw, first Chris and then Michael, both looking strong, pass me as they head on the return journey back. I cant remember where, but I stopped to fill my water bottle but wasn’t more than 30 seconds and then I was off running again.
I kept checking the garmin and my lap times were pretty even though i was still going faster than my target 11.15. I was conscious of having gels regularly which I managed to do as I ran only tried to time them so that I could leave the wrappers at the water stations. Even dumped one on a spectator at one point saying I hate to litter!
At mile 14 I had another 30 second stop to fill up my water bottle and then after I started to run again my hip suddenly started to hurt which took my breath away and slowed me a little but i knew that if I stopped even just to walk one step I would not be able to get running properly again so I tried to block the pain out and kept running. This was really hard as at this point there were times when i couldn’t see any other runners and it felt more like a training run than a race. But gradually I gained on runners in front. It wasn’t my intention to do so but very gradually I gained and over took about a dozen runners in the next 5 miles. My hip continued to bother me to the point where at the last water station I gave someone my bottle to fill up ran on and then ran back to collect it as i knew if I stopped even for 30 seconds I would not be able to run on!
At mile 18 I had to fight back the urge to speed up, two miles is still a long way – but I must have speeded up or at least maintained speed as when we renetered the cycle track I found myself amongst many runners and continued to slowly overtake a few more.
Had been chasing these gents down from about mile 17 and took them in the last mile!
Monday 8 March 2010
WEEK NINE – DONE
Can't believe another week has gone already!
Highlight – The Fact that I LOVED my solo 20 miler
Lowlight – Reoccurring bouts of very painful tooth ache
Inspiration – Has to be the Double First Place From Team VARR!
The Winning Team!
Day 57 Monday 1st March 2010 – Groundhog day
My entry for Monday reads almost the same as last week . . . .
Slept well but still hard to get up and get going but that is about my motivation for work not for training.
Had a lunch break and did my active recovery in the shape of a 40 length swim
Brought work home but haven’t done any of it, busy updating training programmes reading and writing blog, I feel a bit guilty that I prioritise my training over work.
Day 57 Tuesday 2nd March 2010 – Club Intervals – So tell me how come 1min rest goes much quicker than 1 minute running?
Not very much to say today really, went to work, spent all day in the office but most of it I was meeting with a colleague going through things, which was most helpful but I didn’t get anything from my to do box (yes I’ve now gone from a list to a box!) done.
My tooth has been niggling throughout the day take some painkillers before run club.
As we gather for the start of run club there is a lot of chatter about Saturday National, someone asks me if I’m recovered I say ask me in an hour! Its first Tuesday in the month and so we run as a group and as we warm up my legs ache, my right Achilles feels very tight I’m not sure I’m up to the interval session ahead! We are trying somewhere new, Tom splits us into two groups and we do 12 X 1min intervals with a 1min break. I take the first one steady and all is fine and I am able to have a good hard training session, I try mark someone on each of the intervals my aim is to finish before them, on one of them I chose Vikki and keep on her shoulder before taking her in the last 10 seconds (though I know Vikki is been sensible and coming back from injury in a very steady manner, by next month I won’t even be able to keep pace with her). I push myself and it takes me nearly a minute to get my breath back in between each effort I am really surprise and pleased how my legs work, no pain, but as soon as we start to run back I can hardly move my legs and I know I’m not recovered from Saturday! By the time we get back to the gym my legs are so tight I have to walk the last bit for fear that something will snap! Tooth ache – which was fine while running starts again! Really wish I had a sitter for tonight as would love to go for a curry with the guys.
Day 58 Wednesday 3rd March 2010 - It can’t be Wednesday I’m not training!
I wake up just before my alarm, have had a good night sleep but have a headache and tooth is niggling already. Also my left foot is a little sore again! Think I need to call Harriet the Hands Morgan and get myself booked in for a sports massage, as I lie here contemplating this I can’t decide which is most painful a sports massage or Tooth Ache!
It’s a rest day to day so I focus more on my work, want to get through my to do box today but also have an interview for ILM course at lunchtime which I need to prepare for first thing as I haven’t really thought about this yet.
Adele has developed a new tactic of asking me things in a way that she gets her way it starts with “Mum I think I know what you will say, but . .. . . “ And as the one thing I hate to be is predictable I end up not saying what she expects and therefore agreeing to whatever she has requested. This is how at the beginning of the week Adele got me to agree to her friend staying over on a school night. Tomorrow they have to go dressed as characters from a book and they wanted to go as twins . . . . . from which book I never actually found out . . . . .But they were as good as gold hardly saw them and when I went to tell them to go to bed they already had.
I had a relaxing evening and filled up on pasta veg and chicken in preparation for tomorrow’s long run!
Day 59 Thursday 4th March 2010 - Solo 20 miles, just me, myself, iPod & open road
Its long run day – Adele friend brings me a cup of tea in bed, could get used to this! Have toast for breakfast then a little while after a big bowl of porridge with sultanas. I have just converted to Sultanas in my porridge as last week when I was skint I ran out of my usual golden syrup, but actually this is much nicer! Can’t decide what to wear as sun is shining, My new coat with removable sleeves has arrived, but it’s not quite what I want and I think I’m going to send it back: so should I go for long sleeved top and sleeveless gillet, but pockets are too small for my water bottle: or short sleeved top and long sleeved jacket, but zip has gone on this and I have to step in and out of it, a pain if I want to take it on and off? Start to get myself in a tis-was.
Have a lift arranged and so at about 10.40 I am abandoned in Morrison’s car park at Whetherby. I set off, back to Leeds divert through Collingham the first 2 miles hurt in my legs, but am ok, Garmin suggested I was going too fast. But I soon settled in to my run as I worked my way along towards Harewood. I had chosen this route as I thought I would be able to take in the lovely country scenery, I always feel at peace in the country side and it was lovely, the snow drops and other spring flowers are finally making an appearance. But what I hadn’t thought about was there was no pavement on this road and the traffic was somewhat fast, including several large trucks and so I had to keep my wits about me particularly on bends in the road. Once or twice I had to jump into the hedgerow just to be sure. As I reached Harewood I decided to have a gel as there was a bin could throw wrapped away in, Nicky, with brilliant timing, sent me a supportive text at this point and so I was able to quickly reply before I was on my way again. Up Leeds Road, never realised what a hill “up” this was but got up it by taking steady paces and singing along to Surfing USA, Ruby Ruby Ruby, and Maggie May........ walking just wasn’t an option for me at this stage. Was worried I might miss my turning to Eccup but found it ok, from here on I could visualise my route as it was made up of different runs I have done several times. I think this helped as I just ran it a section at a time. In what felt like no time at all I was at Golden Acre. It was here I had my only real walk while I had another gel and text Dan who was at home poorly. I’m not a fan of running along Otley Road, it’s just too long and done it too many times but today it felt ok. I stopped at the garage to get some water and top my bottle up and had another gel, then off down Ade Lane, I love house spotting down here, across the ring road up Weetwood Lane, felt a need to turn the music up a little here, then as turned left to run down through the Hollies on came “eye of the tiger” and I found myself bounding down the dirt track round fences and boulders punching the air as if I was Rocky himself. I felt my shin ache a little here though and know I was just going too fast. In to Meanwood Park and I took advantage of running on the grass to give my legs a breather from the pounding. Along the back way to Monkbridge Road (passed the bakers shop my Granddad used to run in the war and where my dad used to call regularly to buy teacakes so that he could try chat my mum up) and up for what I knew is my last but one hill, I slowed my pace and stuck with it. Nipped through Headingly and downhill to join Kirkstall Road. When I reached my turning to go up Canal Road I still had half a mile to go and as Canal Road is up I contemplated running further on Kikrstall road but didn’t decided to go up Canal Road which I have to say was the hardest bit of the whole run. I then had another mile to walk home but this helped to ease my legs.
Now last year after doing my 20 miler I think I just had a bath ate and did nothing for the rest of the day but today I have arranged to meet Mabeth for a coffee and a long overdue catch up. So it’s a proper meal, bath, dressed, drive to town, park up a quick browse at Up & Running and Sports Direct than meet up with Mabeth. Lovely to see how well Mabeth is and hear all her news.
Day 60 Friday 5th March 2010 – Duvet day!
I have a second full rest day today and when I say rest day I really do mean rest day, Leisurely bath, a little nap, read, write my blog notes for yesterday, rest my eyes a little, lunch, read some more a wee afternoon 40 winks and read a little till kids come home from school! Very lazy, very self indulgent – but hey I think I deserve it!
Day 61 Saturday 6th March 2010 – Massage with Tea & Cake
Shan’t bore you too much with my Saturday routine as I’m sure you know it by now, Park Run (no Dan) Hot chocolate at Caldos (thanks V) Body Pump then home to do washing and chores etc.
Went to Nicky’s later who gave my legs a brilliant massage (reckon Nicky could be on a winner here massage with tea & homemade cake) It was great to have a proper chat and catch up and I felt very relaxed after but I bet Nicky was tired as she spent ages on each leg!
Day 62 Sunday 7th March 2010 -
Last race of the 2009/10 season Peco Cross Country today. I seem to remember when the club first raised this as something we could do that I said very clearly that I would not be taking part in any cross country as I was scared and convinced and I would injure myself. I am thrilled that my team mates persuade me to give it a go. One pair of off road trainers later and I have completed 5 out of 5 with spilling my first blood today from one slight wound from some brambles that tried to trip me up! It has been an experience a challenge and I have enjoyed (in a perverse kind of a way) every single minute of them! Each course has been different bringing its own challenges but today saw us returning to running up, down and through woods, over tree roots, stiles, bridges, cobbles, boulders, puddles, ice and even some metal hurdles and of course the obligatory mud!
As I ran down the final hill I thought about how far I had come and was taken back in time about thirty–cough-cough-ish years ago. My dad was a scout leader and our summer family holiday was the annual scout camp and one particular year when I was about 9, abseiling was the main activity. I remember sitting at the top of what my much older brothers called a nursery slope in the woods and they were teaching the scouts the techniques etc for abseiling. I was desperate to have a go but just daren’t as I didn’t want to make a fool of myself in front of all the scouts. After a while I decide to go back to camp, probably to set the tuck/sweet shop up which I was in charge of (what power I had for such a young girl) and as I started to walk down this hill – much like today’s final downhill - my feet started to run away with me I got faster and faster and could not stop I was quite terrified and trying not to scream and as my feet turned over faster and faster I was propelled forward until slam I ran straight into a big tree my chest and face banging right into it (if I remember right I even lost a tooth) the tree stopped me momentarily but then I just kind of slid round it and continued on my journey to the bottom of the hill where I arrived in a dishevelled heap! Then later that year I was on a Sunday school trip to Filey and was walking along a winding path that went up the cliff through a wooded area. I lost my footing on the path (and I wasn’t even running) and went tumbling down the hill side hitting my head on a tree and landing in a great big bunch of nettles my legs and arms were covered in cuts bruises and nettle stings. But what I remember most is that the Cadburys Caramel Bar had only just come out and I had treated myself to one ( for me this was a big treat) and in my tumble I lost it!
I reckon these two events had left me with a deep seated fear of any sort of off road running that involves hills and trees! But thanks to the VARR team and Peco I think I’m nearly cured!
And the best thing about today?
Well this may have been the last race of VARR’s first cross country season but both the Girls and Boys team came first! Brilliant! And the boys have gained promotion double brilliant!
Highlight – The Fact that I LOVED my solo 20 miler
Lowlight – Reoccurring bouts of very painful tooth ache
Inspiration – Has to be the Double First Place From Team VARR!
The Winning Team!
Day 57 Monday 1st March 2010 – Groundhog day
My entry for Monday reads almost the same as last week . . . .
Slept well but still hard to get up and get going but that is about my motivation for work not for training.
Had a lunch break and did my active recovery in the shape of a 40 length swim
Brought work home but haven’t done any of it, busy updating training programmes reading and writing blog, I feel a bit guilty that I prioritise my training over work.
Day 57 Tuesday 2nd March 2010 – Club Intervals – So tell me how come 1min rest goes much quicker than 1 minute running?
Not very much to say today really, went to work, spent all day in the office but most of it I was meeting with a colleague going through things, which was most helpful but I didn’t get anything from my to do box (yes I’ve now gone from a list to a box!) done.
My tooth has been niggling throughout the day take some painkillers before run club.
As we gather for the start of run club there is a lot of chatter about Saturday National, someone asks me if I’m recovered I say ask me in an hour! Its first Tuesday in the month and so we run as a group and as we warm up my legs ache, my right Achilles feels very tight I’m not sure I’m up to the interval session ahead! We are trying somewhere new, Tom splits us into two groups and we do 12 X 1min intervals with a 1min break. I take the first one steady and all is fine and I am able to have a good hard training session, I try mark someone on each of the intervals my aim is to finish before them, on one of them I chose Vikki and keep on her shoulder before taking her in the last 10 seconds (though I know Vikki is been sensible and coming back from injury in a very steady manner, by next month I won’t even be able to keep pace with her). I push myself and it takes me nearly a minute to get my breath back in between each effort I am really surprise and pleased how my legs work, no pain, but as soon as we start to run back I can hardly move my legs and I know I’m not recovered from Saturday! By the time we get back to the gym my legs are so tight I have to walk the last bit for fear that something will snap! Tooth ache – which was fine while running starts again! Really wish I had a sitter for tonight as would love to go for a curry with the guys.
Day 58 Wednesday 3rd March 2010 - It can’t be Wednesday I’m not training!
I wake up just before my alarm, have had a good night sleep but have a headache and tooth is niggling already. Also my left foot is a little sore again! Think I need to call Harriet the Hands Morgan and get myself booked in for a sports massage, as I lie here contemplating this I can’t decide which is most painful a sports massage or Tooth Ache!
It’s a rest day to day so I focus more on my work, want to get through my to do box today but also have an interview for ILM course at lunchtime which I need to prepare for first thing as I haven’t really thought about this yet.
Adele has developed a new tactic of asking me things in a way that she gets her way it starts with “Mum I think I know what you will say, but . .. . . “ And as the one thing I hate to be is predictable I end up not saying what she expects and therefore agreeing to whatever she has requested. This is how at the beginning of the week Adele got me to agree to her friend staying over on a school night. Tomorrow they have to go dressed as characters from a book and they wanted to go as twins . . . . . from which book I never actually found out . . . . .But they were as good as gold hardly saw them and when I went to tell them to go to bed they already had.
I had a relaxing evening and filled up on pasta veg and chicken in preparation for tomorrow’s long run!
Day 59 Thursday 4th March 2010 - Solo 20 miles, just me, myself, iPod & open road
Its long run day – Adele friend brings me a cup of tea in bed, could get used to this! Have toast for breakfast then a little while after a big bowl of porridge with sultanas. I have just converted to Sultanas in my porridge as last week when I was skint I ran out of my usual golden syrup, but actually this is much nicer! Can’t decide what to wear as sun is shining, My new coat with removable sleeves has arrived, but it’s not quite what I want and I think I’m going to send it back: so should I go for long sleeved top and sleeveless gillet, but pockets are too small for my water bottle: or short sleeved top and long sleeved jacket, but zip has gone on this and I have to step in and out of it, a pain if I want to take it on and off? Start to get myself in a tis-was.
Have a lift arranged and so at about 10.40 I am abandoned in Morrison’s car park at Whetherby. I set off, back to Leeds divert through Collingham the first 2 miles hurt in my legs, but am ok, Garmin suggested I was going too fast. But I soon settled in to my run as I worked my way along towards Harewood. I had chosen this route as I thought I would be able to take in the lovely country scenery, I always feel at peace in the country side and it was lovely, the snow drops and other spring flowers are finally making an appearance. But what I hadn’t thought about was there was no pavement on this road and the traffic was somewhat fast, including several large trucks and so I had to keep my wits about me particularly on bends in the road. Once or twice I had to jump into the hedgerow just to be sure. As I reached Harewood I decided to have a gel as there was a bin could throw wrapped away in, Nicky, with brilliant timing, sent me a supportive text at this point and so I was able to quickly reply before I was on my way again. Up Leeds Road, never realised what a hill “up” this was but got up it by taking steady paces and singing along to Surfing USA, Ruby Ruby Ruby, and Maggie May........ walking just wasn’t an option for me at this stage. Was worried I might miss my turning to Eccup but found it ok, from here on I could visualise my route as it was made up of different runs I have done several times. I think this helped as I just ran it a section at a time. In what felt like no time at all I was at Golden Acre. It was here I had my only real walk while I had another gel and text Dan who was at home poorly. I’m not a fan of running along Otley Road, it’s just too long and done it too many times but today it felt ok. I stopped at the garage to get some water and top my bottle up and had another gel, then off down Ade Lane, I love house spotting down here, across the ring road up Weetwood Lane, felt a need to turn the music up a little here, then as turned left to run down through the Hollies on came “eye of the tiger” and I found myself bounding down the dirt track round fences and boulders punching the air as if I was Rocky himself. I felt my shin ache a little here though and know I was just going too fast. In to Meanwood Park and I took advantage of running on the grass to give my legs a breather from the pounding. Along the back way to Monkbridge Road (passed the bakers shop my Granddad used to run in the war and where my dad used to call regularly to buy teacakes so that he could try chat my mum up) and up for what I knew is my last but one hill, I slowed my pace and stuck with it. Nipped through Headingly and downhill to join Kirkstall Road. When I reached my turning to go up Canal Road I still had half a mile to go and as Canal Road is up I contemplated running further on Kikrstall road but didn’t decided to go up Canal Road which I have to say was the hardest bit of the whole run. I then had another mile to walk home but this helped to ease my legs.
Now last year after doing my 20 miler I think I just had a bath ate and did nothing for the rest of the day but today I have arranged to meet Mabeth for a coffee and a long overdue catch up. So it’s a proper meal, bath, dressed, drive to town, park up a quick browse at Up & Running and Sports Direct than meet up with Mabeth. Lovely to see how well Mabeth is and hear all her news.
Day 60 Friday 5th March 2010 – Duvet day!
I have a second full rest day today and when I say rest day I really do mean rest day, Leisurely bath, a little nap, read, write my blog notes for yesterday, rest my eyes a little, lunch, read some more a wee afternoon 40 winks and read a little till kids come home from school! Very lazy, very self indulgent – but hey I think I deserve it!
Day 61 Saturday 6th March 2010 – Massage with Tea & Cake
Shan’t bore you too much with my Saturday routine as I’m sure you know it by now, Park Run (no Dan) Hot chocolate at Caldos (thanks V) Body Pump then home to do washing and chores etc.
Went to Nicky’s later who gave my legs a brilliant massage (reckon Nicky could be on a winner here massage with tea & homemade cake) It was great to have a proper chat and catch up and I felt very relaxed after but I bet Nicky was tired as she spent ages on each leg!
Day 62 Sunday 7th March 2010 -
Last race of the 2009/10 season Peco Cross Country today. I seem to remember when the club first raised this as something we could do that I said very clearly that I would not be taking part in any cross country as I was scared and convinced and I would injure myself. I am thrilled that my team mates persuade me to give it a go. One pair of off road trainers later and I have completed 5 out of 5 with spilling my first blood today from one slight wound from some brambles that tried to trip me up! It has been an experience a challenge and I have enjoyed (in a perverse kind of a way) every single minute of them! Each course has been different bringing its own challenges but today saw us returning to running up, down and through woods, over tree roots, stiles, bridges, cobbles, boulders, puddles, ice and even some metal hurdles and of course the obligatory mud!
First Blood!
As I ran down the final hill I thought about how far I had come and was taken back in time about thirty–cough-cough-ish years ago. My dad was a scout leader and our summer family holiday was the annual scout camp and one particular year when I was about 9, abseiling was the main activity. I remember sitting at the top of what my much older brothers called a nursery slope in the woods and they were teaching the scouts the techniques etc for abseiling. I was desperate to have a go but just daren’t as I didn’t want to make a fool of myself in front of all the scouts. After a while I decide to go back to camp, probably to set the tuck/sweet shop up which I was in charge of (what power I had for such a young girl) and as I started to walk down this hill – much like today’s final downhill - my feet started to run away with me I got faster and faster and could not stop I was quite terrified and trying not to scream and as my feet turned over faster and faster I was propelled forward until slam I ran straight into a big tree my chest and face banging right into it (if I remember right I even lost a tooth) the tree stopped me momentarily but then I just kind of slid round it and continued on my journey to the bottom of the hill where I arrived in a dishevelled heap! Then later that year I was on a Sunday school trip to Filey and was walking along a winding path that went up the cliff through a wooded area. I lost my footing on the path (and I wasn’t even running) and went tumbling down the hill side hitting my head on a tree and landing in a great big bunch of nettles my legs and arms were covered in cuts bruises and nettle stings. But what I remember most is that the Cadburys Caramel Bar had only just come out and I had treated myself to one ( for me this was a big treat) and in my tumble I lost it!
I reckon these two events had left me with a deep seated fear of any sort of off road running that involves hills and trees! But thanks to the VARR team and Peco I think I’m nearly cured!
And the best thing about today?
Well this may have been the last race of VARR’s first cross country season but both the Girls and Boys team came first! Brilliant! And the boys have gained promotion double brilliant!
Monday 1 March 2010
WEEK EIGHT, DONE -- TO DO, EIGHT WEEK
This week it has been that time of the month . . . . you know the week before payday when the cupboards are bear and for me maintaining a healthy balance of nutrition becomes a challenge!
Highlights – I have had lots of comments this week both from my running buddies and others saying I have lost weight!
Lowlights- Given the above I pick up the courage to jump on the scales and the few pounds I had lost has actually gone back on!!!!!!!!!
Inspiration – My Sunday morning run
Day 50 Monday 22nd February 2010 Bacon Egg & Chips - Yum
Slept well but still hard to get up and get going but that is about my motivation for work not for training.
Had a lunch break and did my active recovery in the shape of a 40 length swim
Brought work home but haven’t done any of it, busy updating training programmes reading and writing blog, I feel a bit guilty that I prioritise my training over work.
Its end of the month and as is normal have been to raid my mum’s fridge and have ended up having one my favourite teas from when i was a little girl, Bacon (grilled), (dry) fried egg, (oven) chips and tomatoes Yum – not had this in years – Yum!
Bed time
Day 51 Tuesday 23rd February 2010 Easter Chicks Waddle by
I think I went to work today but can’t really remember anything about it!
Don’t have the best of lunches, the cottage cheese I had brought into work last week has a green covering to it now so into the bin it goes, have to make do with a packet of oat cakes, there is two yoghurts in the fridge and I can’t decide if they are the ones I brought to work last week, or if I have eaten mine and that these are someone else’s. Decided best to leave them and have two small oranges instead. About 5pm I make myself a bowl of porridge in hope that this will fuel my run, but I am already feeling sluggish and know this is due to my poor nutrition during the day, not a gram of protein in sight! Roll on pay day so I can eat properly again!
When I leave the office at just gone 6 I am surprised at how cold the temperature has dropped as I head to the gym. My foot has had a slight pain in it for the last couple of hours, put it down to wearing my big snow boots.
Think the cold and return of snow may have put a few people off as not as many out tonight have about 8 in my group. Tom chatters and everyone just wants to get off as its so cold.
Of we set but I had made the mistake of putting my off road trainers on and these made my legs ache, I could barely make it up Gotts Hill Park, bless Helen B she kept trying to talk to me as we ran up the hill but all I could really manage was a grunt. As we round the corner we came across group 3 and I chuckled to myself as I thought (now please don’t anyone be offended) how in their bright yellow jackets they looked like a group of fluffy Easter chicks all following their mother (Paul W)! I had to stop a couple of times to re tie my laces and so I tied them quite tight, but then I got that horrible foot thing I get from time to time, the only way I can describe it is it feels like I am wearing house bricks as trainers, Horrible, but I know now that it usually runs off. I had to walk a little as this feeling made me run awkwardly and I could feel all sorts of things in my lower legs ankles complaining and pulling. I ended up having to drop back a little and as the rest of group 2 ran on in front of me I recalled Tom’s words just before we set off . . . “guys if you struggled to keep up with your group last week maybe move down a group” . . . . . . .
Think may be its me that needs to drop down to group 1!
We chatted about arrangements for Sat National cross country, have to say am getting anxious about this now
* Will I/we be able to find some where to park
* Amongst all those people will I be able to find my team mates
* Not sure I like the sound of being pinned in a penn!
* Someone said something about running up hill 60 - twice!
* I’m convinced I will be the last lady to finish
* Worse than that what if I haven’t finished before the men’s race is due to start and we are on the same Course!.
Have a slice of homemade carrot cake when I visit one of my teams (think well at least thats some veg) Lunch is again a packet of oat cakes and two small oranges followed by a pre training bowl of porridge about 4 in the afternoon.
Don’t have running on my programme to day but after last weeks interval session on the treadmill feel I want to see if I can focus better.
Was happy with my effort, concerned that my foot would be a problem but was ok!
2@11 2@11.5 2@11.5 2@11.5 2@11.5 2@12 2@12.5 1@13
Followed by an hour of Body Pump, enjoyed!
Followed by Baked Beans on toast – roll on pay day
Lunch is . . . . . . you’ve guessed it a packet of oat cakes and two small oranges followed by a late afternoon bowl of porridge (can hear Tom and others shouting at me now but all I can say is - roll on payday)
Ran with Nicky today which was really good as we haven’t really run together in ages.
My plan was to run about 3.5 miles meet Nicky and do another 4.5 miles but I was later leaving work than I planned and a certain someone had wound me up so I just ran in to town to meet Nicky running a total of 6 miles. I have promised myself sometime ago that I wasn’t going to let that someone wind me up anymore but arrrrrrgghhhhhhhh he has taken to shouting at me in text now and sometimes I just want to shout back! But instead I just have a grumble to Nicky which means you don’t need to get chapter and verse here! But because I am a little wound up I feel as if I am running quite fast. However for the first two miles my legs are cold and I can feel all sorts of aches and niggles, and so a couple of times I have a little walk, I’m sure its just a result of running on tired legs as once I warm up these little niggles seem to disappear. It is raining but about half way round it starts to poor down and then we have to have frequent stops for Nicky to wipe her glasses as she cant see properly, so our overall pace on the Garmin looks about normal but my legs said that when we were running we were a bit speedier than normal.
My monthly copy of runners world is waiting for me when i get home, have brought work home to do but feel an early night with my mag is in order!
Baked Beans on toast for tea and as a treat I have the last tin of fruit in juice!
Still very scared about Saturday National Cross Country
Day 54 Friday 26th February 2010 Pay Day - Yippe
Have a rest day programmed today and thought I would miss my early morning spin class but I don’t. The niggle in my left foot was sore through the night and I had to take some pain killers.
Still can’t settle my nerves for tomorrow, don’t understand why so bad, but I am!
Go to bed, can’t sleep
Am still awake when my alarm goes off at 6am, I put it on snooze and then fall asleep but I must have turned alarm off because I slept till Harp texted me at about 7.30 – I’m glad she did otherwise would have been late getting Daniel to Park Run. I sense he is chasing a PB today, gets up earlier so that he has time for breakfast and to let it settle. He gives me a good morning hug and I swear he has grown another 2 inches overnight (must have been the brownie). I am under strict instructions to get some good photos of him that he can use for his facebook profile, he even takes the time to gel and style his hair.
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Off we go and Dan has a good run, seems to be running stronger and not leaning forward quite as much, he is more upright which I have told him he needs to do but I know this takes time and practice. I still lean forward when I’m tired! Dan managed to run nearly all 3 laps before having a short walk break on the last corner. He finishes taking 44 seconds off his previous time for a new PB of 30.30! He wants a sub 30mins next time.
Daniel walked over to the cafe with Vikki who told me after wards that she hardly got a word out of him and although she tried to get him talking he just grunted. I forget how shy he is around people he doesn’t know well or maybe its just a teenage thing! Dan and I share a fresh orange and BLT at cafe caldo before dashing home to get ready for the XC nationals
I set a bath running then ring Helen B to discuss arrangements, I pop back upstairs to check my bath as I’m talking to Helen, who must have wondered what was going on as I shrieked out loud when I discovered I had left the cold tap running and the bath was about to overflow! I screeched and tried to turn the tap off but turned the hot tap on as well, by this time I had dropped my phone (Helen must have wondered what all the fuss was about) and my hands were wet so I couldn’t turn the taps off, had to shout my hero Daniel who wondered what his silly old mum was panicking about this time! Had to drain the bath and start again, curse as I’m on a water meter.
Have my bath, get dressed, kit bag ready and a have a big bowl of porridge. Then it’s time to go
Set off, realise no safety pins, text Helen, call Harp, pick up Helen, Helen hasn’t pins, back to Helens, pick up pins, running behind schedule, panic rises, call David, ask if he will drop us at Roundhay (am leaving my car at their house), my nerves result in incoherent chatter, I start to make Helen nervous, get to Davids, Helen drops her key, it gets stuck under the seat, eventually I get it out, David drops us at Roundhay Park, find registration tent, am late, only Khara there, collect numbers, still panicking, hope Trevor makes it, will calm me, fuss about sorting out envelopes, a few of the girls have withdrawn, consider withdrawing myself, more of our team arrive, hand out envelopes, Harp calls, where we are, try to explain, fuss around putting on my chip, tie my laces, really hope T makes it, pin my number on, am all thumbs , what to do with the bags, need the loo, get a text from T – running late, might not make it, go in search of loos, a race is underway, have to dodge racers to get to loo, join que, still queing, not good for my nerves, feel sick, still in loo que, Text T back, loo done, back under course tape, nearly get in way of lads racing, back to tent, Harp arrives, hug from Rick Club Chairman, I panic more as don’t know where the start is, only 20mins to go, Girls Team photo and finally we go in search of the start which is a massive . . . . . 30second walk away, I'm told off, for putting my chip on my lace, we are told to go away and come back in 15mins and so I relax and have a bit of a warm up.
We eventually get called back to the start and have to go through a deep puddle to get to our allotted pen (which was actually just a wooden stick in the ground, it’s like been back at school as were given strict instructions to stay behind the post, single file, we all look a little apprehensive, still not sure where we are supposed to be going, we are told to move forward to the line, I turn round to wave to the lads, BANG the gun is fired, it makes me jump and a few of us give an involuntary scream and we are off!
VARR GIRLS TEAM
As soon as I set off I knew I had not tied my laces tight enough, the start was on a slight up hill and it was impossible to not go with the pace and so I set off too fast and knew this very quickly! I normally struggle with either my legs or my breathing sometimes changing from one to the other during the race as I warm up, but not to day both my legs and breathing hurt from 5mins of the race starting till about 10 minutes after I crossed the start line! The Mud was every bit as bad as the Ilkley Peco and all though there was no water jump the course was much much hillier both down and up. On the downward run I put the brakes on as I didn’t want to risk going ar$& over t$t and doing damage in the process, as we came back round in front of the mansion and turned to go up hill 60 I slipped in the deep mud and thought I would fall, somehow I seemed to save myself but felt my knee and ankle twist. I could not run up hill 60 as much as I tried though I did try to keep a trot going but when i got to the top I could barely breath and had to take a few walk steps to let my breathing regulate a little then back to running and as I came back round soldiers field I saw and heard, Tom and Helen W and Liz J and some of the lads (sorry guys i can’t remember who exactly) I remember passing Rick who told me I was nowhere near the back ( not yet - I thought to myself) then round to the bottom of the field I remember thinking thank god for that I’m nearly done, but then it dawned on me that the men were still all milling around and had not gone through to the starting area, I checked my watch I had only been running about 26min and only covered 2.4 miles, my heart sank as I realised we had to do the whole thing again! It was about here that Dave and Jan were stood cheering everyone on, Dave said later I didn’t look happy at this point and I could hear him calling advice and support which did help settle me. I stopped trying to race it as if my life depended on it and just ran it, but by now my legs were screaming out but there was so many spectators I didn’t want to walk, but soon my legs just would not push anymore and i took a few steps. I wanted to shout out to people I’m not slacking - my legs have already done 35miles in the last 6days! However I know that I won’t have been the only one there having done this amount of mileage and im sure lots will have done lots more but to me its a lot! Back down the treacherous hill I ask a marshal what happens if the men’s race starts and they lap me? He laughed. But this is still my biggest fear! A lady from Southampton with a less likely running physic than my own over takes me, I realise the course takes a different turn and that we aren’t heading back to hill 60 . . . . . .just yet (there is a god) I finally find a comfortable pace and think yes i can do this and push on a little, we reach the lake and follow its edge I think yes I’m going to overtake the Southampton girl and after a few minutes I do but then my legs just seem to say ENOUGH! And all I can get from them is a walk and a slide across the mud! And Southampton girl leaves me for dust or should i more aptly say stuck in the mud!
At this point I really consider just giving up, but one of the marshals gives me some encouraging words, “come on Kay your doing great” “I don’t think so” I reply my head shaking “Yes you are, you are doing something today (taking part in a national) that I never managed in 50 years of running, keep going” and that was enough to get my legs going again at least for a little while but mentally i changed to the I’m finishing this whatever it takes! I could see ahead of me that the course doubled back on its self and then i could see Helen, Hansa and Harp in front of me, I had no chance of catching them but I wasn’t as far behind as I had imagined! A bit more run /sliding through the mud a bit more walking and I was back to the muddy approach to hill 60, this time I took it a bit easier through this mud as it was even worse now and then the hill, there wasn’t as many spectators around this time and I resorted to a walk to climb this impossible hill. No one seem to be watching any way, but then I heard it “come on Kay run, come on you can do this” Tom and Helen shouting for me I actually could not see them, I looked but I couldn’t see them and then their voices got louder as if others had joined in their call, but still I couldn’t actually see where they were, I’m sure I must have looked straight at them but I couldn’t see them, But it felt like their words were physically pushing me up the hill and I did managed to do a kind of a run/trot to scale to the top of the hill. When I thought I was out of sight I stoped and walked only to find Ady(?) one of Tom & H friends I recognise from Park Run also calling my name out – busted again! In to the finish lane I went but I had to get my breath back and a marshal said if you can walk you can run, but I just had no idea how far there was to go. But then my breathing returned to normal and oxygen was pumped to my legs and I started to run . . . well actually it was more of a mud slither/slip/slide/wade/run kind of motion I could see Liz ahead with her camera posed and I was sure I was going to fall, but finally I was close to the end but I had no motivation to do my normal sprint finish and was just so relieved to hear the bleep bleep bleep of the chip as I crossed the finishing mats!
I’m not really sure what I did with the rest of my day, a chat with Harp, a long bath to soak off the mud, a chat with Vikki a few text chats a bit of facebooking, Russell posted the results up, I proudly text some of the girls their times and positions telling them I had come 5th !
Harp was understandably a little puzzled by this comment and when I text back I was 5th from last she sent me this lovely message back
“Kay you are my inspiration and a lot of the time my motivation. You’re always there and committed and that makes you first across the line in my book!”
Harp, thank you! (have to say you nearly had me crying again)
It is bed time now, I did originally have a run planned for tomorrow but put an extra one in earlier in the week and so I have decided for the first time in over 8 weeks I’m NOT going to set my alarm to wake me up, I’m going to let myself wake naturally, when I’m ready to do so and then have a rest day, at least in terms of training!
Day 56 Sunday 27th February 2010 A Sunday Morning Lie in!
I woke up about 4, had to get a drink as quite thirsty, often am after a hard run or race, read a bit go back to sleep, wake in morning not really sure what time is, dose a bit more, read a bit more, dose and read some more, I can hear Daniel moving about and Adele has her TV on. I look through the gap in my curtains and can’t see the rain that was expected today, looks a nice day, realise pain I have had in my foot for most of the week has gone, really looks quite bright outside, think how nice it would be on one of my favourite runs from home, how peaceful and quite it would be on back lane in Farsley, turn over dose a bit more, wake up think I want to run, not because I have to train, not because I need to get the miles in but I want to run because “I ENJOY IT” and so at about 9.40 I jump out of bed have a quick cup of tea and some malt loaf, throw my kit on and tell kids I won’t be long! I have no running goal in terms of target pace, time or distance I just pop the ipod on and start to run. I head up Tong Road, walking a little up the hill and across to Chapel Lane, as i come level with the end of the woods an elderly gent comes out obviously enjoying a Sunday morning stroll and we exchange a cheery hello. I run a bit further and when I get to the clearing I stop switch off my music (sorry Trevors Music) and sit on the wall and take 10 minutes to look out over the fields and back towards Leeds, I can see Dans new school, Elland road and that really big building in Leeds City Centre, I love this view how the country field in front of me opens up to the city and how they come together. Behind me is another field opening up in to the countryside. In the 10mins I’m sat here not one car passes me, love it love it love it, feel refreshed, rebalanced, calm and ready for anything! Have a lovely run down Whitehall Road (someone beeps me a friendly beep and waves but i can’t see who it is, if your reading this sorry i didn’t recognise you) and before I know it I’m back home having done a very easy 5 mile recovery run!
Other than shopping, making a nice tea, washing up, ordering some new trainers and running gear and washing clothes i don’t get much more done today!
Highlights – I have had lots of comments this week both from my running buddies and others saying I have lost weight!
Lowlights- Given the above I pick up the courage to jump on the scales and the few pounds I had lost has actually gone back on!!!!!!!!!
Inspiration – My Sunday morning run
Day 50 Monday 22nd February 2010 Bacon Egg & Chips - Yum
By the end of this week we will be half way there!
Slept well but still hard to get up and get going but that is about my motivation for work not for training.
Had a lunch break and did my active recovery in the shape of a 40 length swim
Brought work home but haven’t done any of it, busy updating training programmes reading and writing blog, I feel a bit guilty that I prioritise my training over work.
Its end of the month and as is normal have been to raid my mum’s fridge and have ended up having one my favourite teas from when i was a little girl, Bacon (grilled), (dry) fried egg, (oven) chips and tomatoes Yum – not had this in years – Yum!
Bed time
Day 51 Tuesday 23rd February 2010 Easter Chicks Waddle by
I think I went to work today but can’t really remember anything about it!
Don’t have the best of lunches, the cottage cheese I had brought into work last week has a green covering to it now so into the bin it goes, have to make do with a packet of oat cakes, there is two yoghurts in the fridge and I can’t decide if they are the ones I brought to work last week, or if I have eaten mine and that these are someone else’s. Decided best to leave them and have two small oranges instead. About 5pm I make myself a bowl of porridge in hope that this will fuel my run, but I am already feeling sluggish and know this is due to my poor nutrition during the day, not a gram of protein in sight! Roll on pay day so I can eat properly again!
When I leave the office at just gone 6 I am surprised at how cold the temperature has dropped as I head to the gym. My foot has had a slight pain in it for the last couple of hours, put it down to wearing my big snow boots.
Think the cold and return of snow may have put a few people off as not as many out tonight have about 8 in my group. Tom chatters and everyone just wants to get off as its so cold.
Of we set but I had made the mistake of putting my off road trainers on and these made my legs ache, I could barely make it up Gotts Hill Park, bless Helen B she kept trying to talk to me as we ran up the hill but all I could really manage was a grunt. As we round the corner we came across group 3 and I chuckled to myself as I thought (now please don’t anyone be offended) how in their bright yellow jackets they looked like a group of fluffy Easter chicks all following their mother (Paul W)! I had to stop a couple of times to re tie my laces and so I tied them quite tight, but then I got that horrible foot thing I get from time to time, the only way I can describe it is it feels like I am wearing house bricks as trainers, Horrible, but I know now that it usually runs off. I had to walk a little as this feeling made me run awkwardly and I could feel all sorts of things in my lower legs ankles complaining and pulling. I ended up having to drop back a little and as the rest of group 2 ran on in front of me I recalled Tom’s words just before we set off . . . “guys if you struggled to keep up with your group last week maybe move down a group” . . . . . . .
Think may be its me that needs to drop down to group 1!
After a while my feet return to normal and I can run almost comfortably back to the gym. But as I stopped and had a quick chat at the end of the run the very cold air got to my bad tooth and set it on edge and as I drove home I wanted to just bang my head against the steering wheel till the pain subsided. I HATE TOOTH ACHE!
We chatted about arrangements for Sat National cross country, have to say am getting anxious about this now
* Will I/we be able to find some where to park
* Amongst all those people will I be able to find my team mates
* Not sure I like the sound of being pinned in a penn!
* Someone said something about running up hill 60 - twice!
* I’m convinced I will be the last lady to finish
* Worse than that what if I haven’t finished before the men’s race is due to start and we are on the same Course!.
Day 52 Wednesday 24rd February 2010 1@13
Have a slice of homemade carrot cake when I visit one of my teams (think well at least thats some veg) Lunch is again a packet of oat cakes and two small oranges followed by a pre training bowl of porridge about 4 in the afternoon.
Don’t have running on my programme to day but after last weeks interval session on the treadmill feel I want to see if I can focus better.
Was happy with my effort, concerned that my foot would be a problem but was ok!
2@11 2@11.5 2@11.5 2@11.5 2@11.5 2@12 2@12.5 1@13
Followed by an hour of Body Pump, enjoyed!
Followed by Baked Beans on toast – roll on pay day
Day 53 Thursday 25th February 2010 An early night with Runners World
Lunch is . . . . . . you’ve guessed it a packet of oat cakes and two small oranges followed by a late afternoon bowl of porridge (can hear Tom and others shouting at me now but all I can say is - roll on payday)
Ran with Nicky today which was really good as we haven’t really run together in ages.
My plan was to run about 3.5 miles meet Nicky and do another 4.5 miles but I was later leaving work than I planned and a certain someone had wound me up so I just ran in to town to meet Nicky running a total of 6 miles. I have promised myself sometime ago that I wasn’t going to let that someone wind me up anymore but arrrrrrgghhhhhhhh he has taken to shouting at me in text now and sometimes I just want to shout back! But instead I just have a grumble to Nicky which means you don’t need to get chapter and verse here! But because I am a little wound up I feel as if I am running quite fast. However for the first two miles my legs are cold and I can feel all sorts of aches and niggles, and so a couple of times I have a little walk, I’m sure its just a result of running on tired legs as once I warm up these little niggles seem to disappear. It is raining but about half way round it starts to poor down and then we have to have frequent stops for Nicky to wipe her glasses as she cant see properly, so our overall pace on the Garmin looks about normal but my legs said that when we were running we were a bit speedier than normal.
My monthly copy of runners world is waiting for me when i get home, have brought work home to do but feel an early night with my mag is in order!
Baked Beans on toast for tea and as a treat I have the last tin of fruit in juice!
Still very scared about Saturday National Cross Country
Day 54 Friday 26th February 2010 Pay Day - Yippe
Have a rest day programmed today and thought I would miss my early morning spin class but I don’t. The niggle in my left foot was sore through the night and I had to take some pain killers.
It is payday, dined out with a lovely charming young man called Daniel. Had a gorgeous mouth watering hunters chicken breast, jacket spud and salad. Dan also had a pudding a warm chocolate brownie with ice cream and cream, it looked gorgeous but by the time I had said “Daniel if you can’t eat all that don’t worry ill finish it” it had gone and the plate was almost licked clean and Daniel gave me a look as much as to say “don’t even think about it”!
Still can’t settle my nerves for tomorrow, don’t understand why so bad, but I am!
Go to bed, can’t sleep
Day 55 Saturday 27th February 2010 -
I CAME 5th IN THE NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS!
I CAME 5th IN THE NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS!
Am still awake when my alarm goes off at 6am, I put it on snooze and then fall asleep but I must have turned alarm off because I slept till Harp texted me at about 7.30 – I’m glad she did otherwise would have been late getting Daniel to Park Run. I sense he is chasing a PB today, gets up earlier so that he has time for breakfast and to let it settle. He gives me a good morning hug and I swear he has grown another 2 inches overnight (must have been the brownie). I am under strict instructions to get some good photos of him that he can use for his facebook profile, he even takes the time to gel and style his hair.
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Off we go and Dan has a good run, seems to be running stronger and not leaning forward quite as much, he is more upright which I have told him he needs to do but I know this takes time and practice. I still lean forward when I’m tired! Dan managed to run nearly all 3 laps before having a short walk break on the last corner. He finishes taking 44 seconds off his previous time for a new PB of 30.30! He wants a sub 30mins next time.Daniel walked over to the cafe with Vikki who told me after wards that she hardly got a word out of him and although she tried to get him talking he just grunted. I forget how shy he is around people he doesn’t know well or maybe its just a teenage thing! Dan and I share a fresh orange and BLT at cafe caldo before dashing home to get ready for the XC nationals
I set a bath running then ring Helen B to discuss arrangements, I pop back upstairs to check my bath as I’m talking to Helen, who must have wondered what was going on as I shrieked out loud when I discovered I had left the cold tap running and the bath was about to overflow! I screeched and tried to turn the tap off but turned the hot tap on as well, by this time I had dropped my phone (Helen must have wondered what all the fuss was about) and my hands were wet so I couldn’t turn the taps off, had to shout my hero Daniel who wondered what his silly old mum was panicking about this time! Had to drain the bath and start again, curse as I’m on a water meter.
Have my bath, get dressed, kit bag ready and a have a big bowl of porridge. Then it’s time to go
Set off, realise no safety pins, text Helen, call Harp, pick up Helen, Helen hasn’t pins, back to Helens, pick up pins, running behind schedule, panic rises, call David, ask if he will drop us at Roundhay (am leaving my car at their house), my nerves result in incoherent chatter, I start to make Helen nervous, get to Davids, Helen drops her key, it gets stuck under the seat, eventually I get it out, David drops us at Roundhay Park, find registration tent, am late, only Khara there, collect numbers, still panicking, hope Trevor makes it, will calm me, fuss about sorting out envelopes, a few of the girls have withdrawn, consider withdrawing myself, more of our team arrive, hand out envelopes, Harp calls, where we are, try to explain, fuss around putting on my chip, tie my laces, really hope T makes it, pin my number on, am all thumbs , what to do with the bags, need the loo, get a text from T – running late, might not make it, go in search of loos, a race is underway, have to dodge racers to get to loo, join que, still queing, not good for my nerves, feel sick, still in loo que, Text T back, loo done, back under course tape, nearly get in way of lads racing, back to tent, Harp arrives, hug from Rick Club Chairman, I panic more as don’t know where the start is, only 20mins to go, Girls Team photo and finally we go in search of the start which is a massive . . . . . 30second walk away, I'm told off, for putting my chip on my lace, we are told to go away and come back in 15mins and so I relax and have a bit of a warm up.
We eventually get called back to the start and have to go through a deep puddle to get to our allotted pen (which was actually just a wooden stick in the ground, it’s like been back at school as were given strict instructions to stay behind the post, single file, we all look a little apprehensive, still not sure where we are supposed to be going, we are told to move forward to the line, I turn round to wave to the lads, BANG the gun is fired, it makes me jump and a few of us give an involuntary scream and we are off!
VARR GIRLS TEAM
Hansa powering through the MUD to the finish line! 
Hansa, bless her came to meet me and helped me take my chip off it didn’t occur to me at the time but I wonder now if I had looked so bad that she felt I needed the help!
I joined the rest of the girls, Liz and Tim to watch the boys pass us, it was like watching a stampede of wilderbeast, they just kept coming and coming. I have to say we gave typical Virgin Active Road Runners supporting cheers to everyone of our team mates out there. And on the first lap round we got big smiles and waves from each of them and a few kisses too, on the second run pass they were given an even louder cheer but alas the smiles were diminishing a little, by the time we moved across to watch the finishing straight even Dave didn’t manage to muster his normal finishing wave, in fact the only one of our boys that had anything resembling a smile on their face as they passed us was Russell. But this is because of how hard they were all working, a longer course than the girls taking in hill 60, 3 or 4 times. They were all absolutely amazing!
I’m not really sure what I did with the rest of my day, a chat with Harp, a long bath to soak off the mud, a chat with Vikki a few text chats a bit of facebooking, Russell posted the results up, I proudly text some of the girls their times and positions telling them I had come 5th !
Harp was understandably a little puzzled by this comment and when I text back I was 5th from last she sent me this lovely message back
“Kay you are my inspiration and a lot of the time my motivation. You’re always there and committed and that makes you first across the line in my book!”
Harp, thank you! (have to say you nearly had me crying again)
It is bed time now, I did originally have a run planned for tomorrow but put an extra one in earlier in the week and so I have decided for the first time in over 8 weeks I’m NOT going to set my alarm to wake me up, I’m going to let myself wake naturally, when I’m ready to do so and then have a rest day, at least in terms of training!
Day 56 Sunday 27th February 2010 A Sunday Morning Lie in!
I woke up about 4, had to get a drink as quite thirsty, often am after a hard run or race, read a bit go back to sleep, wake in morning not really sure what time is, dose a bit more, read a bit more, dose and read some more, I can hear Daniel moving about and Adele has her TV on. I look through the gap in my curtains and can’t see the rain that was expected today, looks a nice day, realise pain I have had in my foot for most of the week has gone, really looks quite bright outside, think how nice it would be on one of my favourite runs from home, how peaceful and quite it would be on back lane in Farsley, turn over dose a bit more, wake up think I want to run, not because I have to train, not because I need to get the miles in but I want to run because “I ENJOY IT” and so at about 9.40 I jump out of bed have a quick cup of tea and some malt loaf, throw my kit on and tell kids I won’t be long! I have no running goal in terms of target pace, time or distance I just pop the ipod on and start to run. I head up Tong Road, walking a little up the hill and across to Chapel Lane, as i come level with the end of the woods an elderly gent comes out obviously enjoying a Sunday morning stroll and we exchange a cheery hello. I run a bit further and when I get to the clearing I stop switch off my music (sorry Trevors Music) and sit on the wall and take 10 minutes to look out over the fields and back towards Leeds, I can see Dans new school, Elland road and that really big building in Leeds City Centre, I love this view how the country field in front of me opens up to the city and how they come together. Behind me is another field opening up in to the countryside. In the 10mins I’m sat here not one car passes me, love it love it love it, feel refreshed, rebalanced, calm and ready for anything! Have a lovely run down Whitehall Road (someone beeps me a friendly beep and waves but i can’t see who it is, if your reading this sorry i didn’t recognise you) and before I know it I’m back home having done a very easy 5 mile recovery run!
Unfortunately once home within 30seconds of being inside my tooth ache starts again! This time worse than ever! Find some pain killers but can’t do anything for about 20mins as I rock back and forth till the pain subsides and I can face eating breakfast before another soak in the bath!
Adele agrees without any need for bribery to come do the monthly food shop with me, she says she enjoys it??????!!!!!!!!!!!! Very strange, last time i had to almost drag her round. Ask Dan to tidy kitchen while we are gone, he has a really good go, washing all the surfaces down but just leaves all the washing up in the bowl, apparently that would have required a separate specific instruction, but still what he has done I’m very pleased with. We all get stuck in to put the shopping away the cupboards, freezer and fridge are filled again but I wonder how long it will be before Daniel has worked his way through all this, not a month that’s for sure!!!!!
Other than shopping, making a nice tea, washing up, ordering some new trainers and running gear and washing clothes i don’t get much more done today!
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