Another month done!

Yikes its getting closer!

It's the last day of the month so its that time when I give you all an update with how I'm doing with the 2012 miles in 2012 challenge!

To be on target I need to have completed 1509 miles!

This is how it looks:

Actual Mileage Achieved to date:

3 sports (Run, Walk & Cycle) = 1716.40 miles = 295.6 Miles Remaining

2 sports (Run & Walk) = 1303.60 miles = 708.40 Miles Remaining 

Just Running = 852.40 miles = 1159.60 Miles Remaining   

Well I think I will achieve 2012 miles if I take running, walking and cycling miles into consideration - but I have no hope with running only!

How about 2012 KM running?

Well this is 1250.20 miles - 852.40 = 397.70 miles remaining.

That's 133 miles a month for the remaining 3 months! Not sure I'm up for that!

One step closer ...

Look what I bought myself today!

 I decided that if I was prepared I would be more likely to do!

So after the 7th October Swimming training WILL commence and 

I WILL do a Triathlon in 2013!

Rejected!

The way I am feeling about running Chester Marathon a week on Sunday all I can say is Thank F**k for that!!

THE Marathon Looms!

Look what arrived .... Arghhhhh it's really real!! 

Today I received a note in my inbox from Chris and Andy from Chester Marathon. Reminding me (as IF I need a reminder) that the Countdown is on. Only 11 more sleeps (BUT how much sleep will I get?!)

OMG a Marathon - what was I thinking?

I keep asking myself why ... why have I set this monster goal?

Now to harness the butterflies! (That's the polite way to put it!) in other words I am ...

I must say I'm not getting an awful lot of sympathy - after all I put myself in this insane situation!  Get on with it girl!

I have tried to picture myself running the actual race. Visualizing ME at certain mile markers looking and feeling strong and even with a smile on my face and my arms in the air as I cross the finish line within my target time!

I keep telling myself how fantastic I will feel when I have accomplished something only 1% of the population ever achieve!

But those sneaky self doubts keep worming there way in! Every time they do I shout "SHUT IT" and I try telling myself the opposite! I'm hoping to divert my focus from the negative to the positive. I have even put sticky notes on my bedroom mirror to remind myself I CAN!

I AM a runner ... A Marathon Runner!

I have followed my training plan and have trained as hard as my body would allow ... so its time to relax and taper! What will be will be!

"It's not 26.2 miles...it's 9 water stops."

The new man in my life ...

I would like to introduce the new man in my life, ROD - I'm hoping he is going to keep me warm on the forthcoming long winter nights! 

Can't wait to give him a good work-out!

My husbands way of keeping me off the streets!!

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!

I can do that!

This morning I went for a slow easy 4 mile run with my friend Vicky - after yesterdays bout of sickness I wasn't up for anything too energetic and then we finished off in Costa - my sort of run!  

There was a triathlon going on at the Leisure Centre where I met Vicky to start our run so I was able to watch this for a little while before our run and then I went back afterwards to watch a bit more!  I was pleasantly surprised at how varied the ability of the competitors were. I think I have been watching too much of the Olympics and had images of everyone being up to the Brownlee brothers standard! I did feel cold on their behalf when I saw them running out of the pool dripping wet, straight out into the chilly morning air - bbbrrrrrr!  The one thing that had put me off a duathlon was the transitions but watching  "real" people doing it it looked much less scary! Some of them didn't even look like they were in a hurry! I can do that! 

Does  my run ...coffee ... walk count as a tri?

I am going to put it in writing right here for the world to see on my blog!  

2013 is going to be the year of the Duathlon for me!

There I've said it! I will train during the winter (as long as Santa brings me a trainer!) and then do a Spring event!

Poorly poorly me!

Last night I mentioned how I bought beetroot juice but forgot to drink it - I'm so glad I did!

I woke up this morning feeling ever so unwell.  I was hot and sweaty and felt like I was going to pass out before eventually being violently sick!  I have since been wrapped up on the couch feeling pathetic and ever so slightly sorry for myself.

IF I had drunk the beetroot juice last night IT would have got the blame for my sickness!  Beetroot juice you made a close escape!

Unfortunately I haven't been able to run today so I am behind with my plan.  Fingers crossed I feel better tomorrow BUT I won't be risking the juice until I feel 100%.

I haven't been lazy - honest!

You might think I have been resting since the GNR on Sunday but I haven't I just haven't had time to blog!

I allowed myself a rest day on Monday but since then I've been back on the programme training hard! With only 15 days to go until Chester Marathon I can't afford to relax!

On Tuesday I did a 5.62 mile slow recovery run which can be viewed here!

On Wednesday the programme said Hill Training so you've guessed it - I ran up and down the same hill like a maniac!  There was an elderly gentleman walking up this hill at a very slow pace and when I had run past him for the third time he said "There's a lot of women in a hurry tonight!" - he obviously didn't realise it was the same idiotic woman! This run can be viewed here. - just look at those hills!

On Thursday I went to Pilates for a jolly good stretch and tonight did another run!  The programme said 10 miles for tonight's distance so I did something I haven't done before! I ran for just over 5 miles and then turned round and came back exactly the same way!  I felt quite good but got a blister on my arch of my foot - how is that possible after running many many miles in the same trainers and socks with no problems!  Tonights run can be viewed here!

The other night I was watching a TV programme that said drinking Beetroot juice increased speed and endurance when exercising!  So guess what I bought with my weekly shop?!! YUP I'm a sucker for a bit of marketing! I got a carton of Beet it Beetroot juice and then forgot to drink it before my run tonight! Typical!  Oh well I will try to have a glass before my run tomorrow - if I remember! 

GNR - I DID IT!

On Sunday I ran in the Great North run for the second time.  I realised that as this is such a big and busy event it didn't really have PB potential so I was settling to beat my GNR time from last year rather than my PB half marathon time. However I got a faster time than expected so dead chuffed!  Click here to read about it!

Bloody Typical...

The marathon training plan I have been following is broken down into 5 smaller goals and objectives. As I moved into the last part of  the marathon training plan the main objective is to "Taper off " with the goal as "Maintain fitness and avoid injury". 

On Sunday - day one of this part of the plan I took the dog for a short walk and ended up slipping coming down a muddy and wet hill and landed rather heavily on my ar**!!  I now ache all over and have a bad back too!

Looks like I have failed this final goal and with only 3 and a half weeks to recover!

I also have the Great North Run THIS Sunday - I'm not sure if just to leave running until then or give a short run a go to see how it feels!

I'm going to go to Pilates tonight and hope a good stretch will do me some good!

Not a happy bunny!

Over-training...?

I don't feel as if I have recovered from my long run on Friday yet, and although yesterday was meant to be a rest day on my plan today I am supposed to run 5 miles!  

Up to this point I have kept to my plan but I have never felt as fatigued as I do today so I am going to be sensible and have an extra rest day to give my body a bit more recovery time! The last thing I want to do with less than a month to go is get an injury!

Apparently there is a fine line between over-training and over-reaching! Which is it and how do you know? One way to check over-training is to regularly monitor your resting heart rate - which I do!  My resting heart rate is the same as normal so that's good - if its higher then you have a problem! 

Overreaching is a frequently employed method to build fitness and to help an athlete reach their training potential by pushing themselves to the limit!

Over-training is when you push yourself over the limit and your body struggles to cope.

I definitely pushed myself to the limit on Friday but hopefully by reducing my training and resting today I will avoid over-training and be fighting fit to pick up on the plan tomorrow and my body will be stronger for it!

Fingers crossed that this fatigue soon passes!

PLAN B put into action!

As I said the other day my Plan A of running like the wind to keep up with the man in front didn't work so last night it was time to test Plan B!

Plan B: slow and steady wins the race!

I feel saintly! My first full week back at school after the Summer Holidays and I still managed to do a long run last night!

I was tired when I left school after a week of settling newbie 4 year old's into the way "we do things!" aka "adults in charge, NOT children!" but I had decided I was going to do my long run after work so I could relax over the weekend.

I got home from work at 3.45pm and went straight upstairs to get changed (before I had any second thoughts!) I had a quick snack of dates and a drink  and then forced down an energy gel.  As it was a fairly warm and sunny evening I decided I needed to carry more than one hand held water bottle with me to ensure I stayed adequately hydrated and had enough to wash down all the energy gels I was planning on consuming on route.  I decided to take with me my waist bladder bag!  I have only ever used this whilst either walking long distances or cycling long distances so running with this was a first!

Inov8 Race Pro 4 Waist Pack

Inov8 H2Orizontal Hydration Bladder (2 Litre)

The bladder holds 2 litres and I filled it full of water and positioned it comfortably around my waist! Even with the bladder in the waist pack there is still plenty room to store my other essentials such as gels, phone, tissues etc.

By 4 o clock I was ready ... and off I set. My training plan stipulated a 22 mile run. I didn't really have a route planned but thought I would run where the feeling took me then at 11 miles turn round and come home! 

At first it was a strange sensation running with the bladder sloshing around behind me and felt heavy!  I suppose its like running with a bottle of coke attached to your waist so it's going be heavy! Anyhow once I got used to the feeling it felt OK to run with AND on a positive note it got easier the further I ran as it got lighter!

I unintentionally picked a fairly hilly route which probably made the 22 miles feel more like 26 miles! I wanted to go slow and steady to ensure I finished feeling fairly confident and with carrying my bladder I didn't have an option! 

I kept to quiet country roads and seems to get into the zone and just kept on plodding.  At 11 miles I decided not to return home the same way but to try and do a circular route and kept on running.  At 13 miles because I was running at a much slower pace than I usually do I felt as fresh as a daisy! At 18 miles I started to fear the wall but it didn't come! At 21 miles I was delighted to be heading home!

After 3 hours 56 minutes of plodding I made it home.  I felt fine and I think I could squeeze another 4 miles out my legs on the day!  Here's hoping! To view my run click here. 

I was just short of the 22 miles but was pleased with the 21.72 miles I did do! I feel relieved that I have finished my last long run - until the day!

Once home I had my chocolate recovery drink,  I endured a short ice bath because my body seemed to have an adverse reaction to this today and I shivered violently which didn't happen previously and put on my sexy compression socks. 

Then time for a nice G & T! Arrrrrrrr Bliss -  my reward!

I woke up this morning amazed to be able to walk and with NO aches and pains!  

Was it the ice bath?

The Chocolate recovery drink?

The compression socks which I wore all night?

or .... all 3!

Feeling much more confident that I will finish the Marathon now but not sure in what time!

BRING IT ON!

I CAN!

I have been telling myself I can't for too long - 

I CAN and I WILL! 

Just 30 days until I can prove it!

Really looking forward to my long run tomorrow!

Listen to the experts ...

After "hitting the wall" during a 20 mile training run a couple of weeks ago I have been panicking about my actual ability to complete 26.20 miles!  On Sunday when I found a half marathon particularly taxing I started to feel like I was doing something horribly wrong! 

I decided the time had come to do some research and see what the "experts" advise!  There seems to be a lot of contradictory advise around but I have decided to try something new and see how I get on!

After reviewing my last few "long runs" I have noticed that I run the first 6 or 7 miles at a "fast" pace and then gradually slow down getting slower as each mile passes. After reading lots of articles one main mistake of the virgin marathoner seems to be running the first half too fast and then having to walk a lot during the second half! This is NOT going to be me - I will NOT walk!

So ...

I found a site that predicts your marathon time based on the pace you ran a lower mileage race, and adjusting it (somehow) accordingly. This site also recommend you set yourself three target finishing times for the day. 

1) A goal time that dreams are made of!  

2) A realistic goal time!  

3) the slowest time you could deal with!

So using the predicted times based on my 10K and Half marathon results I have come up with these goals!

1) A goal time that dreams are made of!  - 4 Hours (Pace 9.09)

2) A realistic goal time!   - 4:20 (Pace 9:55)

3) The slowest time I could deal with! - 4:45 (Pace 10:52)

All the articles say the virgin marathoner should aim to run the entire distance at a constant pace, rather than setting off fast!

Based on this I decided on my short run tonight to experiment with what the pace would feel like to get a finish time slightly better than my realistic goal time.

I decided to make a conscious effort to keep my average minute miles between 9:28 and 9:40.  I found this tricky!  For the first mile I was too fast and then I managed to slow down into roughly the right pace! 

On my next long run - 22 miles this weekend - I plan on putting this theory to the test.  If I set off at a slower pace and maintain it will this stop me hitting the wall?  

I hope so! 

Slow and steady wins the race!  

Keep tuned in to find out!

To view tonight's     S    -    L   -   O   -   W       run click here!

Another Half done ...

On Sunday I participated in the Great Scottish Run, a Half Marathon in Glasgow!  You can read all about my efforts by clicking here!

Then on Monday I made it onto the front page of a Scottish newspaper!  Fame at last!

Another month bites the dust ...

How is 2012 miles in 2012 going?

Today is the last day of August so its time to tot up my scores for the year so far ...

Running  - 737.7 miles

Walking  - 435.6 miles

Cycling  - 412.8 miles 

Total - 1586.10 miles 

To be on target now we are 2/3rds through the year I need to have completed 1341.33 miles!

This is how it looks:


Actual Mileage Achieved to date:

3 sports (Run, Walk & Cycle) = 1586.10 miles = 425.90 Miles Remaining

2 sports (Run & Walk) = 1173.30 miles = 838.70 Miles Remaining

Just Running = 737.70 miles = 1274.30 Miles Remaining   

So as you can see I might only just scrape 2012 miles together if I count all 3 sports!

How about 2012KM?

Well this is 1250.20 miles! Perhaps a more realistic target to aim for!

The final countdown ... Day 37!

I guess there is nobody to blame (but me for entering!), Will things ever be the same again? (meaning my legs and my weight!) It's the final countdown! The final countdown to my First Marathon. 

With only 37 days : 22 hours : 36 minutes and 30  .... 29 ....28 ....27....26....25 seconds to go until The Chester Marathon! I'm beginning to feel ever so slightly scared!  It will happen however I feel, no getting off this rollercoaster now!

I have been plowing through my training plan with consistency and strength, and have amazingly remained injury free! But, I’m totally shocked. I’ve gained like 5 pounds since starting my marathon training: WTF?!  I thought for sure I’d lose weight while training, and this sucks. I'm hoping this is all muscle (in my dreams) and once I decrease my training my weight will decrease too!

BUT first there's other business to sort -  I have a PB Half Marathon or 2 to run!

My first opportunity to blast this is on Sunday at The Great Scottish Run (GSR) which incidently I booked as part of my marathon training plan (and had planned just to run it at a steady pace!) but now it's come to it it would be rude not to go for a PB!  

I have also just discovered that there will be pacers - no, NOT the chewy mint flavoured sweets - but men (or women I suppose!) who will be running the route at a given pace giving me the perfect opportunity to smash my PB - if I keep up with them!  BUT what pace will they be running?  I asked my old friend Google but since this is the first year GSR have had pacers I couldn't find my answer  but at other half marathons for around about my target time there seems to be pacers for finish times of 1:45 or 1:58! For a 1:58 finish I don't need a pace setter -  in actual fact I could be the pace setter! I  ran  my last 2 half marathons at near this pace with just 2 seconds difference - how's that for consistency!  BUT a 1:45 finish might just be asking for a heart attack!  I'm hoping that there will be a little man running for a 1:55 finish THEN I might live to tell the tale!  

How will I know a pace setter from the common variety of runner?!  Will they carry a Board? ...A Flag? ...  a Balloon? - THAT is the Question!  Feeling quite excited about the prospect of chasing a man for 13.1 miles - I hope he's worth chasing! One day I WILL get my PB!

Last night as part of my marathon training I did some Hill Reps - where I run up and down the same hill like an escaped lunatic until I can barely breath!  Yesterday I did things slightly differently.  I had read an article that said you should run with your heart not your legs - meaning take notice of your heart rate not whether or not your legs are grumbling!  So I thought I would give it a go!  Usually I would sprint up the hill, then rest for 45 seconds to a minute before sprinting down again and repeat.  However this time I sprinted up the hill, ensuring to get my heart rate to over 165 BMP (about 90% of my maximum, not that I know what this means except I'm working hard!) and resting until it was down to under 40 BPM.  I felt like I worked harder doing this and it gave me something to focus on but when I compare it to my previous Hill Rep training I don't think there's much difference! You can view this here!

This morning I got up to do my final short run before GSR on Sunday!  Because I am incorporating these  half marathon races into my marathon training plan I don't get to enjoy the benefits of tapering for these events in quite the same way as I would if I was just concentrating on Half Marathons!  Perhaps that's why the PB is being so elusive!  Anyhow, on this run after last night's efforts my legs felt heavy and uncooperative, so I decided when I got home to experiment with an ice bath!  Well, that's not strictly true!  I'm too wimpy for a full on ice bath so I braved a cold water bath instead!  I have heard from many sources the benefits of suffering this strange ritual so decided the time had come in my running career to give it a blast!  


After my long runs I have often braved a cold shower aimed primarily at my legs and thighs, so felt this was the next step!  I filled the bath with trepidation (oh and cold water!) and slowly lowered my trembling body in!  I had kept my socks and running gear on in the hope it might keep me warmer! As the cold water penetrated my body I gasped and thought to myself "Remind me why I am doing this?!". I sat statue still whilst my body became accustomed - I didn't want to cause a ripple effect and risk it feeling any colder!  I had a 10 minute target in mind - brrrrrrrrrrrrr - armed with my "runner's world" magazine to take my mind off this crazy stunt I tried to relax. Not moving from the waist down I sat ..... and waited!  Whilst reading and glancing obsessively at my watch to see when this ordeal would be over I seemed to become immune to the cold - or had my body warmed the water?  Fearing this was the case I topped up with some more cold to ensure the best results and waited for my watch alarm to sound! The alarm sounded and I was set free!  I pulled the plug and then removed my freezing cold wet clothes before diving under a nice warm shower!  Apparently a classic school boy girl error where ice baths are concerned! I was supposed to warm up naturally by wrapping myself in blankets for about half an hour before jumping in a warm shower!  hey ho I live and learn!  Perhaps next time I will do it right both with using ice and having a delayed shower!  In a sadistic sort of way I quite enjoyed the pain (pain and pleasure being the opposite sides of the same coin...?) and will definitely give it another go ... as to whether it works and does any good - well the jury is still out on that one!  I will have to get it right before I comment further! With more long runs scheduled I will have plenty opportunities to try!

You can view the short run that prompted this fleeting case of insanity here!


I have also put photographs from my "bling" scrapbook on.  Click here to take a look!

I failed....

Yesterday I ran the Fleetwood Half Marathon with high hopes of securing a PB!

I failed ... by 2 seconds!  You can read all about my challenging day by clicking here!

I'm ready - or as ready as I can be!

Yeah, after lots of debating I have finally decided on my race day clothes and trainers for tomorrow’s half marathon! 

And with just 42 days to go until the Chester Marathon, it’s time to start thinking about my fuelling strategy and race day plan for it.  During my previous Half Marathons I have only used Dextrose energy tablets every 3 miles or so.  However, I have realised that I will not survive the marathon fully intact on this strategy and I need to have a better fuelling strategy in place, so it’s time to change!

I will start this change tomorrow with using gels during my half marathon race! It’s time to put all my research and experimentation into practise.  Although I have never used gels during an actual race I have experimented with many types during both my long training runs and my long cycle rides.  After experimenting with many different makes and flavours I have come to favour the high5 range of energy gels.  I appear to have a strong gag reflex and find it difficult to swallow unpleasant things!  (I would rather be ill than take medicine!)  However, I have tried to overcome this to benefit my running.  After lots of experimenting with gels I can tell you some are so thick and gloopy I found them near impossible to get down (and keep down!) and some just taste plain foul! In my opinion, the best out of a bad lot are the High5 range of products!

The sachets are fairly easy to open, and although I am unable to squirt the entire contents into my mouth at once (gag reflex won't permit this!) I do manage to slowly finish the gel in several smaller gulps.  The only downside to this strategy is the gel often dribbles down the outside of the sachet and I end up with extremely sticky fingers for the rest of the run.  A small price to pay to improve my running performance!

So... tomorrow’s strategy will include taking a gel prior to the run to ensure my carbohydrates levels are fully stocked and then taking another at around the 6 or 7 mile mark depending on how I feel.

I have also been taking recovery shakes after my long runs and find these work exceptionally well and have prevented me suffering muscle aches and pains the day after!  My favourite recovery shake is maxi-muscle chocolate maxi milk (the strawberry is nice too!). The first striking thing about Maximilk is it that it genuinely tastes like chocolate (or strawberry) milkshake, and is especially nice when well chilled! There's no dodgy aftertaste and I have no bloatedness  or stomach cramps afterwards! As this should be taken without 20 minutes of finishing exercise I will take one with me tomorrow to drink in the car on the way home!

So...

fuelling strategy sorted – tick

recovery sorted – tick

outfit sorted – tick

trainers sorted - tick

safety pins - tick

garmin fully charged - tick

I’m ready for you sub 1:57 Half Marathon, 

I’m coming to get you!

Inspirational!

Yesterday I watched a film and finished reading a book - both very different but both inspirational!!

Lets talk about the film first!  Run Fat Boy Run!  I have wanted to watch this for a while but never actually got round to it until last night!  Perhaps having a Half Marathon on Sunday somehow wormed its way through the crowd into my psyche hence watching it!

Anyhow, Run fat Boy Run!  What a hilarious film for anyone who loves running (or even those who don't!)! I laughed out loud (lots), I cried, I winced, I cheered the underdog and boo-ed the villain! The old romantic in me also enjoyed the love story aspect too!  I am currently training for a marathon so I think watching this man attempt to train made it even funnier for me and I felt I could empathize with him! After suffering during my 20 mile long run last week and experiencing "hitting the wall" for the first time I found this films analogy of this fabulous! I think this film may just against the odds inspire the depressed, the unfit and the demoralized to grit their teeth and keep running! I know I will think about him the next time I'm struggling - he never gave up so neither will I! Although Thank God I have never had a blister like the one he had - a truly laugh out loud and scream at the same time moment! 

Now onto a much more serious note!  

For the last week I have been immersed in a book - and yes you've guessed it - its about running! 

The book in question is "Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner"  By Dean Karnazes and what an inspirational read!  I can not believe how much the human body can actually suffer and I have come to realise that I am far too gentle with mine! 

The writer's endurance is extraordinary, and he emphasizes how mental strength becomes more important than physical strength in long races. I have often said this when I have returned from a run - usually when I've had a bad run its because I've convinced myself I can't without there actually being any evidence of such! I need a more positive head!

He communicates his emotions in an exceptional way and I really felt that I was on each run with him. It was funny, crazy, sad and most of all inspiring - this bloke is immense and he's pushed his body to it's limits and beyond. After reading this I have come to realise that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and that you should never put any limitations on yourself. One quote from the book that I love and can see in myself is:

 "The highest form of competition is self-competition, and I was proving to be the cruelest of opponents, ruthlessly demanding more of myself..."

I have been so inspired by this man I have ordered another book he has written about his running antics and can't wait for it to arrive!

Now for some of that positive mental attitude! 

Tomorrow I AM going to get a PB in my half marathon but I just can't decide which weapon of choice (Trainers) to wear!  I have several, (I sneak them into the house past my husbands shaking head) and they all have positives and negatives!  My favourite trainers are my Innov8 233's but because they are my favorites they are now a little worn!  I keep meaning to buy another pair but haven't got round to it yet and its too late now for tomorrow!  

Another pair I like are the same make but women's specific (don't know why they are different!) Innov8 X238's.  Slightly heavier with more cushioning but just as comfy and as good to run in!

I  have a couple of pairs of Asics which I hate for running in and have relegated to exercise classes only!  I also have a pair of Asics Nimbus which I got specifically for marathon training!  As I said I don't like Asics but the little man in the shop convinced me these were the ones to run a marathon in!  They feel like I am wearing lead wellies but I suppose due to the distance involved they need more cushioning (therefore are heavier) but I struggle to feel motivated whilst wearing them!  I should really wear them for a half marathon and see how it goes before the big one in Chester - but not tomorrow! Tomorrow I'm PB chasing so want my friends with me!

Innov8 X238

Innov8 233 (Same shoe but mine certainly don't look like this anymore!) 

Its between these 2 for tomorrow - I just can't decide! If the orange ones were in a better condition I wouldn't even think about it but as a hole has appeared in the cushioning in the back of the heel I'm a little unsure ...!

Oh decisions, decisions!