VLM ballot entered...

I don't know what I was thinking but I got up this morning and entered the London Marathon 2013 ballot! I know the chances of me getting in are slim but if I do get in I will be really, really ...scared!!!!  I won't find out until October so I need to forget about it until then!  Fingers, toes and everything else crossed!

So did I manage 24 miles on the last day of April?  Don't be silly -  of course not!

However, I did go for a lovely off-road run with my running friend Vicky.  The sun actually decided to shine and the only things we had to contend with were stiles, uneven ground and cows!!  I'm so pleased she is braver than me - she just approached the cows who were blocking the gate waving her arms and shouting like a maniac and they moved!  I would have turned around and gone back the way I came! However, 8 miles in the bag (felt more like 18!) and I feel so much better for it!  Together with my walk to work mileages I have achieved about 11 miles today, so about a half marathon short of my target!! Hey ho bring on May!
View today's miles here!

Another month nearly through ...

Well, April is nearly finished and since its raining, wet and cold outside I thought I would take this opportunity to tot up my total for my ongoing challenge 2012 miles in 2012!  


Fairly depressing stuff - I'm a third of the way through the year and not doing as well as I had hoped!

To be on Target= 671 miles 


Actual Mileage Achieved to date:

         3 sports (Run, Walk & Cycle) =  733 miles    =  1279 Miles Remaining

                              2 sports (Run & Walk)  =   647.20 miles     = 1364.80  Miles Remaining

                              Just Running =  355.20 miles  =  1656.80 Miles Remaining    

So after analysing my mileages I am 23.80 miles short of being on target for running and walking and a huge 316 miles short of target for just running! On a positive note my original challenge as detailed on my Challenges and Achievements page was to combine mileages to run and walk a total of 2012 miles in 2012, so I'm not too far off target! I'm just setting my goals stupidly high by even considering being able to do this by just running alone!!!  Must stay grounded so I don't demotivate myself!

 I do still have the rest of today and tomorrow until April is over...!  I wonder if I can run and walk nearly 24 miles in that time ...?!

I promise to try harder in May!    


Target run and walk mileage for May = 171 miles!!

Bring it on!

Running Buddy - now you see her, now you don't!

It was nice while it lasted - not very long - my new running buddy has just gone and got herself a job in Brighton and is moving in 2 weeks time!!  Hey Ho back to running on my own!  I don't mind too much actually but it was nice to have a mate to pass the time with!

We were supposed to be running last night but she text to say she didn't feel very well and could we put it off until tonight!  So last night I had a dilemma - run on my own in the cold, wind and rain or go to the Gym!  The gym easily won mainly because I'm a wuss and didn't fancy getting wet but partly at the Leisure Centre I go to if you don't use the gym for 3 months you have to undergo another induction at a cost of £20 (They say for Health and Safety reasons but I say its a money making exercise!), so since it was coming up to 3 months since I have graced them with my presence I decided I would go and rescue my membership!  When i got to the reception and handed in my membership card, the receptionist looked at me as if I was barking - I had given her my library card and hadn't brought my purse with me with the rest of my cards in so there I stood all geared up and not being able to get in!  I smiled and said "I know my membership number - could you let me in with that?" and amazingly she said "yes" so off I went feeling quite chuffed that I did't have to go back home to get my correct card!  However, the elation soon left me after about a mile on the treadmill and I was bored stupid- I was craving the great outdoors!  I somehow managed to stay and did a 4 mile run, a 4 mile cycle and a 1 mile row, by the time I had finished I felt like I had done a Marathon! BORING!!!  It reminded me why I hadn't been in 3 months ...

Tonight I went for a run with my running buddy (for now!) and we were dead lucky!  It has rained all day and just before we were due to meet it decided to stop!  It was still cold and windy but at least we weren't wet! We chatted our way around and did a easy paced 5.04 miles, just as I got home the heavens opened again - how lucky were we?!  A quick dash home, a quick shower and I was out again - this time to Pilates!  It is usually hard going as its an advanced Pilates class but tonight it felt torturous after my run!  All good for the core muscles though!

To view my activities click here!

Speed Walking ...

I decided tonight that not only do I need to make friends with hills I also need to get my walking speed up if I want to hit my sub 9 hour goal for the K2B walk in less than 3 weeks time! So I set off with a target of 10 miles in mind in a target time of 2 hours 15 minutes!  At around 6 miles I did the maths and realised I had no hope of hitting my target if I didn't move myself so I started running down the hills, then once I got into running mode I found it hard to revert back to walking!  One problem I experienced tonight that was really annoying me was my shoelaces kept coming undone.  However well I tied them they seem to find a way to undo themselves to stop me in my stride GGGrrrrrrr!  Anyway at 10 miles I was a couple of minutes off target and by the time I got home I had done 11.67 miles in 2 hours 36 minutes average pace 13.24 minute miles.  If I want to achieve my sub 9 I need to do more running and less walking ...  Maybe this is going to be harder than I first thought! 


Time to use the same strategy I used to get my sub 2 at Liverpool! POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE 
I am going to display my target time on my blog so every time I log on I see it and convince myself  I CAN!!


You can view today's walk  here.

Practise, Practise, Practise!!

I have decided after Saturday's 10K race that I need to do more hill work!  So in future instead of running away from hills which I must admit I do try and do I am going to look them straight in the eye and go for it!

Tonight I ran 7 miles which I am going to make a regular route.It included a few hills for me to practice on and my aim is to improve the speed I do the route each time I do it (I will try to do this route once a week).  As well as this I am going to try and integrate some hill speed sessions into my regime. It feels good to have a plan of action as I feel like I haven't done anything positive to improve my running, My new mantra is "I will improve my speed!" and more importantly sustain it!!

So I will:

• Smile and head to the hills - hills are our friends (apparently!)
• Dig deep and ignore the pain.
• Breathe!
• Enjoy and never give up!

Tonight's run can be viewed here!

WTF?. No Medal!

Today I took part in the St Georges Day 10K Langdale run!  Read all about my efforts by clicking the challenge 7 tab above!


I will post photographs when I get a mo!
http://fitlesley.blogspot.co.uk/p/challenge-sub-55-minute-10k-run.html

Phew ... got it today!

I wasn't panicking because it never dawned on me that I am running the Langdale 10K tomorrow and hadn't received my bib number!  The first it even crossed my mind was when at 4pm tonight an envelope plopped onto my doormat containing number 335!  Oh well, all's good and at least I didn't stress for no reason.  Imagine the chaos and stress if I'd turned up tomorrow without it!!!  Just checked the weather for tomorrow and guess what? HEAVY RAIN!  Great!

I will let you know how I get on, pop back tomorrow!

Its Thursday again - how did that happen?

                                                                                My life seems to be passing me by in a flash - I can't believe it's Thursday again so soon!!  Once upon a time I was so committed to running and updating this blog - NOW I'm just a total failure at both!! So a week has passed and what have I been doing with myself?!  I have done a couple of long walks in preparation for the K2B walk (now only 3 weeks away!). The first was on Friday! I set off at 8.30am with my sandwiches packed and my map securely attached to me (Fed up of getting lost!) and headed off on a bright sunny but extremely cold morning along the canal path to Tewitfield (13 miles from Kendal).  It was a lovely walk apart from several not too friendly swans who I kept coming across on numerous occasions!  I had my lunch at the end of the canal in the sun then set off back home. Whilst eating my dinner I studied my map as I wanted to return home via a different route.  I planned it out and felt fairly confident I knew where I was going!  However, after a few miles I decided I didn't like the road I was on as it was fairly busy but narrow and I seemed to be wearing my invisibility cloak again so at the next turn off I diverted.  I actually got my map out at this point to make sure I was still going in the general direction of home and was delighted to see I was, however I was not so delighted when about 2 miles further on I found myself BACK on the canal path I had previously been on.  So all my good intentions went out the window and I ended up returning home mainly by retracing my steps and passing yet again the gaggle (?) of angry swans!  On a positive note I didn't get lost and I didn't get wet! I was disappointed that my Garmin watch ran out of battery before I got home (I don't think I had fully charged it!) but I did do 28 miles so I was happy!  My only concern was I was knackered walking that distance - how on earth am I going to run 26 miles in the Chester marathon?!!! On Saturday I had a rest/recovery day, before hitting the streets again for another long walk on Sunday!  I had an awful night's sleep Saturday night and was wide awake at 6am so I decided Sod it and got up!  I was out walking by 6.30am and was amazed to see thick frost on all the cars and gardens!!  It's middle of April for God's Sake.  Luckily I had my gloves with me and I wasn't too cold!  Apart from a little blip in the middle where I went several miles to cover about 1 mile I didn't get lost!  I was quite proud of my navigation skills!  One good think about setting off so early was I was home by 2 o'clock drinking beer and watching telly feeling I deserved it after walking 27 miles.! MONDAY saw me back at school with the chocolate overdosed tribe (and that's just the teachers!!).  I had a rest day Monday evening, then on Tuesday I went to my usual Steps class.  On Wednesday a woman at work asked me if I would go running with her daughter who had just returned home after being at uni and was missing her running buddies. So 5.30 Wednesday evening I met Vicky for the first time who was extremely tall with long legs and I was slightly worried that she would be like a greyhound and I would be more like a pug!  However, all was well and we had a good chat, put the world to rights and managed a slowish 4.7 miles. We have another date next week - its nice to have a buddy!  Whilst we were running she told me she was a member of the Hash House Harriers (who I have never heard of!) and apparently there is a local group which she is going to on Sunday! 

If it is any good I might join and go along!  What attracts me to this club?!   WELL there logo is "A club for drinkers with a running problem!!!"  What more can I say - That's ME!!!

A good stretch at Pilates tonight and now rest for me until Saturday when I am running the St Georges Day Langdale 10KM run!  I have never done an official 10K race before but I would like to aim for a sub 55 minute finishing time!  However, I do believe it is a fairly hilly course and the weather forecast is a bit dire so with the odds stacked against me I will just have to suck it and see!

I will keep you updated with my race results!  Bring it on!!

Busy week - how do I find time to work?

Well, the 2 weeks Easter Holidays are rapidly coming to an end!  I've been so busy I haven't even had time to blog - how on earth am I going to cope when I'm back at work next week!  So what have I been doing?

As promised I went for my first run since NYC on Easter Sunday! God it was hard work!  I very nearly stopped and came home after a mile, my heart was pounding, my legs felt heavy and I really didn't want to be doing it! However, I struggled on and to make matters worse the sun decided to come out and bake me too!  I eventually got home after completing 5.57 miles (which felt more like 50!). Easter Monday dawned and I was up and at them again!  Basically I'd had a very boozy and food laden Easter Sunday so I felt obligated to run it off!   It felt ever so slightly easier (couldn't have got any harder!) and I managed 7.05 miles! On Tuesday I had arranged to go for a "long" walk with a friend in training for the fast approaching Keswick to Barrow Challenge.  The weather was so cold and wet it wasn't quite as long as we had planned, and we only managed 16 miles.  The highlight being a pub lunch and beer to dry and thaw out before heading back home! On Wednesday my bike was going in for a service at Wheelbase in Staveley! So I rode there, which is 7 miles then whilst they were working on my bike I went for a 10 mile walk and the heavens decided to open (and it started off such a glorious day) then I rode home (obviously 7 miles the same as going!). They had worked wonders with my bike, I felt like I had a new one!  No more crunchy, grindy gears and squealing brakes!

View this weeks activities by clicking here!

Today has been my day off/ recovery day!  The day started off well as I managed to get tickets to see Lady Gaga in Manchester!!!  Whoopie-doo, very excited!! Then I went shopping (nice shopping not for food!) and even had lunch in town! However, would you believe they couldn't serve alcohol with my Italian meal (what's pasta without red wine?!) because they had had their licence taken off them.(tut tut, a misunderstanding they reckon - yeah yeah yeah!)  They only told us this when it was too late to walk out!  Huh!!!  We had to go to the pub afterwards to top up!

I really must do some more running before it gets really, really hard but walking seems to have taken over!  Hey Ho only 4 weeks until the K2B then I can get back to running by which time my marathon training plan will have kicked in!

Beautiful weather on my Wednesday walk - before the rain!

Look carefully to see the rainbow!

I'm back and ready to go (NOT!)

I had a fantastic 6 days in New York and if I had worn my Garmin watch I am sure I would have clocked up many, many walking miles!  We were at it non-stop day and night, so much to see so little time!  They call it the city that never sleeps, well whilst we were there we didn't sleep - much!  Well worth visiting and would love to go back! On our first day we went to Central Park and hired a Tandem bike, and couldn't believe that there was actually a 15K run setting off and finishing in Central Park at the time - if only I had known I would have loved to have joined in!  To hear all the American's chanting "good job" etc really made me want to do it! 

It made it very difficult cycling avoiding the 1000's of runners and spectators as well as the Rickshaws going through the park!  We specifically chose the Sunday to cycle as its the only day Central Park is closed to traffic!  Perhaps it would have been easier to dodge a few cars!  I have now got future aspirations to run the New York Marathon, unfortunately as I work in a school its impossible for me to do it this year as our half term week is the week before the marathon and I'd have to jump straight on a plane after the marathon to be ready for school the next morning!  It ain't going to happen is it?! One year the 2 might just coincide! 

Since getting back to the UK yesterday I haven't managed to hit the streets yet, but was pleasantly surprised to see after spending a week eating very unhealthy food and drinking copious amounts of alcohol that I have only actually put on 2 pounds!  Tomorrow is the day I will kick start my running before hitting the Easter Eggs!

Exhausted.com

Unless Mr Google is having a laugh the Chinese writing to the left means "Bon Voyage".  I apologise now if this is in fact wrong and I'm being offensive! This is a message to my daughter who is on her way to China at this very moment!  


I am sat here feeling absolutely exhausted and have no energy to do anything!  The main reason that both my body and mind have gone on strike is I have been up since 4am this morning!  During the time I was in bed I was very restless and had a very disturbed sleep.  So why was I up at stupid O'clock?  Well, my daughter was going on a school trip to China and had to be at School for 4.45am and I was restless as I was paranoid about sleeping in and her missing the coach and then I'd have to drive her down to Manchester Airport!  Once I'd managed to get her there and waved her off the sensible thing to do would have been to go back to bed!  After all it was only 5am and I could get a couple hours in before having to get up again!  Did I?  Don't be silly!  In my highly charged state after the adrenaline rush I decided it would be a good idea to "work it off" with a "little" run! I set off in darkness, and enjoyed the feeling of solitude - there was nothing and nobody around - I had the world to myself!  My mind switched off and I zoned out!  However, after about 4 miles something up ahead caught my attention in the low light!  All I could see in the distance were 2 black legs lurking in the shadows, but they didn't appear to have an "upright body" attached to them!  Perhaps I still had an overload of adrenaline coursing through my body because my initial thought was "OMG it's the Black Panther"  

(There has been repeated sightings of a black panther (supposedly) in the area!). I slowed down, whilst my heart rate danced, then heaved a sigh of relief when the body belonging to the legs came into view out of the shadows! It was a man NOT a panther! PHEW!! Easy mistake to make lol.  Anyhow, I continued my run and the world began to wake up in front of me!  Birds began to sing, people surfaced, cars emerged and light dawned! I'm used to starting my runs in the light and ending them in the dark, today it felt very strange but good to start in the dark and finish in the light!  I felt good running and enjoyed every step today and ran just under 8 miles. You can view this run here!  After coming in from my run the dog was sitting looking at me expectantly so I took him for a quick go round the block before shower, breakfast, coffee, packed lunches and then walk to work for the day to commence... As if this wasn't enough to contend with we had a "skipping workshop" today too -  the sun was shining and the kids had a whale of a time too!  A walk home from work wrapped my day up nicely and I haven't moved very far from the sofa since! Early to bed tonight for me but I will be waiting for a message from my daughter to say they have arrived in China safely - at MIDNIGHT our time! Hey-ho another restless sleep! 

It has somehow got to the 29th March and today will be my last run of the month as I am off to New York on Saturday - WHOOOOO HOOOO!  I am busy tomorrow evening and there's no way feeling like I do am I getting up early again tomorrow to run!


So basically that's my lot this month and its now THAT time when I report my progress with THE CHALLENGE!

How's it going?  Well, I am a quarter of the way through the challenge and the year so am I on track?


For March I had set myself the target of 100 miles running and 71 miles walking.  Considering I did a half marathon earlier in the month I thought the running goal would be relatively easy to achieve but I FAILED, and only managed to complete 68% of it!  :-( 
However, I walked further than my walking goal and completed 20% more so overall I'm not too short!  This is how it now looks!

To be on Target= 503 miles 


Actual Mileage Achieved to date:

3 sports (Run, Walk & Cycle) =  563.30    =  1448.70 Miles Remaining

2 sports (Run & Walk)  =   496 miles     = 1516.00  Miles Remaining

Just Running =  315.30 miles  = 1696.70 Miles Remaining    

So after analysing my mileages I am only 7 miles short of being on target for running and walking but a huge 188 miles short of target for just running!  I always thought this was too ambitious!

Perhaps I  could review the goal to read:

2012 Miles in 2012 Running and Walking

OR

2012 KM in 2012 Running

What will April bring ...?

Another sunny day, another bike ride and crunching gears ...

Another beautiful day and after being stuck inside all day long, I opted out of going to Steps class tonight and paying for the privilege of being stuck in AGAIN - instead I went out on my bike for FREE! 

I had a lovely ride, however, every time I shift gears the chain stutters and crunches and doesn't seem to grab hold smoothly. Sometimes when I'm in gear and pedalling uphill it just crunches unexpectedly , as if the chain is about to come off. What could the problem be? I'm thinking of booking it in for a service so that I know its safe as the brakes also seem to be a little squeaky too!!  Perhaps its just groaning and moaning about being out and about after 6 months wrapped up in my garage!


Anyway, apart from thinking I was going to have to sort my chain out on several occasions I enjoyed the ride, even though I still didn't wear any sunglasses as I couldn't locate them anywhere!  Looks like I will have to invest in a new pair! Talking of which I have been researching on the internet tonight and quite fancy a pair with photochromic lenses rather than the interchangeable ones.  The sunglasses I can't find had interchangeable lenses but I never changed the lenses whatever the weather - just kept the same ones in!  Anyone got any good tips/reviews?


I did just over 20 miles tonight, in 1 hour 30 minutes, although I did seem to sit at traffic lights forever! View tonights run here!

Tour de potholes and suicidal flies!

Well, what a glorious day its been again - third day in a row!  It's a bit scary to think that this could be it - SUMMER!!! and by next week it will be over!  With that in mind I wasn't going to waste an opportunity to get out on my bike!!  I had in mind that since the clocks changed at the weekend I would have plenty time to do what I needed to do before it got dark!  I'd forgotten that once I get on my bike, I enjoy the feeling of freedom so much that I want to cycle forever! I was forced to return home tonight before I wanted to due to the failing light and stupidly I had no lights on my bike, but it felt good to be out whilst it lasted!  I managed 22 miles, and you can view the ride here!

One thing I did notice tonight was Cumbria County Council need to spend some of the money they are saving by cutting our wages on filling in potholes! It must be due to all the snow and ice we had this winter but the roads are in a terrible state - not good when you are on a road bike with no suspension!  Good job I had padded shorts on!

As I already mentioned it was a beautifully sunny evening, but this didn't stop me going out without my cycling sunglasses on!  How can I forget such an important bit of kit!  I spent most of the ride blind and squinting from the sun - I hoped the car drivers could see more than me - this thought did cross my mind as I went under a bridge into semi darkness and when I emerged out the other side all I could see was lots of beautiful colours dancing in front of me - very pretty but not very safe!! My next problem was suicidal flies - they seemed intent on playing target practise with my mouth!  They might be full of vitamins but they don't half catch in your throat on the way down!!! Some of the less brave ones decided to aim for my eyes instead, so not only could I not see for the sun but I kept getting big black blobs swimming in front of me!!!

Hopefully this weather will continue and I will get a few more rides in as well as runs and walks!!! Next time I go out I will be better prepared and I WILL go out earlier too!

I LOVE SUMMER!

Let the K2B training commence...

Seven weeks to go until the Keswick to Barrow walk and I finally got round to going on a "long walk" as part of my training! I couldn't have picked a better day - the weather has been glorious, if not a tad too warm for walking! 


I don't like being too organised when it comes to walking, I enjoy going where the mood takes me and where ever possible trying out new routes. I think of these walks as an "exploratory sightseeing trip!" Today I knew I was going to head to Killington Lake, which is about 7 miles away but beyond that I had no idea!  Whilst I was doing long training walks last year I continuously got lost so today I sensibly took a map (not that I have much idea how to read one mind!).  By the time I got to Killington Lake I was starving! Although it was only quarter to 12, I decided to have an early lunch stop as the setting was idyllic and peaceful.  

Perfect lunch spot at Killington Lake!  I could have just sat here all day - pity I didn't have a book!

Whilst eating my lunch I took the opportunity to have a look at the map to see where I could go from here! At the end of the lake there was a right turn and a left turn, I have been left from here many times before so made the decision to go right.  I didn't sit down for long (although would have loved to) and was soon on my way again. I soon came across another left turn which I had never been down before so keenly went this way to investigate further.  I can't believe how much fun a grown woman can have taking photographs of her own shadow but believe me it kept me entertained for a fair distance!  I had a very "blonde moment" when I was trying to fit my entire shadow in the photo, so what did I do?  I stopped and waited for my shadow to walk on further so I could take a photo from a distance - durrrrrrr!  I laughed out loud at how utterly unbelievably and momentarily stupid I had been!  I was just glad there wasn't anyone with me to witness this moment!

Does my bum look big in this?! lol
(this is actually my bag NOT my bum!)

I came to another road end, and another decision to make!  I decided to go the way that lead up a steep hill (stupid I know!) but whilst out cycling I had often wondered where this led but could never quite face tackling it! So here I was at the top of the steep hill that appeared to have brought me onto a "long and winding road!" After several miles I was beginning to think I was on the "road to nowhere!"  It seemed to take me forever to join another road and to get to a place I was familiar with! However, I would definitely go back on this road on my bike but  in reverse (to experience the down-hills and not the up-hills I did today!) - I never saw another person or vehicle the entire time - just horses, sheep and lambs! 

By mile 17 I was getting bored with walking and decided to add a little jog into the mix!  I enjoyed the change in tempo and it seemed to rejuvenate me a little. 

After walking for over 5 and a half hours and covering more than 21 miles I was pleased that the sun was still shining when I got home so I could sit and relax in the garden!  View my walk here.


I need to fit a few more long walks in before the day somehow!  Keep in touch and see how I get on!

OMG I joined a running club ...

not just a NORMAL running club BUT a Triathlon Club!

Have I truly lost hold of my senses?!!!

Anyhow, when I contacted them I told them I had no intention of doing Triathlons because I'm a crap swimmer but might try a Duathlon! They said this was fine and I could go to the running and cycling sessions only. Last night was my first running  session with the club. After my previous experience of joining a running club I was slightly nervous - it was the most humiliating experience of my life, everyone was so much faster and better than me, and I never went back!  :-(

Determined to be strong I went, and hoped and prayed there would be other females running too.  Fortunately for me there was 2 other women, and 7 men.  They were very friendly and welcoming and explained the usual routine.  Unfortunately I had come for the first session on the worst possible night - it was hill reps!! I groaned inwardly when he said this but put on a brave face!  We did a warm up jog first before stopping to do lots of other warm up exercises, which were taken very light heartedly and were made fun but we still worked hard!  Then the time came to head to the hill!  Arrrgghh ... the speed of the "jog" to get to the hill was probably at my "fast pace" but although I couldn't keep up with the men in the group I was about the same speed as the other 2 women so I wasn't bothered.  We got to the hill in question and congregated at the bottom whilst the coach talked us through the plan of action! (good opportunity to have a quick breather!).  The idea of the hill reps was to run up as fast as you could and then recover by having a slow jog down before repeating again!  The others in the group seemed to miss the "slow jog down" part, and although I could hold my own going up the hill I was left behind running down!  However, lets be positive I hate coming down hills so forcing myself to do this in a group will surely build my hill confidence as well as improve my general speed. After several hill repeats, and receiving good advice from the coach on how to improve my style etc we headed back to base where we did cool down exercises and stretching.  Something I tend to neglect when I run on my own!  I enjoyed the experience and will go again next week - I wonder what we will work on then?  Surely not hills again!  Fingers crossed!  Once I come back from my New York holiday I am going to try one of the Cycling sessions which are held on a Saturday Morning!

It's really good as the session lasted 1 hour 15 minutes and there is no charge, I got a lot of advice from the coach and probably pushed myself harder than I would on my own!

Only 7 weeks until the Keswick to Barrow walk and apart from my running I have done no walking training at all!  Best pull my finger out, especially since for a week of the 7 weeks I will be in New York!  This weekend I am going to do my first "Long Walk" starting at around 20 miles!  The weather looks like its going to be fabulous so when I inevitably get lost it won't be too bad! :-)    I somehow need to fit about 6 more "long walks" in building up to a 30+ mile walk sometime before the big day ...!

Any cyclist out there?

Over the past 6 months my running and motivation have really improved and I put it partly down to being a member of a Facebook group called "Plodders United" which has encouraged me to keep going when I may have given up!! I have enjoyed making new friends who have the same interests and goals at heart and thought it would be a good idea to set up my own facebook group to encourage me with my future cycling challenges. 

This is a group for fun cyclists of all abilities, whether your totally new to cycling, returning from an injury or had time out from cycling or if you are wanting to enter your first sportive - you can post questions and share your goals, experiences and highs and lows here! Its amazing what you can push yourself to do with a bit of encouragement and gentle peer pressure!  I'm not saying I will be able to answer any of your questions as I am just a novice myself but I am hoping to get a range of members with varying levels of expertise and someone somewhere should be able to help you or point you in the right direction!!  If you are interesting in joining me on this new venture please visit the following facebook site and join Pedaler's World!  

We are waiting for YOU!

I did it!!!

Today I ran the Liverpool Half Marathon, to read more click on the tab above "Challenge 6"

Happy Reading!  :-)

A sub 2 please!

 I can't believe its only two more get-ups until The Liverpool Half Marathon!  EEEKKKK!  

Today at work I was discussing my running with some non-runners (who all think I'm barking by the way!) and I mentioned that at Liverpool I really wanted to get a sub 2!  One of the girls asked "What's in one of those?"  She thought a sub 2 was a sandwich from Subway!  I will think of that to spur me on if the going gets tough on Sunday - I still chuckle when I think about it hee hee hee!!

So how has my tapering been going?  Its very difficult not to do something that you have conditioned your body and mind to do regularly but I really didn't want to over-train and decided my best chance of achieving my PB was by going out there with fresh eager legs!  So what have I been doing since we last met? Well, I've had a busy week work wise which was quite good timing to keep me on track with tapering!  After my long run on Saturday, the only run I have done since is a 5.31 mile run on Wednesday. I tried not to push the pace to avoid any possibility of injury and the run can be viewed here. Other than that one run I have walked to work and back daily as well as walking the dog to keep me active. 

I have been reading lots of articles about running a PB and one such article said that 90% of achieving a PB was believing at the start line that you will achieve it, so I'm believing!  I WILL DO IT!!  I have been reviewing my future challenges (see tabs at the top of page) and was surprised to see that my original goal when I first entered this Half marathon was 2 hours 10 minutes! When did I move the goal posts to a sub 2?  I really can't tell you, but it shows that by following a training plan my confidence and ability have obviously improved considerably! I have been monitoring the weather forecast all week and have been thrilled to see it was going to be a mild dry day - until today that is - now suddenly it has changed to RAIN!!!  It must have realised I was going to Liverpool and wanted me to feel at home running in the rain!  Well hey-ho lets be positive, the rain will keep me cool!

I think my body has decided to wind me up today and make me nervous - I seem to have niggling aches and pains all over as well as extreme fatigue!!  Well hey-ho lets be positive again, perhaps my body is suffering withdrawal symptoms and will be super keen to go when I let it?!  

I have been trying to avoid a very nasty tummy bug that has been circulating school this week, climaxing today with a little girl actually throwing up all over the joint, mix that with my daughter having a heavy cold and I will be extremely grateful to make it to Sunday healthy!

So time to bid you farewell until Sunday!!  Bring it on!!!

Severe case of CBA and only 6 days to go!

Despite being only several sleeps away from my 2nd Half Marathon and my dream of joining the sub-2 club, this week I got a severe attack of CBA-itis, however I disguised it well under the pretence of "Tapering!"  I woke up this morning after a particularly boozy weekend and thought  "Girl you are going have to get yourself out there or you are going to flunk it!".  So after not running for 3 days I got up and went!

It was a beautiful sunny morning, and I actually decided to swap my fleecy winter tights and long-sleeved top for 3/4 tights and a T. shirt! A decision I certainly didn't regret, after being slightly chilly for the first mile, I soon warmed up and I was wishing I had some clothes to disperse! After not really being very keen to go I actually enjoyed the run and was really chuffed when I got home to discover that my average pace had improved magnificently to 8.43 minute mile! Perhaps there really is something in this tapering lark! Today's run can be viewed here!  Here's hoping I can do the same next Sunday and maintain it for 13 miles!

After having a shower, lunch and a rest we (Mr W and I) decided to dust our bikes down and go for a ride as it was still a lovely day!  It was my first ride of 2012, actually my first ride in 5 months and I felt strangely apprehensive about having my feet clipped in - I felt like a cleat virgin all over again! One positive was I was with my husband who isn't very active, so the pace of the ride was kept very slow giving me the opportunity to familiarise myself yet again with my cleats, gears and brakes! I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed cycling ...

view today's cycle here!

Funny how when CBA-itis hit, I turned into a couch potato psycho desperately trying to find some motivation and ended up booking events galore!  So what's my plan for 2012?

Well next weekend is Liverpool Half Marathon, followed by the Keswick to Barrow 40 mile walk in May as well as the 10K Starwalk (which I am walking, as I am entering with non-running friends!).  I also have Morecambe 10k run in June, and Fleetwood Half Marathon in August, followed by The Great Scottish Run Half Marathon in September, climaxing with the Chester Marathon in October! Plenty there to keep me out of mischief me thinks!!!

Do I challenge myself to a duathlon next year?!  

My big bro following in my footsteps...

   NOT QUITE!

                                       

My big brother announced to me today that he was taking part  in the

Bath Half Marathon, shocked as he is not Mr Fit or Mr Motivater I

 said "YOU, doing a half marathon?".  He smirked and said 

"Yes, the Bath Half ...Pint Marathon!" - participants drink

13 half pints of beer in 13 different pubs!  What a cop out!  

I am 150% sure that my big brother will succeed in this challenge! I wonder if he will get a PB?! lol  Perhaps I will put it on my 2013 Challenges "To Do" list! 

Its on the night before the REAL Bath half Marathon - I hope no one is tempted to do both! It should be on the night of the Half Marathon then people could go for a double award!  

I didn't run last night, but went to my usual Steps class instead!  I wasn't really in the mood for going as I am full of cold, but I manned up and went - equipped with tissues! When I was researching to find out whether I should run or rest with a cold whilst following a half marathon training plan I read something that put a wry grin on the face of my couch potato family, who are allergic to any form of physical activity more vigorous than standing in a queue for a pizza- an internet site claimed that "Excessive amounts of exercise can actually depress the immune system and lead to ill health", it went on to say "For the majority of people who enjoy exercise in moderation, the immune system benefits from an increased resilience to invading bacterial and viral illnesses, However, for the serious fitness enthusiast or runner preparing for an endurance race who spend many hours every week in training, the immune system is compromised"

Does this mean I am over-doing it?. Or is it the fact I work with 30 snotty faced 4 year old darlings that's to blame for my Rudolf impersonation?  

I really don't want to compromise my chances at Liverpool in 11 days time by not being fully fit but as I firmly believe my cold is due to the kids and not over-training I still went for a run tonight. So ... how did I get on...?  Well it was a damp cold evening, but it was still fairly light when I set off!  Due to tapering now for the Liverpool Half Marathon AND feeling a bit crap I decided to keep it fairly short tonight!  I don't know what was going on tonight but I seemed to see 101 dalmatians  runners!  I think all the summer runners must have got their backsides into gear and started running again!  Very strange considering it was such a cold damp night!  The mild weather we have experienced in the last few days must have coaxed them all out!!!  I kept a fairly constant pace (even on the up hills which pleased me!) and managed  4.60 miles in 42 minutes! 


On another note - 


I'm such a chicken when it comes to entering races or doing something new - whether running or cycling!  Whenever I think about trying a different distance or course I have all these silly irrational fears of getting lost and coming last! People always try to calm my fears by saying "You won't be last" , but someone has to be, which is why I enter BIG events - less chance of coming last and plenty people to follow so I don't get lost!

After completing one half Marathon, and having already entered another half marathon and a full marathon later in the year I have now decided I want to do a 10K event.(My husband who acts as my chauffeur for these events is shaking his head and is hoping I find one to enter close to home!).  I very very nearly entered the "We love Manchester 10K" event in June as I have never done a 10K race before and quite fancied it!  BUT then I noticed

- shock, horror -  

they don't give out medals!!!!  Am I being very shallow and childish to want to get a medal at the end?!!!  I don't think I will get the same satisfaction without a bit of bling to hang around my neck!!!  Even when I did the Race for Life and Midnight Starwalk I got a blingy medal! Someone needs to tell the organisers of  the "We love Manchester 10K" that we would love them more in return for a medal!  So what do I do? Be satisfied with the T shirt and enter? Be satisfied with the t shirt, enter and then buy my own medal?, or think sod it and enter a 10K which will satisfy my bling fetish?!


I'm not running tomorrow night as its stretching and core strengthening at Pilates.  Back out on the streets on Friday!