Running attempt completed!

Back at home after running the Paris Marathon! Had a fantastic time, the route was beautiful and it was a lovely sunny day. I was not affected by coughs or colds, so was able to stick with the pace I set myself. I enjoyed the whole thing- well, maybe the last 6 miles were a bit painful, but it was worth it! 3hrs 48mins 07 secs.

Allez-y!

Tuesday today. I did my last longish run on Sunday- 10 miles, down in Devon. It was a beautiful sunny morning, with clear views across to Dartmoor. Plenty of short, steep hills to run up and down, which is good for the legs! Since then I have been resting a lot, trying to save my energy up for the marathon next Sunday. I'll do a couple of short jogs tomorrow and Thursday, and then start to eat loads of carbohydrates on Friday and Saturday. Hopefully by then I will have kicked off the slight cold which I have at the moment, so that I will be ready and waiting for the start line in Paris! Looking forward to it, plus a bit nervous...this tune is great for the headphones!

Where has Spring gone?

This time next week I will be on my way to Paris. Only 3 more training runs to go, and then the big one- yippeee! Today was a leisurely 3 mile jog. All the advice tells you to taper down at this point and save energy for the race, so I am doing what it says on the tin.

Last weekend I ran the Yeovil half marathon, as a training run. It was an enjoyable day, and it felt nice to be out running with other people for a change- I am usually out pounding the pavements on my own. It was a good indicator of my fitness levels, and I was able to do the distance without feeling too tired, which is fortunate considering it is only half the length of the full 26.2 miles. By golly though it was a freezing cold day and for the first 5 miles I couldn't feel my fingers and even my chin was numb. It feels like I have been running in sub zero temperatures for the whole of 2013 thus far, so I now have to ask- WHERE IS THE SPRING? It appeared for a day or 2 about 2 weeks ago I faintly recall, but it has not been seen since. It is just plain wrong to be running still in a hat and gloves, and if I have to do that in Paris I will not be impressed. Can somebody please tell the weather people to sort it out. Thank you.

3 weeks to go.

I have just got back from my last long training run. Today it was 22 miles, and as I have a cold at the moment, it felt like it was further. I was Ok up to 14 miles, and then it became a total slog for the next 8. If I have a cold in Paris, then this marathon lark is not going to be as much fun as I thought. However, today I am proud to announce the arrival of my new positive attitude, which will overcome all obstacles. From now on in it will be plain sailing!

I must say a big thank you to everybody who has sponsored me so far. I am amazed that so many people have made donations, and as you know, all that money is going to go to a very good cause. Cheers!

This tune is going to be on my mp3 player in Paris- I'm gonna be surfing down those streets!

Just keep going!

So now it is March at last and I am on the toughest leg of the training program. The milage for these three weeks is the highest I have ever done- about 40. On Sunday I ran a 22 miler, and for the first time I really felt that I could finish the whole marathon distance without collapsing. I have found out that in order to do this I need to eat LOADS of pasta and rice for 2 days beforehand, and swallow lots of energy gels whilst running. Also making sure I drink about 2 litres of water on the way round. Plus I will need to completely rest for 2 days before the race. Mind you, it is still 4 weeks before we go to Paris, so I don't want to get ahead of myself. There are 2 more long runs to do, as well as the Yeovil half marathon on 24th March. In fact running seems to have taken over my life for the time being!  
 

Back on track.

Week 11, day 4. Crikey its been a whole month since my last post. We have all been ill in our house. Flu and colds going around meaning training schedules had to be put on hold. I was in bed for a week, and then needed another week to get my energy back, doing low mileage jogging. Up to that point I had been doing pretty well with upping the distance of my weekly long run. I have now run an 18 miler and two 20 milers, which all proved tough to complete. I seem to be ok up to about 16/17 miles, and then the legs become really tired and it all becomes a right struggle, even when I am force feeding myself with energy gels and flap jacks and jelly beans! I think the training is working though. Last weekend I ran the Weston Tough Ten, a ten mile race which I also entered last year. This year my time was 7 minutes quicker, so I have definitely improved over the last 12 months. Paris doesn't seem very far away now. The next 3 weeks involve 2 long runs and plenty of extra mileage, and then there will be 3 weeks of tapering- lowering the mileage and recovering in preparation for the real thing!

I had this song turn up on my mp3 player whilst out on a run last week. When I am at 19 miles, the title kind of says it all. I feel like giving in. But never mind, vive la France!

 

It's Official: Hill repeats can be tedious.

Yes they certainly can. I have been running up the same bloody hill for 7 weeks now, and tonight I ran 5 circuits. The first 2 laps were run easy pace, the next 3 a bit faster. But it is all so predictable and every time it just gets a bit more boring. Thank goodness I have my mp3 player to distract me, and as I started to slow down I was helped by this marvelous tune from the Bevis Frond...

Sun at last.

Week 5 day 1. Yesterday I ran my longest run so far- 16.5 miles. I wasn't sure how it would go, because I have felt tired all week from last Sunday's Herepath Half. However, I am pleased to say that I went the distance without any trouble. It was a beautiful, freezing, sunny day, which made the whole run an enjoyable experience. I headed off across the levels listening to Bad Brains, then Jelly Roll Morton, then Deerhoof, then The New York Dolls. I love random play!

Keeping going was not difficult- I just settled into an easy rhythm, kept breathing, and listened to the tunes. I drank water whenever I felt thirsty, and had an energy gel every 3 miles. I was tired when I tramped past The Sheppey Inn at mile 13, but happy in the knowledge that I would return there later for a pint. Sundays were meant for this! 

Wot, mud?

Week 4, day 2. No run today. My schedule says I should run 5 miles, but I need a rest. The last 2 weeks have been pretty tiring, and this morning after only being up for 2 hours my body started to protest. At 8.30 I took L to school as usual, with J in tow. On returning home J and me spent an hour doing activity books at the kitchen table which was fine, but then it had to be the goggle box I'm afraid. This afternoon we went out and about on the scooter for 2 hours, then when M came home from work I had to lie down for another 2. The Xmas and New Year period requires stamina as it is, without adding 25 miles a week onto it! I am living proof that accumulating mileage and alcoholic units simultaneously can lead to engine failure.

Mind you, I did 2 good long runs. Last Sunday was a 10 miler down in Devon, then this week gone I participated in the inaugural Herepath Half Marathon trail run. It was lush! 7 miles running up into the Blackdown Hills, then 7 miles running back down. Beautiful wild scenery at the top. No rain for a change, but it was very, very muddy. At one point I slipped and fell flat on my face, which was quite alarming. It was then I realised that the sticky stuff underfoot was only 50% mud. The rest cow pat.

A random thought for the day from J:

'Daddy did you know that a long, long, long time ago cats used to lay eggs?'