On deciding I was going to take on the 10 in 10 Challenge I started my preparations, this included speaking to Mac and the boys to ensure I had their full support, I also spoke to Shelagh who was very encouraging. With this core team in place providing full support I believed it was more than possible.
I set myself some short terms goals against which I would be able to check if I was on track or not.
- Surviving hayfever season - in the past I had always struggled to train while taking my medication which made me feel drowsy
- Continuing to train through my holidays in France - you would think with all the extra time it would be easy but no, the temptation for lounging in the hot sun and drinking copious amounts of french wine always proved difficult! Not the drinking of wine but the running!
- Continuing to run after the Langdale Marathon in September-in the past once a marathon had been completed I took a well earned rest.
- Running the Snowdon Marathon only 5 weeks after Langdale
- Building my mileage up from 20 miles to 50 miles per week by the end of the year
- Run a back to back marathon by end of December
I achieved each and every one of these short term goals which not only meant that I was getting physically prepared but the sense of achievement was doing wonders for my mental prep too. I was especially please to run a 10K PB of 47.48, a Snowdon time of 4.08 (5 weeks after Langdale) and a back to back - never before even thought of!!
January 2009
- Maintained 45 - 50 miles per week.
- Running to Newby Bridge and back (25 miles) during the 10 in 10 training weekend in 3.50!
- Almost PB-ing on my training runs
Mac and I also spent 8 days running in Majorca. This was an amazing break, we ran at least 2 - 3 hours every day up and down the Majorcan hills and along the coast. I came back having stepped up another level in my fitness.
February 2009
February saw me attempt another back to back 2 x 26 miles which this time was not as pleasant an experience. It was cold, wet, I was under-dressed and ran the 2 days on my own. The only good thing was being supplied with a warmer jacket by Martin (who drove up and down the lake on Friday) and jelly beans from Shelagh. Saturday was especially tough mentally and I have to admit I spent the 10 minutes in my ice cold bath after the runs, crying and feeling sorry for myself - still I did it!! I can hopefully draw on that mental strength come May.
I travelled down to run the Draycote Marathon just outside Birmingham. I had some great hospitality from fellow 10 in 10 runners Leon and Lorna on Saturday evening. We travelled to the race together and met Steve Edwards. For some reason I nearly lost it before the race, doubting myself - I had a real confidence dip. I looked around at all those athletes and wondered why on earth I was there! After some stern talking from Steve I lined up - still with a full bladder as I couldn't find the toilets and set off to run 5 laps of the same course around Draycote Water. I felt absolutely brilliant and maintained 8.40min miles the whole way round. I finished the race in 3.46 taking an amazing 15 mins off my marathon PB!! What a confidence booster. I know I had every right to be on that start line and going forward will remember that should it rear its head again!
Up to and including Sunday 15 March
I am now running 70 miles a week and have been advised by Steve to keep this up until the taper at the end of April.
I have also run for 11 consecutive days, which includes yet another double - a 26 mile training run on Friday and then another 26 miles on Saturday. Over the 11 days I clocked up 115 miles and am taking a well-earned rest day today ( Monday 16). This double was a far more pleasant experience, Jill P ran the first bit with me on Friday, Anna Tetley cycled to Coniston with me and Helen M joined me for the last 13 on Saturday. It was great having the company. Mac and Jill are also running with me whenever they can which really helps with the boredom.
I now intend to run 10 days on, 1 day off, 10 days on maintaining 70 miles per week until the end of April.
This week I plan to run around the Windermere Marathon route on Friday before doing the 16K Sticky Toffee Pudding run in Cartmel on Saturday. All that and a Sticky Toffee Pudding too!
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