More of the same. A couple of days rest at the beginning of the week due to ache in hip, but OK by Wednesday - no probems now. Had great physio session with Jugger (Mark Coulson) he has been a star over the last 12 months and is also going to be part of the physio team during the 10 in 10 - yippee. Also went for some treatment on my feet - all part of getting myself ready. Over the weekend the table turned a little and after so many months of my running taking precedent, I fitted my runs around the family. Saturday Morgan and I went to support Mac who was running in the 3 Peaks Fell Race in the Yorkshire Dales. It is a great spectator event and Morgan was happy to supply the jelly babies. Mac did really well and finished in 4:30. In the last 20 days he had run the Paris Marathon, Lochaber Marathon and now another 23 miles and over 5700 ft of climbing. I was dead proud to be there providing support and to see him cross the line. Sunday we went to watch Morgan play in the Under 12's Cumbria Cup Final. Unfortunately they lost 30 points to 4 against a much bigger and stronger side. Morgan played brilliantly, scored Barrow Island's try and tackled everything in sight! Shame he couldn't have held the 'cup' aloft but there will always be another day!
Will keep the mileage low this week probably around 35 miles, concentrate on keeping fit and healthy, eat well, lots of sleep and no stress! Almost there now - woohoo!
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Only 4 weeks to go
Continued putting the miles during the week which included a lovely run through some blue bell woods on Easter Monday and lunchtime runs wherever possible. Tuesday lunchtime I had a 'live' radio interview on Radio Cumbria with Fern. Dead nervous beforehand, but I think it went OK! Mac and I travelled up to Fort William on Thursday evening. Morgan had decided to stay with Gareth to have a 'boys weekend' and to make sure he was available to play in the Cumbria Cup semi final on Sunday - 'can't let the team down see Mum!' I'm not even going to attempt to think about what they will get up to. Still a weekend away with my lovely husband was just what I needed. We ran part of the Lochaber Marathon route on Friday which was out and back along the side of Loch Eil. I imagined it being difficult on Sunday (even though the scenery was fantastic - a commanding view of Ben Nevis on the way back) due to the long, flat road that seemed to stretch forever. Not a hill to run on in sight!
We had a lovely night out on Friday with Shelagh and Tony who had come up to support. Steve and Teresa also arrived Saturday night. We also met up with Selina and George (both ran the 10 in 10 last year).
The day of the race was very warm with a bit of a breeze on the last few miles. Mac and I ran around together which was really good. It proves how far I have come to be able to run at the same pace as him. It wasnt one of my easier runs as my legs were feeling the effects of weeks and months of training - the end of a long, long stretch. I did however manage a Personal Best of 3:44 and was 5 female in my class which was OK. I developed a bit of a niggle in my left hip - a consequence of running on a flat course for 26 miles! I self diagnosed this as an inflammed greater tochanteric bursa! I have treated this with rest, ice and Vitamin I (Iboprofen). It is better today and I am looking forward to running lunchtime in the sunshine.
This week I have started to taper which feels good - time to recharge the battery ready for the 'big one' in 15 days. I will concentrate now on staying fit and healthy and get to the starting line on the 8th May full of energy and enthusiasm. Oh and Morgan won his rugby - yippee and is in the final this Sunday - let's hope he gets to lift the cup!
We had a lovely night out on Friday with Shelagh and Tony who had come up to support. Steve and Teresa also arrived Saturday night. We also met up with Selina and George (both ran the 10 in 10 last year).
The day of the race was very warm with a bit of a breeze on the last few miles. Mac and I ran around together which was really good. It proves how far I have come to be able to run at the same pace as him. It wasnt one of my easier runs as my legs were feeling the effects of weeks and months of training - the end of a long, long stretch. I did however manage a Personal Best of 3:44 and was 5 female in my class which was OK. I developed a bit of a niggle in my left hip - a consequence of running on a flat course for 26 miles! I self diagnosed this as an inflammed greater tochanteric bursa! I have treated this with rest, ice and Vitamin I (Iboprofen). It is better today and I am looking forward to running lunchtime in the sunshine.
This week I have started to taper which feels good - time to recharge the battery ready for the 'big one' in 15 days. I will concentrate now on staying fit and healthy and get to the starting line on the 8th May full of energy and enthusiasm. Oh and Morgan won his rugby - yippee and is in the final this Sunday - let's hope he gets to lift the cup!
Thursday, 16 April 2009
Aftermath of Paris
This week I remained on a bit of a high after last week (the fact there was only 3 days in work also helped my euphoria). Kept my mileage up even though my legs are really tired now and crying out for a rest. Had a really 'chilled out' weekend as Mac and Morgan went to Scotland to climb some Monroes. Spent the time Running, reading, sleeping - oh and of course running! It was great to run in the fine, sunny weather too. Did 18 miles on Sunday around Coniston Water in the heat of the day - all good preparation for our heatwave in May! Went out on Friday night with a few of the girls to boost my fundraising by 'pub crawling' around Ulverston with collection boxes. They did an awesome job and we raised £215!! Many thanks to them all. I must say though it was not good for my training! Saturday was a bit of a wash out as I nursed my hangover. Still a bit of what you fancy is OK and its far enough away not to harm preparations. Back on the case this week and looking forward to Lochaber Marathon this Sunday. It will be great fun as Steve and Teresa will be there. Shelagh and Tony are also coming up to support and provide the necessary jelly beans!
Tuesday, 7 April 2009
Spring in Paris
Yet another good week. 65 miles and 9 consecutive days of training culminating with the Paris Marathon On Sunday.
Mac and I travelled out on Thursday and stayed in a lovely hotel in the centre of Paris. We spent the time resting, eating, reading, eating, running and eating - well you have to carbo load before a marathon you know?! It was our wedding anniversary on Friday so we made sure we had a really special day - we ran in the morning, went to pick up our running number and chip in the afternoon and went out for a fantastic french meal in a typical parisian bistro in the evening. We probably did have a little too much french vino - but made sure we drank loads of water too!
I was still nursing the head cold that I had developed the day before. I quickly emailed Steve for advice about whether I should run or not on Sunday. The outlook did not look good and I really had to dig deep to stay positive. I had been looking forward to Paris since last September. It was always going to be the highlight of my training and I hoped the place I did a PB.
I kept taking my resting pulse and that seemed normal so we just decided to wait and see how I felt on Sunday Morning.
Still did not feel too good in the morning but decided to go along to the start anyway. I had got all prepared the day before - clothes laid out, drinks prepared etc. By the time I arrived at the start I felt OK and raring to go. What I decided was that I would take it easy and not push my body too much, probably forget about a PB and just see how the race panned out.
It was chaos trying to get to the baggage area as 30 thousand people squeezed through a hole in the fence - some going one way and some the other (bit of an exaggeration but it was quite mental).
We did some jiggery-pokerry and I managed to sneak into the same pen as Mac - 3:30 expected finish time. This was ambitious for me but we thought we would try to set out running together. This we did but after a short while realised that Mac was stronger and he shot off in front. I was still holding back due to the head cold.
Drinks stations were bonkers - runners darting all over the place, stopping dead in their tracks to drink and you also had to avoid banana skins and orange peel. Also at too many points during the race you had to slow down (at one point actually walk) as you went around tight bends. So even though it was a flat course I don't believe it was one where a PB was on the cards.
At 16 mile I saw Mac in front of me - I had caught him up. We ran together for a couple of miles but then I pulled away. Woohoo! The miles I have in the bag were paying off.
I ended up running a negative split (the second half of the race faster than the first) and finished in 3hrs 47s. Mac came in at 3:55. The first time ever that I have finished before him. He says he now has a strategy for the Lochaber Marathon (19th April) and will get me back. Bring it on I say! Next rest day now Saturday 18th April. Only 30 days to go1
Mac and I travelled out on Thursday and stayed in a lovely hotel in the centre of Paris. We spent the time resting, eating, reading, eating, running and eating - well you have to carbo load before a marathon you know?! It was our wedding anniversary on Friday so we made sure we had a really special day - we ran in the morning, went to pick up our running number and chip in the afternoon and went out for a fantastic french meal in a typical parisian bistro in the evening. We probably did have a little too much french vino - but made sure we drank loads of water too!
I was still nursing the head cold that I had developed the day before. I quickly emailed Steve for advice about whether I should run or not on Sunday. The outlook did not look good and I really had to dig deep to stay positive. I had been looking forward to Paris since last September. It was always going to be the highlight of my training and I hoped the place I did a PB.
I kept taking my resting pulse and that seemed normal so we just decided to wait and see how I felt on Sunday Morning.
Still did not feel too good in the morning but decided to go along to the start anyway. I had got all prepared the day before - clothes laid out, drinks prepared etc. By the time I arrived at the start I felt OK and raring to go. What I decided was that I would take it easy and not push my body too much, probably forget about a PB and just see how the race panned out.
It was chaos trying to get to the baggage area as 30 thousand people squeezed through a hole in the fence - some going one way and some the other (bit of an exaggeration but it was quite mental).
We did some jiggery-pokerry and I managed to sneak into the same pen as Mac - 3:30 expected finish time. This was ambitious for me but we thought we would try to set out running together. This we did but after a short while realised that Mac was stronger and he shot off in front. I was still holding back due to the head cold.
Drinks stations were bonkers - runners darting all over the place, stopping dead in their tracks to drink and you also had to avoid banana skins and orange peel. Also at too many points during the race you had to slow down (at one point actually walk) as you went around tight bends. So even though it was a flat course I don't believe it was one where a PB was on the cards.
At 16 mile I saw Mac in front of me - I had caught him up. We ran together for a couple of miles but then I pulled away. Woohoo! The miles I have in the bag were paying off.
I ended up running a negative split (the second half of the race faster than the first) and finished in 3hrs 47s. Mac came in at 3:55. The first time ever that I have finished before him. He says he now has a strategy for the Lochaber Marathon (19th April) and will get me back. Bring it on I say! Next rest day now Saturday 18th April. Only 30 days to go1
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