Rant | Lacking motivation

Motivation where are you? I can't find you anywhere! I was on such a high after finishing my first half marathon I can't even put it into words. I'm already signed up to Edinburgh marathon so I know I still need to work hard at keeping my training up. I made a conscious effort to still run the Tuesday and Thursday after the GER, I then let myself have a weekend off exercise, before starting my training last week. I had a great run on the Tuesday, was then ill for the rest of the week and did nothing, attempted a 10 mile tempo run on the Sunday, had to quit after the first lap and spent the rest of the day feeling sorry for myself. I ran a half marathon 2 weeks ago, why am I now struggling to run 5!!!

I'm really struggling with my motivation at the moment, I haven't made it out of bed to get to the gym in the morning in weeks, although this has been replaced my a double boxercise class on a Monday which I'm really enjoying.

I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and push these negative thoughts away. I have achieved so much this year and I know I can still achieve more.

Things I've done this year which in January seemed impossible:

1. Lose 4st through exercise and clean eating (most of the time)
2. Ran a 5k
3. Ran a 5 miler
4. Ran a 10k
5. Ran a HALF MARATHON (13.1 freaking miles!!!)
6. Completed 2 TRIATHLONS (400m swim, 10 mile bike, 3.5 mile run)
7. Ran a 10k obstacle mud run

Things I want to have achieved by the 1st Jan 2014

1. Sub 30minute 5k (I have done this but not in an official race)
2. Therefore start running parkrun again
3. Sub 60minute 10k (lowest I've got down to is 63 minutes so this could be difficult but I've got to try)
4. Run 3 if not 4 times a week, no matter what gets in the way
5. Foam roll and stretch at least twice a week
6. Be able to run 15 miles comfortably
7. Start tracking everything on MyFitness Pal again

I better get started hey?!

In the week | Number 2

Monday

Double whammy boxercise class.

Tuesday

4.87 mile run, with 4 70% effort tempo sessions in the middle. - 52 minutes

Wednesday

Rest

Thursday

Rest

Friday

Rest

Saturday

Rest

Sunday

5 mile run - 2 mile slow, 3 mile at race pace - 57 minutes

Was meant to be 10 mile run, 2 mile slow, 6 miles race pace, 2 miles slow. I hadn't been very well all week (thank you flu jab) and I just really wasn't feeling this run. I don't think it helped that I walked round London all day on the Saturday and didn't drink enough. I was really tough on myself yesterday and I was so frustrated with myself. But it's just one bad run which I need to forget about.

I'm just going to write this week off as a bad week. Let's hope this week is a better training week!

In the Week | Number 1

Monday

Rest

Tuesday

Slow 5k

Wasn't really sure if this was a good idea, my legs were still very tender and stiff from Sunday, but I know a lot of people swear by the recovery run. If I have any chance of running Edinburgh I need to get my legs used to running on tired legs. Starting out felt very uncomfortable, my legs felt like led but by half way they had loosened up and I really got back into it.

Wednesday

Rest

Thursday

Chase me 5k

My club hold 5k chase me nights every few weeks throughout the winter months. I didn't want to race off too fast for this one, so stuck to a steady pace. Finished around the 31 minute mark, which isn't too bad all things considered.

Friday

Rest

Saturday

Rest

Sunday

Aimed to go out on my bike as taking part in a duathlon next week. I tried to pump up my flat tyre before working out the valve is leaking, and my new pump has snapped the valve of my front tyre in half. So now I need 2 need inner tubes before Sunday. I did however manage to re-wrap my handle bar tape and it looks awesome.

Race Report | Perkins Great Eastern Run 2013

So I really don't know where to start with this as I have so much to say so here goes. 

As most of you are aware (and everybody I have come into contact with this year) I wanted to run the Perkins Great Eastern Run, this is a half marathon based in Peterborough. This was a really huge challenge for me, I started running at the end of January and I really struggled to even run 100m when I started, I don't think it helped that I was also 4 st heavier! Anyway I decided if I really wanted to achieve this I would need to put my mind to it and make a lot of changes along the way. I joined Bushfield Joggers and haven't looked back since (thanks for all the support guys). 

Saturday:

I honestly can't believe how nervous about this I was, everytime I thought about it I had butterflies in my stomach, I was so worried about just not being able to finish it, or injuring something and having to drop out. The weather forecast also wasn't helping, 100% chance of heavy rain, brilliant. I took it easy and had lots of water and eat quite a few carbs (something I'm really good at) and managed to be in bed for 10:30pm. 

Sunday: 

I managed to sleep until 6:15am and stayed tossing and turning until 7:30am, got up and showered, wolfed down some porridge and a banana and eventually got dressed. The weather was absolutely awful and I really didn't want to go outside, let alone run 13.1 miles in it. I wrapped myself up warm and off I went to the embankment to meet the others.

 I had planned to run with Josie and Sarah, starting at 11 minute miles and pushing harder once past half way if I could manage it. Although I was only aiming to get round I also wanted to come in under 2 hours and 30 minutes. I knew if I stuck to 11m/m I had a little leeway in case this went over. Obviously Josie and I set off too fast averaging 10:30's for the first 8 miles, I'm just surprised I managed to keep up with her for that long.I must say it took us nearly 16 minutes to cross the start line and by this point I was really cold and it took me a good few miles to warm up.

Miles 1-3 felt really good, I feel into my rhythm straight away and was really enjoying the atmosphere, although for the first 3 miles it was so wet, the rain was so heavy, but I still managed to enjoy myself. To be honest miles 1-8 passed fairly quickly and uneventfully, we just about caught sight of the elite men coming back at around mile 4 (they were at mile 10.5). By mile 8 I was glad to be keeping up the pace but Josie wanted to push it so I sent her on her way. Seeing my parents and friends scattered around the course really gave me something to look forward to and I just kept going. I made it to mile 10 before I really started to struggle. I had only ran over 10 miles once in training and that was quite a few weeks ago and I really think this showed, to be honest I think it was more a mental struggle than anything. I knew if I made it to mile 11 I would make it to the finish, at mile 11 I passed Abi & Julie from Bushfield, and was so glad to see a friendly face, from mile 11.5 I started to run and walk and by mile 12 they caught back up with me and we ran the final mile together. The last mile has to be the hardest thing I've ever done, I was struggling to even put 1 foot in front of the other, but I knew the finish was so close. As we round the corner into the final straight I saw my parents and was spurred on to a sprint finish. Having everyone cheering, especially my friends made the moment so special. 

 

 

 I crossed the line, had my chip taken off, grabbed some water, a banana, goody bag, t-shirt and most importantly my medal. I've never been so proud of myself, final chip time 2:27:34.

I know I can beat this time next time, so it's given me something to aim for. Bring on marathon training.

Half Marathon | 2 days to go

 

On Sunday I am about to embark on the biggest challenge of my life, running a half marathon. I have been training for this since the end of January, and it’s finally time to put my money where my mouth is. If I completed this challenge and make it to the finish line on Sunday I can honestly say it will be the proudest moment of my life so far, I used to think this would always be graduating, but this lifestyle change has been harder than even I expected.

It takes a lot of dedication to stick to training for something, especially if when you start you can’t even run 100m, and I’ve even surprised myself with the dedication and motivation I have put into this journey. All the early mornings, all the runs in the freezing cold, all the early bed times (not that I mind), all the nights out I’ve left early, all the races I’ve taken part in, all the blisters, black toenails and ice baths will all be worth it come Sunday.

Thank you legs for putting up with everything I have put you through over the last 9 months but I ask you one more thing. Please get us round on Sunday.

Run | Number 107 & 108

Sorry these aren't going to be very exciting.

Saturday
Distance - 6.1 miles
Time: 1:04:33

Thursday
Distance - 3.36
Time: 35:55

Last two runs of taper before the big day eeeppp. Also had my first sports massage to get my legs ready.

Run | Number 106

Tapering has started for my first half marathon (what a scary thought) so on Thursday I headed out for an easy 4 miles. Can't believe I would ever think 4.4 miles was easy but there you go, that's running for you.

Distance: 4.4 miles
Time: 43:45

Gym | Week 23

Monday

Rest

Tuesday

Rest

1 True Grit left me ruined so Monday and Tuesday were spent rest and ice packing, I even braved and ice bath. 

Wednesday

Gym
Arm curl - 10 x 6 reps - 18kg
Tricep curl - 10 x 10 reps - 27kg
Calf press - 10 x 10 reps - 52kg
Adductor - 10 x 10 reps - 32kg
Abductor - 10 x 10 reps - 32kg

I finally felt ready to do some exercise again so popped to the gym Wednesday evening for it to be absolutely packed and I couldn't do anything I wanted. Therefore a very short session.

Thursday

4.4 miles - (Race Pace)

Friday

Rest

Saturday

6 mile run

Sunday

Rest

Run | Number 105 | 1 True Grit Race Report

I apolagise in advance for this being a long and very picture heavy post. Sorry not sorry. 

Now where to start. On Sunday I took part in a 10k obstacle mud run called 1 True Grit, held in Baldock, Hearts, so just under an hours drive away from Peterborough. Entrance fee was £40 pp for teams of 6 or more, this may seem steep, but the run was in aid of Prostate Cancer, so I was happy to pay extra. As a first time event, the organisation was spot on, Emails were sent out around 2 weeks and a few days before the event, teams were started off in waves so there wasn't much congestion and these actually started when they said they would, always a plus in my book. Only down side is only 2 toilets, when will race organisers ever learn this. 

The course was 10k trail run with 25 obstacles placed in our way, these ranger from the easy ones, running through tyres and haystacks to climbing over 8ft walls & swimming through muddy quarry's. When I was first asked to take part in this I was really worried as I really didn't think I had it in me, I thought I would chicken out of the obstacles but I wanted to make it worth while. I actually surprised myself and the only obstacle I walked round was the monkey bars as even as a child I was never able to do these. I even flung myself over the 8ft wall twice.

I'm pretty sure we were the last team in but it really didn't matter, this was all about team work and helping everyone through it, I was helped when I was scared jumping off something (apparently I don't like heights anymore) and Sarah needed help with anything claustrophibic & as Val hadn't been running much recently she needed helping running the longer stretches. But it was such a fun day out and I would really like to take part again. 

I must admit it took me until Wednesday morning to be able to walk properly, my muscles have never hurt so much in my life. I had DOMS in places I didn't know you could get DOMS.

 Check out that quad definition

 The last obstacle was a skip filled with ice cold water which you had to swim under.

 This wall has brusied me to hell, but I'm so glad I got over it

 I found this the hardest, as you can see John has just given up. 

All in all I really recommend you try something like this even if it does mean pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.

News | Edinburgh Marathon 2014

As I'm sure everyone is aware the ballot results for the London Marathon started coming out on Thursday. I had entered on a bit of a whim back in April after marshalling the 2013 race. I wanted to be part of the action, I remember seeing people of all shapes, sizes and ages running past, if they could do I wanted to be able to do it. I hadn't really put much thought into it after that and my half marathon training really started to kick in, and I'm still really enjoying the challenge, I love seeing my body change and seeing how my times are coming down and how the distance I can cover is improving. 

After the disappointment of London, I didn't really know what to do. I knew that if I was relieved not to get a place a marathon for 2014 would be off the cards, but I was genuinely gutted. So therefore I decided to explore my options. 

So I'm pleased to announce I will be running the Edinburgh marathon on the 25th May. 

Now if anyone can recommend a good training programme or any tips I would really appreciate it. 

This will either turn out to be the best decision I ever make or the worse one.