1. You will never not smell like chlorine. 
2. You will only wash your hair once a week. 
3. You will take approximately 20 million showers a week. 
4. You will only shower at the gym or the swimming pool. 
5. You will get through an excessive amount of shower gel. 
6. You will be hungry all the time
7. You will try and fuel your body properly but sometimes you will get home from swimming get straight into bed and eat a lot of custard creams. 
8. You will always be thinking what your next meal is. 
9. You will always be wondering what snacks you could eat on your bike (always fig rolls).
10. Swimming, biking, running, sleeping and eating is all you will think about.
11. And talk about. 
12. You wish people would stop asking you how your weekend was, because the answer is always "I cycled and ran". 
13. But deep down you hope people do ask you so you can tell them all about it. 
14. 2 French braids will become your signature hairstyle. 
15. You use phrases like 'brick' session and assume everyone knows what you mean.
16. You will spend a ridiculous amount of time researching kit.
17. And spend a ridiculous amount of money on said kit. 
18. You will constantly text & tweet the only other people you know crazy enough to do this for reassurance about 1000 times a day. 
19. Most people will call you mental. 
20. You catch yourself wondering if you could possibly do the full ironman next year. 
21. Then you google race reports. 
22. You will get a black toe nail. 
23. You will panic about ever seeing friends who don't swim, cycle or run. 
24. You will not have time to date. 
25. But you would not change any of it! 

It's been a long time...where do I start?

I lost track with this blog back in 2014. Any long time readers will be glad to know I did in fact run and finished the marathon all that time ago. It's been that long now I sometimes forget I actually did it. I think I will save a full post for that as it was truly incredible.

Fast forward to now. I'm about to begin a 16 week training plan for Grafman middle distance triathlon (which is a 70.3 half ironman), I'm pretty sure I've gone crazy.

So what can you expect from this blog in 2016. There will defiantly be my highs and lows of tackling triathlon training, my continued love of lifting heavy weights around and without a doubt there will be a lot of talk of food and my constant hunger levels (it can't just be me!)

Sunday

15.3 miles
11:13 pace


Monday

Circuits
45mins

Gym
NROLFW S1WBW2

Tuesday

5.5 miles
9:59 pace (Getting some speed back)

Gym
NROLFW S1WAW3


Wednesday

PT Session
1 hour


Thursday

Gym
NROLFWS1WBW3

4.1 miles
11:10 pace

Friday

Rest


Saturday

Rest

 

Sunday

Friskney Half Marathon
10:15 pace
2:14:23

I really didn't know I could run that fast! 


Monday

Military style circuits
50 minutes

I have bruises to prove this one

Tuesday

Gym
NROLFW Stage 1 Workout 1
As the rep sets were lower then I have been doing I decided to really focus on my form and oh my I could feel it.


3.54 miles
10:20 pace


Wednesday

Rest

Thursday

Gym
NROLFW Stage 1 Workout 2

3.92 miles
10:20 pace



Friday

PT session
1 hour


Saturday

Gym
NROLFW Stage 1 Workout 2

Sunday

Oakley 20
20 freaking miles
3:48:50
11:20 ish pace

I finally hit my 20 mile target! It hurt like hell towards the end, but I did it, and I have never been so happy to cross that finish line. 

Monday

Boxercise
1 hour
Can't believe that I used to skip Boxercise after a long run and now I am managing to go after running 20 miles!!

Tuesday

Rest
Much needed evening of doing nothing

Wednesday

Rest

Thursday

3.53 miles
11:00 pace


Friday

PT Session
1 hour


Saturday

Rest

What did everyone else get up to at the weekend? Oh I just ran a casual 20 miles!

On Sunday I took part in the sold out Oakley 20 race. Held 3 weeks before the London Marathon this is a really popular event with over 800 people running.

Although the race hurt I only have positive things to say about it. Race packs were sent out in advance, picking up your chip on the day and handing in baggage was a breeze. You could pick up your race memento (a really good quality hoody) before or after the race. My only 2 bug bears were: lack of toilets (but when isn't this a problem) and having to park almost a 15 minute walk away. The walk back to the car was more painful then the race itself.

The start and finish are both at a school and the race consists of two loops: The first being 12 miles and the second being shorter at 8. I felt really strong up to 14 miles, although the hills were tough and I was enjoying the change in course and not knowing what was ahead of me. Slightly disheartening when the lead runners starting passing me at 9 miles, but I put my head up and carried on going, 1 mile at a time.

Water stations were every 3 miles which helped to tick the miles off and the course was manned with great supportive marshals. The course was lovely and made a nice change for pounding the streets of Peterborough, we ran through some lovely villages which took my mind off running so far. For once the saying 'For every uphill there is a down' was true, and we were treated to some lovely downhill stretches.

A few small negative points, when coming back into the village we had to cross 2 small one car at a time bridges, with the roads being kept open, runners obviously ran in single file but this was made difficult when the lead runners came past and were not going to slow down for anyone. Also you know the race ends at the school but as you approach the school you only pass the 19 mile mark, you have to run up an incline, weave through a housing estate and then finish with a lap of the school field before you cross that line, but when you do the feelings of happiness are out of this world.

So that's it, I've done my 20 miles. Hopefully this will make my 20 mile training runs a little easier.

Sunday

12.5 miles
11:10ish pace

Cut back week before tackling 20 miles on Sunday. Expected this to feel easier and it didn't. So so scared for Oakley 20 on Sunday, Both my 18 milers have been such hard work and the thought of adding an extra 2 miles on doesn't fill me with joy. 

Monday

Boxercise
1 hour


Tuesday

4.45 miles
10:00 pace
Tempo


Wednesday

Deadlift
20kg
1 set of 8 reps
1 set of 8 reps
25kg
1 set of 5 reps
1 set of 5 reps
30kg
1 set of 5 reps

Chest press
20kg
1 set of 10 reps
1 set of 10 reps
1 set of 10 reps

Shoulder press
15kg
1 set of 10 reps
1 set of 10 reps
1 set of 10 reps

Slam ball slams
7kg
30 secs x 3

Plank
30 secs x 3

Squats
20kg
1 set of 10 reps
1 set of 10 reps        
 
Thursday

3.1 miles
11:15 pace
Slow ready for the weekend!


Friday

PT session
1 hour


Saturday 

Rest

 

 

During my half marathon training I loved tackling the next distance and felt so good once I had achieved it. This feels different in marathon training, I am scared. Whereas before reaching a new distance was adding a .5 of a mile on, now this is 2 or 3. I know just how much this is going to hurt and just how much mental strength is going to be required of me to reach my finish line. 

 

On Sunday I will be tackling my first 20 mile run. I am doing this in a race environment. I am not going to race it, I am going to stick to my marathon pace of 11:30m/m. I am going to ensure my fueling is on point. I know I can do this. I've hit every other distance even when I didn't think I can, so there is no reason why I can't do this. 

20 miles just seems is a really long way and I can't actually get my head around the fact I can run this distance. I know once I've completed this race I will feel a hell of a lot more positive about making it round Edinburgh.

Let's do the damn thing Oakley!

Sunday

18 miles
11:42 pace

Wow what a lovely first warm run of the year. The girls who I train with were completing their first 20 miler as they are doing London, and I only wanted to do 18. Jill kindly offered to come with us on the bike and swap with me at 18 miles. I really enjoyed this run and found it really comfortable, I think this was due to the slower pace. Up until 16 miles I felt really good and was really enjoying it, but once past this stage the last 2 miles felt really hard, I think this may be down to the heat. Overall a really good run. 

Monday

Boxercise
1 hour

Tuesday

Rest

Wednesday

Gym
Arms

Deadlift
25kg
1 set of 8 reps
1 set of 8 reps
27.5kg
1 set of 5 reps
1 set of 5 reps
1 set of 5 reps
30kg
1 set of 5 reps
1 set of 5 reps
35kg
1 set of 5 reps

Shoulder Press
15kg
1 set of 8 reps
1 set of 8 reps
1 set of 8 reps

Chest Press
15kg
1 set of 8 reps
1 set of 8 reps
20kg
1 set of 8 reps
1 set of 8 reps
22.5kg
1 set of 5 reps
1 set of 5 reps
1 set of 5 reps

Bent Over Row
10kg
1 set of 8 reps
1 set of 8 reps
15kg
1 set of 8 reps
1 set of 8 reps
20kg
1 set of 5 reps
1 set of 5 reps

Tricep Curl with dumbell
8kg
1 set of 8 reps
1 set of 8 reps

Bicep Curl with dumbell
1 set of 8 reps
1 set of 8 reps                  

Thursday

5.06 miles
Speed Session
1 mile warm up, 1km fast, 0.6km recovery x 3, 1 mile cool down. 

Friday

Rest


Saturday

PT session
1 Hour
 

Sunday

Rest

Monday

Boxercise
1 hour

Had to have a lot of the exercises modified as they are getting too easy! Never thought I would say that.

Tuesday

4.82 miles
10:30 pace


Wednesday

Gym
Arms & Legs

Deadlift
20kg
10 reps x 2
25kg
8 reps x 2
27.5kg
5 reps x 2
30kg
5 reps

Squat
10kg
10 reps x 2
20kg
8 reps x 2
30kg
8 reps x 2
35kg
5 reps x 2
40kg
5 reps

Upright row
20kg
8 reps x 2

Chest press
10kg
8 reps x 2
20kg
5 reps x 2 


Thursday

4.11 miles
10:30 pace

PT Session
High intensity, Pad work & Circuits. 

Friday

Badminton
1 hour

Saturday

Rest
Ready for Sundays 18 miler

Sunday

15.6 miles
11:30 pace

Also know as the worse run ever! What was meant to be an 18 miler was cut short after I had a small mental and physical break down.  It was warmer out than I had been used to, so I overheated really quickly and couldn't cool myself back down again. I just couldn't get into a rhythm and found the whole thing very hard going. At mile 11, I felt really light headed and had to stop and take on another gel very quickly. The last 4 miles were very difficult with me even pulling over on the side of the road to have a cry. I was just so frustrated at myself for not being able to do it.

Thankfully I have a rest weekend coming up, I think I'm just a little burnt out and need some time to rest.

Monday

Boxercise
1 hour

Tuesday

5.09 miles
11:00 pace

Indian file speed session - 1.5 mile warm up, speed session & 1.5 cool down (actually really pushed this as it felt nice to use some speed again). Looking at my Garmin some of my sprints were 6:40 pace, I know the sprints aren't very far in distance but that is super speedy. 

Wednesday

Rest
All hail the rest day!

Thursday

Gym - Arms & Shoulders
Entered the big boy weights area in the gym today
Bench Press
1 set of 10 reps -  17.5 kg
1 set of 10 reps -  17.5 kg
1 set of 10 reps - 20kg

Shoulder Press
1 set of 8 reps - 15kg
1 set of 8 reps - 15kg
1 set of 8 reps - 17.5kg

Upright Row
1 set of 8 reps - 15kg
1 set of 8 reps - 15kg
1 set of 8 reps - 15kg
1 set of 8 reps - 15kg

Deadlift
1 set of 8 reps - 20kg
1 set of 8 reps - 20kg
1 set of 8 reps - 20kg
1 set of 8 reps - 25kg
1 set of 8 reps - 25kg

Russian Twists with medicine ball
1 set of 25 reps - 5kg
1 set of 25 reps - 5kg

Run
3.1 miles
9:05 pace
Chase me race at club - Everyone is given a time handicap and set off at different times, the aim is to chase the person in front of you. I really wanted to give this a go as I've worried over marathon training that I had lost my speed, not only did I manage a PB but I also managed to win!             

Friday

PT session
1 hour
More on this in a separate post.

Saturday

Rest

Sunday

Rest
Still recovering from the 18 miler (sorry still feeling like a champion)


Monday

Boxercise
1 hour
Burpee's, core work, pad work, sprints etc.

Tuesday

3.24 miles
10:30 pace
Please tell me I'm not the only one to completely slow down during marathon training. Niggle in hip as I think I need new trainers so didn't want to push it.

Wednesday

Rest


Thursday

4.21 miles
10:30 pace

Friday

Badminton
1 hour

Saturday 

Rest

I'm getting closer and closer to being half way through my official training schedule, mine being slightly longer than most due to choosing to run Edinburgh, thus giving myself 6 extra weeks. I naively entered Edinburgh before I had even ran my first half marathon, it's a good job I didn't hate it and give up on running all together.

Over the first 7 weeks of my marathon training, I have felt every emotion known to man, ranging from I can bloody do this - to if I get run over I have a legitimate excuse to not run, the latter being a bit dramatic. I'm in two minds as to whether I am loving the training or hating it. I am so tired and hungry all the time. How is a girl meant to loose weight and train for a marathon - it's near on impossible. But at the same time I am loving ticking the sessions off my training plan and making it to further distances.

One thing I am struggling with is who do you listen to? Especially as a member of a running club, everyone has ran a marathon and all have different tips and approaches to training. It can get really overwhelming and you start to compare yourselves to others, which is something I have been trying to avoid. So far I have stuck with a group of 3 and it has been working out very well. However none of them are using any races as training and I'm stuck between what to do!

Do you race during your training?

Sunday

Another rest day
As I mentioned in my previous post last weekend was a complete write off with so much to cram into such a small space of time it just wasn't going happen.  I vowed to make up for it this week though.

Monday

Boxercise
1 hour

Yoga for runners
20 minutes
This is the first time I have done yoga and oh my! My legs are so much tighter than I imagined. I'm now going to try and work this into my plan by including 3 sessions a week. I did this before bed and it really helped switch me off for the day.


Tuesday

5.1 miles
10:30 pace

1 mile -  warm up
3 miles - Indian file (run in a line, person at the back sprints to the front)
1 mile - cool down

We have done this session once before and both times I have really enjoyed it. It is the only speed work sessions I really like.


Wednesday

Yoga for runners
20 minutes


Thursday

3.1 miles
10:40 pace
Slow one ready for the epic 18 miles I will undertake at the weekend


Friday

18.41 miles!!!
Longest run to date
11:40ish pace.
Slower than my marathon pace - Hoping this was because it was after work and I was tired. Hopefully next weekend will be a little quicker. But if I have to drop my marathon pace then so be it. 



Saturday 

Rest