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Sunday 26 February 2012

Finally, over 12 miles!

I know that I haven't written a post for a couple of weeks. There are a couple of reasons for this, I've had some horrible runs, and I've been too bloody tired because of all the running! I have done a few things since my last post though, firstly I have been continuing with my bridges and planks, as instructed by Cathy my physio. I am now able to hold 3 bridges for 30 seconds consecutively, but I struggle when I try to extend my leg as my hamstrings kick in, so still lots of work to do there! My planks are getting better; I'm now at the 40 seconds mark. Considering I couldn't hold my fat self up for even a couple of seconds a few weeks ago, I'm happy with that improvement, but I would like to be hitting the 60 second mark soon.
In my last couple of posts you may have read that I had started to do a little swimming recently, I'm a bit scared of water so this is really exciting for me. I went swimming again to my local gym with a friend; the pool at the gym is nice and small so I feel quite comfortable there. I was shown how to go underwater and to relax, and also how to control my breathing when swimming. It seems I am no longer a member of the dry hair brigade!! We also went into the gym and for the first time in months I did a proper workout in there, instead of walking around and doing weights that aren't effective! I now have a session that I can get done on my own and know that it will make a difference, and I quite enjoy it too. I have made Saturdays my day to go to the gym, which seems to be working well so far, and I have some lighter weights at home, so I can also do 10 minutes every day of upper body core work specific to running that will also help my form. I also took myself off for a hills session on Beacon Hill. This can only be described as a bloody stupid idea as my shoulders and arms were still dead from the new gym workout my so called friend had given me!!
Also my diet is undergoing a change; it was taking so long to recover, especially after the long runs so I bought some whey protein to help with that. I have started to drink green tea, eat only low GI carbs and base my meals around protein and I already feel that I have more energy and am getting lighter. I have found that the only way I can do this is by getting obsessive about my diet, and have made the marathon and getting into some kind of decent shape my only focus. Yes, I have turned into a marathon bore!
This week has been quite heavy going, It was the first week where I have had to ramp up the training miles and add another run in, so my first real tough week. My last two weeks have been reasonably high mileage; 26.5 and 29.5, but this week I had to get 36 miles out of my legs! I had a rest day Monday, I was supposed to go to spin class this evening but I had the most awful run on Sunday and I really wasn't in the mood, although I knew that I should have gone, but Monday nights are a bit like a zoo in my local gym so I decided for my sanity to steer clear! Also I didn't fancy another falling over incident!
Tuesday I had a nice run. I ran in the 2 miles to the Pump Rooms in Leamington and met with Regency Runners, opting for the 3 mile route as I fancied putting my foot down a bit, now when I say this, I mean running at 10-11 minute miles, not my usual long run pace of 12 minute miles, so don't expect anything too impressive!! I quite liked the route as at 1 mile, it has a ridiculous mountain (Campion Hill) and then the next two miles are downhill so I was able to maintain a decent pace once I had got to the top of that ridiculous mountain – 6 lamp posts exactly!
Now I don't usually run on Wednesdays, but this week I needed that extra run and a friend from running, Sharon, needed a long run as she is training for Silverstone Half Marathon, so we decided to meet at the Pump Rooms and do 6 miles, before we both ran home, which gave us both a total of 10 miles. The run went quite well, although it took us along the dreaded Myton Road which we both hated! I was really glad to get home that evening, so had a nice long hot bath (yes I know it's supposed to be cold but, no way!) and an early night, I was exhausted!! I slept VERY well!
I have to admit that my legs were so heavy come Thursday, and I was really sore from Wednesdays run. But hey, no point in doing something if it's going to easy! I dragged myself out, in pain, for another 5 miles, 2 miles down into town, and then a 3 mile timed run. I opted out of being timed, I know that I need these runs to help my fitness but considering how sore I was, I just wanted to get round and tick off the miles, which I did. So that’s 20 miles in 3 days, I was glad to see a rest day on Friday!
Saturday was weigh in day, and it turned the day into grump day! I need to lose a lot of weight, and not even a single pound loss....rubbish!! So instead of moaning about it, well alright I did a little, I stuck one of Davina’s trusty DVDs on and did 20 minutes of boxercise, quickly followed by 20 minutes of pump. This was followed up with a quick change of clothes and off to the gym I went. I jumped on a bike and got through a 10k ride, in 23.01. I worked bloody hard for this so was cross with myself that I didn't get under 23 minutes, but it was a PB so can't be bad I supposed. After a 10 minutes hill walk just to settle my legs off I went upstairs and got through my new circuits in the weights room, I think some of the guys in there thought I was a bit weird, I then realised, after a filthy look from the rudest PT in history that I still had my iPod in and I was 'singing' to myself, quite loudly, ooops! Considering that as the gym gets busier it fills up with weight nickers, I managed to get round and do everything that I wanted without having to wait around for stuff. I got home and found it almost impossible to move my arms, result!
So, Sunday morning came around and that as always is long run day, and after sitting on 12.2 miles for the last two weeks I decided I was going for 14 miles. Regency Runners were doing an 11 mile run this morning as some of the group are training for Silverstone Half, so my plan was to add 3 miles onto that, ok ok simple maths I know! Meeting time is 8.30am but I was so worried that I would have a bad run again that I decided to do my 3 miles first, and then carry on with the run as the rest of the group are much faster than me and they would soon catch me up. I left home at 7.30am and ran into Leamington and round the block to make the first three miles, then carried on up the hill for the start of the 11 mile route. I remembered today to come out with my iPod so found that this really helped me get up the hill without thinking about it. I got to 7 miles and another hill into Warwick but a lovely downhill afterwards that I made sure I enjoyed!! The next few miles were quite up and down so this did slow me down a little, but like I have said before, I need the miles under my belt, not the pace. 
Once I hit 10 miles, the route was pretty flat which was lovely, but I felt really tired and my legs were so heavy, and my gluts were really hurting, well at least I know that they are now working I guess!! At a mile to go suddenly I felt great! I was in disbelief that the group hadn't yet caught me up; they surely must have been delayed as I wasn't running quickly! The very last part of the run was down The Parade, a favourite of most of the group I think! It's downhill all the way and you can really pick up some speed which I know always makes me feel better when I finish. I clocked my run at 2h53minutes which I was really pleased with as I had given myself 3 hours to get my backside round the route. 
So, after the elation of finishing the run and getting well over that 12 mile wall, reality soon hit when I remembered that I have to hit 16 miles next Sunday. This certainly isn't getting any easier, but at least I can say that I am managing these long runs on my own when I need to, which I thought would be really difficult. I have run a total of 34 miles this week, that something that I never thought I'd say! My target was 36 so I am just shy, next week, 35.......gulp!

Sunday 12 February 2012

Getting the mileage back up there!

I knew that these next few weeks were going to be quite tough, and probably the make or break of if I was going to run London Marathon or not. I needed to up my mileage, but gradually, the only thing is, I haven't got time for gradually, I need to get back up to double figures, and fast!
Monday I decided on spin class, I know I keep harping on about this but it is such a good workout and so much fun. I don't know how I think working out until I'm close to being sick and sweat is pouring out of me is so much fun, but it really is! The instructors are great and really push you to work hard, so after those intervals yesterday I better start running faster!
Tuesday as always is running with Regency Runners. The route tonight went straight past my house so I decided to run in to town with Jo to the meeting point at the Pump Rooms and then carry on with the group until we past my house again, which is 5 miles exactly. It was a good run, even though it was down the dreaded Myton Road which I seem to run all the time, as I live so close to it, at an average of 11.49 minute miles, so the pace is getting there....or so I thought!

Thursdays run came and it was an out and back. I don't mind saying that I'm not that keen on these runs, only as we run from Leamington into Warwick towards my house, so turning around and going back away from home is hard work! I decided not to run in tonight and went in to the Pump Rooms with my sister Helen as she had some paperwork stuff to do with the new runners so as she did this I took myself off round a mile loop to warm up.....it was freezing! During this run something didn't feel right, I couldn't get into it and I knew that it was going to be hard work all night! So I got back to the Pump Rooms and was given the route and instructions, 20 minutes run into Warwick, as far as you can get, hear the whistle and turn back, and beat your time back. Humph. I do this route all the time running in and out of town, so I know every bump in the road, every incline, which bits I find hard etc, so this wasn't going to be fun! I was right, it was bloody horrible. I couldn't keep up, again, and my hip started to hurt. I got back to the Pump Rooms and I felt so deflated, and close to tears. All I could think was that I wasn't going to be ready, this damn hip was going to stop me.
We had also been forecast snow over the weekend, so I was unsure about how I was going to run and what mileage to try. I thought I would ask Rachel and she made it clear that I needed to get into double figures. Ok, so could I do this on the treadmill, in case it the snow is bad and not safe to run? No, those cold February runs in the snow will put you in good stead for the marathon! So, 10 miles on sunday no matter what the weather.....ouch!

I met Helen at the gym on Friday after work, and for an unknown reason decided on intervals on the rower. Urgh! I'd not done this for months and now I know why, I was nearly sick and it was not fun! I did a minute hard, 250m, and then a minute off. Now, the last time I did this at my old gym the rower travelled across the floor! Luckily for me, and the guys on the cross trainers behind me, the rower stayed where it was supposed to be! So, I got those intervals out the way and realised that I hadn't got a drink, so went to steal some from Helen. The bottle was empty so I went to refill, great, the water machine was broken so took myself off to the squash centre to refill there. I really must learn where to place my feet, as when I stepped off the stairs something went wrong and I tripped over nothing and landed flat on my face, to a cheer from about 20 squash players, ok good. So I pretended nothing had happened and went to fill up the bottle, not before turning on the wrong tap and soaking my gym top and face, geez this evening wasn't going to plan!
So, I finished off the session with some weights. The session didn't get easier as for some reason I am now weak! One thing I always knew I could do was lift quite heavy weights, for a girl! Apparently not now, I was rubbish! I left the gym in a proper grump, then reluctantly finished the evening with some core work, bridges and planks, when I got home.

On Saturday I stayed at home and watched the snow come down, tomorrow was going to be fun, or maybe not so much! Regency Runners had no choice but to cancel their run, as it would not be safe.

Ok, so I was on my own for this, 10 miles in the snow, how was I going to get through this again??
I was really worried about two things, 1) falling over, which for me would not be unexpected and 2) my hip hurting. So, I had what I thought was a really good idea. St Nics park behind my house is exactly one mile, it is close to home just in case I manage to do something stupid, I'd just run that 10 times. Bloody stupid idea!
I realised after the first lap that this was going to be tough. I was only a mile in and my calves were burning, my pace was slow and I had come out without a drink. My house is 30 seconds walk from the park, but I knew if I had gone back home then I would have struggled to get going again, or get going at all. I don't know how I managed to keep going, if I wasn't running through deep, heavy snow its was wet slush. After the first couple of miles my feet were drenched and my feet were freezing cold. I'm glad that I had made the decision to wear capris, as my legs were getting splashed with ice but were able to dry quite quickly, rather than have material stuck to them getting colder and colder.
This was the slush :(

As I hit halfway, I didn't feel too bad. My pace was still slow, which I had resigned myself to by this point, I just wanted to get the distance in! The laps took me along the river for a short time, where the swans were hanging around. Now, I convinced myself they were bound to chase me like those two evil ones on the canal did! But they didn't, and they were actually a comforting sight as I passed them again and again. I even had the pleasure of two of them taking flight along side me which was a magnificent sight, that would have made a great photo, but as usual I thought that after they had flown off, typical. I had made some energy bites which I had with me and had one at 4,6 and 8 miles and they seemed to keep me going, the last few laps I actually felt quite stong and thought about doing another couple of laps......that though exited my head as quickly as it entered it! 10 laps and that was me done! I get back to find i was 0.12 away from the 10 miles, rubbish! But sod it, I was done! 9.88 miles in the snow was easily 13 miles in clear weather, right?!

Physcologically I think this was really good for me. All runners I know say that running laps is the hardest things to do, and I have always agreed with them. I tend to get defeated if I can't get my head right, so I was relishing this mental and physical challenge. The 10 mile long laps were so tough, but after 2 I think I just switched off and kept going. I mean, who else was stupid enough to be doing this on a Sunday morning in tonnes of snow??? Probably only the people stupid enough to enter the London Marathon??? So once I got back home smugarama set in and I felt great, and then realised, my hip was fine, after all those miles in the snow I had no pain at all!

Great news!!