That, that, that,that, that dont kill me......

can only make me stronger, I need you to hurry up now, cos I cant wait much longer....

Come on!!!!!!!! I'm waiting!!!!!!!!

I had a good run at parkrun last week didn't I, I was dead chuffed with the time and my recent improvement.

So I knew that in theory I should have a good run at the Elvis race on BH Monday, held on the same course as parkrun. With this in mind I marshalled on Saturday and had a good chat to Vicki, the race director. We had so many volunteers that she could have run if she had her gear, which led her to suggest that me and her could race it out the next week.

OK, I thought, that will be a big ask for me as I know she has just got a 22.14 PB. Thats just over 30 secs better  than my PB......... but, you know what that's no reason to shy away. A challenge after all is a challenge :)

Anyway, so I just did a really short easy to the pool and back on Sunday, as I had felt tired Saturday afternoon, and I'm lazy.

So sunday I ran there (its actually 2.3 miles so a nice warm up) and registered. Then hung about as I'd got there far too flippin early. Then got in the line up for D88 photos, then ran away when someone decided we needed more photos, this time next to our flag, then finally lined up.

Because I didn't want to get caught up I placed myself not too far from the front, chatting to Jenny who is having a bit of a mojo fail at the minute (she'll be back) and I said to her 'I will be happy you know, when I beat xxxxxx' a girl from a local club who always beats me. And with that we were off.

I'm not going to lie, I felt brilliant. The last 5k PB I got I remember that horrible feeling when I started of my legs going too fast for my body and feeling I was going to stumble.......today I just felt strong. I knew I was running fast, I had an idea it was faster than last week, I passed 2 men from my club and wondered what was going on. (one would take me back later). My garmin beeped a mile.

I looked.

6.53.

I said 'FUCK!' The man running fairly close to me moved away a bit.

I decided I mustn't look at my watch until it beeped again. I did look back as I turned a corner to check on any ladies who could beat me and score in the series. Nope all clear. The ones who were in front were a bit too far off, but I could do my best to make sure no one came past.

Mile 2 7.09. Blimey. I'm still doing ok, I'm still running quicker than I ever have. And whats more, after mile 2 in a 5k you are almost done......I chant to myself  'less than a mile, less than a mile' it keeps me entertained.

I know I need to work on keeping strong in the last half mile but I think I'm getting there, that mile was 7.23, I think, slowing yes, but my previous weeks run had an overall average of 7.31 so I wasn't unhappy.

Final time 22.16. 9th lady and a 31 second PB. and I beat xxxxxxx.

Whats more I think I really can give Vicki a run for her money :)

Now, you're at the wheel.....

Tell me how, how does it feel?

It feels bloody great, for the first time in quite a while I feel like me and my body are working together again. I'm just trying to remember what I blogged last time.........hang on..................oh yeah, I was banging on about the olympics and how good all that was.

It was rather wasn't it.

So my running, I'm still not running that much tbh, still trying to let my body build back the iron stores. Dont want it to be like baling water out of a boat with a hole in the bottom :-/

But......... I did parkrun last Saturday. I ran there, 2 miles and then did it. The field wasn't big, I didn't recognise any of the ladies in it, but two of them went quite near the front for the start so I thought that they must be my competition.

Do I sound like a twat when I say that? It isn't like I am quick or owt, but I do take racing stuff pretty seriously :)

Anyway, set off quick as ever, and within 500m was ahead of both those ladies and just behind the leading men. I felt ok. Actually I felt quite good, so I thought ok I'll keep this up. I ran round the corner to the lake and checked behind me, no I'm not losing any ground, I appear to be gaining.......ok keep it up.

And basically I did, I didn't run out of gas which has been happening recently, It was bloody hot but tbh I think that suits me. Once I had a k to go I knew I was going to maintain first lady and that it was going to be sub 24, I knew this cos I felt good.

23.23. Delighted. I think I have only run faster than this once in a recorded 5k. I went 23 something at serpie last Friday of the month 5k back in 2004 and 22.47 at 2010 barking park 5k. Everything else has been 24+.

And just to prove that maintaining that average was not a fluke I did a mile rep session this am. 1m easy 1m hm pace 1m easy 1m hm pace 1m easy 1m hm pace 1m easy. Now projected (god only knows when) hm pace is 7.37. Today I hit 7.31, 7.19, 7.34. I am confident that I am gradually learning how to put these together. I guess I need a 10k soon. I do have a 5k on bh Monday. We will see how that goes.

I am also sorting out my diet with a bit of help from a nutritionist that I have got to know via twitter. I guess that my best mara time came when I was about 9 and a half stone. I am 10 stone 5 at the minute. Now this for my height is not overweight (well BMI is fine but thats a bit of a shite indicator of health as we know) but I know I would be a better runner if I could just get rid of any excess.And with the food plans I have had so far I think this will be entirely possible. It is taking me a while to get my head round having more food in the house than just apples bananas and bread, and I will admit that having someone tell me what to eat makes me want to throw my knife and fork on the floor, cross my arms, stamp my foot and say 'well I wont eat anything then' but thinking more about what I eat is definitely going to be good for me.

It says on Sunday have a small choc bar such as a flake. Bless him, Mr H saw this or heard me say it, so he got me a flake. 'when are you going to eat that?' he asks 'oh I dont think its on the plan til Sunday' I reply. 'oh right,' he says 'well maybe I'll just have to eat that one now and get you another for sunday' :-D

In other news, I am really really looking for a job now. I have got everything I can out of this job so my contract ending is not a bad thing. Unless it ends before I have more paid employment. Then it becomes a VERY VERY BAD THING.

And I almost forgot...............went to the V Festival at the weekend. Says it all really doesnt it. Yeah it was ok. No great shakes.

How high?

Oh I could kiss the sun, run a minute mile........

Blimey, the Olympics yesterday was amazing wasn't it. I didn't see the ladies tri as I was doing a race, so obviously I only know it ended disappointingly but I don't really know what happened. Seems Helen just did not have that edge that full fitness would have given her. I will watch it at some point but not at the moment. Of all the triathletes I follow she is my favourite , she is just so unassuming and just gets on with it, no moaning no fuss that is something I admire in anybody. If you know me you might know that by now :-D

Then the afternoon and evening, well wow. Jessica Ennis just stamped all over it didn't she, and they way she won that 800 just made her seem like the champion she is. Then the long jumper Greg, no one saw that coming did they! And Mo. I will admit I didn't think he would do it. I thought the field too strong and am pretty used to seeing track 10k and 5k from Brits that are a bit disappointing , but no, he was absolutely majestic :)

Proud to be a Brit? Yeah I am, I think we are putting on this games brilliantly, and London (other places are available) seems to be coping well.

Now let's talk about MEEEEEE!

Parkrun last Saturday, the inaugural Barking one. Saw everyone I have ever met there. Fact. Tweeters @flatfooted and @pammieruns, members of all the running clubs in the area and two members of my tri club I thought had emigrated I haven't seen them for so long :D

I'd gone because I wanted to run the first one and because it is 2 miles exactly from my house. Of course when we started I wanted to do well.

And until 500m from the end I was second lady when Inga got me. We've had a few tussles over the last few years but I was very encouraged by how strong I felt compared to lately and I did 24.15. Fastest 5k this year.

Then yesterday I did Orion forest 5 a 5 miler race 5 in the Elvis series. It was on the outskirts of Epping forest (I think it was, who knows but it sounds vaguely right) and was basically a mostly trail undulating course with it bit of mud but not too much. I wore my trail newtons and managed to keep one pristine, the other full of mud inside and out.

Maybe I hopped it?

Anyway, I am waiting for the results but I was first lady home for my club and boy it's been a long time since that happened. Jen very graciously said that she had a normal race for her but I think she was maybe a bit below par, but I do think that I'm getting it back.

YES!!!!!!!!

I celebrated later by doing a circuit session in my bedroom. Yep, me and a Swiss ball, and every now and again running out onto the landing to do some step ups on the stairs. This is what forces me to wear clothes whilst exercising , the neighbours already view me with a bit of suspicion.

Anyway, one picture is me loving my running :-) actually I do look quite happy. The other is a photo my friend Dave took yesterday morning as he took his seats in the Olympic stadium to watch a morning of athletics. Bastard.