In which I cover lots of miles.....

Not many of them running.

Been a busy week this one. Monday I was tired from lots of xc action so rested and had lots of meetings at work. Productive though, so it's all good.

Tuesday I ran to bootcamp and back at lunchtime. I'm still enjoying that :)

Wednesday I meant to go long, 16 I think, but woke feeling not all that. After a while lying about being useless I set out to do my short quick session, then a mile in decided on my medium session. So 10 with 8 at hmp.

Or supposed hmp shall we say. Why I struggle with this one is beyond me but I do. Maybe it's mental. All I can say is its a good job I race so much otherwise I would have no confidence in my ability. Or maybe someone could accompany me to the important part of a session, draw a line a fire a gun........that might work :-D

Anyway that done and dusted I set off to heathrow, where I had to catch a flight to Sweden. (Why do we catch things? Them planes are too fast for me you know) I figured I'd have lunch when I got there, I of course forgot to figure how long it takes. I barely had the energy to eat a pret sandwich when I got there but I was brave and managed.

Had a great flight there, window seat and no one in the two seats next to me. I treated my coat to its own seat and stretched my legs as far to the side as they would go, lovely :)))) also I always count a free beer on the plane as a victory.....don't you? I also feel a bit naughty drinking on a plane cos it's like a different universe where you have to be extra good ..... Well you have to be extra good to get on the plane don't you, and you're definitely going to be in the sun if you get arrested at the other end for drunken antics.

Still I felt quite confident that one beer would not lead to any unsavoury behaviour.

Got off and found the bus quite easily, which stopped right outside my hotel. Bonus. Well across the road, the most confusing mixture of road and tram tracks and a roundabout I have ever encountered. I ended up shutting my eyes and running across, no idea which way anything would hit me from. On the way across I remembered I didn't have any insurance. Bummer!

I made it though and checked in. Went to my 16th floor room, wrestled with the tv to turn it off cos they put it on to welcome you with your name on it.....Welcome Dr AJ.......enjoy your stay at Gothia Towers...blah blah. Then I needed food. Went out looking but basically I was a lift numpty and I couldn't seem to get to any floor I wanted to go to. My key card had other ideas. So back to my room and I decided I was very tired and 2 beers and a packet of crisps from the mini bar would do.

Next morning I raced to brekkie starving! I wasn't disappointed, there was EVERYTHING including pickled fish and crispbreads :-D you could even toast your own waffles, not that I could be faffed with that. I will say though, Sweden sort your sausages and bacon out. But well done on the boiled eggs. Just right.

I then paced around the lobby for a good 15 minutes eyeing suspiciously a woman who was a complete stranger to me but also that I was sure was my lift. Sure enough she was and it was a damn good job I approached her or I would've still been there now. Turns out that was the second day she had turned up looking for me. Funny!

The rest of the day was spent in the lab at the university/hospital. I met so many people I can't remember most of the names, had a meeting I knew nothing about but everyone else did, and got to spend a decent amount of time talking to Henrik who is one of my bosses (yeah, one of, it's very complicated and that one day was the most time I have spent talking to any of my bosses)

I came away reassured that what I am doing at work is actually ok, which sometimes as a postdoc is very hard to ascertain. I met Henrik and two of his friends in a pub later for dinner. They were both scientists too so chatting was easy. Oh yeah and they spoke English. Otherwise it would have been very hard.

Friday morning I spent at the airport again before flying back to london and spending a couple of hours at work before getting the train to Birmingham. I heard someone saying that at the time we travelled a london midland train single was 28 quid, a virgin train one, 120 !!!!!!!!! That's why I was on the london midland one that stopped at every fucking lamp,post on the way up. Still I made it and trundled to the IBIS (etap by another name, still a shithole) where I feasted like a king (!) before I fell into bed. To be woken many times by the youth getting in pissed and knocking on all the doors up the corridor, and the sounds of vomiting. Nice! Then my alarm went off at 5 and I eagerly awaited the arrival of @madlot and @julesperox to drive me to the Lickey Hills where we would meet @JWUltra and @sidowski and go RUNNING.

I do have to say Mark, thank you for taking us there. The route was fantastic and the views from the top were just awesome. My running has become very different lately, more focused with no time to smell the roses but this reminded me of why I love running and that I have the best friends ever!

I do like what I'm doing now, but a run like yesterday's is like running giving me a big warm hug rather than a peck on the cheek ..... Does that make sense.......?

Anyway, back to the hotel for the one thing the ibis does get right.....fucking ace shower! And then the interminable journey home, tired but happy. Was much pleased when Mr H picked me up and more so when he fed me curry later, although that curry is now doing its best to keep me indoors and not go out and do my reps. I will win though!

You looked amazing.......

Radiant like the sun......

Ok, no one said that to me, but a couple of people did say to me that my running style looked comfortable and relaxed. I like that :-)

Getting ahead of myself aren't I.

After last Sundays exertions I felt pretty tired on Monday. I never planned to run but I did plan circuits after work. That idea was binned when I actually began to feel pretty ropey in the afternoon and I basically shot out of work at 5 to go home and do SFA. Sometimes you have to.

Tuesday I got up and did 5miles recovery which was ok. Weds was a bit like Monday just really tired and lethargic so I left the 14 miles I had planned for Thursday.

Bad plan.

Thursday I woke at 5 to rain hammering against the window and my resolve quickly washed away. I argued with myself for some time and finally decided I would do 5 at mp then add miles to Saturday to make up. I like running, but it has to fit with me. I know to improve you have to make yourself hurt sometimes but I like to think that I'm experienced enough now to juggle things to prevent myself from actually hating it.

Anyway, Friday I booked a bootcamp class at lunchtime and loved it, the sun was out and being able to get out in the middle of the day to actually feel a bit of it on my skin was bliss. We did a fair amount of quad stuff so I was aware they were a bit heavy at the end. Got back to work muddy and grinning :-)

I rarely go out Friday night these days but decided to meet a friend for a couple and then get picked up by Mr H and pick up kebabs. BAD KEBABS :D I always like the idea of these much more than I like them. Always far too much and what do you need the pitta for anyway? My fave bit is the jalapeño s. I could just buy a jar couldn't I? It wasn't much of a surprise to find both of us roaming the house in the early hours trying to quench thirsts that would not be quenched!

Had to be awake early on sat to do 6 miles before parkrun and good girl I woke up. I still felt full up from the kebab and I will admit my stomach had felt better but whatever I left at 8 and ran a warm up mile intending to do the rest at mara pace. First 2 were poor, but then I started to get it and by the time I pitched up at barking I had had a decent run. Looked around and didn't see any new girls who I wasn't sure of so had set myself a target of 22.30.

Started ok, thinking actually it was nice and warm really and that suited me. Was soon in third place up to the turn around. Still third along the lake and Barry in front of me starts show boating for the camera ' look I'm second, I'm second!!!!!'

Not for bloody long you're not I thought to myself and started to ease it up. 3/4 PF the way along the lake I pull along side him, and he speeds up! Ok I thought, I will just stick with you I know you will run out of steam soon.

I was right, we turned the corner and I went past him. I didn't think he would come back but I didn't take any chances :D 1st mile Alan shouts out the time. 6.45 ..... Ooh I thought, that's a good day, how do I feel? Erm, ok really so I will keep it up.

Halfway you get the time shouted out again. 10.36. Gosh. I could be on for a PB here.

But only if I don't lose focus.

I didn't. I wanted that second place I have never come second overall. I kept that thought in my mind all the way round the second lap, determined not to have it taken off me.

Result 21.31. Job done! 7 second PB. Bit annoyed I left it on an odd number though.

Went home showered and then got ready for afternoon xc at Parliament Hill. Basically a hilly mudfest with loads of women who are much better than me and some who aren't. Had fun and was glad I did it. Another 5 miles in the bag with hills.

This morning was the last xc in the SEE league at Hadleigh. The third time I have run that course this year or approximations of it. It is hard, it has some awful hills. It has that hill I moaned about in the Benfleet blog, the one that finished you off just before you finish, yeah that one.....but it was great. I came 16th female.

So that's 31st, 18th, 14th, 16th and 16th. I'm not unhappy with that and five times first scorer for our ladies. I am pleased to be clean now though.

So that's it for the running shite. Work???? Well you know I'm getting there. I have a plan, it's quite exciting but I can't tell you much. Mostly because I don't want to be responsible for boring you to death but also because in the spirit of co operation and collaboration leading to cures for all the diseases we are researching we never tell anyone else anything EVER!!

I'm off to Sweden on Wednesday for some industrial espionage.

What took you so long?

Was there a queue in the post office?

No! It was freezing cold and my knees turned blue and it was windy right!

Anyway, more of that in a bit.

This week? Well,.......

I rushed home from conference on Tuesday, and made it to speed work at BRR. Was made to feel very welcome and did an enjoyable session despite being really tired. Luckily I was on a min taper for today's half so rested Wednesday. Which was good really as work was a little trying and I left feeling somewhat stressed. If I needed further confirmation, the fact that a friend rang me whilst I was at the station waiting for a train and I burst into tears proved it :-D hormones are fuckers ain't they :)

Anyway, ran an ok session on Thursday morning but failed to make any targets which is just what you need going into what you see as an important race. Nothing I can do, it is either there or it isn't.

Rested Friday and intended to run parkrun as a sharpener on sat morning. Of course I woke up feeling like crap. Stomach all over the shop and in my mind all over barking park if I tried to race. I know why but it doesn't bloody help. So I decided to go and tail run. This way I still add to my parkrun number but also get a volunteer credit. Mercenary cow!

However that said, it was brilliant. I amused myself by running backwards and forwards trying to remain last for the first mile, then came across a young girl walking. I told her I wasn't allowed to beat her, but maybe we could walk and run together? She seemed keen so I set about pointing out trees that she could run to and we progressed like this. She seemed quite happy to follow my lead and be told what to do so that was good. At about 2k we met Maria from BRR who was running with a young lad who seemed less keen. I said if he liked he could join me and Kia and Maria could run on. And that's what happened. Both seemed perfectly happy to do what I said and I made sure I wasn't making them run too much as neither of them had done 5k before. In this fashion we completed the next 3 k and then they raced each other to the line. I was dead chuffed they both finished and as I understand from comments later really enjoyed it :)))) I hope they will be back.

So today, Great Bentley Half. My PB has been 1.48.20 since 2005. Partly because I haven't done that many but partly because I think I'm rubbish at pacing.

Woke feeling similar to sat. Knew I would, nothing to be done about that, I've got a job to do. Was picked up at 8.45 and had a pleasant drive down (not that close really but we filled the car).

Parked up the car, got out. Fuck. It's freezing and raining and windy. Went to ha picked up chips and numbers and queued for loos. Actually had a good cry in the portaloo, although I knew I would feel better when running right now I felt horrible. Inside Caroline gave me some brufen which I was very grateful for and I manned up :-D

Lined up to start, noting to the other Caroline that my knees had gone blue.......they really did! Was weird. Then we were off. Basically it was country lanes. Almost completely flat, which does mean some places are windy, but not too bad. I was so cold I kept my emergency sweatshirt on for 2 miles. Then I took it off cos I wanted people to know a Dagenham girl had overtaken them :-D. I think the first 5 miles ticked off all quicker than my 7.37 target. Then at 7 I know I slowed cos I couldn't undo the zip on the back of my shorts for my gel. Almost ripped the dammed things off :-O. Then at 9 I knocked my watch and lost the page I needed until I engaged my brain a bit to work out what had happened. Other than that it was uneventful.

I thought if I really tried I could dip under 1.40 and boy did I try but it didn't quite come off and I ended in 1.40.42.

I will take that. It means avg 7.38.

The worst bit I think was the walk back to race hq, absolutely freezing and exhausted. But a cup of tea soon fixes that.

Then I was given a collage of pictures that Mick Easley did (he did it for everyone who races at club) and it is fab, so thanks Mick :))))

Now I'm going to eat steak and spinach. K?

I hope I think I know

What I'm doing.

Well, stranger things have happened.

Busy week this last one after only having parkrun last week. I ran twice before work and did a bootcamp weds night, all went ok. Well I say that, Thursdays run was hideous. Pissing rain howling wind and the dark...

...these are a few of my favourite things..... *sings* NOT!!!!!!

Anyway, work was cool, learning some new stuff and being the girl from nowhere. Ie cos I am based at 2 different places I could be anywhere. Or running between the two which is most likely what I am doing. This does mean I can piss off two sets of IT depts. he he he.

Saturday I
Knew I HAD to fit in 18 miles. Wasn't convinced I would do it.

Got up early and left the house by 7.30. This meant I could get 10 in before parkrun. This I duly did arriving only in a little distress cos I was cold and forgot my gloves and well I bloody needed the loo. Not convinced about any speed being possible and actually only really aiming for 8.20s I did parkrun in 22.54. Oh.

Then off home to shower warm up and drink some milkshake as at 2.30 I had to be at Victoria park for a 5 mile race. Me and C went on the train as its quite an easy journey for us. He didn't want me to go on my own as I wasn't sure if anyone else was and he was right there wasn't any other real dag 88 there. No worries though, I just need to jog round this for my 18.

Yeah right. I felt ace when I started and I can't do a race and not race. 1st mile ticked by, 7.08 ah fuck it ill just go with it then :) finished in 35.38. Now I know it was prob 4.88 from asking around but you know what? I don't care. On fresh legs I could murder that course. And I'd done 18 for the day.

Then Sunday morning it was xc ay Weald. Usual suspects I thought I ran well, but 2 places down on last time. I shan't complain.

But, like a twat I made a lighthearted comment on FB on Saturday which caused a whole lot of grief. Why the person at Dagenham has to make such cockish comments all the time is beyond me. The old boys club is no more, get bloody used to it. And as I say to everyone else, it's my hobby, I will not hang around to be spoken to like that by someone I have no respect for, either in running terms or just general life. It has made me really look at where I want to be and in my heart I know a change is long overdue for me. I nearly joined ilford a few years ago because of same person.

Anyway, enough of that shit. I'm currently in Cambridge at a Biomarker conference. It's been ace and I've made some contacts. Ha!!!!! We will touch base and doe some blue sky thinking in a bit.

Then tonight back home and try to fit in the runs I need to this week and taper for a half.

See ya.