Go straight to the place where you first lost your balance....

And find your feet with the people that you love...

That's bloody good advice that is!

Family, friends, running, work. Pretty much have it all don't I. Yeah yeah I'm a lucky girl :)

Bells and Whistles 10k. The lovely Debbie Vincent drove me down to Dover ( she is an awesome lady) and we helped set up the water station for the marathon. Loads of time for me to get ready for the 10k. The course was four laps of 2.5k, and I knew what they were. Couple of hairpins that slow you but otherwise great running.

Started at 11am and straight onto the course with the marathoners. After about 500m I took the lead. Oh ok. After a k we turn at a hairpin. No ladies near, 2 blokes not far behind. Keep running!

I do, pass finish at 2.5k. Then water at 3k. I don't drink it I pour it on my head. First hot run this year.

5k still leading. Blimey! More water on head. Working hard now but still leading. Loving this!

Get to 7k, 1st man right behind me. Ok, can I get to lap? No, he took me just before but I'm still trying.

Last lap, I can do this. Of course. Get to 10k far before the end. Race is 10.5k but I'm First Lady second overall. Get in!

I think that was my last race really. Got plans yeah but just had a week completely floored with a cold. Tail ran VP last week, don't know why because it is just a walk. 

Waited 3 weeks to do a decent interval session. I can do 3k with breaks at sub 20 pace.

Need to put that together.

Need to hurt myself in the race.

Question is. Can I?

You will hear the answer.

Meanwhile. If you think you can, you can. You know the rest.

-)))

And if it's all we only pass this way just once...

What a perfect waste of time.... :)

Been wasting lots of time lately, doing what I do.

Work seems to be going good lately. Making things work, lots of meetings, but useful ones and Prof Z has sorted it so me and J can go to the AAIC in Copenhagen in July, which should be ace (Alzheimer's conference). Once upon a time the thought would have filled me with horror......what......I have to talk to all those people.....me??? But, and let's just ignore the fact that I am basically antisocial, I wish the 20 year old me had realised how much more confident I would be at 40. It would have saved a lot of worrying. 

Bet that's true for lots of people. I wonder if you're really confident as a youngster are you writing a blog now saying ' I wish the 20 year old me had realised what a wanker I was' ha!

Anyway, other stuff. Did bootcamp Monday night at Regents Park, really enjoy that, exercising as the light dies, fun! 

Tuesday morning up early for tri swim which I'm really liking. I work much harder than I would on my own and of course am working on technique which let's face it, is shite, but hopefully improving. Unfortunately after that I had such bad stomach cramps I had to go home from work early, not ideal so I missed track....I sent my representative who positively bounces like tigger when he gets in, so that pleases me. Proof that the horse will eventually find water all on his own :-D

Wednesday worked at home cos I can, then went off to the track to meet coaches Kev and Sophie on my bike. We had a good old chat about what these bike transition sessions will be which was useful and I will endeavour to get to get to. Did a few laps on my bike, felt good. First time on it since September :-O felt it too next morning :-D 

Thursday up early for more tri swimming, got videoed and have decided that only one arm actually belongs to me. The other pretty much does it's own thing. I'm having words! Thursday night out to see friends where I blame being tired for being a little (lot) drunk late on, and feeling like crap on Friday morning. Oh well.

Rest day Friday.....I couldn't have done anything and had to really focus hard on all the meetings I had that day! Gratefully left about 5.30 for Paddington and got a train to Slough, wooohoooo! Had a very tense conversation outside the station because me n the Mr couldn't find each other.

'Mand I'm here, why can't you see me?'

' I've already told you all I can see is this big fucking tesco sign cos it's so fucking massive, find the fucking sign and you will find me OK???'

'Ok, no need to be like that, I may have worked out where you are now. Last time I came here this was a roundabout'

Click.

Being married eh, licence to treat the person you love worse than anyone else :-D

Anyway we found each other and drove to hotel which was lovely and a proper bargain. Decided to eat there which was fine and had a couple of beers before v early bed cos we were both Knackered. That was good it meant we were both awake before 7am alarm and had time to relax over brekkie, well once I got over the fact that it cost 25 quid for toast and tea :-D

Then off to Dorney Lake for a half marathon. Was a bit alarmed to see only 6 portaloos for the crowds there as I was having some difficulty in this respect. Registered and sat in the car cos it was freezing and windy. Considered just going home. Told myself to man up.

Went to loo in time so I could make briefing. Was still in toilet q when briefing started and finished. Went. Then marched with Mr to start which was 1.5k away. Loads of people around us, they had to put start back. Their own fault. When an event company puts on a race they need to spend the money on facilities.

Anyway, got to start reluctantly took off my hoody and set off. I was absolutely freezing and the wind was making tears run down my face. But I ran, and got warmer, ok mile 1 7.10. Not bad. Ran back past finish and onto lap proper. Laps were 5k roughly. 1st 3k were quite nice, last 2k was a straight line between 2 lakes with a horrid crosswind that made it feel like you were running through glue. I know my pace went off here each time. Then you turn a corner and can see the finish, you then realise you are going to run through the finish. 4 times in all.

Now on this first lap my stomach was still feeling rubbish, when I saw the finish my heart just dropped and I thought I can't do this, I can't smile through this finish 4 times. But obviously you can't stop just there cos everyone would see you are a loser. So I ran through, about 50m on was Mr H shouting a clapping, I went to run towards him but he waved me away, ' no carry on you're doing great' I will be honest, if he had put his arms out I would've stopped there and then. But bless him he didn't and I went on thinking ok, I will do one more. I shouted him I was having stomach probs. but I manned up a bit and made my strategy. I would enjoy the 3k I liked and grit teeth through the horrible bit.

Next time Mr H was just before the finish, he was looking concerned and said after if I wanted to stop then he would've let me, but stomach had settled and I had got the measure of the course....do you know what I mean? You break it into bits and you deal with them as they come, probably a good strategy for everything.

So, third lap, bit quiet really now, we are all stretched out, but keep pushing. Start to lap people, which at least gives you markers to aim at. Pass through finish for 3rd time glad that the winner hasn't lapped me...small victories eh? Then I'm doing everything for tha last time. I stop looking at mile splits because I can do no more than I am, nd I'm also running the furthest I have in months, without actually doing any specific training for it, whatever time I think I should do, I will do the one I deserve.

So, end result.....1.37.47. A PB by 38 seconds. That's fair I think. I'm running better than last year but I lack endurance.

So hung around a bit while the results guy checked if I had won vets prize as I was first v40, but the woman before me was v50 and there was only one v prize. That's fine I was happy with PB. Then off home.

Forced a cheese sandwich down that I didn't want then had a couple of hours kip, then off to leisure centre for swimathon.

I expected nothing, I was very tired. Mr didn't think I would finish. 

Pah! I'm not into starting things I can't finish. I just wish that I could do the whole thing without a wee! Anyway because there were a lot less people in the pool this year......maybe because comic relief have made it a right bastard to try to enter and force you to have a just giving page..... I was last in the pool ( only 2 5k challenges) but, I just looked up my official time. 1.54.24. Dead bloody chuffed with that :)))))

What a brilliant Saturday, finished off with pizza and wine :)

I'm not doing anything today.

Didn't expect that.

Just lately I've been off. Off what, not sure but not me. I've been busy but that's not it. I have a worry, but not one I'm going to share, because it may be nothing. I hope so.

However. For all this I've been getting out and training. Not a lot of running. Well, not training running.

Done 3 swimming sessions. Loving it! I could get quicker. Tbh I'm not bothered I like the process. Bootcamp....same thing, I like doing it. Maybe I could get ripped! Ha!!!! Yeah, right.

But this week I had a 10k in the evening at Gravesend. Did it last month, got 2nd female with 45.38. Not a brilliant time but enough. Went this month feeling bleurgh. Bad stomach all week, decided if I could better my time that would be enough.

Good plan. Before I started I could see my competition. I knew also Cristina who I travelled with was on form. Start and hang on.

I woman I couldn't get near at start (finished under 40) 2 women overtook me early, then another at about 6k. I finished 5th, but only 2 seconds in front of Cristina. Still, I got the vet prize :) and BRR got the female team too so good going. And 45.22. Better.

Rested Friday. Spent Friday evening drinking wine because I wasn't feeling like I wanted to do anything at parkrun, except support Mr H who was RD. That decision seemed fine when I got there cos a crew of Havering Mayesbrook girls were there with their coach/dads. I saw them warming up and thought I could get 4th, with little effort.

Lazy.

So we started, 3 girls overtook me. Fine.

1k in I had passed one of them and was looking at the next.

I can't remember when I passed her but maybe just before halfway.

Then, I was gaining on the final one all the way and I felt good. Oh yeah 1 mile, 6.22, half way 10.20. I never caught her but thought I'd done well. At the end someone said to me what was that? I looked at my watch and it said 21.11. I was a bit upset.

I hadn't stopped it. It was 21.01. 

A whole 3 second PB. I will have that.

Then today it was xc. I got 13 which is standard I guess, but.we won the division, and the girls score was 26, so with that and my previous efforts I feel that me Vix and Max have done a good job for BRR this year. I remember when I was a member of dag 88 Rob saying to me we need women to run for us. Well I have. And see the result :)

And I don't think my efforts on the forum go un noticed. Baz told me he really laughed at my attendance question. My work there is done. (I love Baz)

Oh yeah, and I think mr h is going to join the running club. Gosh. I am not even sure what I think about that.

This is a generic running blog

Bout time I wrote somethink innit!

I can tell I've been busy, as I've had neither the time nor inclination to blog. But that's ok my life isn't exciting enough to warrant that many blogs anyway!

I think I've done 3 or 4 races lately. The day after my last blog was xc. I raced ok, not brilliant but BRR won the match again, so that's all good. One more left next Sunday then I can put my xc trainers away again. And then later in the year wonder why I didn't clean them first. It's all fun isn't it.

Then the week after that I was encouraged by friends to do the Dunton test track 10.

It's held on the Ford test track at Dunton. Would you believe. A two lap course all on private property the most memorable feature of which is the two 'banks' which are obviously designed to put the cars through their paces, but put runners through their paces too as you need to keep to quite a narrow bit of the track so your are not on a horrible camber. One of them climbs for a while too.

There were two wheelchair racers who were due to start 2 minutes before the masses, but we all lined up behind them ready as the announcer did all the stuff. It was quite clearly announced that they would go on the first gun, but absolutely predictably all the front row shot off at the same time.

They were called back, we started again :-D

I started fairly well forward so as not to get caught up. Two girls started about the same as me but immediately pulled ahead. That's ok I thought, 10 miles yet don't lose it. We got to the first bank, where I had to call on a Marshall to help one of the wheelchair racers who had got stuck! He was trying to go up the bank rather than round it, I'm guessing he was not that experienced, ( he finished though I was pleased to see)

Just after that another lady overtook me running with a guy. Still ok we are not a mile in yet.

Got to one mile in 6.57. Bit quick but I felt ok. Settled in looking really for 7.30 minute miles which would beat my PB. One of the nice things about the course was that the nature of it was that you were able to see everyone loads of times. Thi meant you could see where everyone was. The first 2 ladies were too quick for me, I could see that, but the third one, well I thought that was a possible.

Just after 4 miles I wasn't far behind her at all, but I had a bit of a fit of indecision about whether I could overtake and maintain....so managed my slowest mile 7.38 whilst I arsed about thinking about it. Eventually I thought fuck it and overtook. I could hear her male friend urging her on, I think he was a PT, and all this did was urge me on. By the next time I saw her I had built a decent lead so concentrated on me and pacing. Pleasingly I was very consistent mainly 7.22s and 7.26s and was delighted to finish in a chip time of 1.14.16. A decent PB and third lady :)))))

The Friday after that I did last Friday of the month 5k, had a decent run in 21.30 but could feel the 10 in my legs still. So just to be sure I did a 10mile xc race the next day. Hardly anyone turned out for it which was a bit sad, but I can understand why it was bloody hard and sections were just bog. Got 2nd lady there but I think there were 5 in total :-D

This Saturday I went to Grovelands parkrun in Enfield. The houses there WOW! A lovely park too, but quite challenging as you do the hill 3 times. Got 22.07 which I wasn't unhappy with.

Today I didn't race even though lots of my club mates and friends are and I feel that is just as well. I didn't sleep well (t 1.30 am I decided to have a drink of water and chucked a whole pint over myself, I'm not sure why but it proper woke me up) and my run today was well off pace. Still, you cannot run at your best all the time. I should try to remember that.

Oh I forgot I did a tri swim training session at Becontree on Thursday, a new thing and free for the next few weeks. I thought it was really good and am going back on Tuesday. I mean free stuff!!! Normally you have to be unemployed to get free things :)

Oh I forgot something else, I took part in a running debate about charity fundraising for women's running magazine, was really interesting and I will be interested in seeing the article, though I do hope they don't print EVERYTHING I said :-D

It is not enough.....

MTo be dumbstruck, you must have the words in that head of yours...

Not always. That's why I'm quiet sometimes :)

Trying to think where I left off. Oh yeah, was a bit fed up last time I posted. But then if we all got on all the time this would be a boring place wouldn't it.

Did Weald xc the day after my last blog. Had a good one, got my best finish position yet :) which is how xc races must be judged. No point going on time. So yeah, good.

Then last week went to Pymmes parkrun. Really small run but very friendly. 3 flat laps which on paper should be fast, but I did 22.11. One stretch was definitely hard against the wind, maybe it was that cos you did it 3 times...dunno. But 1st lady and you can hate me for this if you like but I like being first :-P

I did have a hard PT session the night before, that may have impacted too.

Trained fairly well this week, swim, gym, bootcamp, intervals, and then did Gravesend floodlit 10k on Thursday night. Got the javelin train from st pancras - 23 minutes to gravesend....wow! Got picked up by club mates from station and then off to the cyclo track where the races are held. You can do 5 or 10k and when we. First arrived I thought, yeah 5k would be good! But we had already agreed we were doing 10k ......and tbh I want to run as many 10s as ican for speed endurance.

Admin could not have been simpler, handed over a tenner and my form, got a number pinned it on, ready to go :)

4 laps of 2.5k, it is floodlit but at the two extreme ends of the track it is pitch black, with little lights on sticks so you know where the path is. The course is undulating with one short hill and one longer but less steep hill.

Set off quick like always. Passed what I thought were all the women after about 500m. Just after that a woman passed me, she was going too quick for me to hang on to so I concentrated on my race.

Barry a club mate passed me before too long but I wasn't suprised, he is on great form at the minute. I tried not to let him get too far ahead. I was enjoying the course, the first dark bit was really exhilarating as it was downhill and you just had to trust the track was there, the second dark bit I hung on to the bloke in front and assumed he wouldn't run into anything :-D. 1st lap ticked over and I felt good.

Shortly after that I passed a woman who had fooled me by looking just like a bloke. It's not on is it! It was much quieter on second lap as we stretched out and on this second dark bit I had no one to follow so ended up going really wide because I couldn't tell what was path and what wasn't. Still, 2 laps ticked off. They were giving out water at the lap but I was far too cold for that! Even running.

Now it was just fun as I was counting down. I aimed to keep lap 3 as steady as I could because then I could go for it on last lap. I'd need the times to be sure but I think I did.

Ended 45.33 and second lady. Myself Cristina and Faye also got First Ladies team which meant I got 2 bottles of Merlot. Bloody result! A very good evening all in all. Especially because when I left work I could easily have gone straight home. I'm going back next month :)

Today I did Valentines parkrun as it was its third birthday. I decided to jog round as it was so windy, right up until they said GO!! Then I just raced like I always do. Had a really nice run, 21.58, happy with that.

So a good week all in all. I made an assay work that I have been trying to sort for *gulp* a year! and I am enjoying racing. Life is good when I like to race, and tomorrow is xc again :)

I have written you down....

Now, you will live forever.......

That's right isn't it. Write something on the internet and it will never go away.

Is that a reason not to do it? I don't think so. We all have our thoughts, our opinions, they are just as valid as the next persons.

I will admit I cannot stand all the motivational shit that people post on Facebook and twitter, and if you know me you will know that, but......it's your right to do it if you want. If it helps you then good. I will scroll on. My motivation comes from...well it's my business isn't it. I do think ultimately we are on our own, and whilst it's nice to have someone cheer me on, I'm going to do it whether they do or not. For me.

Oooh, that makes me remember what I had my knickers in a twist about last week, or the week before.

I sponsored 2 people yesterday, one because I am willing her on to her first marathon and she gives an awful lot. The other, yeah it's his first marathon too, he got a place so isn't obliged to fundraise, but I'msponsoring   him because I am so impressed with the way he has consistently improved.

So those reasons. I will not sponsor because someone tells me they are doing something 'mad' or 'the toughest race ever' ...... Because I know. You're doing it because you want to. You. I've been there. I wanted to do the 10 in 10. Brathay trust seems like a worthy cause, but no more worthy than hundreds of other charities. I had to get 2250 to do it. I just about did. I hated every second of fundraising. 

I suppose if I had a cause that really really mattered to me it would be different, but it wouldn't change the fact that the event i chose would be something I really wanted to do. 

So try not to pretend the ONLY reason you are doing it is for the charity. I find that to be bollocks.

I do have more people to sponsor, I just can't afford it this month cos January was too long :-D

Should talk about running now, I've done a bit.

Highlights - 10k PB at Hyde Park, 5k 2014 best at Hyde Park yesterday 21.24. Hoping this is good as I don't run well this early in the year normally. XC at Parliament Hill was great fun. Hopefully xc tomorrow will be good too.

Got a running technique course at Mile End on Tuesday, looking forward to this and hoping the tube strike doesn't scupper me. Work shouldn't as I am on a stats and research methods course all week.

Got my appraisal a week Monday when I am going to ask if I have a job after November. Fingers crossed.

Anyway right, as a wise friend of mine once said. It's only running, can we all please just try to remember that :-D

This is your heart....

Can you feel it? Can you feel it?

Pumps through your veins,

Can you feel it, can you feel it?

I most certainly can thank you very much.

Back to work Thursday.....was ok, but it need to get my teeth into something, I will.

Back to training Friday, went to see Russ after work. 

Blimey.

Normally he shows me some strength or/and stability exercises and I have a go at them and take them away, so to speak. This week we did a full on core work out. Still having a residual cough I was sorta hoping we could just have a chat :-D

Started with step ups onto a step in running pose, holding leg up to show stability. Actually harder than it sounds. Balance requires you to engage your core. Something I don't do enough of. You also need your arms to be right. A serious difficulty for me.

Then pull ups pulling legs out straight in front of you. Or pushing legs? Dunno it ain't easy.

Then step ups with a jump similar to before.

Then pull ups bringing knees to chest.

Then stepping onto the step like the first time but this time with a harness on attached to a massive elastic band attached to the wall......how hard! The first few times I just fell off backwards. You have to step up then immediately engage your core as hard as you can. Then maintain the step up for a few seconds. I was dripping sweat here and losing concentration meant a repeat cos you just got pulled off backwards :-D (nope, I won't)

Then mountain climbers on a medicine ball. Nuff said.

I walked out shaking, but, actually having really enjoyed a proper session after a few weeks of being a bit pathetic. Yesterday I knew I had done a core workout. Today getting off the sofa is a problem :)))

Fucking love DOMS me.

Did parkrun Saturday, bloody awful run there in pissing rain, wasn't feeling the love. Ran 22.40, my worst time in forever, but I guess I'm still cold wheezy and not match fit. Still First Lady, you takes what you can get. Ran home, had hair cut shopped.....flaked out. Did 10 hours sleep last night. That's like marathon sleeping!

Today when I finally dragged myself out of bed Mr drove me to the mcdonalds at Hainault. He went in, I ran up to Hogg Hill and did 12 hill repeats. Ran back and had a coffee to drink in the car on the way home. Reward! Oh yeah and I said about the car that had a tyre blowout next to me. Blimey that shocked me. I wondered if I'd been shot!

Anyway, back training, going to visit my friends for a nice long run soon. YAY!!!!!