Woods, obstacles, lakes and fields.....

That's a Wolf run that is. But hang on, I'm peaking too soon there.

Is peaking a word? I don't even know now. Still I will follow the lead of my friend who makes up words and insists they are real.

Since KRR I have done quite a lot. But not as much as I intended. In brief.....(as I would describe methods in a paper when I couldn't be bothered to write the whole thing making it incredibly difficult for anyone else to recreate my experiments....)

Did the Silverfit aquathlon in Hyde Park the weds after the mara. 500m swim, 5k run. I didn't realise it was a pilot event and there were just 4 competitors......guess where I came :-D in all honestly although I am glad I went I had a horrid race. I had that thing in the water where I couldn't seem to get enough breath in ...... Not a panic thing, different to that. Was all wheezy. I think it is down to the time of day and amount of pollen. Anyway, to then get out and run a 5k when you are in debt is hard. I stopped at a Marshall point to rally myself, hands on knees til I could breathe properly again and carried on more sedately, that's fine I finished. 

Then I've gone blank, I must have done something for the rest of the week. God only knows what! I know on the Sunday I did Blenhiem Palace tri. Sprint distance.

I'd got a free place via Virgin Active so thought why not :) was a huge event with waves off every 20 minutes but very well organised. I loved the swim and for me had a good one. Then a long uphill transition to T1. Bike was 3 laps. Not flat, not sure why I thought it would be so on the first lap I had a mare, but did eventually get I to it. Run was fine, but I did post what for me is a shocking 5k time, still, another tri in the bag.

Once again I would have trained in the following week..... But don't know what! I know on the Thursday I went to the gym and did a. Class. Was advertised as Insanity but was actually a new class called Grit strength. Basically HIIT training with weights. Loved it.

Couldn't move on Friday :-D

That was ok though it was a rest day and I travelled up to Rugby in the evening and stayed in a hotel where I ate pasta salad in my room and drank wine. How sad is that! (Loved it). Decided after I'd drank enough wine that I wasn't doing Coventry parkrun I the morning.

Woke at 6am. Decided I would.

Found it. That's a win for me. Did it. Went back to hotel, showered and waited to be picked up by Mr and Mrs JW Ultra.

We then went somewhere or other to take part in the Wolf Run. We were joining a back of 20 or so running for Team Abbi, a little girl suffering from a rare form of muscular dystrophy. It affects 1 in a million, and from what I have heard she really is one in a million :)

Many of us were in fancy dress, I was Batgirl, and I quite enjoyed that to be honest!

I will let you decide what Mark was.

Anyway it was a blast, over walls through mud through water, monkey bars, tyres, you name it. Time is irrelevant in these races, finishing is key, and you can see we finished happy. Even though I look a bit scared there. You would, wouldn't you :-D

Anyway a pint of beer after and I got dropped off at Birmingham international for the train home which was quite nice as a got loads of room cos I smelled like a swamp!

Left Mr H to watch the footie as I had an early ish  start the next day for the Great Easton 5. If I tell you it used to be called the Tilty Hilly 5 you will understand why I e never entered before. 

No one told me they. Changed the name and it wasn't flat. Bastards!

Anyway it was an Essex champs so loads of quick ladies. I had an average race, 36 50 something but it was a beautiful course. My first mile was something like 6.19. That will tell you it was downhill. You had to come up that on the way back. Now if Garmin express hadn't eaten my garmin data I could look at that data. I am sure it didn't start with a six and maybe not even a seven!

Anyway, a pleasant morning.

This week I have done 2 classes, VIPR and Grit plyo. Both gave me DOMS. Good. I also cycled to Hainault and back for a good fun hill session with the D88s.

Did parkrun today in 21.30. Most pleased with that. Olympic distance tri tomorrow. Let's see what I can do :)

If Carlsberg made weekends.....

I probably wouldn't be blogging on an iPad cos I'd be a hopeless homeless alcoholic :-D

But seriously. Wow!

A few months ago it became apparent to me that I REALLY wanted to run London next year.

All I needed was a place. My old GFAs had run out due to my semi retirement from marathon running and let's face it ballot isn't really an option. So I looked about for an option that would actually fit in with all my plans but still before the July cut off for GFA applications. TBH there wasn't much but Kent Road Runner caught my eye. But it was full. I requested to be put on the wait list and was very fortunate to be offered a place very quickly. (Thanks Ian, you are a star).

So, I had a place. But, I was gearing all my training to a 5k at the end of April, and I didn't stop doing that. All my training was 1k intervals and the like. I really want that sub 20. Sadly it didn't happen, and anyway the we all went wrong so the course was short, I think I blogged it.

Whatever, I now couldn't afford to waste any more time on short stuff I had to go longer. All I wanted was sub 3.50 though, so actually the pace per K was a lot less than I had been previously going for. Russ basically did me a new plan with longer runs at that pace. So the meat of it was, an 18 miler, a 21 miler and a couple of 13 miler. Last Sunday I did a hilly half at mara pace and raced a 10k on the Monday after. That was marathon training :) (much better than 16 weeks I can tell you) 

All the runs suggested 3.45-3.50 was possible, I just had to go and do it.

So yesterday we took a drive to the cyclo park in Gravesend. I know this venue as I have raced a couple of 10ks here, it isn't easy as it's designed with hills in it, but the laps are short so aid is frequent. 

On arrival I pretty much met every runner I have ever known, most of whom were suprised to see me. That's ok I hadn't wanted to advertise what I was doing, I put enough pressure on myself, and sometimes people saying to you ' oh yeah you will easily do that' is not what you want to hear. I don't care what you say, it's still 26 miles, anything can happen. I bet the guy who I saw laid out on the floor with agonising carmps on his last lap didn't think it would happen, but it did :-/

Anyway, soon enough we were off. Eeeek! In the opposite direction to when I have run the 10ks, bit of a head fuck! I had 4 bands on my arm so I could discard one every 4 laps. I love the number 4. Then I would run one lap with no band. Sorted. 1st k, 4.30. Oops. Slow down. 2nd k 4.30. Mand!!!! Stop it. 3rd I think was 4.57, but that included the long drag up to the finish where the mats were. Ok go with it. And I did. Anything around 5 mins a k was fine, my upper limit was 5.25 and I think there were only about 4 that went over that, but I obviously made up a lot of time on others.

I spent loads of time saying hi to other runners I knew. I ran past a crocodile about 4 times without realising. I ran past mr h 16 times I think. Once I got a gel off him, once I got brufen, 3 times in that last 4 laps I got coke...mmmmmm. 

I think I knew from halfway 1.46 something that I was going to be ok. I know also that I did a positive split but that's how I run whatever the distance.

In any case I was delighted to finish in 3.39.37 a good PB and V40 prize to boot. How cool is that!

Got an amazing medal and trophy and was supported brilliantly by Mr H and Andy and Cristina who popped up halfway through. Also by all the Dag 88s who were running and supporting. An ace day.

I then got on the train to go to Hyde Park to register for today's Olympic tri in Hyde park, which I did with only one near tears incident :-D then home, pizza and bed.

My alarm was set for 4.30am, I woke at 3.30am having nightmares about all the things that can go wrong in a tri. Drank 3 cups of tea. That's better :)

Drove into town and parked near Marble Arch. Walked bike to transition and got it in no probs......this tri is well organised I will certainly give it that. That left about 30 minutes before my start time, so had another tea and heaved myself into my suit. Damn that pizza! 

Soon I'm sat on the pontoon thinking ' Christ that water looks murky and cold, but at least I can wee in it' anyway, we are allowed to drop in and hang on to the pontoon until the hooter. It goes. I swim. I stop and adjust my goggles. I start again. I stop. I adjust my goggles. I start, I have a minor tight chested panic attack. I stop. I order myself to calm down and start again. That's it. got it now. I'm last but it doesn't matter. I've done what I wanted this weekend this is the icing on the cake. I swim, and swim, and swim. I'm passed by people in the next wave but no one bothers me. It's remarkably civilised I guess because I was second wave off.

I get out up the ramp and try to run. My legs tell me to fuck off. I actually heard them :-D.

I shuffle to transition. See Mike L officiating, say good morning :) find my bike no probs and get changed.

Bike. 5 laps pretty flat with a couple of turns to beware of and a hairpin lap turnaround to be very careful of.i basically keep it as steady as I can. I am not out to beat anyone, not even me, I just want to complete the bike in one piece. This means I love it! I see Mr H twice each lap and give him a big smile and a wave each time so he knows I'm fine. I love my new bike! This is it's first test and it passed big time! No incidents at all of note and I am back in transition. As I run out I hear Mike behind me saying ' now for the best bit!' And I'm thinking 'help I can't feel my feet and my arse is broken' but I smile and wave and jog out for lap one. I didn't enjoy this lap. My feet stop being numb and just plain hurt. That's yesterday's legacy, however, at almost the lap end they are giving out energy drink and I have some and I suddenly realise I haven't had any breakfast. I'm starving! But the drink makes me feel better and I start talking to the supporters. As we turn away from transition I say to the guy next to me ' oooh we will get a medal soon' but he doesn't seem that impressed, he is on lap one I'm on lap two, but I carry on talking to him because it helps me to not focus on the run which I would normally hope to smash. We pass a very happy next three laps discovering we have a friend in common and I get to meet his wife and little boy. Made me happy :) obv I had to leave him when I veered off to finish but I sat in the grandstand so I could cheer him in :). 

Anyhow, a finish of about 3.05 which I'm delighted with. I DID IT.

I set out to do something and it worked, I knew today would be hard but that's the way it worked outand actually, I know doing stuff like this ultimately makes me stronger. 

NEXT!!!!

Come back to what you know.....

Sometimes it's good to remember why you do the things you do. I've said this before and that's cos it's true!

So this weekend I had a weekend away to run the Shakespeare half.

Not for a time, not so I could post all over the place what a great runner I am (!) but just to finish and enjoy the company of a good friend.

Mission accomplished then, thank you Mark, running with you is always a pleasure and I love our banter, especially when it confuses the other runners. They should get out the bloody way shouldn't they :-D

Also nice to catch up with Lesley, looking good on that personal training girl! That Dave fella must be alright!

Prior to this, I raced Friday, a 5k. I had been building up to this and it was supposed to be a PB. Training suggests it, but buggered if I can translate this. Saw 21.02 on watch when I finished which is only one second over, but I knew, I just knew the course was short. 

Sure enough when the results were published they said that all the a racers had gone wrong and cut of 110-150m off. So I guess really if I had PBd I would have been gutted. Small mercies.

Did 21.31 at parkrun on sat.....this is more where I am right now I guess.

In other exercise news I did 40miles on the bike on bank holiday Monday. I love it!!!!! Must get out on it again soon, though I seem to be quite busy. Still, I have an oly tri on 1st June so I do need to get on with it.

The fact that that is the day after a marathon is completely irrelevant. Right! :-D

That's it for now I'm too tired to think anymore :)

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