FEBRULOUS: The Journey not the Destination

I may have had incredibly sore knees - but this was my undisputed highlight of Februlous..... 

Well that and running 10km in 1 hour 6 mins with Pui-Tien and Jo......

Well actually getting an amazing pressie from the Cheiftan of Cool: My Fitblr Buddy and my first ever bunch of fleurs also made Februlous rock........  

In short there were no shortage of Februlous highlights!! THANK YOU xx

Well today is the last day of February and I'm more than a little glad as this marks the end of the seemingly never ending 280km Februlous Challenge. Today also marks the first BIG fitness challenge I didn't emerge victorious from.

Really my Februlous Challenge was over 2 weeks ago - when knackered knees and insufficient fitness made it clear that I wasn't close to ready to running 280km in a month. I managed 100km in 12 days (including 90km in 9 days back to back) so I'm chuffed to have made it that far.  I never thought I'd actually be able to run my daily 10km commute rather than walk it - and whilst it was by no means perfect running, I battled on and kept on battling repeatedly for nine days.

I also learnt some important lessons during Februlous:

• Following an actual training plan, not just designing one and adequately preparing is VITALLY IMPORTANT. I hadn't attempted a 10km for a few months prior to Februlous. Going from a mileage of 0-8km a week to 70km a week, in hindsight, was never going to be the world's best plan. Actually it's a miracle I managed 100km at all!!


• It is so good to really push yourself and see what you are capable of - I did and discovered that I could run 10km for 9 days straight. I never knew that about myself. It wasn't the 28 days of 10kms that I had originally set as my goal but surely there's no such thing as failure when you push yourself outside your comfort zone in the first place?


• I LOVE racing with friends - FRIENDS make the race and ensure you go the distance. HILARIOUS COSTUMES make the race seem shorter!


• Mental resolve isn't limitless. Life will throw you curve balls - for me that manifested over the last few weeks as job insecurities, redundancy and financial hassles which weakened my typical fitness focus. I am not a machine - I got distracted, I got stressed, I got injured and I comfort ate my way to putting on 4lbs. In the end I had to take time out from Februlous - give my knees a rest, focus my energies on other more pressing priorities to get me over this hump and to allow me to get my head back in the fitness game. Step backs in career, weight, fitness, relationships are a fact of life - but it's up to me to ensure that the step backs are only temporary. The support that my friends have shown me over the last few weeks has made such a massive difference in ensuring that I do actually effect a 'comeback' and I couldn't be more grateful.


• I need to rediscover a structured training schedule that works for me, that is sufficiently diverse, that excites me and most importantly ensures I stay active 5-6 times a week. After all the running, I've been hankering to take up swimming lessons, boxing and trampolining again - activities that my knees might just approve of - well the swimming at least!!


• Recovery days and a great stretching routine are WAY more important than I previously gave them credit for. Running everyday is nigh on impossible. Slow and steady with scheduled rest days is superior to fast, furious and unrelenting (though clearly my running is anything but fast!) Running 10km for nine days straight made me a tad loopy by day 9, not to mention, gave me rather 'lovely' blistered feet, a black toenail, sore knees and achy hips. Definitely one painful lesson I won't forget in a hurry.

But tomorrow marks a new month, with fresh challenges (better fortune?) and lighter and hopefully warmer Spring days!! My March goals include losing the four pounds I put on during Februlous, progressing through my virtual Great Wall of China Walking challenge, establishing a routine of running 25km every week but MOST IMPORTANTLY rediscovering the fun in getting fitter. After all there is the little {BIG} matter of kicking off "The Sky's the Limit" 8 month fitness challenge I am embarking on with Challenge Hannah. {As this next challenge is a little more complicated that my previous fitness challenges - I've created a separate page on my Girl on a Mission blog where I have noted, in full, the details of the IMMENSE task at hand and where I will be tracking and ticking off Challenge Hannah and my progress (OR NOT!!) to that open plane door!!}

Fortunately when one door closes, another one opens. Though if the door in question happens to be that of an aeroplane, then pray to God you are strapped to an experienced parachutist!! xx

An INTERMISSION in the programme - THOUGHTS please

BREAKING NEWS- my knees are shot after completing 90km in 9 days.

Despite my day nine run lasting 2 hours 30 mins - Nike sent me this message, from Ms Radcliffe no less:

I have no idea if Nike are correct in this assessment: It could well be the case as I had made arrangements to meet Lucinda at the 5km mark and to complete the run with her, but I SERIOUSLY doubt it as:
a) Despite RUNNING 10 mins LATE (hahaha!!) and so trying to make up this time, b)  pushing through the tiredness c) feeling the pressure to run well with Lucinda, I still d) didn't manage to crank out the 5km we were hoping to before class and instead e) had to settle on 3km, then f) pause the run to complete a circuit class with Mel - as you do!! before g) finishing the remaining 2 km later on.  If this is the secret to my fastest 10km time to date - well I'll be damned.

The Nike Sportsband cannot cope with a circuit training class mixed into a run so I can't show you a great run profile:

I assure you there were walking breaks in this - despite Nike brushing these under the carpet.

Despite my BEST SECRET WEAPONS to keep my slightly creaky knees on their best possible running form, like so:

From left to right...

1. All purpose vitamins and Echinacea - to boost my immune system and derail people's attempts to give me their ghastly germs 

2. Joint Flex - Max Strength (really for elderly people with 60-70 year old joints) taken 20 days prior and all through challenge

3. Cowshed's Knackered Cow Lavender Body Oil - my knees have never been so pampered

4. CherryActive Concentrate - this is basically pure ANTIOXIDANTS - the highest antioxidant foodstuff in the world and recommended for cardiovascular health, healthy joints and muscular repair and recovery. Great mixed in plain yoghurt, slightly gag worthy in H2O, impossible to swallow neat.

5. Organic Salmon - I've been eating about 4 portions of salmon a week to help keep my joints lubricated.

However despite all this - my knees are in a dire state.  It's a miracle they lasted this long - actually it's not, see 1-5 above!!  Fortunately my knees are NOT causing me serious pain - they are just stiff, very tired and a bit uncomfortable e.g. the pressure of crossing my legs when sitting is not good, or sleeping on my side with my knees slightly bent does not feel great either and yesterday, when I got out of bed, just walking was making my knees ache.

Yesterday I did attempt a 10km run as the running itself does not hurt once I'm on the move but after running just over 1km and just knowing that my knees were knackered and having Dr Christian Jessen's Evening Standard Article in my head was enough to FREAK the hell out of me and make me decide to walk 10km for today.

It feels like a MASSIVE personal defeat as I REALLY wanted to get to double digits and say I ran 100km in 10 days. But at the same time I cranked out 90km in 9 days, 80km more than I've ever attempted at one time so that in itself is a small achievement.

Today I'm on another "give my poor knees a goddamn rest" day - so no running, squatting, lunging, ANYTHING for me today, just some gentle walking.

But tomorrow's the LOVE Run and I will complete the four costumes I'm responsible for and my own AWESOME though slightly heavy costume!! AND be RUNNING 10km, IF IT KILLS ME. Hopefully Saturday will also mark the return to running 10km everyday for a 10 day stint minimum and hopefully to the end of February without further hindrance, but I'm not so certain......

What I'm not sure about and would LOVE YOUR input on is:

a) Whether I should chalk up days missed to being an inexperienced runner who just has no idea what her body is capable and incapable of and just try to crank out as many 10kms in February as possible.

b) Add any 10kms missed to the end and continue into March to complete the 280km distance I set for myself.

c) Allow myself to substitute other activity - walking, biking, swimming - for a 10km run periodically, when my knees just can't cope with running

d) ADMIT DEFEAT - this is clearly wayyyyyyyyyyyy beyond me and I have essentially already failed my challenge

e) Other???

Thoughts on a postcard, FB, telepathy etc - MOST GRATEFULLY APPRECIATED xx

p.s. Rubbish Lungs - 1 : Creaky Knees  - 0 (A tiny victory in itself!!)

p.p.s. Does anyone know of a great ointment/ remedy for sore knees that doesn't involve ice??

A Running Proposition - Februlous Day 8

I want to say I lasted a whole 3 mins in the ice bath, but it was probably more like 2 mins 10 secs. It is recommended that you stick it out for 10 mins for maximum effect. But it is obv. SERIOUSLY UNPLEASANT and worse, time freezes as your body freezes. That was the longest two mins of my life, even despite keeping on my woolly running hat for warmth. I can’t now remember the pain of the cold, just trying to slow my breathing down to under 60 breaths a minute and keeping my legs moving under the water a) to ensure they kept functioning and b) to slosh some of the ice water over my quads – next time I need to add a bit more water to the bath!! I reluctantly say "next time" as I think even two minutes of icy immersion has made a difference. The muscles in my legs were definitely firing better during this morning’s run. It was far from easy, but having two fuctioning legs makes a massive difference!! Hopefully the threat of another ice bath torture session is enough to keep the legs on their best behaviour for at least another week.

I was back running with my rucksack today after three days rest!! Mainly to ensure that I have clean DRY clothes to wear post run and that I eat a healthy lunch of homemade salad rather than the customary two bought sandwiches or a sandwich and sushi. But the winds have died down and the sun was out and with it Spring peaking out from it's Winter guise. Running aside, it was BLISSFUL to be out in the sunshine ODing on Vitamin D, filling my lungs with London smog.

Day 8: 1 hour 12 mins on my Home to Waterloo route. Run included a bit of a sprint finish in a desperate bid to keep this run under 1 hour 15 mins, as I could hear Big Ben tolling 9am.

I'm a bit ashamed of this performance - I need, should and have to do better.  

Right now I feel like I'm cheating with all these walking breaks.

In truth I didn't realise there were so many.  

Tomorrow it's continuous running ALL the way. Come what may.

Run highlight: Being propositioned by Scooter Boy at the 3 km mark.

Pic courtesy of ESRF

Imagine the scene: I am holding myself up via the pedestrian crossing panel, gasping and looking tres dignified, waiting for the lights to change, when Scooter Boy raises his visor and starts talking to me.

I can see him speaking to me but I have literally no idea what he was saying – on account of there being no blood going to my ears or brain at this stage in the run. Lights change just as he’s about to get off his scooter and I relinquish my hold on the lamp post and plod on.

In hindsight I imagine that he was suggesting either:

1. I need to take it easy as I look like I’m having a heart attack but that fortunately he knows CPR


2. Am I being chased by a murderous raving lunatic as I am clearly not on a health improving jog?


3. Do I realise I’ve drooled down my jacket?


4. I’m about to send the lamp post toppling, leaning on it like that


5. Do I need a lift to A+E?

Just one of life’s little mysteries, that and the concept of ever achieving a sub hour 10km PB. xx

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - Februlous Day 6 AND 7

THE GOOD:

• First week of the challenge is complete - only 210km to go. Mega YAY though I have no idea HOW I'm going to keep this up for another THREE weeks. I am SPENT/ verging on crazy delirium.


• I had my best ever SOLO 10km run EVER yesterday: 1 hour 8 mins which included LOTS of long, and dare I say it, COMFORTABLE run sections (though it was not without an unfortunate incident - see The Bad) 

Route of my near perfect 10km solo run

 Corresponding Nike Run Profile - getting better at this running continuously thing

• I've already got two sponsors for my Action Duchenne (Muscular Dystrophy) LOVE Run this Saturday - THANK you Sophie and the Hare.  I would love to raise £100 for this Brilliant Charity - FYI they even called me on Friday to check I had my Race Pack - how AMAZING is that - a total race first?! To find out more about Action Duchenne and the work they do check here.  EVEN better, pledge a couple of pounds and visit my donation page.   GOOD karma and lots of LOVE guaranteed to all who help me get to my target. 


• I've made it to Nike's Orange Level - whatever that means - Apparently I'M AN A.T.H.L.E.T.E!!        

THE BAD:

• Yesterday I realised how selfish and tunnel visioned this running challenge has made me:  Shoshana and I set off for Sunday Run Club yesterday, battling full on head winds to cross Hyde Park. But after 2 km, Shoshana landed on her ankle and after stopping momentarily, checking she was ok, Shoshana commenced running again but she quickly realised it was a no go so had to pull out. I'm really ashamed to admit this, but after seeing if she was really ok - no blood/bone poking out I just kept going.  Shoshana I'm so sorry for deserting you - I wasn't really thinking properly.  I have checked and Shoshana did make it home OK. NO THANKS to me.  Shosh - I'm serious about what I said about buying you a pair of fabulous "I'm sorry for being a total jerk" shoes.  You and me are off to Selfridges for me to apologise properly.


• I weighed myself yesterday to discover that I have put on 4lbs - IN A WEEK.  Time to cut out the crisps, pasta and cheese that this running has fooled me into thinking is ok and remember what a vegetable is.


• After two days of brilliant 10kms, today's 10km run was heart stoppingly AWFUL and 1 hour 18 mins long - I was really crawling along/ getting my comeuppance for yesterday's bad behaviour.  I'm really suffering with tiredness (after getting up at seven am today, completing a job application, I went back to bed till eleven (the joys of redundancy!!) BUT I STILL feel knackered) Additionally both my quads and hamstrings have ceased up MASSIVELY making running REALLY tough going/ a tad ouchy.  This is despite spending 15 mins post yesterday's run stretching everything out properly TWICE and thinking I'd made a good job of it.

Whilst it looks like I gave up running multiple times, I like to think that I kept forcing myself to run when I literally didn't have any more run in me ;-))



THE UGLY:


• I was hoping I wouldn't need to resort to this until at least the three week mark but it's no good - my leg muscles need desperate assistance recovering from these runs so it's time to try an ICE BATH.  I want to emphasise that I'm not a fan of the cold unless I'm skiing. I hyperventilate when I'm 10 feet away from cold water and I'm also really susceptible to pneumonia. Actually I'm shivering just typing this but unfortunately needs must. So warning you now, if you hear a high pitched wail from the NW6 region - don't panic - it's just me freezing slowly.





If you don't hear from me tomorrow - also don't panic - I'll just still be trying to prise my frozen arse off what I'm sure is a metal bath, in our flat. xx





p.s. Please do donate a few pennies to Action Duchenne - this challenge is seriously testing me. No joke. ;-)) xx

A Februlous 10km PB!!

My first accompanied Februlous run AND my first Februlous PB - it CANNOT be a coincidence:

A traffic stop 8.5km in - AJ and PT still looking indecently perky!! xx

AJ, PT and I set off from Sloane Square for today's 10km route a little after 9.30am. It was immediately obvious that I have now got to the stage in Februlous when I need to be accompanied at all times, as I was all set to head off in completely the wrong direction, despite having drawn the route out and explaining it to the girls moments prior. Thank god for quick witted AJ!

My Homemade Route Map!!

The run felt quite fast overall and as PT and AJ were letting me set the pace - I was REALLY feeling the pressure not to crawl along as I normally do!! Thanks girls for kicking me out of my comfort zone. Additionally there were definitely less walking breaks compared to my Februlous 10km runs so far. First break - 3km in - YAY. Thanks girls for running with me - despite being unable to chat whilst running - having friends there makes SUCH a massive difference to my run performance. And despite battling gales, really tight quads {- is it a bad thing that they feel like rocks?} and a mammoth blister at the 9km mark - we all ran a GREAT time.

PT and I deposited AJ back at Sloane Square - the 9km mark - so that Jo could rescue her car. Jo you ran 9km in 57 mins!!!!!! You're not called AWESOME JO for nothing.  My friends at Nike have this to say to you:

Departing, AJ's instructions were "to keep running" and PT really stepped up to the mark in a BIG way as I was flagging massively. PT challenged me to up the pace and to keep up with her and she even got a SPRINT FINISH out of me. AMAZING. Especially as this was PT's first long run in about three months. You go girl!

A much less erratic run profile!!

PT and I crossed the 10km line in 1 hour 6 minutes - OH YEAH!!! Plus as the brilliant PT works opposite our Harvey Nics finish line, I was even rewarded with one of the best drinks of water ever - the perfect and much needed cure to extreme nausea post sprint-finish. THANKS PT - plus I HEART your office and not just it's amazing location post today's run. It's like my spiritual home - all RAINBOW colours and snacks-a-plenty - any jobs going perchance ;-))!?!

AJ and PT: A winning Februlous combination. xx

I'm a Marathon Runner!! Februlous Day 4

WOOP I've just RUN my first Marathon. NEVER. thought. I'd. type. those. words!!

OK -  so the Marathon was over four days and broken into manageable chunks but it feels good knowing that's how far I've run and surprisingly even after just four days of this challenge, I can say I definitely feel fitter - my legs are stronger and last night's three sets of high knees didn't completely knacker me like normal. Yay for little victories plus only seven more Marathons to go til I can retire!!

Today's run took me 1 hour 17 mins but I actually ran 10.7km as I took a different route today and didn't want to be caught short:

I completed the first 5km in 32 minutes which I'm totally chuffed about, particularly as there were a couple of walks included in that which I'm hoping to eradicate next week. But then I went slightly off the rails for the latter half - which I'm not so chuffed about. Rather than getting a much needed second wind, I spent 40 minutes battling head winds and my general ineptitude at long distance runs.

One thing I did notice today is that I run so much better on pavements alongside traffic, compared to running in the park on my own, for any great distance. In the park I end up giving up and walking FAR too frequently but running alongside traffic, I seem to feel the need to KEEP running with all those eyes on me and cars to keep up with! Vanity is a great cure for laziness!! and yes I can outrun a car in London traffic ;-))

Nike demonstrates my erratic inability to keep running with startling honesty!!:

I'm fairly sure my heart rhythm was equally erratic!! 

I'm hoping to flatten this line out by the end of this challenge.

Plus when I uploaded today's run off the Nike Sportsband - this is what greeted me:

Nike are clearly psychic!!

p.s. Sunday Run Club is happening this weekend - I would love, love, love some company to ensure I start to iron out all these walking blips and to prevent me dying from boredom. I can't stop now - still 7 more Marathons to go!  For this weekend's run details check out: Sunday Run Club I promise I won't make you run a Marathon on your first run!! xx

Day 3. 'Nough said!!

I’m still shocked that I pushed myself through another 10km this morning after just 6 hours sleep (Really do NOT recommend). I really don’t know where this determination and persistence is coming from. It is most unlike me. Admittedly, today was hard going or rather the last 1.5km seemed to last forever. Plus my left knee was making its displeasure at Februlous known but as it was more of a grumble at so much use, rather than pain, I pressed on.

I was fully expecting and prepared to come in at the 80 min mark so was pleasantly surprised and a tad shocked to discover that I completed today’s 10km in 1 hour 12 mins. YAY.

I also gave the Nike+ Sportsband a test run today. It measured 6.85 miles, 11.15 min pace, 1 hour 17 mins and 742 kcals burnt. I should add that I only remembered to switch off the band after stretching out hence the time differential. Plus I have some calibration issues to work out. If only I was running 6.8 miles in 1 hour 12 mins!!

Proof especially for Zaadi - these runs are real!! xx

Although today was hard work, I felt like I was working hard and it showed (and I’m fairly sure you could smell me from 20 feet away and not in a good way) - I arrived at my destination a completely sweaty mess.

So dignified. So glamorous. So me.

I can’t decide if today’s post run dishevelment was the effect of some slightly warmer Winter weather (please stay like this just for another 25 days, please, please, please); all this cardio; proof that I’m running faster (if you ignore the walking breaks) or just that normally in my regular training sessions I’ve gotton lazy and not been pushing myself hard enough?

I‘ll soon find out if it’s the latter – tonight is Thursday Thrashing Circuits but I’m hoping to plead my case and substitute running for skipping. Left knee – I hear ya!! xx

p.s. LOVEheart Update:

I should add that the reason I’m a tad tired today is that I was having too much fun making LOVEheart costumes last night. After a bit of indecisiveness over the immense PINK fabric choices on offer and infinite design possibilities {more PINK, pink on pink, pimped out pink?} – some brilliant LOVEhearts started to emerge from the chaos. It was truly chaos - I kid you not, our living room has NEVER seen the like ;-)) But it was so worth it. You can judge the initial design concepts for yourself:

Intense concentration: Cat hard at work

Gemma showing off her FAB design skills

CJ showing off her rad eye for colour - just wait till you see the finished product!!

Ellie - Catch her if you can!

Kaye keeping her final design schtum - can't wait to see it though 

If anyone is feeling jealous and would like to join in as a LOVEheart – it’s not too late - I would love to get three more people on board. Plus men are very welcome. I’ll even pretend you are doing it against your will ;-))

I Will Survive - Februlous Day 2

Second 10km done - in 1 hour 12 mins. Only 26 more runs to go.

Eye still firmly on the prize: SELF-R.E.S.P.E.C.T. (i.e. not giving in before Lucinda!!)
 
This morning it became apparent that stretching post runs is NO LONGER optional if I'm going to make it to day 28 OR wish to retain any long-term leg functionality. YEOUCH.
 
Despite feeling tired, not in the mood to run anywhere and as stiff as a board this morning - I kept plugging on. Mainly because failing on Day 2 is not an option. To be clear - I can't describe my efforts as amazing running, rather:

Step 1: Drag self as far and as quickly as you can force yourself to go 
Step 2: Wheezily recover/walk for no more than 20 seconds
Step 3: Repeat Step 1 and 2 until you reach final 10km destination 
Step 4: COLLAPSE
 
However I did have one running breakthrough this morning - I've finally decided on/ remembered my Power Song. 
 
After researching all different kinds of run track programmes earlier this week as: 
a) I feel like I need to be fully accountable and prove that I am actually running the distance 
b) My memory is RUBBISH and quadrouply so when I'm in the early stages of oxygen deprivation ;-))
c) I want to start tracking my pace properly and so guilt myself into cutting out all these walking breaks once and for all
 
During this research, I discovered that one of the more covetable features of the various run track programmes on the market is a quick click access to your pre-selected Power Song - the perfect remedy to help you up your run tempo when you feel like you're flagging. Really the musical equivalent of getting your butt kicked.
 
Clearly if I had this function, my power song would be on non-stop repeat for the next 26 days.
 
Here's mine (No, it's not Gloria Gaynor) but WHAT'S YOURS? xx

 

FEBRULOUS is off to a FABULOUS start

Clearly the prayers and good wishes (THANK YOU - your support means A LOT xx) worked their magic: My first Februlous 10km is complete. WOOP. It wasn’t an amazing 10km – there were a few (ahem) too many walking breaks for my liking - but I did it and in 1 hr 16 minutes no less.

Fortunately, I have another 27 attempts to perfect my 10km run!! My Februlous goal (aside from surviving) is to complete the 10km Eton time trail on the 26th February in 55 minutes, i.e. cutting 20 mins off my current time and yes:

Rather hard work, sweat and persistence will get me over that finish line in 55 minutes on the 27th February.  Just wait and see ;-))

To be honest, it was a little bit of a shock that I completed today’s 10km without too much fuss, as the concept of running a 10km commute has been SUCH a mental block for me, even despite wanting to master this for about 5 months.

In actual fact this morning’s run passed in a blur – not because I am a speedy runner (that much is self-evident!!) but because I spent about 25 minutes wrestling with AudioFuel’s 180 beats Interval Training programme. Their Interval Programme is deceptively challenging but so distracting and a brilliant workout to boot – By the close of the week I intend to have perfected AudioFuel’s 180 beats pyramid interval before embarking on AudioFuel's 200 beats pyramid next week.

[As a baseline reference, this morning I managed about 30 seconds of the 90 second top level interval of the 180 beat pyramid (i.e. a fast run but not quite a "full out, give it everything you’ve got" sprint) before I started seeing stars!! Please don’t think too badly of me, I had been running for about 40 minutes prior to attempting this. But yes, ordinarily as a rule, I am that pathetic!!]

Nonetheless lean, keen running machine – here I come!! xx

FEBRULOUS TRACKER

Pre-Mission 3 stats - Janathon Day 31

Phew - I somehow unbelievably made it to the end of Janathon - YABBA DABBA DOO. Though I will miss the Janathon cameraderie.

But wait, the end of Janathon marks the beginning of my third and SCARIEST Mission to date - FEBRULOUS or "INSANITY" (as my friends have taken to calling it!) = 28 days of running 10km a day.

I can't begin to explain how nervous I am - so voila:

1 part excitement: 1,000,000,000 parts trepidation.

Time for some pre-3rd-mission stats:
Weight: 10 stone 2lbs
Waist Measurement: 93cm/ 36 in
Distance ran during Janathon: 61.5km (that's exactly 61.5km more than I ran last January!!) Though I must pause a second to note that the winner of Janathon, Gary Vallance, ran 711km/ c. 400 miles!! during Janathon.  God I REALLY hope they don't rank us!!
Number of 10km completed in 2011: 0 (Saturday's 9.8km was pretty close though)
Number of Circuit/ Interval Sessions completed during Janathon: 16
Level of confidence I can pull this 3rd Mission off: 0.0000000001%
Potential number of kcals I will burn if I complete Februlous: Assuming you burn 100 kcals for each mile you run and Februlous = 168 miles. Number of kcals I will burn = 16,800 or 5lbs!!!
Ambition: If I somehow make it through Februlous, please can I be miraculously transformed to look like so:

I would kill to look like this OR Jessica Alba - I'm not fussy!!

Ever since I read the Para Fitness Guide by Major Sam McGrath a couple of weeks ago, one thought has lingered in my head, which has been haunting me, BIG TIME. To paraphrase the Major - to maximise your chances of completing a race/ fitness challenge, you should aim to complete 80% of your fitness challenge one month prior. Training is mental as well as physical. Then again completing 80% of a fitness challenge before you have to sounds MENTAL to me.

During Janathon I completed 61.5km - about 20% of my gruelling 280km Februlous target. Clearly, I am somewhat short of the mark ERGO this is going to be painful. Very painful indeed. Thankfully Lucinda is showing her support and is joining me in my 10km a day challenge for the first week. I am weak-at-the-knees grateful to have an ally in this.

I must now go say some last minute prayers:

Please let me survive the first day of Februlous
Please miraculously increase the temperature from 2 to 12 degrees, o Weather Gods, to enable me to breathe whilst running tomorrow. 
Pretty please let me survive the first day of Februlous
{Repeat x 1000}

Please do send me a prayer (and more importantly, one for baby Arthur Eccles too) xx

Arthur is only a week old but already has his own BRILLIANT blog, not to mention HUGE following - www.arthureccles.blogspot.com

Then again he is a MAJOR cutie!! xx

Eddie, Izz {this too} ‘ard?

The last couple of days have been peppered with colleagues' and friends’ delectable musings about my latest challenge. To be honest, I have been slightly taken aback by people’s reactions to HOW insane/ brave I must be – who knew dressing as a LOVEheart was so potentially hazardous?! – I have dressed up as much worse –believe me!

Actually it seems that the “running 10km everyday for a month” is proving the surprisingly controversial bit of my February challenge. Me insane – without a doubt, but brave - umm N.O. - I’m still the exact same, lazy, creaky-kneed, wimpish, unfit soul who loathes running; hence the need for a mammoth challenge just to scare me into training over winter.

However when expert fitness professionals or proficient marathon runners distance themselves from your challenge and simultaneously commend you on your ambition to run 10km everyday for a month – you do start to worry JUST A LITTLE that you have somehow unwittingly left the “get fit and fabulous camp” and arrived at “no man’s land”. Personally speaking, the notion of running 10km everyday is not a patch on completing even ONE Marathon in my book. Plus I see, seemingly sane people with their backpacks running to work every single day – so it can’t be sooooo impossibly hard – can it?!

To be honest I feel EXACTLY the same as when I embarked on my Moonwalk training many moons ago or my first 10km race or latterly, Commando Challenge: BLISSFULLY IGNORANT. Seriously, pre-kicking off the Moonwalk training, I struggled to grasp whether it was even PHYSICALLY possible to walk 10km to and from work every day. Sad to say, I was (and am still) THAT clueless when it comes to new fitness hurdles. When you are not a habitual athlete or have any discernable fitness habits whatsoever, you essentially have no baseline reference for whatever you sign up to fitness wise. Not so long ago I had never run 10km in my life; similarly, I have clearly never run 10km everyday for a month. If I pull this off, I’m 1000000% convinced that I’ll NEVER run 10km everyday for a month EVER again. But at the moment it doesn’t feel like a bad idea as it just doesn’t feel real. When people look aghast at what I’m proposing to do, I can only assume YOU are the heroes!!! since you are clearly all SUPERathletes, intimately aware of the exact hell that lies in store for me.

Right now, I’m still trying to figure out HOW to most effectively train for a challenge like this – since I am TOTALLY clueless – I decided to turn to a fellow champion runner for inspiration. But forget Paula Radcliffe, Usain Bolt, Paul Tergat (marathon world record holder 2:04:55!! peeps) or Rosie Swale Bolt (ran round the world – 20,000 miles!!), there is only one person’s experiences who I truly feel comfortable using as my reference guide.

That of course is fellow (though admittedly FAR, FAR, FAR superior) novice turned proficient runner; Mr Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man.

I bow down before you Eddie.

If Eddie, at aged 47, with flat feet and no history of running can complete 43 marathons (1,110 miles) around the UK in 51 days with only 9 weeks preparation time, it is ONLY logical that in 9 weeks I can train to complete 10km a day for 28 days.

In all honesty, by comparison, I’m taking a REALLY soft option!! So THANK YOU Eddie for helping to restore my blind faith that ANYTHING is possible – even if, like me, you are a COMPLETE novice idiot, oops I meant runner!! xx

I love Eddie's 15 marathon vs 20 marathon remark!