Running PBs

AJ - my Running Hero and newly crowned 10km Champion

Well first off I have to mention, whilst hopping in complete delight, that AJ OBLITERATED the sub hour 10km PB barrier today and I couldn't be more psyched for her. AJ has been so tantalisingly close to this mammoth milestone on a few occasions recently and today her continual, unfailing and extraordinary perseverance paid off. WAHOO. I shall pretend AJ's AWESOME accomplishment had nothing to do with me not being there to slow her down ;-))

I can only imagine AJ's delight at her new 59.10 min 10km PB. That is if she isn't already sleeping off the celebratory champers! Well done girlie. So, so proud of you.

Inspired as always by AJ and her new PB, I tied up my own laces, slapped some sun cream on my shoulders and off I set....

... 35 minutes later I collapsed on one of the swings at the park near my home (swinging back and forth is a BEST ever cool down for the legs) and rejoiced in covering over 5km. 5km!!!!!!!!!!! My longest run Stateside!!!! OK so I walked bits of it - I got a stitch a couple of times (eating too much at once today - yummy lunchtime burrito! and running too soon after dinner), I also ran into a huge cloud of flies - soooooo gross and FYI: it was still 95 degrees despite being evening (although thankfully the sun wasn't beating down). Plus on the advice of my Texan friend, I abandoned my original proposed local running route and instead ran across the local golf course (freshly mown grass and so lush) so all things considered I couldn't be happier with today's performance.

Longest run in ages. Thanks AJ and CONGRATULATIONS and CELEBRATIONS on your incredible PB - that is going to take some beating! xx

My new home in Texas

Moved into my incredible home-for-three-months today, located in the cutest oasis of surburbia in FW, Texas. My new home is admittedly a tad insane for just (oh how I wish I were littleler) me: three bedrooms, four bathrooms, three fridges (note to self: must not fill them all with food!!), a bar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, nineteen chairs and a sink with a waste disposal unit. Does life house-sitting get any better?!

Yes, I am most excited about the waste disposal unit and figuring out HOW these things work!! Yes. my  Texan friend already thinks I'm nuts. On that note can pistachio shells go down the waste disposal unit - what are the rules - see: OBSESSED!!

I love my new temporary home; I'm just a tad worried I'm going to forget where I put all my stuff as there are just so many options:

Which shelf to use in the closet - too much choice!?

OR do I just need MORE clothes?!

From paisley bedsheets to grrrrrrrrr!!

I'm guessing this place was a bachelor pad in a previous life

Well welcome to the temporary bachelorette pad ;-))

A taste of American surburbia for you

- This is the view from the desk where I am writing to you from.

Well like any self-respecting keep fit wannabe. I forwent unpacking my suitcase until I can decide about the multiple shelf situ and instead marked out a run route, copied it onto a piece of paper then set off AND IMMEDIATELY GOT LOST and ended up in a graveyard. As you do. Cartography is clearly a skill I don't possess. 

This was the proposed 4km route

My target is to complete this route in 27 mins, despite the 90+ degree heat, sometime before I leave!!

I will try again later/ tomorrow when the temp is below 1000 degrees ;-)) 

Well busy bee that I am, I am off to try out chair numero four of nineteen, to try not to swallow any more ice cubes whole (ouchy) and to hatch a plan to meet enough people in this town to throw a parrrrrrty and put the bar to good use.  xx

p.s. Hopefully this is one post my benevolent hostess with the mostest (seriously NOT kidding - you have to check out my dear friend's own CASA INCREDIBLE - it was tooooough leaving this morning!) is way too busy to peruse until I figure out what the etiquette is on throwing a party in a place that's not technically yours ;-) 

Time to SUPERsize my training

I LOVE this card SOOOOOOO much

Equals parts inspiration and giggles

Thanks Sarah xx

Today was my last day in Nashville and as the temperature was in the 80s { balmy ;-)) } to celebrate, I went for one final run along my now familiar 2km Green Hills route.

Just one major flaw - I forgot my music on my run which I only realised once I'd made it to the top of the hill and there was no way I was going back for le shuffle only to shuffle up the hill AGAIN so I persevered on. Just.

It's true what they say that working out to music minimises the perception of effort. Today's run felt like hard work. Totally ridiculous since it was only 2km. I was hoping that my very gentle reintroduction to running would demonstrate some progression even if it is really, really minor.

1st and 2nd Nashville Runs:

3rd and 4th Nashville Runs:

Not sure there's anything to say except I did indeed go for four very gentle runs this past week. What is clear is that I have to get serious about the run training if I am truly serious about my half marathon goal this summer. I need to learn to push myself way past the 2km mark even if I am running solo or in a strange neighbourhood. I also have to find a more structured training plan to follow and mix the distances, speeds etc up stat. This also means getting back to more strength orientated work outs - I miss press ups and my legs are feeling the lack of squats and lunges.  Trying out the highly recommended although slightly hardcore phenomenon that is 'Crossfit' is becoming an all too real possibility.

In the interim I wonder where I can get a AJ replica hologram running buddy OR a weightlifting hamster wearing sparkly pink spandex?! ;-)) xx

My first US run {and I didn't combust}!!

It’s been a week since I’ve done any training at all and boy when I woke up this morning I felt it. American food is not kind if you’re trying to avoid ODing on carbs and sugar. Despite frequenting some of the best joints in town, the food has been a disappointment. Yucky salads drowning in dressing is the closest to healthy I’ve sampled. I MISS VEGETABLES!! Apparently there is a Whole Foods store at the out of town mall so I’m heading there pronto.

The obesity normalcy you see here on a daily basis is heartbreaking and conscious that I now have a TV body to keep in shape ;-)) I strapped on my trainers, said a silent prayer that I’d make it to the end of the driveway at least, and headed out.

That last step is the MOST IMPORTANT and the hardest – so wahoo success.

Pre-run: slightly nervous grin!

Post run

The camera never lies - it might have been a mini run but I am a tad knackered!!

That's better: Game face is back on!!

Run profile - guess which sections I walked!?

Note: the first km was all uphill - VERY proud ;-))

I lasted 20 mins and ran about 1.5km in total (my immediate neighbourhood is a tad hilly and full of mansions  or maybe just ‘supersized houses for supersized people’). 1.5km may not be much but it’s something and I already feel so much better – if a little wobbly. Hopefully drinking a gallon of ice-cold water should solve that.

The best thing about running outside in the US – is that everyone treats you as a complete novelty – cars, trucks, EVERYTHING pull over and get out of your way as you pass – SWEET or maybe I just appear to run like Phoebe in Friends?! In a way runners are a novelty here: Since I’ve arrived in Nashville three days ago, I’ve only seen two other people running outside.

The second best thing about running in the US – is that running up a sweat is immediate (thanks 94 degree temp) and entering an air conditioned room afterwards is pure died-and-gone-to-heaven-BLISS.

1.5 km down and on my way to completing my 5km running non-stop in Texan heat challenge in July!! xx

Wet but Epic Wednesday Run

I'm feeling P.U.M.P.E.D as today I genuinely feel that my running is starting to come together - just as well as the 10km time trial is only two weeks away. This is even despite the fact that I've done basically NO running since a Learn to Run Training Session eights days ago and even despite the fact that I've been ignoring countless reminder emails to get running as per my schedule.

Get Ready: Exhibit A. I ran the outside track on the warm up laps at this morning's training session - normally I hug the trees as closely as I can to cut the distance as much as possible and even then I fall behind the others. But not today. WOOP.

Get Set: Exhibit B. I ran the full 0.5km lengths non-stop during this morning's training session and even kept up and just managed to overtake Shosh during the last 0.5km length despite starting a few yards behind her. It may sound silly but the 0.5km runs that have been making a regular appearance into group training sessions have made a MASSIVE difference to my fitness and running stamina and BONUS they are not scary offputting like the 1km runs sometimes feels.  Keep on at us Mel to keep running!!

GOOOOOOO: Exhibit C. AJ and I ran 6km non-stop post work even in the inclement weather and you know what I was slightly leading on AJ!!!!! Can you believe it?! Don't worry Hell hasn't frozen over......yet. Plus Saturday's exciting training plans will reverse this new development pronto and I will be back to trailing AJ as usual! (Check back later in the week for the details. AJ has admitted that she's a little scared but honestly I think she'll LOVE what I have planned - hopefully ;-))  Overall it was a fairly gentle run this evening as it's been a while since either of us just ran continuously. But I'm convinced a) we could have picked up the pace AND b) that we could manage a longer distance c.8-10km no problems - but we took it easy for the benefit of AJ's vodka pasta lunch?! (Did I mishear?!) Most significantly for me, I even managed brief conversations with AJ whilst running. Yabbadabbadooooo.

PEOPLE I HAVE OXYGEN TO SPARE.  Today was a great day! xx

Just over 6km 

- though if Race for Life hadn't been on in Battersea Park we'd have done 8km for certain...AJ wouldn't have had a choice. 

I was just feeling kind today ;-)) !!

BONUS: I've finally remembered to charge my NikeBand 

AND remembered to set it to measure the run.

This is not as obvious and simple as it sounds 

- OK so it only has one button however it took me two tries to set it this evening!!

HONEST there was no stopping or walking 

- AJ even made me jog on the spot at the lights!!

Kit and Caboodle

The caboodle - "collection or group of people"

This is Lucinda and I, post our 30 minute run around St James' Park and Green Park this morning. The last time I ran continuously for more than 10 minutes (excluding the Love Run) was on the 9th February with Lucinda - what are the odds?? Thank you Miss Gorgeous Dimples for making this morning's run happen!

It was a really gentle jog today as, as you can tell from my pic, I'm about to have a heart attack any sec. Running for that long after such a long hiatus from running truly was a shock to my system - I had to sit down for 10 minutes after Lucinda left and wait for the feeling of imminent death and nausea to subside before I could go on my way. Fortunately aside from a slight headache and sore legs I am feeling almost like new.....now! Physical pain aside, I feel like superwoman ;-)

Lucinda is an amazing running partner - so entertaining and so convincingly legit about not minding even slightly about crawling along at my pace. It couldn't have been easy as FYI: Lucinda's normal running pace is probably double mine.  When you are a shockingly rubbish runner like moi - it can be so stressful running with good runners as trying not to slow them up is basically an impossibility and feeling like a failure is a certainty.  But I didn't feel like that once and never do when Lucinda is around. Though next time I need to cajole some equally brilliant runners to our Sunday Run Caboodle to ensure Lucinda gets run off her feet - I want to see Lucinda go equally luminous lobster colour!

Our 4.5km route. I can't seem to stay away from Buckingham Palace this weekend!

Next the Kit: As the past year has demonstrated, worryingly and uncharacteristically, I am not even slightly organised when it comes to hill walking. Typically I leave my brain, lunch, shoes, socks, water, anything and everything behind when I venture up a mountain. No idea why. But this time I am determined it will be different so I've started preparations early. 5 days early.

• Christine of NikeGrid Orienteering Fame has kindly lent me some kit in preparation for the 60km challenge next Saturday - specifically waterproof trousers and a head touch as modelled by yours truly:

 Chiaroscuro effect (that term alone is responsible for me passing my degree ;-)) :

 The light is soooooo bright - everything goes dark by comparison.

Thanks Christine xx

• The First Aid Kit - as I don't have the required first aid knowledge to know what to do with half the bandages, tape and other stuff on the recommended kit list, I used my initiative and devised my own first aid kit ;-))

From top down:

1. Deep Freeze Cold Patches  - for when my back gives in

2. Savlon Anaeseptic Wipes - for when I fall down a cliff face and get dirty

3. Adhesive Dressings - to prevent soiling the countryside with my blood

4. Compeed Medium & Small Blister Plasters and Compeed Anti-Blister Stick - err self explanatory

5. Strepsils - to alleviate sore throat of 12+ hours of chatting with Han

6. Savlon Cream - for when I get bitten by a grass snake or any kind of bug

7. Nivea Hand Cream - remedy for painful swollen fingers/ really dry skin from over exposure

8. Magicool Body and Face Cooling Spray - for sunburn and for scaring off any four legged wildlife that might be tempted to eat me.

8. Jointace Gel - for when the deep freeze effect wears off.

Will also be adding  Jelly Babies to the First Aid Kit - purely medicinal of course - to combat blood glucose dips.  For any real emergencies I'm calling 999.  

Han - anything I've overlooked? 

Now all I have to do is remember to pack the first aid kit!!

• Lastly kit wise, I decided that I am long overdue for some new training kit a) to give my training buddies something different to look at b) just for surviving this morning's run c) to inspire me to run more and d) to remedy the hideous tan lines my teeshirts have given me - check out the goodies:

I like bright colours!!

Well I'm now prepared for walking during the night or a solar eclipse, through a flood, dealing with 'Girl on a Mission' medical emergencies and trotting down a fitness fashion catwalk/ attending a rave  - so that's the whole kit and caboole. xx

Running – what’s that again?

With all these Marathons – Paris, Brighton, London, Belfast, Boston abounding at the mo (Tomorrow Han and I are actually testing out all 26.2miles of the London Marathon course for all you Virgin ;-) Marathoners  – so check back tomorrow for the course lowdown) – I (and my waistline) am very eager to get back running AND RACING – nothing beats that feeling of crossing the finish line despite the agony, disbelief and AGONY ;-)) . Plus there is the small matter of this bet with Challenge Hannah that involves me completing a 10km in 55 mins and completing a ½ marathon by the 31st October and I have yet to get off the starting blocks.

So with this in mind – and this morning’s Sport weekly coming to the rescue, I have made some positive steps in shaking off my running apathy – well this was the most painless part after all!!

a) I registered on http://www.homerunlondon.com/ and I urge you ALL to do likewise - I only wish this had existed when Lucinda and I were doing the Februlous challenge and during Janathon. These guys will guide you from your work to your home location – in a running environment that will accommodate your ability (more of a walker than a runner if you’re moi/ confident speedatron if you’re Lucinda, Jade, AJ, PT, Christine – really anyone bar moi!!) BUT BEST OF ALL – they will carry your bags for you – HEAVEN. LADIES. PURE HEAVEN.

So get signed up immediately as the more popular routes will be launched first – plus it literally is no pain, plenty of gain as they are offering EVERYONE a ONE MONTH FREE TRIAL!!!

b) I registered and created a training plan on http://my.asics.co.uk/

I'm slightly worried as my training plan states that if I work hard I should be able to achieve a time of 01:04:00 and if I work REALLY hard, I might be able to achieve a time of 00:59:00. It appears that my goal time of 00:55:00 is either an impossibility (MOST LIKELY) or just requires REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hard work. Either way - I have a feeling this is going to hurt. Asics were also of that opinion - cue their warning:

Quick pub quiz trivia: ASICS comes from the Latin phrase “Anima Sana In Corpore Sano”, meaning a “sound mind in a sound body” although anyone who admits they’re a runner cannot be of sound mind. (chortle, chortle)

c) I’ve narrowed down next 10km race choice to three finalists: My favourite is the Bupa London 10000 on the 30th May (Bank Holiday) as I can pretend that I am actually running the London Marathon since the course takes you past all the famous landmarks. The runner up race possibilities are either the South London 10km on the 22nd May or the Kingston 10km on the 5th June (a slightly flatter course than the Wimbledon race) as these two options might be a little less crowded and ergo facilitate a slightly faster race time. This rationale is all purely hypothetical btw – just getting myself to run non-stop for the entire race duration will basically take an act of God.

Anyway the choice is AJ’s as I’m hoping she’ll act as my speedy pacemaker. Feel free to comment below and leave your votes - AJ is susceptible to bribes.
Always. ;-)) xx

p.s. You are ALL welcome encouraged EXPECTED to participate in my next 10km attempt – don’t make me play the ‘last UK race til I return SOB SOB’ card, cos I will. That and I have a costume idea already – numbers permitting – GET EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!

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??

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 ;-))

Audio{Rocket}Fuel - Janathon Day 24

Yesterday I was picking fellow Janathoner Kaye's brains about her best running motivation tips and Audiofuel seem to come up trumps. Plus as AudioFuel is officially backing Janathon, I took heed and headed over to audiofuel.co.uk last night to have a look. I even downloaded their free tester Grid Mix track onto my ipod shuffle ready and waiting for this morning.  (Check here for a free sample)


I have to say that I was more than a bit sceptical as AudioFuel is essentially House/Garage music (sorry I don't know the difference) designed to get you running to the beat.  Garage/House music is my idea of HELL. I can’t bear it on the occasions when I’ve been out clubbing, so much so I don’t do the clubbing thing and running to House music really early in the morning sounds doubly hellish. But where running's concerned, I'm prepared (understand desperate enough) to try ANYTHING.


And you know what - I EAT MY WORDS - AUDIOFUEL is RUNNING ROCKET FUEL.


Running to the beat is actually REALLY UBER amazing - It makes running more of a fun game and I was so distracted by landing my feet on the beats - 165 beats per min that I forgot about my achy knees and sore hips, tiredness, the fact that I couldn't breathe, time checking OR even the heavy backpack on my back for a FULL 20 mins!!! Plus I really liked the coaching over the tracks  -great SEXY VOICE!! and the brief reminders and time checks are just the right amount of cheesiness to keep you focused AND giggling - some of the instructions are a tad bizarre; e.g. "give yourself lots of breath" - what does this mean?!


Although Audiofuel has made me excited to get running and hitting this week's 40km target, unfortunately Audiofuel hasn't resolved my hatred for House music. Case-in-point  "Virtual Voltage dum, dum, dum-dum-dum, to the beat" for 10 mins straight was doing my head in but the follow on track - Dance Satisfaction - had a Britneyesque vibe that I was quite getting into, so much so that the instruction to keep my head still had me looking over my shoulder!!


My one gem in an otherwise sucky day (Thanks Kaye) xx

The Hippy, Hippy Shake

*Meant to post the following yesterday but got distracted by Work Xmas Festivities. Oopsie but such fabulous fun ;-))*

Can’t even begin to tell you HOW happy I am today. This morning I actually managed to pull off running 5km to the SUPERchicks class as per my schedule. This doesn’t quite capture the magnitude of this personal achievement but put it this way, I've been wanting to pull this off for AGGGGESSSSSSSSS but I've been convinced that I'd never manage it in a million years.

It did take me 45 minutes and I did have three very brief walking breaks (c. 100 meters each) plus I did have literally NOTHING in my backpack (No Water, No Clothes, No Shoes and NO Pack Lunch) but most importantly I did it.

*Still. Have. A. MASSIVE. Grin. On. My. Face.*

Rather than bore you with my running route and which sections I managed to run, which I walked, as this is most definitely meaningless to anyone but me – and since I don’t have a lovely Garmin tracking system or something equally flash to monitor my running progress – I’ve devised a quick pictogram {courtesy of Excel} which should help indicate my progress if you’re interested and a regular follower.

The only slight hiccup with accomplishing the 5km run is that my left hip is now REALLY sore. This must be an omen. xx

Update: My hip is nearly back to normal. Hopefully the hip pain is something to do with my trainers needing to be replaced urgently rather than a sign that all the kitkat chunkies I've consumed recently are transforming me into a chunky hipped hippo! I'm hoping that Santa might take pity on me and gift a pair of go faster trainers along with the other item on my “Dear Santa” wish list; Nigella’s Cookbook. Pretty please Santa.

Today however, I now have the mother of all DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness – I had no idea what this was either until a few months ago). The cause of the DOMS is either the running, the gazillion squats Mel made me do Wednesday morning, not stretching properly post run or most likely a combination of all three.

The other thing I’ve noticed is that I am still feeling wiped from running part way to work even a day later – If I’m going to successfully cover double the difference every day for a month, it is clear I need to build up my stamina to Energiser Bunny proportions. For now though, I’m content with baby steps so it’s “5km run take two”  for le hippo tomorrow – providing it doesn’t ice over overnight otherwise I really will do myself an injury. xx