Racing from one race to the next!

AJ and Sarah pre-race. The look of confidence. LOVE IT.

Seriously this week has been a complete whirlwind. I'm actually just so thankful I've made it. NO LIE. When I wrote this week's to do list and four sides of A4 later the list still wasn't complete, I nearly had a mild heart attack. But I am now a to do list Queen - actually I'm the ALL DONE with a Shiny Bow on Top Queen (that is, until I write the list for this week of course!)

Here are just some of my shiny bow highlights - just in case you have had trouble sleeping ;-) I've moved out of my flat, the subletter is in situ and she is LOVELY, I have sorted currency, insurance, rebooked flights (courtesy of my way too smart friends and their Bar exams ;-)), I negotiated a £3million work contract in under a week, my suitcase is packed and now closes although lifting it is still a feat of science fiction - America has AJ to thank for the fact that I'm actually bringing a suitcase at all and not going travelling commando except for my everyday lycra getup. The suitcase would have been hurled out of the window, for sure, if lifting it more than a nanometer was a possibility. I LOATHE packing and I will continue to do so until the Mary Poppins/ Hermione's bag charm that automatically packs and sorts everything you own into a bag the size of a handbag and that weighs less than a kilo becomes a reality. To me this goal rivals world peace. Until then apparently I can buy everything I might need in America. Even shampoo. Thanks a million AJ! xx

BUT back to the business of this blog. Today was the long awaited 10km time trial (remember my bet to run 10km in 55 mins and under) well today was THAT day.  Unfortunately this week's manic to do list mania has full out knackered me and running wise I am only good for the scrap heap:

• My 5km attempt on Wednesday proved that much - I managed 3.75 km and that was with a 5 min full stop REST mid run; 


• Thursday training's 0.5km intervals confirmed this - I had to stop and walk as soon as I was out of sight (the old school gym trick)


• And yesterday brought the message home - people noticing that I was breathing like a steam train just whilst walking or sitting. 

Not a good sign. Lung meltdown at the worst possible time ever. A course of superstrong steroids, sleep and a 4 month holiday - wahooooo!!! will sort the breathing issues and ensure I don't actually suffocate any time soon BUT as steroids are essentially performance enhancing drugs - it seemed like an unfair advantage over AJ ;-)) - well that is if I could run more than 300 yards without needing to lie down and die.

LONG STORY SHORT - Sadly I limited my participation today to the pre-race warm up and being chief cheerleader. BUT AJ and Sarah were simply amazing. AJ pulled off such a solid 10km performance - 1 hour 5 mins!!!!, saving her sub hour 10km PB for when she and I go head to head 10km time trialling in October right?! ;-)) and Sarah restrained herself from running off with a cup...... but only just and only because this was her first race post toe break!

It was actually a delight being able to heckle - oops I meant encourage - the runners round the course - including a couple of my work colleagues who are seriously impressive runners - 41 min 10km anyone? INSANE.

But now for the real goodies of the day - the photos!!

The field lining up: 30-35 minute 10kers at the front

Wha............t the F*&@

Admiring the view

From my race position. 

The Glam Victors with their spoils.

Yes they ARE now sponsored by Capri-Sun! Only the best for the best!!

Unfortunately cups to drink from were only provided for the top three.

Next time Sarah, Capri-Sun shall be swigged from a cup - straws optional!

Very nice rankings!! 

AJ's run profile on the Nikeband - not set to her pace mind.

CHECK the superimpressive SPRINT FINISH

Two races this week and not a medal in sight for me. But important lessons learned none the less: Just like with food I have to learn that my enthusiasm is sometimes greater than what is physically good for me.

So I've pared down my next running goal in line with my current actual ability - for the next few weeks I will be working on being able to run 5km comfortably in 90-100 degree Texan heat in preparation for some real life running action with the legend that is Ben does Life. CANNOT FREAKING WAIT.

Similarly excitingly AJ is now working towards a kilomathon - 26.2km race - JO is always AMAZING!! and Sarah is half-marathoning it next weekend - cup glory will be hers for sure.

The race to be the best runners we can be NEVER ends! xx

Oh to have winged feet

Running with an official Marathon Pace Setter automatically gives you winged feet like so, right?

Well only for the first 6 mins by my experience on Monday:

Mostly I'm so happy that I didn't completely pull out of this practise pace session with the lovely AJ and Sarah (which was my default reaction when I woke on Monday) and that I at least attempted a 9 minute mile pace (which I didn't believe was even possible).

I did end up trotting about 500m behind AJ and Sarah which is not really the point of 'pacing' but hopefully a disasterous dress rehearsal makes for a perfect on-the-day performance. Keep everything crossed for me and Jo next Sunday.

*I should note that we did run further than the distance above - I just got so happy seeing that Sarah and AJ had stopped - I didn't realise they had stopped at AJ's car for a drink whilst I caught them up and that there was more distance and uphill at that to go. ;-((

Plus for my feeble efforts yesterday, I was outed today as I was spotted 'running' by a colleague. My colleagues only ever see me pre or post workout NEVER during - which is how I've managed to maintain my fitness rep alongside all these proMarathon runners. I am so thankful that I was spotted during one of the nanoseconds when I was actually running - as you see from above those moments are rare!

PLUS - BIG NEWS: If you are keen to get on the running bandwagon (I promise it is easier than I make it sound - I'm just a terrible moaner) and you're looking for an incentive to start running - Juneathon starts tomorrow - run and blog everyday in June -i.e. like Janathon just without the freezing temps and snow - for all the details of Juneathon check here. OR if you fancy something a little less insane for June, OneTwentyFive is commencing her lose 5lbs and run 5km in 30days as of tomorrow. Absolutely go check her out and her amazing resources STAT.

OneTwentyFive and I have identical love-hate-can't do relationships with running - this girl can literally do no wrong except suggesting periodically that she give up her blog and do real life instead! xx

I'm now good enough to eat

Seriously. Though WARNING: Very large appetite is a necessary pre-requisite ;-))

Don't worry I haven't discovered a newfangled cannibal diet, instead I discovered Burt's Bees Richly Replenishing Cocoa & Cupuaçu Butters Body Lotion during a desperate hunt for a remedy to halt the current snake like skin shedding of my sun burnt arms post my Brighton escapade - sorry waaaayyyyy TMI. 

Oh for smellovision

I'm not sure what Cupuaçu is but I do know that this lotion is amazing. I now have the lingering aroma of chocolate following me everywhere. I'm permanently happy and I've consumed zero calories in the process. It's like I've died and gone to heaven.

I read somewhere a while ago that scientists were working on a chocoholic cure based around a cocoa scent patch. Well I think they cracked it. Seriously no-one NEEDS to moisturise thrice daily!!

In other news - I am laid up in bed AGAIN due to upper back muscles twinges and a locked neck. My back went crazy just as I was walking past Big Ben on my way to work this morning. Han - you didn't perhaps hex the area/ me on our way past on Saturday (TEASING!) cos I, and the tourists who were cluttering up the pavement, are really truly sorry for impeding your super speedy Marathon walking progress (TEEEEEASING again!) Hopefully it's just bizarre DOMs in my shoulders and upper back from lugging my rucksack 31 miles on Saturday, rather than google's optimistic diagnosis of meningitis. :((

Regardless I am SERIOUSLY BUMMED not to be at training right now in the sunshine - the girls will be just warming up as I type this :"((  - and I'm bummed for three MAJOR reasons:

1.            Clearly I need to get strengthening my core and upper back STAT if my current injuries are rucksack related. The walking challenge is only three weeks away. This is no time to be skipping any Mel-tastic training sessions.

2.            Today AJ pinned down the 10km race - Kingston on the 5th June. Diaries out peeps and book it in and write "Sub hour record breaking 10km race" Yup - champers will be on ice ready and waiting.  To ensure that this is a record breaking race, SUPERsarah aka Marathon Pace Setter Extraordinaire has volunteered her services to pace set the sub-hour 10km - HOW SWEET IS SARAH?! 

I've raved about Sarah previously: Recap she is a dynamo Personal Trainer - if you are looking for a PT - look no further - this lady is HANDS DOWN AWESOME, not to mention a total hottie. When I become a Millionaire - I will so have this PT Goddess on speed dial alongside my other fav PTs!!  You might think I'm just being nice. But I'm actually impossibly hard to impress and I hate to say it but EVERY training sess I've had with this lady has been sheer brilliance; full on ouchy but brilliant. Request a boxing session - seriously you won't regret it. Actually you may in the short-term but afterwards - say hello to muscle shaping Nirvana.

Couldn't resist adding this epic vid of the lady in action 
- Prepared to be IMPRESSED

 For more awesomeness check her website

p.s. Told you - she's HOTTTTTT!! xx

I've also just remembered why Sarah gets results - AJ and I have already had our first 10km training orders from the official Pace Setter and I quote "speed AND hills midweek and longer runs at the weekend....go." Between Asics and Sarah I'm kinda relieved I'm lying down right now ;-))

• Thirdly, I've been under the weather for a few weeks now -  a heavy cold, chest infection, insomnia, sore throat, sun burn, lingering cough and now a knackered back. Finally I get the message - time to get properly serious about my nutrition, fitness and health.  Since my 10km race and my US departure are exactly seven weeks away and my complacency of the past weeks months means that I'm now gracing 10stone 7lbs :-((, today I'm kicking off my 7th Heaven Mini Mission - Goal:  Lose 7lbs in 7 weeks to arrive at the yet to be achieved 10 stone EPIC mission milestone.  Holiday Bikini Hottie here I come.

Starting to realise a Girl on a Mission's work is NEVER done!! xx