2 weeks till the race!! Where on earth has the time gone!!
If the weather is as sunny as it is today I'll be a happy runner! Rain? I'll be a grumpy moany horrible runner, my dad will definitely run on without me this time if i moan so I gotta suck it up and not be miserable on R-day (race day)
The nerves are beginning to kick in now as I'm on the last bit of countdown. My doubts about not completing the race have pretty much gone, the adrenalin and excitement have taken over!
I ran around 2 miles today in training as well - not all at once I'll admit but still I didn't stop too many times just once or thrice after I could no longer breathe and when I got cramp in my little toe.
I got a twinge in my ankle again - in the same place as before - but again it wore off after a few minutes of hobbling round the lake so who knows what it is but I hope it goes away I don't want injury getting in the way of my running!
Lots of friendly people out walking/feeding ducks/steering toy boats on the lake. I like it when they say 'Hi/Morning/What you got in that bottle- whiskey?' to me.
It spurs me on and makes me keep going. Mainly because I don't want to stop when they can still see me running in front of them and they know I only set off running just before I over-took them and their judging me!
Thank goodness for running round a lake - as soon as I get round a corner I come to a grinding halt. Although i forget that the track around the lake is quite exposed and wearing a purple hoody to go training in makes me more visible than a fox wearing a fluorescent jacket. I don't know stick with me please, I think my sugar levels may be a bit low.
It gets more embarrassing though when other runners jog past me several times when I'm still walking catching my breath, and the look in their eyes of 'Oh look she's still walking' bore into me.
I just stare straight back. Even the best runners (even my dad) have to stop sometimes to catch their breath back we are not all competing to be the next Usain Bolt so HA!
Ahem, sorry I'm not in the least bit jealous at all. Honest...
Time to go snack on some cardboard, sorry flapjack and maybe have a cuppa too - I've only had 3 cups today, I'm a northerner, my body's made up of 70% tea.
I was very tempted to go sit in this new cafe that's opened where I run that looks out onto the Lake and watch Stoke-on-Trent inhabitants go by. But somehow I don't think sitting in there for a hour pretending I ran 2 miles is going to help me in 14 days.
Do you think I can run with a flask of tea on the day of the 10k or request a nice brew to be waiting for me on one of the drinks tables half way round?
Don't answer that.
Sunday, 7 March 2010
Saturday, 6 March 2010
A runners breakfast?
Now with race day looming and to tie in with my previous post about Stitch and not being able to eat for up to 3 hours before running. The big question I'm putting to you is what do I do about food on race day?
The 10k begins at 11am, and obviously I will have to eat before so I don't collapse, but what should I be eating at 7.30/8am on that morning to give me enough energy to last right through till at least 1.30pm (when I hope to finish)?
Any one got any suggestions? Maybe porridge and banana? Cereal bars?
Let me know what you eat before a long day/exercise to give you that all important energy boost! I need as much energy as I can get to get round the course. Help me!
The 10k begins at 11am, and obviously I will have to eat before so I don't collapse, but what should I be eating at 7.30/8am on that morning to give me enough energy to last right through till at least 1.30pm (when I hope to finish)?
Any one got any suggestions? Maybe porridge and banana? Cereal bars?
Let me know what you eat before a long day/exercise to give you that all important energy boost! I need as much energy as I can get to get round the course. Help me!
To sew a stitch
Stitch. A pain in the...
Hang on actually what is 'Stitch' exactly? And I don't mean in sewing or knitting or the cute Disney character.
I mean the god-awful feeling that a part of your stomach is about to explode and you can't go on any further. Well that's how I feel anyway when i keep getting blighted by this weird phenomenon on my runs.
Now to get all medical to explain this problem that everyone has suffered with. It's pretty squeamish even I shuddered!
"Stitch is actually caused by the gut "tugging" on the ligaments connecting it to the diaphragm."
Gross isn't it, diaphragms being pushed beyond their limits and oh great there isn't a cure!
I only began getting stitch when I first began running, apparently this is normal for exercise newbies. It used to stop me in my tracks and it gave me something else to moan about when running - someone needs to give me a break.
But now I have been stitch free for two weeks when I go running (pause for clapping) as I found my own way of getting around the dreaded ailment.
My cure is not eating up to 3 hours before a run. This is difficult I know but it works honestly. I also drink plenty of water usually taking a gulp every 5 minutes when running (this is also to stop me passing out from lack of oxygen/food) and finally if I feel a stitch coming on I try 'Belly Breathing' (stop laughing!) inhaling whilst pushing out my stomach and when exhaling relaxing my stomach muscles.
There you go 3 easy steps to beat Stitch - I'm beginning to sound just like a fitness instructor - Rosemary Conley/Mr Motivator step aside!
Hang on actually what is 'Stitch' exactly? And I don't mean in sewing or knitting or the cute Disney character.
I mean the god-awful feeling that a part of your stomach is about to explode and you can't go on any further. Well that's how I feel anyway when i keep getting blighted by this weird phenomenon on my runs.
Now to get all medical to explain this problem that everyone has suffered with. It's pretty squeamish even I shuddered!
"Stitch is actually caused by the gut "tugging" on the ligaments connecting it to the diaphragm."
Gross isn't it, diaphragms being pushed beyond their limits and oh great there isn't a cure!
I only began getting stitch when I first began running, apparently this is normal for exercise newbies. It used to stop me in my tracks and it gave me something else to moan about when running - someone needs to give me a break.
But now I have been stitch free for two weeks when I go running (pause for clapping) as I found my own way of getting around the dreaded ailment.
My cure is not eating up to 3 hours before a run. This is difficult I know but it works honestly. I also drink plenty of water usually taking a gulp every 5 minutes when running (this is also to stop me passing out from lack of oxygen/food) and finally if I feel a stitch coming on I try 'Belly Breathing' (stop laughing!) inhaling whilst pushing out my stomach and when exhaling relaxing my stomach muscles.
There you go 3 easy steps to beat Stitch - I'm beginning to sound just like a fitness instructor - Rosemary Conley/Mr Motivator step aside!
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Taking the embarassing factor to whole new levels!
Right I have decided to run in fancy dress during the run in 17 days time and I need some suggestions for costumes (baring in mind I have to wear a vest for the charity I'm running for so I can't really cover it up so will have to work around it.)
Any suggestions or if anyone is willing to lend me a costume - the sillier the better that would be fantastic! I'm going to look daft enough as it is, panting my way round the course, so I might as well look even funnier!
I have a tutu already and some rave gear and seen as my t-shirt for Asthma UK is a fetching lime green I'm thinking maybe to go for the electric rave sort of style!
That's me on the right wearing the home-made tutu last year on a night out!
Comment me your thoughts and ideas everyone! Lets make this 10k one to remember (or curse that I ever did it!)
Any suggestions or if anyone is willing to lend me a costume - the sillier the better that would be fantastic! I'm going to look daft enough as it is, panting my way round the course, so I might as well look even funnier!
I have a tutu already and some rave gear and seen as my t-shirt for Asthma UK is a fetching lime green I'm thinking maybe to go for the electric rave sort of style!
That's me on the right wearing the home-made tutu last year on a night out!
Comment me your thoughts and ideas everyone! Lets make this 10k one to remember (or curse that I ever did it!)
If swimming is so good for your figure, how do you explain whales?
As part of my training diet I decided to throw in a swimming session today to help my general fitness!
And I had a whale of a time (geddit whale, water? Oh never mind!) Swimming has always been one of my favourite physical activities, I am a self confessed water baby and this morning I managed to swim 24 lengths of the pool which is about half a mile.
Panic as 24 lengths seemed so far and I was genuinely surprised to find out it was actually quite a short distance when compared to what I have been running. Remembering that I will be running 6.2 miles in under 3 weeks gave me a familiar sinking feeling. The butterflies have begun.
Your looking at the equivalant of around 300 lengths in a swimming pool to match the distance my poor legs are going to be put through.
Why didn't I chose to write a blog about swimming the channel or something, I could have totally done that! Well actually come to think about it, I adore swimming but not that much.
Running on dry land wearing warm clothes vs. Swimming across freezing choppy water with possibility of sharks/squid/jellyfish (Okay I know there isn't all of them in the English Channel but still...)- there's no competition really!
Anyway moving on from aquatic activities and back to the running! I now have my running number for the race how exciting! Lets hope that number 3490 is a lucky number for me!
I also now have a fetching green vest Asthma UK sent for me!
Knowing I'm raising some well deserved pennies for them is keeping me going! Time to plug my JustGiving page! Please sponsor me everyone even if it's just 10p!
Tomorrow is back to dry land training for me. I'm keeping up the swimming it can only improve my rubbish fitness levels which my body desperately needs a boost of!
Lets see if I can break the mile mark with zero injuries!
P.S. The title of this blog post: answers on a postcard please!
And I had a whale of a time (geddit whale, water? Oh never mind!) Swimming has always been one of my favourite physical activities, I am a self confessed water baby and this morning I managed to swim 24 lengths of the pool which is about half a mile.
Panic as 24 lengths seemed so far and I was genuinely surprised to find out it was actually quite a short distance when compared to what I have been running. Remembering that I will be running 6.2 miles in under 3 weeks gave me a familiar sinking feeling. The butterflies have begun.
Your looking at the equivalant of around 300 lengths in a swimming pool to match the distance my poor legs are going to be put through.
Why didn't I chose to write a blog about swimming the channel or something, I could have totally done that! Well actually come to think about it, I adore swimming but not that much.
Running on dry land wearing warm clothes vs. Swimming across freezing choppy water with possibility of sharks/squid/jellyfish (Okay I know there isn't all of them in the English Channel but still...)- there's no competition really!
Anyway moving on from aquatic activities and back to the running! I now have my running number for the race how exciting! Lets hope that number 3490 is a lucky number for me!
I also now have a fetching green vest Asthma UK sent for me!
Knowing I'm raising some well deserved pennies for them is keeping me going! Time to plug my JustGiving page! Please sponsor me everyone even if it's just 10p!
Tomorrow is back to dry land training for me. I'm keeping up the swimming it can only improve my rubbish fitness levels which my body desperately needs a boost of!
Lets see if I can break the mile mark with zero injuries!
P.S. The title of this blog post: answers on a postcard please!
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
The Sun is Shining, the Grass is Green...
I was a bit miserable in my last post wasn't I, sorry about that.
We have now entered race month and positive thoughts are flowing my way I'm psyching myself up in preparation!
FINALLY we have sunshine! Hallelujah! No more ice patches or frozen faces, gotta love springtime!
They say that sunshine makes people feel happier and it really does, I stuck some feel good songs on my iPod and set off for a run this afternoon.
I took a friends advice and decided to test the Interval Training theory.
I ran as fast as I could for around half a mile then I walked for the other half a mile and then jogged for a further mile! It worked, I have hit a break-through point - hurray I hear you all cry!
(WARNING HERE COMES THE CONVENTIONAL MOANING PART AGAIN!)
Until (Sorry I can't possibly write a post without some form of moaning in there it would be rude not too)...
I injured myself. Not sure what it was but I got a sharp pain on my ankle bone (the one on the inside of my leg - don't ask for a medical term cos I ain't no doctor) and I had to stop. The pain came in waves when i pressed the heel of my foot onto the ground. I carried on walking to see if it would wear off and it did!
Some medical miracle came upon me (well after walking half a mile on my tiptoes) and the pain disappeared so I have no idea if this is good or bad? But for now I'm accepting that my ankle is ok - phew!
Putting my sensible cap on though I shall be wary of the ankle when out running don't worry. I know I can over-react sometimes, like that time when I thought I had Swine Flu cos I sneezed 3 times in a row; but I will have my mum (an ex-nurse) on standby with her Dr. Miriam Stoppard's medical book to query any twinge I get. It's the hypochondriac's Bible!
Another plus side from today is that my rubbing from my trainers that I thought was a blister (as mentioned in my last post) is not actually a blister it's all disappeared! Fingers crossed I won't get no more, I'm bedding my trainers in by walking round my room in them and dancing to a bit of Beyonce that should do the trick!
I've got the spring back into my step - literally! Roll on next training sesh for I am one happy chappy!
We have now entered race month and positive thoughts are flowing my way I'm psyching myself up in preparation!
FINALLY we have sunshine! Hallelujah! No more ice patches or frozen faces, gotta love springtime!
They say that sunshine makes people feel happier and it really does, I stuck some feel good songs on my iPod and set off for a run this afternoon.
I took a friends advice and decided to test the Interval Training theory.
I ran as fast as I could for around half a mile then I walked for the other half a mile and then jogged for a further mile! It worked, I have hit a break-through point - hurray I hear you all cry!
(WARNING HERE COMES THE CONVENTIONAL MOANING PART AGAIN!)
Until (Sorry I can't possibly write a post without some form of moaning in there it would be rude not too)...
I injured myself. Not sure what it was but I got a sharp pain on my ankle bone (the one on the inside of my leg - don't ask for a medical term cos I ain't no doctor) and I had to stop. The pain came in waves when i pressed the heel of my foot onto the ground. I carried on walking to see if it would wear off and it did!
Some medical miracle came upon me (well after walking half a mile on my tiptoes) and the pain disappeared so I have no idea if this is good or bad? But for now I'm accepting that my ankle is ok - phew!
Putting my sensible cap on though I shall be wary of the ankle when out running don't worry. I know I can over-react sometimes, like that time when I thought I had Swine Flu cos I sneezed 3 times in a row; but I will have my mum (an ex-nurse) on standby with her Dr. Miriam Stoppard's medical book to query any twinge I get. It's the hypochondriac's Bible!
Another plus side from today is that my rubbing from my trainers that I thought was a blister (as mentioned in my last post) is not actually a blister it's all disappeared! Fingers crossed I won't get no more, I'm bedding my trainers in by walking round my room in them and dancing to a bit of Beyonce that should do the trick!
I've got the spring back into my step - literally! Roll on next training sesh for I am one happy chappy!
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