Photos of the race!

Here is a run-down (nice little pun there) of race day in photographs. There isn't many of my actually running as my brother and Mum were only standing near the finish line and apparently I was running too fast past them! (Can you believe that too fast?!)


From the beginning:

Getting changed into our outfits at the side of the road!



That's the last smile I'd have on my face for a few hours. Little did I know what was in store for me...



Me and my Dad in our fetching outfits!



The only photo of me running near the finish (on the video you can see me more) I am there behind my Dad honest you can see my red joggy bottoms! I was just too fast to get a good shot, maybe I had smelt some hamburgers cooking across the finish line!



After walking another 10k to get back to where we had parked the car I did some more cool down stretches as my legs were in absolute agony at this point! I used my Dad's car to lean against to do some more stretches, handy his car being there! Thank God I didn't drive...





Me with my shiny medal! I'm so proud of it. It is now hanging in my bedroom for all to admire...






Me at my Grandma's house after the race. Don't laugh at my miserable face, I was tired and hurting all over and desperate for an alcoholic beverage and a massage.
I settled for a cup of tea, but I'm still holding out for my massage though...

I'VE DONE IT!!

TODAY I RAN MY 10K ROAD RACE!! I can't believe that I have actually completed it - I have a shiny medal to prove it as well as many embarrassing photos.

After a very early start this morning to get to Lincoln in time I had plenty of time to question why on earth I was putting myself through a running race! The more I thought, more butterflies gathered in my stomach!

Usually I go to watch my dad at these sort of races and I always love the atmosphere of everyone cheering each other on, so to be a part of it was a good feeling. As soon as I got there and got changed into my wonderful tutu the adrenalin kicked in and I actually got very excited about running the race!

The bad thing is that we got there really really early so we had like 2 hours to kill - which I used to do a few stretches and look at the competition around (haha yeah competition who I'm kidding Miss 'I've never ran a 10k before!') - I was trying to look as professional as I could dressed in a multi-coloured tutu and and bright green vest top.

Standing on a Sunday morning next to my dad, who was wearing a fetching orange wig, 2women dressed as Mike and Sully from 'Monsters Inc' and a fat bloke dressed as Superman! It was a surreal moment I tell ya!

When the klaxon sounded, I began to get pumped up and excited that this is it, I'm here now and I best bloody finish!!

Running that 1st kilometre was honestly really amazing, with the crowd cheering me on and my legs feeling fresh I felt good and getting a bit cocky was like 'Yeah I can do this!!'

Then came the pain.

Every step from the 3k mark onwards HURT.LIKE.HELL

Weirdly no chest pain and I wasn't particularly tired. I began to get that funny pain, when pins and needles are beginning, in my foot that kept coming and going over the next 7k. Running/walking on my tiptoes helped ease the strange sensation but it didn't go away. It was very strange I've never been afflicted by this pain whilst training before.

And then my legs gave out. My calves were (and still are) in absolute agony. I've had a bit of mild muscle pain but this just takes the biscuit. Pain, Pain, PAIN!

I still battled through though and bless my dad he walked with me when I couldn't run anymore. I feel a bit guilty as he's an amazing runner and could have lapped me several times if he had gone on without me.

His encouraging words and getting the crowd to cheer me on really helped me. If I had run on my own I would have been on the 'Sweeper bus' definitely before the half way mark. So hats off to him for getting me through the tough hour and a half.

After my legs gave out, I got angry at myself, I even got a few disappointed tears in my eyes at the frustration at myself when I really wanted to run at least double what I actually managed to run. I felt like I had let myself down by letting my body win over my mind. In hind sight yes I should have done more training (I should have started last April seriously) to get me up to a comfortable jogging pace at least. Yes I finished the race but still I'm annoyed at myself for not achieving better. I'm hard on myself I always am as I like to strive to achieve the best who doesn't.

It was frankly embarrassing that I had to walk some of the distance. All the people on the sidelines cheering us on (shouting our names that I'd marker penned onto our t-shirts) were fantastic but I felt like I was cheating by walking a 'running race'. When an honestly inspiring elderly man pushing a disabled boy in a wheelchair over took me that's when I wanted to kick myself up the behind to get running. I felt like a right tool when other people were really pushing themselves but I really couldn't run anymore. My brain wanted me to continue but my stupid legs were having none of it! Frustrated is a clean word to describe myself during the race.

I had realistic expectations, I wasn't going to finish under the hour mark or come in the top 3 on the day, I knew that. I do have realistic aspirations honestly - but hey ho maybe next time, oh yes next time now seems like unobtainable, but I am determined to improve on that time!

The utter determination and honestly the bit of shame I felt today at running badly has pushed me back into fitness again. I haven't been deterred I want to run another race again and prove to myself that I CAN do it!

Anyway back to the race today - it seems like such a long time ago since I staggered round the course!

I was so determined to run the last little bit near Lincoln Castle at the finish point (as I knew there would be a big crowd there and if I'm honest I didn't want to embarrass myself by walking past them all) so I breathed in and ignored the throbbing pain in my legs and foot and I ran the last bit of the race. I'm so glad that I did, the reaction of the crowd and running towards the FINISH sign I was grinning from ear to ear literally! It may have looked more like a grimace but honestly I enjoyed that last little bit I really did!

The finish was amazing. Best feeling ever. Now I know why people run races! Just for the crossing over the finish line and the celebratory 'Well done' from everyone around. And of course the shiny MEDAL! You would not believe how thrilled I am to have a medal to my name, so much so that I'm going to wear it to my uni classes tomorrow. It's beautiful proof that I did complete the race! High 5 me please!




Now I'm going to be very honest with you all who are reading my blog. My finished time was pretty bad. I didn't even finish in the time that I initially wanted (damn my inadequate muscles) but I will tell you that I have improved since my 6.5k that I did 11 years ago (only just mind), I DIDN'T COME LAST!! In fact there were at least 50 odd people who finished after me! So it's taking me 11 years at a time to improve but I'm getting better just slowly!

Here's my running time (to save you time looking for it on the list - I am on there try one of the last pages)

The official time I ran/walked the Lincoln 10k in (that was recorded on my electronic tag thing on my shoe) was...1 hour and 33 minutes!

Please don't applaud me, that's a terrible time! But at least now the only way is down (?!) so next time I'm aiming for a much better time!

I've had my bath, after staggering up the stairs at home - it hurt a lot - and I keep stretching out my legs so that I am not completely seized up tomorrow!

Today's been really fun, as much as I have moaned and worried about the race, I did enjoy myself and I would do it all again - maybe after more training though next time! I would definitely recommend the Lincoln 10k to anybody to do, it's open to all abilities I think I proved that one today, but it's a good one for people who just want to wear silly fancy dress and just have a good time!

Some pictures and videos will be added from the event soon so keep your eyes out you certainly won't be able to miss the vibrant ones of me and my dad!

Pasta Party!

Well I've just been to my first ever pasta party. Don't I sound WILD!

It was just me, my mum/dad/brother eating lots of pasta bake for me to load up on carbohydrates for tomorrows run!

I ate around 1kg (ok more like 200g of pasta but it was ALOT) - this better work. If I wake up with no energy tomorrow morning I may cry and refuse to get out of bed.

Had my final dress rehearsal as well to see what me and my dad will be running in and we honestly look a picture! You won't miss us coming for sure our outfits are blinding!

Right off for an early night now to reserve my energy for that early start in the morning. Eeeekkk!!

This time tomorrow I will have completed my first ever 10k - I still can't believe this is actually happening! Sunday's are meant for a lie-in, relaxing sort of day and here I am donning my trainers and off for a mere 10 kilometre run! This is Insanity personified!

I keep talking as though tomorrow is my execution day and I'm sat here on death row. I keep going 'Right this is my last sleep/meal/shower before tomorrow'(then I pull a grimace face like it will actually be my last day on Earth!)

I pray that it isn't, I don't want to leave this world wearing a tutu, leg warmers and a bright green vest. I do have some dignity left somewhere in me!

Wish me luck! There's no turning back!

DAYS LEFT BEFORE BIG DAY: 0
HOURS LEFT: 22 hours


Oh. Dear. God.

I'm into the Final Countdown and I can't back out now! Panic stations everybody!

Any one got any tips for me? I haven't trained for nearly a week (due to silly cold germs and advice from my dad to save my energy) so what should I be doing with myself today (keep it clean people please!) just relaxing? Doing a final bit of training - maybe hop on my mum's stepper machine to prepare my legs for the brutal slog tomorrow?

Wish me luck everyone, I'm sure going to need it! Think of me at 11am tomorrow morning running around Lincoln City in my tutu/leg warmers/bright green vest! If anything the thought will make you laugh!

Pre-race Jitters!

Oh gosh the countdown now says under 2 days left to go!

I've dug out my leg warmers and got my tutu all preened so I'm ready to go! I am wearing more than just that sorry to disappoint...

My final preparations are in place and one last read of the scary race information - which I probably should have read properly sooner than 2 days before - the nerves are kicking in!

I've seen the weather and apparently it is expected to be sunny with a bit of cloud tomorrow! Perfect running weather, fantastic!

Hopefully this means I will finish in under two and a half hours - which I read in the leaflet is how long the race people give you until to finish before they re-open the roads. Then you run the risk of embarrassingly blocking the road, allowing lots of angry motorists to tell you to "Get the hell out of the road (insert derogatory term here)"

Lets hope this does NOT happen (not to me anyway!)

I still can't believe that I, Sarah, one of the most unfit people ever is running a whole 6 and a bit miles on Sunday. It's insane - I wasn't even forced I CHOSE to do this!!

I've surprised myself at keeping up training and not backing out! My own self-motivation is usually really poor - yes I am always that person working right up until a deadline when I promised myself to have everything done by at least a month before! I will never learn.

But maybe this will be a new learning curve for me (to get all philosophical) and hopefully after Sunday - if I finish, it's still questionable - it will prove to me that I can do things I never expected myself to do!

Last year I got on a plane from France back to London on my very own when I really thought I wouldn't be able to do it without getting lost somewhere in the Channel. Maybe I'm going to become the 'Yes Girl' - Jim Carrey film move aside cos I may be living proof that 'One word can change everything'

Anyway I digress - Jim Carrey films?! Sorry! - I'm just extremely excited (at the prospect of eating a McDonald's?) that my brain isn't functioning adequately!

Also to end on a 'Runners High' (see what I did there!) there is absolutely fantastic news.

Today I reached my £100 fund raising target for Asthma UK - I'm so glad that I got there and before Sunday too. I'm pleased a charity will now definitely benefit from my struggles, this makes me feel good!

Have I done my good deed for the year yet do you think?

Any tips for Saturday for me to calm my nerves and prepare for the 10k slog on Sunday please comment and help me out!

Tips on getting the best running form

With no actual running left to do until Sunday I thought I'd compile a check-list into Running Form from information and tips I have gathered from other runners over these last few months to get me through this 10k!

We all think we know how to run, it can't be that hard surely we have been moving our legs one after each other since we were knee-high to a grasshopper, but there are some rookie mistakes that we can make whilst training/running:


FEET

Let your heels make contact with the ground first when you're running. If your running long distances DO NOT run on your toes this is bad and you could damage your feet if you try to run too many miles on your tippy-toes.

RUNNING LOW

When you are actually running, focus on a object in front of you (a tree/lamp-post/that other runners bottom...) and if the 'object' is moving up and down then apparently you are running too 'vertically' so you need to keep your feet in a straight position and keep your feet low to the ground. This will help stop all that bouncing (girls this advice is crucial, there's only so much a sports bra can do!)

ARMS

Arms need to be relaxed and at 90 degree angles by your side (I expect accuracy so take protractor with you at all times) Relax your arms if you feel yourself getting tense - my favourite is too stretch them out by my side and shake them for 10 seconds to release the tension in my shoulders.

BREATHING

Even from the off when your breathing is ok and you're not struggling ALWAYS breathe through your mouth. It helps get more oxygen into the lungs.

A good tip is to make a pattern when you're breathing. One I use is Breath in in then out out (2 at a time baby yeah!) also breathing to music helps keep a steady rhythm so long as your music isn't Pendulum as you may cause self hyperventilation.

POSTURE

Finally is the posture pose. Gotta get this one right so we don't end up with bad backs/knee's or legs after a run. The Hunchback of Notre Dame look is not in this season so pay careful attention to this section.

BACK

It is vital that you keep your back straight whilst running. I know myself that the temptation to hunch over when you begin to tire is difficult to overcome, but running continually with a straightened back and with your chest slightly sticking out - it will make everything seem more comfortable and fill you with the confidence to finish the race with your head held high (no money back guarantee if this is not your winning formula for you, sorry!)


Give these few tips I have accumulated over my few months of training a go next time you're out on a run! None of these tips have been given to me by doctors - just experienced runners - so obviously they are not miraculous, they are just tips that have worked for me so of course they may not turn you into the next Paula Radcliffe but it's worth giving it a go - I will be on Sunday!

Being average is still an aspiration...

I'm still unfortunately suffering with the common cold, although getting over the worse days slowly but now hopefully I will be phlegm free by Sunday!

I saw the Asthma Nurse today and she informed me that my asthma is actually improving...I don't know if this is good news or not. Yes of course I want my asthma to be improving I've had it for around 18 long years so I deserve a respite but then again what will I have to blame my unfitness on now!

Also I am not doing any more training now before Sunday. Without sounding too much like Michael Jackson (RIP) - THIS IS IT.

My dad/personal trainer told me to relax my body now in preparation for the big day so I'm fresh (and hopefully snot free) on Sunday morning ready to run out those 6 very long miles!

I'm getting very nervous but excited about Sunday. I can't believe how quick it has come round. I thought time was only supposed to fly when you're having fun!?!

Time for some rest and some more cold/flu tablets. I'm starting to rattle when I move now I'm so full of pills to stop this bloody cold demon.

Lets hope it works I'm still aiming for a hour and a half (preferably less) round the course. Lets hope I beat my own goal and be better than average.