Work in Progress

Edinburgh Half Marathon number - I think it’s a pretty cool number to have!

Yesterday sitting watching the incredible performances at Manchester I started thinking about motivation and I was trying to think of things that were going to help get me round Edinburgh on Sunday. Things to eat, to drink and to say to myself as I run/plod round 13.1miles. I asked my twitter friends what they used as a running mantra to keep them going when things got tough and here are some of the responses -

• F*ck it, just do it
• Pain is temporary, pride is forever
• Don’t think, just run
• It’s too far to walk home from here
• Relax and enjoy
• Pain is temporary, glory is forever
• FFS just keep going, FFS just keep going

I struggle psychologically when it comes to running and I plan to look into this more after I get Edinburgh out of the way! I’m trying to use visualisation techniques to motivate me and put me in a positive frame of mind for the run ahead as suggested to me by a few people now. I haven’t decided what my mantra will be and I guess it’s a very personal thing - maybe something will come to me as I tackle the half marathon on Sunday.

So Edinburgh is only 5 days and something hours away and I’m trying to think of a race strategy. As always Michelle has offered me some fantastic advice and as always super supportive. My plan so far is to take the first half of the race really relaxed and really easy and see how I feel when I reach the 7 mile marker and again at the 10 mile marker - if I feel I can pick up my pace I’m going to give it my best shot! I would love to get under 2:20 and I think this is a realistic target for me for this race. I haven’t done as much training as I’d have liked but have managed to remain injury free for a couple of months and achieve some PBs in other distances so I’m feeling good. I get waves of excitement at the thought of Edinburgh closely followed by the feeling of PANIC! I’m sure this is normal and since it’s only my 2nd half marathon I plan to enjoy it!

This week will consist of some easy relaxed miles to keep the legs going and a sports massage to loosen my calf muscles (as they always get a bit tight). Drinking plenty of water and eating well to see me through race day! Afer the race and an ice bath I will be gorging on rubbish food and drinking myself into oblivion - surely that thought will keep me going!

Sunderland 10km

So another busy week of racing is gone and I’m back setting new goals for the future. Last Wednesday I ran the Gordon Smith Relays in Wallsend, a 2mile course with 3 runners in a team. Here is my report as posted on the TBH website:

Put on 3rd leg for team I – for inspiring I was feeling a bit nervous about being last to run but excited to hopefully do the team proud! When I turned up to Wallsend to get my number and warm up there was a sea of black and white vests, amazing to see so many people turn up to run and we definitely had the most teams.

We headed down to the start where I knew I had a bit of time to wait for my turn to run so watched the first leg runners set off before doing my warm up! There was a real buzz at the start and my nerves moved to excitement.

After some miscommunication some of our second leg runners returned early and we were left wondering if we would get to actually run the third leg. I saw Joanne Lee who was second leg in my team head up early and after being told she had come the wrong way she turned round and completed the course! I waited for her to arrive and whilst I knew we were near the back I was determined to give it everything I had.

Doing the grand prix at Jesmond Dene earlier in the month had given me an idea of the distance to expect and I knew there wasn’t going to be a killer hill at the end – or at least I hoped!

I set off with the cheers from fellow TBHers determined not to let myself or the club down! I headed down onto the cycle path and whilst it looked flat I could feel the ever so slight incline past segedunum and the old swan hunters building, turning the corner on to the main road I felt strong and could see Rob Kirtley up ahead ready with his camera. A dodgy pose later and I knew I didn’t have far to go! Trying to maintain my pace I headed back past the start to go down the bank back into the cycle path. Andy Lisle joined me for this bit and really kept me going. Going under the bridge ready to turn up the short hill I heard shouts of support from everyone and I tried to pick up my pace to the finish line – 16:56 for my 2miles which was over 1:30mins faster than my Jesmond Dene time!

The Saturday saw a team of TBHers head down to Middlesbrough for the first Track and Field meeting. I wasn’t planning to do anything as I had Sunderland 10km the next day but went to support and fill in any gaps if the ladies needed me - and it turned out they did. I ended up taking part in the Javelin, 200m and the 4x400m relay. I’ve never really done track before apart from the odd Saturday morning down at Churchill but I’d never competed. We had an awesome day and TBH took 3rd place thanks to the amazing Ami! I managed to come last in all my events but I enjoyed the experience and I want to improve my 200m time!

Sunday was the Sunderland 10km and since having a shocking time at NT10km I really wanted to do well and go for that sub 60 time I’ve been dreaming of. It didn’t happen but I’ve taken lots of positives away from the day and I felt an improvement from the disastrous race 4 weeks previous. I was more in control of my pace, I didn’t start out too fast and I felt much more comfortable completing the distance. The course wasn’t flat as described - there were a few inclines that seemed to go on forever and there was a few dodgy areas of the course where I had to stop to get through a gate, but never mind!

So onto the next! I have Edinburgh Half Marathon in just over 2 weeks, Blaydon Race in 4 weeks and the Tynedale 10km in 8 weeks. I am determined to reach sub 60 at the Tynedale 10km and have downloaded a training plan to do so, along with the training at TBH there is no reason I can’t reach my goal!

Sunderland 10km race number

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything on here but that’s because I’ve been busy and whilst I sometimes complain that I’m too busy I love it really!

The week or so following the Blyth 10km was a week of up and downs - I was buzzing with a new 10km PB and I had North Tyneside 10km coming up which I was hoping to knock more time off and adding to this I had my twitter running buddy Michelle there to pace me and support me to the finish. The theory was great but in practise I struggled with the NT10km! 2 miles in there are some short steep hills which took it out of me and I felt sick at the top which stayed with me for the rest of the race. I stopped and started so many times I lost count and by mile 4 I’d had enough. My PB was way out of reach so I tried to enjoy the rest of the race but my head and heart weren’t in it and I struggled to the finish. I did manage a strong sprint finish where I overtook a few people but that was the only positive I could take away from the day.

Thinking about my training and reassessing my goals I chatted with other runners and one of the coaches at TBH who has been fantastic in helping me progress and get the most out of my training! I looked at what I needed to do to get the most out of my training - stop training at 100% as it was burning me out, cross train, work on flexibility, and get some longer steady runs in.

I’ve been trying to do this over the past few weeks and the benefits have been enormous! I feel more comfortable and confident when running and most importantly I feel in control of my training and positive about future races.

In some ways I’m really happy that NT10km went a bit wrong … ok alot wrong! It’s given me the kick I need and it’s made me look at my training. Next on my list to add in is Pilates and swimming and my next race is Sunday at the Sunderland 10km!

Snazzy race tshirt

The day I got a 10km PB

So it’s been a while since I’ve wrote anything on my little blog here so I’ll try not to ramble on but update with what’s been happening!

Training has been going quite well but I did struggle in the heat last week and felt a bit down about it as it felt like I was going backwards rather than forwards, but I think everyone has days or weeks like this so I’m just looking forward rather than back. With the light nights we’ve started running down Jesmond Dene which is lovely but rather lumpy do good to run somewhere different!

Today I ran the Blyth 10km having only decided late yesterday to give it a go! I would recommend to any on my North East followers for next year as its a lovely course, very well organised, great tshirt and flat as a pancake!! I started out too fast which seems to be a mistake I make far too often but we set off and I felt fairly comfortable at the faster pace until I hit mile 3 where I felt a bit rubbish so stopped. I got a drink and set off again after a wave from a fellow TBH on their way back to the finish. I could see a few people not too far in front of me so kept as close to them as I could. As we came into the finish I gave it all I had left in me and after a shout from a supporter ‘go on you can take them’ I managed a sprint finish and overtook 2 people on the home straight. Provisional results show 1:03:03 which is a PB knocking 4 mins off! I know I could have got closer to the 60min mark I dream of but it’s all experience for the future and I know I’ll do it this year!!

So since my last update the muscle soreness has eventually worn off and I’ve done my first ever track session, I’ve also got a pretty big decision to make (in running) and I’ll come to that later!

I headed down to the track on Saturday morning in North Shields on what was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and there was a slight breeze but nothing much. I was kicking myself for not choosing this week to attempt a parkrun PB as it would have been near perfect weather conditions but never mind I still got a PB in the blustery winds the week previous (smug face).

There wasn’t many of us at the track as there were various races happening, which left us with the option of doing the track session or going for a bit of a run. I had said that I wanted to have a go at track but was happy to go with the flow, our coach decided to just stick with the track and gave us a session of 400m, 1min rest, 200m, half the field rest x4 - sounds easy right? WRONG! We warmed up by doing a few laps of the track and our coach joined in with us for the first few reps. I did the first 400m and it was hard - running on the track felt so different to running on the road and I was determined to try my best! It’s hard to describe how the track feels different but it does! I got to the 200m and this felt better but still tough as it’s hard to know just how fast to run. We got a few reps in and I looked down at my watch the first mile I ran - 7.06 and I was so happy but couldn’t show it as I felt sick from pushing myself. This is the fastest I have ever ran in my whole life probably considering I was never a one for sports at school. I finished the last rep and then headed home after a good chat with another one of the girls at TBH and the coach.I’m never going to be a track star but I can see how it will improve my running and fitness and it’s something a bit different to add into the routine.

I’m starting to feel much better about my running and dare I say it I appear to be niggle free at the moment. I’m feeling lighter on my feet and that the improvements are happening gradually not overnight as that’s how I’ve injured myself in the past - I’m FINALLY learning! I’ve got amazing support around me and this has been half the battle, the support I’ve received is even tempting me to attempt the half marathon I had decided to pull out of which is taking place on Sunday. My number arrived last week and I felt that little wave of excitement come over me so tempted to try it but as a training run and a prep race for Edinburgh which is my main goal. So I have a decision to make and I’m no good at that - long run planned for tomorrow so going to see how I get on with that before making any definite decisions. I do get to carb load tho I suppose …