MY NEW SUPER HEROINE WATER BOTTLE HOLSTER THINGY THE NATHAN SPEED 2........

I  was excited to take it out for a spin, (sad ah) went on a 5 mile run today which I thought should give it a good test.The first thing I noticed was how comfortable and thick the belt was and rather than having buckles to tighten it has a velcro on the strap which makes it easy to tighten, I put it lower on my hips as I do not like things pressing on my belly or splitting my belly in two.

I made the mistake and did not screw the lid on one of them tightly enough and ended up with a bit of a soggy back, lovely! But once that was tightened properly no more problems. 

I felt a bit like a wanna be cowgirl, with two guns on my back, or even a superheroine, with two packs of death enducing liquid, strapped to my back.


To be honest they were comfortable and snug, didn't move and didn't hear any sloshing, now that could be due to the fact I was listening to music,which drowned it out. 

Unlike most belts once I found a position I was happy with there was no faffing around during the run, trying to reshuffle it. 
The bottles were very easy to lift out of the holders and slip back in nicely as the holders were made out of plastic they maintained their shape and I didn't have to fight to get them back in and I could do it all with one hand, what a pro!

I prefer them on my back; again don't like anything pressing on my stomach when I run. The bottles have a curve to on one side so when I did carry one in my hand for a while it was no problem at all.

So I had no major problems, bar the initial leak, which was quickly sorted, I think I could become very good friends with the Nathan speed two. It will get its first real test on Sunday when I run the Ranelagh half marathon. 

There are three water stops, but I want to carry some Lucozade drink, which I will put in the water bottles, I am going for the powdered stuff you mix your self, rather than that sickly sweet liquid, so hopefully that will ward off any sicky feelings.


Back on the SIS gels which I used before I recieved all those free Lucozade products when I won the place in the London marathon,  will take one at 4 miles and one at 8 miles, I will carry an extra one incase I feel I need it, and I will also yam sports beans whenever I feel like it from 15 minutes in.  (For those of you who don't know when you start running over a certain amount of mileage or for a certain amount of time say over an hour plus it's a good idea to have something to give you energy and thats what these gels do, think of like spinach was for popeye, these little gels are like that for runners, although gels are not the only thing you can eat, in the forth coming months I will be experimenting  with other things).

I will also start off the race carrying a small bottle of water in my hand then fill up at the water stations. It's not a massive race and the water stations are at 2 miles 7 an 10 so thought it was best that I'm as self sufficient as possible. Thats the plan anyway, which I have vowed to follow come hell or high water. Hopefully Sunday I will redeem myself after messing up so badly at the marathon.

  Does my bum look big in this, hell yes it does,but due to the running it is nice an firm.

That’s it for now, managed 14 miles so far this week, was going to run 3 today, with the half marathon Sunday that would've taken my weekly total up to 30 miles, but my legs were protesting during the 5 mile run yesterday so I've decided to give them a rest and try and hit 30 miles next.


Next week it's also time to hit the gym so one of my runs at least will be indoors and then I will tag a weight session onto that, so all in all I would like to run 4 times a week amounting the 30 miles, spin class once, weights twice.

Pray for me, nah I can cope with that to be honest it will be trying to fit it all in, in-between working, performing, organizing my twice monthly live poetry events, writing new material, learning new material and caring for my sister, where will I find the time? To be honest I will find it, same way I found time to train for the marathons two years running, my health is my priority, if I'm not taking care of myself none of the above can happen, and the stronger I am the better able I will be to lift, carry, pull, push my sister when she needs it, especially as she is getting weaker and needs more care. It also will mean I am less likely to injure myself.

(This was me at the end of my 5 miler, Rob the boyfriend was there to catch me in all my full sweaty glory on my way back into to his place. His area has mad inclines, so it's a pretty decent work out, but seince I still don't know how to pace myself I am always zonked when I do shorter runs by myself!)

I also really like the idea of being cut, always wanted to be muscular and toned, got a hell of a lot of work to do to get there, and from past experience having an athlectic build it will happen if I put the work in, but as said before I am giving myself a year, and it will all benefit my running in the long run and fingers crossed I can get some speed and look great, Serena Williams body here I come.

LOVE YOU POSTIE

Don't you just love it when the post man arrives bearing gifts, well o.k maybe not gifts but things I ordered, first up was a clear class cover for my IPOD so it' doesn't get scratched and stays looking nice and new. Second was a gift from Rob the boyfriend, called NUTRITION FOR MARATHON RUNNERS, which was very sweet of him, I am eager to try some new things for my runs not just sticking to the gels, and sweets but exploring what worse, not just for the day of a marathon but before during training and afterwards.

The link below is straight to amazon and the book I will let you know if it's any good.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nutrition-Marathon-Running-Jane-Griffin/dp/1861265905

The parcel I was most eager to receive, because it had a new water bottle with two bottles instead of one, It's called the NATHAN SPEED 2.

I read a load a reviews on it,and it sounded perfect just what I was after,, something that does not bounce, dig into your  sides, leak or is tricky to pull out of the holder and put back in again, it can be worn at the front or the back. Now this is part of my pledge to carry less as I run, no more holding bottles in my hands, especially during races, doesn't bother me so much for training, but races I don't won't to be carry loads of crap, so time to down-size. The pouch at the front is small but enough to carry a phone and a few gels.

A couple of the reviews said the bottles can leak if you do not tighten them enough, but 99 percent of the reviews were very positive. Just went for a quick leg streach to try them out, nothing exciting just a 3 minute jog and they felt fine the waist band was great, quite thick and very comfortable, a little sloshing of water, but that won't bother me especially as I usually run with music.

Here the link to the site I bought if from it was the cheapest I could find,although they did have a special offer on, altogether including posting and packaging it cost £17.73. http://www.wynsport.com/products/Nathan-Speed-2.html

I'm going to try a run tomorrow and I will wear it to give it a try out before the half I am running on Sunday.

I am waiting for a sports arm band to arrive hopefully before Sunday, the pouch is not big enough to hold a Ipod as well, if that arrives I'd be very happy, bought a cheap one and it started to chaff on one of my longer runs, so decided to spend a bit more and get a better one! I guess sometimes you get what you pay for.

FUTURE PLANS

Since the marathon, actually since before the marathon I've been thinking about my running and health future and what I would like to achieve, well I would love to be as tall as Naomi Campbell, as fit as Serena Williams and a have a Kenyan go faster switch implanted into my hip that I can use as a speed booster whenever I needed.

Okay fantasy over, I am concentrating on first losing 11 pounds. I am back on weight watchers counting points, egg white omelets and butternut squash soup, and not eating mindlessly!

Ganna hit the gym, weights twice a week and spin class at least once; I will also do my speed session in the gym.

Run four times a week, no need to let up on that.

Run at least one long a week between 8-15 miles depending on how I'm feeling.

Do hill training and interval training; I want to start training effectively.

Try and work on my pace, I tell you today I ran 8 miles and I run like a kid, run hard up hills to get it over with then die at the top, speed up until I can't run any more whenever I feel good, then end up with a stitch, got a learn to pace myself.

There are two things I am trying to achieve here, one be a better runner, I would love to get closer to the two hour mark for half marathons and under 26 minutes for a 5k, under 56 minutes for a 10k, and well marathon distance we'll see but if I could get under 5 I would be ecstatic.

The second thing I am trying to achieve is a body that I am happy with not a skinny size 8 body but a fit size 12, 28 inch waist, I want to be fit a healthy I want to be the kind of body that could chase off a so called mugger or attacker, a body that can with the vigour of childbirth, a body that can knock out a half marathon at the drop of a hat. A body that looks sexy in cute lingerie, a body that can wear anything and look great. I  want that body back that I had a while back, a body that didn’t just look fit that is fit, actually forget that I want a better body than that, better than my dancing days, I'm hoping the weights will help me to achieve that I want to be cut, not butch woman cut, just muscular and tight.

I feel hopeful that I can achieve everything I set out to do, I am naturally strong respond well to weights and exercise, concentrating on half marathons will take the mileage and the hunger down so I am confident that I will get control of my eating again, so no more random munching like food is going out or fashion.

The thing I love about running is that I so feel free work with me, I feel childish just getting out and running, how often in our lives do we get a chance to just go for it, us against the elements, reminds me of the rough games I would play as a kid, British bull dog, or days at the adventure playground, when loads of kids would pile onto a single swing, it would be a complete free for all, madness, I miss the physicality of my dancing days, when those West African drums would let rip and I would just go for it, no inhibitions or worries.

I'm blessed I know what my body is capable, but there is also a lot for me to achieve that I do not know I am capable of yet. I have just been struggling with weight and not having a consistent exercise programme over the last few years, yes I could be ashamed and embarrassed that over the last 8 years, my weight has been up and down, sometimes I’ve been slim and sometimes I have been very far from it. I let go off that because I am on a mission a journey where mistakes are embraced and it’s time to move forward.

UPCOMING RACES 

*Ranelagh Richmond Half Marathon MAY 16th 2010

*REGENTS PARK 10K:  SATURDAY JULY 2nd 2010

* REGENTS PARK 10K: 6th AUGUST 2010

*Ufdance Runners’ Quest Half Marathon: 22^ND AUGUST 2010

*Adidas women's 5K challenge: Sunday 5th September 2010

*REGENTS PARK 10K: SATURDAY 11th SEPTEMBER 2010

*THE GREAT NORTH RUN  (Half marathon) :Sunday 19 September 2010

*Run to the beat, half marathon: Sunday 26^th September 2010

POSSIBLITILES

I would like to do a half marathon in June and July, there are a few I am looking at and in October there are two races I am interested in the Royal Parks, which is a half marathon,
which sold out in morning, or a 16 mile race both on the 26^th October. The 16 miler is very tempting as by then I should be very fit and capable of tackling it. The main aim is not just to race, but races give me a focus something to work towards, but it is also important that I not only achieve the above goals but also stay injury free and healthy. This is not a short term aim, I am looking at changing my body over a good year or so and this commitment to health and exercise is life long.

Here is a pic of me today, before I headed out on my 8 miler today, the tracksuit was very bright (thanks for buying me this Rob, much appreciated) and I also had a bright orange top on underneath, which was a good idea since I was running on a busy dual carriageway so very easy to spot! It was quite windy today, not May weather at all, come on summer where are you?

BACK TO MARATHON SCHOOL

It's now just over two weeks since the marathon and it it a good enough amount of time to  try and put into all into perspective and evaluate some of the harsh lessons learned from the experience.


The only way to gain experience is to do whatever it is you need the experience in.


It is always important to have a plan B, my plan A failed, in terms of my nutrition failing on the day, all I had was lucozade gels and lucozade beans, I am going to experiment a bit more and from now on have more than one option. When I trained in Grenada and Trinidad I ran crazy miles up to 16 in the blazing heat with only bread and apple juice, nothing else. There must be more options, gels are not the only thing that can work. Need to do more research.


I need to run lighter, meaning carry less shit  so I have ordered a double water belt,which holds to water bottles, and it sits on the waist,better than always carrying water bottles in my hands, which should be great for half marathons, not enough for a full, but I'll work that out in good time.


I've also ordered a Ipod holder to carry my ipod on my arm, less baggage, less faffing around.


I need to pat myself on the back for completing all the training and dedicating myself to month after month of training, through the cold, through the rain, through the snow!


Remember that I have been carrying an achilles injury that had almost side lined me, but due to physio and dilligently following the exercises I was given it was managable and gave me no problems on marathon day.


I'm injury free, picked up no new injuries, my knees which were a major issue last year, gave me no problems at all.


On the day of the marathon my body held together, even though I hit the wall and my body was exhausted,I had no other problems, by groin which usually plays up in the last few miles of a half or a long run gave me no problems at all.


I need to re-haul my training programme, if you always do the same thing you always get the same results, so time to go back to the drawing board and amp things up.


Second marathon in the bag, yeah, yeah, things may not of gone to plan but I done it, I now have two shiny medals and there are more to come. I got schooled during the marathon, learnt some harsh lessons in fact my butt was kicked big time, but I survived and having such a hard head only big lessons compute, so to the marathon God's I hear you loud and clear I am humbled and promise never to make those same mistakes again.

VIRGIN LONDON MARATHON RACE REPORT!

Hi all this is a break down of my marathon experience, hope you enjoy.

(This is before the start, before the madness began,I had no idea what was in store for me!)

Yes I know it's well over a week, but it’s probably taken me that long to get my head around all that had happened.

Okay where do I start all was well, slept well the night before ate well the days leading up the marathon felt confident, had no idea that I would have an epic battle on my hands! The journey there was fine, Rob my boyfriend was with me, game plan all worked out, so I would know when to expect him along the course, he had it all planned out to precision.  Jumped on a tube then a train, which was packed, but managed to get a seat. 


Had to use the toilet, didn't to use the porto loo's at Greenwhich Park, so when I got off the train, tried a hotel, then a hotel restaurant, but they  weren't having it, I don't like begging for anything but I was desperate still no joy. Finally found a pub and a clean toilet. 

Started to get ready, put on my tutu, head band, sweat bands cap and it started pissing down the skies just opened and it was raining like mad, not a great start, I was grateful for the black bin bag I had stashed away which was now doing a great job of keeping me dry and warm.

(Rob, m is 6 foot 2, his long arms are always able to get a picture  no matter where he is, he's behind a a large fence, here, supporting all the way.)


I had my plan a Lucozade gel every 30-45 minutes, sports beans, lucozade drink and water, sipping often, I had almost everything I needed stuffed into my marathon belt, and Rob was carrying extras just in case, there would also be two extra tables of Gels, later on in the run I believe mile 17 and 24 something like that anyway. Well things certainly did not go to plan. I had planed to keep around an 11:30-12 pace so I could get in just in or hopefully under the 5-hour mark.

(Loving the smile, if only I knew!)

(Bit of an anxious look on my face, don't think I was nervous just ready to start, so many people, so many hopes and dreams, just needed to just get running.)

Here is how my splits went.

Mile 1  11:34                                                Mile 14 12:27

Mile 2  11:2 7                                               Mile 15 14:02

Mile 3  11:51                                                Mile 16 13:22                       

Mile 4 11:18                                                Mile 17 13:01

Mile 5 13:12                                                Mile 18 15:07           

Mile 6 10:40                                               Mile 19  15:0

Mile 7 11:12                                                 Mile 20 11:51

Mile 8 11:09                                                Mile 21 14:10                                   

Mile 9 11:29                                                Mile 22 14:10           

Mile 10 14:34                                              Mile 23 13:44                       

Mile 11 11:53                                                Mile 24 13:47

Mile 12 12:56                                               Mile 25  14:47

Mile 13 11:38                                               Mile 26 17:48

                                               

Final time 5 hours 54 minutes 24 seconds or should I say a day at work, a day out shopping with friends, a day spent visiting family, a day off at work, that is how long it took me. You can see my pacing was up and down even in the beginning when I felt fine, really need to work on my pacing. The last mile was a disaster I've never been that slow even on my worst training run, that was part, run, walk, crawl, cry and curse.

 (Here I am checking that my tutu is okay, please someone let me out, what have I let myself in for?)

What went wrong, nutrition, nutrition, nutrition and focus, focus, focus, I started well enough, I’d had shredded wheat for brekkie, peanut butter sandwich when I got to Greenwich, I felt fine, took my first gel 45 minutes in, then another 45 minutes later, but they time I took a third gel 45 minutes after that I felt quite nauseas.


I was managing to keep a decent pace, nothing to write home about but managing, took some sports beans, drank water and the lucozade drink, by mile 15 I couldn’t bare anything else and made the mad decision not to take any more gels, crazy I know who the hell makes a choice like that? well I did, who the hell runs a marathon I did, so that shows my life choices are not always the best. 


I think I lost focus and forgot what I needed to do, I should’ve shoved those gels down my throat even if I puked them up, I just felt sick I wasn’t sick. Last year I ate my way around, munched and muched like a bloody cow chewing the cud, jelly babies, orange slices, whatever anyone threw at me I ate, this year nope hardly anything passed my lips.

(Mile 9)

What can I say I paid the price for such a mad stupid and amateur mistake, I ran out of energy to be honest. By mile 15 I knew I was in trouble, and it all went down hill from there, I can’t lie there were some points not many but some where I had to walk, I just did not have the energy to life one foot in front of an other. I cried a couple of times, thank goodness for sunglasses, disappointed at my performance, not understanding at that time, why everything was going so wrong. Having Rob pop up on the course was great there was one point I just put my head on his shoulder and asked for a hug.

(Princess Beatrice Fergies daughter is in there somewhere with the other green caterpillars who are all tied together, and there is the main sponser Virgins Richard Branson as a butterfly ahhhhh!)




There was this tunnel maybe a few miles from the finish where everyone was walking and I felt as if I was in a disaster movie, the tunnel was dark with strip lights on the top running through the middle, there was runners bent over stretching muscles, and holding onto cramping thighs, bottles strewn everywhere, empty gel packets, dropped marathon belts, and everyone was walking I refused to walk, even though I was running so slowly a one year old could of out paced me I pushed myself.

(Yes I got passed, by a pepper and a womble, the shame, the shame, the shame)

The worst mile was mile 25 I remember stopping dead at one point that’s it my body refused to carry on had had enough after running over 5 ras clart hours, a guy shouted out “Don’t stop now, you’ve only got a mile,” I said “A mile has never seemed so long, but I carried on running and was giving a big cheer by the spectators.

           (Here I am still mile 9, still feeling okay at this point, not having any problems).

To be honest the spectators kept me going, they kept me moving even when all I wanted to do was throw in the towel and have a big hissy fit, my costume went down extremely well, and my name was shouted over and over again. There were moments of elation as well as despair moments went all I could do was grin like a fool at all the colorful sights, wombles running past, bananas, super heroes, Minnie mouse and many other crazy sights.

  (Mile 14 I know that I'm in trouble, but still trying to push through, there is still a hell of a long way to go.)


Along the way I bumped into two people one girl Angie who I used to dance with back in the day, she screamed my name so loud I had to look as I knew it had to be someone who knew me she hugged the life out of me and sent me on my way. 

(Mile 18, still smiling but hurting, it's a mad combination of exhaustion, pride, determination and disappointment that things are not going my way).


A guy who I did not know but who was a friend of a friend and reads my blog, introduced himself  before he continued past, this was very early on when I was feeling pretty decent. I had moments where the sun shone and I felt invincible, (early on) when all the kids I passed got a high 5, moments when I thought yes I will get under 5 hours this time.

(Mile 24, Waterloo bridge,thanks for taking such great pictures Rob, this section was packed full of people, urging us runners on, just when we needed it, than you from the bottom of my heart, even though I don't know you I love you!!!!)

This was a true test of my character a true test of weather I really wanted to do this or not, just though about all the hours I put into training, how much I had given, how at one point it fid not even look as if I would make it due to my Achilles injury, the week after week I would visit the physic and spend big money so I could get on the starting line, I thought about how much running means to be how strong and how healthy I was, one bad day could not and would not wipe out all I had achieved.

 I’d do better next time, thoughts are the thoughts that helped me to keep going in that last mile, with a few stops, tears and cusses I kept going it must’ve of been the slowest mile I’ve ever done in my life but I done it. I had never been so glad to see a finish line in my life I thought it would never come.

(Mile 24 almost 25, just a quick stop to say hello, got about a mile and a quarter to go, but I'm dying, but elated it is almost over, at this point felt as if I was running back wards).

Heres to next year, learning from my mistakes, and once again battling to get to that finish line hopefully in a better condition! Thanks to everyone who supported me, loved me encouraged me and believed in me, without you this madness would not have been possible.

Special shout out to London craziest city in the world, where people do not talk on the tube or the bus, and where you can get mugged, stabbed and worse and people would be too scared to help, well London you done yourself proud so to all the Rude boy’s and girls who came out and cheered and shouted out runners names and encouraged.  

It's all done, God bless, goodie bag in hand, medal around my next, ready to put my feet up and relax.

Look at my bling, no one ain't ganna take this from me,I worked to hard, admire the gold, admire the gold.

To all the little kids holding out there hands for a high five, or handing out much needed sweets, to the priests splashing passing runners with holy water, to the people who told me to carry on even when I thought I couldn’t, to everyone who set up music systems, and tables of goodies,and willed all the runners to finish.

So glad I wore the tutu it got me so much positive attention and well wishing which was much needed and much appreciated, can't imagine running a marathon without a costume.




To the Deptford Green school kids who were manning a table and recognised me (I taught there a few months back for a day) and tripped out at seeing someone they knew thank you thank you from the bottom of my very tired feet, I would not of made it without you, London I love you.

Nothing like a supermalt to quench your thirst after a bit of physical exertion.

That’s why you run the London marathon not for the medal, don’t get me wrong I love that piece of bling, it’s for the crowds the support the love, seeing the best of people rather than seeing the worst, that’s why London is the best marathon in the world and everyone if you can should run it at least once in their life.

Special shout out to the other half Rob, who has ben my back bone during all this marathon training, big up to you for completing your first half marathon earlier this year, keeping me company on many of my runs, and then jumping on the bike for the real long ones, once again your support was invaluable, I know I must drive ya mad, with all my crazy talk about running, but hey we all have our addictions at least this is a healthy addiction.I am sure that you must know by know this running lark ain't disappearing any time soon! Your support on the day was invaluable .

I love this pic, me and my crazy self with olympic runner Liz Yelling, she was very sweet, don't know if she remembered me from the training back in Feb, but I think I made an impression on her with me costume!

Well it's all over, I'm up in the hotel room, about to have a shower, then a massage and some food, Lord V.I.P treatment is a blessing.

No I am not getting ready to run again, just fooling around glad it's all over, in fact at this point I am feeling pretty elated, and although it didn't all go to plan, I feel proud of myself.

I will leave you with this picture because it sums up my experience, I look elated and I am, the marathon is so much about that swing of emotions, moments of absolute joy and moments of abject pain. I'm on the phone to my good friend Simone who supported me on the course last year, but was unable to do the same this year due to the fact that her son had chicken pocks. 

Obviously I've had two weeks now to put everything into perspective and yes there are lots of lessons to learn, but so what if it all went to pot, so what if I took almost 6 hours to finish, when I was hoping to finish under 5, so what if I had to walk a couple of times, this is my battle my struggle, my journey, my fight to get fit and healthy, no one elses.

I will become a stronger, more efficent and faster runner, I will lose more weight, tone up,tackle hills, learn to fartleck, interval, I will learn to pace better, hydrate and eat better, I will learn my lessons.

One thing that will not change is my determination and self belief and that is what carried me for those 26.2 miles when it all went wrong and I could've so easily given it up, I will become better at running marathons, it might not be next time, or the time after that but one day everything will click, but until then I will keep trying, keep pushing, keep running.

Here's to London  Marathon 2011.