HALF MARATHON, TRAINING FRIENDS AND FUTURE GOALS

HALF MARATHON THIS SUNDAY!

After 28 miles last week, this week has been about tapering for my half marathon on Sunday, I have knocked out 9 miles not much, but with my achilles injury I thought it was best to err on the side of caution. I have taken extra care to ice and stretch and follow the physios instructions, now all I can do is eat well and drink lots of water, fuel well on the day and hope my leg holds together and I do not end up running like a crazed orangutan.

The race is 6 times round an area called Hackney Marshes in East London, it's a well run event, the organisation is always superb,  there is a steel band, bananas and bagels on the way around, and there is  always have plenty of water, and the marshal's are super enthusiastic calling out the names of the runners, and being very encouraging, now six times around anywhere is boring, but being that it is such a well run event and lots of fun,  well as fun as a half marathon can be, they are forgiven.

I have run this about 3 times, although not for a couple of years, last year my achilles ruled me out (yes I have been struggling for that long with it, the problem comes and goes, but fingers crossed with the right treatment it is now finally on the mend). Last year I marshalled and had a hell of a lot of fun but it turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year, and those runners suffered, like they were lost in the Sahara dessert, so I was happy to be encouraging from the side lines, checked the weather report and it looks like their might be a few sprinkles on Sunday, which is fine by me, I'd take a little rain over searing heat!

TRAINING FRIENDS


The last two weeks I have been training, a couple of friends, now these two girls are quite over-weight and unfit, but very enthusiastic, and it's been great fun working with them, last week I worked with the two of them  together, that was really just test their fitness and see where they were at. We had fun, and I really enjoyed putting them through their paces. This week due to a time mix up, I had two sessions back to back.

This week Kat went hard core, I set up a circuit of boxing, star jumps, planks, press ups, shuttle runs, skipping, squats with weights and lunges, the first girl only done the circuit once, I'm a bit concerned because she is quite big and has not worked out for years,and has a knee issue and with the extra weight running might not be the best thing for her, she agreed so for now only minimal running, until she has lost some weight, I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Here are a few nature shots for you nature lovers out there, all the credit for the pictures goes to my other half, who helped me carry all the equpitment onto the tube and then hung around taking these snaps, all on his day off as well, thank you.

Then I trained the second girl we did the circuit  twice, one minute on each section then done a 15 minute run, one minute run one minute walk. We were in a public park and a few times people stopped and stared, now I know the girls were a bit put off by this, but at least they are doing something about their weight, at least they are fighting back, I say embrace the stares, you know why your doing what your doing, so do it, hold your head high, and work out like your life depends on it, because in all honesty it does.

You can see from the pictures what we got up to. I loved of it, I need to work on my own conditioning, and this is a great motivator, soon I will also set up a group once a week in the evening, as well that will be purely running, there are a good number of people interested, so I thought why not, pass on my addiction to others,why should I be the only one who suffers from this crazy running addiction.

I wish to share the joy and knowledge gained, I'm very proud of them both, because I did work them hard, I took no excuses and forced them out of their comfort zones, and they done it, yes there was a bit of moaning and groaning but I don't mind that, scream, shout, cry it thats what you need to do to get through, but just do what I say!

MY GOALS

I am happy with the way my own training is going,I have a lot of work to do and am trying to lose at least another 14 pounds, I really think that will take down my fat levels especially around my stomach, and my fitness levels up,

Latest picture of me above, got some work to do!



I am sick and tired of my belly jigging up and down, it's the only part of my body that now wobbles and I ain't happy about that. I need to put some hard work in, so after the half marathon on Sunday, I need to up my training a lot, and work on condition, sort out my core and get it nice and tight. If I could go down a dress size and lose a few more inches off my hips, chest and waist I would be estatic. I ain't trying to be skinny just fit, firm and athlectic looking.

RAIN, RAIN RAIN!

Today I am having a rest day, I knocked out 5 runs this week clocking up 28 miles, now I would've loved to push it to over 30 miles, now I know to some of you spooper dooper runners, that really is not much,  but I thought I'd better hold it down, and give the achilles a chance to relax and rest although I won't lie I feel kinda itchy to get out there and hit the road again! 

It's amazing how addictive running can be, once my achilles really starts to heal, I would like to take my weekly mileage up to 40 miles a week, which would be awesome.

Yesterdays run was a little crazy, the other half followed me in the car to get some pictures, the weather was iffy, but since English weather is always iffy, I just went for it, well I wasn't out for very long and the skies just opened and as we like to say over here it was raining, cats and dogs. I always feel hard core whilst running in the rain, whilst mere normal human beings are hiding in doorways, bus shelters or under umbrellas, I'm eating up the pavement.

No barefoot running today in the rain, but tomorrow, if the weather is good I plan to run 6 miles 3 of which will be without shoes, if the weather is bad, I will still run but in my trainers for the whole way. The funny thing is I have two pairs of Vibram 5 fingers, but I find running with nothing on my feet a lot more liberating, just like me to waste money, but I think they will come in their own over the winter months, when not even a nutter like me wold consider running bare foot, on the cold ground or in snow!

Anyway the rain was relentless, and the path I ran was not my most favourite, but we chose that way as it would be easier to take pictures, there is a long hill, not steep but long and never ending, but I kept my head down and tried to keep going, the left leg felt heavy after a while and even the right one started to cramp up a bit, I think it's starting to protest at having to carry the left one, but with the acupuncture going so well, and my leg slowly but surely healing I have faith that my injury will continue to get better and my body will become balanced once more.

I managed to knock out 4 miles in 42 minutes 36 seconds, so very pleased, considering it was raining, and I'm still carrying an injury, I can feel myself becoming stronger, it's been worth fighting through this injury and continuing to run even when it hurt to do so, I feel as if I am now reaping the benefits.

                                                                  
The rain was refreshing and  worth doing, almost home and I'm still smiling!

                                                          

Here I am all done and dusted, ready to relax and take it easy, thanks to the other half for coming out, during the mad weather and taking pictures, much appreciated.

Happy Running.

BARE FOOT RUNNING AND ACUPUNCTURE!

Ran 5 miles today, took 3 miles for my mind and body to wake up, it was hot out there today, but looked windy from inside so made a mistake and wore long leggings and a long sleeved top, wrong move cause I was hot, hot, hot. Luckily the sun went in after a while, it got a bit breezy and the long sleeves came in handy.

3 miles in my left ankle started to hurt, got fed up whipped off my shoes and kept running, well what can I say that was the best bit of the run, my ankle stopped hurting immediately and the fun of running bare foot, the freedom, and the intense concentration it takes to ensure I do not stub a toe, step on a stone,  or trying to find the smooth parts of the pavement, made a massive difference to my physical and emotional state of mind, and the run completely turned around, and I was smiling and laughing, and running down the road, like a crazy woman and Lord it felt great. I need to do this more often, it's a hell of a lot of fun, and makes running a lot more interesting and stimulating.

                                                              
Acupuncture session later on with the physio, my body is starting to react now, the first session I really did not feel anything, but three sessions in and my body is starting to wake up, I was twitching all over the place, which the physio says is a good thing. I'm sure she was beginning to think I was a freak, wondering how the hell she could be poking me with all those needles and I wasn't feeling anything at all! Well she put a needle in the back of my left knee today and my left toe twitched, there were two also in my hands and two either side of my left achilles, and for the first time I had a tingling all over my leg, it's like my leg was saying"Hi, hello, I'm awake now." Well I heard it loud and clear.

Been given the go-ahead to run the half marathon next week, as long as I keep up the exercises that she has given me, and keep icing, I feel blessed that I have an injury that I can actually run with, although at times it slows me down and my leg hurts, I can still run and I'm grateful for that. Half marathon here I come, yaaah.

I have about 6 months or more of daily exercises to ensure my achilles is completely healed, and although it sounds very  tiresome, sense I'm planning to keep running for a lifetime, if it means I can one day in the future run pain and injury free, keep working towards the body I want and do more barefoot running, I'll do whatever it takes.

HAPPY RUNNING PEEPS.

                                                          

TRAINING FRIENDS, DODGY STOMACH AND A TEN MILE RUN!

Random picture of me after a particularly challenging hilly 4 mile run!

                                                                      
Monday I knocked out a 5 mile run, all was well great weather, and my body complied with my wishes, achilles is not as painful, in fact I did not realise how much pain I had been in running, and how heavy my left leg has been for the past three months, until very recently when it stopped hurting so much.

Tuesday, I lead a training session with two friends, I met them at a park and put them through their paces, we skipped, ran, walked and done some boxing with the pads, If you want a peek at what I was up to then click on this link. Very proud of these two girls, they have bitten the bullet and decided to do something about their weight and fitness, that first step is never easy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CM8Yda3Qx0

We shall be meeting up on a weekly basis, it's great motivation for myself, I still have a lot of work to do, my body is nowhere near I would like it to be, but I am stronger, fitter, and will get there. I ran home 4 miles, the problem was it was pissing down with rain, I was soaked right through by the time I made it back! People were looking at me like I was a right nutter, maybe I am but I'm a fit nutter. It was nice to work out with others, as someone who trains alone it was a real treat.

Wednesday 10 mile training run, for my half marathon next weekend, well the weather was good, but it was my stomach that was protesting, spent half an hour in the toilet, before I even got out of the front door, then gave it an hour to make sure I would not have any problems on the way!

I ran from my house to my boyfriends, I took three one minute walking breaks, and a 10 minute toilet stop, due to my stomach! Luckily a Burger King came to my rescue, stopped for a wee break, and ended up stuck in there for ten minutes, well it was better than having to find a bush.

The walking breaks were to ease my calf muscle which would start to seize up a little, due to my achilles problems, but it is so much better, the two sessions of acupuncture have made a massive difference,  I may look like a porcupine whilst I'm having it done, but I no longer look like a deranged orangutan whilst running!

I can run mostly pain free, and I am no longer limping when I walk, okay I'm limping a little, but only if I'm tired and sometimes first thing in the morning, but once the old bones start to warm up, I'm as good as new.

The run was a lot of fun, I ran along a duel carriageway, bright orange running top to ensure I was seen, any car driver that hit me would have a hell of a lot of explaining to do.  I played my music, chatted to myself, head down and got on with it.

I am definitely getting better at training I took 2 hours 2 minutes and was at a 12:10 pace, for most of the run I was just under a 12 minute pace, but got tired at the end, usually when I train, especially the long runs I find it very difficult and can be very, very slow, yesterday was one of the first times, I felt focused and strong, and like I could've kept going.That was whilst carrying an injury, so very pleased with myself.

I think I need to start slow and try to build up my pace as I go, rather starting fast and than slowing down.   It's a good lesson, that you don't always see results straight away, but every run, makes a difference, every good food choice makes a difference.

Happy Running everyone.