Are you mad!

Speaking with a non-running friend, I said you know I am running the London Marathon, don’t you?

Yes, I think you said. Are you mad?! That’s 26 miles isn’t it?

It is funny how different people see running a marathon. London isn’t just any marathon, its iconic and where I am from.

I remember seeing it on the TV as a child. Mum didn’t exercise other than walk to work but she liked to watch it on the TV. I remember thinking to myself I want to run that one day. Even going to cheer friends on in 1991 at the Cutty Sark, I dreamed of myself coming round that bend. 

I tried for many years to get into London through the public ballot so to be able to run it this year is a dream come true. Sometimes I still don’t believe it ……

Saturday 11th January, the training plan said 3 miles with hills. So, I ran to Studland Road in Hanwell. I just used the steep bit in the middle and did that 6 times up and down. Fast up and a jog down. I did cheat a couple of times and took some breaths after running up.

I then ran to Gurnell Leisure Centre for a short swim. 4miles covered.

Sunday 12th January, I ran the Cliveden 10k. It’s a trail race set in a National Trust park in Taplow. One of the features is running up the famous 172 steps from the banks of the River Thames to the house, twice.  

When we arrived, it was raining so hard, so we stayed in the car to the last minute. My husband and our dog came to cheer me on. The rain died down and we made our way to get my number. Lots of my tri club members were racing today, we had a quick photo call then I noticed Lisa Watson so I went to chat to her.

I opted for my road trainers but didn’t remember how muddy the trails were 2 years ago, or that I had to run on grass. I did slip and slide around a bit and it was hard going coming down a hill and make the bend without slipping over. The steps didn’t seem that bad this year and the route was slightly changed. I really enjoyed the race and used it as my long run for the week

Tuesday 14th January, the plan said 5 miles. I decided to run/walk with a little one in the pushchair. We went towards the canal to see the ducks…no ducks but a couple of dogs then towards and through Northala Fields. I opted for going during the day as the weather wasn’t great and we had storm Brendon on the way. We were lucky, as just as I hit my road the rain came. The rain stayed all day/evening so I’d made a good choice.

Thursday 16th January, I missed my training run as I wasn’t feeling great. Wednesday, I ended up in bed by 7.30pm.

4 miles at this stage isn’t going to affect me much.

Saturday 18th January, the plan was just like last Saturday. I decided to do a loop from Greenford towards Gurnell Leisure Centre and round towards the A40. On the A40 side going back toward Greenford there is a slight hill going down and up by an underpass. Did that 6 times then homeward bound.

Total distance 4 miles.

Sunday 19th January, I was in Lowestoft for a family birthday. My husband decided to join me on a run/walk run along the beach. It was a beautiful morning, the sun was shining and we had a light ground frost, 5’c compared to a -1’c in London. We made our way to the most Easterly point and then did a loop round. I covered my 8 miles planned distance. 

A really lovely run/walk including, sun, sea, & trails.

In Lowestoft there is a race my husband and I would like to do called The Scores. It’s a unique race taking a course from/to Lowestoft High Street via a route to and along the northern sea wall and returning via the towns historic Scores. Basically, they are alleyways but they have steps, there are 13 stepped hills and the total distance is 4.71 miles, 401 steps. As we want to do this race, we decided to include some of these scores in the run today. I will need to do some good hill training for this race.

You must think now I have a thing about races with steps!

 Tuesday 21st January, another frosty morning, I decided not to join the Eagles 5k group from Pitshanger at 5.45 which I had planned to do, as I was slightly worried about slipping over. Leaving the house at 4.30pm, I am greeted by a fox, healthy looking with a lovely bushy tail, which is unusual these days. Early for them to be running the roads too!

5 miles had to be done so off I went.

Towards the end of the run/walk it was getting slippery on the pavements so choosing going out after work made no difference.

Off for my first massage booked in over marathon training. This was 1 hour so it was an all over body one just not concentrating on my legs. My right hamstring felt tight she said and she also massaged around my achillies as the muscle felt stringy. Gosh, it hurt massaging it! My arm is playing up at the mo so I got a good back, shoulder and arms massage too.

 Thursday 23rd January.  Up at 4.45 to head to the Early Eagles run with Allie and others. I wasn’t going to eat as I only had 5 miles to do but heard my husband making his breakfast and it made me feel hungry, so had a hot cross bun with a cup of tea. Headed out the door at 5.20am to park near the start and do 1 mile before. The weather was perfect, not cold at all with no wind. It was quiet except the birds just waking up and a few high vis workers off to work. The atmosphere feels different in the morning too, clean and fresh.

Just as I approached the road to the Duke of Kent I was met by 4 Eagles. That was close, 1 minute later and I would have missed them. 3-mile loop with, Allie, Tanya, Paul & Ingvild then just to build up to the 5 miles. The pavements are a bit hard to see at this time but it was a good run.

Home, time for a bath and coffee before my day starts.

 Training going well so far….