Yume No Chikara

I've enetered the Trailwalk for 2006. It's July 15-16th so 7 months away. Help!

Just put Gnome to bed and found out what had kept him quiet most of this afternoon. BTW He's 8! He draw this from a bubble bath bottle onto A3 paper! I am soooo impressed!

Brass Monkey! Oh and MWAH!!! Loving you back hun! [hides incase Womble notices] Oh and for Duck - Sorry I messed up !!

Does it stay or go?

Right Christmas is almost over - food not quiet gone! Brass Monkey isn't far off and to be honest all goals for that are out of the window and I am now on a JUST DO IT strategy as I now have a stinking cold which means I am totally blocked up and can't breath! Breathing through my mouth means sore dry throat so no running! So instead of sulking I am thinking ahead! It will be new year, new site (very similar to this though!) and new positive drive!

Lo folks! Just thought I would pop in briefly to say Happy Christmas!!!! and a FAB 2006! Currently (pun intended!) Gnome is playing with Hot Wires and loving it! It's his "best present ever!" I'm playing Sudoku on my new handheld game and hubby is (shock horror!) watching the racing on TV! I've still not run since the Frolic. Monday I had my nose zapped and that knocked me for a few days and then Christmas got in the way! Christmas Eve I was thinking "wanna run" and Christmas Day Evening (if that makes sense!) I was dripping blood in the bathroom for the best part of 30 mins. Worse nose bleed in literally months. I was even starting to think a trip to A&E may be called for. I wasn't happy and had a headache after that. Then during the night I got cramp in my calf so today I ain't running either ... grrrrrr. Still it's almost 2006 and then the pants year will be over! Enjoy your pressies folks!!

Well as you know on Monday Mr ENT zapped me nose. Well the scab is annoying (as he expected!) and the "pressure" caused by it feels like I have sinusitis! So as I wasn't running I decided to finally get the bathroom cabinet up that I failed to do 18mths ago! So with advise from PD I got some different wall fittings. I now have 2 blisters that have ouch burst on the palm of my hand! And no the cabinet is still not up! The dishwasher isn't done either. Oh and I now have an abscess on my gum! So all in all I have decided to write off this week and have it as a recovery R&R week whilst I forget that BM is what 3 wks away!! On the race front I have completed my Reading application (not posted until I have spare money!) and my Moonwalk cheque never got cashed (big shock that! NOT!) I'm also playing with Ubuntu thanks to Ixus ... great looking and easy install as he said! Just need to try and work out how to get Samba done so I can access some devices and files on my...

Well seeing as you lot have put up tree pics ... here is mine!

Whilst pregnant I bought an embroidery to make for my mum. Gnome is now over 8yrs old and I have finally got round to finishing it! So I have made it into a picture for my mum's Christmas present!

So lets see ... Friday I popped off home to Berkshire to do the daughter thing (climb into loft to get Christmas stuff down, do tree etc) and then to Frolic on Sunday. It was FAB to see everyone on Sunday. Having been ill at the beginning of the week I hadn't run for a few days and as I was now eating properly I felt fine and was looking forward to a trot in the woods. I soon found that my legs had a different idea, something like "barfing and hardly any food for 2 days... you must be joking!" oh and then my nose decided to join in the fun too! Still it was lovely and a HUGE fanks to Fraggle for looking after me and missing out on the full run. Oh and a smaller fanks to Zilla for making me run to the car when my legs shouted STOP!!! I see he is learning from coach Spans!! This afternoon I am off early because I have my ENT appointment and then I am not back at work until Jan which is great!! I will report back after my apointment! later...... [snuffle sniffle] Well Mr ENT...

I know it is early but hey! So this year I have had: a stress fracture (2-3mths off running) loadsa colds loadsa nosebleeds knackered back (2-3wks off running) food poisoning/reaction (this week!) I finish 2005: approx same weight as I started approx same speed as I started approx same distance for long runs as I started So for 2006 I will be: healthier! Number of colds need to be reduced! fitter! So longer runs faster! lighter! Will aid with the getting fitter and faster! On the bright side: (updated for Beanz!) only 2mths off with SF could have been a lot longer 1 week family holiday in EuroDisney gained weight and lost weight got a great physio got a great sport massage ouchy painfull lady got an ENT appointment for bloody (yes pun was intended!) nose next Monday I COMPLETED THE FLORA LONDON MARATHON!! I GOT A NEW MARATHON PB!! and IT'S CHRISTMAS!!! So to follow on from what Womble said I have thought up the following!

Since 7AM yesterday I haven't chucked up!! Yesterday I ate 2 slices of dry toast and drank 1.5l of lucozade sport! For those of you who know me you will realise just how ill that made me! Toast was only eaten at 8PM because I ached so much and felt so rough I needed drugs and didn't want to take them on a totally empty stomach. Today I have had 500ml L.sport for breakfast (well brunch as I woke up at 12:30!), 2 slices of toast for lunch (due to more drugs!) and soup and toast for tea (Gnome told me to eat saying drinking LSport alone was not healthy!!) The soup and toast were too much really and I felt really full after. So I am a lot better and guess I will be returning to work tomorrow. I do still feel a little weak but given the above diet it's hardly surprising now is it!?! My throat is still iffy but I think Benz was right, I thought it had something stuck in it, but she suggested it was scratched and given I had some nuts Monday night it could be true. Especially as t...

I'm starting to think that I should stop having targets, forget the GFA and just enjoy running. I keep on having so many set backs. Last night I was tired and in bed at 10:30. At 2AM I wake up with a dodgy belly, 2:30 - 3:30 I'm in the bathroom, not a pretty sight. Go back to bed now freezing cold so can't sleep as I am shivering. Up again later to chuck up again (WW chicken tikka is the problem!). Then at 6-7 (lost track of time) I tell hubby I am not going to work. He asks how I feel. I say "still feel sick" at which point I jump out of bed and run to the bathroom again! So I am drained. Not eaten for almost 24hrs. Sat here drinking Lucozade (need some energy). Feel like something is stuck in my throat (from 1st chucking up but obviously not blocked as I have chucked up twice since!!) sorry is this too much info?? Needless to say I am not running today, and probably will stay at home and not run tomorrow either!

ENT appointment next Monday and they won't mind if Gnome comes with me! I can walk! No stiffness to speak of so the post run bath massage has done it's trick. I did also give my calves a quick massage this morning too to be on the safe side! Blister isn't hurting (thanks compeed!) Chaffing isn't bad (thanks sudacreme) Knees aren't aching (thanks zipvit! I use their glucosamine and emu oil gel) But best of all this week I am working 8-2:30 as I have to collect Gnome from school and next week I am only working Monday morning until 1!! Then no work until 4th Jan!! Yippeeee

As previously mentioned by Leon - Sunday is long run day! I haven't done a long run for a few weeks - my last proper one was 13th November (the High Peak Relay) and prior to that was the 31st October. The last 3 excuses have been, nose bleeds after 2.5m, nose bleed before I even started and a cold. This weekend I was determined as BM is getting closer and closer that I would do a proper long run. I was not going to stop because of a stupid nose bleed (tissues located!) and I was not going to moan for the 1st 1-2m due to horrid tight half asleep legs! The only snag was hubby is working weekends which meant I had to be home by 9:30 so I had to leave at 7:30 at the latest! Not something I was looking forward to due to lack of light at that time! Oh and not being that warm either! Last night was restless as I was concerned I would sleep through my alarm, so when it went off a half asleep pixie dragged herself out of bed. I wandered into the spare room and sat on the floor yawning. Afte...

Today I have 2 events planned: Mini Midlands social! I WILL run! I also plan to restrain myself and not let 1st line support wind me up and get me stress/comfort eating! Well that's the plan anyway! Currently sat here at work listening to Christmas songs whilst wearing my "Happy Hat" AKA a santa's hat!! lunchtime edit .... Well I've been out running! Managed 4.6m in 55mins so a second or two over 12mm pace. HR was up and I really can not imagine keeping that pace for 13.1m let alone anything faster. If I was still aiming for sub 2:30 I would need 11:27mm pace on average - now updated ETA to 2:45 and it will be close! I hope that the HR is only up as I finally get over my cold and that once that drops the pace will come with it! I have 2hrs to do Sunday and would like at least 9m to be dragged out! Still wearing my happy hat too!! Maybe I should wear it to the social as I now have really bad hat hair!!

Yes I know it was a shock to me too! Last run was just over a week ago and it was great to be back out again! I did 40mins solid run which was a steady 3.3m. Only stopped to cross busy roads so really pleased. Legs were a bit tired and HR was higher than normal (post virus I guess) at 83% ave (normally about 79-80%) but I ran! 'twas cold out there too! So looking forward to Sunday's long run now!

Thanks to Caff I seem to have admitted to the following in 2006. Jan - Brass Monkey Half Feb - Trail Plus Training Camp Feb - Bramley 10m (poss) April - Reading Half April - FLM Support May - Moonwalk Marafun (if I get in!) Sept - Robinhood Half Oct - Great South Run (poss) Oh this looks interesting too! Evening Update Errr umm sorry! Had a bad attach of the CBA when I got home. So no trotting [hangs head in shame]. It also seems (from RW sources!) that the moonwalk is not going to happen! So I was pleased with finding that other half (linked above) only to find out hubby is working that weekend so I can't do that either!! But I did do this instead ....

Right well this is the start of my week's plan! Tomorrow I will do test run on the tready afterwork which means I can easily stop if not right. Thursday I have the Christmas play to watch! Sunday I WILL GET UP EARLY and do a 2hr run! Problem is driving along thinking about where to run isn't a good idea when it's 5:30 rush hour traffic home! I've still not got my route planned. 2hrs will be 9+m I think and I don't really want to hit the main roads, much rather potter about on the back roads and the trail, I just don't know them so don't know which roads are safe to run on! Me finks I may do a detor on the way to work tomorrow!! hehe

Well the weekend was a long slow one because I was resting. I did find lots of things to do like sewing (I'm making a bear from a kit for my mum's Christmas present) embrodiary (again for mum but this was started 8yrs ago!) tiding the kitchen (getting a dishwasher and need to make space) tiding with Gnome (well his room was a mess (he is only 8 remember so it's expected!) and he needs space as I have no doubt my mum will spend too much at Christmas!) installed Red Hat 8 on old/spare box (found an old disk and gave that a try seeing as Fedora wouldn't work!) So anyway lots to keep me amused but it just wasn't "right". I should be washing lots of running kit and planning and doing a long run at the weekend. The tready kept on calling from the garage too trying to tempt me to do a short 20-30 mins but I remained resolute and stayed away. Today I feel in danger of being over this pesky cold. I have to go buy some audio cables, and stuffing for my bear so no ru...

Last week I was partially lurgyfied. Had 3 nose bleeds and hardly ran. This week I have done 3.7m and I am still full of lurgy. Last night I was up at 12 to care for a chucking up Gnome. Today I am full of lurgy, Gnome is at home with daddy and I am shattered. Me finks I need to give in and rest.

Well the festive season is upon us! Work Christmas do this week (no I am not going!), RW East Midlands Social next Friday (yes I am going!), Snow this week and the decorations are starting to be seen! Due to husbands shift pattern I have to take some time off at Christmas to look after Gnome which means I have almost 3 weeks off, and the week before that I am collecting him from school. So I am going to take advantage of this and try to kick in some cross training and also work on my healthy eating and hopefully lose some weight and get some good habits formed (well they say it takes 21 times to create a habit don't they!) So I have drawn up a short of plan . Spans is currently on the bench due to an eye injury so I am assuming levels as they have been! With just 52 days until Brass Monkey I need to get as much fitness in as possible and seeing as I have the exercise bike and the tready in the garage I should use them! Tonight I have tready hills .... Warm up 4 sets of 90 secs at 3...

Saw the Dr yesterday and well .... She can't see anything, commenting that if it bleed yesterday (as in Sunday) there should be a scab which either means she doesn't believe me (!) or that the bleed point is lower down that she can see. I now have an ENT referral which BUPA will pay for (as long as the consultant is BUPA registered!!!), NHS referral would take 2-3 months. I'm starting to worry about BM too as I keep on missing long runs and apart from that 9m at the relay I've not done passed 7m (and I don't think I could have done another 4m then). Anyway kit is by my desk here, and I will plod at lunchtime. It's chilly but not icy or cold so I have no excuse. As for BM, well anything under 2hr 59:34 is a PB and although I wanted 2:30 it is seeming more and more unlikely. So I will run and enjoy it and hope for a nice new shiny PB. Been plodding: 3.7m in about 45 mins (48mins including 2 shoe stops, road crossing stops and 1 long stretch stop) Started off bad (...

To say I feel a bit down and depressed today would be an understatement. I'm totally and utterly pissed off and fed up and annoyed and crap. Just crap. Utterly fecked off to be honest. Those who know me will realise that this is so not me and therefore realise how fecked off I must be. This morning. Get up. Have breakfast ready for long run. Walk to paper shop to A) check out weather and B) stretch legs. I walk down the hill working out what to wear as it isn't that cold actually. I ponder when my next hill work will be (this is the hill I use) and work out which week of my plan I am on (do I need to hassle Spans for a new plan!). Then I carry on happily "running through" today's planned run. New route so no expectations of time. It's a good day for a long run. I've been 5mins and yes you guessed it my fecking nose starts to bleed. I've only got 2 manky old torn tissues in my pocket so decided to get the paper from the Tesco express (and some tissues)...

1) just because it is really cold outside does not mean you need to run faster 2) do not pay attention to road side adverts 3) maybe, just maybe it's worth paying attention to hints from your body Shall I explain?? 1) Ok so the weather man said 3, wind chill -3. I plan ahead and layer up. Get outside and think "hmmm slight chill in the air" and off I go ..... 10:30-11mm pace. 5mins in and schedule says 1min walk, walk to traffic lights and stretch against them. Cross road and carry on. Stretch again (remind myself about slower warm up to wake legs up preventing sore shins/calves thanks to tight muscles.) Cross next road. Stop stretch. Look up ... 2) see road side advert for some beer .... "Go that Extra Mile!" was the wording. So off I go again. Again I go off at 11mm pace ish. 5mins later I'm stopping for another stretch and a walk and changing steady run into a walk/run/trot/thump "at least I got out there" session. Finally no.3 This week I ran T...

Yesterday and today I seem to have been taken over by some kind of head hugger from Aliens! The rest of my body is fine (well I didn't eat any tea last night so not fine as such!) but my head is awful! Tender throat, snotty stuffed up nose (and yes I have taken sudafed!) and my head feels like someone has a vice on it with tightness and ache from my eyes up. Last night I must have had 2hours sleep max! My head was just all over the place. I watch Rome on the BBC last night (as I have the last 4 wks) and then did some sudoku to relax (not unusual). Whilst trying to get to sleep I was having visions of Romans doing sudoku and I was working it out myself yet every time I moved I lost the numbers! Then I was up at 4 taking drugs as my head was hurting too much and my throat was sore. I put on my Paul McKenna CD (usually relaxes me so much I fall asleep listening to it) and I was still awake. Then I started hearing songs in my head and trying to work out if they were suitable for 11-12m...

Woke up feeling "coldy" ... tender throat, tired and headache. Decided the headache was due to lack of drink the night before as I was talking to Duck for 90mins! So had some paracetomol and drink and packed my kit! My reasoning being that even if it was a cold it was not "on my chest" so no harm in running and anyway the fresh air would do my head good! Spent most of the morning feeling pants too. Headache has still there despite drink and drugs but I had my kit so off I went.1.2m in and the batteries on my GPS died! This meant it was me and the smog filled roads and my watch. As I alter my route slightly every run (so I don't compare splits!) I didn't really know the distance or pace. I did know that when I got to the Ford garage that the office was just over 1m away and I had about 13mins left when I got there. Problem was that it wasn't much further before my legs said "you are having a laugh!" and I started to flag. As I knew I was having ...

Having had yet another shite day at work I decided to slip in a quick speedwork session today seeing as hubby was off to work early, Gnome was at BB and I wanted to watch Rome on Wednesday! Problem was time was short! So ... dead quick (too quick) warm up 400m @8.5 2mins walk/jog 600m @8.5 2mins walk/jog 800m @8.5 STOP stick on extra layer, woollen hat, gloves, put away tready and put on ruck sack (containing another layer and fleece!) run 1/2m to BB by doing farlek on ice and an effort up nasty short steep hill. STOP at BB scare little girl by looking like a weirdo and then putting down bag and starting to add layers! cool down by walking home with Gnome! So a varied session! But a good one that finished off rather chilled! Plan is to do 40mins at work tomorrow. Rest Wednesday and then wrap up for a longer run at work (possibly in the snow!) on Thursday. Oh and I have a Dr appointment for next Monday 9.10. Yes I know it's a week away but I asked to see ths same doc who I saw befo...

Spent 5hrs shopping today and I can now say that Christmas is 90-95% done but I also can say I'm was knackered! My legs ached My right hip flexor (?) area at the front of my hip hurt Slight twinge in top of right quad (had this a couple of times running long runs) Then this evening I'm noticing my hip more and my right knee. As it's all down the right side I'm guessing something is wrong. Also wondering if this is anything to do with that back problem I had as the massage lady said I had had a spasm on the right side of my back. I think I will be calling the Dr and saying Fix me nose please! Physio appointment please! I did mention on the forums the other day that I had been having a pain in my right butt some nights too! Thank god for BUPA is all I can say! I'm a bit down about this as things were coming together nicely and yesterday I was really up for a good long run and I was starting to re-gain some confidence. Now I'm getting fed up and down again. Anyway ...

Plan : Long Run - 90mins 7.5-8m Actual : 2m - total 27mins Due to hubby being asleep (working nights) I didn't venture out until 12:30. It was crisp and clear with some pavements still covered in frost. Still cold but good running weather. Dressed in capri legs and long sleeved top with gloves and my standard baseball hat and sweat bands (a must for any of my runs whatever the weather - unless I need to wear my wool hat!) I ventured out happy that although I was cold I was running so would warm up and be fine. So off I went, the plan being, up to Oakthorpe, back to Measham, down to Snarestone and back round to Measham through the back roads making about 8m. Originally I was going to do this the other was round finishing in Oakthorpe. But for some reason I decided on this route. Literally 4-5mins into my run having already slipped up a couple of times on the pavement (!) I went to wipe my nose with my hand due to cold weather nose drip. Only it wasn't cold weather nose drip, it ...

It was -2 when I left home at 8:45 this morning (school run!) which was a tad cold! It was 2 when I got to town! I can't see it being much about 5-6 by lunchtime. So today I have a long sleeved top packed again! I used tights yesterday and they felt welll tight! So I'm back to my capri legs today. I will be running a new route today so I don't know what time I will do or indeed the distance but over 4m. I will report back this afternoon after I have thawed out! >>shivering pixie sits down at keyboard very very cold 12.22, 12.01, 11.50, 13.09 (1min trying to cross the road!), 4.13 av pace 12:25 av hr 172 (78%)

Yesterday was Wednesday which meant speedwork day. I had to do some shopping at lunch which meant a tready run. Unfortunatly I didn't get to do my run when I got home. So I thought "I'll run when hubby goes to work tonight!" but Duck called and didn't put the phone down until 11pm and NO I was not running then! I got up today and the car is white with frost. So tights packed for a lunchtime session but not sure about top ... tee or sleeves??? I will report back later! Take 1 cold day and 1 very crap morning at work and you get a dodgy speedwork session! Started off fine but I was running far to hard - I looked at my watch and saw 9.XX 2-3 times within my 1st 3 sets meaning that after the 3rd set I needed to stop and stretch! Overall thought it was fairly good though. The legs really ache in the "damn hard session" way which is good! Was a bit up and down pace wise but that's what comes from a stressy run! Anyway 3.8m done! Due to carp day at work tod...

Yesterday the leg were most displeased with me. They spent all day complaining about the hills from Sunday and the hard work which they had to do. Every time I stood up they screamed and I was not a happy pixie! My mind wandered back to long runs of 10+ miles for marafun training and it seemed hard to recall and impossible to consider! Today I got up and yes they legs were sore but I could move! So the kit was packed and put in the car for a munchtime run. Goal today was 3m in 40mins! Pathetically slow but I knew the legs would complain so I wanted to set a goal I felt I could achieve!! Lunchtime came and off I went. I think I managed 3 maybe 4 mins before I felt the tired burning leg sensation that follows a hard session (how does Benz do all those marafuns and long runs!?!). Me being me I carried on very slowly and 40:13 later I ground to a halt. Mission accomplanised! Time: 40:13 Distance: 3.238m Av. Pace :12.26 Splits: 12.32,12.44,12.19,2.38 Result - happy pixie and sore legs!! Sh...

When you work hard you achieve your dreams.

just recieved this by mail from a fellow blogger. I want to share it so everyone can benefit as I have. I've wiped my tears away and I've printed this up so when I am getting sulky and down I will read this and remember .... Aim High! (how appropriate is that name!) Don't EVER think that you any any less of a runner than anyone else Kim, You show a dedication and determination that puts many people to shame. You have a goal for your marathon time which is truly amazing - and I am inspired by it..We all have our dream peaks (sorry about the mountain reference again - I'm a mountaineer too!) - and they are a reflection of who we are and what we are able to acheive - for ourselves - and anyone who can't see the value of that endeavour is blind indeed.When you run your next pb - to me that is as phenomenal an achievement as any world record..and I will bounce up and down like a mad thing at the thought of it - and I get pretty animated when I'm excited about somethi...

But a great day! Last night I went to bed at 10:30 which would give me 8hrs sleep. Last night I woke up at least 5 times and turned my alarm off and started to get dressed at 3:10! At which point I realised it was pitch black outside as it wasn't time to get up! So I was tired! Anyway when I did get up it was breakie and final sort of kit then off at 8. The journey there was fine and traffic free and I didn't get lost once! What I did notice was that the country around was somewhat undulating! Anyway got there in one piece and it wasn't quiet as cold as expecting! The next 30 mins or so was taken up with team manager Beanz sorting us all out. I was to do Leg 2. Looking around I noticed several Ivanhoe Runners (my club) and I got a few glares! One lady (Eve the former Ladies Captain) did say hello and ask how I was doing and I took the opportunity to explain I wasn't down at the club as I was 12mm just now and too slow for them! She pointed out she had hardly run and had...

I'm strangely nervous about tomorrow. I know it's only 2.5m (x2!) but there will only be a max of 50 runners per leg (only 45 teams last year I think). I'm sure my 12mm pace will be last. I have a lovely casserole (loadsa spuds!) for tea tonight and 2 glasses of wine. I'm now on the non-alcoholic fluids. The lucozade is ready to make and I'm still not sure what to wear! I was going for shorts and vest. Then capri legs and crop top/vest but I'm not sure! If I'm cold/cool I will run faster! But then I don't want to burn up and crash or freeze waiting for the start. If I wear layers will I be too hot .... blah blah blah. Help!! Still not sure what to do "gadget wise". Just watch and guess extra mileage, GPS and stop/start with each warm up, race and cool down, HRM and GPS or just HRM and watch!??!! I'm thinking that I will do leg 1 (1.5m) as a warm up leaving before the race to make sure I am ready. Then stop for some stretches and strides. Th...

I am so useless! Speedwork today and I did my best to be consistent but I failed: Mile 1 11:54:11 Mile 2 11:54:09 How crap is that! Totals: 2.66m 30.50mins av HR180 av pace 12.02 So tell me ... today 2.6m in 30 mins but last night was 3.5m in 54mins! Go figure that one out! Weekend goals are Leg 2 sub 35mins (uphill!) and Leg 9 sub 30 (downhill). I will report back Sunday night!!

[stomps feet loudly in a paddy] Yes I'm miffed and for two reasons. Sunday : I asked work mate if he would like to run a leg of the High Peak Relay. I didn't expect and answer then but 30mins later he said yes! I tell Beanz and we now have a team of 10. Today he says he may not be there, wife has other plans, probably note be there, let me know Saturday. Oh you're going to get really cold Sunday! (That will be 8C max and poss rain! Oh lovely!) We'll take that as a No then shall we! Back to me doing Leg 2 and Leg 9 it seems! Running : Of late my runs have been fab by my standards and I've loved them and felt great. I guess it was only a mater of time but today's tready run was the pits. I mean 3.5m but in 54mins. Awful. Legs were "tired" and didn't want to work, mind was wandering and bored, I was boiling hot and it was just horrendous. I just hope this isn't a sign of things to come on Sunday! Tomorrow : Speed-work in my lunch-break and Chinese...

Looks like I've now managed to talk my way out of 2 legs by being nice to work mate and letting him do a leg! So I'm now doing leg 2 - 2.5m upward incline which leaves me with the old long run question again! I can't do it tomorrow as I have so stuff to do at work and Gnome to collect. I can do 53mins on the tready but 90 is a no! So this means I will run Leg 2 then add another 60mins on after! Unless mate chickens out in which case I will do Leg 9 again! Or if David R doesn't run and Mr Beanz isn't up to it I would be pre-pared to do that leg too if logistics allowed it! Whoever said this was easy lied! I'm exhausted just trying to work out what's happening! Poor Beanz! She is brave! Todays planned speedwork has been pushed to Friday as I forgot I was working late tonight. By the time I got home it was 7. Gnome goes to bed at 8. A run would have been 1hr including changing time and Gnome would have been murder if I ignored him, went for a run and then put h...

So I went to work with my kit, but by 11:30 I had talked myself out of running due to the wind! At 12 I went for a run due to coach Spans and Beanz! Both told me it was fine and it would be good for me! So off I went, and indeed it seemed to be OK apart from the pedestrians who were carrying umbrellas (it was barely raining!) that were getting battered in the wind (and into my face!) oh and the students walking 4 abreast! As I said last week my 1st mile is now a slower mile to warm up. I wasn't clock watching but I wasn't pushing it. Mile 1 finishes by the Uni and then turns off into an estate and the wind! I then turned again into more wind and followed that wind all the way back to the office!! So 40mins after leaving the office I had done 3.3m (40mins also included 3 shoe stops (tight laces hurty foot), 1 nose blowing walking period and several traffic lights which probably acounts for 1-2mins all told). My legs were convinced I had done about 5m and I was exhausted! When I ...

Sunday's High Peak Relay ... looks like this little Pixie has managed to talk herself into 2 legs! Leg 2 is up hill (2.5m in distance) and Leg 9 over the same course but down hill. So this is my Sunday Long run .... warm up (0.5-1m), race Leg 2, cool down,warm up (0.5-1m), race Leg 9, run/jog Leg 10 to the finish and cool down. Should be a total of about 7.5-8m I think!

Well this week I am racing. It's my 1st race since FLM (well 1st offical race, I did do the Fetch 1Mile but that wasn't a real race was it! More of a time trial really!) and I hope to race rather than just run. I'll still be slow but hey! So what about the rest of the week? Well 2 runs I can confirm are: 40mins steady run (no walks) - tomorrow ??? Speedwork - pyramid session - Wednesday Which leaves my steady run of 53mins and my 90mins long run (circa 7m) but these depend on what is happening on Sunday! If I do just one leg (which I believe is leg 9 @2.5m) then I will race that and trot to the finish (leg 10 @1.5m) which when adding a 1m warm up would give my steady run. This would mean I would then need to find time to do my long run! If I did 2 legs (+ warm up(s) and trot to the finish) then this would be my long run! I would prefer this actually! Quite fancy the challenge of 2 runs! But I will see what team captain Beanz comes up with! Hopefully I will have an answer be...

This week has been really good running wise. 4 great runs with better speed than of late and feeling good! I've done more miles this week than since FLM as well. As always though there is a but. It's like this. Monday's long run was because I felt guilty not running last weekend which means that I would be doing 2 long runs this weekend, something that at the time seemed a little significance! Seven days later and I'm tired. I have things to do and the weather is nasty horrid wet and windy. I've already done 4 runs this week and 4 good runs. I've done more miles as well so to do another long run would mean I would be an extra 8m over my previous longest week and to be honest with all the things I have to do and with the weather being so rank (and I still have the tail end of that bliddy cold!) plus 2 restless nights thanks to multiple fireworks going on around us I just don't have the energy or desire to go out and get cold and wet for 90mins. I could go on...

What a run! Lets set the scene .... Windy, cold and trying to rain. Me - shorts and vest! oose bumps on goose bumps! Plan was to run on the streets for 2 reasons ... I'm building up my road exposure (legs seem to be happy running on roads now! Phew!) and also I thought that the houses would provide some shelter! 53mins - 5/1/40/1/5/1 So off I go, freezing cold and remembering not to run too fast to start with so I crashed before the end. Every corner seemed to bring the wind! It was either hitting me from the side or head on. Hardly ever a tail wind! I kept away from the school as that was A) hilly and B) old concrete paving slabs. Last time I rain round there I came back limping (2 wks before my physio visit in Feb!) This meant that the route I did was fairly flat but also nearer the main roads so lots of traffic and fumes. I was, however really lucky with road crossings! I only once nearly crossed as the lights changed and only had to stop twice (it takes 15seconds for lights to ...

Tonight I have hill work!! OK so Spans is being nice to me to ease me into the suffering but it still sounds painful! Warm up 4 sets of 90s uphill jog back Cool Down Bath and Relax! Not going to worry about any gadgets, just me and the watch! Watch this space! Wind swept Pixie .... Tad windy when I got home! Trees kind of bent and lots of leaves blowing about! warm up started off well except the council have decided to bloke an unofficial footparg between 2 roads with a small fence and a line of trees! So I had to hop over the fence! Then I turned the corner and hit a wall of wind! Fortunatly my hill was sheltered! Phew! So I only got wind swept on the warm up and cool down, but it was windy enough to make me cold in my tee and capri legs. I had worked out that I should do about 0.1m in 90secs and that from the front lip of the bottom speed bump and the bottom of the hill, to the house at the top was 0.12m. So I used that as my marker! It took 1.21 -1.22 mins each time so a consistent ...

Lunchtime run through Loughborough for me today, just because I could! Oh and the canal path would be wet and muddy and I didn't want to get my new shoes dirty!! So offf I went with a planned route in mind and a planned stratergy to run. I decided that the 1st mile would be deliberatly slower as a warm up and that I would then see how I felt. The result?? A FABTASTIC RUN!!! I loved it! Stats showed 3.3m (longest 40mins run this year!) with an average pace of 12:06mm so well pleased! So as you can see the legs seem to be improving. HR was higher than normal but I was also faster so I guess they are related! Looks like each mile was getting faster too so the legs were warming up! My long run was also a lot better on Monday so I am guessing that the old legs really do need a warm up now. This means that I now know how to approach next weeks Relay ... I must do a good 15mins warm up trot before I race. Also if things carry on this way then I will be doing warm ups at both Brass Monkey ...

TV fixed (we hope) but hubby managed to break the shower by turning it off! Seems a valve has gone or something but due to having no isolation taps we have the mains turned off! Oh joy! Also longest run since FLM done today and best pace too and a 10K PB and my legs are complaining BIG time! Average pace of 12:35mm pace over 7.2 hilly miles so really pleased! Amazingly my pace wasn't that uneven either! So pleased but tired pixie!

Well today has been a productive but BAD day and I feel guilty about it. Last night's drinky meant an early morning run was out of the question but I soon discovered that I was suffering from a bad case of gardeners legs. Yes the soil was heavy and sodden yesterday and I had to dig the stake holes and dig over the soil. All this right leg action meant that my right quad was sore and my knee (combination of Friday's trip and also the digging too) which meant the run was not going to happen. So I made myself busy by doing other stuff: washing baking (bran cinnamon and cranberry muffins) roast dinner steamed pudding shopping recycling reading up of gardening choosing seeds for next year's veggie plot "planning" the garden layout and to do list Still miffed about the run even if it was wet and windy all day!

Well I finally got round to doing the raised bed! I was out in the garden for about 3-4hrs and I ache all over! My clothes are now a delicate shade of mud brown and went straight in the washing machine! It isn't the most professional master piece but I'm dead proud of myself! Tomorrow is supposed to pish down with rain so I really had to get it done today. Tomorrow's long run will now be slower I expect!! Anyway bath calling! As is the wine bottle!!

Work has been major horrid today and I've had enough of feeling like an unworthy blob in the corner. I also went shopping and came back to the office with both arms full and fell down some steps by catching my heal on the top step. Ouch! I also ended up rushing home as I was late leaving the office to collect Gnome! Also still got this damn cold! And now I have to top up the food/water levels in Gnome, do some washing up and then hit the tready! Legs are still tired from yesterday so I am not expecting it to be pretty or nice but I will try and then report back later! Later that day ... Hmmm well that was pants and it seems to be getting a habit crashing out on speedwork. I know I am suffering from the back end of a cold and my legs were tired but that was carp. I've been thinking. Speedwork started at 8.5Kmph and soon increased to 9kmph (both slow!) but I've always walked my recovery breaks. Today I had a short jog but still. So my plan is to look at reducing the speed but...

40 mins steady and aim was to run without stopping to cough or stretch and to do at least 3m! Pathetic I know! Anyway I went off down the canal and passed 8 swans, a squiral and a rabbit. Had a couple of runny nose moments but no coughing which was good! New shoes and no tense leg muscles - is there a corrilation! Overall I managed 3.14m in 40mins giving and average pace of 12:46 which was good as there was a really bad head wind coming back! HR was high and averaged at 85% which is high even for me. By the time I finished (the last mile) my HR was in the 190's which is speedwork range!! The legs were totally shot to! Because I missed my Wednesday speedwork session (Duck called and we chatted for 95mins!) the plan was 40mins run + pilates DVD. DVD was cancelled due to telly going on the blink!

When a sensible adult goes to Disney Land Paris! Yes I have autographes and also think I can draw!

for tomorrow: Nothing will distract you from the essentials. It may not be a passionateor very exciting day but you will accomplish a modest amount in smallways. Influences around today mean you cope admirably with practicalsituations. On the broader sweep, you may not have a structured plan of what your next move, or indeed moves, should be at work. When you look ahead you may be unclear about what you want or indeed howto reach your goals. When in doubt, as the old saying goes, do nothing at all. Sounds about right!

Ok so slight exageration but that is how I sounded on tonights run! Me finks that the cold is still there! HR was also high - average of 187 which is a good 10 beats up I guess. Over all so much better than of late, with better pace, more consistent pace and no stopping for stretching calves. So I was really pleased aim was to do 4m and I did 4.125m in 53:57 so happy pixie. Best pace (excluding Fetch 1) bar just 1 run (and that was only 40mins) this month. Last 2 50mins runs have been 3.75 in 50mins and 3.9 in 52 so that shows the improvement. Question is why? Rest - week off on hols? New shoes? 10 mins walking warm up? Don't know and don't care 'cos the shower is calling!

Where to start and what to say! The holiday started of with a scare - Gnome managed to swallow a charm at school :-( still it allowed me to leave work early! The rest of the weekend was quiet with just a long run on the Sunday which was awful! (Early start again, had 500ml Locozade (and even 2 gels on route) and made no difference. Had to stop after 1m for a long stretch as calves very tight and also my ankle was sore but that must have been muscles as it went after about 2-3m so next plan is to run after I have been up for a couple of hours to allow the legs to warm up and wake up!) Monday came with a bump - alarm went off at 5AM and we got all packed and feed and watered and mum took us to Reading Station with plenty of time to get the 7:12AM to Waterloo. We sit down and make oursleves (and 5 bags) comfy only to be told at 7:20 that the train was cancelled! Get the 7:21 .... err no that's cancelled too! Get the 7:42! Check in required at Waterloo (at the EuroDisney check in) by 9...

ZZZ ZZZ ZZZZzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Demain je suis d'à Paris via mes parents loge. Maintenant vous tout fait attention, ne pas travailler trop dur et rappeler s'écouter votre corps ! Or for those who can't use an online translation tool or speak French .... Tomorrow I am going to Paris via my parents house. Now you lot take care, don't work too hard and remember listen to your bodies!! Tonight I will be mainly packing (well suppose it's about time isn't it!) and tomorrow I will be doing bugger and all at work (forum I guess!) followed by early escape, drive home, dump bags, and off to mum's via McDonalds!! I doubt if you will hear from me for at least a week so TTFN!

Session: Speedwork on tready at home Well I warmed up and stretched then started my session. Set one ... 400m @9kmph. 2 mins recovery Set two ... 600m @9kmph 2 mins recovery Set three.... 800m @9kmph.... err no. 200m @9kmph followed by "hmm that doesn't feel right" STOP. Stretch, twisty turned flexy ankles. Nope ankle not happy, definatly tighter than the other. STTTRRRRREEETTTTCCCCHHHHH. Ankle happy now. Bit of a walk... OK... bit of a jog.. OK.... 600m @9kmph.... OK! Cool! 2 mins recovery Set four .... 600m @9kmph ..... well 200m @9kmph followed by STOP! Ankle hurty stiffy sore, pixie not gonna play. Huh. Sulk. So I continued my session to finish 30mins on the tready with hilly walking. Then jumped on the bike and did 15mins (5.7km) on that. I'm thinking that my runners are calling time and that the lack of bounce is causing tight muscles rather than there being a big problem. Sensible head said call it quits because I have 3 days until my next run and that rest sho...

Today's plan is a 40mins solid run at lunchtime. Tomorrow's speedwork will be on the tready at home, next week is hols and then the week after I have to collect Gnome from school so will be leaving early. This means this is the last lunchtime session for a while. Run Update Well I spent the most of the morning eating wine gums so I guessed I should be well fuelled! I had been looking forward to this run since yesterday afternoon (no idea why!) and was "up for it!". I guessed that 40mins would be about 3.5-3.75m and decided on a combination of the two canal routes. Anyway off I went and it wasn't feeling as good as I hoped.HR wasn't bad but I felt I was labouring (as such) and just dragging myself arround. Stopped for a quick stretch at 1m and carried on ... not much to say realy as it was a boring run really. Things did improve in the last mile and overall it was a better pace than yesterday but it still didn't feel right if that makes sense. Tomorrow I am...

Today I decided to take a different route on my trot by going down the Grand Union Canal the other way to normal. I've never been this way so had no idea what the path was like or indeed if it went far! After yesterday's long run I wasn't going to push and I also had it in my head to go steady as on a few runs I have started too fast and suffered with very tight calves. So off I trot and I found that after 3/4m of tarmac it turns to a nice path to run on. Very scenic and rather a plesant run. I got to laugh at daddy swan giving the cygnets lessons in taking off (which is probably why I got the flapping wings and hissing on the way back). It was, overall, a very pleasant run until I turned back and within 1/2m hitted a gale force wind (well it was strong anyway!) The legs were a tad tired from yesterday but not bad at all. No need to stop today either which was good. Total 3.751m in 50mins with an average HR of 174! So slow but not that bad ... fairly pleased. 40mins solid r...

Monday : 50 mins munchtime run Tuesday : 40 mins munchtime run Wednesday : Speedwork on tready Thursday : Pack for hols! Friday : Bugger all - off on hols, well to mum's! Saturday : Last minute shopping (train tickets) in Reading Sunday : 90 mins Long Run at mum's Next week we will be in Disneyland Paris from Monday to Friday. I hope to run 3 times for about 30mins and get some swimming in with Gnome but we'll see. I will do about 6m on Saturday morning on the way back from stocking up on wine!!

Got bored of purple! Mind Orange isn't my colour either but hey!

Yes today was long run day and the legs just complained the whole way. I strugged a lot and kept on thinking "I'm sure it's not supposed to be this hard!" Alarm went off at 7:20 and I was out by 7:50 into the cold cold air (it was 8 degrees at 11:30 so I'm guessing about 4-5!) Set the GPS up and decided to do a different variation of last weeks route but in reverse to last week. I don't like to repeat routes if I can because I don't want to ruin the run by comparing times. After a mile or so I stopped and stretched as the legs were feeling tired and tight already - not a good sign with over an hour to go! After that they felt better and I went into 40mins of solid running. The legs felt heavy but not as bad as they have been on previous aborted runs so I carried on and they did eventually ease off like 30 mins later! I had gone out with nothing but 250ml of squash in my belly so maybe that explains the lack of energy or maybe that 1mile was still in my leg...

Yesterday I was delighted with my run. Full of enthusiasm and happy as larry. Today I find my legs aren't as tired as they perhaps should have been, no aches or pains. Did I push hard enough? Could I have done better? That's when the rain came. I started thinking (probably due to boredom at work) that I wasn't doing enough. I commit to running 4 times a week and do that without a problem, yet other areas which would impact on my running I just can't get my head around. I know I should do core muscles exercises (my back proved that) and tone (flabby belly and bingo wings) and lose some blubber. Yet my head can not stay focused or commited on these ares for more than a few days at a time. Then I realise a week/two has gone and I've done nothing. Yesterday I did 9:49 - losing 2st would make that nearer 9 without extra training - that will in turn help with my running goals and the golden GFA. So why can't I stay focused like with the running training? Likewise bett...

The day had arrived - today was the Fetch One Mile! I was a nervous wreck it felt like a proper race not just me and my watch. I spent all morning doing no work because I was either getting a drink or going to the loo! Total pre-race paranoid stress pixie! I have never done a 1mile race and my best known mile was 10:14 so that was a aim a sub 10 min mile. Having had a stress fracture in Feb meaning 2mths off, then FLM, then time off for colds and family and 3wks off due to a back problem just over a month ago I was totally stressed over this! I wasn't convinced I could do it. How long is a mile anyway? I've always just run and let the GPS tell me the distance! Anyway lunchtime arrived and I changed. Off I went for a warm up, walk jog stretch panic repeated twice! I had planned to start by the canal bridge and knew that I then had 2 bridges to go under then carry on to just past a corner to get to the mile. As it was I just wanted to get it done so I started early and then just ...

Yep tomorrow I will be doing my first ever 1mile race! I have no idea as to time or indeed where I will run it (probably down the canal) all I know is that I would love to get to 10mm pace or below even if it is for just one mile! Tomorrow will see a full report, expect it to long if it goes well or very short if it's bad!!

Yep it's more lunchtime plodding for pixie today. Fortunately the fog has all but cleared so I can run safely but it looks cold! Anyway plan is: 2x 5:1 1x 25:1 2x 5:1 Will update you on my return! Later that day .... Well what can be said about that? A crappy goodish pants run I think is about right! Yet again a brilliant start! Felt really comfortable trotting along and I admit it was probably too fast so I made an effort to slow in the second run set. Then stretch after that before my long run set. What a load of pants that was! Tight shins and legs just felt wrong. HR was up (possible cause blood donation) and I ended up plodding along on the grass where I could at about 13mm pace and stopping to cross roads and stretch. When I left the area which had grass on the side of the pavement the shins tightened again. Is it time to get the new shoes out? Did I do too much road work last week?? After about 20 mins I realised that as I approached my physio I had increased my speed and I ...

Today is post blood donation rest day and given my legs were tired from the long run and speedwork or last week I wasn't worried! They were tired when I got up to but ..... they legs must be better now as I went to "buy a drink" and ended up in JJB checking out the sale and running kit (nowt there) and thinking hmmm a run would be nice! So rest tonight - unless Gnome would like a short trot. Then 50 mins tomorrow and 40 on Thursday which will include the Fetch One Mile (at sub 10mm pace for Fraggle and Leon!).

Well lets see .. Friday's speedwork left me with tired legs Friday night and Saturday! This wasn't a problem though as the weekend long run was planned for Sunday anyway. I did finally manage to pick up the wood for my raised bed but it's still wrapped up! So that will be next weekends project along with planting tonnes of bulbs! Oh and we must get some heather for the rockery etc! Anyway back to this weekend. Saturday night I had 3 glasses of wine and so when I got up Sunday although I felt fine I decided to leave the run until later when I had had some time to consume some liquids! As it was also windy and cold I wasn't too upset! Lunchtime came and a small snack was muched through ready for 2PM run meaning I would be back in time to put the roast in! 2PM comes and Gnome wants to have a run too. We start off and he charges off in front of me, slows down as he hits the hill ... starts breathing heavy. We walk, then I suggest we walk between speed bumps. This works well...

Today is speedwork day! The planned session is warm up then 8 sets of 3mins @ 10K pace 2 mins recovery before a cool down. Plan was a lunchtime session and my kit is next to my desk, however the sky is as black as a black thing so I may end up on the tready at home after all! In which case I will put kit on at work so that I don't get tempted to skip it!! See I did it!! Really pleased as this was off road and totally my effort not the tready making me run this pace! Some entertainment with the concrete under the canal bridges being wet and slippery with mud from the splashes of the boats. So I nearly ended up in the canal! Also saw a mother duck with 11 ducklings and two angry swans who did not appreciate me passing them! Then there was the walkers, the dogs and the man on his bike! So overall I'm really pleased! I even had enough energy to do a 5 mins cool down jog of 12-12:30mm pace. Only down side was I went back to work rather damp!! But hey ho! SpeedWork done which is grea...

Or not as the case may be! I read somewhere that self massage is great for legs and can be aided by using a rolling pin!! So whilst watching TV given my tight lower legs I tried it! Pot of Body Shop Muscle Rub in one hand and Gnome's kids rolling pin in the other! Do you know what? It works! It does help! Check with me tomorrow though just incase I change my mind!! Talking of tomorrow it's a rest day! Well rest from running. I will however try to do something else in the form of exercise ... a walk at lunchtime or similar. Friday is speedwork on the tready!

Well today I planned a steady 40mins of solid running. No pressure just run. After yesterday's run I decided to walk to the end of the road (4-5mins) cross then stretch before running. I watched my HR to keep the pace down. My legs were still tense after yesterdays beating so I made a point of being very steady and stopping at traffic lights and stretching whilst waiting for the lights to change (instead of my usual leg it between cars!). Due to crossing 2 large roundabouts this gave 2 stops of about 2mins in the 1st 2 miles! For some reason I couldn't get my shoes comfy today so I stopped and fiddled with them a couple of times too. Things just weren't right but I got there in the end. Due to stops the milage was low - just 2.9m in the 40mins but I think I can remove about 5mins for stops! HR was lower with a Max of 176 which is very low for me an average of 167 which is just 75%. So a nice steady run. I learnt that legs are important to a runner and will be making more ef...

Each journey begins with a step forward with a purpose and a goal. This journey is taking me from chubby plodder to Athlete! My tools to guide me and help me on my way are a fantastic coach in Spans, great supportive friends in you lot and a stubborn character. My map shows few waymarkers just now so I can't see the hills and valleys which lay ahead! Like the Roman roads that were built 2000 years ago I have my beacons shinning but need to clarify the route between each beacon. The path is supposed to be straight and clear but if there are hurdles I'll just have to work round them then get back onto the straight and narrow as quickly as possible with no turning back. Straight ahead lies victory. To represent this "one day at a time" attitude and the desire to not linger on the past and dwell on what could have been I've started to archive daily. When today is done it's gone. I can't repeat the day so I will put it behind me, take forward the positives and...