Wednesday 2 January 2019

Two big numbers

So 2018 is nearly over and it's been a bit of a year on the old running front as this blog set out to share.....


Whilst I haven't been posting very often - I have kept on running and running -  very "Gump like" at times... 
In fact I have run so much, I have clocked up a massive 767.3 miles during 2018.  Flipping 'eck.   I am quite proud and also very grateful to my toes, feet, legs, glutes and all other bodily parts that have stuck together and worked with me to achieve this rather than fall to pieces.
I am also truly grateful to my running buddies who have run with me so much on various runs and routes.  When I started my London Marathon madness plan, someone said you better learn to run with other people - so I did.   You wonderful running buddies have got me through many miles and moments of self doubt at different times.  You are amazing luscious people and I want to continue running with you in 2019

Mark Kennedy
Clare Ace
Lindsey Jones
Andy Tarzey
Jim Tarzey
Ben Harper
Dan Dickinson
Georgina Gilchrist Roberts
and the wonderful This Mum Runs (TMR) community

767.3 miles (and don't forget that all important .3) is a fantastic number - but not quite as fantastic as the number £250,000, the amount of money that we have now raised for Teenage Cancer Trust in Ella's name.   It was lovely and poignant to mark this number back in September - with so many friends and family who have all made this happen and of course so many more people involved as well.   THANK YOU.   Lots of this cash was raised through running shenanigans over the past six years - 10k's "run for Ella's", half marathons and marathons.  All very funny - given Ella barely owned a pair of running shoes........ she must be very amused.

So other than big numbers - what has running given me? A healthier and stronger body - that is for sure.  The confidence that I can say "I am a runner", determination to keep going and share my running love with anyone who wants to join in - and believe me you can....... just put one foot in front of the other at your pace - and the rest as they say is history.

What next..... well keep on running Jo

With all my thanks and love to my running buddies and my wonderful supporters - especially Sophie Redman - who never fails to push me out the front door on dark Wednesday evenings - "Go on Mum, get on with it!























Saturday 16 June 2018

Like giving birth


Eights week on from finishing the 2018 London Marathon (yes finishing... is correct), I can now finally describe it as more or less like the whole process of giving birth,  in my experience anyway.  

It's taken me a while to come to terms with the whole experience, which is why I have been a little slow updating "Running Antics", but here  I am with some kind of garbled analogy and account and belated thanks to my wonderful fellow runners, supporters and sponsors.

Anti Marathon training - as in antenatal classes

I prepared and trained so hard, read all the books, did all the required exercises, runs, ate well, planned and plotted for the big event.   Was nervous, excited and apprehensive in equal measures.  Counting down the days, crossing off the training runs - wanting the big day to arrive and not arrive at the same time.   But I was ready, what could possibly go wrong?  I could run 22.6 miles without stopping - what was another 4 miles after that.  I had my team with me, runners, supporters, experts, non experts - but all enthusiastic and of course routing for me and team Ella every step of the way.... 🎢🎢  "Are you with me, are you with me?" πŸŽΆπŸŽΆ  "hell Jo, yes we are, of course we are".

Sunday April 22nd 2018, Marathon Day - as in going into labour

We emerged from our hotel at 7.30 am, blinking at the brightness of the early morning sunshine, just dressed in minimal running kit.  No hats, gloves, running jackets, hoodies or anything remotely resembling our familiar winter training kits.  Yes folks, we were about to run 26.2 miles and it was going to be HOT,  in fact the hottest London Marathon on record and we had done all our training through the long cold hard 2017/18 winter.  We nervously laughed and joked about how lucky we were not to be hanging around at the start in rain, wind and cold weather.  Ha, that might  have been quite enjoyable in comparison to what we were about to put ourselves through......

The heat was unbelievable from the moment we started and got more intense the closer we got to London as the crowds, the high buildings and the exhaustion escalated to unprecedented levels of agony.  At one point I thought my feet were going to explode with heat.....

8 miles in, all my training and planning left me, or maybe they never started with me.  A bit like saying "natural child birth for me please", smugly during antenatal classes, only to scream and plead for an epidural minutes into entering the labour room!  My planned mantras, steady pace, fuelling plans may as well have never existed.  Just like labour contractions all I could do was hang on and ride each long hard hot mile and hope at some point the end would come.   

The whole event was utterly overwhelming for me - I had so been wanting to enjoy the experience, but found the heat, noise, crowds and intensity just to much at times.  Don't get me wrong, the supporters are unbelievable and relentless in their support - cheering and shouting every runner on, even me, "Go Jo" was standard for me - with "Jo" emblazoned across the front of my t shirt.  "Not far to go now" - "well you bloody well run the last few miles for me then" was all I wanted to shout back if I had had the energy....

I did finally stumble across the finish line - with no sense of elation or even relief, numb with exhaustion and sad already that it hadn't been the glorious experience I had imagined and dreamt  about.

Dizzy and faint, I dropped to the ground, only to be picked up two wonderful paramedics who walked me to the first aid tent, stopping to pick up my goody bag and make me drink the included bottle of Lucozade.  I did try to say "but I don't drink Lucozade", but they didn't seem like ladies to argue with and of course they were right. As I sipped the sugary drink, I could feel energy seeping through my exhausted body. 

My baby was my medal - just as unfamiliar, heavy and precious.  It weighed heavily round my neck as I staggered off to find my fellow runners and wonderful supporters.   To be fair, we all seemed to be in the same fairly catatonic state (well the runners anyway), not quite realising or sure of what we had done and able to only faintly mutter "that was so awful/hot/long/hard/hideous" or any other number of expletives.

BUT WE ALL DID IT - including me, and that has taken all this time to really come to terms with......

The DWW's came not long after - just 2 or 3 and more hugs and back slapping than I seem to remember from having babies, though less presents.   Sleep was about the same as the night after child berth, patchy and shaky with my body still wired and firing on adrenalin.  Muscles jumpy, alert and in shock at what they had been made to do - they were looking for some kind of a wind down party they couldn't find.

Since April 22nd 2018, as in post natal period

An emotional roller coaster of recovery, from physically recovering (not too many aches and pains to report, unlike childbirth - yeuk, and far less blood and I was able to sit down!!!), missing the discipline of the training plan (well actually relief as well) and training stories from fellow runners, through to being able to go out for short runs and running for the sheer pleasure of just running.

Emotionally, mostly learning to realise that it was an amazing achievement to have completed 26.2 miles.  Many didn't on that long hot day.

I swore to Sophie after the event "never, ever again", but am sure I said that after giving birth to Ella and of course I went back for one more baby and got my precious Sophie. I think it's called the halo effect, forgetting the levels and intensity of pain overtime.  The brain forgets pain quickly -  so maybe, just maybe I have got one more marathon in me.  New York - 2020 anyone?πŸ˜±πŸ˜†

I will be older (for sure) and maybe wiser, knowing that no matter hard you train, you still need a lot of things to go in your favour on the day, things that might not be in your control like the weather, ones health (I still had the remnants of a vile cold and cough lingering in my system), and  emotional capacity to cope.  There will also be the experience and knowledge to draw on from running one before and like childbirth that helps - a bit, till the pain hits and you think "oh no............what on earth made me do this again, "epidural NOW and stop this pain".

For the record.

1.  We raised somewhere in the region of 37k for Teenage Cancer Trust and the money is still coming in.   Ella would be very faintly amused and pleased

2.  It took me 5 hours and 33 minutes to complete the marathon,  34 minutes longer than I had hoped for.  But I did complete it and many weren't so fortunate

3.  I did not have an epidural during either Ella or Sophie's birth - but survived on gas and air, lovely stuff

4.  I have not touched Lucozade since the marathon

5. I ran the Bristol 10K a few weeks later over 5 minutes faster than last year.



Some of favourite photos from the big day

 I love this girl Clare Ace (CJ) SO MUCH - she is a marathon legend and all around best friend.  Loved our training runs - please run with me againπŸ’—










The full team of Ella runners - Mark, Dan, Ben,  Jim, Andy, CJ, Georgina and moi! 8 of us beauties.  We all completed it and raised so much money.  Thank youπŸ’“πŸ’ͺ








With my medal - three cups of tea down and a bag of crisps!  TCT looked after us so well after the event, with an amazing venue for runners and supports to meet in.  Thank you TCTπŸ˜€



Most of our amazing supporters on the day.  We could not have done it without them.  The screamed and yelled and sweated in the sun. I love each and every single one of you.  You know who you are, those in the photo and not.  Thank you, thank you from the bottom and top of my heart.  πŸ’”









With my number one supporter.  This babe achieved so much more than me - by making it to London to cheer me on.  Love you Sophie Redman.  New York 2020?????πŸ’–









My main man and training partner. So many long cold runs along that bloody tow path....how many times did you fall over?  Effortless and so fast, this man is a natural runner πŸ’šπŸ’œ









With my fab twin brothers - who trained and ran with me - they are so wonderful and achieved so much, we were a few drinks in by the time  this picture was taken.  My Dad carries a copy everywhere and tells everyone he meets that had three children running the 2018 London Marathon 😜






Full team (except Ben) showing off our medals down the Leman Tavern.  Oh what a night, oh what a run.......😚





So much love at around 22 miles - couldn't get enough of this girl and Team Ella at this point πŸ’™πŸ’šπŸ’›πŸ’œπŸ’“

Thursday 19 April 2018

More pasta!

Pasta, pasta and more pasta.  I don't even really like pasta - but great carbo loading food apparently.  So pasta for dinner three nights in row and for another two.


Choc ice this afternoon and just about anything else I am offered to eat right now - but bizarrely I really don't feel like eating at all.... what's that all about?

Took my legs out for a gentle run this morning - just a 4.5 miler round Harbourside in the early morning sunshine - beautiful and lovely, and yay great news, my legs still work after a week off.  Chest a bit wheezy - but still another three days to clear up.

And the sun pours down........🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞

Tuesday 17 April 2018

Motivational messages coming in left right and centre

Lovely, lovely messages coming in from all sorts of people.

Here is one from wonderful 86 year old Dad.  His mantra to me all my life has been a continual drumbeat of "just do your best".  Don't worry Dad, I will be doing the best I can on Sunday and will keep your words close to my heart.  I also love that he has learnt to use emojis on e mail (well smiley faces anyway).  πŸ˜€πŸ˜€πŸ˜€πŸ˜€πŸ˜€πŸ˜€πŸ˜€πŸ˜€πŸ˜€πŸ˜€πŸ˜€πŸ˜€ Here are a few for you Dad πŸ’œ




Hi Jo 
It was good to see you and Mark yesterday; a great effort
for you because I could see you were not quite your usual
cheerful self.

Look after your self this week, glad you are feeling a little better
I'm sure you will be alright by next Sunday.

I want you to know how tremendously proud of you I am, not
only running the marathon itself but for all the training runs
over the last few months, not many 57 year olds could withstand
the programme you set yourself.

Just do your best, I'll be watching out for you although i will have
to be pretty sharp eyed to spot you.

Much love Dad xxx☺


Saturday 14 April 2018

A day of numbers

Eight sleeps to go ..... and my lurgy is horrible.

So a day of numbers........

Today is the first weekend  in 9 weeks that I have not  got out of bed, eaten porridge and run at least 13 miles!  Was supposed to run 8 - but my body is saying "noooooooo" - rest and try and shake off this lurgy:

07 April - 13.5 miles
31 March - 22.5 miles
24 March - 16.5 miles
17 March - 20 miles
10 March - 18 miles
04 March - 14.6 miles
24 Feb - 16.6 miles
17 Feb - 14.1 miles
10 Feb - 13.2 miles

Total miles run since 01 Jan over 350 

£120 added to the increasing sponsorship totals.  A cheque through the front door from lovely neighbours Kath and Bill, 80 if a day, both of them.  But so encouraging and supportive when they find me puffing and panting outside my gate after a long run.  "When I was young boy..........".

Booked my kitchen sofa in to be reupholstered,  one thing led to another - including marathon talk, and before I knew it - another £50. Never, been into this shop before or met them in my life - but the lovely man was smitten with my story - how very kind 😊

 My dad emailed to say that he has another £20 waiting  for me - from long standing family friends - lush.

A quick count up on all the marathon Virgin Just Giving pages - attributed to Ella and the total is a staggering 24k to date (without Gift Aid, never know if I should count this in or not). OMG - that is crazy and just so flipping generous - thank you every one who has contributed to this amazing total.  I can feel 25K coming on...., in fact, maybe we will make it to £26, 200 - which would be very appropriate.

Spent 30 minutes sorting out my running kit, including ironing  letters onto my TCT marathon T Shirt J and O!!  For the record I now have 4  pairs of running leggings v the 1 pair I started off with a year ago.  Don't start me off on long sleeve tops.

Blew my nose a gazillion times - sore now 😷

20 c - forecast temperature in London Sunday week - I only know how to run with 3 layers on, gloves and a bandanna!














🎢🎢🎢🎢 Are you with me, are you with me......🎢🎢🎢🎢

Numbers (and music) have been good today

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=TeamElla2&pageUrl=2&isTeam=true




Thursday 12 April 2018

Oh no

Having successfully entered the there week world of tapering after my "Tarka Run", I have been struck down by a horrible lurgy of some description.

It was all going so well, maybe to well...

After my epic 22.5 miles, I ran a couple of times in the week and then knocked out a 13.5 miles the following Saturday, followed by a gentle 4 miles on Tuesday morning earlier this week.   Then on Tuesday - the tickly throat, aching body and all that jazz kicked in.  So no running last night and a day behind closed doors today - honey and lemon (I hate honey), Echinacea pills till I rattle and night/day nurse tablets as often as I am allowed.

Still managing to feel proper sorry for myself and slightly panicky about loosing "my edge" - but reassuring my stupid brain that I have only missed one run, its good for my legs to rest and guess what this might only be a nasty cold so will be better in a few days and there after all 9 days to go!!!

Come on body BEHAVE please



Sunday 1 April 2018

Me, Tarka, 22.5 miles (and two boys....)

(Two boys - brother Jimbo and MK - apparently "Jo pace" is good for looking after dodgy knees and other injuries.....)

I can’t quite believe that yesterday I ran 22.5 miles in the wind and rain along the beautiful North Devon Tarka Trail. According to my official Virgin London Marathon 17 week training plan – that is my last big run before the main event in 3 weeks time.  Apparently its now time to “taper”!

As ever a mental and physical battle to keep putting one foot in front of the other…… the first 13 miles quite straight forward (and lets not forget this is the seventh weekend in a row that I have run at least a half marathon if not more……), the next 9.5 – a real slog and grit.   BUT – OMG – I did it and its done and I am feeling every so slightly pleased with myself and I have to say hugely relieved.

Surely if I can run 22.5 miles, I can run 26.2 miles on 22 April???  4 to find right?

Given that this wonderful 2018 British Winter just keeps on giving, we ran in rain and wind – but no snow.   Cold and chilly, so totally wrapped up against the elements, three layers, gloves, bandannas and full-length leggings.  God only help us if its suddenly hot or warmer weather on 22 April – my poor body wont know what’s hit it or how to cope.

My mantras as I ran the last five miles were  “Are You With Me, Are You With Me?”, “Come On Ella”, “Come On Sophie” and “OMG – you are going to do this Redman, you’ve GOT IT” ………. You would think I would be saying these inwardly and quietly…. no chance, loud and proud.  I get some funny looks from passers by, but who the hell cares? Not me, that is for sure.

Blissful rest now, and looking forward to Saturday night treats and DWW’s and feeling ever so much better than my rather dismal run last weekend of 16.5 miles – on that one my legs just stopped and refused to go any further.  But not today J

London Marathon – I am coming to get you.

And..... if you feel you like helping the cause with cash - then that would be magic πŸ˜…

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-portal/fundraiserPage?pageId=876393





Friday 23 March 2018

Brace.....

.....Its Friday evening and I am adopting the  "brace" position for the now familiar "big Saturday run".

Feelings of trepidation and seriously wondering if I can do another long run again.  Will my body hold up and more importantly will my brain shift into the right gear and tell me I can do it, and will do it?

Looking for 15-18 miles tomorrow - can't do the big twenty again and don't  think I need to this week.

So pasta, protein, a glass of red wine (works  every week - I can tell you), an early night, hopefully some sleep and then up and out after a bowl of porridge and a cup of tea...

"Living the dream" Redman, but still after this week, one big run to go and then I move into the marvellous world of tapering down to the big day.  I am such a running geek now, I know all the terms πŸ˜†

Big news today, the Queen is going to start us all off. Jo, Mo and the Queen #londonmarathon 😜


Wednesday 21 March 2018

Just saying

That - my legs are very weary and grumbling, but just watched the magnificent Zoe Ball complete her long bike ride for Sports Relief and feel inspired to keep going (without a bike though).

Week 13 of 17, not many pages of the plan left

Time for bed and legs to stop moving πŸ’€πŸ’€πŸ’€πŸ’€πŸ’€

Sunday 18 March 2018

Through the snow and wind.......

.....I ran 20 miles on Saturday.  Yessir - you read that right - 20 miles... and guess what I think I could have managed another 1 or 2 miles, so not many more to find now.

Slow but steady with Mrs P and MK by my side, we set off round the Leicestershire country lanes - passing through beautiful villages such as Broughton Astley, Leire, Ashby Magna and Dunton Bassett.   It snowed, the wind blew a hooley and it was freezing cold - but on we ran.

Mrs P left us at 6 miles, but was back out later in the support car to cheer us on and get us round the last three miles - she was amazing.

We ran up and down hills and across the M1 - not a scenic moment, in fact a moment when I seriously wondered what the hell I was doing and wondered if my face would ever come back to life from the freezing cold, my lips were numb!

But finally my faithful Garmin "buzzed" 19 miles and I knew I had just one more mile to run.  Friends let me tell you what that last mile of a long run feels like,  it's both awful and wonderful, awful because you are so knackered and exhausted but wonderful because you know its only another 10 minutes or so and you can finally STOP running. And quite frankly - what's 10 minutes in the scheme of things - nothing really....

A cup of tea, a ham and cheese toastie, a big stretch, a hot bath, a sleep - then I was ready for a few DWW's and the big curry fund raising night so generously hosted by Mr and Mrs P (Martin and Elaine), great fun and a whopping £425 added to the funds. A massive, massive thank you to everyone who came and supported the evening - lovely, lovely people. πŸ™ŒπŸ™ŒπŸ™ŒπŸ™ŒπŸ™ŒπŸ™ŒπŸ™Œ

5 weeks to go....... not long now and guess what?   This is the sixth week in a row that  I have run at least a half marathon every Saturday or Sunday - insanity!



 https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-portal/fundraiserPage?pageId=876393



Wednesday 14 March 2018

Those Mummas rock

Have to say I have been feeling very demoralised about running and training since the big 18 last Saturday.  In true British "glass half full" style I had managed to talk myself down and into a moither of self pity and doubt.

Monday night I should have been out on an easy 4 miler - but for the first time ever - the sofa and Monday evening TV won.  It was lush 😏 However, I dragged my carcass out at 7am the following morning, and would definitely not use the adjective easy - but managed 4 miles round a spring like Bristol Harbourside.  My legs were weary and complaining - "Shut Up legs" - and do what your supposed to do.

Tonight, I am back in from my TMR (This Mum Runs) 60 minute social run, and glory be, my faith in running and my legs has been restored.  Those wonderful ladies ran and chatted with me all the way round and laughed about this and that.  We took the legendary BVR (Bridge Valley Road) by storm, panting and puffing but quite rightly feeling somewhat self congratulatory at the top.   For those of you not familiar with BVR - its a steep windy road, that I can hardly believe I can now run up - but I can, thanks to TMR Mummas. "Hill, what hill"........??

10 miles in the bag so far this week and a 20 miler to face on Saturday, and fantastic news, I have a top running buddy joining  me for  the first 6, the legendary Mrs P - Elaine πŸ’™

"Are you with me, are you with me"......🎢🎡🎢. πŸƒπŸƒπŸƒπŸƒπŸƒπŸƒπŸƒ


Two big numbers

So 2018 is nearly over and it's been a bit of a year on the old running front as this blog set out to share..... Whilst I haven't...