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 😆

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

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 💤💤💤💤💤

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. 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

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

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 💙

"Are you with me, are you with me"......🎶🎵🎶. 🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃

8.2 miles to find

Yesterday saw me "grind out" 18 miles - the furthest single distance I have ever run in my life - tell you what it's a bloody long way!

I say grind out - as that is what I had to do.  There wasn't a single easy mile, despite all the encouragement, motivating (and waiting) from my running buddies CJ and Lindsey - every mile was hard work and I had to convince my brain not to give up.

"Running is nothing more than a series of arguments between the part of your brain that wants to stop and the part that wants to keep going".

Don't know who said that - but boy it's true and yesterday there weren't many parts of my brain that wanted to keep going, other than I didn't know the route so had to keep my buddies in sight - or I may still be out there now...

Anyway - job done and just another 8.2 miles to find on 22 April to make it to the finish line.  Goodness only know where I will find them, but find them I will.

I know that you can get good runs and bad runs - yesterday was just a bad one and so far to date in recent months - that is the only bad one I have had - took me right back to last summer and my first attempts at trying to run 10 miles non stop - tough!

Anyway, pleased to report my legs and hips still belong to me this morning and that several glasses of "dry white" helped considerably last night, never mind a quiet couple of hours being waited on by my lovely Dad - who fetched me cups of tea and chocolate biscuits whilst we quietly watched the rugby late afternoon - thanks Dad :)

Onwards.....

This Mum Runs.....

..hell she does.

Tonight I have run six miles with "the Mums".  The most wonderful running group that someone suggested I join back in June. This Mum Runs has completely transformed me from the ad hoc have a go runner, to someone who runs on a regular basis - and OMG is heading towards 26.2 miles any day soon.  Most Wednesday nights I run with them - and their lovely "Run Angels" - who set the route and lead us round.  It's the most extraordinary inclusive and supportive running environment and I am so grateful that I found them and they have helped me find my running mojo and self belief.   I wrote the below for them

I have run on and off for years - but half heartedly, grudgingly and not regularly - so not fit in an shape or format and often had aches and pains and many, many excuses not to run.   In 2011 I had an even bigger reason not to run, my 19 year old daughter Ella was diagnosed with cancer and our lives spiralled into the horrendous world of cancer and everything that goes with that - despair, endless hours, days and weeks in hospitals and quite simply and predictably the cancer taking over our lives.  I tied to run sometimes - but just ended up crying and limping "mentally" home. Sadly Ella lost her battle with cancer and passed away in November 2012.   

A few months previous to her dying she had been in remission and was passionate about wanting to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) - an amazing  charity that specifically supports teenagers and young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer.  She set herself and us a target of £10,000.  In Ella's memory and to help us all grieve and somehow cope without her not being with us any longer - as a group of friends and family we decided to carry on and raise that £10,000 in her name.  Nearly five years later we have reached £200,000 and we are not stopping now!   

Back in May this year TCT announced they were delighted to be the headline charity for 2018 London Marathon - it was a no brainer and despite never really having run more than 10k - I applied for a place and got one (and also places for 7 other family members and friends).  So running had to become a bit more of a mainstay in my life.  I have set a plan and have reached my first big marker - running the Bristol Half Marathon in September - which I did and even smiled and whooped as I crossed the line.   At the age of 57 - I am fitter and stronger than I think I have ever been - all down to regular weekly running which usually involves a weekly 60 minute run with the wonderful BS3 TMR runners.   This  group and the wider TMR community have inspired me with their running stories and experiences.  They have taught me that I can run and talk, that I can run up hills and most importantly that I can enjoy running.  I love their background babble about their babies, little kids and the trials and tribulations of family life with young children.  I love their looping, their waiting, their sense of humour and that they are always there for Mums of any age and shape.

The Mum runs - "hell she does"!

Laura Croft in action

Another week, clock back to zero, more running.  Seven weeks to go - the count down has begun.

A blissful rest day yesterday after the 15 mile boy run on Sunday.  No chance of two rest days in a row, so Tuesday evening - back out pounding the tarmac.  Of course it should have been hill sprints, but my motivation was hibernating, and couldn't be found.

A compromise -  a longer run, some intervals and just 4 hill sprints instead of 8.  Sounds good huh? Off I set.  For the uneducated, intervals means running as fast as you can for short bursts, a minute, two minutes or what ever you can manage and then jogging slowly in between to recover.  I call them "impossible runs" rather than intervals - because they feel impossible.  Queens Square took the brunt of my impossibles and for each impossible I ran as fast as I could and liked to think I looked like Laura Croft in the trailer for the new Tomb Raider movie....😜

Of course the reality was, I looked more like a 57 year old female puffing and panting in M&S leggings and a pink running jacket.  Dream on Redman, still the thought got me through my impossibles and on round Harbourside, before I hit my bete noir the hill sprints,  only 4.... done and home.  

Just under six miles - thats how I roll on Tuesday nights now...

Even my knickers were wet!

Despite the cancellation of the Bath Half  - London Marathon training continued, with a team run from Allington this morning.

"Are you with me?"  - yes, lots of boys with me this morning, well three - Andy, Jim and MK

After a quick update and comparison on various injuries we set off at a steady "Jo" pace and headed up the Portway (passing Marion coming back in), all the way to the M5 Avonmouth Bridge.  A first for me - we ran across it (normal use for me on this bridge - heading to Cornwall or Devon in a car, much easier..).

Spectacular views of Avonmouth, traffic whizzing by and peoples back gardens from up high.  Still, different views help the miles go by.  We had a shot at the apex point and a team photo and then headed on for Pill and Ham Green with Andy leading the way.

The tow path back in was very cross country today - lots of snow, mud and puddles.  Tried to dodge them for a while then just gave up and ran through them, getting very wet feet and then the heavens opened and that was it I got wet through even down to my knickers.

Still kept plodding and splashing on - and made it home with 14.65 miles on the clock.

A hot shower, a stretch, bacon sandwich, coffee and a long sit down.  Job done - thanks boys X

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/TeamElla2

Snow stops play....

........or rather stops running!

The first day of Spring saw  the arrival of a whole heap of snow - making outdoor running almost impossible and causing the Bath half marathon to be canceled this coming Sunday.

That's a real shame - as the Bath half was all part of the grand training plan - a mere 13.6 miles - my fourth weekend in a row of running at the very least a half marathon distance!!!


Some of the team were going to be running as well - CJ, Andy, Jim and MK...... so maybe we will all run in Bristol instead - if the snow has gone.

In the meantime, back to trudging around in the snow to get to work, the shops etc.   Here's a question thats been puzzling me - "why do people cycle in the snow"?    It looks like very hard work to me!