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!

Seriously....

...a polar vortex, not what you need mid marathon training.

So a quick gym session last night "doing my legs" as I like to call it, various machines of torture and a silly looking walk (walking lunges), and tonight a quick solo four mile dash round Harbourside.  It was dark and quiet, with not many people out venturing the super cold weather, so made it feel slightly surreal and actually quite lovely .

According to my plan - todays run was a to be a 40 minute easy run - and thats use what it was - easy and lovely.  Cant quite believe I have just written that!

Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going......

Monday night - the start of a new training week, back to 0 miles.  For the record last week I clocked up 26 over three runs.

Anyway, Monday night that means "hill sprints", I say sprints loosely as what I deem to be sprinting is probably standard running pace to others.

Home from work, change, straight out in the dark (thank goodness, so no one can see me), ten minute gentle warm up and then eight hill sprints, aghhhhhhhhhhhh - that means running as fast as I can up a hill till I reach the top and my lungs are bursting and then a gentle jog back down, repeat seven times, jog home.

It's not fun and it's not pretty - but my aim is to do this once a week - its now a habit, but one I will happily give up in eight weeks time.

Apparently this type of training run makes me fitter and legs stronger - seriously!

Oh and on my gentle jog home, a giant of a man came thundering past me, pounding down the street, I have never seen the likes of it, feet like flippers, legs like tree tree trunks and of course he just had shorts and a running vest on - though it was an artic evening.

Habit - it's done!

PS - Where were you all tonight???

Yes we are...

When I said "are you with me?"  7 other crazy people said "yes we are" :)

How lucky am I - two mini teams making up one big team. What an amazing team.  Of course we will will be part of a much bigger TCT team #teamlegend  - with TCT being the headline charity this year for the London Marathon.


I am truly honoured to have these wonderful people training and running with me not sure I could have done it on my own!!  We are all training in our individual ways and have a right old assortment of aches and pains to manage, but one way or another we are all going to get round the 26.2 miles on April 22. 

Team ELLA

The motley crew consists of:

Andy Tarzey, second time marathon runner, but its been a while since the first one, steady as he goes and a sure finisher. 

Ian James, fleet of foot from across the pond, this will be his third marathon outing, but a first London appearance, our team guru and expert. 

Jim Tarzey, like his twin he's run before in his youth, so this will be a stretch - but 2017 triathlon training will stand him good stead. Get there early to see him cross the line

Mark Kennedy , not happy on training runs, but loves and rises to a crowd on the day. A virgin marathon runner suspect this will be a first and last though.

Jo Redman, verging on the ridiculous! Previously struggled to cross the finishing line of a 10k, but steely grit and bloody mindness will see this veteran cross the finishing line come hell or high water. 

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

 SACO London Marathon Runners

Insanity reigns - well it did the day we put our names forward to run the London Marathon. There are four of us in the SACO team - Clare (our guru - she's done it before), Dan (our coach and Mr Motivator), Ben (our Cornish plodder) and Jo (our team veteran). Come hell or high water, we will make it round the 26.2 miles and in doing so will raise a ton of cash for Teenage Cancer Trust, an amazing charity that supports Teenagers and Young Adults diagnosed with cancer. 

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

All the money we raise will go to TCT and whilst helping them to deliver their fantastic support - is also in memory of Ella Redman who sadly died of cancer (Osteosarcoma) in November 2012 aged 20. It was her wish that there were better environments and support for young people like herself struggling with the anguish and complexities of a cancer diagnosis and the horrors that go with that.

So please dig deep and support us to reach our target and of course cross the finishing line

I can do this

So, I just kept running after the 2017 Bristol 10k/Run For Ella5.   My training shoes continued to see the light of day, rather than settling in for a quiet summer on a dark and dusty shelf.

TCT gave me a place to run the 2018 London Marathon (and a few others, but more on that in another post), and a training plan was hatched.

The plan was to run the Bristol Half Marathon in September - my first goal.   I trained through the summer, struggling to get beyond 8 miles, and certainly needed a lot of walking breaks.

Advice flew in thick and fast from friends and family - mostly I just kept trying to put one foot in front of the other - and mostly up and down the tow path, to Pill and back. Touch the gate, turn round and run (walk) back.  10 mile round trip from my front door.  (Most of these were trailing behind super speedy MK - who appears to run with no effort at all - SO annoying).

Half marathon day arrived (September)  I was nervous in bucket loads as I set off across the start lane, running really, really slowly.  My strategy was to run slow and get round, bugger the time!   At the speed of an elderly tortoise, I headed up the Portway, it was a very long way........ and I was still very nervous, would I make it round?

Marion saw me off, waving enthusiastically, and after a few miles my brother Jim was waiting for me, not long before the turn on the Portway to come back into town.  "Go Jo, looking good" he shouted.  "Oh" I thought, "well run with me then",  and he did for five minutes or so, leaving his coffee at the side of the road. "You've got this Jo, not long till you make the turn" and he left me.....

I turned and started the long run back into town.  Settling down into a rhythm and finally my nerves settling down as well, I started to "enjoy" the run.

Unusually I had headphones on and a Spotify play list running - not how I normally run at all, but found it cathartic to listen for what the next track was going to be and it helped to pass the time as the elderly tortoise plodded back into town.

Anyway, the point of this post is not a download about the half marathon, but that a track on the play list came on - and the words have resonated with me ever since and have become the mantra to my training runs "Are you with me, are you with me?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjHMDlAPMUw

Had never heard the track before, but as I hit Cumberland Basin it was playing loud and clear - "Are you with me, are you with me?" and of course you all were, if not physically I know you would have been thinking about me.    I raised my hands in the air and waved at the crowd - "I've got this, I can run and I will finish this race".  AND I DID.

My girl was waiting for me as I hit the home straight and like all my other supporters (Lorraine, Kate, Tom and jack in the box Marion) cheered and cheered me on.

I crossed the line and fell into her arms and cried - not with pain, but with sheer pride and sense of achievement.

So, that is why this blog is called "Are you with me?"

For those keen on stats my time was 2 hours, 18 minutes and 3 seconds.  Fine and dandy by me.

Thank you all my wonderful supporters and and MK and brother Andy - who ran as well - slightly in front, speedy boys :)

A seed is sown

Are you with me?  And I suspect the resounding answer is "yes we are Jo" - "of course we are, we always are".  Thank you, thank you wonderful friends and family from the bottom of my heart.  Here is my latest blog "Are you with me?"

It's been a long old few years - though to use one of my favourite quotes - "the days are (often) long but the years are short".  Where have the past six years gone?  In a whirl of coping - through work, time with family and friends and running - yes that's right running!!!

January 2013  saw me start to train for the Bristol 10K coming up in the May - along with many other runners - our first Run for Ella event was launched as a way of remembering Ella and raising a ton of cash for Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT), Ella's chosen charity.   The training runs were short, infrequent and painful, often pulling up to walk (and cry), but I made it round the 10k with one of my wonderful brothers (Bob) right next to me and many, many people cheering me on.

10k done - hang up running shoes.
The following Jan 2014 - dust down training shoes, train for 10k/Run for Ella2
10K done - hang up running shoes
The following Jan 2015...dust down training shoes, train for 10K/Run for Ella3
Repeat - you get the pattern

Until January 2017, yes I put on my training shoes and started training runs for Run for Ella5, but there was a shift from somewhere, don't know where or why but there was.  What if I just kept running and didn't hang up my shoes in May? Maybe I could run further than 10k and maybe run throughout the year....... and then TCT told me they were going to be the headline charity for The London Marathon 2018......and that was it THE SEED WAS SOWN....... could I maybe, just maybe run (!!) a marathon.......