Overview

www.justgiving.com/linden

What a journey!  From the highs of sunny training runs to the lows of injury and excruitiating sports massages!  I've been through them all.  At one point I didnt think I was going to get to Geneva but fortunately I did just that and I'm so thankful that I did. 

With the help of a friend and a newly aquainted friend on the plane I took the final steps to completing my marathon.  Getting there was not a problem at all.  A quick flight and a 3 minute train journey took us to the city centre - quickly brushing up on my french skills along the way we found our hotel.  Superb accomodation - thanks Pauline for that treat - we then spent the next day wandering around at a leisurely pace discovering the town.  HAvign missed the registration area the first time we soon sorted that and I was glad to discover that our hotel was a stone's throw away from the start. 

So carbo loading complete and a relatively early night mmm yes not ideal (at least I didnt go clubbing unlike some!) I was ready to go.  Nerves, excitement, fear, anticipation - I felt all sorts of emotion at point.  I had found out the night before that the course was in fact 2 loops of 13.1 miles!!  Not my favourite type of route but there you go. 

We were off at 8am!  The route snakes round the town before taking runners out to the lake, doubling back on ourselves we completed 10K in this manner, finishing the half marathon distance on the other side of the lake I reached the half way mark in 1h49!  Wow this was going well I thought!  I just need to keep it up - easier said than done - I think "the burn" started at the 25K point (roughly 14miles!) but as they say its mind over matter and my mind said it wasnt going to matter well for another 10 miles thankfully. 

Taking on the water, bananas, isodrinks and oranges when I could, I managed to keep the energy levels up.  I wasn't so hot with the cups of water - what's all that about?  I think I upset one marshall by pouring 4 cups of water into my bottle - mmm he was not best pleased and uttered something about "that's what we are here for!!"  I didnt agree - the water stops were few and far between and my tactic worked well others were clearly in need of more fluids - you just cant take on enough with a cup - ok rant over!

So I continued to the end - aching and grimacing now - my earlier smiles and claps for the front runners were a thing of the past but it was still good to hear my name being called out (our names were printed with our running numbers which was great!).  Somehow incredibly I realised a PB was achievable by the 40K mark I just had to do the remaining 2K in 10mins - so I dug deep and completely zoned out - strange feeling I can tell you but it worked!  I finished in 3h43 officially "good for age" - I was so emotional I cant tell you. 

So many thoughts go through your mind when you run a marathon - mine were of the charity, our runners all that you had achieved and are continuiing to achieve, the families we work with and my wonderful team back at the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust - who I knew were rooting for me.  My family and friends too (gosh this sounds like a bafta speech!) but anyway to all of you thank you for supporting me and putting up with my incessant running chat.  I couldnt have done it without you.  It just shows what you can achieve when you put your mind to it... Who knows what next year will bring -anyone care to join me in our 2010 challenge?

Tags:

Post Views: 213

How scary is this ? not only am I late in writing this blog I am also behind in my training!  Not so much of an issue considering the race is on SUNDAY!!!! But more of a mental issue for the last week - its been manic!  Ok so fitting in a wedding and a trip up to Scotland might not have been the best idea with only a week to go but when you're asked to be a bridesmaid what you gonna do?!!!  So apologies to the CHECT runners waiting patiently for this but here is my update 2 weeks condensed into 1!

W/c 27th April - Target miles 30 Actual miles 24 (not bad considering...)

Fitted in a long run after work taking in Tower bridge, Hyde Park, Regents Park and the lovely route home via Upper St - it was very enjoyable it has to be said.  My flatmates really thought I had lost it though!  I do this for fun?? ! I had tucked away a jelly baby or two and stopped off at Costa to fill up my water more than once (the only time I'm glad of those big coffee houses) and managed to make it home without too much dawdling!  It was strange leaving work when it was light and coming home in the dark though...

W/c 4th May - Target miles 18 Actual miles 7!!  Rubbish! 

So now is not the time to be having a bad week but this is officially my worst week of running ever! Call it last minute nerves or just being over tired but I am not in a good place.  My run on Tues was a disaster - legs tired - feet sore - head all over the place - I hope I will pull myself together before Sunday.  I just feel like the batteries are not charged - I've been getting lots of sleep and carbo loading and taking all my own advice but still I'm not going to get in another run before race day.  Maybe not a bad thing???  Argh!!   Ok positive thinking starts now.  Dont do as I do and all that!!  Will keep you posted!

Tags:

Post Views: 183

Something kicks in when you are training - something subconscious that keeps you focussed on the task and it was that something hit me last week.  I'd been crazily busy with work and home stuff meaning I was out every night last week - when was a going to fit in my 22 mile run?  After an all day Trustee meeting that's when!  Of course it was a Saturday night and most normal people were sipping pints in a pub or kicking back on the sofa but no this Crazy woman decided to use the free time to run for 3 and 1/2 hours!  Mental I know I've been told on several occassions!  Are we all crazy?  Is it really fun?  Is it true no pain no gain?  These were questions I was asking myself that evening.  I dont think I came up with any answers but I did have a buzz about me when I arrived home scoffed down a post run snack and tucked myself up in bed knowing that Sunday for once was a day of complete rest.  Bliss

Target miles; 40

Actual miles: 28 (mustnt grumble!)

Tags:

Post Views: 166

Running at the best of times is a question of juggling - so that you can fit training around daily life - so this week was no exception.  With Easter on the Horizon I headed off to the beautiful Lake district with my running shoes packed safely.  Down to run 20 miles I had decided to reduce this to 16 so that I could climb Scafell the next day!  As you do...

Using good ol' GMAP website to plan my route I found the safest way to run round unchartered territory was to plan a loop.  So 2 laps of 8 miles was in order.  Leaving the campsite at 7am to fit in a 2h 30 min run was bad enough but to run past the campsite after 1h15mins was another thing entirely!!  Talk about grit and determination - it was only the thought of this marathon and you guys that kept me going... my fellow campers were bemused to say the least!  I was ready for my bacon roll by the end of it I can tell you.  If I get the pics I'll add them - a picture tells a thousand words after all. 

It was a beautiful run though it has to be said.  Blue sky, fresh air, breathtaking scenery I could have been abroad!  I just love the great outdoors - something about the contrast of London living made the experience all the more enjoyable.  Let's hope Geneva is just as good!

Target miles = 40

Actual miles = 40!!  Yippee

Tags:

Post Views: 139

So its been a busy week now that I'm back in training.  I managed my three runs and cross training this week not to mention a boot camp that is otherwise known as British Military Fitness.  Again OMG!  It's hard to fathom out why we put ourselves through such torture but I'm  not one to talk.  I went along grudgingly with my housemates on the premise of "don't knock it until you've tried it" so try it I did and boy was I in for a shock!

For those of you unfamiliar with BMF - its basically an Intensive-outdoor-hour-long circuit class run by British Military officers.  They have them all over the country and there are at least 4 accessible to me.  So along I went...

I thought I was reasonably fit - the instructor agreed that training for a marathon would mean i was automatically put in the intermediate group.  Yes thanks for that!  What I will say is that it is a great way to improve all round fitness; we did a warm up, lots of leg work, then arm work and sit ups until we were blue in the face - all the time running or jogging on the spot.  An interesting observation followed - as a runner I could do the leg stuff no bother.  Always first back with a smug look on my face - that didnt last long.  When it came to the arm stuff (press ups especially) I was officially RUBBISH!!  Honestly I have no upper body strength and you could forget about the sit ups - what an embarrassment!! So lesson for runners - see my other blog - improve your core strength.  Needless to say I'm not going back at least not until I can do one push up!!!

Target miles = 43

Actual miles = 33

Tags:

Post Views: 162

Well I'm back in the saddle as it were!  And boy did I miss my running during that week and a half!  It's weird I really do think there something addictive in running; the buzz afterwards, the calmness during training, perhaps the ipod music en route lulling you into a trance?  Whatever it is I'm hooked.  So that time out was a real killer for me.  Still it needed to be done and boy what a difference. 

FYI - The recovery plan involved, sports massage, new shoes and lots of stretching.

I managed 4 runs this week (I've been averaging 3 a week with cycling in between til now) and I was over the  moon with my long one.  19 miles phew - that's like from my folks home to Inverness (that only works if you know where I live but you get the jist!).  Its quite exhilirating.  So I planned my long one to be a grand tour of London.  Taking in Regents Park, Baker St, Kings Cross and then back to do Vic Park I really did squeeze in the sights.  Although two complaints I'm pained to share with you:

1.  Nobody speaks to me!!!  i repeatedly smile, nod my head and say hello to my fellow runners... NOTHING no even acknowledgment - it really does wind me up.  I just dont get it?  Surely its only polite to encourage you en route?

2.  Digestion difficulties!! Within 20 mins of taking a gel I was (quite literally) running for the loo!  How lucky I had to run past my house to get to Vic Park otherwise I dread to think.  Has anyone else experienced this?  I've never had that before!  Close call I have to say!!

Otherwise no major drama to report - just one very happy runner! 

Target miles = 43

Actual miles = 35 - yippee!

Tags:

Post Views: 156

I'm keeping the motivation going but sadly the old foot is not going as well as could be expected.  I had taken a week off (admittedly it was well timed as I was on a hen weekend this weekend so I was spared doing a long run in lovely Belfast)  I took this as a sign to relax and recover and let me foot rest - ok so the night of clubbing didnt help but I am a bridesmaid so it's part of the job description.  Anyway thinking I would be fully recovered on the Monday I went out for my run - not good.  Foot still sore after a couple of miles.  So tactics followed

Plan B - speak to physio man

Plan C- change shoes

Plan D - panic!

We are into Plan C at the moment and I am reporting an improvement.  Target and milage totally out of the window I have managed 10 miles so far since Monday - thanks Alisa for the run home and keeping my spirits lifted!  Lets hope the long run on Sunday goes well...

Tags:

Post Views: 198

Words cannot express the pain one gets from a sports massage!  I almost passed out!  I could see colours, feel a stabbing sensation followed by excruciating pain and then.. relief as I relaxed my foot and then we were off again.  This vicious cycle was indeed a necessary evil and one which I will subject myself to gladly if it means I can run comfortably.  But what an ordeal. 

I have given myself a couple of days to recover from the weekend debacle and waited patiently (well not really) until this morning.  Yes I was booked in for an early appointment to find out what might be causing my foot problem.  Turns out the pain in my arch is due to medial tibial inflammation - akin to shin splints but a bit further round.  Nightmare.  Its treatable as I endured a massage to get mobility back and repair the muscle damage.  I have in on good authority that I can run on it tomorrow so we'll just have to wait and see.  But seriously in the words of Janice from Friends "Oh MY GOD!"

So runnign stats meaningless this week Actual miles = a big fat 0!  But tomorrow may improve.  My target is going to change a little as I've got a couple of week slippage on the Londoners (May 10th for me)  Yikes

Hope you are having a better week than I am!

Tags:

Post Views: 165