6 Weeks And Counting - Halfway There!!!

Sunday

Today marked the half way point in my training before the big day.  There are now only 6 weeks left until I have my feet planted firmly at the start line - now whether they cross is a different story lol

I managed to complete 8 miles today and I also managed my fuelling during the run properly.  This meant that I could complete the who distance.  I felt really good at the end of the run but again my hip was feeling a bit stiff and sore by the end of it.

Tuesday
I never made it to the gym last night and that will have been 2 weeks since I have been.  I did however go for a 5 mile run.  It was fab running conditions which made the run a joy.  Beginning to build in confidence now with these distances.

Wednesday & Thursday
I eventually made it to the gym on Wednesday to complete one of my programs but I tell you - I certianly felt it on Thursday.  So much so, I was swithering whether to go out running.  Time was trotting on but I got my act together, got changed and headed out the door for another 5 miles.  I seriously considered giving up at the 1.5 mile mark and turning home but I dug in and continued on even though my hip was again starting to play up and this time it was sore while running.  By the time I reached the 4 mile mark, I was well into my stride and thoroughly enjoying my run.  By the time I reached home, I was chuffed with the completed distance.  I had also bought a new water bottle with a fabric handle/strap and I have to say its one of the best I have found so far.  It was easy to drink from and had a handly wee pocket to put my jelly babies in :-)  So I can say I was a happy camper with my purchase.  5 miles completed by the time I reached home and felt great.  Downside - turns out the pain in my hip was a bit worse than I thought and I had a restless night with the stiffness and pain.  This will be due to the increase in distance over a short period of time.  Some ibuprofen, rest and some deep cool will help it out I'm sure :-)

I also found out on Thursday that I have to travel to India in 2 weeks time for a business trip.  This is will take 2 weeks out of my training schedule and the trip is 2 weeks before race day.  This means I will only have a week at home before the gun goes off.  Not great but not a disaster.  Just have to make sure the hotel has a gym where I can keep up my running  :-)


Kimbles
~x~x~

Nearly At The Halfway Point!!!

Its Sunday, 7 weeks to race day and 7 miles completed on my long run - phew I'm pooped!!  It was hard going and I had to walk in some places (not many) as a) I needed to take my magic beans and a much needed drink lol and b) my IT band was causing issues with my left knee (my left side always gives me problems for some reason).  Also my right hip was a bit stiff and sore - its old age you know!!  This is the longest I have run to date and I was chuffed that I completed the distance.  Although, to be honest I was starting to get a bit bored by the time I had reached the half way point as the route is very quiet past the 3 mile mark.  However by the time I had turned and started to head back into Fairlie, the moment of boredom passed.  I'm going to have to find something to keep me occupied, so looks as if I will have to take the iPhone with me and tune into Heart radio (there's an app for that!!). I had stopped taking my mp3 with me as it was putting me off my pace, so maybe I should just plug in when these moments of boredom happen.

On Tuesday, I went out from an easy 4 mile run.  On the route back, the sun came out over Millport and was very warm (all down my left side). The view is spectacular when this happens and is one of the benefits of staying on the coast.  However, I was glad to get into a shaded part to recover my breathing as I find it hard going in hot weather.  On the final half mile, the clouds covered over a bit and I managed to pick up my lagging pace again. I don't think I am cut out to run in warm weather as I seem to get on so much better under cloud cover!!!

Well Thursday arrived and I went out for my scheduled run.  Turned out to be a fab run and one of the best for a long while ;-) Perfect running conditions weather wise - dry and bright with some minor cloud cover but the sun was not strong and the heat was moderate.  Took my iPhone out with me to try my new running app Runkeeper.  The GPS on it was great and I had no break in signal like I have had with other apps.  Mileage for Thursday - 4.55 miles :-)


From previous entries in my blog I had worried about actually doing the mileage for the half but I seem to have now got back on track apart from the few niggles I have in my legs and I am starting to feel a bit more positive again.

Also now that I am getting closer to the race, I think it maybe time to start sending our my pleading requests for sponsorship for MacMillan Cancer Relief :-)


Kimbles
~x~x~

8 Weeks Of Training Left!!!!

Sunday
So we only have 2 months left now before the big day.  I'm beginning to wonder where the time has went!!  My long run on Sunday this week went better than I anticipated.  I was late out of bed again this week and then couldn't decide what I wanted to do. The wind was blowing up a stooshie and it was pretty overcast. Apart from that, my eyelids still felt like they were glued together and I anticipated that it would take some time for them to prise themselves fully open!!!  So I decided to have breakfast and watch some tv.  I watched the remainder episodes of SATC series 1 and then motivated my backside up off the couch to get ready.  I discovered on Saturday night that all my running kit was in the wash and was now taking up pride of place on the radiators drying.  There was a nice row of Nike Swooshes on the downstairs radiator with all my running pants lined up lol  So this only left me my long running pants and long sleeve shirt - not great for the summer!!  So off I eventually set with a feeling of dread as this was supposed to be the 6 mile run.  When I got out there and got into my pace, I actually started to enjoy it.  The weather was perfect - a cooling breeze and no rain.  Although when the sun did poke its head through, it was very warm.  By the time I reached home, I had completed 6.12 miles, was super chuffed with myself  and felt good after the exercise.  That's nearly half the distance covered so far and I feel much better that I have reached this particular milestone.  I feel a bit more confident now that I can do it. Just need to play about with my fuel during my runs now.

Friday
Well its now the end of the training week and what have I accomplished - flippin sod all!!!!  And here was me saying further up that I felt better at being half way there - ooohh I dont think so now!! I haven't been out since Sunday and my long run.  My motivation right now seems to be stuck firmly at the start line and I cant get it to cross over :-/  At least when I start again on Sunday, I will have enough running kit, cause it sure as heck ain't in the wash!!!! 

Here's to next week and a better frame of mind.  Well... my mind and motivation better be in the frame as its only 7 weeks on Sunday to race day!!




Kimbles
~x~x~

9 Weeks To Go!!!

9 weeks to go until race day and to be honest I think I may have temporarily hit a wall!!! I have a dose of the C.B.A's (can't be arsed) right now and I have this overwhelming desire just to pack the whole thing in.  I have this niggling doubt running through my head that I may just have bitten off more than I can chew but again, never let it be said I am a quitter.  I will just have to gasp, pant and crawl my way to the finish line :-)

I think my problem is that I had a rather "off" weekend. I slept too much - yes you heard right!!  Sometimes too much sleep can be just as bad as too little ;-(  I was supposed to head out for my long run on Sunday but I never made it.  Let's be honest, the weather was more apt for December than July!!  Torrential rain and it was blowing a gale. Although the rain had eased up by teatime, the wind was still there but not to the extent it was earlier in the day.  I could have made it out but kept coming up with excuses.  So as I was taking the mutt for his nightly absolutions, I formulated a plan (muwhahaha - injects evil laugh).  I would do a long run on Tuesday, gym on Wednesday and another semi-long run on Thursday.

Well Monday arrived with a bump!!  Monday's are evil personified and should technically be banned me thinks!! I headed to the gym and completed my program and actually felt good about it.  The gym have invested in industrial fans to keep the place cool and it was a welcome relief to have some air circulating for a change. 

So okay - Tuesday turned out to be a bit of a disaster.  Firstly the weather was awful (another Julember day) with quite strong winds and rain.  Then by 5pm I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open.  I decided as soon as I finished work that I would go for a short snooze for an hour and then get up and go for my run. Nearly 3 hours later, I woke up and that was only because OH phoned me at 7:45pm!!!.  It was dank and dark outside and to be honest I couldn't face going to the gym and using the dreadmill for an hour, so another night sitting on my backside.  So basically the dastardly plan I had formulated on Sunday had went right out the window. I really NEED to get some distance running in or I am never going to be able to do this half ;-(

It was Wednesday already and I couldn't procrastinate anymore - I needed to get out and run or race day would be on me before I knew it .  So I headed  upstairs to get ready even though heavy showers had been on and off for the last hour.  I swear I must have the luck of the Irish because as I headed out, the rain stopped and stayed off until I got back home.  I was just in the door less than 10 minutes when the heavens opened up.  This has happened to me on race days as well lol.  Anyway, I managed a nice long run of 5.27 miles and when I got home, I felt really good.  The stresses of the day had melted away - ahhh bliss.


Well its now Thursday and if I stand on my tip toes, I can just about see the weekend :-)  Tonight was my usual gym session. I was undecided as to whether I should do some interval training on the "dreadmill" followed by my program or do the designated 5 min warm up on the x-trainer and then do the program.  Decisions, decisons!!

Well the decision was made.  1k warm  up on the dreadmill, followed by my program and then I finished off with another 2.5k run.  Exercise completed for the week.  Tomorrow and Saturday are rest days - phew!  :-)


Happy weekend everyone :-D



Kimbles
~x~x~

Week 10!

Its been a funny week this week with regards to training.  On Sunday I managed a 4 mile run but the heat was again crippling again.  Summer is great but us Scottish milkbottles are not used to this type of sustained sunshine lol  At least I managed to do the run and I was successful in making sure that my pace was right for the run.

Monday was supposed to be my gym session day but to be honest, I was exhausted and decided to take the night off, spend the time reading my running mag and go to bed early.  The first parts worked okay but someone's tv was super loud in our street and I ended up being awake most of the night :-/

Tuesday seen one of my best runs for awhile.  I managed to do a 3.5m tempo run without feeling shattered or in need of oxygen lol  If only they were all like that - hmmm

Wednesday was my scheduled trip to the gym. 2 miles interval training on the "dreamill" followed by program 2 of my strength training.  It was hard work but I have found that the "good morning" exercises are getting easier on the old hamstrings.  There doesn't seem to be the threat of them going "twang" now and when I got up on Thursday I didn't have the dreaded ache :-D


Thursday was an easy run of 4 miles.  I ran out to Fairlie library and stopped en-route to grab a quick drink of water and a 30 sec chat with my Mum who was strutting her stuff at line dancing. It was very humid and yet again, I looked like a radish on the boil!!!  Training for the week over - phew!!


Kimbles
~x~x~