Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Dandelion and Burdock!
One week of my marathon cram it all in at the last minuite training programme done and so far so good, I think.
Monday I ached a little but as it was my last day off work I wanted to feel I had got something done and so spent the day in the garden attacking the weeds with weed killer. My garden and drive now looks overgrown and dead instead of overgrown and green! Time well spent then!
Although two weeks at home with the kids had driven me potty I wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of returning to work. I was also a little cross with TSR and as I chuntterd to myself and waited for my phone to ring I was very tempted to go get a bottle of wine. I thought about my training and resisted. but mostly because I was feeling too lazy to go to the shop.
Tuesday was back to work, I wanted to get up early and go for a swim before work, but I couldn’t motivate myself feeling more tired than yesterday. But after a morning sat going through emails I actually took a lunch break and went for a swim, 30 lengths, just loosened up my achy legs. I popped home after work to find that (as expected) the kids had not washed up, I text them saying next time I got home to find a sink full of pots when they had been at home and I had been working all day I would leave home. Danny replied with a text that simply said “You best pack your bags then”
By the time I arrived at run club I was a little irritable, my eyes and head ached from a day full of emailing and I really felt I was struggling to motivate myself never mind the runners in my group that stood round me waiting to hear what I had planned. So I was thankful when Liz Jones said she had a little route she would like to try!
However some 15 minutes in and I was no longer thanking Liz, I shan’t repeat what I muttered under my breath as she took us up and down a series of rather steep hills/streets just off Meanwood Road. At the top of one of these streets some people were having a celebration and hearing the moaning that I was making to Liz Green offered us a glass of wine. I’m still not sure what it was that Liz J shouted at me as I raised my glass and called cheers to her as she reached the bottom of the hill!
30 length swim
5.5 mile run
Wednesday- I wasn’t looking forward to it but I went to the gym to do an interval session on the tread mill after work. Not my best effort by a long way, but I am where I am and that is not where I was! I got home to find that Danny had washed up (I suspect only because he wanted clean pots for his lunch) but the U bend on the kitchen sink had come off again and my cupboard was flooded!
Intervals – total distance 6k
Thursday – I was feeling tired, but I had Ricks boot camp session on my training programme and popped home after work. I had forgotten about the broken U bend and got home to a kitchen full of dirty pots and a bowl of smelly water. Danny who normally fixes my U bend (with a little help from Mum) was nowhere to be seen. So although TSR was still in the dog house I text and asked if he had time to come round and sort it. He brought me a bottle of wine that I have being fancy a glass of but it will sit in the fridge now till the 9th October. He fixed my u bend sink and stayed a while and dont tell him but I didnt stay cross for long, but as I rushed off to pick Adele up at 6.50 he said I guess your not training tonight. Wrong I made it there for 5 past and Rick as usual gave a great session, working us hard but somehow making the pain fun at the same time. this week he had us running around, jumping, press ups, core work and plenty of other things all finished of with silly walks!
I put my garmin on to see what picture it would draw you can see th epretty picture here http://connect.garmin.com/activity/111334249
2.2 miles run
Friday – was rest day, thought about swimming but didn’t make it. I had a sports massage booked for after work with http://www.sport-fix.com/. Nasty Ned has moved back home so instead Richard came and tried to bring life back into my legs. He spent an age on a spot just below the back of knee which has niggled since last year and worked on my gammy hip as well as giving my calf’s and hamstrings an all round good going over. I said there may be bruising and I could barely stand up after and wondered if I would be able to run on the Saturday!
Saturday was parkrun day and a championship handicap race for the club. I still don’t really understand how the handicap system works but apparently I was the 2nd lady HPH. This was due to Kathryn who is currently in training for her first half marathon at the GNR. I was aware that Kathryn was just on my shoulder and then we fell in to running together. We weren’t racing each other but I think we both knew we wanted a good run and we settled into a great pace and rhythm, we were unable to say anything more than “Ok?” “Uh” “U” “Urgh” but stayed together pulling one another along, that is till we turned the last corner and Kathryn’s fiancée Joe was there shouting her on, which obviously gave Kathryn an even bigger boost as I couldn’t keep with her and she crossed the line a few seconds in front of me. Kathryn got a PB and I got my first sub 30 in weeks. Thank you Kathryn, but watch out, I’ll get you on that finish line next time!
4 mile
Sunday –Long Slow Run day! 20 miler, I wasn’t looking forward to this bearing in mind when I did 18 last week I could not have managed another step. I ran 6 miles on my own to Kirkstall Abbey I had said to the girls that I’d aim to get there for 8.30 which, as anyone who knows me knows, that would normally means 8.45. However for some reason, maybe it’s my new commitment to this 6 weeks training I was there for 8.30 but the only other person that had arrived was Bev (who in fairness doesn’t know well enough yet to know to expect me late) I ran back and forth along a road till my Garmin said almost 7 miles before everyone arrived, kitted up and we set off.
I had planned a route from the Abbey of about 12 miles for Jaz, Sue and Bev with Linda doing a couple miles extra with me to make it 14 for Linda and 20 for me all meeting up in the Abbey House Cafe.
I felt strong and so as Linda and Bev pushed on in front I kept up with them. Bev was new to our Sunday morning group and I always like a good chinwag about running with someone new. Bev had never run further than about 7 miles before but she kept a strong fast pace going, we circled back a few times to Jaz and Sue and I welcomed the slightly slower pace before I found myself being pulled along again by Linda and Bev. At about mile 12 my legs began to feel heavy and so I introduced my first running mantra of the day.
I am Kay, I am a marathon runner and my legs are light and strong!
Once again I was thankful that I had someone to run with and almost felt guilty about the hill I was about to make them run up from Apperlybridge to Rawdon Crematorium. I started to have a craving for a bottle of Fentimans Dandelion and Burdock which I knew they sold at Abbey Museum Cafe. As we tackled the hill my mantra in my head was replaced with “Dandelion and Burdock, Dandelion and Burdock” there was walking from some of us on the hill and even a little dance from Sue as she spotted a butterfly. But together, with talk of houses and what can only be described as smut and my inner voice repeating over and over again “Dandelion and Burdock” we dragged ourselves to the top of the hill!
As we reached the museum, Bev finished, Jaz and Sue had another half mile and Linda and I had to keep going for another 1.5 mile. Now I love my Garmin watch, I like the feedback I get on my speed and distance but at the end of a long run like this I hate it, I can’t stop looking at it and the miles seem to go so slowly and I would say that for the last mile I just stopped dead every 10th of a mile, wishing it to be done and only the internal chat of Dandelion and Burdock got me going again!. As we passed the front of the cafe I longed to just go sit down but the Garmin read 19.85, Dandelion and Burdock, Dandelion and Burdock, Dandelion and burdock, dandelion and Burdock Dande . .BEEP . .finally after what seemed an eternity the Garmin announced 20 miles, DONE. I stopped, turned and shuffled back to the cafe as the rest of the girls meet up in the car park. I found a table outside and plonked myself down. I took my sweaty phone out of my pocket and tried to call TSR but I’m glad he didn’t answer as I’m not sure he would have understood me as I sobbed “I want Dandelion and Burdock!”
Monday, 29 August 2011
Just six weeks to go
I last blogged 10 weeks ago as I started my 16 week training programme for Liverpool Marathon 2011.
That means that this time in 6 weeks I will (hopefully) have crossed the finish line of my 5th Marathon.
This is only my second blog for Liverpool 2011. I feel my lack of a weekly blog reflects what I feel has been a lack of commitment to my training.
That’s not to say I haven’t done any training, I have but I have allowed excuses to creep in and not keep to my train programme, my speed work has been nearly non exsistent, I have not crossed trained, gone swimming or done anywhere near the mileage I had planned to .
· Meeting the deadline for my ILM assignment, that took longer to complete than expected.
· Working with my brothers to redecorate my mum new flat and then moving her in.
· Picking up the pieces and supporting the kids when you know who was a total you know what
· Work, work, work
· Supporting Daniel with his GCSE
· Getting Adele ready for her school trip to Germany.
· Saying good bye to not just one, but two good friends, who after hearing me moan about a certain someone (mentioned below)for the last few years have both decided to leave the country . . .
· Hours sat night after night eradicating someone’s little visitors ( and if you work this out please don’t say anything to her as she would be devastated if you knew)
· Visiting Bev, my very good friend, who I haven’t seen for nearly a year.
· Winning “ the best carrot cake in the world” bake off at parkrun Leeds
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| My long suffering friends Harp and Vikki who have both left the country after listening to me moan on and on! |
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| The worlds best carrot cake competition Nicola and Me |
All the above I can justify as genuine and worthy excuses as to why my training has not gone to plan.
BUT arranging to see TSR when I should have been doing my interval sessions, shows I haven’t been 100% focused on the marathon.
AND choosing on occasions, to do housework over training, shows that maybe, just maybe I wasn’t enjoying my training.
I think part of me was in denial about my lack of training until a couple of weeks ago as I raced Newark Half Marathon and put in probably my worst ever half marathon performance. During this race I considered pulling out of Liverpool altogether.
I don’t think I’m really the sort of person who just gives up on things.
Though I can often be heard saying to the Kids with a big sigh “I give up” this is generally in relation to some such thing as getting them to put their clothes away or move their dirty pots!
I might procrastinate for weeks, I can be terrible at making decisions, I often leave things to the last minute and have to cram things to get them done, some jobs and tasks (with no deadlines attached) I never seem to actually finish, but I don’t give up on them. Sometimes I may weigh things up and decided to no longer pursue something because it no longer fits with me, but to just give up, nope that’s not me!
And so I got to thinking what was the main reason I entered Liverpool Marathon whilst I was still training for London 2011? It wasn’t to break 4.45 as I hadn’t done London at that point and I didn’t know that I wouldn’t achieve this in London. I decided last year that I wanted to do two marathons in one year to test myself, to see how my body would cope with the training, to see how I would handle summer training and if or how I would find the time and to see if I could just do it!
I chose Liverpool as my 2nd marathon for 2011 because Debra Brown is also doing it and it is my dream to one day beat Debra who encouraged me when I first joined my run club. She has always being faster than me and although I have closed the gap I am still chasing her tail, but (with the exception of when she was pregnant) every time I get a bit faster so does Debra. . but one day I will catch her, it’s just unlikely to be 9th October 2011!
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| Debra & I at Newark Half Marathon |
And so having thought about things as I plodded around Newark, my legs feeling like lead, an upset tummy (My mantra that day was I am Kay I am strong I am in control of my bowels - and yes thankfully my mantra worked) and the sun so hot I ended up looking like a tomato, I knew I would continue with my goal of running Liverpool Marathon 2011. Yes my goal has changed from a 4.45 and beating Debra to arriving on the start line as fit and strong as possible in the time I have left to train and then to simply get round and enjoy the day.
I have in true Kay style re worked my training programme, cramming as much as one can for a Marathon, as much running as I can.
Before Newark I had done a 16 mile long run but felt I needed to re do this and so as I was on holiday last week I had probably one of my biggest mileage weeks ever
Monday – 16 solo miles
Tuesday – rest
Wednesday – 5 slow recovery
Thursday – Training session in the park Rick had us doing hill repeats I worked so hard that in the words of Julia Roberts . . . I almost peed my pants! – not sure of mileage Approx 2 miles?
Friday – rest
Saturday – 3 parkrun ( first 2 tempo then my legs fell off)
Sunday -18 (10 miles with Sue Smith, Jaz Bangerh and Janice Marshall)
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/109971771
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/109971771
Total mileage for the week 44
In the next 4 weeks I will be running 4- 5 times a week, including Ricks boot camp sessions, a championship race, 2 x 20 milers, a 10k race, 22 miler followed by a shorter than normal taper of just 2 weeks.
Considering where I am this is going to hurt, I feel it is ambitious, it could even be seen as stupid, I know it’s a gamble and I may end up on the start line unable to even walk the 26.2 miles, but I’m going to give it my all.
For the next six weeks (outside of work) I will have just ONE thought
26.2 miles
If it’s not Marathon related, it or you, will just have to wait!
Monday, 20 June 2011
110 days 2 hours 33 mins 23 . . 22 . .21. .
Its time to start blogging again, must be day one of training for The Liverpool Marathon 2011.
Better finalise my training programme then!
There are still places available if you fancy joining me?
Sunday, 24 April 2011
From LonDONE to Liverpool
Well one week has gone by already and I still haven’t blogged about my VLM 2011.
I guess in part because I have seen so many of you and probably bored you all silly by now, but also in part because for me the week after a marathon is a bit like your first week as a new mum. You are elated, proud and relieved, you want to talk about it to everyone you meet but at the same time the blues creep in, your hunger rages, some days you can’t remember your own name and most of all, all you really want to do is sleep!
So to VLM 2011, how was it for me. It has to be said it was hot, I don’t think quite as hot as the year I did Edinburgh but none the less it was hot.
I had a relaxed trip down and was in bed asleep at 8.30pm on the Friday. Saturday morning I went to Brockwell parkrun with Vikki, Kara and John. Vikki and I both purposely left our Garmin at the hotel wanting to just have a steady run. I refueled in the outdoor-poolside cafe with a breakfast smoothie and wonderfully fresh made blueberry pancakes with maple syrup, an easy trip back to the hotel and relaxed watching TV, when Nicky got back from her shopping trip we had pasta and fruit for lunch, then spent time getting our race kit ready and packing our kit bags, popped down to see Liz when the Jones arrived, then a quick change before going for Pizza and salad for tea. We had seen this place that had the biggest meringues and cakes and pastries for pudding so we all gathered there for pudding! I asked everyone how they were feeling – excited-nervous-ok- were amongst the replies my word - STUFFED!
We were back at the hotel and in bed before 10. I had a poor night sleep, the Traffic in London never stops! But this didn’t bother me, I have read several times that it is the night before the night before your race that is important in terms of sleep! So I spent the time going over my race day plan, thinking about my pacing, trying to visualise crossing the finish line, but as I visualised my race my mind kept wondering to different things, who said they would be where. How generous everyone had been in supporting my fundraising, wonder who will win the cake, must make that call when i get into work on Tuesday, still haven’t done Adele passport, how lovely that the taxi driver from the train station gave me £5 towards my fundraising, must remember it’s Dans birthday next Sunday, I wonder if Vikki is managing to sleep, and how is Harp, hope I see her in the morning. I do hope the kids have remembered to go feed Oscar. Now what is it I have got to do tomorrow . . oh yes run a Marathon . .wonder if I will notice Buckingham Palace and Big Ben (the clock not Nicola husband) this year. Hope my hip holds out, is feeling much easier but . . .now about that pacing . . . .
And so when my alarm went off at 6 to get up, I didn’t, well not at first, it took a while. I had to sing rather loudly and probably very badly as I showered to wake myself and (the rest of the floor) up. Now I think this may have been a new way that my nerves were showing because I wasn’t really feeling nervous. I was a wee bit late down stairs but there was time for a quick photo with Vikki and Nicky and good luck hugs from John and Kara all round (Liz and Chris were running a little late so were going to follow on) and off the 3 of us set with our kit bags slung over our shoulders to meet Harp. Vikki and I just managed to jump on to a train but were squeezed in like sardines and hand to stand, at one point the train came to a sudden stop and I fell backwards sitting on a very nice young mans lap, I apologised blushed and told him he had made my day!
Eventually with sweat already dripping down our backs we were off the train and walked together for a while till the path for the green start and red start split and i was on my own. But that was ok, I’d done this before, i was an old hand and i took in the excitement of those around me. Have to say it was a long uphill walk to the red start but i got there eventually, I arrived with over an hour to wait and wondered what to do, 2min queue for porta loo, eat banana, sort my bag, deposit my bag (this is a critical point because you cant get your bag back after it is on the baggage truck) Think might just try the loo again only the queue was now so long it took over 30 min to get to the front, I chatted to an American couple both dressed in bright orange. Then as I left the portaloo I saw someone I knew and we chatted for a while before i headed to the back of the start, as i made me way through the thousands of people, Liz Jones walked straight up to me, brilliant we could keep one another company as we waited for the start and then walked for 20min before we crossed the line.
At this point I would say the weather was not too hot in fact it felt near perfect for running. I don’t remember much about the first few miles I just tried to keep my pace steady.
For those of you that don’t know, there are several different starts for the VLM but they all merge into one, Liz and I started in red and Harp and Nicky were in blue and as the roads merged I deducted that Harp and Nicky were probably already in front of me, I couldn’t help myself, I tried not to but I started to pick up the pace to see if I could catch them . . .I never did!
I felt I ran quite well the first half, I sipped my water and took my gels as planned, I felt a slight need for the loo but as all the portaloos had long queues I pushed on. But the weather started to get warmer and I felt I needed to drink slightly more but I knew before I could put more fluid in I needed to let some out and as I passed an embankment I saw several figures squatting in the trees and made a quick dash to join them. I struggled to get back into my stride after this. My foot twinged a bit then eased off but started to ache again, I thought this might be because i had over tightened my lace before the start. Ahead of me I could see Gill Jones from ERR stood at the side of the railing, I stopped to adjust my trainer and have a chat, we set off again together. Now at some point around here my body said I’m hot and started to slow and wanted to walk. I reached London Bridge and as I felt there would be TV cameras here and I knew TSR was watching for me I was determined to keep running, there was a camel behind me and I fought hard not to let it pass me but it did. And when I’d reached the other side I stopped to have a little stretch. Last year I found the next part of the course very frustrating as it narrows and people just stop running in front of you and I had to weave in and out to keep running, but this year when someone in front of me stopped running and had a walk, I did to, this I know on a long run is fatal for me as my hip starts to seize up and when I try to run again it just aches. I checked my Garmin and felt a PB was gone and so I concentrated on just enjoying the run and looking out for people I knew were running and supporting. I must have broken the record for the number of people I saw and fortunately I continued with my run walk strategy and fortunately was running as I saw everyone I knew, dashing over to spectators demanding they give me a hug regardless of how sweaty I was. I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the run, yes it was hard work, yes it was hot, yes i walked, quiet a bit, yes i struggled with chafing, but I did see Big Ben and noticed Buckingham Palace and sprinted my little (or as Dan calls them) my melon legs, off in the finish straight, passing loads of people struggling more than me. I have to say I don’t look half as bad in my finishing photo this year as i did last and I may even consider buying it.
So there you go, I trained hard for 16 weeks, there was a fall, there was blood, tears, tantrums, screams, there was weight gain, there was exhaustion and elation, I had some fantastic training runs, kept injury free and mostly germ free, I had a total of ½ larger and two glasses of wine, I made new running friends and enjoyed running with old running friends (ones I have known longer). I completed Jantastic, Febulous and Marchevllous with a 100% consistency score I even pulled out a 29.19 for my Marchevllous timed run. I took part and completed my first winterswim finishing ranked 15. I did early morning runs and clocked up more mileage than I ever have before. I PB at Trimpell 20. I had regular sports massage, though I have been told off for not stretched as much as I should and my nutrition still has a lot of room for improvement!
So all in all I was in a good place, I had trained for a PB the stats men would probably have predicted it and several of them did in the cake competition. Ok I know on the day it was hot and I hadn’t slept as much as I had hoped but the truth is and I knew this on the start line . .
. . . .I just didn’t want it enough!
I had a great weekend, a fantastic day, I ran with some 34000 determined athletes, I got to support and was supported by some special friends, I have helped to raise over a thousand pounds for age uk.
My time for those of you who don’t already know was 5:19:01
The winner of the Carrot Cake was in fact TSR who put the slowest predicted time of 5:02:00.
I will be back in London One Day to give it another go!
In the meantime I am planning for a PB at The Liverpool Marathon on the 9th October 2011 and I will be using my learning from the VLM to help me reach my goals.
So what is the most important thing I have learnt from VLM 2011 that I can share with all you runners out there?
When you go for a wee on a grassy embankment never never never ever place your water bottle down-flow !
Friday, 15 April 2011
2 more sleeps
So here it is guys, it is nearly time to set off for London and surprisingly I’m sat ready and waiting for TSR to arrive with my Cappuccino. This worries me as normally I would be rushing about trying to hide my panic, but no everything (I hope) is packed.
Training wise I felt week at the beginning of the week tapering can have that effect but I was determined to let my body know it hadn’t finished yet, so on Tuesday I did an extra mile before run club plus another social 5, followed by even more social pre marathon chat where compared how we were feeling and our pre race strategy!
On Wednesday -Ned from http://www.sport-fix.com/ came to give my legs a last massage, he had said that he would take it easy and just given my muscles a gentle flush out, but I think he might have forgotten that bit. At one point Adele came in the room as he was doing my IT IBT ITB or whatever it is and as I shrieked Adele apparently gave him one of her looks and said – YOUR NASTY! So now Ned will always be known in my house as Nasty Ned! Ned is still telling me off for not stretching enough
Wednesday Afternoon Sue Smith popped round so we could look at her training plan. Sue told me off for not eating right!
Yesterday my nerves kicked in, I went for a run which went really well though half way through I did regret having my snack of bran flakes at 4.30am, but all was well!
But about 2 in the afternoon I began to feel queasy and headache and then my back started to ache all typical of my normal pre race nerves just 3 days early! Then at about 3.30 I stood up and my hip went. It was agony I limped about worrying, I was ok when I sat still and once I got walking I was ok but if I moved or stood up or the first few steps and I was limping.
Fundraising this week has been fantastic, I have nattered a little and begged and thanks to the predict my time for a carrot cake competition we are now raised £1159.22 add that to the £117 that Adele raised with her sponsored swim and we just have 307.98 to go! Thank you everyone and good luck to those of you who have entered the win a carrot cake competition
It is not too late to either sponsor Nicky Harp and I at http://www.justgiving.com/Kay-Nicola-Harp or to predict my chip finish time for £2 and be in with a chance of winning one of my home made carrot cakes! Just see previous blog post!
Now about some of these times that have been predicted!!!
Nicola has gone for tactics and instructed me to stop just before the finish and wait till her time comes up before I finish. Let’s hope I am somewhere near the finish preferably the other side of it by 5.00.01. TSR has given me the slowest predicted time of anyone – em I shall be having words! Ned is putting a lot of faith in the power of his funs with one of the fastest times of 4.35.12 but bless Ken Fox who based on my 100% consistency score for Jantastic/ Febulous and Marchevolous believes I can go sub 4.30 – One day ken one day!
I'd just like to wish all my running friends, old and new, who will be running on Sunday the very best of luck and say a big thank you to those of you who will be out supporting - give me a big shout, I will need it!
So everyone thank you for your support and following my training story and (hopefully) I will blog again after I have crossed that finish line!
Kay
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Cake Competition
Here is the list of times that people have predicted that i will finish the VLM 2011. The closest to my chip time will win one of my homemade carrot cakes. (if more than one person gets my time spot on each will get a cake) I will update before Friday, but as long as you give me your time via email / facebook / text or direct on http://www.justgiving.com/Kay-Nicola-Harp before 12 midnight on the 16th April you are in with a chance!
at just £2 a go why not have a go or two!
Name | Predicted Time |
TSR | 5:02:00 |
Nicola Forwood | 5:00:01 |
Andy Brown | 4:53:01 |
TSR | 4:53:00 |
Jaz Bangerh | 4:52:52 |
Julie Brown | 4:51:15 |
Suzanne B | 4:50:37 |
Sue Smith | 4:50:02 |
Hilary Lund | 4:49:58 |
Ben Forwood | 4:49:22 |
David Womersley | 4:48:48 |
Zoe Dale | 4:48:18 |
TSR | 4:48:00 |
Anna Hobbs | 4:47:30 |
Ralph Kidner | 4:46:12 |
John (Ned) N | 4:45:12 |
Liz Jones | 4:44:44 |
David Jefferies | 4:43:43 |
Debra Brown | 4:43:23 |
Kate Pankhurst | 4:43:03 |
Tess Hornby-Smith | 4:41:05 |
Vikki King | 4:39:40 |
Debra Brown | 4:38:12 |
John (Ned) N | 4:35:12 |
Sue Smith | 4:32:35 |
Ken Fox | 4:28:34 |
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