This week I have confirmed to myself twice that I am MAD

Firstly on Friday evening I went into the kitchen put the kettle on and made a cup of tea. I then made Daniel and I a snack and took it through into the room to sit down and enjoy with my cup of tea.  But my cup of tea wasn’t there, I went back to the kitchen and looked all around, it was nowhere to be seen, I checked the shelve next to my front door (en route between the kitchen and front room) not there, I checked the dining table and the kitchen once more! Then, and I don’t know why, I looked in the cupboard I keep all my pots in and there it was, my cup of tea!

Secondly on Saturday morning the Jones picked Alison and myself up at 10am and along with Mike and Andy, who they had already picked up we travelled for 2 and half hours, through snow, sleet, rain then heavy fog,  and spent  the next five hours wading around in the MUD, all to run just 6K! Though I am not sure that run is the right word!

M A D N E S S!

But that 6k was The National Cross Country Championship and will probably be the most challenging 6k of my VLM 2011 campaign!

I was the only one in the car that had taken part in last year’s National Cross Country and so I had an idea of waht was about to come and knew only too well that it would be hard! The unexpected snow on Saturday morning only heightened my concerns!

But when we got to Alton Towers there was no snow, only MUD, everywhere.  We quickly found our fellow HPH and got our numbers and chips then wadded to the start line to wait for the Under 15 girls race to start, Bex and Ellie, appeared happy and excited despite having to wait in the cold due to a 30min + delay.  In the previous races there had been some tumbles and sirens could be heard. Eventually the girls were off, on a shortened version leaving out the hill that seemed to have caused the worst of the tumbles.

By this time I was desperate for the loo and went in search of the portaloos, I climbed over fences and through barbed wire to avoid having to trek through quite so much mud. I decided to change inside the portaloo which had nearly as much MUD on the floor as there was outside.

I got back to the finish just in time to see Bex cross the line still looking strong, but the others said not one of the girls looked happy as they crossed the line.

The rest of the HPH team seemed to disappearleaving Alison and I wondering what time our race (the senior women) which was due to start at 2.20 would be? Did we strip off now or wait, would someone be back in time to hold our bags, just how much MUD was there out on that course, we moved to the road, the only place we could see that we could put our bags down and hop about on one foot without falling in the MUD to strip off our outer layers and sort our trail trainers out.  Liz arrived back with us just as we heard them give a 10 minute announcement for our race, we slithered through the MUD and found our pen and lined up on the start line with 500+ others.

It is at this point you realise just how serious this is, 500+ athletes all lined up on the start line, all poised in a racing start stance.   The race officials shouted at competitors to get their toes back over the line and then announced, you see this patch of green grass? Its the only bit you will see for the next 6K. I knew from my experience last year, I should not even try to keep up with the starting pace and so let them race ahead and within a few meters myself and a dozen other proud club runners, who im sure like me knew they would be bringing up the rear, were soon doing just that! I know I’m not as slim as I used to be but next to the lot in front of me I felt like Jo Brand! The course a complicate looping system meant you ran round one another several times and I was able to give the weeone my only HPH team mate in the race a big cheer on, though I’m not sure she heard me.  The MUD was everywhere, we went up hill downhill and as I struggled back uphill Tom & H, true to form stood there cheering us on! 

Then all of a sudden I was no longer at the back of the pack but I was at the front leading the leaders being chased by the likes of Liz Yelling, and captured on camera by Liz Jones – photo to follow!

I savoured my moment of glory  

As I wound round the winding course I noticed the men lined up to start their race and wondered if there was a possibility that I would be lapped by the men as well, I heard the gun and for a while we ran round one another a sight and sound like I have never seen, 1300 men running almost silently through the MUD. It was like watching something from a wildlife documentary (I mean that as a compliment) I spotted and cheered on our own Dave, Shane and Mike before finally and thankfully I reached the turn off for my finish length and I settled down to enjoy a steady run in through the biggest puddle to the finish line. 

I joined the rest of the HPH support crew to cheer on our men’s team. It was great to see their faces as they tackled the hills and went flying past us.

It was an all round great day, an experience I knew would be hard I was scared when I thought about it through the week and was prepared for the fact that I might be last, but I am so glad and proud of myself for doing it!! 

A hugh well done to all HPH who raced and supported and a big thank you to Liz and Chris for driving, Dave for organisiing and making sure we were entered, for Alison for your encouragement and for all the other HPH, who made it such a fantastic day!

ps I finished 549^th out of 552  

pps and a big thank you to everyone who supported Adele in her winterswim, she did fantastic 60 lengths in 45min 45 sec.

If you would still like to sponsor her you can still do so at

http://www.justgiving.com/adele-fawcett

Adele winterswims for age uk



http://www.justgiving.com/adele-fawcett

I’m not doing very well at keeping up with blogging at the moment, I blame Liz Jones who has banned me from taking my laptop to bed in the hope that I will settle in to a better sleep pattern!

Last week I felt I crossed more things out on my training plan than I actually managed to tick off as done!

In brief I ran on, Tuesday 5miles, Thursday 4 miles, Saturday 5 miles, and on Sunday I ran a long slow 18.5miles to complete my Febulous runs!

The only other thing I did last week was my longest winterswim a 1500meter swim on Saturday afternoon!

I spent the week arguing with myself, one day telling myself I was being sensible resting when I was tired, the next telling myself off for just being lazy!!

But  never mind running, this blog is dedicated to my wonderful and funny daughter Adele who will also be doing her longest winterswim this week. 1500meters - 60 lengths of a standard pool

Adele has done fantastic, having not swum regularly for the last 5 years she has built up her distance and improved her technique. Adele loves swimming under the water and can swim over half the length of the pool before coming up for air.  In the last few months we have had lots of fun together, Adele has even patiently tried to teach me how to do the front crawl and dive under the water but these are skills that I am still somewhat lacking in!

If you would like to sponsor Adele you can do so at

www.justgiving.com/adele-fawcett

You can read more about the winterswim challenge at www.winterswim.co.uk/



Oh Lord!  What have I gone and done now?

You might think after my tumble on Fridays run and if you had heard me scream out during my sport fix massage, or if you were one of those that witnessed my zombie like state on Saturday (only put right by a 3 hour afternoon nap) if you had felt the pain in my legs as I tried to run Dewsbury 10k, finishing 5 minutes slower than last year, If you witnessed the increasing pile of washing, the vain attempt to try keep my house clean and tidy, the impact on my bank balance of filling my hungry tummy and entering races  . . .  well you might think I would question my motivation to pursue this madness called marathon training . .  . . .

 . . . is it worth the effort, is it worth the pain, is it worth the sacrifices I find myself making, is it worth the time I can’t spend doing the other things I love, is it worth the early starts, the tiredness and the constant hunger?

I have asked myself all these questions this weekend and what have I done about?

Well I have gone and entered Liverpool Marathon on the 9^th October 2011 . . .

A Run of Two Parts BF & AF 

I had taken today off as annual leave and I had three things that I was determined to do

1.    A 16 mile run (and I wanted to run it not walk it)

2.    Beginning the end that will end the end

3.    Purchase some new sports bras with my Up & Running vouchers

I had gone to sleep last night listening to the rain & wind beating against my window and was less than enthusiastic about running 16 miles.  When I woke up this morning I was more determined to run 16 miles but still tried to delay the inevitable by prating around to update my blog. I had to call Harp to say I was running late and asked that very girly question “what are you wearing?” then several changes of running gear followed -long sleeved top  V jacket with short sleeved - hat V no hat - and 40 minutes later than planned, I rang Harp to say I was on my way.

As I walked down my street, Gill one of the mums was taking her children to school, "you must be mad" she said, I sighed "I know"  and explaining that I had to run 16miles as part of my training for London. 

“Well I think you’re mad but it is good preparation in case it is like this on the day”

This changed my whole mind set, yes it could be and I would still run it so lets get on and give it my all!

I met Harpwho was also unsure of running 16 miles in such weather and said on a few occasions if it didnt improve she would turn back, but I knew she would not because I know how determined Harp can be! 

Now my run turned out to be a run of two parts  - BF & AF

Part One . . .  BF

Mile 1 – 12 and a bit

We ran down hill to start with, always a good thing for me, then on to the canal and before I knew it we had done one 8^th   of our run.  The rain came down, well actually it came across, the wind blew and we tried to chat as we ran,  the canal became a complex pattern of puddles, we ran in single file for a while as we negotiating a route through jumping across puddles the size of mini lakes, trying (but failing) not to get our feet wet.  We reached Apperleybridge and left the canal to tackle the only other way there is out of Apperley – UP!  If you leave the main road there is some lovely roads that twist and turn as they steadily but steeply climb up to Rawdon, now I have run these hills a few times in training and in the ABC race, but not once have I successfully RUN them all the way from bottom to top, until today that is! As I reached the top I realised how sheltered this section of our run had been, as the wind took my breath away and nearly blew me over.  I’m afraid to say that I didn’t execute the normal HPH value of running back for your partners and I took the time to catch my breath as I waited for Harp. Ten -ish miles done and I was still feeling strong, I was loving the challenge of running in the rain and wind and on we pushed to Horsforth roundabout, we didn’t even stop at the garage for our traditional loo stop. Down Horsforth Town Street a quick stop at Tesco to fill up our water bottles and take on our 2^nd gel.  Harp told me to push on if I wanted to as much as I didn’t want to leave Harp I also wanted to see what I was capable off and started to pick up my pace a little thinking I would loop back for Harp, gosh . . look at me . .12 miles, still strong, picking up the pace, in winds that could blow you over  . . how snug am I . . .and  . .look at me  . . . goooo . .  yeeahhh  . . ohhhh . . .bugger . . . . I’m kissing the pavement . . . .ouccchhhh!

Part one of run  . . . .  BEFORE FALL  . . . over!

I sat there Harp dabbing the blood ouzzing from my busted lip while I tried to feel if all my teeth were still intact.  A guy, I think I was passing as I fell, stopped to help and  he retrieved my bottle that had flown several meters down the path, I wanted to burst into tears but somehow held them back.  Shaking somewhat tentatively I stood up, wondering if I had done any damage, my elbow stung and the front of my right thigh felt well smashed, fortunately I had been wearing gloves and my hands were relatively ok.

Part two AF - AFTER FALL mile 12 to 16

After a few steps I thought about Febulous and how I had put down that I was doing a 16 mile run this week.  I knew that if I failed to do it today I would not get it in and I wanted to have a good strong run, so off I set with Harp beside me, everything felt okish though the front of my leg was stinging/aching and throbbing.

I kept running, only now it was more of a battle, I sobbed back the tears – more of shock than pain – and kept going, I wanted this run over now.  Harp who has not done as many long runs as me wanted to take it steady. But I knew I had to keep going, if I stopped I might not get going, I sensed my body would just stiffen up and stop if I let it.  I pushed on leaving Harp at about 14.5 miles, save in the knowledge that if a fell again she was just behind me to pick me up.  My hair kept blowing  into my face and sticking on my bloody lip, pulling on it and making it bleed again.  I hadn’t seen my face but imagined I looked a sight.  I kept feeling the inside of teeth with my tongue, they just didn’t feel right and I’m sure my wonky front tooth is now not quite so wonky! On I pressed past the gym and turned to run up Canal Road for the final mile, only running was a physical impossibility, as in some places the wall at either side of the road created somekind of wind funnel, I swear at one point my feet were running but that I was moving backwards, I checked my Garmin and my pace had slowed from 10.20ish on kirkstall road to 14+  I was forced to a walk a few times on this last leg, but eventually half a mile from home my Garmin said 16 miles.  I pressed stop  and walked the rest of the way, calling Daniel (who was home poorly) with instructions to run a bath and make me a cup of coffee and some toast and peanut butter.

Battered and bruised I arrived home but still felt elated with my effort and so ticked off task number one of my days to do list!

arriving home after my bloody 16 miler

After something to eat and wincing in the bath as I discovered all my grazing, I considered scrubbing the rest of my plans for the day.

But it seemed I still had my determined head on and after two years of procrastination, I completed the forms I needed to, took advantage of the new  extended  limit on my credit card, got my forms copied and headed to the court and so, "Beginning the end that will end the end" was also ticked off my  to do list!

And that just left the third thing on my list to do spend my up & running vouchers that were xmas gifts from my friend Julie and TSR.  And so I found myself talking to a strange man, well at least, a man that was a stranger to me, about how much bounce control the various makes of sports bra offered.  I’m not sure how I felt when he made some comment about me not needing the larger cup brand! After half an hour I left with two new sports bra which will undoubtedly keep everything firmly in place but requires the help of a friend or octopus arms to get in and out of.

Although not on my list specifically for today, I had booked a sports fix sports massage and so I rounded my day of in even more agony as Ned/John spent half an hour on each of my very tight calves!  I am in trouble for not stretching properly!

 http://www.sport-fix.com/

I was the November prize winner!

24thJanuary - 3rd February - Ticking off the sessions 

It has been a while since my last blog, so make yourself a cuppa and pull up a comfy chair! 

Monday 24th Jan – work and rest

Tuesday – Lost bananas and chicken nuggets

I went for a pre work swim before going on my ILM course today.  The topic today was Project management, I already have my PRINCE2 project management certificate but there is something about flowcharts and feedback circles that appeals to me, always have!  Being the end of the month I am skin so took the only thing i had left in my cupboards for lunch, two bananas but somehow i lost them between the car and the class room!  However my bestest boymate came to my rescue by sharing his chicken nuggets and his “diet biscuits” that his wife packs for him not realising that he sneaks out and buys chicken nuggets!  As much as I enjoy the topic of project management by the afternoon my concentration had truly gone and I returned to being a school girl passing notes in class, but only by the modern form of text messages with my bestest boymate! Thank you Peter for feeding and entertaining me today!

After the course I dashed to Run Club for a quick committee meeting and then lead group 2.  Now im not sure if it was the nutritional value of chicken nuggets and Diet biscuits or the after effects of my efforts at the Brass monkey but i was soon leading my group from the back!!

Wednesday – Interval session, I thought I would struggle with longer bursts today so opted for my two min run two min walk session and somehow managed to push it to 13 on the tread which is equivalent to (i think) 7.30 minute mile – shame i cant keep that going for a whole mile!  I followed this by Body Pump but have to say I found myself unusually thinking about work.  Back home bit more work bed

Thursday –  Run - Work –Swim-  Sleep

My Early Morning Run

Friday – spin – work – a lunchtime cappuccino (served in what appeared to be a bowl) with TSR-work- housework - sleep

Saturday -  long run day, this week 14 miles, I had a really bad night sleep with 3 hours at most I woke at 6 had porridge and took a while to persuade myself to get out of the door at 7.  I wanted to run 10ish mile and do the last 3 – 4 at parkrun  I had arranged to meet Nicky and Liz (also long running) at Lawnswood roundabout at 8.10ish  and then run through Headingly together.  We had agreed that we would not wait for one another but catch up somewhere on Otley Road. I stopped to take a few photos, Leeds just looks different when running at this time of day but other than that I tried not to do dawdle too much but as I passed the MacDonald on the ring road  I decided to stop for the loo, this delayed me and I reached the roundabout at about 8.17, I looked up Otley Road towards Adele to check that they were not still on their way, I thought for a moment I had seen the bright yellow of Liz high viz jacket and what i thought was Nicky in her black running coat, but as I waited and peered I realised that these figures were in fact not moving and were in fact a yellow rubbish bin on a lamppost (woops sorry) so believing I was about 10mins behind them I turned and thought I would try running a few miles at marathon pace as all the good training schedules suggest you do this.  However I ‘m still not sure what MY marathon pace will be and so I just ran as fast as I could for the next two miles (all down hill) but still no sign of Liz and Nicky! I ran my fastest ever mile within a long run and arrived about 20 mins early for parkrun, still no sign of Liz and Nicky, I ran round the edge of the park and still no Liz and Nicky, then round  and round wellington waiting for the start, Nicky and Liz arrived with a few minutes to spare they had been behind me after all and I had run so hard to catch them up my legs had felt on fire!  parkrun started, again a slow time for me but as I crossed the line I only  had another half mile to do before reaching my 14 miles. Once done i went back to the finish and collapsed on john/ned massage table. Ned who normally has me climbing the walls, stretched my legs and did a min massage but my legs were so tired I hardly felt a thing! 

River Aire

Kirkstall Abbey early in the morning

The plan for the rest of sat was home, bath, town to spend my Christmas vouchers at up and running, chilling with TSR then swimming with Adele. However the reality was home –toilet-bath-toilet-bath-toilet-toilet-bed-toilet-bed-alkaseltzer-bed-toilet-sofa-shivershivershiver-hug with TSR-macd’s drive through for kids tea, sofa, bed. By the end of the day I was some 5lb lighter!

Sunday  morning came and feeling a little better and still in possession of the tea I had eaten last night I got ready to go to the Cross Country at John Smeaton, telling myself on one hand that I wouldn’t run if i didn’t feel well, but knowing that I would! As it turned out I was soon bringing up the rear for team HPH.  I have no problem being at the rear and am proud to follow all my HPH team mates in particular on Sunday I proudly following Sue S back.  I have known Sue since our sons were born and for years she has told me I was mad  but now understands the hold this mad passion has over you, in less than half a year Sue has gone from a non runner to a regular parkrunner and HPH and is about to do her first 10k at Dewsbury! Liz who was marshalling also commented something about she was disappointed that she hadn’t run as she felt she would have whooped my arse today and I know she would! The marshals gave encouragement to those of us at the back of the field with shouts of “great work” “your running well” etc etc I found myself compelled to explain my below par performance by telling each and everyone of them “thanks but I ran  14 miles yesterday and I have had the S!^ts!” They probably just thought crazy woman!

Now I should have gone for a swim Sunday afternoon to loosen my legs off but I didn’t feel up to it and was worried i might have a re run of the runs!.

Monday morning arrived but my body would not work, I felt ill and decided to take the day of work, Tuesday arrived and still I lacked energy and enthusiasm  my head hurt and I still felt somewhat queasy and so another day off work and an unplanned 2^nd rest day.

Wednesday am arrived I knew I had to go back to work and needed to get back on my training plan (a whole day missed seems such a disaster in my mind) and so I dragged myself out of bed and out the door for a 6 mile run!  Only after two rest days my legs seemed to have forgotten how to run, I had an ache in my left calf which I’m sure given a few more miles to warm up would have gone away but Ii also had a strange ache/pain sensation in my right lower leg/foot. I couldn’t pinpoint its source but i knew it hurt and my 6 miles turned into a two mile run,walk,hobble,run,walk,hobble.

I dragged myself unenthusiastic to work to discover that the builders that are knocking down walls of my old office had started the “noisy work” as this is directly below my new office I had a constant, drill, hammer, vibrating, shaking to contend with which did nothing for either my mood or my head ache!

I was grumpy and I knew I was grumpy and nothing was going to change that, I spent the day looking forward to doing bodypump with TSR, but unfortunately he was held up at work and so I did a very grumpy bodypump, complaining about everything in my head!

 Thursday – After yesterdays really bad run I wasn’t sure what to expect this morning but I got up and was out by 6.10am, I ran 5 miles at a steady pace and didn’t walk once.  A swim with Adele after work followed by my favourite running tea, pasta veg and chicken. And now I’m laid in bed hoping /praying that the rain and wind will have eased off by tomorrow for team ageuk can do their 16 mile runs.