So what do you think about on a long run?

This is a question people keep asking me  . . . .

Well here are my thoughts well as much as I can recall from today’s 22miler . . . .

Oh god my legs ache today, still feel sore from the sports massage, never mind give it a few miles and I’m sure I will warm up, run past harps estate, wonder if she is up yet and getting ready for her run . . why have I chosen a route that has an uphill start I don’t like uphill starts . . Kay, give over that’s not really uphill . .yes it is . . .passing top of sue street  now . .reckon she will already be out on her run . . who would have thought it am so proud of her . . .  the Leeds united song comes on TSR playlist . . .  Yippee - downhill now, at the side of Gotts park . . . I miss the club hill sessions we used to do up here, still smile at the joy of whooping Debra arse up here once, only happened once though, wonder what time she will get at Liverpool half today, bet she beats my PB! On to the canal think I feel something rubbing under my foot, remember Paul Warrens horrendous blister at Liverpool, pass a bench think I’ll just check, trainer off sock off . . em can’t see anything . . . off again feels better . . . check Garmin . . too fast . . PACE Kay PACE . . .wonder if Liz has set off from Silsden yet? . . . I should have done some signs saying GO LIZ GO and pinned them to the trees to cheer her on . . .and some for Nicky and Harp as they will be doing an out and back later  . . .don’t blame them for deciding not to do the 22mile . .would have to be bio degradable signs though as don’t think Liz would want to take them down and carry them home . . . . wish I had got up when my alarm went off, I would be half way round now . . . still going too fast . . . know I said id try a few miles at marathon pace but not faster . . .wonder if the naked manikin will be out this morning . . . do a side step to avoid a dog that comes to say hello . . oh now what is that digging in my toe . . .have I strained it . .feels like something is stuck in it . . . bench there . .trainer and sock off other foot . . nope nothing . .feels ok now . . .gosh passing through Rodley already . . hope kids aren’t falling out  . . .oh who is that I can see up in front . .looks a bit like, Linda G, Bernadette and Hilary . .don ‘t even think about trying to catch them . . look at that that torn high viz workman’s jacket it was there last week . . one day I will come down with a bin bag . . .must remember to do Adele’s passport application form . . wonder how much it will cost me to kit her out for her trip to Germany. . Think I’m gaining on Linda, Bernadette and Hilary . . maybe if I shout . . .”LINDA . . .  LINDA” they turn I wave . . em may be it isn’t them . .check my Garmin still too fast my legs are going to blow . . . hate this bit of the canal so stony it’s hard to run on . . . oh look I’ve caught them . . woops no it’s not Linda, Bernadette and Hilary . . “sorry” we all have a laugh and I pass on . . some cyclist wiz pass me, gosh he looks just like Roy (my first boyfriend) oh he is stopping to come off the canal, really looks like him, it can’t be, can it,   . .ROY?? I hear myself call  . . he looks at me puzzled, ”oh sorry you looked like someone I once knew” . . . actually now I think about it he looked like Roy looked 30 years ago . . . 30 years OMG . . wonder what he is doing now . . . nearly at the marina at Apperlybridge have had a few drunken nights staggering round that marina, it’s a wonder none of us ever fell in . .  .still miss Shelley . . wonder if Derek will be at home probably out enjoying his retirement  . . not had a gel yet should have one although not feeling hungry . . .time to turn off . . but if I keep going I could meet up with Liz running in from Silsden . .I’ll stick to my plan though as need to come off to buy water . . Time to tackle that hill . . . TSR comes into my thoughts, is it really only a week since I ran along here grumbling to myself that he had not called from the airport as he normally does . . .he did send me an early morning text . .I guess he thought I would still be tucked up in bed not out running the 20 miles id not done on Friday . . .can’t believe I ran all those miles last week . . that is why my legs are struggling to get me up this hill now . . come on Kay . . . It’s such a lovely road this . .wonder how much that house sold for, more than I could afford I’m sure . .  .come on Kay . . .up . . . just a little walk . . up . . .now this is what I call a hill . . .   it’s not your legs Kay it’s your mind that’s telling you its too hard today . . oh dear god . .and I’ve made it up to the main road . . .time for another gel I think . .nearly out of water . .my legs ache now  . . . that’s 11 mile done half way . .   downhill yippee . . wish I had cooked that mince ready for tea . .best text kids check they are ok . .  .where is all this traffic come from I can’t get across the road  . . . Oh look there is a light blue (I still think its grey) Lexus maybe its TSR come to rescue me . . don’t be daft he is somewhere between Leeds and Lanzarote . . . my thoughts turn to Once by Morris Gleitzman which I have just read as part of our book club and emotional me feels the tears rise up . . .finally Tesco express . . water needed . . . might see Ralph out joggling  . . . turn off Kirkstall road and head towards ring road legs not happy, knew I was going too fast before . . oh I’m hungry . . wish I had a better team last night . . oh and here we are the lovely ring road . . .up . . .right need to cross  . . .time for a loo stop at MacDonald’s . .oh what I would do for a large cappuccino right now . . .best text kids  . .phew all ok . .  oh look another grey (sorry Blue) Lexus maybe this one’s TSR cos my legs really ache . . .wish I could remember when he said he would be back . . maybe he is in that plane above me . . .oh perhaps he could parachute down like James Bond with a Large MacDonald’s cappuccino in his hand for me . . . come on Kay a bit more uphill and you will be at Weetwood . . .pass north west house the PCT HQ . ..think about work . . .must get that PPI plan finished before the 30^th March . . wonder if I will even be able to get in to my office on Monday . .or if they will have taken the carpet up yet . . .PPI plan don’t forget Kay . . . I best start taking my sponsor form into work . .what day will be best to do a bun sale . . . this is getting hard now . . but soon be at one of my favourite spots . . .just need to cross Weetwood round about . . a bit more boring ring road . .I’m sure there is a nicer route through I once walked with my best boy mate PA . .  ah well here we are donkey sanctuary and dam forgot there is a bit more up here, my legs are definitely slowing . . .a track comes on that reminds me of TSR and another . . . when exactly do you have to get your census form done by? . . .here we are at last left down down down through the hollies and into Meanwood park . . . I pass some people cycling up , rather them than me . . past the little bridge over Meanwood beck oh it is so many years ago that my friend and I lite up our first cigarette . . .what a fool . . still its ten years since my last . .I can’t imagine ever smoking again . . really hope the kids never start . . . through the park smiling as I remember happy childhood playtimes . .hunting for tadpoles . .my brothers seeing how high they could push me on the swing . . . I go the back way to the old tannery ( now posh apartments) and try to imagine my 3 brothers David, Alan, Duncan, using it as their playground oh so many years ago . .which one was it that years later confessed to crawling about in the tunnels that ran underneath it . . I laugh out loud as I recall the tale of David and Dobbin the mechanical horse . . out into Monkbridge road and I study the house my brothers grew up in till I came along and they had to move . . I wonder if I was conceived there knowing how cheeky my dad was wouldn’t surprise me I f I wasn’t, I walk across the road . .legs don’t want to run now but still 6miles to go . . .across to grove lane . .wonder if my mum will be in . . should I stop . .could do with more water . . but if I stop I won’t get going . . past my mums, I can see her sat in a chair reading . . .if I am just half the wonderful mum she is then I will be happy . .  .feel bad not stopping but know I would just stop, drink tea eat all her biscuits and have a good chat, so I blow her a kiss and send her my love . . .now I’m slowing now . . maybe now is the time to see if I can do a mile at marathon pace . . . so many road works make it difficult . . .yeah have reached marathon pace . . yeah . .but oh hang on I’m walking again. . let’s get going again  . . wonder if David is at the farm today . . I have walked along this road so many times . .  . it just goes on and on for ever . .need more water stop at garage top up and off again. . .reach Sheepscar stop my Gramin while I wait forever to cross the road . . remember how I once walked thigh deep in to a hole of wet cement when they were creating Sheepscar intersection . . . wonder how Liz is doing . .  . I might just see her as I head back on the canal . . bet she is fancying some chips right now . . pass the road TSR office is on . .is his car there?  . .no silly me of course not  . .he is getting ready to parachute out of an aeroplane with a MacDonald’s cappuccino . .wonder if he would bring some chips for Liz as well? . . .wonder if the greedy pig will be open . . nope . .just another 4ish miles to go  . .is that right . . hang on the Garmin hasn’t moved . . F**K I didn’t start it going again . . that means I’m going to have to do extra to get to my 22 . . oh well will make up for the few little walk steps I have had . . oh dear god legs are aching now and what is that pain in my bum cheek?  . . .oh that’s a nice dress . .have no idea what shop I’m running past . . wonder if these people in this bus shelter think I’m mad as I run through . . . ah at last the calls . .over the bridge and turn to head back . .down on to the canal walk way  . .bloody ell  who locked that gate . . never mind this way . . and finally pick the canal up properly at Granary Wharf all looks very nice . .STEPS where did they come from . .I’ve run 20 miles I can’t walk up steps . . right settle in now just two more miles . . hope I see Liz  . .can tell her TSR is bringing her some chips . . hope I see Nicky and Harp . . legs ache  . . just a little walk . . I’m not going to come off the canal till I’ve finished don’t care if I have longer to walk home . . 1 mile to go . .  come on Kay . .just 12 more minutes to run . . let’s have one more go at that marathon pace . .wow am I really running that fast . . 10 minutes to go  . . come on 8 . .7 . .6 . .you can do this Kay there is the finish line . . .5. . .4 . . just 2 min 1  . .and STOP . . .  wow 9.57 last lap . . . I think I might just be dead!

http://www.runforjapan.com/

This week I dedicate my running to japan

A lot can happen in 16 weeks.  It seems such a long time when you start a marathon training programme and the first few weeks fly by, you reach 8 weeks and your half way there wishing there was still another 16 weeks to go , four weeks later and (well in my case) you just want it over!

But I was determined to recharge my training this week and have two last weeks of consistent and solid work before taper time! Training I told myself would be my priority both in physical and mental terms!

But by Wednesday I had worked 30hours and slept about 3hours, my daily nutrition seemed to consist of coffee and biscuits, ginger,  I had helped three of my teams empty and then refilled the contents of the equivalent of about 14 filing cabinets!

So my intended slightly longer run on Tuesday was reduced to 5.5 mile club run, Wednesday Intervals again just did not happen as I was at work till late, Thursday I wanted to rest.  But that was ok I had Friday booked as a holiday to run 20 miles with Nicky and Harp on Friday.

Friday morning came along and I had a little lie in before getting up and having a large bowl of porridge. As I set of I took a couple of pain killers feeling a little bit headache and a little sickly in my tummy, but I put it down to nerves.  But oh as I ran I felt worse, I lagged behind and the more I tried to run the more I couldn’t, I moaned at Nicky and Harp about the route, I kept nearly bursting into tears which meant I had to stop as I just cannot run while I m blubbering!  I remember one of my colleagues  Sara who runs for Otley passed me in the car and gave me a wave and I just hoped i didn't look as bad as I felt.  Eventually as we reached the bottom of a hill on the ring road and Harp and Nicky had had to stand waiting for me again, I decided it was time to do my own thing.  I felt if I could get on to the canal I could find my pace and just do another gentle 8 on my own I would be ok.  So fighting back the tears as they asked me if I was ok I turned and went my own way.

 

 



This sums up how I felt as i tried to keep up with Nicky and Harp!

  But another mile on as I reached Kirkstall Road, my legs just stopped, my body said no!  I started to walk the 2 - 3 mile back to the gym, sobbing because I felt ill, sobbing because I was upset, sobbing because I was cross with myself for not finishing the run.  I text TSR in the hope he could come for me but he was already out and about in Bradford and so I started to walk but eventually gave in and sat shivering in my run vest at a bus stop hoping that a) i would be let on the bus in sweaty running gear and b) I had enough money for the fare back to the gym.  I was about 50p short but the nice bus driver took pity on me. 

When I eventually arrived home cold and hungry I had a long bath and realised that what i had thought was a case of nerves was in fact a migraine not something I get often and thankfully  compared to my mum I don’t get them bad, but running  and migraines do not mix! Even TSR when he called round later could not put a smile on my face !

Now this left me with a dilemma, I had two days left and had another two runs to get in including having another go at my 20 miler if I was to keep my marchvelous 100% consistency target.  When I woke on Saturday morning my head was still foggy and for the first time in months i had a saturday morning lie in and  I missed http://www.parkrun.org.uk/leeds/Home.aspx! 

Suddenly at lunchtime the fog lifted like an early morning mist and later that afternoon I went out for a short run and I thought maybe just maybe I can do my 20 miler tomorrow.  Everyone I spoke / text said not to worry, missing my one 20 miler would not make much difference, that I should listen to my body and rest!  After all I had done the equivalent of a half marathon on Friday even if I had sobbed through half of it!  This is the exact advice I would give my running friends in such circumstances, but we all knew I would not listen! 

And so Sunday morning I set my alarm for 5.45, had breakfast, sorted some washing and set off at 7.45 for a solo 20 miler, which I dedicate to http://www.runforjapan.com/



how time flys when your having fun . . . . .

Like many things in my life at the moment I have let my blogging slip in the last few weeks.  

It’s fair to say that I have not being feeling my normal cheerful self, a heavy cold at half term, difficulties at work, cancelled holiday, looming deadlines, 10 hour work days, worrying about home things, a bout of cold-sores, court papers to sort, washing machine breaking down (again) and its fair to say I have felt quite stressed and something had to go. 

But despite this I have managed to keep to my febulous & marchvevlous target of 4 runs per week and my weekly predicted long run target of 18, 20, and this week 10!  At half term I felt so poorly I missed training sessions on Wednesday and Thursday and then spent most of Friday (which I had taken as annual leave to do an 18 mile run) in bed sneezing and blowing my nose, only feeling well enough to get up after TSR brought me one of my favourite Cappuccinos and despite calling me a snot monster gave me a restorative hug, I had a good night sleep apart from waking to sneeze and managed to drag myself to parkrun on Saturday for run one of the day doing run number two (3^rd of the week) at tea time and then on Sunday I managed to complete a snotty 18 miles to keep my 100% consistency for febulous!

The 18 miler on the 27^th Feb was the first time that Team ageuk had all run together, Harp, Nicky, Liz and I set off from Virgin gym through Headingley, Adele, Eccup, Alwoodley, Shadwell, Roundhay, City Centre before picking up the canal back to the gym!  Nicky was on form leading us all the way, I tried to fall in with her pace at one point but could only manage about 5 mins, she ran back to us so many times that she finished her 18 miles nearly a whole mile in front of the rest of us! Harp had a good strong run as well, Liz (I’m sure she won’t mind me saying) found it tough and kept telling me to go on and not wait, but what Liz didn’t seem to realise was I was also finding it very hard work and was on  more than one occasion struggling to keep up.  When we eventually arrived back I discovered that the zip of the little pocket I had my car key in was undone and my car key was no longer there!  For some reason no one felt like re tracing the 18 miles to look for it.

To cut a long story short I had to get the AA out to break in to my car so that I could get my house keys and other car key.





The girls and boys of HPH and ERR



A week later saw the four of us along with Chris, Sarah, Geoff and our friens from Eccelshill all lined up on the track at Salt Ayre Sports centre in Lancaster for the Trimpell 20 mile race.  I have already done a race report which you can read at http://www.hydeparkharriers.co.uk/.  But in brief I had what felt like my strongest ever 17 mile run followed by what felt like the hardest 3 miles I have ever run to finish 3hours. 28 mins 18 sec a 40 second PB.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/hydeparkharriers/5519660731/in/set-72157626125113039/ shows my finishing sprint.  For the first time ever I had to sit down with the first aiders for 10 minutes to recover enough to stand up!

I was very pleased with my time and it puts me on target for at least matching last year’s London time, but when asked by Ned of http://www.sport-fix.com/ if I could have run another 6 miles the answer was definitely NO!

I had planned a cut back week this week, which is just as well as running has hurt! I managed 5.5 at the back of group 2 on Tuesday, cancelled wed session in favour of a coffee with TSR, Thursday I managed an early morning two mile run/hobble and a 75 minute sport fix massage after work, Fri. I could not get up early to save my life, so no spin, Saturday I decided to do my long run so did 5 to parkrun, 3 round the parkrun and then an extra few laps till my Garmin said 10 mile. Sunday I wanted to wake up when my body was ready and so didn’t set an alarm and guess what I woke as I have every day this week at 2.30 and spent a few hours sorting through paper work, but I did manage to drop back off and had a lie in till 9am.  I had a really busy day but managed to squeeze in 5.5 miles before tea to complete my 4 runs of the week.

So there you go, my blog is caught up I feel a little of course with my training

·         I have missed 3 weeks interval sessions

·         I am 13 miles down so far on my programme

·         bodypump has gone out the window!

·         I am tired

·         I have only had one good night sleep in the last 3 weeks,

·         my nutrition is lacking (a large bag of revels for my tea on Friday)

but there is just 5 weeks training to go and two long runs. I think it is time to get my new trainers out and start to break them in for London!



Trimplle 20