Well, today I decided to test myself and do a 7 mile run in t'countreh.
I don't know if you're at all familiar with rural Leicestershire, but believe me, if you ever find yourself trying to jog in one side of pretty Walton-on-the-Wolds and out again the other side, you're in for a nasty surprise. It's a bit on the steep side, going up and out. I think I literally crawled up to the top. I've been on the route before, but on horseback, so now I feel quite bad about making the poor horses lug their own bodyweight, plus me, around.
Still, it is worth it when you hit Paudy Crossroads. It's hard not to feel an enormous sense of wellbeing (credit Parklife; Blur) when you get to the top and survey the view over Loughborough to Beacon Hill. It's also pretty much downhill for the rest of the route too, so once you get your breath back, you can really enjoy yourself. Really.
Saturday, 25 October 2008
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
My companion
My colleague Mel is being very supportive of my running efforts. So, every Monday and Wednesday we've decided to go for a jog after work together and we've entered a 10k race at Longleat in February, so we're aiming for that. If all else fails, maybe we'll see Ben Fogle?
We had some lovely encouragement from a couple of well-oiled chaps sitting on a bench by the canal this evening. "Keep going, Princess!", they chirruped. It made us smile. I think one of the things both of us fear is that people will make derogatory comments about us as we jog about, but actually, nobody has ever had anything nasty to say: so far.
Then I went to play tennis, which I'm thoroughly useless at. If sending balls flying over the boundary fence and hitting cars in the car park (mine is parked well away from where I know we'll be playing) is the aim of the game, I'm onto a winner, but I'm told it's not.
We had some lovely encouragement from a couple of well-oiled chaps sitting on a bench by the canal this evening. "Keep going, Princess!", they chirruped. It made us smile. I think one of the things both of us fear is that people will make derogatory comments about us as we jog about, but actually, nobody has ever had anything nasty to say: so far.
Then I went to play tennis, which I'm thoroughly useless at. If sending balls flying over the boundary fence and hitting cars in the car park (mine is parked well away from where I know we'll be playing) is the aim of the game, I'm onto a winner, but I'm told it's not.
Monday, 20 October 2008
The run home...
Yuck. That wasn't much fun.
I've just run home from work in the pouring rain. It wasn't particularly enjoyable, despite the new rucksack novelty factor. I landed at home dripping wet and only slightly humiliated after having jogged over Market Square and crawling up Derby Road, almost on my hands and knees before sliding down the other side of Derby Road on my bottom, thanks to some particularly slippy and wet leaves.
Still, I do feel a bit hardcore.
I've just run home from work in the pouring rain. It wasn't particularly enjoyable, despite the new rucksack novelty factor. I landed at home dripping wet and only slightly humiliated after having jogged over Market Square and crawling up Derby Road, almost on my hands and knees before sliding down the other side of Derby Road on my bottom, thanks to some particularly slippy and wet leaves.
Still, I do feel a bit hardcore.
Sunday, 19 October 2008
Kick off
Having spent rather a lot of time in a panic-stricken uber-browse, trying to find training schedules, marathon running tips and eating plans in google-world, it occurred to me that perhaps it might be a good idea to actually get out and go for a run.
I haven't been completely idle over the last few months and I have been forcing myself out for the odd run, but I confess that without anything to train for, I do get a bit lazy with the old going out in the dark, cold and rain to trot around Nottingham.
Having chanced upon website www.realbuzz.com I've been mapping various length routes on their Map Your Passion (yeah I know, terrible name) site, which is essentially an ordnance survey map that you can draw on and it tells you how far you are going. Very useful. So far, I've found out that my walk to work and back, which I do every day, is nearly 5 miles and that my usual jogging route is also nearly 5 miles, so it may be that I'm not as unfit as perhaps I feared.
I've come across someone else's route in my area, so I've just been out and done that. It's nearly 6 miles and I'm here to tell the tale. Just the 20 miles to go then...
Apparently, between now and December, I just need to make sure I clock up between 20-25 miles worth of running a week, before embarking on a hardcore training plan. Most of the training plans last for 16 weeks, so I suppose that is what I shall do!
I went out this afternoon and bought a new rucksack, so I'm going to try running home from work tomorrow. Not sure how I'm going to negotiate Derby Road, but I'll give it a bash.
I haven't been completely idle over the last few months and I have been forcing myself out for the odd run, but I confess that without anything to train for, I do get a bit lazy with the old going out in the dark, cold and rain to trot around Nottingham.
Having chanced upon website www.realbuzz.com I've been mapping various length routes on their Map Your Passion (yeah I know, terrible name) site, which is essentially an ordnance survey map that you can draw on and it tells you how far you are going. Very useful. So far, I've found out that my walk to work and back, which I do every day, is nearly 5 miles and that my usual jogging route is also nearly 5 miles, so it may be that I'm not as unfit as perhaps I feared.
I've come across someone else's route in my area, so I've just been out and done that. It's nearly 6 miles and I'm here to tell the tale. Just the 20 miles to go then...
Apparently, between now and December, I just need to make sure I clock up between 20-25 miles worth of running a week, before embarking on a hardcore training plan. Most of the training plans last for 16 weeks, so I suppose that is what I shall do!
I went out this afternoon and bought a new rucksack, so I'm going to try running home from work tomorrow. Not sure how I'm going to negotiate Derby Road, but I'll give it a bash.
Saturday, 18 October 2008
26 miles. 385 yards...
Hell's bells.
What if I get overtaken by the man in the antique deep sea diving outfit?
What if I can't climb over my 'wall'?What if I get surrounded by a group of runners in wacky fancy dress and can't get out?
As you can tell, my hysteria is now much more under control. For those of you reading this who have no idea what I'm talking about: I've got a place in next year's London Marathon, in a 'golden bond' style place secured for me by The Samaritans. In return, I'm to do some serious fundraising for them and my aim is to raise a minimum of £2000. Ouch, in oh so many ways.
I'm not a total running newbie. I did the Robin Hood Half Marathon a couple of years ago and although it is fair to say that I'm not what could be described as a 'natural' sportswoman, I do try. I do, however, distinctly recall an episode very close to the end of the half-marathon when, as the marathon runners course split from the halfies route and the sun was beating down, I thought "Thank god I'm not doing that, I'd never make it", shortly before feeling extremely sick and dizzy and coming to a grinding halt. I had to stop to walk for the very first time throughout the entire half-marathon to compose myself and not get dragged off the road by eager St Johns Ambulance staff, when the flippin' finishing line was well in sight. I was very disappointed with myself, but I did still jog over the line and collected my lovely, cherished silver foil blanket, shortly before woozing my way home to lie down for a very long time, with bright colours dancing before my eyes. Thankfully, at the time I lived in staggering distance of the finishing line.
I will have no such luck in London.
Still, I can be a pretty determined and single-minded lady and I know I'll get over that London Marathon finishing line by hook or by crook. Even if it means sliding over the line, seal like, on a slick of chafe-preventing vaseline.
I'm not a total running newbie. I did the Robin Hood Half Marathon a couple of years ago and although it is fair to say that I'm not what could be described as a 'natural' sportswoman, I do try. I do, however, distinctly recall an episode very close to the end of the half-marathon when, as the marathon runners course split from the halfies route and the sun was beating down, I thought "Thank god I'm not doing that, I'd never make it", shortly before feeling extremely sick and dizzy and coming to a grinding halt. I had to stop to walk for the very first time throughout the entire half-marathon to compose myself and not get dragged off the road by eager St Johns Ambulance staff, when the flippin' finishing line was well in sight. I was very disappointed with myself, but I did still jog over the line and collected my lovely, cherished silver foil blanket, shortly before woozing my way home to lie down for a very long time, with bright colours dancing before my eyes. Thankfully, at the time I lived in staggering distance of the finishing line.
I will have no such luck in London.
Still, I can be a pretty determined and single-minded lady and I know I'll get over that London Marathon finishing line by hook or by crook. Even if it means sliding over the line, seal like, on a slick of chafe-preventing vaseline.
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