Last long run AKA getting lost in Derbyshire

On Monday I did my final long run before the big event (13.1 miles for my first Great North run).  I was away with my Mum and Step sister in Derbyshire but I still needed to fit in one more long run.

Luckily the taper has started so this was only a 6.4 miles (10km) run.  It was also my chance to have a test run of the race day outfit.

Tommy's have sent me a lovely dark pink top but it was very big under the arms so I have bought another vest to go under it as I'm not sure everyone needs to see my sports bra as I stubble past.

Running somewhere you have never been before presents many challenges  but mainly the risk you will get lost.

I set off from the cottage on a B road with a footpath but was quiet dismayed when the speed lot went up to 50 MPH and the footpath stopped!  Luckily a footpath through a very pretty (so no photo was running) forrest glade provided 1 mile or so of off road running. I then reached a tiny road and turned left, probably the wrong choice as after 0.5 mile and a very steep section the road stopped! So back I went and I calculated this road should meet up with the first B road... After a further 2 miles I started to doubt this! Finally I emerged onto a road unsure of where I was, luckily this road had a bus stop when on examination of the timetable gave me some confidence that if I stuck with it I would get back to the village I started from.

I'm not keen on running on the road especially on small tortuous country roads with high hedges so the run back to the cottage was a bit stop start as I kept leaping from the road onto the verge while trying to avoid the nettles.

But I did it and survived to tell the tale.   

  

Only 4 more days to go until the big one

Thanks for visiting

Liz x

A relaxing weekend

Oh my god it's almost here! Twitter is full of tweets about one week to go to the Great North Run.

This weekend I was away at a fabulous hen party in Stratford upon Avon. Being the civilised sort of person that this bride is, there was no assault course to contend with (the stags were busy doing that), we had a relaxing spa weekend in a country manor to look forward too. 

The weekend was blissful and very relaxing. 

On the Sunday I had the most wonderful back and neck massage.  I was expecting the therapist to work on my knots but didn't realise how bad my shoulders were until the firm pressure started and I started nervous laughter with the pain!  Once a lighter touch had been agreed on,  I found myself hoping this massage wouldn't end and my back felt so much better for it. 

I also had another thing to fit it the weekend between quaffing prosecco and reclining in a sauna... a run.

Luckily one of the bridesmaids and the Bride have both done the GNR and are also ironman widows so they understand what is like having your time table controlled by 'when can I fit my run in to this weekend'. 

I had vaguely thought about getting up before breakfast on the Sunday and going for a 30 min run but who was I kidding... Nice food, wine and prosecco meant there was no chance of me leaping out of bed ready to lace up my trainers and run.  

And of course where do you run?? I'm not sure the golfers would have like me running along the fairway and the drive was long but not THAT long or interesting to run up and down 6 times. 

So the spa gym it was and I got reacquainted with an old friend or foe depending on how rose tinted my glasses are (or should I say how much rosé I had drunk... 2 glasses for the record).  

Now I quit the gym maybe 2 years ago.. I wasn't going and I was paying £30 a month so I could go a yoga class once in a while.  When I first joined the gym I went ALL the time and before my wedding 3 years ago I was a proper little gym bunny and went at least 3 times as week but life got in the way and I fell out of love with the gym.

So here I was on the treadmill again and it was... Well different!  I can now appreciate how having a machine set your pace is so different to being outdoors with the natural inclines and different running surfaces.  The cushioned surface did make a nice chance for my joints but really it was just a bit, well, boring! 

I had forgotten my headphones so watched Big Bang theory with no sound for 30 minutes as I plodded away.  I found time went very slowly and every time I checked if I was almost done it felt like the clock had stopped!

But then I did it, even a boring plod at 10km per hour on a treadmill is better than not running at all AND it's made me very keen to get back to running outside!

Thanks for visiting 

Liz x

Fundraising

As a way of raising extra pennies for Tommy's baby charity who have given me a place to run in this years Great North Run, I held a bake sale at my workplace.

I work shifts so I needed to do baking between and after night shifts.

I baked mainly recipes from Nigella's Domestic Goddess cook book.  I baked Chocolate Brownies, Spanish Orange Cake, Millionaire's shortbread, Peanut butter Bars, Vanilla Biscuits, Burnt butter cupcakes and Butterscotch Layered cake.  Some of my lovely colleagues also baked contributions for the cake table.

If I'd been more organised I would have taken photos of all the cakes before they got eaten!

It was quite a big day of baking and I ended up 4 batches of caramel using 3 different methods. When I was icing biscuit past midnight I did wonder if I had lost my mind.  I'm not sure my blood sugar levels will ever come back to normal after licking all the spoons but...

...it was all worth it and I managed to raise to £102.90 so I've very very pleased and so thankful for my wonderful colleagues for their donation (baked or monetary!)

Thanks for visiting

Liz VB

PS if you want to you can donate to Tommy's at http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/LizMedd

Last long run

When I got back from Florence I had one more day off before going back to work and one BIG task to do.  Run... not just run but do my longest ever run.. 12.4 miles!

I decided to run along the Great North Run route so started off in Gateshead and ran to South Shields.

I learnt a few lessons-
1. Don't go off too fast (was flying at Gateshead stadium but limping along by the coast.
2. Even though you have driven it many times, distance is different when running
3. I can bribe myself with ice cream.
4. The mile along the coast is the longest mile of the whole route!

I have been getting pain in my Left knee for the last few weeks so even though my knee hurts I've very pleased I still managed to run it all so I now feel more confident than the niggling pain when I run won't stop me from running the whole 13.1 miles.  I've also noticed that my recovery from the long run has become faster and the stiffness the next day hasn't be as bad and I've been able to make it up and down the stairs without wincing!

So only 9 more days to go until the Great North Run and only one more long run to do and it's a mere 6.4 miles.

And something arrived in the post as well this week!

Thanks for visiting

Liz x

Running on holiday ?!?

I have just got back from a wonderful relaxing break in beautiful Florence.  I've never been to Florence before and it is truly stunning and the food was fantastic.

It's less than 3 weeks to go before the Great North Run.. which means than despite being on holiday the running must continue.

I would highly recommend running somewhere to really get a different feel to a city.  I went out for two 30 minute runs and although the cobbled maze of streets was hard going at times it was a wonderful experience.

I headed into the centre of Florence and wound my way around the pedestrianised streets stumbling along into many difference squares.   I was fascinated by all of the different doorways I ran past and loved the growing wall I found.

So if you get the chance go to Florence and enjoy the gelato... and take your running shoes.

Thanks for visiting

Liz x

Park run Personal Best

I enjoy doing the park runs as a way of measuring my progress over the weeks.  I have completed 5 so far on 3 different courses.  I would like to do more but I work shifts and don't get many weekends off so I have been taking the opportunity to do the park runs whenever I can.

Last week and this week I took part in the Riverside park run.  The Riverside was the first park run course I did, it is an almost 3 lap course with a short section over grass and a short (but horrible) uphill sandy section. I struggled round my first in 30:11, but felt elated I had finished.

Last week I had problems with my GPS watch and was unable to find a satellite signal until I'd run about 0.4 miles.  I got very distracted by this and found myself constantly checking my watch trying to work out if I would manage a personal best (PB)... I didn't, I finished in 29:01 slower than my PB at Highbury fields of 28:40. It was my third day back to back day of running that week but I felt I had improved and could get a PB on the course.

So since I had another rare Saturday off yesterday it was time to redeem myself!  I decided to limit the watch checking and allowed myself on 3 watch checks in the 5km.  Started well and felt strong and steady, first time check after first lap and I had done the first 1.2 miles in 8:47 minutes per mile... now knowledge is power but knowing how fast I am going alters my running... I felt fine but then I  start thinking "that's too fast,  you'll never be able to keep that pace, you'll not make it, you'll blow up... Slow down". So one minute I feel good and the next I'm filled with self doubt.  

I pressed on and tried to forget the watch. I checked again at 2.4 miles and my pace had dropped to 8:59 minutes per mile... I tried to be positive and tell myself I could do this and this was the time to push. I allowed myself a distance check with half a lap to go but didn't look at my pace. 

And I did it a new PB-  27:55! 66 seconds faster in one week! 

Fighting with technology

Having one of those weeks when I feel like the world is against me.

Thursday was a case in point... My darling hubby has lent me his old GPS watch which I have become very dependent on.  Noticing the battery was running low, I put it on to charge this morning.  Came home from work to have a quick run before Slimming World.  

The watch was fine, I got ready for my run was about to walk out the door then looked down at a blank screen! 

I am ashamed to admit I had a bit of a hissy fit... My darling husband downloaded me an app onto my iphone and off I went.

I ran for 15 minutes then turned round and came back.  My mood improved as I ran and when I got home, I dragged out my phone to check how far and how fast I had run... and the new app had recorded none of my run!

Oh well, maybe it doesn't really matter how fast or how far I ran maybe I need to accept the fact I put on my running shoes and left the house is a success in itself.

Thanks for visiting 

Liz x