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

It's really happening!

Only 25 days to go until the Great North Run and it's starting to sink in that I need to run 13.1 miles and raise another £195 for my charity.

My new vest arrived last week 

The running packs are starting to arrive with the runners, Stevens arrived last week, so I'm nervously looking out for a Bupa envelope which should contain my race number.

Training wise I have had a mixed few weeks.  I have been running three times a week which has been good. My last two long runs 9 miles and 10 miles didn't go very smoothly and I ended up walking at least a quarter of the distance.  The 9 mile run was after my wedding anniversary and I think I may have been a bit hungover and the 10 mile run was after my last night shift of 3 so I was beyond tired.

So yesterday I pulled myself together and  set off for and 11.2 mile run... And well it was very tough and I did walk bits of it but I did it!  In 2 hours and 33 minutes.  Was exhausted after and my legs are still objecting but only one more long run to do before the taper!

Thanks for visiting

Liz x

New Shoes!!

A girl never needs an excuse to buy new shoes but these are essential!

I can't remember how long it has been since I bought my current trainers but it was a while... maybe 2.5 years.  To be fair to them, they have sat unloved on the shoe rack for most of this time but with less than 40 days to go to the big one, I decided it was time to get a replacement pair lined up.

So when my hubby and I found ourselves Sweatshop in the Metro-centre, he talked me into having my gait analysed.  Now this is embarrassing, you get to run for 30 seconds on a treadmill, and rather like those tentative first moments at ski school, your form will be awful!

Oh the shame... I land on my heels on every foot fall and my foot rolls inwards before every push off.

In my head I run in a smooth, graceful fashion with my head up, shoulders back but this is not the reality at all.  This 30 second film and the photos taken on my first park run prove otherwise!  I don't use my arms, I fail to lift my knees and I have not seen a single photo in which I am landing on the ball of my foot!

So what is a girl to do when she faces this sort of embarrassment... buy Shoes!!!

So I have a lovely new pair of Asics to break in over the next few weeks... They should help with the pronation but I fear new shoes will do nothing to improve my running style.

Thanks for visiting

Liz xx

Training.. training.. training

One thing I realised when I ran the 5 mile run in London was that I had never tried to drink water while running.  Up to this point my runs had all been under 45 minutes so there was no need to take on water.

Once in the heat of London, I was grateful for the small bottle of water handed out at the 3 mile mark and the water 'shower' was excellent.  I hadn't realised drinking while running was a technique that needed practise but as a gulped I found it hard to keep my breathing steady.

I also found being in a crowd of runners very different to running on my own.. I set off FAR to fast, sort of carried along my the buzz of it all.  Running a race was VERY different to plodding along on my own!

With this in mind once I signed up for the GNR, I started looking out for a 10K to do before September came.  I knew I needed more practise in running 'Races' and felt a 10K would be a good distance to go for as it was only 1.2 miles more than the Anniversary Run.

So on the 6th August I found myself in Morpeth signing up for the Morpeth 10K... a road race organised by a local running club The Morpeth Harriers.  It was a perfect evening for a run.. clear and cool.  The course is 2 laps of a 5km route on quiet country roads, it's undulated slightly and has a little hill 4.5km.

Before the run I mentioned to the hubby that I would like to break 60 minutes and he pursed his lips and gave me THAT look.  During my training runs I had run 10 km in 77 minutes 2 weeks before and 70 minutes just 4 days earlier.  So maybe he was right and sub 60 minutes 10K was too big a leap, so I revised my aim to 'run the whole way' as this seemed more achievable.

It was a new experience for me to be the runner and my hubby to spectate (he hasn't got the knack of photographing runners yet!).  I was very surprised to hear my name called about 0.5 km in, two of my work colleagues were out for an evening bike ride and it did give me a lift to be cheered on by them both at the 1km mark.

So I'm sure you are dying to know how I did!  Well I DID run it all and I managed it in 61 minutes and 12 seconds!

So not too bad.. it would have been nice to break 60 minutes but I think just knowing I AM improving and that I've come a LONG way in 14 short weeks is enough for me.  Oh and a commemorative mug too!

Thanks for visiting

Liz xx

It's for charity

There are many charities I have supported over the years but as mentioned before the last year has been tough and a few charities have come to mean a lot to myself and my husband.

There are so many charities who do wonderful work and help people to cope in difficult times.  Brake, Cancer Research UK, The MA, Macmillian, Cruse, Saying goodbye all of these charities have supported me and my family over the last year... Sometimes in actual terms and sometimes just as sources of information.

I feel like in life you can either stay where you are and re-live the bad moments or you can move forward and make something better.  So for this reason I am running the Great North Run for a charity called Tommy's.

If you don't know Tommy's they are a charity who are funding research into the  causes of premature birth, still birth and miscarriage. They provide support and information to parent and parents to be and have a pregnancy advice line manned by midwives.

Tommys

No parent should have to cope with losing their child and hopefully the work Tommy's is doing will reduce the heartache for parents in the future.

If you would like to sponsor me, I have a Virgin Money page (they give more cash to the charity than justgiving BTW) and I would really appreciate any pennies you could spare.

My charity page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/lizmedd

Thanks for visiting

Liz x

A big step

So after consulting with my running expert (my husband) I found myself on a charity website.

Before I knew it I has pressed the button and applied for a place in the Great north Run on the 15th September 2013.  I then got a message saying they would be in contact with me. Of course they wouldn't have anymore places this late in the day!

Then the next day the message came.. Yes I had a place... Oh S&*t!

So time to come up with another plan, I have 11 weeks to build up from three 3 mile runs a week to running 13.1 miles in one go!!! 

I also have another thing to plan... Fundraising!!!

Thanks for visiting 

Liz x

Moving forward...

So what to do next.... I started thinking about this a few weeks before the Anniversary run.  I started wondering if I could do it... Run a half marathon!

It would be a big step and I might not be able to do it but I was worrying that after my 5 mile run I wouldn't have the reason to keep running.

I know this is a bit silly as I have found the running has not just been good for my physical health but it has been a godsend for my mental health.

Mental health is still a bit of a taboo and I'm sure if you asked some of my work colleagues they wouldn't know that the last year has been quiet a struggle for me.

Sometimes shitty things happen in life but the last year has at times felt like a long run of shitty things with a few wonderful moments scattered through.

I find the running has been wonderful, because I'm not that good at it I have to concentrate.  Concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other, concentrate on breathing and concentrate on moving forward.  This leaves very little space in my mind for all of the negative and dark thoughts.  

The couch to 5 k (C25K) podcasts have been great for this as the narrator (Laura) is constantly telling you you can do this when your mind is saying No! Laura has lots of tips about looking forward and keeping your head lifted to help your breathing.  Sometimes in life you need someone to tell you that you are doing really well and that you can do this! 

Couch to 5 K

Thanks for visiting 

Liz x

Anniversary run in the Olympic stadium

So my first run was on the 1st May 2013 and my goal was to run for 5 mile on the 21st July 2013.

This time absolutely flew by and I came so far from my first tentative run of 20 minutes with 60 seconds of running then 90 seconds of walking to being able to run 5km in 30 minutes.

Before I knew it the day was finally here and I was at the Olympic stadium with my husband ready to run 5 miles.

It's a wonderful event which will be run yearly so if you get the chance to do this run go for it.  

You run from in front of the Olympic stadium, up to and around the velodrome, past the copper box, up to the orbit sculpture/viewing thingy and then under the Olympic stadium the finally out onto the track.  The roar of the crowd is all you need to get you over the last 300 meters.

I can't imagine what the noise must have been like for the Olympians as he stadium was almost empty in comparison to the Olympic Games. 

So I know you'll be dying to know how it went, and if you are not I'm going to tell you anyway.  I did the 5 miles in 50 minutes and 43 seconds.  I was pleased with my time but I was REALLY happy to have run it all without stopping!

It was a fantastic day and well worth training for but of course once you've met your goal you need another one to aim for!

Very happy to have finished!

Thanks for visiting

Liz x 

Running in all weather

So once I had a goal and a plan it was time to get out there and put the miles in.

I've been very lucky with the weather since I started running... I've had a few runs where my hands froze and I couldn't feel my fingers, a few wet runs where I can hope soaked through, a few scorching runs where it was just too hot but generally I've been very lucky and the majority of my runs have been cool with a slight breeze.  

I have learnt the routes to do on the really windy days and those to avoid on the hot days.

One of my best runs... The first run where I felt like a 'Proper' runner was up in Scotland.  I was away for the weekend with some friends but needed a bit of fresh air so off I went with my podcast for 25 minutes of running.  It was going so well I pushed forward and ran for 30 minutes as the extra few minutes took me into the local town square.  It was raining and I had one wet foot after stepping in a puddle 5 minutes in but none of this mattered... I was running and enjoying it AND I got a nod and a half wave from another runner.  

It felt great, I felt like I was a runner not just someone pretending to run.

Thanks for visiting 

Liz x

Running??? But why?

So, after deciding to be brave and give this running thing a go, I needed a goal, something to aim for.

As I had told people before I am not a runner, I used to hate school PE and there was nothing worse than being forced to run round the school field time after time.  A long time later (in around 2008) I decided to try again and I signed up for a Race for Life 5K.  I was very please I completed the 5 kilometers but I walked quite a bit on the day and I had found the training a slog. I think I managed to struggled round in around 38 minutes,  which is rubbish according to the hubby.

In March 2012 Steven took part in a 5 mile run called the Olympic park run, he ran around the building site which would soon be the Olympic park and finished the run on the track in the Olympic stadium.  It was a wonderful event and I really enjoyed the chance to be there spectating. 

 Steven at the Olympic park run 2012

Enough rambling, to the point of this post..

In April 2013 entries opened for the Olympic anniversary run.  Another 5 mile run in the newly renamed Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and again finishing the last 300 metres on the track in the Olympic stadium. My husband, being the man he is, was obsessively checking the website for the entries to open.  

He happily texted me to let me know he had a place and I thought I'd love to do that... And since I'd had a few pints of shandy and was stuck on a train... I did it I signed up as well.

So now I had a goal- a 5 mile run and 13 weeks to learn how to run!

Thanks for visiting 

Liz x

What a day!

Last year I was lucky enough to see Mo Farah win his gold medal in the Olympic 5k race and Usain Bolt add another gold to his medal haul in the 4x100m relay.

                     Prime seats

Today we were back again in the Olympic stadium (for the second Saturday in a row) and got to witness Mo win the 3k, Usain repeat his achievement in the 4x100m relay and Katarina Johnson-Thompson (a heptathlete) win the long jump.

                            Go Mo!

A truly wonderful day, enjoyed with my lovely hubby, my brother, sister in law and their beautiful baby girl.

        A happy hubby 

Thanks for visiting 

Liz x

Park run number 2

The Parkrun is a wonderful concept all across the UK while people snooze on a Saturday morning, runners and volunteers meet in parks and run 5k.  Every Saturday... I guarantee there is one near you.

They are  free events, all you need to do is register online then print off your barcode and you are good to go. 

Turn up and if you are new to parkruns you will be given the low down on the route then all you need to do is run.  There are often volunteers taking photos, pointing you in the right direction and cheering you on.

I would highly recommend them to runners if all levels and all the details can be found on their website.

 http://www.parkrun.org.uk/

I completed my first Parkrun in 30 minutes and 1 second although very proud, I made it all the way around without stopping on a very hot morning, I still felt slightly cheated that the sprint finish I pulled out didn't cut the vital 2 seconds off my time.

So this morning was my chance for redemption, a chance to prove I was improving and would do better than last time.  This Parkrun was in London where I'm visiting my brother.  It's a Multi lap course of around 1 Km around Highbury fields park.

It was a warm morning despite the promised rain but I tried to keep an even pace and Steven paced me round the last lap.  

I had a bit of a panic that I had a whole extra lap to do but was very pleased not just to beat my previous time but smash it! Less than 29 minutes... Definitely worth getting out of bed early on a Saturday morning for! 

Thanks for visiting 

Liz x

Couch to 5k

Now I'm quiet a stubborn person and although my husband wanted to draw me up a training plan, I rebelled.  Instead of taking the advice of a seasoned runner I took the advice of my friend Emma, a mum with an adorable 1 year old.  She recommended the NHS couch to 5K plan.

This plan is ideal for the beginner runner... And it's free!

It's 9 weeks of podcasts, all lasting between 30 and 40 minutes.  You slowly build up from running for a minute and walking for 90 seconds to running continuously for 30 min (around 5k).

It's a brilliant series of podcasts and combines music with instructions and running techniques.  I'd highly recommend it to any non runners.  You can download it from iTunes or directly from the NHS choices website

 http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k.aspx

So I plugged away doing three runs a week and slowly built up. Until 9 weeks later I did my first ever 5k @ Riverside park run in 30 min and 1 sec.  

Concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other at my first Parkrun.

So pleased I made it and could run the whole way but oh how I wish I had been

 2 seconds faster! Maybe next time! 

Thanks for visiting 

Liz x

Here we go....

For years now I have been the other half of a runner.

My hubby was about to do his first Great North Run (GNR for those in the know) when I met him way back in June 2000.

June 2000, looking very young!

He is hopefully going to complete his 14th GNR this year.  Running isn't just a hobby for my husband... it's so much part of who he is.  His week is planned around when he can fit his long runs in, his two evening training sessions a week with the Gateshead Harriers, early Saturday morning to do a park run, wet afternoons of cross country and weekends away for marathons.

April 2013, London Marathon 2:48:32

Many times over the years I have been asked if I wanted to or was going to run.  I always said "No, it's his thing.. I'm not a runner'

So why this blog.....

Well after years of standing by the side cheering him on in his running efforts it occurred to me that maybe this was what I needed too.  To feel that sense of achievement that I have reached a goal I wanted.  I've seen how his running helps my husband cope with the ups and downs in life.  To feel that sense of achievement that I have reached a goal I wanted.  I realised just because it is HIS thing doesn't mean running couldn't be MY thing too.

So after years of saying No.. on the 1st of May 2013 I strapped on my trainers and decided to give it a go.

Thanks for visiting

Liz x