Did my first 'race' yesterday!

Thought I ought to try and get some 'race experience' in before April so I signed up for the Leukaemia Research Bananaman 10k chase yesterday in Milton Keynes. I managed a 5k around Rutland Water earlier in the week but hadn't done as much training as I should have done so I was a little bit nervous about being able to do the course, and even more nervous about finishing last!

The first 5k was really good, 6-8 was horrible and the end 2k varied between being great as I knew I was about to finish and not great as there were a couple of mini hills!! My grabbing the drink and running with it technique really does need perfecting - I'd read in several places that you should grab the cup and squeeze the top together so you can carry it a bit longer. Oh dear, let's just say that squeezing plastic cups isn't that good an idea......

Anyway, I finished in approx 73 minutes which I was really pleased with as I'd been thinking I'd manage 80 minutes and I WASN'T LAST!!!!

Today I have sore legs (I think lack of stretching afterwards is to blame as there was a parking ticket row going on which was far more interesting!) but I'm still really chuffed with myself and feel a bit more confident about April (at 7k yesterday this was NOT the case!) and I have my first running medal!!

Finally get the kids in bed and the treadmill out and my flipping calf starts playing up....

I've been waiting for what feels like ages to get back on the treadmill. In the meantime I've managed to book our hotel for the Marathon weekend and oh suprise find another kit bargain that couldn't possibly be left! My ankle injury, plus another camping trip meant that it was going to be a couple of weeks from the last run but I hadn't factored in the Small People's resistance to bed time that has royally screwed up any chance of getting on the treadmill before tonight.....when I managed to get them all in bed and asleep by 8:30pm (small miracle in itself at the minute!), got the treadmill out, found the new socks to test, finally locate the key fob thingy for the treadmill ('safely' hidden from children), do a bit of warm up walking, stretch a bit, finally get into running and 10 minutes into it start to get a twinge in my calf muscle. Everything I've read is telling me at this point to stop....but I really don't want to, all the effort to getting the Small People into bed isn't going to be wasted by a small twinge....but 2 minutes later and I have to stop as it's just starting to feel not right. Fed up? Very........ roll on Tuesday when the Small People are back to school and let the training begin!!!

The streets are safe for a couple of days..... and socks!

The streets around Stamford are safe for a couple of days as I've managed to do something to my ankle.....I was moving something for Abs in the garden and fell down the step.....I am now sitting on the sofa with my ankle up watching the athletics World Championships and feeling a bit fed up as I was hoping to get back on the treadmill later on after seemingly having got rid of my sore throat and having got the various birthday celebrations out of the way.

Typical that it's happened today as my new running stuff arrived this morning. Can you believe that in my quest to trail my way slowly around London in 8 months and 5 days time, I have just spent £30 on socks! Yes, hardly a tescos bargain effort, these beauties work out at about £10 a pair!!! That's £5 per sock - madness....but apparently the socks can help to make all the difference. I've opted for 2 pairs of Nike elites and a pair of something else that was recommended to me (such a famous brand that I can't even remember it!) and was hoping to post a detailed comparison of them on here later......never mind I'm sure the world can wait a bit longer.....

Managed a quick 5k on the treadmill last night......!

Not so much quick but I did 5k on the treadmill last night. No, I've not joined some fabby gym, Mark, in support of my running efforts (aka you ARE going to do this marathon!) has bought me a treadmill! It's actually really cool, and I managed to construct it all by myself. Ok so that's a lie, I had 3 Small People assisting and after sussing out that a trapped wire was the source of our problems we managed to sort it out quite quickly. They were keen to get on it, I was keen for them to go into the other room so I could try it out without the risk of falling flat on my face in front of them - I had visions of that being the only thing they remembered from their summer holidays when they were asked by their new teachers.....It's very different to running on the farm roads, the only person I managed to scare was myself when I pressed the wrong button and the ipod speakers are great, although at long last I have managed to find a running band arm thingy for my ipod for when I'm out and about. Anyway, the treadmill works and it's fab and means that I can get on and do some running when M is busy harvesting which is a real bonus considering it's only 8 months and 11 days to go until the marathon!! Eeeeeeek!

Random musings about running clothing sizes..........

Very random I know but today I got a new pair of jogging leggingy trouser things. I don't really 'get' all this stuff about different materials, they were in the sale and looked good therefore ticking all the boxes! So anyway, I bought them in an XL (eeeek I am SO hoping running is going to mean I lose some weight) and they don't fit.....gutted is an understatement, they nearly fit but have these weird like lines in them where they don't quite fit...anyway it got me thinking as I have Nike and Champion XL running shorts/leggings and they fit fine, why on earth is there such a difference in the size? Is it psychological in that by buying say XXL I will feel lardier so run more so lose more weight and need to buy another pair - but then that could work reversely and make you not bother in the first place.....ho hum....

Unfortunately running gear is the new 'little black dress' in my shopping world, I am also the proud owner of a fabulously bright flourescent yellow 'you won't be able to miss me on those dark mornings' jacket....from the JJB sale.......shame they only had large as the zip doesn't quite do up - well it does I just can't breathe too well......bring on the weight loss!

First run in 3 weeks and I feel fab!

I managed my first run today in 3 weeks. Managed to hurt my neck, then hurt it again and have had the added complication of school holidays and harvest so haven't been able to get out before now. I hate to add that when M got in tonight Ollie was still up and given that Ol is not overly keen on going to bed at the minute the opportunity to squeeze in a quick (ok not so quick) run was, well rather appealing.....

Anyway I was really pleased as I managed 30 minutes non stop and could actually stand up at the end and I only scared one rabbit who must have wondered what the heck was going on as he seemed to be taking the same route as me! I'm not sure how my legs are going to feel tomorrow but right now I am feeling very pleased with myself and have some tiny tiny microscopic ounce of hope that I might actually manage 26 miles in April...

Just a slow one today........

Have just taken a slow jog up the drive and round the field today.......well I call it a jog but you could call it a run I guess as there's no difference between the two for me and thankfully Mr DHL had already been so I managed another non-scaring day! I've been reading a couple of the running magazines and have to admit to being quite scared by some of the training programmes, 'jog at 60% of your effort' or whatever erm well here it's just a case of actually keeping going I'm afraid.......maybe I'll worry about the 60% stuff next week/month/year....and how do you actually know what 60% is...there's nothing in the garmin book about that......

We went camping this weekend and I was actually quite chuffed as I chased Ollie for quite a distance and wasn't worn out! Quite worrying really that it takes a marathon for me to actually be able to keep up with the Small People but hey it's a start I guess.

I'm looking to try and do about 10 miles a week for the next couple of weeks either going 3 or 4 times. The hardest thing at the minute is fitting in running with the Small People and M. Today they are in summer camp/nursery so that's ok but trying to eat in time to make sure I can run when they are either out or in bed is quite entertaining....there is no relevant section in my Organised Mum diary for marathon runners to be.....with all the running going on at the Purple Place at the minute, maybe I should suggest it for next year!!