The school run Thursday morning and my next 2 miles :-)

Hehehehe!!

James needed my car to pick up some wheels so I got him to drop me and the girls at school so I could run home. 

It actually felt quite liberating to leave school on foot, I took a different route home as the road I come in on is quite dangerous.  I ran through the town and down onto the cliff top, at Highcliffe I ran along the beach for a few miles before looping back home and adding 7 miles to my log.

After a lovely cup of tea I put the world to rights with my friend whilst getting a bit of gardening done.  Then it started to rain, time for another cuppa…

… (from my RW email).  Who are they trying to kid?

Pete sent me this, how I laughed and it’s all true, I’m so tired right now. 

Anyway on with the story

We all survived the girls party and I think they all enjoyed it, I was so tired Sunday though that I didn’t go out running and felt very guilty about it.  However, there is no point at this stage in pushing too hard and risking injury so I went out Monday for a few miles.

Wednesday I went out with the club, which fitted in with my plan to do a mile warm up followed by 3 miles brisk and a 1 mile cool down.  I ran telling myself it was only 3 miles not 13, I totally stormed it and felt really good, but still only came 4th place :-(

I set off at 12.15, it was quite warm and I was wondering if I needed my coat, the first half mile was up hill so by the top I felt I definitely didn’t need it but kept it on a while anyway. 

I felt surprising good seeing as though only 5 days ago I had run 20 miles, this time though I had music and my ipod was behaving itself (yipee!)  I also had a couple of carb gels to keep me going :-)

I came off the beach at Mt Smith and at the top a welcome water station, I stopped briefly to drink and leave my coat, a decision I was later to regret.

I was 7 miles in and no one had yet passed me, oh spoke to soon a couple of the fast ones just went by.  Ah well its good to know I’m not out here on my own.

Mile 8 it had started to drizzle (for my Californian friends that’s a sort of wet mist!) by mile 9 it was full on raining and this is where I was wishing I now had my coat.

Mile 10 I could see my fellow club runners already at the finish (you could opt to do 10 miles or carry on a loop to do the 13.1 for the half marathon) I would usually be one of those thinking thank goodness I’m at the end but I knew I had to carry on a further 3 miles.  I was soaking but still I battled on through the rain you’d think I would be used to it by now. 

I crossed the line in 2.15 which I was actually quite pleased with, although wet through and very tired.

Rest day tomorrow:-) umm scratch that I’ve got the girls party and 22 children. eek!

If you would like to sponsor me I have 2 pages

Just Giving - http://www.justgiving.com/sarahs-marathon

Or

Virgin Money - http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SarahKetchell

Email: marathon.runner@christchurch-runners.org.uk

Even though I am under no pressure to run for anyone I decided to run for Macmillan Cancer. http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx Cancer affects us all. We can all help.

They have a good set up for family/friends to come and watch and also a pre race pasta party and post recovery center too, I’ll definitely be needing that!!

With a little of your help I’m hoping to raise £3000 :-)

If you would like to sponsor me I have 2 pages

Just Giving - http://www.justgiving.com/sarahs-marathon

Or

Virgin Money - http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SarahKetchell

Email: marathon.runner@christchurch-runners.org.uk

I’m going to skip over last weeks runs. Needless to say I wasn’t in a very good place mentally and found all my runs very trying.

So that over with let’s talk about Sunday.

What a lovely day, really bright and sunny and my girls gave me beautiful Mothers Day cards which they had recorded messages in. Ahh bless!

Ready to go…

• Toes bandaged - check
• Gels - check
• Phone - check 
• Sun glasses - check
• Headphones - umm leave those :-(
• Running coat - check
• Water - check
• Money for massage after - check
• Shoes comfy - check

Let’s go…

The family came with me, the girls went to play in the park whilst I stood in line for my number and chip. I was feeling very nervous but having chatted to a few fellow runners I started to calm down, that and everyone seemed in good spirits.

Chip and number on I made my way to the start.

James said to take my time as it was the first Grand Prix of the season (lol!) and   Michael Schumacher was back after a 3 year break. He finished 6th! The program didn’t finish till 2pm which is about the time I had predicted I would be back.

The gun went off and we were away, 20 miles here I come.

I was enjoying being with a crowd, after all those long runs on my own it felt good to be with a mass of runners. What do you call a bunch of runners?  bunch, flock, huddle, mass, pack, throng, army, horde, swarm? 

The ten milers were starting 15 minutes after the 20 milers and I worked out the front runners would be passing me around the 30 minutes which they did.  The leader came sprinting through (very off putting) they get their own special ‘man on a bike’ to keep the path ahead clear.

Around 6 miles a police car passed us but then had a head to head with a tractor, umm wonder whose going to win this one.

The Tractor!

I was running the same pace as a few other girls/ladies and one girl I chatted to said that her Mum was coming to get her at mile 18.  “oh” I said “is she doing the 10 miles?”  “No, 20! She’s just a lot faster”  laughter ensued to which she then said “yes, it comes to something when your 56 year old Mum is quicker than you!” 

Coming up to the half way point there was 2 signs, one said “turn left for second lap” and the other “straight on for finish”  oh what to do, what to do.  This was it, the mental challenge.  I knew I would be ok once I turned left.  I was doing well, feeling good, but not looking forward to my second carb gel.  I couldn’t get the ones I wanted in time so plumped for the lucozade gels, yuk! They are the ultimate in gloop, the first one got all over my hand and it was just a sticky mess, I couldn’t wait for the water station so I could drink one and pour one over my hand. The second one I managed to open properly and I think they did their job.  I have since been to the shop and bought my normal ones for Fridays Half Marathon. 

At the Half Marathon marker I checked my time, I was doing well, I had reached 13 miles around my previous recorded times, 2:15. At this rate I’m going to finish before the Grand Prix!

Mile 16.5 I got to the water station to find a local, obviously with nothing better to do with his Sunday morning, arguing with the ladies handing out water about the litter. There was no litter, all the marshals and water station attendants do such a great job, all the litter had been picked up.  I think he forgot it was Mothers Day and was in the Dog House!! hehehe  Spoils it though doesn’t it?  If I hadn’t been running… thump!

The last 3 miles were arduous, maybe because there were no crowds and runners were now far and few between.  I had left the ladies I had been with 6 miles ago and had been feeling strong, but now mile 17 and 18 were exhausting, but wait, what do I see ahead..

Oh yes, thank goodness, 1 more mile to go.

and there it is, I’m so close I can smell it.

“Hey, you haven’t got time to take photo’s” shouted the marshals. oh yes I have.

I came round the corner, finish in sight, my fellow Christchurch runners shouting encouragement as I crossed the line.

I had done it, 20 miles, did I enjoy it?  ask me tomorrow.

3 hours 29 minutes

email me: marathon.runner@christchurch-runners.org.uk

This weeks training plan said that I’m in my most critical four weeks of training.

“Juggling the demands of your schedule with other life commitments will always require moving or tweaking sessions, and it’s more important than ever to make sure you stay fit, focused and balanced at this stage in your preparations.

Don’t be tempted to start playing catch-up if you feel you’ve dropped behind. To stay on course for the weeks ahead, you’ll need to train smart, eat sensibly and make sure you’re getting the right amount of rest and recovery between sessions.

Manage this and you’ll emerge from what some runners term the “Monster Month” fit, healthy and raring to go come race day.”

46 days to go…

Friday before I left for a weekend in the Cotswolds I embarked on my long run of the week - 16 miles

I woke worrying about the run but not todays, no, next weeks Mad March 20. I had received an email from the organisers about where to pick up my number and chip. To remember my number in case I lost it en route and in big bold letters ‘the use of iPods is strictly prohibited’. Well how am I to run 20 miles without music? Now you can understand why I was in a panic.

I was all of a fluster, I had no gels just some lucozade tablets and jelly babies. Oh well I just had to make do.

Mile 1 - I just couldn’t get into my stride, my iPod was playing up, well more me not working it properly. I had put it on shuffle but somehow it was shuffling the same song. Never mind I can’t use it next week anyway but I’m running now and I do need it. Argggg!!!

Eventually I gave up and took my headphones off deciding I would sort it later.

Mile 2,3,4 and 5 I ran in silence which I didn’t mind in the end, I came off the beach at Mount Smith and at the top stopped to sort said iPod, I then stuffed a couple of lucozade tabs in my mouth choking on the dust as I bit into them, I knew there was a reason I didn’t eat these on my runs.

I plodded on across the golf course and down onto the beach again along to the quay and headed back on round to the woods, it was here around mile 9 I realised I had been listening to the same George Michael song for the past 4 miles!! How I had done that without realising sooner I don’t know.  I did eventually sort it by mile 10 and the next 4 miles felt good.  I did a big loop and dropped back onto the beach again for my final 2 mile stretch home.  I wasn’t sure I could make it, my legs were aching, my tummy was tight and I was running out of water.  Could I make it?  Yes I could, I slowed up my pace a little and walked up the slope to the castle I was almost there.

I opened the door and laid, well sort of collapsed, onto the floor, I phoned James, “I’ve done it, I’m having a lie down on the floor, I can’t move…” After a while I started to feel better, stretched out, had a recovery drink and a hot shower and a lovely relaxing weekend in the Cotswolds, it was great.

Mad March 20 here I come…

Saw my chiropractor today, he is pleased with my progress.

I had a few problems with my hip, possibly due to carrying twins, but he has sorted me out with some exercises, manipulations and acupuncture and I am now balanced. I do need to carry on with the exercises though.

We were talking about my training program and I mentioned that after losing a few days training because of having too many wines I had decided not to drink until after the marathon…ok so I have now revised this… and I’m only going to have a few if I have a scheduled rest day the next day!! :-)

I’m getting to the point don’t worry.

I’m going away this weekend with my James, my husband, so I said that I am looking forward to a few drinks :-) and Clive, my Chiropractor, said “Make sure it has bubbles in it”  lol!! “the more effervescent the better and make sure its expensive.”  DOCTORS ORDERS…

…waiter!!!

Week 8 over and my mileage logged was 30.

My long run on Friday 26th Feb was 10 miles but I did it at race pace and had Mandie for company, she is much faster than me which meant she pulled me along.  I can honestly say I was knackered after that one.

On another note I’ve now done 3 runs without being rained on. Bonus!!

Then I went to the hairdressers for some pampering and a nice cup of tea :-)