It's been a month...

Its been just over a month since the London marathon - not a single step of exercise has been done... got to say happy about that :)

Watched my lovely friend Julia Kittow & the Cheesy and husband complete the Bristol 10K and cheered them both from the start & finish line and felt a little reminiscent.


But here's the thing I sort of miss the adrenalin, the buzz and the community.  And wait for it - I miss seeing Kim Ingleby, the woman is a legend. Also I miss the friday early evening runs with Sarah Callaghan - but I think that a couple of 10k a week is my limit - who knows????


Clearly eating my body weight in Walkers sensations is going to be challenging to the whole bikini image if i continue to consumer with any exercises. So June 1st is the date....


Blogging will resume in some form...

I did the London Marathon 2012!!!

Seriously did I just type that?? What a day... amazing, incredible, inspiring - to see all those amazing people.. Fran was very emotional in the morning, breakfast was bearable. London so early in the morning (7am we left!!!) was just beautiful but nothing could have prepared me for Blackheath!! I've walked dogs there, had pic nics there, but never have i seen so many people, like ants - swarming towards their designated areas. Red, green or blue - and the logistics - talk about amazing!
People of all shapes and sizes, with a common goal.


So she went to Green and I went to Red and that was it I was all alone - with 37000 other people all really really scared... It took me 25 minutes to get over the start, I ran, I walked and I ran a little further. I met a lady at mile 3 (i think) and all I can say is that we will be friends for life - her name is Rosie Carpenter and she was incredible. I could have run a little more, but was happy to have someone to share it with. I enjoyed the race, the kids and Cheese were at Tower Bridge - that was amazing, you could hear the crowds cheering for miles!!! Freddie even offered me pringles - and I refused!!! They were there again at Canary Wharf - it was amazing. Rosie's family were in the City and Clic Sargent were fantastic.


When the rain and hail came down at mile 21 we kept each other going. We ran over the finish line together with the kids as they'd jumped over the barrier, so Rosie, I, Cheese, Lauren, Anna and Freddie all finished together! Perfect!! :)


It wasn't fast - but I did it. I am NEVER doing it again, and for 2 days I haven't been able to stop myself welling up - Kim says it'll pass.


I'm going to mull for a few days - no running..... ever / for a month, and try and stop blubbing.... going to Vegas tomorrow with work - need to rest and recoup and then I'll come back and blog finally.






Tragic news about Claire Squires, my friend Stuart saw her collapse - just terrible. Went on and donated today - unbelievable how much has been raised in her name for her charity.

Pasta induced coma....

I am usually a fairly positive person. my glass is usually brimming over and I am grateful for many things in my life.


My girls, my family, my lovely Cheesy, my parents, my gorgeous friends and a lovely life....and I am a worrier, so I am a little confused that as I countdown the days and hours to the most difficult thing I have ever done I am remarkably calm. Maybe its denial, maybe its a pasta induced coma. Maybe its just meant to be.


So with less than 3 days to go and just in case you haven't - YET - here it is..

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LindaDaviesCarr 


I don't know loads of people, and it is a great cause, and many many thanks for all your kind contributions.


L
xx

countdown....

Today i will be eating.... anything in sight that doesn't move - watch out!
yours sincerly


in denial xx

6 days to go... a little scared...

Well that was it the last long run. 8 miles and a decent time. Lovely morning. :) Supportive lovely husband and me bitching and moaning all the way around (as usual) ... did I tell you we'd been married less than a year!! Maybe I shouldn't get him to run with me again!!
A business colleague did the Brighton Marathon yesterday - Go Gordon Fraser  - you super star - in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust Research uk - well done you, what a great race & achievement.
Well that's it now, now or never. Last minute prep, pep talk and massage tomorrow with Kim and




latest news:
Ethiopia's rising marathon star Markos Geneti has withdrawn from the 2012 Virgin London Marathon on the request of the LDC running team...

more driving rain???

OK I get it I am doomed... only had to go out and get on my feet for an hour - just one hour. It was gorgeous sunshine earlier, but I had to get some paperwork done. (Eat that frog syndrome!!). So now - actually got the time it is teeming down....... WTFlip???


BTW - loving the phrase "tapering" aka not running much as conserving energy and loading up on food - oops sorry i mean healthy eating....


So here it is again..... shameful slamming of the just giving site.... making NO apologies as it is a great cause. Clic Sargent - mega xx go on xx
http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/LindaDaviesCarr

18 miles - GET IN!!!

Been a bit rubbish with the blogging - so sorry :(

Been a bit preoccupied with rubbish running and kind of lost my running mojo.

Been a bit crap and feeling sorry for myself and lost my focus.

Been a bit self indulgent - sorry.

I CAN run the 2012 London Marathon and it will be GREAT.

I am a long distance runner - the fabulous Kim Ingleby said so....

I went out in the driving rain yesterday and did 18 miles - so chuffed that I achieved that - the sofa was very enticing....

Less than 2 weeks to go - Nearly there.....

Caution - EPIC failure!!

34 days to go and £1000 + raised by 44 donors... that's a great result, and I am humbled by the support and it got me thinking...

Its Balfhalf + 7 and London -34 - and I am scared.

Ran 9.5k on Friday evening with Sarah - isn't it lovely that the evenings are lighter? Ran all over north Bristol - actually really enjoyed it, only thing that was challenging was the fact that all the kids were waiting to eat when I got home:) Had a great (resting) day on Saturday, then the planned 14.5 miles on Sunday. It did not go well - hence the EPIC FAILURE!!

So mothering sunday, awake at 3am - not good. Finally awake at 8am, kids all up at 8:30 and then tea and cup cakes in bed. Hollyoaks - who really watches that??
Run was planned after the boys got back from rugby - walked around to my mums to give her flowers and tlc (bad cold) and then run started well on the Downs, but after about 2 miles we stopped. Everything was aching, my head was not in the right place and I stopped. Feel so cross now but at the time just wanted to get home and be with my family - it was mothering sunday afterall??
Consulted the oracle aka Kim and coincidentally she had emailed. So not so bad - have to step up the miles on my feet this week - makes the planned 16 miles next weekend even worse!!
Its going to be a tough week - get prepared for the bitching and moaning!!
On a plus side there are now 9 of us going to Vegas 3 days after the marathon - maybe 10!!
Just in case you don't have it - here's the sponsor site...
http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/LindaDaviesCarr where you can also sponsor me online.

Who'd have thought...

Well here it is – it is well known to those who know me and maybe read this that I am not a runner, nor do I like it – well that’s a bit of an understatement… but here’s a thing, after the slog that was the Bathalf, and the anticipation – strike that the sheer and absolute stomach churning fear that is the London Marathon in 37 days. I’ve got to begrudginly admit that the process (apart from the pain) is amazing. The support from my friends, my amazing husband, my girls and even my parents has been astounding. I think I honestly love Kim Inglebury – she is amazing and I do not know what I will do when it all stops… and even Jan and Heather at Sweatshop and the girls at Monday night kettle bells, and the running club at DL, and that is the reason for the blog today…

There is only one answer when I woman asks “do you think I have lost weight?” supported and followed very quickly with “do you think my bum is smaller?” – if you want to retain your friendship. For those of you not sure the answer is a definative YES. (FYI  - I once knew someone whose answer to the question was NO – YOU make your bum look like that – she didn’t have many friends!!)

So when your children and even husband comment WITHOUT prompting that 1 – you look thinner / leaner, and 2 – bum looks smaller I kissed each and every one of them – with a MASSIVE smile on my face. :)

So who'd have thought that today - yes that's only 4 days after the Bathalf marathon I agreed to run the Bristol half in September, and the Bath half next year... and I was SOBER!!

So girls - lets do it..

Hugs

L

xx

Bathalf 2012 - done!

Ok here it is - can you see it??? 10422th in what was a life changing experience... too many funny funny stories to share.


11am start and it was lovely and warm, beautiful foggy start at 8:15am when we left Bristol, then the sun came out!


13,000 runners at the runners village - Clic Sargent were amazing support and to Jan & Heather at Sweatshop - the encouragement and hugs were just what was needed.


I saw Dasterdly & Mutley, human morphs, a centurion, a baby, a fox and loads of other weird and wonderful people all dressed up. The boys for the army, 131 commandos all kitted out with 60lb packs. Not gonna lie, its interesting - and a little alarming being over taken by a chicken!!


Bit weird when the winner (who did it in 62 minutes) lapped us at mile 5!!


13 miles - DONE. Never never doing it again - Oh wait, that was a training run (LMFAO!!) and in 40 days I have to do that DOUBLE!!


To the wonderful Cheesy who said out of support last week, well if you can get me a number then I'll run with you (wouldn't have pushed to do it under 3 hours of you hadn't been there) - thank you and sorry as the fabulous Kim did get you a number and you did run. To Sarah & Leanne - you were fantastic. To my mum and dad who turned up to surprise me - what a lovely surprise at mile 12!!


It was a humbling experience, it was NOT easy, but there were 13,000 people doing it, and the amount raised for charity must have been amazing.. So thank you to everyone who has sponsored me and to those of you who haven't YET - thank you..


http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/LindaDaviesCarr where you can also sponsor me online.

11 miles - OMG!!

I know I know its been a few days - I have been running honestly!!

So I got all the timing wrong - didn't run on Saturday when the weather was lovely instead ran around with the children - seeing to everyone needs but mine! So ran on Sunday afternoon through town. So what could be worse for a fairly vain middle aged woman??? Yes running through central Bristol in your running kit (not pretty) with everyone out for their Sunday afternoon stroll?

So 11 miles - it took a while. NOT happy - but it was still 11 miles. Kim was right - there are good weeks and BAD BAD BAD weeks. Bath half in less than a week, I cannot believe that me, a non runner is using the Bath half as a training run...

when does it get easier??

10 miles 10 miles 10 miles - woo hoo!!

Ok I am a few days late - sorry.. however I have news...10 miles!! woo flippin hoo!!
Gorgeous Sunday morning, great weather, cold and sunny. Bristol really is BEAUTIFUL. We ran along the river, around the SS Great Britain and under the Suspension Bridge. GORGEOUS!!


It was hard I am not going to lie, but, and here it is... my legs ache, but NOT as much as last week. Now that surely is progress with a capital P!!


Kettle bells and alpha bags on Monday night with the lovely ladies from Energised Performance... wow those lunges hurt..


Kim (EP) emailed me the new plan to get me to the marathon - still too scared to open it, there's something in there about running 20 miles on 1st April - must be an April fools joke!!!


12 miles this weekend and then the Bath half is less than 2 weeks - OMG!!


xx

BATHALF 16157

Ran aka hobbled with Kim this morning - isn't it meant to be getting better / easier by now??
Seriously lost the plot now and how great is Harris Active sports, beans for this, beans for that, a running belt (really??) Elite drops (WTF??) And BFF Fran's father in law just said - well don't you just kinda get up and run!! I mean really - does he think we are Forrest Gumps??


Legs still hurt, is it age or mileage, or just both?
Gonna try the Elite drops - sound cool, and it will be the only time I get to use the ELITE word!!
Anyway got home this afternoon to this:

Well its here the all important number and I never thought I'd say this - but its the Bath half and it a training run!!! OMG!!!

9 miles - get in!!

Been a few days but have been running - honest!!
So as my dear friend Teresa would say GET IN!!!
By BFF in the whole wide world was staying the weekend - the one that got me into this pickle. Note to self - do NOT get tipsy at your wedding (or anyone else's wedding) with your BFF and sign up to a BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) - not clever! 
Anyway she arrived in a flurry on saturday morning in her ruuning gear so off we went. A comfortable 6k - shame it rained so much - not happy :( and my poor daughter Anna (youngest and 13 on Friday - so still stuck in birthday haze) decided to come on her bike. We all got soaked - but we had a laugh..


Anyway friends around to dinner - all these lovely ladies and I have been friends for 20+ years and what a great night we had. Cheesy cooked - gorgeous. Fran (BFF) was v sensible and has been off the dreaded booze since NYE but the rest of us - well :( There was a lot for the recycling this morning and then the BIG RUN....
We had a route planned, the boys went off to the rugby and off we set. It was absolutley gorgeous, cold, bright and lovely. The first bit (2 miles) was ok, thorugh Stoke Bishop and WOT, then onto the dreaded Bristol Portway - along the river. Hateful absolutley hateful. Calves were aching and it hurt, really hurt. Fran said her bum muscles were twinging and well what a pair we were. 
Here's the thing, after we had climbed the hill from the Portway to the Downs it got easier and at about 6 miles the weirdest thing happened - it actually got better and yes, actually we did enjoy it. The pace was good, the breathing ok and yes it was ok.
So there you have it, I needed to do 8.5 miles and did 9.06 miles. 14.48K - OMG!!!
That is a PB - wow - 9 miles - never never ever did I ever think that I could ever run 9 miles. So chuffed....
Thinking of giving up the booze until after the big race....

Tired legs...... sofa, afternoon nap?

found this - made me laugh.... so have spent the day (mainly) on the sofa and eating. And no I do not feel guilty. :)


Took the kids to school, admin, coffee meeting with Alex to show me how to really do linkedin. Then food, TV and laptop on the sofa... 2 hours until i have to pick up children - do I have time for an afternoon nap?? xx

Valentines running training...

Happy Valentines day running buddies... started the say with the gorgeous Kim. I was still euphoric about doing 2 x 10K in a week and still being able to walk, but NO that, apparantley is not enough...so its run run run and we, ooops silly me I mean I have to up the miles, but by only 10% a week, otherwise I'll get injured!!


My BFF is coming this weekend and we have planned a 10 miler - I know I know OMG!! But I've got to break the 10 mile barrier soon. Marathon is 67 days today and its much less - 26 days to the Bath half!!! Anway apparatnley according to the guru (Kim) that's a step too far, and my homework is just to map my long longs between now and the BIG day. At least its half term this week and I run to get out of the house!!


How moly when did running get this scientific and strategic and so hard, or was it because I just started toooo late. Oops..


next time running buddies...

Feels like progress...

So heres a thing 2 x 10K in a week, the first (last sunday) I could hardly walk for 2 days (and not in a good way!) and then 10K yesterday - OK OK you read it and it was only 9.68K but I was fine today, HONESTLY FINE!! I wanted to run today but ran (excuse the pun) out of time.. but that is progress!!!


So a short blog - just wanted to say!!

Bra malfunction..

Beautiful afternoon, a run with one of my BFFs and a desire to run 10K - walk run you understand.

It was cold but sunny and lots of runners out on Bristol Downs, managed to chat most of the way around , and was in fits of laughter when I realised something had pinged and there defiantly wasn't the usual amount of support as usual (if you know what I mean).

Now they are not called Shock Absorbers for nothing. Nothing moves - honest! So when it pings you can really feel the difference. (Wanting to share the experience without it turning into a porn story!!)

So there we were, Jules feeling her way up my back and through all the layers, people out for a stroll on a sunny Saturday afternoon and they got a laugh!! :) Both of us in fits of laughter... guess it loses the humour in translation - had to be there.

Anyway , lovely run along the Downs, down past Badminton and along Canford Lane. 9.68K - 1hr 22mins (including the bra malfunction). Here's the kicker - could have run more, now surely that is a good sign??

Wine and pasta planned tonight and now a long hot bath.. more running tomorrow xx

Always pleasantly surprised by people

How does that saying go? "There nowt as queer as folk"


Well logged on this morning and saw another sponsor - so that was nice, followed the link and was absolutely gobsmacked that it was from an old work colleague, he's not old, its just been a while since we worked together. We had a kind of professional disagreement, and there are always 2 sides to every version. My version is clear - he treated me badly, uncalled for and unnecessary, but I'm a contractor so you suck it up and move on, recognising that maybe just maybe his ego got in the way. (he used to work for me, i moved on, introduced him to a role where I was working and knew that if he got it, I would be working for him. Not a problem for me - he's a great guy, very ambitious and very talented, and after all I'm a contractor so would move on. Anyway his ego got in the way and that was the end of that. And unfortunately a very happy business relationship. He deleted our linked in and FB connection, shame really. Great shame, but I believe in Karma.


So you can imagine that I was gobsmacked that he sponsored me, so if you are reading this - thank you I really really appreciate it, goodness how you found my blog, but thanks anyway, I miss our chats and hope work, all the kids and life is going really well. I always believed in you and you know that - life is too short. So lets catch up xx


So back to the running, this morning....5k run with the run club, wonderful group of people ranging from 20 - 73 - I'm somewhere in the middle!! Cold morning, but beautiful run, my calves are still killing me, got to get a move on as hot bath awaiting, and then back to back meetings all afternoon followed by a business launch tonight.


So if this blog has raised some money and connected me back with an old work colleague then today has been a great day.

Happy Wednesday everyone!

10k 10k 10k 10k - woo hoo!!

10K - massive BIG tick!!


Ok so imagine I'm singing 10k 10k 10k and doing a silling dance...


It was 2 days ago - 2 days ago and my calves still hurt! Kim did her worst this morning, and they are better - but honestly what is this lactic acid stuff?
It will be worth it, it WILL be worth it - think about the end game....


The sense of satisfaction, the fund raising, the sense of achievement...


To find out more about what I'm doing and why, please visit http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/LindaDaviesCarr where you can also sponsor me online.

Don't forget to tick the box to reclaim Gift Aid on your donation if you're a UK tax payer. Virgin Money Giving will pass this on in full to charity, making your donation go even further.



Thanks L xx

I got a medal!!!

My first race - a 10K, and I was not last!! Seriously though if my dearest friend Jules (still just about talking to her!!) had told me how steep the hills were I don't think i would have entered... just like I handled childbirth, knew they were coming into the world, didn't really want to know how - too scared, so didn't look up anything, go to any classes, or read any small print!! It happened, it was amazing and look at the end result - perfect!

Anyway, back to the running - her friends were lovely, the journey was fun, the atmosphere was great and the weather was good, no settled snow just a bit slushy, weather cleared up and even a little sun - and not a lion in sight!!

Me pre race - not so gorgeous! And before you ask, do you really expect me to allow anyone to take a photo straight after the run??

 My FIRST medal - woo hoo!!

So did i enjoy it? Answer - yes now its over. No - not at the time. Would I do it again? No not Longleat - too hilly, however it was a good training run. HA can't believe a said that a 10k a training run, now 3 months ago I couldn't have run to the bus (not that I go on buses). How I am going to up the mileage I know not how, but I know Kim will keep me on the straight and narrow...

Met two great girls running for a Leukaemia charity from Adams Estate agents in Bournemouth (Claire Louise) and her friend who works at Bournemouth hospital - Becky - their first run as well...

Mileage is going up this week - wish me luck.. xx

Lion Chases runner - very Funny

Snow forecast - Longleat 10k tomorrow - SERIOUSLY????

Seriously snow?? tomorrow?? OMG what am I doing? The run last night was good, rest today, a gorgeous afternoon with one of my oldest friends the beautiful Julia Kittow and she chose and ordered her wedding dress - can't say too much HE may be reading.
Anyway we are booked in for the Longleat 10k tomorrow at 10am - snow and lions permitting - so if the frostbite doesn't get me the lions will! 

Been down to Sweaty Betty this afternoon for more layers, just missed Kim (running trainer) by 10 minutes - she is also an Ambassador for Sweaty Betty - she defiantly gets about!


I'll let you know tomorrow


L
xx

3 in 1....

Its been a busy week - I'll explain.. 3 runs in one blog - like i said its been a busy week.


Where do i start?? running was not consistent last week, my business colleague over from the states - she's kind of a god in our business, but i guess we're used to seeing her in her pj's in the kitchen eating crisps - she's got a thing for walkers Thai sweet sensations (for which i take no responsibility!!) Anyway she was over to give me the keys to my FREE gorgeous (gangster style) white Mercedes (ML). Did i mention it was free???

Anyway like I said a busy week, the car "presentation" was due to be 35 - 40 people - the number that had RSVP'd - well when 105 turned up it was great, a lovely afternoon with lovely people, and yes it was chaos... so she left on Monday (the girls miss her, no strike that we all miss her) and the running resumed...


Tuesday - with Kim - running and core strength - how does she do it - gorgeous and inspirational
Wednesday - running with the running club out of sweat shop - gorgeous morning, cold, icy yet sunny - gorgeous. Great group of people - about 6k and it IS getting easier..
Friday - running- 6pm - OMG how cold was it?? with Cheesy and Sarah - good run about 6k - shhhh i could have done more - don't tell them - i was cold and hungry and actually craving a glass of red wine. No wine tomorrow as running Longleat 10k with friends on Sunday :) - My 1st proper run run! Should be lovely as long as I can run faster than the lions.
So what do i post - longleat lions, car photo, or this....?

I'll blog on Sunday - god help me....

Good things happen to good people

what a great day - woke at 5:30 naturally. School run, conference call, running club at 9:30 - out for 2 hours. Think it was a 10k - no GPS again!!!


 Lovely group of people, very socialable and the walk - run - walk was good and I can honestly say there was MUCH less walking than running.
Ordered new trainers, lunch and laughter with Lizz - check out her .com. School run, business call, business launch x 3 - and collapse. (and repeat)
V V tired - night all x

The legend that is Kim Inglebury - thank you...

OK weekly session with the legend that is Kim Inglebury - talented, gorgeous, inspirational and kind. Bit of a melt down this morning, tired and emotional. Legs still hurting - feel that 20kg weights were attached.
We did running, sprinting, stretches and core - hopefully no one saw me or recognised me lunging during their morning commute - unless it gave them a laugh, and that'd be OK. Running was faster and longer - less walking - woo hoo..
It was raining, i looked like *hit, but do you know what I will never join a gym again. Why work inside when you can be outside despite the rain. Pictures from Energised Performance website - check it out, they have masses going on. 
Less than 90 days to the london marathon and 6 days to the Bath half - help me someone help me!!!

**** technology!!!!

OK Sunday morning run - on my own - not enjoying that... Cheesy off to golf and Leanne & Sarah couldn't face it.


Popped into see my parents who had my brother and 2 nephews staying... quick cuppa then the Bristol Portway - soulless :( lots of runners, they were quicker than me. Why do some runners smile, make eye contact and just cheery and then those the miserable ones, eyes down , no eye contact - they're not Olympic runners, just a sun day run.. why oh why?? well i suppose if they are like that then, then they are probably like that in life - sad really!


Anyway I lost myself in a recorded call with executive national vice president Debbie Neal - the woman is inspiring / amazing / incredible...


amazing quote: "it isn't sufficient to want, you have to ask yourself what you are willing to do to get what you want."


to "want" isn't sufficient its got to be "i will".


without a sense of urgency my desire is going to lose its value.


****So I will finish the London marathon 2012 in less than 6 hours****


Technology was rubbish and lost signal so I'm not exactly sure, but I do know it was the furthest ever - 1:22 minutes, about 8.5k - i think.

The reason why I am running...

Dear blogging community

I'm fundraising for CLIC Sargent and running the London Marathon in April.

You'll know that I am NOT a runner, got a little tipsy at my wedding last year and said we'd do it - never thought we'd get a place!! Anyway here we are, never thought I'd do anything like this.. 91 days to go today.

Please help me make a difference by making a donation to my Virgin Money Giving page.

To find out more about what I'm doing and why, please visithttp://www.virginmoneygiving.com/LindaDaviesCarr where you can also sponsor me online.

Don't forget to tick the box to reclaim Gift Aid on your donation if you're a UK tax payer. Virgin Money Giving will pass this on in full to charity, making your donation go even further.

Thanks for your support,

Linda  xxx

The beautiful Bristol Downs - Durdham Downs

Marathon training is going ok. It was a beautiful morning, definitely could not go back to training in a gym. Out again with Sarah, Leanne & Cheesy. This time he wasn't in the "zone". It was also soooo windy, easier one side of the Downs and harder the other!!
The pace is coming along, managed to talk most of the way around last night, so talked less and ran more. Stuck to the plan and the run/walk/run is definitely working better, although the hills were NOT!!!
Going to set up the just giving web site this weekend, and note to self - try and find some running tights that are long enough as my ankles are FREEZING!!


7:36 and 61 minutes and 600 calories.


Target is 10k before the end of January. as we've got the Longleat 10k on February 5th.


shhh don't tell anyone but actually feel great, fantastic and enjoying it, it will definitely be worth it. Talking about doing the Bristol 10k (may) and half in September - just to keep in the zone - who'd have thought???
til tomorrow xx

lovely evening for a run

it was a beautiful evening, cool but not cold (mad weaher for january) and a gorgeous pink sky - lovely evening for a run.


busy busy day.... couldn't face a 5am start for the run so managed to persuade the lovely Sarah to come running this evening. Couldn't face it at 5am as a little person crawled into bed with me at 2:42 claiming a bad dream!! My excuse and sticking to it! Although the running guru Kim has put it out there that maybe just maybe a long run at 5am is a good idea, I'm going to park that one..
Back to the busy day....


5.67k, 54 minutes and 400 calories - Sarah has a new app that talked to her!! At this rate the Marathon is going to take a few days!!
Got to say it was fun, talked all the way around, so clearly we could have gone further, and for longer. I still make that a hell of a long way to go. So it 10k tomorrow - oh help me now... for now its a curry and good company.


This is a picture that I found for inspiration its the start line, I'm going to find the finish line soon.

Great running club...

So i found a running club - based at David Lloyd and running out of Sweatshop. Met the amazing Heather and was inspired. What an amazing and varied group of people. 

I wasn't the fastest and not the slowest. I held my own - we did HILLS - managed to fess up that i only chose routes that are FLAT!!! Amazing group of people, a 70 odd year old guy - charming, lovely who did the 1st ever London Marathon when he was in he 40s - he's now in his 70s - what an inspiration. We went out for an hour, did about 5K and i actually enjoyed it.  

Signed up for the Longleat 10k - its all hills on February 5th with my friend Jules and Cheesy is going to come too.

Then i got curious about the history of the London Marathon and this is an excerpt of what I found:

Charitable status was established for the event, and Brasher and Disley devised six aims for the London Marathon:

• To improve the overall standard and status of British marathon running by providing a fast course and strong international competition.
• To show mankind that, on occasions, they can be united.
• To raise money for sporting and recreational facilities in London.
• To help boost London’s tourism.
• To prove that ‘Britain is best’ when it comes to organising major events.
• To have fun, and provide some happiness and sense of achievement in a troubled world.

Five months later, on 29 March 1981, the first race was held. Some 20,000 people wanted to run. 7,747 were accepted. There were 6,255 finishers, led home by the American Dick Beardsley and Norwegian Inge Simonsen, who staged a spectacular dead heat at the rain-swept finish on Constitution Hill. Joyce Smith, 43 years old and mother of two, broke the British record to win the women’s race.

The event was a massive hit with the runners, the thousands of spectators who lined the course, and viewers who followed the race on the BBC. As a result, the 1982 race received more than 90,000 applications from hopeful runners around the world. The entry was limited to 18,059.

The race has grown in size, stature and popularity ever since. Now established among the major events in the sporting calendar, the London Marathon is shown on television in more that 150 countries around the world.

A total of 817,890 runners have completed the London Marathon (1981 to 2011), while a record 36,550 people finished in 2010.

Do you know what I feel privileged.

1st run after the whooping cough....

Well i knew it was going to be hard this morning but didn't expect it to be hard on my ears and head!! Kim (the lovely Kim before I go on) worked my head space... was i mentally fit and ready for this - the answer was a resounding NO NO NO!!


Linda stop comparing to others (harder than you think!)
Linda stop thinking you can't do it (the correct answer is you can do anything!)
Linda stop thinking it hurts and you want to stop (it DOES hurt and I can stop - if i really want to)
Linda stop thinking about the BHAG goal and chunk it down - its not 26 miles - break it down.


This head space stuff is hard...


Finally people keep telling me i've lost weight - NO WEIGHT LOSS!!! Although those 7formankind jeans i bought in NY a couple of years ago slid on kindly yesterday and not a muffin top in sight! So something must be working. But here's a thing I started running not to lose weight (although I need to) but because I committed to run the London marathon  - yes this year.. and its harder than it looks... on so many levels

Whooping cough at my age????

so that explains it... the reason why i couldn't catch my breath - apart from the overweight and unfit issue - it'll be the whooping cough...


before you start ranting on about immunisation and (as my doctor called them..) "those hippies who don't bothered to immunise their kids" - awkward moment at the doctors with the girls last week. I was immunised and so were the girls - for absolutely everything, and even though it hurt like hell - you see scarred as a child from the pain we all were, immunised that is.


so i tried a run, i know you should never say try, hope etc, i I really tried to run this morning - but it was like a needed a portable oxygen tent. so i stopped, came home, made a cuppa and took my newly prescribed antibiotics.


Brilliant - after having to have Lauren at home for 5 days, she went back to school this morning. This morning!!! Now its my turn - don't think I'll be watching her choice: America's Next Top model, the Kardashians and Gossip Girl...




3k only - sorry Kim. L xx

Stupid stupid cough and stupid stupid running...

Up at 8am, Cheesy and I met Sarah at 8:15 and decided to do a 7k.


It started OK, but the coughing and spluttering took its toll. couldn't do it, legs felt like 20kg weights on my thighs and shins, coughed all the way around and eventually told them to run on with out me - how lame am I???


Coughed my guts up, threw up and then had a little pity cry to myself!! Met up with them by blackboy hill traffic lights and ran back to the car :( feel a bit stupid and the coughing is just driving me MAD. Going to get to the doctors tomorrow, as i may have Lauren's whooping cough.... nice!


what a waste, should have stayed in bed!!


yours disappointingly...


Lxx

offended my mother in law....

OK i have been married for just 8 months and now I have offended my MIL. The lovely Freddie (14) saw my post and read it. The good news is he thinks I'm funny.. and although we don't like or subscribe to the word step as in step mum. Its cool that he thinks I'm funny.. the down side is that he read my blog out loud - to his grandmother - my MIL.


so for Freddie's benefit and ability to read out to his grandmother - I AM SO SORRY. No offence was intended.... sorry. I'm just a light sleeper.


yours sheepishly...

Why oh Why??

Run this morning... it was NOT easier than Wednesday. Why oh why??? Surely that's not right!!!
Got up at 8am - met friends at 8:30 and did just over 5k. Treated ourselves to a Nero after, would have been wrong not to.


was it harder because I am a very light sleeper and...

• my lovely husband has got a cold - you can guess my problem
• we have my parents in law staying - why oh why do people over the age of 50 need to get up in the night to go to the toilet - do they have NO control???
• my youngest (12) has taken to sleeping with her twinkle lights on - not sure if its left over from not wanting to take the Xmas decorations down yesterday or the monsters under the bed??

Suffice to say i saw 2am, 3am, 4am, 5am and 6am - then I gave up!!


maybe that's why it was harder this morning - either that i or should just drink more to comatose myself from all the "noise". Well we are running again tomorrow morning, so I'll see if my coping strategies are any better tomorrow morning..


oh yes and I had coffee with the "glamorous mum" who passed me on the last run - told her about my blog and her mention. I think she's still talking to me :) tell you about it tomorrow...

Technology sucks but I didn't!!

So first run for ages on my own. WOW was it windy.. well I ran further than I have before. 6.4k - more running than walking :) and I did do the "i can i can i can" when I really wanted to stop. (just to prove Cheesy right!!)


I said hello to the walkers and made friends with a few dogs. 


Then i was sort of on the home straight, wind in the right direction and the breathing had sorted itself out and the pace was kicking in and then what happened, a very glamorous mum from school (ex TV news presenter, very slim, very gorgeous ) ran past me! and as I saw her pounding into the distance with her immaculate running tights, her red running top that did not cover her bum (as she didn't need it covering!!) and her hair loose and flowing... you get the picture?? I found myself watching her stride and bum running off in the distance (not in a lesbian way) and you know what - everything is possible... my bum will look like that!!


So summary note to self....
made sure the technology is set up correctly to track the run before you set off
make sure you have something interesting / good to listen to
make sure you've been to the loo before the run (classy)
sort out your shin splints as they still hurt... talk to Kim


til next time xx

Last lie in for weeks and we got up and ran round Bristol Downs..

NOT!!!


Last lie in for weeks and we got up and ran round Bristol Downs..


I've realised that actually i HATE HATE HATE the first 20 minutes, i can't catch up breath, want to stop every 200m and stop running full stop. My grumpiness reaches a peak - I bitch and I moan and I REALLY don't want to go on, and I am surprised that my lovely husband is still talking to me! But actually after 20 minutes the breathing sorts itself out, the pace stabilises and its ok. (Cheesy thinks it because i can see the car by then!!)
I guess Kim & Cheesy are right I've got to believe I can do it. So the positive self messaging has got to go to me head!! Lots of parallels to life - too much to go into here!!
Classic quote from my patient (joke) husband..."The only thing stopping you achieving the target is you DC" He's funny my husband!!!
So my lovely friend Frannie who is running the marathon with me (she's in London and I'm in Bristol) achieved 7miles - WOW - go Frannie...
Running tomorrow before picking the girls up from Bristol Airport, can't wait to see them- til then xx