Grrr asthma

I went out for a two mile run this morning. It was really quite warm, and I was glad I didn't wear a fleece.
My breathing still isn't great - I'm quite wheezy on and off - and I'm having to slow my pace a fair bit just to keep going. It's bothered me on and off over the last couple of days (and nights) and I don't want it to impact on my training, but I've come to the conclusion that worrying doesn't help.
I'm going to monitor how it goes over the next week and will pay a visit to my Asthma nurse if nothing improves.
My next planned run is Thursday, so I'll let you know how that goes.
Today was my day off, and I spent a bit of time studying the interactive map of the marathon route.
You can find it here...
http://www.virginlondonmarathon.com/marathon-centre/virgin-london-marathon-information/virgin-london-marathon-information/
...and it's quite interesting to see the twists and turns of the course, and there's snippets information for runners and spectators.
Ooh...exciting! Not long to go now!!

A very tough run

My asthma has been keeping me awake at night this week so I've been getting increasingly tired as the days have gone on. I also gave blood this week (my 41st pint donated), so maybe I should have taken these factors into consideration and skipped today's long run.
I'm half way through my marathon training schedule - 15 weeks done, 15 weeks to go until London - so I have enough time to postpone a long run, but last night I felt (and slept) better, so I set out at 8am.
I should have done 10 miles two weeks ago, but (as George Bush so eloquently once said) I misunderestimated the distance and ended up doing just under 9, so I decided to see how I felt and do between 10 and 12 miles today.
My weekly runs have now built up to a 3min run:1min walk ratio which is fine for my breathing and still gives me a 5mph pace. That's how I started today...for about half a mile. Almost from the off I knew it was going to be tough. It was very windy which made me work harder and feel cold, and I was verging on wheeziness straight away. I dropped down to a 2min run:1min walk ratio, but was still struggling a lot.
It was mind over matter from the outset, and I had to keep telling myself 'just a bit further'.
At mile 3 my direction changed and suddenly I was sheltered from the wind. This helped, but miles 3-6 across the back of Frankley Beeches and up to Northfield were mostly uphill, so my effort level had to go up another notch. At mile 6 I reached Northfield, and a downhill stretch greeted me...along with a very open and windy Bristol Road.
Hubby passed me in the car at about mile 7 (having dropped oldest daughter at flute choir) and he pulled over to say hello. I sat in the passenger seat for a minute to warm up, and he greeted me with 'You're doing really well' quickly followed by 'Eew...you don't smell too good.' He knows all the right things to say.
I would have paid for a lift home at this point...the car was toasty warm, but I forced myself back out and carried on towards home.
Youngest daughter cycled out to meet me just as I was reaching the bottom of our road (mile 8) and had it not been for her I would have simply gone home. With her cycling alongside me, saying things like 'You're doing really well Mum' and 'Think of the bacon sandwich when we get home' I managed to struggle along for another two miles. Thank you Kong...you are my hero.
So...just under ten miles done today, and I still don't know how I did it but I did. I'm mildly scared that in 15 weeks time I'll be facing 26.2 miles, but somehow I did it before, and somehow I will do it again.
But not today.
Today I'm going to put my feet up, read a book, and let everyone else wait on me!

Scary scales

It is seriously windy, although listening to the weather report on the radio the Midlands seem to be escaping lightly.

Hubby went back to work today after the bank holiday, but I'm not back in until tomorrow. A lazy morning in bed was tempting, but I knew I'd make excuses not to go out later so I was up and out before hubby left for work.

As mentioned, it is really windy. Add to that a rather generous downpour and it should have been a miserable outing, but I was a girl on a mission. I'm not just getting marathon fit now - I'm shaping up.

I don't get on the scales often, but yesterday I did. Big mistake. Big numbers. I've managed to put on half a stone in the last two months. Oops. Time to step away from the chocolate and embrace the salad. (The trouble is there are odds and ends of cake, chocolate and crisps in every kitchen cupboard, so I might just have to work my way through that lot before I start being really good!)

This morning my run was a fast-paced-get-into-shape-sprint out towards Whettylane Bridge, back through the village, then a bit of a meander to top up the distance before heading home. My garmin tells me I burned 236 calories. It's a start.

Now...where did I put that chocolate...?

A week of two halves

This week has been really good and really hard at the same time. Good because there have been more days off than normal because of Bank holidays. Good because it was my birthday, and I was spoilt for a day. Hard because I was really not well on Wednesday but had to work from 8.30am-7pm, and all I really wanted to do was curl up and sleep. Hard because yesterday was my first run since Sunday, and it was like running through treacle.
I like to run in the mornings because my exercise is done for the day, but this week I've been out of my routine and not feeling well, and the combination of the two has left me out of sorts.

I was dreading going out this morning simply because yesterdays run was so unenjoyable, but up and out I went, and I'm really glad I did. There was a light drizzle in the air which kept me cool, and I ran hard for three and a half miles and came home feeling so much better.

I can't afford to ease off now - the marathon is only sixteen weeks away, and I need to focus my energy, forget the bad training sessions, take motivation from the good training sessions and carry on.

Oh, and there's the small matter of fundraising, which is, after all why I'm doing all this.

Please, please, take a moment now and donate by text. Text Jass73 followed by £1/£2/£3 or £5 to 70070

All the money you donate goes directly to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign to help them continue their good work supporting families, and their research into this awful disease.

Thank you - your support really does mean a lot to me xx

Tis the season to eat too much and go for a long run

All the family descended on us yesterday, and we enjoyed a scrummy meal cooked by hubby and a lovely afternoon together.
I was still full by the evening but couldn't quite resist the call of cream crackers and cheddar with cranberries, so today's long run was even more necessary than usual!
We went to Bournville this morning and had been invited to Mum-in-laws for lunch, so a rough calculation told me I could do my planned 10 mile run from Bournville to the outskirts of Bromsgrove and still arrive in time for lunch.
I set off along the A38 just after midday and expected to be running in the rain - it had gone very overcast - but other than a bit of drizzle early on it was a dry run, and an unseasonably warm 11 degrees. The biggest challenge was running into a strong wind for nearly the entire route.
About three miles into the run a fellow runner caught up with me, and we ran for about ten minutes together until a quick glance at my watch told me I was running at 9min/mile pace...too fast for me on a long run. He raced on ahead, and I dropped back down to a more leisurely 11min/mile pace.
Hubby kindly brought me water at the 5 mile mark which was very welcome. I waved him goodbye just the other side of Rubery and ran on to the M5 island, then left (past Catshill) towards the M42 island. Another mile on and I hit the steep hill that leads up to my in-laws.
In the end I only did 8 1/2 miles - I'd underestimated the distance - but at least I got my timing right; lunch was just being served.
So...two big meals in two days, a long run and lots of good company. And I get to have another lie in tomorrow. And Tuesday.
Fantastic!

I know...I don't look old enough

Training seems to have gone a bit awry this week, as this morning was the first time I'd run since Tuesday. I think it was a combination of busy days at work, an ill cat, youngest daughter's birthday and a little bit of laziness.

I can't quite believe that I now have two teenagers in the house. It really doesn't seem long since they were little babies, but at least they sleep these days. Come to think of it, it's difficult to get them out of bed...

As for the ill cat, he's been fighting which has resulted in an abscess over his eye. Fortunately we have a brave vet who was prepared to take her life in her hands and lance it. He's not a cuddly cat at the best of times, so tending to his wound involves full protective clothing and the ability to dodge razor-sharp claws and a lot of teeth. Fun all round, really.

Anyway - back to this morning's run. I was up and out for half past six, and did a quick 2 miles. I went down to the village, out to Whettylane Bridge then back through the village and home.

It was really mild so I was overheating by the time I got home and felt like I'd had a really good workout. One of those 'good run' days when it just feels right.

I've got a ten mile run to fit in somewhere this weekend, but at least I'm not back to work until Wednesday so I've got some flexibility if the weather is as wet as predicted. Hoorah for a couple of days off and a bit of a sleep in tomorrow :o)

Don't go shopping in lycra

Day off today, but no time for rest.

After Sunday's battery error and shorter-than-planned run, I decided I should make up for the lost mile and go further today.

I've got used to heading out onto a sparkly carpet of ice and the early morning felt slightly less magical with only muddy puddles to reflect the moonlight.
I took a route that I've often taken before, but in the opposite direction. What is usually a nice downhill towards the end of the run became a serious uphill slog minutes after setting out.

As I passed a bus stop I was hailed with a shout of 'No need to run, love, the bus will be along in a minute.' Thumbs up to him for making me laugh on a cold dark morning.

I headed back through the village and could see the butchers getting ready for the day. Without stopping to think, I popped my head round the door and asked if they could bone and roll some lamb for me to pick up at lunch time. It's funny how my green woolly hat/pink jacket/lycra leggings combination that I convince myself no-one can see in the dark mornings was suddenly in the spotlight in the butchers doorway. I mumbled my thanks to them and made a hasty exit.

Note to self - buy a new running hat and don't combine shopping with running.

Anyhow - back home for just after 7am and on with the day...shopping, cleaning, washing and more work on my 'Shareholders' assignment. Any offers of help gratefully appreciated - especially with the assignment!