Bored run, good time, bad skin

HB to PB (8m), 1h 10m 52s

Bored run, no music. No knee pads, but it was ok. 

Sports bra chaffing, this is why runners love vasaline..

Misty. Lots of prams and groups of ramblers in the way.

Meant to have a fresh, early run but procrastination happened as usual (the toughest step is the first one to the door!) Haven't done a morning run for months. Might need to reset my running body-clock before the big day, what time does it start?!

NEARLY half way!

HB to PB back to Kew B (12.5 miles!), 1h 54m 31s.

It wasn't easy! Relaxing sunday radio helped (until my battery died). Then I relied on positive thoughts: memories of jogging along the beach in Costa Rica last january, what food I will treat myself to when I get back, fitting into my new bargain skinny Diesels, and imagining the big day! Then I will have to run more than double this distance! But my family and friends and thousands of strangers will be cheering me on, it's gonna be amazing! 

It was a lovely sunny sunday, sailors and rowers out in force but not getting in my way and annoying me today, I was just chilled. Nice joggers too, smiling in camaraderie.

Had to sprint home as I had a celebratory thai massage booked, really achey now. Need to get a water bottle to run with.

The main event feels achievable now. Yay!

Shorty in the snow

HB to CB, 1h 04m 27s (in OLD trainers!)

It snowed! Much less snot today but tense feet and shins coz I was worrying about my knees and damage from the Saucony trainers. Right knee a bit achey at start.

Did 3 sprints up Sutton Court Rd to home.

New trainer debut

HB to CB, via road (6.6m) in 1h 23s.

I went to The Sweat Shop to get kitted out with proper trainers on monday. After a pretty thorough fitting I left the shop with some bright white Sauconys (the exotic, unfamiliar name convinced me of their 'shoe for the serious runner' pedigree.)

Within 20 minutes of their debut my knees were aching again, by the time I was on the cobbles of Barnes towpath (the danger zone), there was proper shooting pain. Damn it. I was scared of injury of course, grateful I had worn knee supports, and pissed off that the experts hadn't given me the right shoes, will I even be able to get any money back after I've worn them outside?? Why didn't I just buy another pair of my trusty Asics- I had taken both of my old pairs of trainers but the fitter hadn't looked at them. 

Another angry and tense run with lots of stops. Breathing was a bit better though. Gonna have to sweet talk them into an exchange...

Women and running!

I thought I would include more extracts from The Marathon Book, on the topic of Women and running.

Nevermind the vote, it wasn't until 1975 that women were allowed to compete in distance running, and that was only 1500m!

It was an historic prejudice, apparently women had been barred on pain of death from even watching the Ancient Olympics. In the 1970s Old Wive's Tales abounded: we were 'more prone to injury' (prolapsed uteruses and damaged breasts were listed concerns!); 'fertility was impaired'; we 'lost femininity and became muscular'!!! As Brucey points out, "More probably women's exclusion was the result of male pride". Good on ya bruce.

Physiologists support the female cause- the longer the distance the more even the balance between the sexes.

In the 60s, amongst the excitement of the Women's Liberation Movement, women were forced to protest by running the marathon unofficially- no number, no official time. In 1967, Katherine Switzer entered the race as K. Switzer. She skipped the medical examination and turned up to run, complete with registration number. She started the race, but not far into it an official spotted her from the accompanying bus and attempted to push her out of the race!!

The Boston Marathon was the first to allow women in, but even then integration was not complete as the numbers issued to the nine women were all prefixed with the letter F. In 1975 women's participation in long distance events was made permissible in the UK (previously only family friendly 'fun-runs' had been allowed), and in Los Angeles in 1984 women marathon runners made their olympic debut. Wow!

Fartlek

HB to CB (6m), 1h 04m.

You are supposed to have a training plan when you attempt a marathon. So far, I have just been running as much as I can for as long as a can. But to do it properly you are supposed to do hill training and vary the terrain you run on, and speed training. My energy and enthusiasm to get out on the road is not waning but I cannot be bothered to sit down and think about it. 

I have, however, read a 1970s running bible by legendary long distance runner Bruce Tulloh, (on loan to me from another legend, one-eyed "Rocket" Ron of Falmouth Road Runners!) He advocates drinking plenty of beer to rehydrate you after a run, and using deep heat: "I like to head off to the start with muscles pleasantly tingling from an application of Deep Heat type liniment." Bless. 

He is also a fan of Fartlek training. This is when you sprint whenever you feel like it, and there are no hazards in the way (children on scooters are my favourite hazard), this is good for endurance. I figure endurance might be important when attempting 26 miles so I try this out tonight. You are supposed to get your heart rate up to well over twice what it is at rest. Seems a bit dangerous, but it's a massive buzz!

My house key in my back pocket was rubbing my cold bum, but apart from that, good run!

Running at -2 degrees

To PB and back to CB (10m), 1hr 38m 24s

4 jammy dodgers, a bowl of chocolate weetabix and 16 celebrations did not shield my internal organs from the freezing temperatures today. Nor did my aggressive mood. Everything annoyed me today: fat people hogging pavements, skinny runners who look good in their Ron Hill tights, cars that don't indicate and plead visual imparity despite my day-glo jacket when they nearly run over my precious toes, various london borough councils for hazardous pavements, laces that don't stay done-up and SNOT! Where does it all come from??? Gotta try going non-dairy...