Crazy times people - CRAZY!

Crazy times indeed.

As it happens, I'm pregnant.

As it happens, I didn't know I was pregnant.

I am thankful I didn't run the Lochness Marathon because, as it turned out, I am pregnant.

I am THRILLED to be pregnant!!

I am NOT thrilled about having to go through morning sickness again.

I am very very tired, but I went for a 5.2 mile run this evening and, even though I felt tired, it felt good getting out there amongst the birds and the trees (I could have said "birds and the bees" but felt that would just be WRONG as it is because of the birds and the bees that I happen to find myself pregnant!!)...

Anyhoo, yes, it felt GREAT to be running again after having to back off my training so my achilles and knee could recover.

I am pleased to have a good level of fitness (pretty much marathon fitness) going into this pregnancy and I aim to keep running (sensibly) throughout this pregnancy like I did with my previous two. Makes those babies healthy and strong (and hopefully not toooooo big...!)

Well, that's my news and a quick update from me.

Happy and Healthy Running!

The spirit is willing but the flesh (achilles and knee) is weak

So this is the way of it - my achilles and my knee have thrown in the towel.
With only 1 week to go they couldn't handle the demands of marathon training.
DAMN!
So I'm pretty gutted right about now.

I could only do 7 miles today before the pain kicked in...

I know it's been a while since my last post but I couldn't bring myself to admit there was a potential problem for my first much anticipated marathon...

Anyhoo, I figure it's best to listen to the painful cries of these tendons and give them time to sort out their shit rather than keep on pushing through and likely do permanent damage right?

There'll be other marathons.
Yes, there'll be other marathons.

So it's physio appointments for me - strengthening exercises for the glutes and hamstring on my left side where the affected tendons are. Right leg is stronger than my left and is also 1cm longer (go figure?) so this is the reason for my pain...
I'm discovering that physioherapists are pretty darn clever.

But don't worry I shall keep running and all the while listening to my body.
I'm planning to still be out running when I'm 80 so this is really just a minor setback for now.

I've enjoyed doing the training so much that I shall definitely be tackling a marathon as soon as I can.
And I now know that I can at least do 19 miles and not even feel like I'm dying - I think that's pretty darn good!!

As for now, time to apply another icepack and book another physio appointment.

Going Solo

Yesterday I was able to get out to do my regular Richmond Park circuit without having to push the buggy.

Oh. My. Goodness. It makes SUCH a difference!

I can go faster.
I don't have to stop every few minutes to meet the demands of snacks/water/boogie-on-finger etc.
I think I actually forgot how easy it is to run solo. Even with the hills I averaged a 5.21min/km pace which I'm quite pleased with. I'm thinking it was the ANGRY music with dirty guitars I was listening to which helped me keep up a decent enough pace.

Unfortunately I am rather sore today even after quite lengthy stretching at the finish of the run...
I guess it makes sense though because this is only the 2nd time I've run the park by myself since having bubba 7 months ago - and the last time I ran it was when I did my calf-muscle in at the 6km mark...

When Luca asked me to play car chases with him this morning I happily obliged until I tried to get down on my knees and crawl around quickly like he was doing... oh to be young again huh?

So I've become a member of the LogYourRun website and have their app on my iPhone but it's a bit crap to be honest...
It decided to stop recording the run somewhere between the 1km and 13.94km mark... grrrrr.
I had to calculate my pace myself, taking the run time and distance. Oh well, modern technology doesn't always work in my favour.

I'm enjoying my 'rest' day today and am back out there again tomorrow, this time pushing the buggy... oh well, at least my arm muscles are strengthening up as a result of pushing a 17kg toddler, a 9.5kg baby and a 13kg buggy!
And all that weight makes you go really fast down the hills!

Happy exercising.