19 miles and it's getting tough...

Woah..... this marathon training malarkey is really tough going!

I've just completed a 19 mile training run - was supposed to only be 18 miles but I calculated wrong... it's a bit annoying that my iPhone battery doesn't last the distance required as I could have stopped bang on the 18 mile mark today instead of having to add that extra mile in.... ah well, I did it and have lived to tell the story so that's all that matters right now.

I'm feeling well chuffed that I did it and also VERY SORE! Still think childbirth is easier than this marathon training!!
My fitness (lung capacity) is doing great, it's just my legs that HURT!! And - funnily enough - my uterus...... I guess the muscles all around there are still in shock after having Beni 8 months ago... better get onto those pelvic floor exercises again I suppose (yawn).

I had 3 rest days last week instead of the 2 that I was allowed..... ooooOOOOOOoooooo! But hey, it was my 3 year old's birthday party so I'm thinking this was a good excuse! I spent the morning decorating the cake and the afternoon keeping adults and children happy and entertained. That's exhausting!!

So right now I'm liking the fact that I would only have to run another 7 miles and that would be equivalent to running a marathon! Easier said than done, but I'm feeling more confident now that I will actually be able to complete a marathon and still be breathing!

Hope you are all well and loving your running xx

Clocking up the miles and loving it!

I'm feeling well chuffed with myself right about now.

I've just run 16.02 miles (to be exact) in 2 hours 30 minutes (9.26 mins/mile pace).

I've just completed another week of marathon training right on target.

This is the first time ever that I've run this sort of ludicrous distance.

And you know what? I'm LOVING IT!

I guess I was expecting it to be such a drag to have to do looooooooong runs every week, but I'm scaring myself by actually meeting the mark in my training schedule, even though it looked impossible and ever so slightly daunting upon commencement!

I've found that it helps to look forward to certain things and keep these in mind when out running and the going gets tough:

i.e. that maybe one day, as a result of all this running, I'll have a body like this...

...but not if I keep drinking this...

... which is another thing I look forward to. 

It's such a shame and really very cruel that a cold beer and it's 'empty calories' tastes so heavenly after a long hot run! *sigh*

Heavy Leg Syndrome

I'm feeling quite chuffed about my long run on Saturday - the fact that I'm still able to walk is a bonus!...

Ended up being 14.85 mile - I lasted the distance but my iPhone battery didn't....blimmin'  technology huh?! It only crapped out at the 13 mile mark so it wasn't too drastic. I just hate listening to my own breathing and footfall - it's very boring. You'd think that I could actually use the time as my 'Thinking Space' but that fact is that when I run I think my mind shuts off as well and I just zone out for the run duration... I don't mind. It's quite nice to be able to switch off the noise that is in my head!

By mile 8 my legs were getting the heavy feeling. I was quite fascinated, yet annoyed at the same time. Fascinated because 8 mile is the distance I had been doing a few times a week before I started my marathon training and obviously my legs are used to running that distance, so anything beyond that must become an 'issue' for them. Hmph.
I'm guessing this will get better as my body gets used to doing the longer mileage? I hope so!! At the moment I'm thinking that pushing out babies is actually easier than this marathon training!.... But that could always just be ME being ever-so-slightly dramatic...maybe.

Recovery was good - rest day yesterday was fantastic.

My run tonight felt good once my legs warmed up properly. On the schedule today was hills... Now I actually don't mind running up hills - I find flats a teeny tiny little bit boring...
Anyway, so 10x up the very nasty hill in Richmond Park with an easy 1.6mi jog there and back.
Cold beer and dinner waiting for me when I got home. Nice one Mr. Amazing Husband!
8mi tomorrow.
7mi Wednesday.
etc. etc.
Then it's our Annual 14 mile trail race on Sunday in Surrey (South England) - whoop whoop! This is the run my husband and I love to do each year because of the off-road/dirt track aspect and also the scenery. Oh. My. Goodness.
This is why I run!

T

This is a picture of the Highlands around Loch Ness where I'm doing the marathon. Scenery such as this just makes me want to weep and/or break out into some ancient Celtic song.

Don't tell me I'm the only one...

I always loved running... it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power.  You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.  ~Jesse Owens

 

Marathon Training recap - 10 weeks to go!

I am pleased to report that after ONE WHOLE WEEK of official marathon training I feel GREAT!
I shouldn't get too excited though... it has only been 1 week.
I've still got 10 more weeks to go...
AND I've still got the 14 mile long run tomorrow - which I am {surprisingly enough} looking forward to!
It will be interesting to see how I manage my first real long distance run since bambino numero due was born...

A factor that I'm having to incorporate into the marathon training is running with a buggy with 2 kids in it!
My on-line training schedule didn't bring this into consideration did it. No.
I had to swap a run this week - instead of doing a short 'brisk' run on Wednesday I did it today and Wednesday's run became an "easy" run  
(well, if pushing a buggy with 2 chunky monkeys in it can ever be classed as 'easy'?).
My husband was away for work so I didn't have a choice but to take the children with me on the run.
But it was fun.
Luca was very entertaining, once again, with his stretches...

...before he took off as fast as his little (yet long) legs could carry him.
Which is pretty fast.

He feels very special in his new running shoes.

My body's feeling good - although I've gained a kilogram this week... WHAT?!?!?!@*%?$!!!
Scandalous!!
Ah well, I'm still hoping to lose 5kg before I run the marathon. 5kg's less to carry around 26.2 miles is all I'm thinking about!

Anyways, had a good quick run tonight - felt really great to get those fast-twitch fibres into action again - they were loving it! It felt comfortable enough and felt pretty quick, yet I was only averaging 7:51min/mile. Was hoping for 7:30min/mile. Ah well.
I ain't bovered yeah innit.
And I've still got 10 weeks to get there!

Have a great weekend everyone with enjoyable running!

Loch Ness Marathon - I'll be there!

It's pretty exciting times - I have registered to run the Loch Ness marathon on 3rd October!!

Being my first EVER marathon I don't really know what I am getting myself in for.... but I know it's the next step from always running half-marathons. And there's nothing wrong with half-marathons by the way - I LOVE them!! They are the perfect distance but the thought of running that whole distance again if I was running a full marathon has always made me feel sick... but now I am doing it! Going all the way baby!

I think the thing that I am most looking forward to on the run is the scenery!! The race reviews are all about the beauty of the surroundings: Loch Ness and the Highlands all wrapped up into one run - awesome! So I'm hopeful that maybe this will help take my mind off the pain??  Here's hoping...

It's now less than 11 weeks away, I'm pretty confident I can do this. I've got a good training schedule from Runner World website and am aiming for a sub 3:45.

Training's going well and I'm looking forward to hopefully losing the last couple of kg's of post pregnancy fat!

I like the way when your body becomes lighter you run faster, and the more you run the lighter your body becomes. It's a great partnership.