Marathon Training - 9 weeks to go and feeling fine!

Wow - it's been rather difficult to get on here this week and give y'all a run down (Ooooo that's a terrible pun sorry...) on how the training's going.
But don't worry yourselves none, I've been a-runnin! Oh yes.

I'm feeling well-chuffed that I'm actually following my marathon schedule as accurately as I can. I guess I was a little nervous that I would start out all excited and stuff, like any other project, and then after a week lose interest and not end up completing it.
But not this time - oh no.
I'm going all the way baby.
26.2 miles in fact!

I'm so flippin' excited about getting to run in Scootlund ! It all feels a bit unreal...
Once I book the flights and accommodation I know my anxiety will settle down.
And the great news is that my sister is going to run the Loch Ness Marathon also!!
I should get a reward (£500 will be sufficient) because I managed to convince her that she has to do it and the scenery will be amazing and we can talk with Scottish accents the whole way around and remember we are part Scottish so it's only right that we should be running in the Highlands blah blah blah...
So I sent her a marathon schedule and she's signed up to do it. YES!

I ran a hilly mountainous half marathon on Sunday with my husband and I totally loved every minute of it! I was feeling so good and my legs and lungs felt strong and the scenery was STUNNING, the marshals friendly. At the end I even felt like I could keep going - now THAT is a sign that this marathon training is actually working!
NEVER have a felt like that at the end of a half marathon! So pleased I was, so pleased!

I had a rather unfortunate mishap last week... I've heard that it happens to many a runner, but still...
I had a wee 'accident' in my undies while out running thanks to a stomach bug that I picked up.
You can read about it at my Stay At Home Mamma blog here.

And you know what? I don't mind you laughing at my expense. It's ok and in fact I encourage it.
That's why I shared it because I knew someone would see the funny side in it...

Anyhoo, bedtime now - running 9 miles tomorrow pushing the buggy with 2 chunky-monkey children it!

Happy running days everyone!

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!

The Queen's Deer, Playgrounds and New Socks!

Today was my first run since Saturday. I have been ill with stomach 'issues' - got some nasty diarrhoea virus thing which left one feeling nauseous, dizzy and needing to visit the toilette every hour (or sometimes less...).

Not cool. At all.

So today, being one of the first day's I haven't needed to lie on the floor every 15 minutes until the nausea passes, I was determined to get out running with the boys in the buggy (which I did) even if it was forecast to rain (which it did).

And oh my goodness did it feel GOOD!!!

This was probably mostly due to the fact that I was wearing the most cushioned socks I have ever experienced! My feet were practically falling asleep they were so comfortable!

It wasn't a fast run at all, but it was a good run. I felt great actually! I even kept on going after cresting the top of the nasty hill on our route which we normally take a 'breather' at the top when pushing the buggy cos it literally takes your breath away. Yay for me!

Although there were moments of rain there was a whole lot of sunshine and it was still very hot and humid.

We spotted one of the Queen's deer grazing in a tree by the path.

Such beautiful creatures. Until they start moving towards you with a not very nice glint in their eye...

Our halfway turn-around point was the park at Kingston Gate where I graciously took a 15 minute break so Luca (son numero uno) could stretch his legs and swing from the monkey bars.

On the way back Luca ran down the nasty hill like he always does but didn't continue on with his usual distance as he spotted a juice that I had for him in the buggy and promptly decided he'd had enough of running for today and wanted to sit in the buggy and be pushed instead. I didn't blame him really.

 And so we continued on our journey home. Beni (son numero due) was already away with the fairies so it was a very quiet, relaxed run home. Nice.

A visit to the shops in the afternoon resulted in purchasing a pair of running shoes for Luca which he is very proud of!

Oh, and a football.

Tomorrow is our 14km 'family' run around Richmond Park again so I doubt these shoes will be white for much longer!

Happy weekend everyone!

Breeding a Runner

My husband and I love to run.
And we love to take our 2 boys running with us (in a buggy).

Our oldest son is 3 in August and he loves to go out for long runs with us, the wind blowing in his hair, encouring us to go faster
"C'mon Papa c'mon!!"
"Go fast Mamma, go FAST!"

And when we are climbing a hill, he comes out with "You can do it Papa!"

Bless his dear wee heart.

Once we get to the top of the extremely tough hill on our run we always use the excuse of snack-time or a toilet stop and this is where Master 3 likes to get out of the buggy and do his stretches...

As you can see it's very serious stuff. Oh to have that flexibility!

On the way back down the hill is his favourite part cos he gets to run down the hill himself, stretching out his long limbs - the reason why everyone thinks he is a 4 year old!

And he runs. And runs. And runs. His little legs churning rapidly and at such a speed that we are now having to actually put some effort into catching him!

After running down the hill and playing numerous games of "I'm gonna get you!" he would have covered a good distance - around the 1km mark which I'm thinking for a 3 year old is pretty impressive (?)

So now the hunt is on for some toddler running shoes, if such things exist...?

It has both surprised and pleased me immensely that he should love running so much at such an early age and that he actually has the stamina to keep going for quite a distance, so he even works up a sweat and is puffing.

I'm telling you though, when he does start entering into races I wouldn't want to be put up against him - he has the unfair advantage of long legs that will just eat up the ground.
Ooo I'm sounding like a proud mamma already!...

Anyway, watch this space I guess.

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.

A quick run-through about ME!

Hi! My name is Brigitte, 34.... no, 35 years of age...
Mamma of 2 delicious little boys.
Wife to 1 delicious husband. Sorry, had to be said.
We are Kiwi's living in London for nearly 8 years now. 

I have endured running since before I can remember, but over the past 10 years I have started enjoying it! No, not just enjoying it, actually LOVING it!
I am mostly a recreational runner though I have a fair few half-marathons under my belt - PB 1:43.
I particularly enjoy off-road/trail/fell races - they are so much more challenging and interesting to run and the scenery always more than makes up for any discomfort experienced.

I ran through both of my pregnancies wearing a support belt (like a massive elasticated belt really). I can testify that keeping fit before and during pregnancy makes for a good labour and birth - I'm not an expert or anything but I'm presuming this is because of the strength needed and the pain/endurance threshold being that much higher? That's my guess anyway.

We live right by Richmond Park in London so my husband and I try to get out running with the 2 kids in our buggy as much as possible. It's always nice to have an excuse for stopping "for the kids to have a break"...

My big running aim for this year is to complete a marathon by the end of 2010. Not bothered where, somewhere with nice scenery though.

I guess a big part of me starting this blog is to keep myself accountable in a way... if I see my results recorded somewhere it will urge me on to do better and not easily give up on my goals. It annoys me when I do.

I can also be found at my Stay At Home Mamma blog here