real,- BERLIN MARATHON BUPA Great North Run
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Overview

I started running to train for GSR 2007, and staggered round with minimal training Embarassed in 1:53:50 in extremely adverse weather conditions.

In 2008 I did the Great Manchester, North & South Runs - GNR was my first (but not my last half marathon).

I've now come to the conclusion that this running lark isn't as bad as I thought, and 2009 will see me complete my first marathon in September. 

I've also signed up to complete the Oxfam Trailwalker with Pam, Katie and Lexi (a girl from my office), so I'm sure I'll have plenty of cake / walking related anecdotes to regale you all with.

PBs:

5k - 28:04 (Belgrave Bolt 2009)

10k - 53:13 (Brooklands 10k 2009)

Half marathon - 2:15:14 (GNR 2008)

Marathon - 4:51:41 (Berlin 2009)

2009 Races:

4th October: Alton 10k - another club GP event - target time tbc

11th October: Royal Parks Half Marathon - to beat my HM PB

25th October: Great South Run - 3rd year in a row - good times!

15th November: Gosport Half Marathon - another club GP event - target time tbc, but I also want to put ghosts of last year's horrible race to rest!

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Catch Up..

.. oops, its been a couple of weeks again.  Bad blogger, naughty.  No excuses, just been really busy.

There's been quite a lot going on at work - am currently doing more work for less money.  Boo.  This is manageable for now but am a bit concerned about what will happen if the chap I'm buying a flat from decides to get his finger out and find a place to move to - my mortgage payments will go up... erm well by quite a bit actually.  Will probably live on value baked beans on toast for a while, but it'll be worth it, as this move is something that I've been planning for YEARS.  Thank God Berlin is already paid for, so that's one less thing to worry about Undecided

Enough of that nonsense, no-one wants to hear me moan on about how hard it is to be me Cry because really, life ain't that bad.

I might not have been blogging, but I have been finding time to pull my trainers on here and there.

Last week I made it to the gym three times in my lunch breaks - twice on the cross trainer and once on the treadie.  Good times.  Also made it to running club twice - once at the track and then again for a nice little 6.3k run around a local wood that I didn't even know existed.  Very nice.

I was planning to get out and do a long run at the weekend, as I had a bit of a shock when I realised that with 7 weeks to go till Berlin, I've not run further than 10k this year.  Ohhhhhhhh shhhhh*********t.

Unfortunately I had to work.  Now I don't work weekends, but a client wanted reporting done on Saturday and Sunday, so instead of running free with the wind running through my hair, I was stuck in my cupboard sweating over my laptop Yell.  I was not a happy bunny, but client was happy with reporting, so it was worth it in the end.

The upside of the pay cut is that we have been given 10 days unpaid leave in order to achieve it.  I decided that between now and Berlin, I would take every Wednesday afternoon off, as my training plan wants me to do a longish run every Wednesday as well as at the weekend.  Clearly this will be easier to do if I have the afternoon off.

This unfortunately meant that after days of fresh rain, I ended up leaving the office at 12.30 yesterday to do a long run in unpleasant humid conditions Frown.  Headed up the River Wey to Guildford - it really is a lovely run along the tow path there.  Got to Guildford - about 8k done.  Stopped for a little walkie break (and to Tweet!), had a drink and tackled The Mount.  I have mentioned this evil before.  Never seen a hill like it.  There aren't many places in Guildford where you can look down on Guildford Cathedral - it crouches atop a hill looming over the town - it's actually quite spooky, which is why it was used in The Omen.  However from the top of The Mount.....

... you are actually above the cathedral.  Had to walk up most of it, my poor little legs did not like me at this point.

Then, thankfully it was downhill all the way, through Binscombe (with a minor detour into the local doctors surgery to get a refill of water bottle - nb must remember to put money in pocket next time to buy in shop - receptionist looked a little disturbed by sweaty red faced person puffing over counter.  Prob though I had end stages of swine flu or similar), through Farncombe, a loop round the back of Godalming (running past the flat that I'm buying) and back to the office.  20.4k done in 2hrs38mins.  Not fast, not clever, but done.  Phew!

Haven't made it to running club this week - was at the vet with the hound instead.  Aside from running and working, I have mostly spent the rest of my free time cleaning up poo from my flat.  Poor little hound has been having stomach problems - as those of you on facebook already know all about!.  Visit to the vet cost £75 (three different types of meds!) but I figure I'd have spent double that on cleaning products if we'd gone on.  Pleased to report this morning that normal pooping procedure has been resumed, although a disturbing orange colour - possibly due to the meds.

This has also meant that for the first time in my life ever, I have made boiled eggs.  I think boiled eggs are DISGUSTING but the vet recommended them to help hound's tum - dog is now officially eating better than me - with lovingly made chicken egg & rice dishes.  He'd better not get used to it Laughing

That's it from me - will be making an appearance at running club this evening for a nice little trot around Waggoners Wells, and then that's it till the weekend, when I have a 5k race, and also a 19k long run planned.

PS - haven't I made good use of smilies in this post Laughing Wink Tongue out

 

 

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Comments

Glad the hound is making a recovery. Runs sound good but paycut doesn't but I suppose its better than no job at all. Have a good run tonight and good luck with the race.

posted by lesleychev premium member on 6 Aug. 2009 1:42p.m.

lots of lovely smilies to keep me going!....hopefully see you at AP next yr? good luck with the finances and hope your flat does come through soon for you. Take care of you and the pooch. x

posted by shazzoah on 6 Aug. 2009 2:08p.m.

Hope the pup feels better soon and you don't suffer too many effects of the boiled eggs!

Without wanting to nag you, you really must try to get a few long runs in for preparation for Berlin. It's not so much the miles, more the time on your feet you will have to get used to. My longest run in training for the FLM was about 20 miles (3:28) and there is still at least another hour to go after that. Ideally I should have done a couple more runs of that sort of length. I don't want to scare you but equally you need to train enough so that you enjoy the event.
Take care and good luck!

posted by Way_Too_Slow premium member on 6 Aug. 2009 4:05p.m.

Believe me - I know! Hence the imperative to get the long runs in during the week.

Unfortunately I had a 30hr walk to train for - it got in the way a little bit. But at least it means that I have no issue with time on my feet!

posted by AmyW on 6 Aug. 2009 4:20p.m.

WEll done one your various training efforts in particular running up the "Mount". Keep up the great work and increase the miles weekly and you will be fine you have, after all, got a great fitness level after your trailwalker adventure. Take care.

posted by philip_owen on 6 Aug. 2009 7:40p.m.

Blooming heck that was high up, my nose was bleeding just reading the blog ;-)
Glad to hear that Ruperts pooping well again ;-)
Enjoy the rest of your week

Andy x

posted by The_Forgotten_one on 6 Aug. 2009 10:12p.m.

Great catch up there, Amy. And don't worry too much about Berlin - you know what you have to do in the next few weeks, and the core is obviously there.
It's time for you to do the runs, rather than the pooch now........

posted by TISM on 6 Aug. 2009 10:36p.m.

Glad to hear pooch is feeling better and that is some view over Guildford. Keep up the work rate and I am sure you will be fine come Berlin!

posted by tinabee premium member on 7 Aug. 2009 8:16a.m.

More work for less money is so poo, but at least you still have work and a bit of quality time for those long runs :) Beans on toast is healthy too (although you may end up with a tummy like Murdoch eek!) but it won't come to that, us realbuzzers'll chip in together for you lol!

Well done on the training front, no pressure at Berlin all you have to do is finish!! (Just like that - Listen me 26.2 miles just a walk in the park) meaning, no pressure on time, just potter and enjoy! Good luck with the training!

Good luck for your weekend race and your long run :) and MONSTER thanks for your comments and support for HL, I'm loving your approach "Sort it out!" lol {{hugs}} xxxx

posted by Kitten on 7 Aug. 2009 9:10a.m.

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