Heather's marathon attempt by Heather_B

I was asked last week by our club secretary, would I enter the N.I. Vets Cross Country Championship as he was hoping to enter a ladies team.  I agreed, not really knowing what to expect as I have never run cross country before.  Stupid, stupid decision.  The weather was horrendous, lashing rain, severe gales & freezing.  But the main problem was I was completely and utterly out of my depth.  It was a 4k race, 2 laps of Stormont and I just couldn't cope with the fast pace and the unbelievable deep mud.  I'm not sure if I came last, but if not I was definitely 2nd from the last.  I hated every minute of it, it just isn't something I think I want to get into at all.  So my 1st ever cross country race, I have vowed will be my last!!!

Apart from that things are going reasonably well.  Christmas was great although I didn't do a lot of running.   Unfortunately I then took the flu for the entire week of the new year, so my marathon schedule got off to a bit of slow start.  I have got back on track the last couple of weeks, and did a long run of 13 miles last Saturday and all being well I'm heading out for 14 miles tomorrow.

We have been busy on the holiday front and have booked a summer holiday with my sister & her family to Bulgaria in August.  Hopefully as they haven't yet joined the Euro, it won't be as expensive as some parts of Europe have become.  But the real thing I'm excited about is the holiday we've booked for next January/February (long way off I know!!!) We are flying to Miami on 28th January, I then intend to run in the Miami marathon on Sunday 31st January.  Then later that day we are heading off on a 7 day cruise around the Caribbean .  The race starts at 6am in the morning and our ship sails at 4.30pm, so fingers crossed I'll be finished in time for sailing!!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas & new year & all your training is going well.  ONly 14 weeks to go!

Right, don't say I didn't warn you!!

This is the "before" photo!!

And this is the "after"

See what I mean??!!!!!  You would think it is 2 different people!!

On a happy note - I am delighted to report to Graydon and any other potential Larne supporters, that our appeal was heard by the IFA last night and they have reversed their decision to deduct us 16 points.  That means we remain in the Irish Premier League, although we have still been fined £8000.  We are all absolutely delighted!!

The doctor phoned on Friday to tell me my appointment with the sports injury clinic could take about 8 weeks.   8 WEEKS!!!!  There is no way I can wait that long before running again.  I am for Spain on Monday for 4 nights, so I hope to have another try next Saturday morning. 

Yesterday afternoon I decided to try a short 2 mile run to see how my knee fared.  I got to about 1/2 mile before the pain came, but when it did, I decided the most sensible thing to do was to turn and walk back home again.  I must admit I'm not a good "injured person" and it is driving me mad not being able to run!   The best about is was, my legs felt really great and I'm sure I could have managed 5/6 miles no problems!!   So it's another weeks rest and we'll try it all again next week.

My photo appeared in yesterdays' local newspaper.  There are 2 photos - one of me when I have just finished, then one with a couple of other girls later that night.   You would swear it was 2 different people in the photos.  I nearly killed Greg in work for putting the one in when I had just finished as I look like death warmed up with clapped into my head sweaty hair!!!   Everyone in work thought it was hilarious and made me a "before and after" poster with the photos!!

The blogs seem to be getting very quiet now - I wonder how long it will be before we drift away altogether?   I will certainly be hanging about for a while yet, but probably on a less regular basis.

My right knee is still niggling a bit, but thankfully seems to be slowly on the mend.   I decided a trip to the Docs was needed on Friday just to be sure I hadn't seriously damaged anything.  Once she heard I'd hurt it running the marathon, she quizzed me for about 20 minutes all about it!!!  She eventually had a look at the knee and thought it was cartilege trouble.  She told me to rest it, but she would refer me to the sports injury clinic just to be sure.  I'm going to give it another couple of days, and will try for 2/3 miles about Wednesday.  I really can't wait to get back out again. 

I have now finished my celebrating and I'm feeling a tad delicate today.  I don't think I can cope with hangovers anymore!!  It was the last match of the season for Larne FC yesterday, and we won 2-1.  But in a total registration fiasco - the IFA have docked us 16 points and fined us £8000 for playing a player without international clearance.  That means that we will be relegated.  Our board are appealing the decision and are then going to the High Court if this fails.  We are all gutted as the team fought so hard all season to get enough points to stay in the Irish Premier League.    We are a small club and a fine of £8000 could put us out of business. 

I hope everyone has now fully recovered from last Sunday.  I am so determined to do it again next year, it was quite simply the most amazing experience ever.