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!