GN10K..Impossible?…no! I’m Possible!

I booked the Great North 10K months and months ago when I hadn’t been running for long and 6.2 miles seemed virtually impossible. I booked it as a good training event pre Great North Run at the recommendation of my running coach. It was the first 10K that I booked but has ended up being the third one I’ve done. Of course, 10K isn’t impossible (and as the saying goes even the word itself says I’m Possible) and I’ve been excited about it for a while.

Back in May I did the Sunderland 10k in 1 hour 19 minutes and I found it extremely difficult. Two months of hard training and another 10k behind me (Lambton 1 hour 17) I was excited to try for a new personal best. When I booked it I estimated a finish time of 1hour10 minutes and I was hoping that I could do this though I knew this would be a challenge. I’ve been going to a lot of training sessions with Dynamics Personal Fitness and this has included speed work, hills and core strength. It hasn’t been easy but I know the hard work will pay off!

A couple of weeks ago I persuaded my brother-in-law to sign up too. Anyone that has known us for a while, will know how much of a turn of events this is! Whoever would have thought I’d be encouraging Craig to sign up for a race?!

On Sunday morning, my friend Claire picked me up bright and early and we were raring to go (bin bags at the ready to protect us from the rain!) We were so keen, that we were the first car in the car park! Due to the torrential downpour we decided to sit in the car for a while so that we wouldn’t get too wet before the run. We got into our bin bags (not as easy as it looks!) ready to embrace the weather! We made a dash for it when the rain lessened slightly and went to meet Craig.

I suddenly began to get nervous but once at Gateshead Stadium the nerves began to turn back to excitement.

We met with Craig and saw some other runners we know too. We also met for a Great North Run Beer Tent photo (we did of course remove our bin bags for the benefit of the photo!)

On our way round to the start line we saw Hippie Lee with his camera and waved. Here is the awesome photo he took! (Proof that Craig does smile sometimes!)

 

We saw some of the girls from my Running Group (Dynamics Personal Fitness) and got a photo. I love how whenever I go to a running event I always bump into someone I know (and have met through running). The running community really is a happy place to be!

 

Craig had a white number and I had a green number but he dropped back into green so that we could start off together. It still feels really surreal that I am running and even more so when I am standing waiting to run, next to my lovely brother-in-law (who’s probably been running longer than I’ve been walking! Haha) I told Craig how excited I was to be at the start with him and he told me he couldn’t believe it either… and he was cursing me when he was driving to Gateshead in the pouring rain on Sunday morning!

Once we started I wished Craig good luck and told him I’d see him at the finish (he’s a faster runner than me). I had worked out that I needed to run at an average pace of 11.5 minute miles to get the pb I aimed for so I started off nice and easy to ensure I didn’t overdo it.

I struggled to see out of my glasses due to the rain but I just kept plodding along. About a mile and half in I was struggling. I saw the fast runners that were running the other way and decided to watch them as I ran to see if I knew anyone. I saw Colin Robson (South Shields Parkrun Director) but by the time I noticed it was him I’d missed the chance to cheer him on. He was running really fast, and the thought that he was near the end of his run, made me think if I keep going, I’ll be there before I know. I kept looking at the other runners as I ran in the hope I’d see some more runners I know. Some of my running friends spotted me and shouted to cheer me on (Andy and Jane) and this kept me going even though I was finding it difficult. I was looking out for Craig as I reckoned that it wouldn’t be long before I would see him. I was so happy to see him, and even happier when he hi-fived me! It was such an amazing feeling that I saw him as we were running and it kept me going (with a smile on my face) for at least half a mile.

I saw some other Beer Tenters and waved at them and they waved back; it’s so nice to see a friendly face! At the half way point Metro Radio were there cheering everyone on and encouraging us to do an aeroplane as we looped back round. Just after this I saw my friend Claire E) as she passed me and we gave each other encouragement as we ran.  I saw Catherine, one of the girls I went to uni with and I cheered her on too.

 Another one of my running friends, Claire S, appeared alongside me and we ran together for a while. I noticed my pace had increased by an average of a minute a mile but I still felt reasonably ok so I kept going (making the most of the flat while it was there). It was really nice to have someone to talk to as I ran.   I saw Sam (Colin’s fiancé - they are getting married tomorrow!) and cheered her on, but she was so focused on her running, with her earphones in that she didn’t see/hear me.

Claire S and I ran together for a little while then she increased her pace for the final mile, while I wanted to maintain (my slightly faster than planned) pace I was doing. I knew the final hill was coming soon and I wanted to make sure I had enough energy to get up it. I have been doing some hill training and I was really pleased with myself for running up all of the hill. I walked a little once I got to the top but then I was running again and I was on the final bit home.

 

Before I knew it, BOOM just 800m to go. I could hear the cheers from the stadium and knew it wouldn’t be long until I was finished. Once on the track I began to increase my speed, but then I felt really sick. I slowed down slightly as the track was a lot bigger than I thought it would be, but I just kept going. I knew that Craig would be finished by now and my parents and niece were also there to see me finish. I heard someone shout my name so I smiled (I think it might have been Hippie Lee as he was there taking awesome photos) and I really pushed hard for a sprint finish.

 

I felt so emotional as I crossed the finish line and was so excited to see my parents, Craig and Toni waving at me from the stands. I was so unbelievably proud of myself. I waited for Claire S to cross the finish line and we walked to get our goody bags together.

It was such an incredible feeling to think that I had completed another 10k. My legs were heavy and I felt sick but that soon passed when I thought about my new personal best.. 1 hour 10 (and 34 seconds!). I DID IT! Great North 10K I’m Possible!

I still find running really difficult but it is getting easier. Only 7 weeks to go until the Great North Run...

Whenever I think about how hard it is, I remember why I started in the first place, to raise valuable funds for the North East Trust for Aphasia (NETA). NETA are a brilliant charity supporting people with communication difficulties following a stroke or other brain injury. They are a fantastic charity and I have had the pleasure of getting to know some of the members over the years. NETA really does makes a difference to their lives, and if you can help support them by supporting my (difficult) journey to the Great North Run then it really would be greatly appreciated. You can show your support here.

Thank you so much for joining in my journey to the Great North Run.

There was a young runner who swallowed a fly...

It’s been another busy few weeks (with lots of running of course!) and I’ve been meaning to blog for a while again but this is the first chance I’ve had! My training plan is going well and I can’t believe there’s only 8 weeks to go until the big day!

Last Saturday I had a brilliant session at the track with Dynamics Personal Fitness. Celia and I both worked together really well and although it was a hard session, I was smiling all day long from my achievements! We were doing 200m repetitions of the track, maintaining a certain pace (aiming for 2.26 which we did well, and even improved by 30 seconds on the last repetition!)

Me, Celia
At the track

After the Lambton 10k I had a blood blister on my left shoulder where the strap of bra had obviously been rubbing. I’ve been meaning to get properly fitted for a sports bra for a while as I knew the one I had wasn’t perfect. The shoulder ‘injury’ was the push I needed to get one fitted properly. I went to Sadie the Bra Lady last Saturday and she sorted me out. Whoever said that running was a cheap form of exercise, obviously wasn’t a woman! Not helped of course by me needing to buy a white one and a black one, to ensure I have a suitable one according to the top I am wearing!

I went to London last weekend to visit my cousin Kirsty and I wasn’t planning to take my trainers as I didn’t think I would have time to go for a run. Not wanting to rule it out completely, last minute I decided to pack my running things ‘Just in case!’

On Sunday night we went to the pub and I had a couple of ciders, so when I went to bed on Sunday night I decided it was unlikely that I would be running on Monday morning. I got up the next day, running the last thing on my mind until I saw my trainers. I couldn’t really be bothered but Kirsty and her boyfriend asked me if I was going to go running so I began to think about it again. About two hours of deliberating later I finally got ready and headed out the door for a quick run. I ran to Hampstead Heath, about half a mile from Kirsty’s house, for a nice run around the park.

 

It was a warm morning and I was struggling a bit but I was enjoying being out in the fresh air. Hampstead Heath is quite hilly and every time I turned a corner there seemed to be another one! I just took it easy and tried to enjoy it. I never thought I would go out for an enjoyable run. At the top of one the hills I could see the running track below and I could see a beautiful view of London. It literally took my breath away…coupled with the fact that I had just ran up a hill which was probably the main cause of my breathlessness! Looking at the view I could see the London Eye and I had to stop to take a photo. It made me think of one of my favourite quotes:

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away”

I was so happy that I decided to go out for a run (4 miles) as it was an overall enjoyable experience and I wouldn’t have been out that early if I hadn’t decided to go running. It was also the first run in my new bra and I realised that I should have bought a better one much sooner (to any women runners that haven’t been measured for one, I’d recommend it!)

Kirsty and I did lots of walking on Tuesday (and we went back to Hampstead Heath) so by the time I got home on Tuesday night my legs were aching!

On Thursday I went to the strengthening and conditioning session with Dynamics Personal Fitness, in Cramlington. This was a brilliant session working on core strength. I feel like I get a lot out of these sessions and it is greatly improving my running. I was impressed with my ability to do sit-ups and press ups as these are exercises I used to avoid. By Friday afternoon I could feel my muscles aching and this was even worse by Saturday morning…just goes to show how little some of my muscles are used, but also how much good it is doing.

My training plan for Friday was an easy 3 mile run. I’d been looking forward to getting out after work and was raring to go when I got in. I got ready and went out as soon as I got home (with the view that the sooner I get out, the sooner I could come home and have something nice to eat!)

I decided to just run from my house, round the lake at the QE2 then home. It was a warm evening and I foolishly wore my long running bottoms. I also had different running socks on to what I usually wear and after a mile I could feel they were quite tight. My legs were heavy and my feet were hot and beginning to swell; I couldn’t wait to get home. I then choked on a fly! A very unpleasant experience (for me as well as the fly!) I spent the next 5 minutes coughing and spluttering and subsequently stung my arm on a nettle! 2.8 miles later I arrived home with very uncomfortable legs, a sore throat and an itchy arm. I got straight into a cold bath, which is normally torture but was actually rather pleasant on my aching legs. Needless to say, what started out as a pleasant 3 mile run, turned into one of my least enjoyable runs to date! But I can’t expect all of my runs to be a success; in fact it still surprises me that any of them are!

Thank you for joining me in my journey to the Great North Run.

Coming soon…..My First Great North 10k

 

BOOM...just another Julie-ism!

On Sunday morning I was up bright and early for the Lambton 10k. My brother-in-law Craig and friend Claire were also running. My best friend Rachael and her boyfriend Karl came along to support us.

I drove us to Craig’s house then he drove to the Lambton Estate (partly as he has a bigger car, but mainly as he has a better sense of direction!)

We set off nice and early and I was nervous and excited rolled into one! As we approached the car park I saw a sign that said ‘BOOM’. As we got nearer we were talking about running down this stretch of road and I realised that the sign didn’t say BOOM at all…it actually said 800m (clearly an easy mistake to make… and certainly one which had us laughing all the way to the car park! And as Craig pointed out... it's just another ‘Julie-ism’)

We were pretty much the first people there (after the Marshalls) and got parked really easily. We wandered around looking at the grounds and the excitement built the busier it got.

We posed for some pre-race photos and we also spoke to some of the other girls from running J We queued for the toilet (which took a surprising length of time due to the large number of people and small number of portaloos). I saw Colin (South Shields Parkrun Director) and I waved and said hello :) it's always nice to see a friendly face.

 

Craig, me and Claire

 

I started off with Craig, not far into the race there was a little bit of a bottle neck due to the large number of runners but it didn’t take long to get past this (may well have cost some people a personal best though!)

My sole aim for the event was to get to the finish – I hadn’t ran many hills previously so decided to use it more as a training session than an actual race.

 

Me running
(Thanks to Hippie for the photo)

 

I set off at a steady pace and tried to maintain this throughout. I was doing ok, and the scenery was making it a much more pleasant experience. The hills were hard work but I’ve learned a lot from Steve in the training sessions. I kept asking myself ‘are you going to own the hill or is the hill going to own you?!’ I was doing well at owning the hills until the last mile and there was a killer hill. I was determined to keep running up it but my poor little legs just couldn’t keep going so I walked the remainder of the hill. I started running again when it was flat then my heart sank at the next bit of hill (which was really just an extension of the previous one!).

I knew I didn’t have far to go so just kept telling myself to keep going. Some of the marshalls were really friendly (others not so much) and the smiley ones really helped me to keep going.

BOOM just 800m to go! (Just twice round the track!) I knew if I kept going at the pace I was running at I would be able to finish in a good time so I kept focused and put one foot in front of the other. At 400m Craig and Hippie Lee were there to cheer me on, they started to run with me which really helped, but also made me go faster. At 200m to go I had very little left but just kept going.

Everybody was cheering me on as I got near the finish, and seeing Rachael and Karl really helped! When I finally crossed the finish line I felt sick and my legs were like jelly - but I DID IT. I completed my 2^nd ever 10k race (in a time of 1hour 17 minutes which was two minutes faster than the Sunderland 10k). I was so pleased with myself even though I was aching all over and could hardly breathe!

Rach came running straight over to give me a hug and tell me how proud she is of me! I’m proud of Rachael too, she’s part of the reason I run – she’s an inspiration J

When I was eating my refresher and drinking my water I met a fellow Great North Run Beer Tenter and said well done (unfortunately I didn't catch his name but it was nice to meet another member of the group). I really enjoyed the whole experience and I am excited for the Great North 10K a week on Sunday!

 
Huge thanks to Rach and Karl for coming along to support us (after a night out too!) and also to Hippie Lee and Craig for getting me to the finish. Thanks to Hippie for the fab photos too!

 

My official 10 week training plan started on Monday (with a well earned rest day!) I went for 7 mile run last night (which accidentally turned into 7.5miles). I really struggled with the first couple of miles (heavy calves) and didn’t know how I’d get to 7. I settled into it after a little while and I actually enjoyed the middle few miles (who ever thought I'd say that?!). I really struggled with the last mile as my knees began to hurt. I walked a little bit during the first couple of miles as I was getting cramp in my calves but from about 2.5miles until 7.2 miles I ran all the time which is really good going for me when I run on my own! Looking forward to a track session in the morning!

 

View on my evening run yesterday

 

A huge thank you to everyone who is reading this and those who have supported me in any way on my journey to the Great North Run.

Running Rewards!

I’ve done quite a bit of running since the last time I wrote. It’s difficult to find time to run AND write but I am determined to record as much of my journey to the Great North Run as possible!

I’ve been feeling a bit lost with running over recent weeks, literally just taking it from one run to the next and not really sure what I should be doing and when. I’m starting a 10 week training plan with my coach on Monday and I think this will be a great help! I still don’t think it has sunk in that it’s only 10 weeks until I am running an actual half marathon! I know that with hard work I will do it, as this time last year I couldn’t even run at all! That said, it doesn’t make it any less scary or daunting!

I’ve been going to quite a few running sessions in Cramlington (Dynamics Personal Fitness) and I am really enjoying the social aspect of running too. I’ve made some new friends and everyone is so supportive that it makes even the difficult sessions that little bit easier.

I went to a track session at Whitley Bay a couple of Saturdays ago with Dynamics and although difficult, I really enjoyed it. I couldn’t make it last Saturday as I was working but I was excited to come home to my first ever copy of Woman’s Running (and it was free too!)

 

 

On Monday I went to training with Rachael. I picked her up from work and we got ready at my house. I didn’t have any Lucozade Sport for after the session, so we called into the shop on our way. The chocolate muffins at the till were calling out our names and we bought them as post-run treats! All the way through the session we were running for cake! (not the healthiest post-run snack, but a well-earned treat!)

 

I am particularly ‘enjoying’ the strengthening and conditioning sessions on a Thursday evening. (You may notice my use of inverted commas for enjoying – I use this term loosely as they are really hard sessions!) They always make me feel like I’ve done a good workout though and I can usually feel it for a couple of days after, therefore I know they are doing me good! This also highlights, how little used a large number of my muscles are!

On Thursday evening the session was challenging again and it was purposely more difficult than the previous weeks. When Steve told us he wanted us to do some press ups, my heart sank. I’ve never been able to do them but I was determined to give it a go as I never used to be able to run. Steve demonstrated, and although I found it difficult I was able to do ‘an almost press-up’. I did the next ones using my knees as a lever and although they were still difficult, I was proud that I was getting better at them. We ran for 200m between each set and by the third set of press-ups my arms were shaking. We did a variety of other exercises, all of which were equally challenging and I was proud of myself for doing it. They are all things I once would have said ‘I can’t do’ – which just goes to show that anything is possible if you try! The session ended with hill sprints which were really hard – but no pain no gain!

I was expecting to ache yesterday morning, and was really pleased that I was feeling fine. I shouldn’t have been so confident though, because as the day went on I started aching more and more! I’m aching a lot today – Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness has definitely kicked in! My sides, and the front of my shoulders are particularly achy, which shows that the press-ups obviously did something! :)

During the session on Thursday we were talking about generally being fit and healthy, running and weight loss. I mentioned that I started running as a way of controlling my weight and that I’ve dropped a dress size, without altering my diet very much. Five years ago I lost a stone and a half with slimming world but began to put some of this back on last year. I hadn’t been weighed for a while but at Steve’s suggestion on Thursday I just got weighed today and I was pleasantly surprised to see that I have lost half a stone since I took up running! And I haven’t had to stop eating chocolate and cake!

Most of the running I have been doing recently has been at Cramlington with the running group but I did go out on my own for a 5 mile run last week. I intended it to be longer but it was so warm that I cut the route shorter! I still had to walk some of it but I was proud that I did it (with a couple of hills thrown in too!)

 

A few months ago I signed up for the Lambton 10k and later found out that it’s a very hilly run (this serves me right for booking it without checking such a thing!) I wasn’t too concerned as ‘it’s still ages away’ and I got my brother in law to sign up too! Time passes by so quickly and I cannot believe that it’s actually tomorrow! I am also excited that the run is on the Lambton Estate, where The Paradise was filmed (not the most logical reason for booking a run though!) :)

I am using it as a training session rather than a race, as it’s terrain I’ve not ran previously and I can’t compare it to my previous 10k as they are so different. Two weeks tomorrow is the Great North 10k and I am hoping for a pb for that. My best friend, Rachael and her boyfriend Karl are coming to cheer us on and a number of the girls from running are doing it also so it should be a good day out! And hopefully I can still walk on Monday (just as well it’s scheduled as a day of rest!)

Thanks again for reading! :-)

Highs and Lows

Today is National Running Day and although I haven’t been out for a run today, I have done quite a bit of running since I last wrote on here. It’s sometimes difficult to find time to sit down and type! I have a tendency of blogging mainly about the good runs and the fun times that come with running but I can assure you there are just as many lows as there are highs.

Last Tuesday I planned to go for a 7.5 mile run. I didn’t really want to go for a run and by the time I actually got motivated I didn’t have time for a long one. I got ready and decided that I would go out for a shorter run, but foolishly did not really have much of a plan.

I got new shorts and a vest for my birthday and they were a size too small so I took them back and exchanged them for a bigger size. I was wearing my new shorts on Tuesday afternoon and it turns out the bigger size weren’t an ideal fit either as I spent as much time readjusting them as I did running!

I really wasn’t in a mood to run and frequently walked, for no other reason than I didn’t want to run (well the too small shorts may also have had something to do with it…)

I did a lot of walking on the 3 miles I was out, but I tried to make the parts that I did run, a bit faster. It wasn’t the greatest runs I’ve ever had but I guess it was good that I went out and did something.  

I went to training on Thursday, enthusiasm still on the floor, from Tuesdays unsuccessful run. Steve had a tough session planned for us and although it was hard, by the end of the session I could feel my enthusiasm returning. We were doing Fartlek striders (speed play between certain distances) and the group was small and encouraging. Steve reminded me how important it is for me to look at how far I have come rather than how far I still have to go. I definitely think I am too hard on myself sometimes.

At the end of the session I was talking to Steve and Claire about my current lack of enthusiasm with running. I mentioned how I hadn't updated my blog for about my 'bad' run as I am always less motivated to do so. Claire told me to keep blogging as it inspires her to go and run, which really made me smile :-) It's always nice to know that people enjoy reading it, and lovely to think that I might inspire people :-)

I signed up to be the tail runner at South Shields Parkrun last Saturday as I wanted to put some enjoyment back into running instead of always pushing myself so hard. I also thought it would be nice to give someone encouragement as I have been fortunate to receive lots in the months since I started running.

It was a lovely sunny day on Saturday (a little too hot to run!) and I was looking forward to taking part. My best friend Rachael also volunteered (barcode scanning) and my niece Toni ‘helped’ too. My sister, Joanne and Rachael’s boyfriend Karl were also running. It was Karl’s first Parkrun, and where better than South Shields?! I live in Ashington but I love the South Shields Parkrun and do it quite often, so I was looking forward to being the tailrunner.

I chatted to Joanne and her running friends before we started then I headed to the back, ready to run.  I made sure I was the last runner (Colin told me that my only job was to be last across the finish line, so I wanted to make sure that I carried out my job successfully!)

I began to run a little faster to catch up with the runner in front of me and to run with him. I introduced myself and we chatted all the way round the route. The runner introduced himself, Eric Appleby, and told me all about his running career. I was inspired to listen to his story and amazed that at 81 years old he still does the Parkrun every week! I told him I hope that I can run every week when I’m his age! Saturday was Eric’s 187^th Parkrun (amazing to my 15!). The previous week was his 150^th on the Town Moor and he told me this was a very special occasion - there are photos of Eric running, through the years on the Newcastle Parkrun Facebook Page.

It was an absolute pleasure running with Eric and I am delighted that I decided to be the tailrunner. I could have ran another 3 mile in his company quite easily. As well as enjoying Eric’s company, it also highlighted how much progress I have made since the first time I did the Parkrun at South Shields. Back in December it took me around 39 minutes and I really struggled. On Saturday I ran it in 42.35 and found it quite comfortable (although Eric’s time was 41.24 and I crossed the finish line seconds after him rather than over a minute!)

It was nice that the last two marshalls joined us in running the final stretch of the run, I really felt like I was part of something special. It really was a pleasure to run with Eric and I’m glad to have met him.

Joanne got a pb (a fab 29.04!) and Karl made an excellent Parkrun debut with 27.07! Well done to everyone who took part, and as always the volunteers were amazing. After the parkrun I went back to Joanne’s for a cup of tea (after going to buy some delicious cake at the bakers!) as a well earned treat J

 

On Saturday afternoon I noticed my right foot/ankle was quite painful (so much so I was limping) and I was still aching a little bit from Thursday running session. My ankle was still painful on Sunday and I didn’t know if I would make it to running on Monday night. It was niggling on Monday morning but by the afternoon it was ok and I decided I would go running (even the torrential downpour didn’t put me off!) Monday’s session was really good, although I think I spent a bit more time chatting than running (I love the social side of running!) I enjoyed chatting to Claire and meeting a new member Celia (who I recommended to the running group through the Great North Run Beer Tent Group :). My ankle started hurting again towards the end of the session so I ran 800m with Deb instead of the full km for the last repetition.

I’ve decided to have a few days off from running until my foot feels completely better (I’m not sure exactly what the problem is, but I think I might not have been concentrating on my running form on Saturday at the parkrun due to chatting!) It’s much better today so I think I might go to training tomorrow night J I won’t be doing a parkrun on Saturday as I will be getting sorted for my charity event (a comedy night to raise funds for the North East Trust for Aphasia, who I doing the GNR for) but hope to return to a parkrun again soon!

Thank you for reading and happy National Running Day!

No pain no gain!

I’ve had another busy couple of weeks but have still managed to fit some running in! At the recommendation of my coach I went for a longer run last Saturday. I planned to get up early and go out running (as I am usually up early on a Saturday for the parkrun anyway, so thought this was a logical thing to do!) However, once I was up I really did not want to go running. I felt that 7 miles seemed so much further than my previous runs and I felt defeated before I even had my trainers on.

If you haven’t already noticed yet, I am a pretty determined person and I know that I need to put the training in to enable me to run a half marathon. I got my running clothes on and decided that even if I just went out for a little run it would be better than no run. This made me feel better about running so I got my trainers on, set my Garmin, and put on my nice new running cap (a lovely birthday gift from my sister).

My lovely new running cap!

It was a sunny day last Saturday and it was rather warm to run, even though I did go out quite early (about 9am). I decided I would try and run 3.5 miles away from home before turning around, as I wasn’t really sure where I could run for 7 miles.

As I was nearing 3.5 miles, I was enjoying the scenery and decided to keep running. I ran along the bridge at Sheepwash, stopping to take a few photos as the river was very pretty in the sunshine. There were quite a few hills from here back home, and I walked some of it. I was also starting to overheat, though my new keep cool cap was helping, both prevent my head getting too hot from the sun as well as keeping it out of my eyes!

My legs were quite heavy again and I had to keep walking it out. All the time, I kept telling myself I was doing well for being out there and running….though part of me thought I should be sat in the garden with a cold drink!

Finally, after what felt like hours of running in the sunshine, I arrived back home. Surprisingly I was still able to walk and breathe…though talking was a little more difficult (not for long though!) I was bursting with pride that I actually managed to run 7.1 miles! I walked some of it but it was definitely mostly running. It took just over an hour and a half, which is the longest time I have been out running!

My brother-in-law pointed out that my run last Saturday is more than half the Great North Run! I’m well on my way with training! I never would have dreamed of this a year ago!

All week I have been buzzing with the sense of achievement from running in general and was looking forward to my first parkrun in a few weeks this morning. I was going to go to Saltwell and meet fellow Great North Run Beer Tenters but my sister and brother-in-law were both at work and asked if I could pick my niece up. As they live in South Shields, and not wanting to miss doing a Parkrun altogether, I decided to go and do that one. All week I was hoping that today might get me closer to my sub 30 (pb currently at 30.28) but after a late night last night I knew I was too tired this morning.

There was a small part of me that was tempted to snooze my alarm, miss the parkrun and just go and get Toni but I knew if I did this, I’d regret it by 9am.

Running conditions were good this morning, if slightly on the cold side, and I was feeling positive. I think I started off too fast though and my legs quickly became tired and heavy. My right knee also began to hurt again and I had to walk for a few seconds on two occasions. I knew then that I wouldn’t be getting a new pb today, but rather than give in (as much as I wanted to) I decided to see if I could get it as close to my previous pb as possible.

Usually I know that Joanne and Rachael, are just up ahead and will be waiting for me at the end, but today this wasn’t the case. I found this harder than I thought I would but just kept plodding along. Someone, had written messages such as ‘keep going’ in coloured chalk along the way. This is the first time this has happened (at least when I have been running it) and it really helped me. The volunteers were brilliant as always. The last one before the finish, pointed a camera at me so I forced my Jolly smile and thumbs up. He said I didn’t look tired enough and needed to start sprinting. I really appreciated the encouragement and am pleased that my smile hides how much my legs are suffering!

When I had just under 1km to go my legs really felt like giving up (I really shouldn’t wear heels the night before I run!) and that’s all I seemed able to think about. The Jolly part of my brain told me to think about something else to take my mind off it. I’m a great believer in positive thinking. I began to mutter ‘I love running’ over and over (and hoped no one was around too close to hear me!).  I certainly did not feel like I loved running at this point and once again was left wondering why I even bother. I then remember the reason I started (to fundraise for the North East Trust for Aphasia) and the progress I have actually made over the last few months and just kept chanting away to myself.

I also tried to focus on what my shoulders were doing rather than my legs, as my coach said there was a bit of extra, unnecessary movement in them, on Monday and this is something I can try and work on.

I was ever so pleased when I crossed the finish, the volunteers cheering me for the final stretch. I was really pleased with my time of 32.26, considering I was finding it so difficult. My knee is still a bit sore now and my legs are aching. Hopefully I will get out for a gentle run once I get back from my little trip to London to visit my cousin.

I also need to focus on my core strength to improve my running even more. I have attempted to do some planking this week (boy does that hurt - but no pain no gain!) and Rachael and I have done some exercises together.

 I talk so passionately about running between runs that it still surprises me a little bit just how hard I actually find it once I start to run again! The power of positive thinking!

Hope you all have a lovely Bank Holiday Weekend!

No rainbows without rain...

It’s been 7 whole days since the Sunderland 10k and I’ve been out for two runs this week. I’m looking forward to going to running group again tomorrow evening as it feels like ages since I’ve been there!

On Wednesday I went out for a little run around the lake to stretch my legs after Sunday. It was just a gentle run and I saw some rabbits which made me smile. I walked a little way but ran most of it. I am still finding it difficult running on my own and give up and walk much more easily than I do if I’m out with others. Overall, it wasn’t a bad run and I am glad I made the effort to go out.

On Friday I wanted to go out for a bit of a longer run so I decided to head to the river and see where my feet took me. It was raining when I left the house so I decided to wear my jacket. This proved to be a mistake 10 minutes down the road, as the rain soon stopped and it was pretty warm! I tied it round my waist and just kept running. My legs began to feel a bit heavy so I tried walking it out. I ran and walked for a little bit, but I don’t think I should have started walking as I found it difficult to get going again.

I started to run down a rather steep hill and my right knee began to hurt like it did on Sunday. I couldn’t continue running so I walked down the hill before I started running again. This was about 4km into my run. I was unable to run for more than 40-50 seconds before the pain started in my knee again. There was no pain when I walked, but as soon as I ran it was really painful.

The pretty view when I was running

At 5.5km I decided that I was nearer my granddads house than home. ‘Grandad just lives at the top of that hill, not far at all!’ I thought. I had to walk up the hill as my knee just did not want me to run – funny, it seemed an awful lot longer on foot than it does when I drive it! I then had to walk across the road, and all the way round the corner. It was a whole kilometre from where I decided I was very near. My plan was to say hello to granddad, have a drink of water, quick toilet stop then walk/run the 3 miles home. Grandad offered me some birthday cake (how could I say no?!) then a lift home. My head wanted to say ‘no thank you’ but I could feel my legs screaming ‘YES! Yes please!’. Half way home in the car I realised I hadn’t stopped my Garmin – amazingly I did a km in under 2 minutes – no way I’d beat that on foot!

Once home, and no longer running, my knee was fine (and indeed has been since) and it didn’t take me long to feel very disappointed in myself for accepting a lift home. However, my knee was really sore and at least I still ran 6.5km. More than I would have done if I’d stayed at home!

I didn’t do the parkrun yesterday as I had a busy day socialising and drinking tea (with people I don’t see very often). Definitely hoping to do a parkrun next saturday (though it is the day after my birthday!)

I’m hoping my knee is ok now and that it will be ok tomorrow night when I run. I think I need to stretch and foam roller some more (my routine keeps starting and stopping!)

I wasn’t going to blog about what feels like a bit of a failed run. But then I decided I have to blog about the highs and lows as that’s what makes the journey. At least next time I will feel happier when I run all the way and it leaves room for improvement!

I knew running wouldn’t be easy, but I really didn’t think it would be quite as hard as it is! Then again you need sunshine and rain to get the beauty of a rainbow! Thanks again for reading this, and for sharing in my journey!