Last post before the big run

So, it's been a fun week, had my last BMF class on Tuesday - throwing each other across the park like cannonballs - only lead to one small bruise....

Other than that I've been busy being in denial and eating carbs

Right now I should packing for the trip to Edinburgh, but so far all I've managed to get together is some water and 4 apples, Time Out and Runners World - not really enough to run a marathon with!!

Probably ought to get on, I'm nervous about the run - going up by myself is a bit scary, but with a few 1000 others I won't be alone!

No email until I've left Edinburgh, so this is it for a while - have set myself a target time for 4hr30mins, so keep your fingers crossed and all forms of rain dance would be appreciated - it looks like it's going to be a warm one

My last Sunday Run

before the big one that is!

Sunday dawned bright and sunny and HOT, so naturally we waited until the warmest part of the day before venturing out for a run.....

Out up Vincent Drive (past the massive new hospital) and along the canal to Five Ways - it was a good run, but Ewan is faster than me, so keeping up was an effort especially in the heat, but we made it there and back in good time - the incentive of left over Thai takeaway was a good one!!

Managed to get my name ironed onto my vest while watching some of Police Academy 3 - still a classic film and when I got back to London discovefred that my number had arrived - 7732 - which, according to my friend Charlotte, is lucky in Vietnam - that's good enough for me!

So now just 2 more runs and one BMF class and that's me ready for a marathon.......

http://www.donatetomyrelay.org/emmarossruns

Birmingham BMF

Is not as hard as Finsbury Park's - up in Brum for the weekend and ventured to Cannon Hill Park for BMF today. Popped on my usual red bib and off we went - I finished the class an hour later full of beans and not at all that tired - either I'm having an amazingly fit day or it was an easier class - I think the fact we walked (??!!!) in the warm up should have been some indication.....

To commiserate for a disappointing morning we went for brunch in the Selly Sausage and I'm happy to report that the bacon and maple syrup pancakes are still as amazing as ever - wouldn't recommend the poached eggs though

Going to iron my name onto my running vest later and fingers crossed my number will have arrived by the time I make it back to London - it's meant to get there today

BMF countdown and off to Brum

I did my last Thursday BMF class last night - only Saturday's in Birmingham and then Tuesday in Finsbury Park and then none until I've recovered from the marathon - I'm going to miss them

Was a beautiful evening, lots of running up and down the hills (well, slopes) squirrels bounding around and the sun shining on the trees as it set......


Am off to Birmingham for the weekend - not too sure if we have an iron in the house, so have got my running vest to iron my name on to. Looking forward to BMF, a trip to the Selly Sausage for lunch, thai takeaway and a run round Sutton Park and my last alcoholic drink before the big day!

Confidence slowly coming back

Went for a good run around Regents Park yesterday - only 4 miles but it felt good - was so busy running I forgot to look out for the giraffes!

Can now count the runs I have left on one hand - it's getting a bit scary!

I was a green!!!!

I'm either getting fitter or crazier or a little bit of both.

Last night at BMF there weren't many greens (the super fit crazy group) so when this happens they tend to split the quicker reds (the middle fit but not crazy group) off to make up the numbers. I found myself just outside the cut off but the instructor asked me if I wanted to go up a group and for some reason I found myself saying yes....

OMG the difference between the groups was crazy - faster running and no breaks at all, not that we have big breaks in the reds but at least a little rest between exercises - not so in the greens

I have never been so close to being sick from exercise, but it was fun and I got through it and am starting to wonder if I might try it again on Thursday..........

Half breathing a sigh of relief.......

Didn't get into the NYC marathon - am on one hand relieved as I'm still worrying about Edinburgh and the thought of doing another one this year is a little daunting, but on the other hand I am a little disappointed - would be really great to go over and run around New York

Only have to apply for another 2 years and then get guaranteed entry, so by 2012 I'll definitely be doing it!!

Still have to wait for September/October to hear about London, so something to look forward to!

A much better start to the week

So after the disaster that was the weekend, last week started much more promisingly

Had some good runs - went out twice from work - a record for us - even managed to remember to try out my CRUK running vest and take a photo!!

Missed Tuesday's BMF as busy with Relay stuff, but had a great session on Thursday.

Unfortunately Friday dawned with the beginnings of yet another cold, went to BMF on Saturday and struggled through trying to breathe and by Sunday morning even thinking about a run was a big no, so no long run this weekend, but lots of oranges were consumed

Starting to feel a little worried about Edinburgh now, but up until last weekend my training had been going much better than last year, so I'm hoping this week and a trip to Birmingham for my last 'long' run will bring my confidence back and then all that will be left is next week and the final countdown!!

A good nights sleep

Have woken up (too early for my liking - but Suppose I ought to go work!) feeling much better

The sun burn I forgot to mention yesterday has calmed down to a less red shade of brown and a chat with a good friend has put a new perspective on things - nothing like a cup of tea and sympathy!

Today's run - not a good one

So, we were in Norfolk this weekend for my Dad's 60th Birthday. Thought I'd worked out a nice easy route from where we were staying (near Wells-next-the-sea) to Cromer - 20miles, 1 road, not even I could get lost doing that - but as it turned out I could have got killed - the road was a little dodgy, so after much studying of the OS maps a new one was worked out

I set off following the same initial route as Saturday's quick trot out but even before I'd reached 2 miles I wasn't feeling great, my legs were sluggish, I was breathing really wheezily (something I'm prone to do towards the end of a race when I know I'm close to finishing and get a bit over emotional) and was just having a horrible time of it

I got to 5 miles where Dad met me with a drink (it was all country roads so to save me carrying shed loads of water/lucozade he was my mobile drinks station!), he was met with a daughter ready to give up and go home, but after a quick chat and a change of route we set off together to make sure I took the right road (I was all set to follow a different one so it's a good job he came with me!!)

After an initial feeling of renewed positivity the wheeziness was back - just couldn't control my breathing - the route was hilly but my legs coped surprisingly well with them, but as I turned into the last 3 miles before seeing my dad (and potentially mum, sister, her boyfriend and 3 dogs) I was already thinking of giving up - thankfully a mixture of wise words from Leigh and the last marathon and some very kind words from someone who will remain nameless I got though the next few miles up hill through a country estate and was rewarded with a lovley downhill run past the house and the home straight to my next pit stop

It was here that I decided to quit while I was ahead - there was no way I was going to be able to happily finish another 9 miles - they were only going to leave me feeling more demoralised than I already was. I've never given up that far from home before and I hope I'll never have to again, I'm putting it down to it just not being a good day - if it happened on a day when I only had to run 3 miles then I wouldn't be worrying about it, but as it turns out this time it was on a Sunday - big run so a bad day.

Now I have to put my mind to the next 3 weeks, tapering and trying to put today behind me.

There are plans to go running with Clare and Jenny at work, it will be fun to run with some people, that and a couple of BMF classes should hopefully get me all fired up and ready for this Sunday's 13 miles - we're nearly there!

This last week

So last Sunday's run was long and hard hard work - not really enjoying these longer runs as much as I hoped I would - this time last year I was still coming back from being injured so never even ran this far before the marathon and these longer distances are proving to be mentally very hard I think my legs can do it if only my mind would push me through

The rest of the week was interesting - a trip to the physio on Tuesday proved to put an end to more running - some leg presses and then a BMF class left my quads in agony until Saturday when I went out for a quick 4 mile run to see how they fared - pretty well as it turned out - according to Sally Gunnel I put in my fastest ever mile!

I then treated myself to a long stretch in the sunshine of Norfolk - my favorite part of exercising!

My route for tomorrow

4 parks (and a hill), 20miles and I suspect 1 very tired Emma

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2784735

anyone want to come along?? please??

if you don't want to join me on my run, would you sponsor me instead??
http://www.donatetomyrelay.org/emmarossruns

hopefully see you tomorrow though!!

The rest of the week

After recovering from Marathon day, the week has been spent with the usual round of runs and BMF.

Slightly concerned that my knees are getting increasingly sore after my longer runs - have just discovered that I'm out of ibuprofen - a shopping trip to stock up is needed.

Fingers crossed that they behave themselves through the next 2 weeks of mega runs.......

A couple of crazy things have happened this week

Firstly - late on Monday night I signed up for next year's London Marathon - the first ever Virgin London Marathon - and after Sunday how could I resist?!

Secondly - I got a text yesterday afternoon from Brum telling me that they - Ewan and Leigh -had entered the ballot for the New York Marathon - I've always fancied doing this and so there's no way they were going to enter and I wasn't

So now I have to wait for October to hear about London and 2 weeks to hear about NY..... exciting, but NY is on 1st November of this year - not something I was expecting to be doing in 6 months time, but what are the chances of getting in?????!!

Last Saturday and the weekend

The last week has been a little crazy.



Saturday dawned wet and early - I dragged myself out of bed at 7am to go and get some breakfast ready for the day's run - no BMF for me, instead a nice 18 mile/3 hour run was the order of the day. Sunday's run was brought forward a day to allow for my supporter duties.



The run was my usual route down to the river but going via Primrose Hill before heading to Kings Cross to add the extra mileage. http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2761219

My travel round London have me discovering I've been running past major landmarks without me even noticing and Saturday's run was no different. I spent a long time last year running past St Paul's without seeing it and this time I realised I was running even closer to it - in fact I was only a small flight of stairs away from it. So, always happy to change to route to distract myself I went for a small run around St Paul's before heading off through 'The City' past The Monument via Bank underground and on to Tower Bridge doing a little bit of the marathon route in reverse - don't think running across Tower Bridge will ever fail to excite me - such amazing views, could just do with fewer tourists



So I managed to get myself round the 18miles - the last 3 were a struggle, but it is the most boring part of the route - a long straight road home - but so far not found a more interesting way



Then it was time for a shower and headed out for lunch - pancakes with bacon and maple syrup and coffee at my most favorite cafe round the corner from my house



It was here that I met Ewan - one of my friends, the other being Leigh, running the London Marathon the next day.

The rest of the weekend was turned over to them and the London Marathon - they both ran amazing times in very hot weather -so proud of them both for all that they have achieved