Streaking, social anxiety and podcasts...

I haven't blogged regularly for a while but hoping to try and get back into updating it more regularly over the coming months.

I recovered well and reasonably quickly after my Essex Way adventure and was soon back out running and getting the miles in. It helped being the summer holidays so I have also had plenty of time to rest and take care of myself which has made a massive difference.

Back in June I accidentally started a new run streak, I am currently on day 81 and loving it! I know people have different theories on whether streaking is good for you but I am feeling great, I am running a little faster and thoroughly enjoying my running again. I got to 624 days last time so a way to go to beat it!

I have struggled with anxiety over the past months, in particular my social anxiety and running is the one thing that keeps it manageable. I am waiting for a course of CBT to deal with it further but there have been times that without running I possibly wouldn't leave the house. Even the post parkrun coffee has been difficult some weeks, but sorting the finish tokens is a good distraction (or avoidance technique) and quite therapeutic! 

The main thing I want to talk about in this blog is podcasts, I have arrived pretty late to the podcast thing but now I am obsessed! I probably listen more to podcasts than watching TV at the moment. I have some favourites that I love listening to while I am running... 

The first which started off my podcast listening is Running is BS, Stuart and Amy talk about all the things we all love to hate about running, it makes me laugh and also I often find myself muttering about the things that are bullshit on my runs or agreeing out loud as I run and listen!

Behind the Medal podcast is another running/triathlon podcast hosted by Dean and Gary, again very funny and an honest look at what really happens during training, racing etc. I am a particular fan of ginger wisdom (you will have to listen!)

Off Menu with James Acaster and Ed Gamble is a food based podcast where they interview guests who put together their dream menu. Again very funny and great to listen to while running, although have to fight the urge to yell 'poppadoms or bread' when given water during a race!

Finally the one I have discovered during the last few weeks is My dad Wrote a Porno, Jamie, James and Alice present this and it is Jamie reading an erotic novel his dad has written, with added commentary from the others. The main issue with listening while I am running is that sometimes I am laughing so much I can't actually run! I need to work out a way to run, laugh and breathe at the same time.

All of these podcast make me laugh, I do often comment out loud and probably look like a complete nutter as I run round the Essex countryside. There have been times where I have been doubled over laughing and it does get you some odd looks! I am running trails more often as there are less people around and I can giggle without judgement!

Here are the links to the podcasts if you want to have a listen...

https://runningisbs.podbean.com/

https://www.behindthemedal.co.uk/

https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/

http://www.mydadwroteaporno.com/

My final news which I will write more about over the coming weeks is I am going to run an actual ultra race! A friend very kindly transferred his Saltmarsh Ultra (50 miles) to me. It has a generous cutoff of 17 hours so is a great low pressure ultra to get me back into racing. I haven't given up on my dream to complete 100 miles but going to race some shorter ultras for now and then who knows...

Happy running (and listening!) xxx

St Peter's Way Ultra

St Peter's Way Ultra is my favourite race hence why I returned for a fourth time on Sunday, it is a 45 (41) mile race from Chippng Ongar to Bradwell-on-Sea. I am going to start with the ending because I am still too excited not to. I got a new PB by 27 minutes and finally a sub 10 hour finish! 9:39 was my official finish time and it was still daylight!

Starting at the finish!!!

Right now I have that out of the way let's go back to the beginning. Training for the race hadn't quite been what I would have liked having only done two runs over 15 miles since last September, I had run every day since January as I am run streaking this year but just hadn't been able to get the long runs in. I think this may of helped on the day as I had none of my usual pre-race stresses or worries. The only plan I had was to have a day for me and fun out on the trails.

I knew quite a few people running and Richard and I had agreed to start together and see what happened. I didn't want to hold anyone up and was happy to run alone if necessary. It was good to catch up with some ultra friends at the start who I hadn't see for a long time, and there was an impressive posse from Great Notley parkrun either running or volunteering.

Raring to go!

 After kit check and the race brief we were off as I have mentioned in previous blogs I have been training using the Maffetone Method and eating LCHF, this would be my first race low carb and I wondered how I would get on not eating jelly beans washed down with coke! My breakfast had been Greek yoghurt with almonds and a tiny amount of honey and a coffee with double cream.
The weather was good and we set off in good spirits with John deciding to join us as well, it was his first ultra. The route was no where near as muddy as I have seen it in the past and the running was good. My heart rate was a bit higher than I had planned but I felt good so went with it, after all it was a race! We soon arrived at CP1 and I ate some  melon, pineapple, grapes and cherry tomatoes (loved the fruit on offer at the CPs this year!)
We met Jody early on in the race and she more or less stayed with us for the whole race, we were all a similar pace most of the day so staying together made sense.

Check point 1

I was surprised how quickly the miles ticked by and unlike my first two years there were always people around. Last year I had run in a group with friends. The only major issue I was having was my new trail shoes were hurting my toes but I had my old knackered pair at CP3 so knew I would be able to change. My heart rate settled during leg 2 and I was feeling good.We didn't waste time at CPs this year getting in and out as quickly as possible. I knew early on by how I felt that sub 10 was possible but tried not to think about it too much, It was great having friends manning some of the CPs and a hug from Andreea, bacon, change of shoes and a cup of tea at CP3 was a real boost! The change of shoes was a race saver and as it wasn't muddy this year my old trail shoes were more than good enough for me to finish the race in.
Leaving CP3 my legs were aching, which was to be expected due to lack of long runs so I instructed Rich that we needed some in race entertainment. We played our usual town game, this time towns and places beginning with W (there are lots!), snog, marry avoid which we will leave out on the trail and never speak of again and the alphabet band/singer game with the twist that you had to sing a line or two of chosen band song! I apologise to anyone that had to endure me singing, still smiling at Jody's comment that she had always thought ultra runners were crazy people and we had proved it! Anyway before I knew it we were heading into Steeple for the long mile through the village to CP4 where Len was waiting with more bacon! Bacon is the way forward in ultra running.

Posing along the trail!

We got into CP4 at 3:45 so I knew I had more than enough time to make sub 10, I was on a mission, head down and off we went for that final leg. I was moving well, energy levels were good and even the bits I was walking I was managing 13 minute miles and was running under 12 minute miles. It was the strongest I have ever remembered feeling in the latter stages of a race. I love the bit of this leg when you reach the sea wall and can see St Peter's Chapel (the finish line) in the distance. Even better this year the wind was behind us! Those last two miles were brilliant and a little emotional (though I'm pretty sure it was the wind making my eyes water!). I ran strongly to the finish and loved that Andreea had run out to meet us!

Richard finished slightly ahead and John and Jody were close behind, awesome effort by all. Lindley handed me my medal and out of the four it's a pretty special one!

During the day I ate fruit, cheese, a few nuts and bacon and had squash to drink, for me it worked and I had no major dips in energy and mentally felt strong and positive throughout the race.

All in all in was a perfect day on the trails, there were some very impressive performances by lots of friends, well done all. For me it was one of my happiest race experiences and I thank each and everyone of you who played a part in making it that way. For me the Maffetone Method, LCHF eating and being so much more relaxed before the race than usual all played a part in what was a very special day for me.

Thanks to all at Challenge Running for another brilliantly organised race, the volunteers were amazing and couldn't have been more helpful and I will be back for number five next year.

Special thanks to Richard, John, Jody, Andreea, Holly, Len and Karen for awesome support throughout the day xx

Happy running xx

St Peters Way Ultra

After what seemed like a long week Sunday morning finally arrived, I have never been as nervous before a race as this one! I'm not really sure why as it's probably the best prepared I've ever been, had even done a proper taper. I really wanted to do well, prove to myself as much as anyone that I could be good at this ultra running stuff.

I arrived at Chipping Ongar and met up with Gareth who was also running, some of the Commando runners who were manning some of the checkpoints, after several trips to the loo, a race briefing, checking and rechecking kit it was time to go...

       Gareth and I at the start.

The mud started almost immediately but felt good physically but have to say it was a good six miles in before the nerves finally decided to sod off and let me enjoy the day! So leg one passed quite quickly and I was running at a decent pace, and after a near miss with a cyclist (really need to look before crossing roads!) we arrived at checkpoint 1, it was good to see Rob and Lorraine and eat a good selection of food, so checked in, maps exchanged, fed and watered we headed out for leg 2.

Another really good section, everything was going well I was on target and felt good, slight twingey left heel but nothing too bad. The route description and maps were easy to follow so my GPS spent a lot of the day in my pack, just needing to reassure myself a few times that I had made the right decision on direction, but definitely starting to build some confidence with the navigation. The miles seemed to pass quite quickly and I soon arrived at checkpoint 2 where there was another fine spread of food and drink, and lots of support from the marshals. 

Leg 3 I had run before and knew it was extremely muddy, think it gets my vote for the muddiest leg. There were times when running was impossible and I'm still quite amazed I got through the day without falling over! What I did discover though was I can walk quite fast so still managed to be keeping to just over 4 miles an hour even when I had to walk which wasn't too far off the pace I needed to be going. Checkpoint 3 was manned by friends from The Commando Runners so I got a massive cheer as I ran into it. Gareth was still at the checkpoint so a quick photo opportunity, some food, drink and painkillers as foot was still troubling me a bit. I had a bag of salt and vinegar fish and chip crisps waiting for me and I tipped some into a bag along with some grapes and haribo, may sound awful but even a mixed handful was surprisingly enjoyable, could be a whole new snack in salt n vinegar coated haribo! 

      Checkpoint 3 

Leg 4 was probably the toughest for me, I was ok until about 30 miles and then some negativity set in for a while, the never ending, ankle deep mud was starting to get to me, but I found swearing out loud at it made me feel a bit better! I may have had some violent thoughts towards an elderly man who I saw walking his dog at 31 miles, I was walking as I was reading my route description and he said 'aren't you supposed to be running' I smiled through gritted teeth with clenched fists, and didn't ask if he'd ever run 30 miles!! The mile along the road through Steeple village seemed to go on forever and I was convinced that I'd be nearer 11 hours finishing instead of the 10 I was hoping for. I almost phoned Lindley to say 'I can't do this anymore' and for a little while hated running. Fortunately I spotted the checkpoint and Lorraine ran along to meet me saying I looked good! I told her I was struggling and asked if I was last as I hadn't seen anyone for ages. She said I wasn't and that I only had 8 miles to go after this one, which was less than I thought. So I had some food, Rob gave me tissue for my endlessly running nose! Extra layer and headtorch at the ready and it was time for the final leg. I had been running for 8 hours and suddenly realised if I could do 4 miles an hour I could still finish in 10. So feeling better and much more positive I set off. 

I power walked most of the final section as running was making me feel sick and wasn't any faster! Along the final leg I met a guy named Paul and we stuck together to get to the finish. It was really windy for the last few miles along the sea wall and the end didn't seem to be getting any closer, but we made it and only a very short time in darkness. Paul managed an impressive sprint finish, I had nothing left in me for a sprint. Seeing Wendy, Chris, Ruth, Mark, Gareth and Rachel, waiting in the cold and dark to see me finish was brilliant and even though I wasn't really with it, appreciated it enormously. Lindley told me I'd finished in 10:13 which I am extremely happy with and 5th lady to finish.

So that was my St Peters Way experience, I loved (almost) every minute of it, had fantastic support all day from marshals and other runners. My new race vest was brilliant highly recommended piece of kit, along with my drymax socks and dirty girl gaiters which were amazing, I have one tiny blister which after 10 hours of wet, muddy running is pretty good. 

      Post race feet!!! 

My coaching from Lindley over past 6 or 7 weeks has already made a huge difference to my running and I felt strong for most of the run, though still need to work on fueling and hydration. Low point of the day was throwing up into a carrier bag on the minibus on the way back to Ongar, I can only apologise to the poor man sitting next to me, not one of my finest moments but guess it happens when you run ultras! 

I have to say a massive thank you to all at Challenge Running Ltd for a brilliant event, the support was amazing, to The Commando Runners who were out marshaling all day, seeing a familiar face is always a boost, all the other marshals who were fantastic, to Lindley for the coaching and support, and all my friends and family who sent messages of support and congratulations, sponsored me and generally put up with my madness!

Well done to Gareth and Tom who also completed the race you were both amazing. Still completely in awe of the winner who finished in 5:34. How do you do that, amazing, well done :) 

I am really excited about the rest of 'Challenge 2014' and hope my other events are as successful and enjoyable as this one.

I even received a certificate in assembly at the school where I work this morning!

So this evening a little (ok very!) tired and achy I am really happy with how it all went yesterday. A few days off then the training starts again but for now enjoying the post race happiness of a truly enjoyable days running :) 

Have a great week and happy running xx

A happy running week

It's now been a month since I started training with a coach and it's definitely the best running decision I have made! 

Ran 40 miles last week, 206 for the year so far and have lost half a stone in weight. Also and most importantly I am running better, feeling stronger and like I keep saying having fun! 

Yesterday I ran Gt Bentley Half Marathon, it was a very windy day on an open but flat course and I had a race plan, start steady then run 9:15 to 9:30 minute/miles until mile ten then push for the last three. Consistency in pacing has always been a struggle for me so I really focused on achieving this. All went well till miles 9-11 where I slowed to 10:20 minute miles, we were running into the wind but other than that when I thought about it there wasn't any other reason why I had slowed, my legs felt ok, the rest of me felt ok, so I started to push and got back on track even managing to overtake people in the last two miles. I finished in 2:05 and am really happy with how it went.

It's now only 3 weeks until my first ultra of the year, Challenge Running's St. Peter's Way and I'm really looking forward to it... 

Thank you to Lindley for the support and encouragement over the last month.

Happy running everyone, have a good week xx 

Enjoyment and excitement...

I often get asked why I run, especially why I want to run long distances. I'm used to being called crazy, nutter, fruit loop (hence the name of my blog!) It's difficult to explain why or is it?

Quite simply I enjoy running... And I want to see how far I can go, maybe find out how far is too far.

When I came up with this years challenge I knew it was going to be tough, knew I would have to train hard. Then when I started looking into training for 100+ miles it all got a little scary!! 

So January is done, I ran 155 miles and yes it's still early days but having a coach is making this whole journey much less scary. February's training plan is stuck to the fridge, I know exactly what I have to do and when. St. Peter's Way is less than a month away now and I'm already excited. The training plans, advice and support from Lindley is already making a difference as I am more confident about what I can achieve. I've always had a stubborn streak and don't give up easily and with some hard training and focus (and I'm going to be really positive now!) I can see myself crossing the finish line of all four ultras! 

Something else I've discovered recently after 12 years of running is that I like running with other people!! Still enjoy my solitary runs, like the time to think, reflect and let my mind wander, but every so often especially on a long or tough session having some company is good!! 

So that's it really for this week, quite simply I'm enjoying my running immensely, and that for me is what is really important, so no matter what your plans are for the week, whatever you are doing make sure you are excited by it and enjoy it.

Sunday morning run (it stopped raining!!!) 

Happy running all xxx 

Running with a coach week 2

So second week is done and it's still going well, most importantly I'm enjoying my running. 

This week I have run 37.68 miles bringing my January total to 137.44 and still a few days to go! 

This week there has been a tempo run which went well wasn't quite on target pace but was still running much faster than I normally do at 6am, an evening trail run, a recovery run and my first back to back long runs, I'll come back to those in a minute. Also been to 2 boot camps so all in all a good training week. My appetite has increased no end and anyone with any sense will not leave food laying around if it's edible and unattended I will eat it!!!

So back to back long runs... I decided to explore some of The Essex Way so staring at White Notley I head off for the first one on Saturday morning, well there was lots of mud and felt like I never got into a rhythm where I was running consistently for any distance! spent a lot of miles stressing about how slow I was progressing, I was enjoying the countryside but legs were heavy and when I finished 13.55 miles averaging 4.5 miles an hour I was worried!! On the plus side my new trail shoes are great. A message to Lindley and later a chat and the reassurance that I'm doing ok and that was a perfectly acceptable pace for the conditions and would be target pace for completing St. Peter's Way in 10 hours and I set off on Sundays run in a more positive frame of mind.

Thoroughly enjoyed Sundays run on The Essex Way going in the opposite direction, averaged 4.7 miles an hour, not much quicker, but it felt so much better, proving that a lot of this running stuff is mental! I enjoyed the scenery had a chat with an alpaca, splashed through the mud like a child and had a good time!

So again thanks to Lindley for the support and encouragement, thanks to Ian for understanding my unsocial running behaviour this weekend, going to have to get you to learn to love the mud ha ha!! 

Have a good week all and happy running xx 

First week with a coach

Just a quick blog today...

This week I have completed week one of my new training plan and it has gone really well. Early days I know but already have a little spark of confidence in my abilities that was missing before. 

Last weekend I ran a section of The Chiltern Way with Lindley and learnt lots about looking after myself and some insights into how my body might react to running over 100 miles.

An early morning trail run in the dark on Wednesday morning was great fun. Yesterday was another long one, I ran a section of St Peters Way, what can I say mud, mud and more mud, it felt painfully slow but enjoyed it and didn't get lost, following the route description was simple, running up hill through freshly ploughed, muddy fields wasn't!! 

So ran a touch under 40 miles last week, almost at 100 for the month but more importantly I'm enjoying it, having fun and feeling optimistic about this years running.

Have a great week and to all my running friends enjoy yourselves xxx 

Half way through yesterday's run!! 

A crazy running year...

Well I can honestly say 2013 has been a great running year! Have loved it, lots of challenges, new friends and I think I am now an ultra runner, a very slow one but being out there running crazy distances is what I love to do!!

It's really hard to choose a favourite race as there are so many amazing memories from all of them, well apart from Run to the Beat but that one can be blanked from memory, no more mass participation, you must all be clones wearing the same t-shirt events for me!! 

The Wall was amazing and was really happy with my time of 18:38, a great event even if more was on road than I was expecting, but loved it, loved the support and the craziness of running into Newcastle at 2am with a couple of drunk blokes asking why I was running at that time and the look of disbelief when I said I'd run from Carlisle, another drunk lady who gave me £10 for my charity while I was checking in at my hotel. 

Endure 24 (or enjoy 24) as we renamed it was another highlight, a crazy weekend with great friends, and The 100 Mile run a four day run through the Cotswolds, probably my slowest, plaugued with niggles, but loved every minute, the camping, the sun, the rain, the last day when Bath never seemed to get any closer, the discovery of how many different ways you could undo a gate, unforgettable times.

A new PB at Halstead marathon, my favourite marathon, still not quite sub 4:30 but getting very close, next year, and Stort 30 was another great run with great friends.

This blog could go on and on and on as so many amazing running memories, but I can't finish without talking about all the amazing running friends I have met along the way, this year saw the formation, after Colchester half, of The Commando Runners (not named because we are highly trained, lean, mean fighting machines!!) an amazing group of people who support, encourage and have fun running and doing other stuff. You can always be sure that whatever local race you turn up at there will be a friendly face running, supporting, encouraging and Parkrun has become a real Saturday morning social occasion to start the weekend off well.

So looking to next year, 'Challenge 2014' has already been planned and plotted, Challenge Running Ltd, 4 events ranging from 30 to 125 miles, all entered, training underway, raising money for Moorfields Eye Hospital. Looks like 2014 will be another crazy, ultra running year... 

Stort30 - last ultra of the year... Probably

I say probably, because The 100 mile run was supposed to be the last ultra of the year, but discovering Stort30 a local ultra, it seemed rude not to sign up! I shared my madness with our FB running group and before I knew it six others including my boyfriend, Ian (who thinks ultra running is 'silly'!!) had done the same.

So on Sunday after an extra hour in bed (great timing for the clocks to go back!) race day had arrived. Ian arrived and I can honestly say I have never seen anyone look so terrified before a race, not even my friend Mark before Paras10 last year!! After a slight detour we arrived at race HQ and after the race briefing and obligatory pre race photo it was time to begin.

So myself, Ian, Gareth, Lorraine, Rob, Danny, Trevor and Kerry set off on our ultra adventure, I knew the rest of the guys are faster runners than me and expected them to finish before me. We started our two laps of the field that we had to do before setting off to the river. It was to be an out and back route along the river Stort, and having done a recce of it a few weeks previously was looking forward to the route. It was predominantly a trail run and I had done what every runner knows is the biggest race day mistake and bought new trail shoes the day before as there had been a lot of rain leading up to the event and I was worried about falling into the river in my road shoes and knew I couldn't run 30 miles in my current trail shoes, as it turned out no problems, trainers were great and no issues at all!! 

I ran the first 13 or so miles with Lorraine which was great and I was happy with my pace but had already started to slow down, so she made the very wise decision to go on ahead, one of the highlights was seeing Ian going back the other way, a quick hug and happy to see him looking better and I headed to the turn around. 

Seeing Vicky and Liz two more of our running group at checkpoint 2 and 4 was great, nothing like a friendly face and a goody bag to spur you on, thanks Vicky.

I was happy with my half way time but it all went a bit downhill from there!! Now I can sit here and make a million excuses as to why I struggled during the second half, too many events this year, I'd had a migraine on the Saturday etc etc but who knows why some races don't go as well as others? 

At about 24 miles I told myself I'd get to the final checkpoint and give in, at that point I had no desire to struggle though another 5miles, what was the point. Well I got to the checkpoint, there were a couple of other runners there too and I knew I couldn't quit, (that little phrase my friend Simon uses popped into my head 'pain is temporary, pride is forever') I've never had a DNF (did not finish) and today wasn't the day to start!! So a cup of squash and a banana and I headed out to finish this race! I ran/walked, chatted to a guy who recognised me from The Wall Ultra and finally the finish line, Ian, Lorraine, Rob and Vicky were waiting all I had to do was a lap of the field and it was over, pretty sure that field had got bigger since the start!! 

So medal handed over, hugs and well dones received and that was Stort30 completed. the rest of the guys did so well and I am so proud of them, (Ian still thinks ultra running is silly!!) 

It was a well organised, friendly race with great check points and am pretty certain I will give it another go next year! So thank you to all involved, a great day with great friends, now the aches and pains are beginning to subside it's back to the internet to find the next event ha ha ha!!!