Half Marathon Training Begins - Down and Up

Monday: Some days definitely do not pan out as expected. I managed to get out for a run, though disappointing. It was a real struggle, I just felt heavy and tired, despite my enthusiasm over starting the half marathon training programme. Technically, I was supposed to start tomorrow but knowing the other half would be away for most of this week, I knew I needed to run whilst I still had someone to watch my daughter (on school holidays). I think I was also pretty stressed during the run, the whole issue over having noone to babysit this week so I could run. Stress will sometimes motivate me to run, but sometimes, it gets in the way of the enjoyment of running. I ran the shorter than needed time of 16mins 10secs, covering 2.54km. Disappointed and stressed, I expected the week to be a difficult one, in terms of my running. However, hope was more alive than I realised; on returning home, the other half suggested and encouraged my visiting family in Scotland whilst he was away on his trip. A little thought, a quick check of train fares, and I had my tickets booked - I travel tomorrow early morning with the kids :o) By going away, at least I will have the opportunity to run (family can babysit) and staying home will definitely mean no running. So, for the second time in a month, I am going back to Scotland, a holiday for the kids, maybe even one for me? :o)

Challenges Ahead

Sunday: A very late night, coupled with kids making mischief, led to me deciding not to run this morning. I was a little regretful later as I saw it had been raining, and it has been a while since I ran in the glorious rain. I spent some time looking up races I can do this month, constantly being urged to do a 10miler, but that sometimes feels like over-optimism. But I wonder, I have done two 6.22milers (10km), perhaps the 10miler isn't so big a leap? I am being constantly accused of being negative about my running, moaning about it, but on much reflection, I disagree I am that right now. I don't think I have felt more positive about my running, I feel rather bouyed by the knowledge of having done 4 races, each a great challenge for me. One runner's realism may be another runner's pessimism, perhaps, and I think I have been fairly realistic. Till now, anyway... I was perhaps seduced by the huge faith of others in my abilities, when this evening, I accepted my first fetch challenge. A fetchie has challenged me to do within 30miles of his total mileage for June. I thought, interesting... till I read his training log, which details his having done 119miles in May alone - compare this with my having done 140 odd miles in FIVE months of training. However, he has had 'worse' months, and after the initial indignant and shocked state subsided, a voice inside me said, go oooonnnn... So I did :o) I accepted the challenge, and yes, the odds may be stacked against this overweight, puffing newbie, but who says the underdog always loses? ;o) It's another motivating factor for me, to do the extra mile when I train. My realistic hat says I won't be able to win the challenge and I know that. But it will be something exciting for me, something to challenge me. The half marathon will be a real challenge on its own, and me accepting the fetch challenge should work with it, help me focus harder, work harder, enjoy the journey more. Another fetchie informed me of a race in Liverpool after my half marathon, which gave me food for thought, I have never thought about running there before. But it is definitely something I will consider, having a soft spot for a city I have barely seen. Tomorrow was supposed to be a rest day, at the start of a new programme, but I have decided to run. My other half is away from Tuesday to Friday, and the thought of not being able to run is a great cause for concern (my daughter is still on school holidays this week). But I hope to try and work something out, somehow. Challenges indeed.

Spectator at the Race For Life

Saturday: I took the kids with me to watch the Race for Life in the local park (no run for me today). It was rather strange to be a spectator and not a participant, and as I watched the runners set off, my feet were itching to join in! The atmosphere was great, it was incredible to see so many running for Cancer Research UK, their reasons for running pinned to their backs. My daughter commented on so many being for runners' mums. The race had lots of walkers and it really was lovely to see so many happy people, enjoying themselves, and for such a good cause. I spotted a runner in a fetch.com vest but she sped away before I could yell my support, though I continued to clap on the others :o) The kids weren't as enthusiastic about it as I expected, a downright pain a lot of the time, but I was undeterred in my aim to watch the runners. I was a little overcome by how proud I felt to see fellow runners cross the finishing line. I didn't know anyone there yet I identified with them so strongly. It had been a job trying to find the finishing line (not marked as clearly as it should have been, I think) but it was a joy to get there eventually. I didn't stay for as long as I wanted, the kids were playing up too much, but I was glad I went. Although these races are generally not competitive and are filled probably with more walkers than runners, today reminded me of why I run, because it's about fun, it's about enjoyment. It can be easy to lose track of that, I felt that a short time ago. I wish I had taken part today but I wasn't too down about it, no point really, and I truly did enjoy watching other runners. I reached an important decision, deciding on following the half marathon programme as advised by greattrainer.org, and this begins Monday (rest day). A 14 week programme leading neatly to the big race in September, I will be receiving reminder texts before every training session. I felt more comfortable with following times rather than mileage, and it felt more doable than the programme offered by runners world. The application for the race finally arrived, which I plan to send off on Monday. At the end of the day, the feet were rather sore and achey from the trip to the park. I applied a great deal of vaseline over the blisters and all over the feet before sleeping, as I planned to run the next day, thinking about 60mins to start off the new month.