13 weeks to go

Monday 20th June

I had packed my running kit into the car intending to stop off on my way home from work for a run. It seems to save time after work if I do this - otherwise I get in, have a coffee, get changed, go out, then I have to get back home again, change again, take Jasper out.... there just aren't enough hours in the day! This way I get changed before leaving work and then when I get home Jasper doesn't get all upset at me going back out without him, I can just take him straight out. Much better. Oh, and I enjoyed the run very much too. Been a very bad start to the week at work so this was an excellent antedote!



Wednesday 22nd June

Rest day Tuesday - it is always a tiring day for me as my early shifts are very long and getting up at 4am takes it's toll. Wednesday sees a switch to backshift (lates) so I get a lie in normally, although this morning I was back at the docs for a review of my new medication. I was itching to get out for a run, which really says it all. We are keeping with the meds I have as they are clearly working so far. So, four miles up and down the loop road before work - very pleased with this. The outward journey is steady - flat or slightly downhill but then it's back up the same way and of course that is a little harder. But I felt good and managed it pretty well. Pleased.



Friday 24th June

Should have been a running day, but I am on the fells with Marion today. I intended to get up early enough to sneak in a half hour run, but I overslept in the event so it was shelved for today. Never mind, the climbing was a good workout anyway!



Saturday morning, and after a day on Blencathra my legs felt pretty tight. to be honest the last thing they wanted to do was run, but I had promised myself a 6 miler today and if I wanna be up to the Great North in September then I really do need to get back on track. And let's face it - I am thrilled to bits to be able to get back into this at long last.

As expected, walked bits and had to stop once or twice for some stretches, but it's looking as though we are heading in the right direction and I am a very happy bunny this week.

Moresby Parks and Back

Decided on a four miler today to start the 13 weeks of training for the Great North Run. That which started off this blog in the first place. I feel almost as though I am starting from scratch, although because I am not really I have the added obstacle of frustration to contend with, and so I am going to employ any and every trick in the book to keep myself going and that includes some good music to run to.

Back in 2007 when I first discovered Nike+ and rushed out to buy my first iPod Nano, one of the first tracks I uploaded to it was Beverley Knight's 'Keep this fire burning'. It's always been a great song to run to and I find it very motivating. If you're reading this, help me out by sharing your favourite running songs and I will bang them on my ipod and you can help me round. While you're thinking about it, here's Bev.



So the run went well today, although it was not steady and i did have a few walking breaks, but I made it and most important of all - I enjoyed it.

Langdale Trail 20k

Well, there have been a few uploaded runs along the way, but generally since I last updated this I have just kept the walk/run 8/2's going and it's been okay. Somedays better than others, and I have been knocked for six by the neighbour cutting his grass, or the weather taking a turn toward damp and windy... I have come to learn that some days simply are not running days - but in between I am kind of keeping in there.

And so today it's off to Langdale for a trail run. Might seem ambitious to tackle a 20k, but the organisers have bent over backwards to stress that you can take your time so its my thinking that I can walk/run this and kickstart myself again with a feeling of actually achieving something.


My spirit (and legs) are certainly willing but my lungs just don't seem able to keep up and so although I have resolved that I am not going to give up running, I still have moments when I feel I am deluding myself.



And so the Langdale 20k became the Langdale 2k... I think I probabbly could have continued and risked it but if I'm gonna need an ambulance I don't really wanna be in central lakeland at the time. I hate helicopter rides :-\

Very kindly, the race organisers have given me a free entry for next year, isn't that lovely of them?

Dunno what went wrong really...although it was very close and there is a lot of grass cutting going on at the mo. Who knows - anyway, maybe I should have employed the trick of run for 15 mins to bring on the asthma BEFORE the race and then run. A number of people swear by it, and it is true that I stopped the car on the way home and did a little three mile trail run on the back of Thirlmere. I just needed to - and it was a nice day and I felt absolutely fine as I was driving!



Trails suit my lungs better than roads definitely. Slowing right down to negotiate dodgy terrain or to do a bit of balancing on a log to cross a stream is all good for taking the demand off my lungs briefly. The steady plodding of road running is the most challenging it seems.

Disappointed though not surprised about the Langdale run, but thoroughly enjoyed my 3 miler at Thirlmere and came home suitably muddy and wet to make me feel better!!

Thanks Davy for the free pass in 2012 I will endeavour to get a bit further than this year!!

Now back to the plod-plod of the roads as there are only 13 weeks to the Great North Run. How the year has flown by!!