Week Sixteen - No Running ..... Are you sure?

This week started on a high and surrounded by Paul's. Our 10K graduation run had arrived and thanks to my need to publicise my whole life on my blog these days, most people knew I was aiming for a sub 50. I had recruited a secret weapon earlier in the week in the form of 'Pacer Paul' who dragged (almost literally) me to victory in 48:08. I definitely owe him a beer along with my fellow zero Paul and his mentor Paul (see what I mean about the Paul's) for encouraging me along route!

Now 10K graduation over and mentor Tony says we have a week off. A week off, really?? No running?? I am not sure about this. I understand the theory and the need to let my body recover but the thought of not running actually terrifies me. I don't ever want to have that first run feeling again!

So, following Tony's instructions Tweedle suggests a gym class and books us in to "Core Stability".  If you score points for turning up we got those and my abs were definitely worked by way of giggling too much. There wasn't even a 'back of the class' to hide at as we all merrily sat in a circle with our 'big balls' and proceeded to determine how to embarrass ourselves for a solid 30 minutes. Will I go back - yes, will I be any better, I hope so!

The Tweedle duo headed back to the gym on Wednesday where Toby described us as "the noisiest people in here". Did we do a great workout? ... probably not but something's better than nothing!

Thursday saw the arrival of my new XC trail shoes. Having been talked into signing up for the league what better way to prepare than buying new kit! I think Toby has just about recovered from his heart attack at seeing the bank statements! I have no expectations for XC apart from the fact I am going to get wet and muddy but am looking forward to the challenge.

Finding it difficult to not run at all for a whole week me and Tweedle snuck out like naughty school children and joined Doug's intervals on Peace Pagoda hill. There was something eerie about being stood halfway up a hill in the dark and definitely highlighted the need for a head torch next week.

I managed to avoid running for the rest of the week and used the extra time to plan my training schedule for the next few weeks. I am now booked in to the Great South Run in October and the Dirt Half in November. Fitting all this in is becoming increasingly difficult as the mileage increases so I am hoping to be super organised. Woe be the one that tries to mess with my colour coded schedule!

Amanda

Week Fifteen - The show must go on!

This week has been fairly disastrous by all accounts. After a good run at the Willen 6 on Saturday I skipped my normal Sunday run and headed to the gym instead followed by the club run on Monday night. So far so good, pace felt faster than it really was but nothing to write home (or blog) about!

Needing to fit in a longer run I decided to try the Tuesday morning club run. With the exception of the company it was awful from start to finish. I definitely went out to fast and paid for it later. Still, 8 miles under my belt and lesson learnt (hopefully).

The rest of the week followed a general pattern of grumpiness, overtired children and mediocre workouts. On the bright side (wait for the pun) ..... I brought myself a head torch, now you will be able to see me coming and promptly run, walk, shuffle or drive in the opposite direction. As I am sure you will agree it looks much better modelled on Mr Grumpy than me but will soon be coming to a forehead near you.

Trying to lift my spirits I brought myself the latest Runners World to enjoy with a cuppa and a piece of cake (oh the irony). Therein was an article about motivation and mantra's for running with several examples one of which I have modified to use on Sunday for our 10k graduation run at Caldecotte.

Fit Fast Strong

It will either work and get me the sub 50 I really want or it won't and a suitably fitting alternative will be chanted on the drive home (I will leave you to figure it out!)

Amanda

Week Fourteen - Apprehensively looking forward!

This week started with a 'lovely' Sunday run with the Redway Runners. Note the term 'lovely' is used loosely attributed mainly to having to run up Bow Brickhill PUKE hill! Not my favourite place but I made it to the top and survived the full 90 minute run.

The 'Tour of MK' races run by Milton Keynes Athletics Club started this week and I am in awe of four of my fellow zero's who opted to participate in all six of the races of varying distances across multiple terrains. They are braver souls than me but maybe I will join them next year!

After a rest day Monday and a workout at the gym on Tuesday there was much groaning as my alarm went off at 6am on Wednesday morning. It doesn't matter how they sell it but these newfangled alarm clocks that start slowly and play tinkly music that gradually ascends in volume until you can ignore them no longer are not working for me. It is 6am, it is practically still dark and the idea of going for a run, no matter how short, is not filling me with joy. After taking a few seconds to remind myself of the end goal (and catch 30 seconds more shut eye) I got dressed and left my sleeping family for a quick jog round the village. Once up and out all was ok and I came home feeling much brighter and also very aware that I need to purchase a head torch!

5 miles with Tweedle on Thursday and the weather had decided it was summer again! We made light work of the mileage and got round in a respectable time but it got me thinking a lot about pace. I have established I can ran faster than I ever thought I could over a 5k and I am currently running further than I have in over a decade but finding a happy medium between longer distance and a good pace just isn't happening for me! Maybe I should just forget about pace all together and enjoy the journey.

With our next milestone of 10k fast approaching I have started looking ahead to the next goal, the MK Winter Half in December and something to bridge the gap and make the distance less daunting. The Great South Run looks like a good option so just working up the courage to bite the bullet and sign up. It is Toby's birthday weekend so looks like I might be treating up to water carrying duties in sunny Portsmouth - he's a lucky chap!

The training week concluded with the last race of the tour and a 6 mile race from Woughton. Apparently pronounced "wooften" quite why I am not sure! I had decided earlier in the week that although I would make some effort I wasn't going to go flat out as I wanted to save myself and see if I could beat my 10K PB from the race I did back in July. As some of the zero's are starting to realise it appears I am not physically or mentally able to not go hell for leather in a race scenario. The course measured just over 6.4 miles on my Garmin and my 10k time showed as 51:26 which is definitely a PB and a great way to finish to the week.

A massive well done to Sarah, Paul, Glynis and Jo who finished all six races with happy smiley faces and a special mention to Tweedle who ran even with a stonking hangover!

Amanda

Week Thirteen - Looking Back!

I was scrolling though my camera album on my phone this week when I came across the image below. This was a photo I sent to Toby one evening exactly six months ago, showing him my running kit ready for the morning. I think his response was something along the lines of "LOL let's see if you actually get up in the morning"!

Well I believe I did, it wasn't far and it wasn't pretty but over the next few weeks I got out more and more and by the end of March we had joined the gym. I learned of the Redway Runners and of the proposed Zero to Hero programme and the rest as they say is history!

Since that first run I have vastly improved my 5k from, well, not being able to run 5k, to 37 minutes in those early days to 22:47 at the latest parkrun. I have met so many lovely people and most of all I am having fun!

This week on Sunday a few zero's got together for a long run. On the way out we discussed various disaster scenarios from being struck by lightning, 'death by bumblebee' and bridge collapse. Fortunately there was nothing quite so dramatic and we all made it back in one piece (with a minor detour as we got a tiny bit lost).

Monday was Martin's muddy bank holiday run. I think my abs got more of a workout from giggling so much on the way round. It was a brilliant run although I have to confess my wet stinky trainers are still loitering around somewhere oooops!

My aim for this week was to get to the gym a bit more as I have been a bit absent over the last few weeks. I made it on Friday night (I know, how rock and roll) but had to settle for a workout at home to finish the week!

Still there is always next week, let see what it brings!

Amanda