Temporary Blip

It was going so well and I was finally starting to bang out some big sessions at a good pace. I was starting the marathon build up in a great place and really looking forward to getting my teeth into some good long runs. I usually have a rest pre-marathon build up, but for some reason I knew I would have to cash it in. I think I was being realistic with my daughter starting Nursery and all the colds and bugs that come with that. Just 3 days after Ruby started Nursery we both went down with a very bad sore throat and a nasty cough. I have been resting as I never like to train through sore throats, and after day 5 I am starting to feel like I could do an easy run tomorrow, hopefully I can wave this bug good bye and get my teeth into some good miles once more. If you are training for a marathon don't panic if you get ill, rest and make sure it has gone before you re-start your running again. 5-7 days of rest will not affect your overall fitness in the bigger picture!

I was really excited about jumping back into international competition again at the Great North Cross-country in Edinburgh. The week before was no taper week, with the Somerley 10k on the Monday and then a cracking session with the Bournemouth AC lads on the Tuesday night, we did 3 x 15mins with 3mins jog rec, and I felt my strength returning, but the next day my legs were trashed. I was tired for the following few days, so I took it easy and did less miles. A short flight up north, I found myself walking off the plane in Edinburgh into a blizzard. Four inches fell overnight, and made Arthur’s seat look like a winter wonderland. However, the race was no wonderland for me, ghee I forgot how fast and intense XC running is and with a sheer wall to climb up on each lap..(.oh maybe that was a hill) I soon had jelly legs and lactic up to my eyeballs. Despite the grit I had to endure I finished a solid 8^th and I enjoyed every moment of it. I am now excited about getting fitter and racing some more, and seeing myself get stronger and faster over the next 3 months.

The new year and ready to go!

Sorry for the lack of postings, but the new year brings more organisation and time to keep my blog updated.

Since I had an average run in Chicago, I have taken my time to build the miles and the fitness again. I have been running consistently and have decided to join up with Bournemouth AC on Tuesday evenings to help me push some pace boundaries and also to motivate me in some tough sessions. Having ran 85 miles over the last 3 weeks I feel like I am starting to turn a corner fitness wise- no where near my peak but working towards it. I am very excited about my race calender this year! It is true I need to run well again, and bag some fast times I can't blame 'just had a baby' any more as Ruby now approaches 19 months. I kicked off the year with a training run at the Somerley 10k, and felt like I had a strong run on the off road trails, finishing 2nd overall and 1st Lady. Now getting very excited about racing on an international level again this weekend at the Great North Cross Country in Edinburgh. It was 2 years since I last raced XC seriously and it was at this very place in the World Championships. Lets hope I can have a solid run and see where I am at.