Sunday 17th April - longest outside run yet

Sunday 17th April, the date of the London Marathon 2011. I started the day by having a relaxing breakfast in the sunshine with my sister, Katy and Molly. We then started to watch the footage of the marathon live on TV and I started to get really nervous about the half marathon - crazy as it's 5 months away!

Sat there with a mixed feeling of nerves, anxiety and guilt I toyed with the idea of going for a run. I felt inspired by those running the marathon and how easy they made it look and I came to realise that as long as I get round, and even if I do it at a snails pace, it'll be fine. I think that by setting that boundary for myself now I can start to menatlly train, relax and focus on it.

After about an hour of contemplating whether or not to go for a run Molly said the wise words of, 'Go and feel good for the rest of the day that you've done it, or decide not to go and settle with that.' I decided to go.

I ran the furthest outside yet (don't know actual distance), including 2 hills, a park, running along part of the river, through Bedminster and then back home. I run constantly and was out for 25 minutes. I made sure that I did a really easy pace so that I could keep going and it worked.

It was a great feeling and gave me real enthusiasm to keep going. It's also getting me used to the heat, as I did the run at midday and it was boiling! Another bonus - my ankles didn't hurt, hurray!! 

Personal training plan

Last Friday (15th April) I saw a personal trainer at the gym. It was great as they were able to take what I'm already doing and give me tips on how I should and could be improving on that. My training plan now looks like -
Day one: half hour on medx weights, followed by an hour of cardio which is to include a 30 minute run.
Day two: Yoga
Day three: Outside run between 30 minutes and an hour
Day four: Break or Swim
Day five: 1 hour of cardio at the gym followed by 3 setd of 12 squats with weights, 3 sets of 12 step ups with weights and 3 sets of 12 lunges (forward and back) with weights
Day six: another outdoor run between 30 minutes and an hour
Day seven: rest

As I'm writing this it's sounding pretty hardcore, but having done an outside run on Sunday, followed by my first day in the gym yesterday and I'm doing yoga today, it's fitting in really well. I'm even planning on going running this weekend - a bank holiday!!

The actual start of training - Week commencing the 11th April

Ok, so 8am in the gym (even though I have a migraine!). On my way out I book myself in with a personal trainer to write me a plan with training for the half marathon in mind. That's booked in for the 15th at 4pm.

Tuesday 12th, I run home from work for the first time and do my first road run since.... I can't remember when. It went well, but I'm disappointed with myself. It was 2 miles, including a hill. I did it in 15 minutes. Why am I disappointed? Because I didn't run the whole way, I walked for a total of 3 minutes.
Don't get me wrong, this time 5 months ago I wouldn't have been able to do this in this time, but I want to run all of it and not have to walk after 4 minutes, which I'm not used to on the running machines. Oh well, first time and I am pleased that I did it. One thing I noticed - it hurts my ankles. No surprise there as I have funny ankles that turn in on themselves. Best get that sorted!

So far this week, so good. There's still 5 days left though and I'm planning a spinning class, yoga and a personal training plan session at the gym.

Week 1 of proper training

I was planning a 5 day week of training. Did that happen - no. eek!

The beginning

Since New Year I've been aiming to increase my fitness and start to get ready for training. This has been all over the place, however I have been going to the gym and even managed to run 5K in 20 minutes - on a running machine, but still a huge improvement!

It's now mother sunday and I'm back in Taunton for the weekend. It's been a few months and by now everyone knows about my aim and I'm starting to think that I need to do this now for my own pride. Whilst back in Taunton I see the Taunton Half and Full Marathon and I think to myself that enough is enough, registration is open, do it.

Sunday April 3rd 2011, I pay £35 to run 13.1 miles on the 11th of September 2011 in Bristol. That's it, I'm doing it.

New Years Eve 2010

For the last month, or so, I've been contemplating the suggestion that I try and run the Bristol Half Marathon. Having lived in Bristol now for a couple of months I'm keen.

New Years Eve comes and I suggest to a friend that we do it together. I may live to regret this.

Two weeks later the Interdisciplinary Physical Theatre company that I work for, Kompany Malakhi have asked whether both myself and my friend (the Office Manager, Joey) will run it in aid of raising money for them, a registered charity based in Bristol. "Yeah sure". Whilst thinking the worst about what might happen if I don't, but quietly hoping that by the time registration comes it will be full.

Why am I writing this?

If you've read the above and my profile then you'll know why I'm doing this, so I won't go over that again. What you don't know is that I've decided to write this blog instead of a diary. I'm planning on doing a personal challenge every year (since the age of 24 and am at present 25, nearly 26) and by keeping blogs whilst doing them I hope that I will have virtal evidence of my challenges.