G.N.R.

Well, another one done I say as if some seasoned athlete who has done shedloads of half marathons, however not to have anything taken away from me i do feel rather chuffed with myself if for no other reason than I lopped a massive 20 minutes of my time from last year. This year it was different somehow, for a start I was lucky to get to the start line at all because of ankle problems, however after almost daily core exercises, side raises, press ups, etc etc, and the help of my mates dragging me along on a few long runs I got there, at the start, I was almost late, the bus lost its way can you believe! driver got out and after checking with the bus in front that he was going to same place, he followed, and we got there, walking down to my start pen I watched the wheelchair athletes set of, smiled at the grace of Haille and found my pen behind him (qite a way behind him it must be said) once in there I spotted the red hair of Martin, so we waited together, and then we were of, I managed a tap on Ants hand, and then watched as Martin sped into the distance, I settled down into what I thought was a comfortable zone,in the melee of runners, complete with my red St Raphael cap, prayer beads, and shades. and my sister name on my back. I looked at my garmin and saw I was doing just of 10 min miles and thought maybe I was going a bit to fast, but felt ok but decided to slow a little, splitting the race into 3 parts the first third "let em all go" and I did that remembering Toms advice when I asked him how to run a race, Ive use his advice so many times and it always works, for me anyway. after about 5 miles I sat with the rest tucking behind people, I felt it was tough and wanted to get the race over, people just stopping right in front of me, making me run around them, I was constantly searching for grass to run on, and was quite irritated for whatever reason, I thought of what Tony Oadenshaw had said, anybody got any tweaks, sore achilles, aching joints? well just get on with it, then I thought of My sister saying dont give up running I want to be remembered, and plodded on with slightly more purpose, looking ahead, the orange segments handed out were wonderful, and the wet wipes so refreshing,the Marie Curie supporters were great, all the supporters were great, cheering for everyone, so amazing, I constantly sipped water, on the way round and even grabbed a jelly baby, sucked the sugar of and spat it out, I felt my body was working well sweating well, and the temp was good. towards the end the last mile was very hard and as I turned that corner I started looking for Ian, I coulndnt see him or anyone though I thought I heard someone call my name but there was so many people there 10 deep needle and haystack springs to mind, at the finish a lady patted me on the back and said well done, and I went searching for Ian about an hour later we found each other, and I hugged him close. I hope to do it again next year all being well.
I t took me 2hrs 18mins and 41 seconds, I came 110th in my age category. I drunk over 2 litres of water during the race, and used up 1500 cals, back to normality now, healthy eating and drinking, runclub with the gang and look forward to winter training at least twice a week is the next challenge.

Last night lead run the run club we had a good turnout and I was bit nervous , though everyone was really good. We did a 25min tempo run out and back in the hope that we all arrive back at the same time and on the whole it worked, hard work though my legs felt heavy then I realised id done 23 miles in 4 days so that was ok really. some newbies are doing really well indeed am impressed, hope the two lads return it would be brilliant to have them running for us, one wants to do london in under 3, soooo good, and the other is a really useful runner. I hope that I didnt put anyone of last night , cos it was quite hard. it was good though all good.
I am wondering who to run for in the G.N.R. wether to stay with previous or to perhaps marie curie hospice, I cant decide yet. best make a decision soon though as it looms.

club night

Brilliant turnout tonight 22 I think did a 3 mile time trial loop round fitness first a couple of times to warm up, then we all charged of , such a joy 3 new members, now I feel we are really getting there, Sophie did a brilliant job with leading the night. and Julie of course

Had a run out slow but sure, round the hills of Thornton, with the lovely Lisa and managed almost 8 miles, which might not seem a lot but believe me its been an age for me to get to this point, my ankle stood up to it well, plenty of ice wrapped round it sfter snd its good, chuffed wont think about the time it took suffice to say it was a good run, thanks to Lisa.

Eccleshill Road Runners bleep test night

Tonight we were going to do the fitness bleep test, however the best laid plans, it was raining with gusto, so it was decided to give it a rain check, till next week. I thought no one was going to turn up, but true to form lots did, and more new members, we split into 2 groups with me taking the more experienced runners on a steady easy 40mins stretch out. I always love running in the rain, after a day stuck in an office, there is something brilliant about it, perhaps its just the being out there doing it. most of our runners are doing something on sun York Jayne Tomlinson or the dear old Idle trail race, I am looking forward to trying to do a bit of a longer run with Lisa, if she can put up with me.

F.L.M. marshalling

What a weekend, all set to V.L.M. to see dear Julie complete one of the most challenging things that life can give her, and sitting in the hotel the day before, I must admit I was so worried for her, the emotions that must run through your mind before the run, I well, I just dont know having never done one, but they must be formidable to say the least,I was lost for words to say to her, quite unlike me really. Julie was going to have a quiet day with a trip on the eye and lots of rest.
The rest of us went to the expo and spent far to much money but had a good time then took a boat back to the hotel at Canary Wharfe, we all had a meal together, my foot was hurting a bit and as I was marshalling at the start with Sharon, we were in bed early alarm set for an godly hour. Marshalling seemed like a good idea at the time,giving something back for the help that ive had over the last twelve months, and I thought Id be able to see Julie there, how wrong was I, we saw Julie having breakfast just before we left the hotel gave her our best wishes, quite quickly , as I was so emotional that I was almost in tears, and thought that would not do her any good at all. So we left and started making our way to L.D.R. to get to the start, once of the railway a ten minute walk up the hill, and we were at the start of V.L.M. We found my contact and were allocated our tasks, ours was to stand outside the blue start entrance and make sure that all runners had their numbers displayed on their shirts, so they could pass through the entrance with ease, into the holding area before the race started, cant be to hard I thought, however it had slipped my mind that quiet though it was at 7 am....... between 8.30 and 9.30 some 20 to 30 thousand runnners were expected to go through the entrance we were standing outside. I must just say that as we got busier with pinning numbers on shirts, calming nerves, helping darth vader, directing people to the right start, I did noticed though that some runners, arrive with this sense of disbelief that they have got there at all, theres a glazed look in their eyes, and that moment of fight or flight seems to be there. What a thing to do, just think about it, for a moment, those who have trained like our Julie have been out running at ungodly hours in Bradford in 6 inches of snow ,in the rain, in the hail, in the freezing cold wind round reservoirs, round racecourses, in the dark. miles and miles of running, hours and hours of steady regular runs with the long un once a week, really the marathon is run before you get to the start line ,I knew that Julie had done all the very best preparation and that all being equal that she should do really well.
It was kind of organized chaos really where we were theres no way that you you can get get that many people through to the start without some problems I thought, however it was busy , but manageable, I learnt how to say have a good run, in several languages, curtosy of Sharon who seemed to be fluent in most, we got soaked to the skin as it rained before the start, not ideal for the runners at that stage, but it then stopped, and off they set with all the hopes and dreams for the race in their hearts and the not so small matter of raising around £50 million for charities. we helped direct a few late starters and watched the baggage lorries set of for the finish all 80 of them.
We then went back to see the race, caught some of the elite and champion runners and watched them with awe such grace and speed, not an ounce of fat between them, we were chilled and wet and so changed into dry clothes then went out to watch. at the 18 miles point My eyesight is pretty poor the first person saw was the back of Claire so fast that girl, our club is so proud and lucky to her run for us, then Rob looking very relaxed and hardly a bead of sweat of him, very impressive, then I spotted the lovely Helen from Leeds as fresh as a daisy, and Dave, Baby Bob aka Tony, and then at last the one and only Jules she was looking fantastic running relaxed, if she didnt feel it she certainly looked it really cool calm and collected, smiles all round and then martin went of to see her at the finish. as it turned out not so easily as it should have been, the numbers of people going to the finish meant they shut down tubes for a while. for an hour which meant no one was there to see Jules in, dreadful for her on her own she must have thought we didnt care. After a while we went to meet them and went the wrong way , about right for me ,but caught up with her at the hotel, home safe and looking fantastic with a big tired smile on her face. for Jules LonDone. perhaps an ultra next ? x

Am feeling quite low about my running or should i say lack of it because its agony when I try to do anything on it my ankle that is, so untill its stronger and able im not going to do any thing on it. So while im with my lovely baby sis Im going to relax and do very little and enjoy my familys great company. So its looking like the marathon may be out for this year, and im trying to the exercises the physio ordered and some xtrainig when I get back home, probably swimming and keep on smiling. :-)