Too much mud!!

Ive come to realise that running for me is as much "in my head" as it is "physical fitness".

I had quite a lot on my mind last week, had to make a decision regarding work and it was using up a lot of time in my head! Ive read that lots of people can find running, a good way to de-stress their mind and thoughts, i find its the opposite!

I find i really didnt run well last week, whilst i was making up my mind of what to do. Some days i just couldnt run at all. Once id made my decision, i felt relaxed again and my running came back to normal. Quite strange!.

Other than the days that i was pre-occupied, i have ran quite well, especially the XC today at Dunstable. I amazed myself in fact! Ive not beem looking forward to XC since Thursday really, i could quite easily not go! But when it became apparent there would not be many women there, i thought that reallty i should go. Jo S kept assuring me that i will be better at it this year as we have done lots of XC runs (no mud though!!) and have completed lots of big hills during these runs as well.

After almost missing the start and having to sprint to the start, - not a good way to start a race!

Anyhow, it was VERY muddy, and i did do my best to avoid the muddy bits, but this soon became impossible. Sometimes losing your feet in a mud puddle, that ended up past your ankles! I knew i was getting muddy, but i decided to not look until id finished as i knew this would stress me out! And consequently, i would run badly for the rest of the way!

My heart rate reached 194 on one of the hills! Blimey, that cant be healthy! Once, id finished, i decided i had enjoyed it. Always the way though, i enjoy it once its over - Never during!

I was very pleased that i had such a good run on a XC course, as im not good on grass or mud!! So, i guess i must be getting used to it and improving. It was nice to score for the club, never happens usually, as the super fast women are always way, way ahead of me!!

Thanks to Gary Cook for telling me to sprint at the end to catch the Bedford Harriers lady ahead. I wasnt going to bother, as i thought id never catch her, but i could hear Gary shout and i managed to go up a gear and caught her! Such a good feeling!

Got my best placing of 13th lady, usually im around 28th, so pleased with that.

A good running week!

Well, this has been a good running week.

Had 2 really good runs, both with Jo S! My first was the Letchworth 7m loop in my last blog, the second was a 9m loop into Graveley and Weston.

Again, we completed this in the fastest time ever we have done that route. Its quite challenging ( i would put a link in here to show you the route, like Lindsay and Gary do, but i have no idea how to!!). There are a few climbs - the biggest being the one in Graveley. I used to have to stop at the top for a breather when i first came back from injury, but now i dont - so a good sign im heading the right direction!!

Our average pace was 7.45 for the 9m. Our best previous to that was around 8.00, so its quite a lot quicker!

I do like that route - you dont see many cars and it out in the lovely country lanes and its challenging enough to enjoy doing over and over.

The countdown had begun for the ball!! The biggest social event of the year for NHRR. This event takes a lot of planning and it all started way back in May!! We lost our original venue - The Blakemore, due to being taken over by Travel lodge, so i had a panic to find a new venue at short notice!

So, with a bit of negotiating it ended up as Letchworth Hall Hotel. Which i hope will be fantastic.

Getting better!

I had fantastic run yesterday (Tues) with Jo S. We said we'd just do a nice,comfotable pace, but as usual when we run together it ended up quite tough!

Did the 7m loop around Letchworth and we completed it the fastest time we ever have!

At 5m our average pace was 7.37. We knew by the time we got back to Cannons though it would have slowed a bit, as it was nearly all climbing.

By the time we got back, out average was still a very speedy (for us) 7.47 average. So we were both very pleased with that.

Its amazing the difference running with someone else can make. When i do that route alone, i may be lucky if i do it in an average pace of 8.30 ish. But when we run togther, Jo and I seem to run quite well.

Enjoyed Standalone at the weekend. Was dreading getting abuse from im-patient drivers, but my bit road to marshall was ok. I was soooooooo wet and cold by the time i got home, i sat on the sofa all afternoon, heating on and wrapped in a blanket!!

I would really like to run it one year, but im just not quick enough!! But, hey, im still happy with the pace im running right now!!

Up and Running !!

Well, its been an awful long timr since my last blog! Im now finally up and running again! Yay! I feel i can now do speed work again and have been running pretty much how i used to be.

My injury seems to be pretty much sorted now. Ive just got myself some custom made orthotics (£315 - EEKK!!). Im hoping that these will now keep me injury free. It turns out my right leg is longer than my left, hence why i always get injured on my right side. I have thought about orthotics before, but have it off due to the cost. But i thought, that if they will keep me injury free, they will be worth it.

Im running pretty well right now and am up to the speed that i was before i had my time off /recover time. It surprised me how much speed i lost from having time off. Then it takes soooooooo long to get it back.

Ive decided to do Rome and London next year. I will either race Rome or used it as a training run. If i race it i will just trot round London as i really enjoy the course.

I have a new regime in the gym at the moment to increase strength and endurance, its quite tough, but after 3 weeks of doing it, im starting to find it a bit easier, so i will change it again in the next couple weeks.

So, feel quite positive again about my running!