I’m no loser :)

Well apologies, I should have updated this ages ago.  I ran the Taunton 10k on Sunday 30th September with my mate Mike and it was BRILLIANT!

I was worried I would stumble over the finishing line in last place, or worse still not actually finish at all, seeing as the longest I had run to date was 5 miles and before that only 3 miles, no more than three times!!! BUT, it was all quite respectable really, I ran it in a time of 1 hour 7 minutes, which is nearly 25 minutes faster than I expected to do it in so I was chuffed to bits.

However… I haven’t run since and I have the South Molton Struggle coming up at the end of this month and this one is 8 miles cross-country… What was I thinking? And I am doing it for charity… The Dogs Trust, in honour of my little running partner Ruby of course as they picked her up as a stray and saved her from being put to sleep for no reason other than being homeless… Still can’t believe how many healthy dogs are put to sleep each year

Anyway, back to the race… We turned up about 15 minutes before the start with very little idea of what to expect and found lots of serious runners and a few not so serious. It is a big race with space for 650 participants and it was pretty much full on the day. We started out at the back so as not to get in the way of the people who seemed to know what they were doing and because we were so far back it took a good minute or so to even cross the start line (So you can take that off my recorded time thank you ). Mike ran with me for all of 10 seconds and then disappeared at 100 mph!… His race plan was to run as fast as he possibly could and perhaps even be sick on the finishing line. I was planning on taking it a little easier and just wanted to finish the race, preferably without being sick!

I started at a reasonable pace and stuck with it, my Mum and Dad came out to support me and I saw them on the first 1k waving and smiling, there were people all along the route which made such a difference. I had every intention of running the first 5k then walking for a bit and walk / running the rest but I got to 5k easily, picked up some water for the water station, and carried on running. I tried walking at 6k but it seemed harder somehow as my brain had cut out and my legs had taken over, 6-8k was amazing, I think those lovely little endorphins had made an appearance, and they promptly left me at 8k only to return for the last 1k to the finish.

I even managed a little sprint over the finish. And I wasn’t last… Nowhere near

We picked up our 10k T Shirt souvenirs, went to meet our other halves who were out supporting us at the finish line (And ruby of course, I think she was a little disappointed she wasn’t allowed to run with me), I forgot to keep moving and quickly got cramp, then we went out and ate a big roast dinner and got drunk on cider… Can’t wait to do it all over again and now I have a personal best to beat..

12 Days to go!

I have only just got over my run the Sunday before last with my friend (or at least he was my friend) Mike!
Having only run a maximum of about 3 miles once or twice (and still walking some of that), he decided it would be appropriate to run 5 miles, practically up to the height of Glastonbury Tor, back down and then up the actual Tor…

At least if I can do that then my chances of struggling around the 10k course are slightly improved, at least mentally anyway.
My race number arrived in the post this week, I am number 35 out of 650 runners, I am going to tuck myself away at the back and need to try really hard not to run too fast at the start but knowing me I will go flat-out for 3 miles and then collapse. Oh well.
8 mile South Molton Struggle the following month, I think I have lost my mind. Ruby isn’t allowed to run in the races with me so I’m running the Struggle for The Dogs Trust where we adopted her from, that way I can’t back out

Please help me to make this less painful by donating a little something to my Just Giving page so I can say Thanks to the Dogs Trust  for finding me a great running partner and friend.

http://www.justgiving.com/Laura-Sweet

I’m a runner!!!

Just back from another run, out and back the same route from home and I’m all hot and red in the face. I feel great though, I am comfortable running (courtesy of my New Shoes), I can run longer and faster and I feel like a proper runner.

Ok, so I can still only run a couple of miles and that makes this all sound a bit silly and perhaps its just the endorphins talking but half way through the run when I should be getting tired, I get stronger and I’m getting very excited about my race next month.

I’m running three times a week, hangover or no hangover, rain or no rain, hot or cold, with Ruby. I won’t get up to 6.2 miles in time for the race but I hope to be near 5 and will blag the rest on the day, hoping the excitement of it all will carry me the extra bit I need. Not sure what to expect on the day other than painful shins, I have never even been to watch a race! I don’t know quite what I was thinking but I have also signed up to run an 8 mile cross-country race a month after this… and its a hilly one! Regretting it already!

I am really starting the see the benefits of all this exercise though and there are many; I look better, my skin is clearer, I feel happier all of the time, I haven’t lost weight but I’m changing shape, I feel more confident, I am healthier, I am fitter, I have encouraged one or two people to start running again which is what I wanted to do (Mike is joining me on race day & even my husband is running with me from time to time) and best of all I have done it for myself, by myself, and that’s what has kept me going… that and Ruby jumping all over the place with excitement when I have my running kit on. 

Going to Nepal next year was the reason to start training, but as much as I can’t wait until we go next year it’s not the reason I will carry on running,  running is, however, the reason I will be able to enjoy Nepal to its fullest.

New Shoes

I made the decision to go out last weekend and buy a new pair of shoes – I didn’t think I would be able to find anywhere in Taunton that would be able to offer me any decent advice on what would actually suit me and stop me getting such sore shins (and now Calves!), BUT, then I remembered Tony Price Sports and they have a machine.

The Machine backed up what I thought I needed and so I asked the shop assistance to pick me out something, he chose a nice looking pair for £85 and then asked me what size my feet are to which I replied “bugger, forgot to tell you that they are only a UK2″ – this put another spanner in the works as all their adult shoes start at a UK4… So, they went out the back and found the only pair of junior shoes with the arch support I needed, luckily I liked them and they were only £45 so bargain.

Took them out for a spin yesterday and my legs still hurt, although I think less than they would have in my old shoes :-\ Plus I went riding in the morning so assume I was a bit tired.

Swimming tonight, which I am loving, then run tomorrow morning maybe. I still think that I will have to limp around the 10k course, or possibly crawl, but I will do it. Then once completely broken I will rest (Swim) and repair properly then start very slowly all over again.

R.I.C.E…!

When I stared running again a couple of weeks ago after my break I decided to go straight out and do the 5k I managed before I gave up. Stupid mistake as I now have niggling shin splints again. R.I.C.E - Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate is my current routine and just hoping it gets better while I continue running in preparation for the 10k. I will also just go to the park for the next couple of weeks as it is pretty flat and I can run on the grass, hopefully saving some of the impact causing the damage.

I swam on sunday and will be climbing tomorrow night so keeping up / improving my fitness wont be an issue, I just hope I can strengthen my legs in time to stop the race being incredibly painful!!! I will have to hobble around.

I just don’t think running comes naturally to me (I am much more comfortable in the water) but I will keep it up and see where it takes me… Plus Ruby wouldn’t forgive me if I stopped now.

Taunton 10K

OK, registration has actually opened today… So I have registered. Countdown to my first ever race 52 days!

Not sure what to do now, train I suppose and hope I don’t embarrass myself completely

Slowly coming around…

After our trip to the lakes, which was lovely if a little wet I Pretty much had a month off running. Pure laziness unfortunately…

Started again just over a week ago and have had to pretty much start from scratch but Ruby is totally ecstatic about it all and nearly poops herself when I get my running kit on. 

The taunton 10k is on 30th September and registration is due to open any day. I’m signing up. Something to aim for and hopefully i’ll get further that 5k and give up this time.

In addition to the running, rock climbing and horse riding to get fit for Nepal I am trying to squeeze in some swimming. So far I’ve been twice but its really helped to stop any stiffness post running so to keep that up I have signed up for monthly membership… I think this may end up relegated to the cupboard with the juicer but I’m determined that it won’t… For now!