Thursday, April 20, 2017

One Month to go....

.....and I have not run for nearly 3 weeks, due to a hip flexor pain.  The good news is that it is definitely improving.  And the physio that I saw yesterday didn't seem to think running a marathon in 4.5 weeks is unacheivable.  So, that's good news.

But I am starting to freak out that I am not going to be able to run more than 18 miles at one time before the big race.  However, I felt pretty good after 18 miles.  It's only 8.2 more miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG!!!!!

I am going to continue with my stretches for the next few days and hopefully be able to get back out there next Monday.

Here's hoping.

Monday, April 10, 2017

Training Week 12

The kids are out of school for the next two weeks for Easter holidays, which means camp for them on my running days!

DAte: Monday 3 April 2017
Distance: 13 miles
Time: 2:10:23
Pace: 10:00 min/mile

Wow, I don't know that I could have run much further today as 13 miles was really tough!!!  My hip flexor is still really acting up.  I wore the sleeves on my calves again, although today they felt tighter.  I am pretty sure this soreness is normal, and I am thankful is not my joints.  But it does make it tough!!!

After not being able to sleep on Monday night because of the pain, in my hip flexor, I went to the GP and spoke to a physio who recommended 2 weeks rest!!!  I am really sad about it, but thankful that I am not running in less than 2 weeks which is when the London Marathon is happening.  I am determined to run no matter what.  The physio seemed to think it was possible, but I will have to slowly build back up my running.

Monday, April 3, 2017

Training Week 11

Getting closer now which means the miles are getting higher!!

Date: Monday 27 March 2017
Distance: 18 miles
Time: 2:56:17
Pace: 9:47
Route: To Hyde Park, through Kensington Gardens and back.  I am still amazed that I can train in HYDE PARK!!!  And it was a beautiful day for a run.  It was a bit slower than I would have liked, but my right hip flexor has been acting up.  I wore compression sleeves for the first time as well, and I think it helped with the calf pain I have been experiencing.

Date: Thursday 30 March 2017
Distance: 5.22 miles
Time:47:01
Pace: 9:00

I was happy to break the 9 mile pace  given how sore my hip and calves are!

Date: Friday 31 March 2017
Distance: 8.5 miles
Time: 1:12:40
Pace: (this was off because I somehow paused it between mile 6 &7 )

i ran through Wimbledon Common a bit again and it wasn't too bad.  It's a nice chance of surroundings.

I decided to rest my hip flexor on Saturday, so I took my first day off from my training plan.

TOTAL MILES: 31.7 miles

Training Week 10

I am officially into the second half of my training, which means the race is about 8 weeks away.  EEk!!!  And that also means the mileage is getting bigger and bigger....

Date: Monday, 20 March 2017
Distance: 17 miles (!!!!!)
Time: 2:45:32
Pace: 9:44 min/mile
Route: To hampton court and back

It was very, very slow going because my calves were really tight for the first 3.5 miles.  But after that, I was good until about mile 15.5 and the last 1.5 miles were pretty tough as well.  But I did it, and I didn't really think about stopping, even at the start when I wasn't feeling so great.  And I am still so thankful that I am able to run to cool places like Hampton Court!!!  That was pretty amazing.  One of these days, I will head into Central London.  And man was a I T-I-R-E-D when I got back!!  I can't even imagine how I am going to feel with an extra 9 miles.

Date: Thursday, 23 March 2017
Distance:4.18 miles
Time:35:24
Pace: 8:28
Route: Wimbledon Park

A decent run, while they were installing our new grass!

Date: Friday, 24 March 2017
Distance: 8 miles
Time: 1:14:44
Pace: 9:18
Route: Through Wimbledon Common

A pretty good run, and I came across this statue in the middle of Wimbledon Common.  I was a bit afraid of getting lost in the common but it was nice to run not on the road.

date: Saturday 25 March 2017
Distance: 3.87 miles
Time: 32:43
Pace: 8:27


TOTAL MILES: 33 miles

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Training Week 9

I can't believe I am in the second half of my training....seems fitting to start the week off with a half marathon.  I wasn't really all that nervous about it, since I had run 15 miles last week.

Date: Sunday, 12 March 2017
Distance: 13.1 miles
Time: 1:49:21
Pace: 8:20 min.mile

The race started and finished in Woking, and I was so happy to see my family at the end!  It was a flat course, and there were some spectators, but not as many as there would have been if the weather had been a bit better.  It was a gray day, with a bit of rain.  I was happy with my pace; I wore my watch and it said my pace was 8:25 for the entire race!!!  I was pleased to come in under 1:50.  After the race, we went to the local pub, Sov's where Brad is always going for drinks with his work mates.  It was nice to have a visual now.

Date: Wednesday, 15 March 2017
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 33:36
Pace: 8:21 mile/min

It is light out by 6 AM now which makes getting up to run much easier.  My hamstrings, especially the right one, are very tight!

Date: Thursday, 16 March 2017
Distance: 7.1 miles
Time: 1:03:05
Pace:8:54 min/mile

Wow, that was a really hard run.  The weather was great, but my legs are TIRED.  It was really slow, but I powered through and didn't stop.

Date: Saturday, 18 March 2017
Distance: 4.8 miles
Time: 39:04
Pace: 8:07 min/mile

Overall a good run.  I got a massage yesterday, and it really seemed to help stretch out my quad and my calves.

TOTAL MILES: 29 miles

Friday, March 10, 2017

Training Week 8

Date: Monday, 6 March 2017
Distance: 15 miles (!!!)
Time: 2:17:08
Pace: 9:08 min/mile
Route: To Richmond Park and then back through Kingston and Raynes Park

An absolutely perfect day for a fun!  The first run with my hydration belt, which worked our perfectly.  For longer runs I am going to need to find a place to refill my water bottles because I drank all of it just before I got home.

Date: Wednesday, 8 March 2017
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 26:23 minutes
Pace: 8:42 min/mile

I think my legs were still tired from Monday's run, but I do like running in the morning!

Date: Thursday, 9 March 2017
Distance: 5 miles
Time: 42:21
Pace: 8:25 min/mile

Another somewhat tough run, but I think it is because I was way too fast in the middle 2 miles.  But it was a beautiful day for a run, 12 degrees and sunny!  Running outside is starting to get really perfect.

Date: Friday, 10 March 2017
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 24:59
Pace: 8:23 min/mile

3 miles is like nothing, although sometimes I find the shorter runs more challenging than the long ones.

Total Miles this week: 26 miles (I have run a marathon this week!!)
I scaled back a bit after the long run, since I am running in a half marathon on Sunday.  And Saturday is a rest/stretch day as well.

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Training Week 7

Date: Monday, February 27 2017
Distance: 14 Miles (the longest distance I have ever run!)
Time: 2:02
Pace: 8:42 min/mile

Varying weather including REALLY hard rain and some sun.  But chilly.

I did it!  I ran 14 miles which is now the furthest distance I have ever run.  I guess I was prepared because it wasn't as bad as I thought.  I was listening to a funny podcast, which made the time pass much more quickly.  I am thankful I am able to come home and take a nice hot shower and a nice long nap.  My knees are a bit sore, but not too bad.

Date: Thursday, March 2 2017
Distance: 4.03 miles
Time: 34:40
Pace: 8:36 min/mile

Love early morning runs, wish I could do them all that way!

Date: Friday, March 3 2017
Distance: 7 miles
Time: 1:02:02
Pace: 8:52 min/mile

Not too bad, an awkward temperature, should have worn short sleeves under the jacket rather than long sleeves.  Overall, pretty good however.  Happy it was dry!

Date: Saturday, March 4, 2017
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 33:24
Pace: 8:10 min/mile

Great run!  My right hamstring was a bit sore at the end...

Total Miles this week: 29 MILES!!!!  Wow, that is the most miles I have ever run in one week.