I've had quite a chill day today after yesterday's antics. I'm still really happy with the time I got (2:43) which has been confirmed by the official race timings. The whole day was really enjoyable, and even though I hurt so much today I really want to do another one. I cant put into words the feeling as you go over the line after 13 miles, and people you had never even met before are applauding and encouraging you, as you then realise you've succeeded in something that you've had to work for and towards.
However, I am glad I booked today off work, as it took me and Mrs L (who also done yesterday) 10 minutes to hobble down the stairs this morning. The walk round town was just plain amusing!!!
Photos are on the slide show in the top right corner, and also down the side. Bring on the Judo!!!!
Monday 31 October 2011
Sunday 30 October 2011
Challenge 4 done - half marathon
Half marathon section of the gold challenge is completed.
I wanted to finish in under 4 hours, and I would be happy with 3:20. So, I hear you ask, what time did you finish? 2 HOURS 43 MINUTES!!!!! I didn't realise that there were so many hills in Barns Green.
I'm more then happy with this time, and really enjoyed it, although I have learned some valuable lessons for next year, when I want to do it again.
1. Take some food with you or some energy bars/gels. I had no energy left at 9 miles. Some gels would have dealt with that.
2. Make sure that your Ipod headphones wont fall out your ears as you run. Very annoying
There was a very surreal moment, when I saw a sheep that had escaped from a field and was picked up like a handbag by the marshal, holding on to the back of its neck and back area. The sheep was bleating and was very funny!
The sea cadet t'shirt seamed to go down very well, with lots of support and I'm happy I chose it.
Next on the cards is judo. I ache, so I'll update with more info and photos tomorrow.
I wanted to finish in under 4 hours, and I would be happy with 3:20. So, I hear you ask, what time did you finish? 2 HOURS 43 MINUTES!!!!! I didn't realise that there were so many hills in Barns Green.
I'm more then happy with this time, and really enjoyed it, although I have learned some valuable lessons for next year, when I want to do it again.
1. Take some food with you or some energy bars/gels. I had no energy left at 9 miles. Some gels would have dealt with that.
2. Make sure that your Ipod headphones wont fall out your ears as you run. Very annoying
There was a very surreal moment, when I saw a sheep that had escaped from a field and was picked up like a handbag by the marshal, holding on to the back of its neck and back area. The sheep was bleating and was very funny!
The sea cadet t'shirt seamed to go down very well, with lots of support and I'm happy I chose it.
Next on the cards is judo. I ache, so I'll update with more info and photos tomorrow.
Saturday 29 October 2011
Nerves are starting to show!!
I am now less then 17 hours away from the start of the half marathon. I've packed my bag for tomorrow, unpacked it several times in a panic that I have forgotten something just to find I had everything in the first place. I'm also now starting to regret not training a little bit more for it!
After a long decision making process I have packed my Sea cadets T-shirt to wear instead of my running vest, still not confident enough to wear the running vest as it kind of says I'm a runner, which is a lie at the moment! Its 13 miles and I really want to get round the course in one piece in under 4 hours, but ideally under 3:20. We shall see.
With Mrs L also running tomorrow I have had to employ the services of another official photographer, luckily my mum's willing to do this role so there will be photos Monday.
You wouldn't believe how nervous I'm now getting, so going to chill for the evening. Think of me at 1100 tomorrow morning!
After a long decision making process I have packed my Sea cadets T-shirt to wear instead of my running vest, still not confident enough to wear the running vest as it kind of says I'm a runner, which is a lie at the moment! Its 13 miles and I really want to get round the course in one piece in under 4 hours, but ideally under 3:20. We shall see.
With Mrs L also running tomorrow I have had to employ the services of another official photographer, luckily my mum's willing to do this role so there will be photos Monday.
You wouldn't believe how nervous I'm now getting, so going to chill for the evening. Think of me at 1100 tomorrow morning!
Sunday 23 October 2011
Another week over, and less then 7 days to go until barns green
My plans for this week were thrown a bit of a low ball after a trip to the doctors found that I had pulled all the muscles in my upper arm on my left arm and, a muscle in my right shoulder. The advice was to ease off the training, once the pain had eased enough to move the arm around then to start slowly on weights and swimming again and build up gradually. This has obviously had a knock on effect on the training, with none happening until today.
Today's training was 1:1 PT session, and with less then a week 'till the half marathon it was an ideal time to concentrate on CV. After a brief "check up" on weight, body fat etc we started the CV circuit. In just under half an hour we done speed interval training on the treadmill, 1km in less the 3 1/2 minutes on the cross trainer, some bike work and finished with 4 circuits of interval training on a rower (20 second work, 10 second rest). This has shown me how far I have come along in the last 6 months, but at the same time I still have so much to work on before I do a triathlon.
With less then a week to go until barns green half marathon the nerves are starting properly.
Today's training was 1:1 PT session, and with less then a week 'till the half marathon it was an ideal time to concentrate on CV. After a brief "check up" on weight, body fat etc we started the CV circuit. In just under half an hour we done speed interval training on the treadmill, 1km in less the 3 1/2 minutes on the cross trainer, some bike work and finished with 4 circuits of interval training on a rower (20 second work, 10 second rest). This has shown me how far I have come along in the last 6 months, but at the same time I still have so much to work on before I do a triathlon.
With less then a week to go until barns green half marathon the nerves are starting properly.
Sunday 16 October 2011
some changes and updates and a wetsuit
You may have noticed a distinct lack of updates recently. This was mainly due to a shoulder injury where I think I overloaded my shoulder swimming and a cold (more of man flu, but I beat it!!!). My shoulder is almost better now (I can move it around with out a lot of pain) so its time to get my act back together.
Its now only 14 days until my half marathon, to say I'm getting nervous is a little understatement! I still haven't run 13 miles yet, and have kind of resounded myself to the fact that the day will be the first time I do it. There's so much to think of even before the "will I manage to get round in one piece?" question.
In an effort to try and keep my mind occupied I have planned this week with some activities, including a return to circuit training tomorrow and some swimming later in the week. This is all, of course, depending on my shoulder holding out, which I am sure it will if I'm just sensible.
After careful consideration, I have also decided that I am going to swap archery for Judo. I have a Judo club nearby that have said that they are happy to help me, so watch this space for judo updates (will probably be December I start this.) I did contemplate archery as well as judo, but none of the local archery clubs got back to me when they said they would. The judo club sounds fun.
I have also decided that I want to do a open water triathlon, as well as a pool based Triathlon, and am in the process of registering for the London triathlon in September 2012. I'm not going to be completely dumb and try a full triathlon, but the super sprint or sprint looks doable for me. I know that this wont go towards any points for the Gold Challenge triathlon section, but I need something to aim for, now my swimming coaching is starting to become more tri orientated. I mentioned this, along with the plans to start some open water swimming next year (too cold at the moment, I know I'm a wimp!) to my parents. I also have a birthday coming up and have been brought a wetsuit for my birthday by my mum and dad. Its not a new one, but its ideal for me. What better time to get one, then in the end of season sale!
This then led to the trying on of the wetsuit. I have never really worn a wetsuit, so took the instructions upstairs with the wetsuit and followed them. 2 minutes later Mrs L got the shout of "Hunny, I think I'm in trouble" She came in the room to find me stuck in this wetsuit. I had misread the instructions and tried to get both my arms into the wetsuit at the same time. My hands then had become stuck half way down the forearms and I couldn't move my arms either back out the wetsuit or out the arm holes. I looked like a creature from Dr Who. When she finished laughing at me, Mrs L helped me get one of my hands through the sleeve hole, which then made every thing so much easier! Lesson learnt, one arm at a time.
Its now only 14 days until my half marathon, to say I'm getting nervous is a little understatement! I still haven't run 13 miles yet, and have kind of resounded myself to the fact that the day will be the first time I do it. There's so much to think of even before the "will I manage to get round in one piece?" question.
In an effort to try and keep my mind occupied I have planned this week with some activities, including a return to circuit training tomorrow and some swimming later in the week. This is all, of course, depending on my shoulder holding out, which I am sure it will if I'm just sensible.
After careful consideration, I have also decided that I am going to swap archery for Judo. I have a Judo club nearby that have said that they are happy to help me, so watch this space for judo updates (will probably be December I start this.) I did contemplate archery as well as judo, but none of the local archery clubs got back to me when they said they would. The judo club sounds fun.
I have also decided that I want to do a open water triathlon, as well as a pool based Triathlon, and am in the process of registering for the London triathlon in September 2012. I'm not going to be completely dumb and try a full triathlon, but the super sprint or sprint looks doable for me. I know that this wont go towards any points for the Gold Challenge triathlon section, but I need something to aim for, now my swimming coaching is starting to become more tri orientated. I mentioned this, along with the plans to start some open water swimming next year (too cold at the moment, I know I'm a wimp!) to my parents. I also have a birthday coming up and have been brought a wetsuit for my birthday by my mum and dad. Its not a new one, but its ideal for me. What better time to get one, then in the end of season sale!
This then led to the trying on of the wetsuit. I have never really worn a wetsuit, so took the instructions upstairs with the wetsuit and followed them. 2 minutes later Mrs L got the shout of "Hunny, I think I'm in trouble" She came in the room to find me stuck in this wetsuit. I had misread the instructions and tried to get both my arms into the wetsuit at the same time. My hands then had become stuck half way down the forearms and I couldn't move my arms either back out the wetsuit or out the arm holes. I looked like a creature from Dr Who. When she finished laughing at me, Mrs L helped me get one of my hands through the sleeve hole, which then made every thing so much easier! Lesson learnt, one arm at a time.
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