3 days to go...

Yes you read right, I can almost see the start line from here!

As its so close to the big days itself and I've been having one of 'those evenings' I thought that now would be a good time to share how my training and fundraising have been going and how I'm feeling about the whole #VMLM2014 thing as I may not get another chance.

The biggest reason why I haven't kept this blog as up to date as I had originally intended is that I've become really involved with the UKRunChat community. I've spent a lot of internet time chatting to people, not just those running the London Marathon but every type of runner...from those who are aiming for their first 5k to those who are training for their umpteenth ultra. I've found it really reassuring to talk to other people like myself, who are trying their best to fit a hectic training schedule around a job, family, friends, children (not in my case but hats off to those that have been) and all those other niggly things in life. 

I've also learnt that its ok to have a drink or two whilst training (I was even egged on by a few people I regularly chat with to keep on pouring the gins a few weekends a go) and to have a the odd polystyrene container of cheesy chips on the way home. I learnt that you can be normal and run a marathon, theres nothing super human about it. I'm really looking forward to meeting some of them after the Expo on Saturday for a pre race carb dinner.

One of the biggest worries I've had over the past couple of months has been how the hell I was going to get anywhere near the £1800 fundraising target for Symonds House. I hovered around the £500 mark for ages and sometimes lay awake at night wondering what to do about it all. I've always been terrible at sharing my worries, which has never been helpful so I took these worries to the Symonds House Service Manager Aileen. I made the suggestion of doing a bake sale at Symonds House itself and she offered me a whole pitch at the Hitchin Spring Fair. 

I had so many wonderful people bake me some amazing cakes, a lot of whom are people associated with the home that haven't actually met me in person as well as family and friends. I also had the pleasure of my chap Russell, colleague and friend Jay, flatmate Sarah and other friend Sarah helping me out on the day which made it a million times more fun. We managed to raise nearly £350 which was a big boost on to my target. The total currently stands at £1320.20 and I know that some more pennies will be flying my way shortly so I'm really on my way to my target now...and breathe.

I can't fault the support that I've got from Leonard Cheshire along the way, the contact and support from Klara and Amy at head office has always been constant and Aileen and Lesley have gone out of their way to make things as easy as possible for me. I love seeing people so passionate about what they do and who they're doing it for, its why I love working in care and support myself. Knowing I'm not alone has been something thats very important to me throughout this process. 

I've now only got two short runs left until Sunday and I've been feeling up and down about it all week. Its pretty much been alternate days of feeling really excited and really nervous about it. The UKRunChat lot have got me really excited about the Expo. Previously picking up a race number has never been that exciting but theres loads of stuff going on so it seems a little bit like the running version of The Clothes Show Live. Its starting to feel like the build up to a holiday and I'm determind to enjoy the experience and not let my nerves cloud the experience. 

Tonight however, I'm struggling with that feeling. I don't think that being holed up by myself in the flat with Eastenders, Coronation Street and a jar of Lotus biscuit spread for company has helped matters but I can feel the nervous knots in my tummy coupled with a few negative thoughts in my head and I'm finding it hard to shake the feeling. I decided to postpone my five mile run until tomorrow so I can get up early and do it. I got up at 6am on Tuesday morning and hit the pavement by 7am for a 9 mile run. Of course it wasn't wonderful getting up but it was a lovely morning and I felt great the rest of the day, it also felt like 2 in the afternoon around 10am as I'd done everything so early. I'm hoping to claw back how I felt on Tuesday morning tomorrow and disperse some of these nerves. 

It really has been a journey of two halves, one minute I'm questioning whether I even like running (that was most of February's thinking) and the next I'm contemplating signing up to the Brighton Marathon next year (that was Tuesday night's thinking).

I'm hoping to engage more with this blog once I'm down from the marathon hype (which may take a while) so I can use it for a few thoughts and ideas I've been storing next to the tricks up my sleeve.

Right now though...London Marathon, I'm coming for you! Wish me luck...

Holly

x

The Kindness of Strangers

Just a quick one tonight, but I felt really compelled to write a blog post on tonight's #ukrunchat hour!

For those who aren't aware, #ukrunchat is a hashtag on Twitter for runners to chat about all things running and is run by @UKRunchat. You can ask people questions under the hashtag (and always get replies) and reply to others if you have any advice. Everyone is incredibly friendly and it's literally for everyone. There are people aiming for their first 5k to people doing their umpteenth marathon, it doesn't matter because everyone chats to everyone else.

Tonight was the first time I actively took part in the #ukrunchat hour and I loved every minute of it. I got some questions answered, gave some advice, made some new Twitter friends and got some donations for my target for Leonard Cheshire Disability. One of my new Twitter buddies suggested that people donate £1 to someone random's fundraising target and I managed to get myself a fiver in donations (don't worry I reciprocated). The whole ethos, energy and kindness of everyone has really made me smile. I've got so many great tweets to read if I'm ever having a 'I hate running' moment and lovely people to chat to. It's made me really excited for my training week ahead!

So if you're a runner I'd really urge you to give the #ukrunchat hour a go, it's every Sunday and Wednesday between 8pm and 9pm. My Twitter handle is @OhHollyGosh and I'd be happy to chat anytime! 

Keep running (and tweeting)

Holly

x

P.S If you feel like donating a pound or two then you can do so at http://www.justgiving.com/hollysrunningthelondonmarathon2014 or text HFLC99 £1 to 70070

Love/Hate

I said when I started this blog that it would be a completely honest account of all things marathon, and that is what this post is about to be. It may sound mad to get so emotional about putting one foot in front of the other but I have really learnt over the last couple of weeks that training for a marathon is a truly personal experience and not always a good one. I knew there would be low times but I thought that those points would be related to not feeling too great about running 8 miles on a cold and drizzly Thursday afternoon after work, I didn't expect to feel like I have felt over the past couple of weeks. 

I hope this post doesn't come across as too negative. I just want be honest with myself more than anything, so that when I look back when my brain is clouded with the memories of the London atmosphere on the 13th of April and the feeling of crossing the finish line...I can stop and remember that no, sometimes...it just sucked! 

I was genuinely really enjoying training, I've loved seeing the miles clock up on the Nike+ app, being able to run further and further and feel my muscles get stronger and stronger (and maybe being able to munch on a few more treats). But the week before last it all just suddenly became a burden, the way my shifts fell meant that it was just getting in the way of everything and I was having to squeeze my life around it to the point of exhaustion. One day the only way I had time to fit in a run was to use it as a mode of transport to take me to my boyfriend's house (which also meant that I had to run back the next day). I sat at work last Friday having a bit of a bitch about it and coming out with hyperbolic statements such as "I wish I'd never bothered signing up", "It's the worst thing ever", "I don't want to do it anymore".

I was also worrying about the fundraising side of it and the prospect of having to raise £1800. I was previously really excited about the prospect of getting some local press coverage to generate some cash to top up my fundraising but it was looking like at one point that things weren't going to shape up the way I'd hoped and it really got me down.

I tried to get in the mindset of 'new week, new start' but last week was even worse. I managed Monday and Tuesdays runs but by Wednesday I just couldn't face it. I got up in time to do 6 miles before work and there was no physical reason why I couldn't run, but I stood in front of the bathroom mirror in my onesie to have my head and my feet tell me that it wasn't going to happen today. I felt really guilty about it all day and tacked on an extra 3 miles to Thursdays run. 

I let myself down again on Saturday by doing 8.5 miles instead of 14. I'd been working all day and then had to go and get my photo taken for the article thats hopefully going to be going in the local paper. It was all getting a bit late, cold and rainy so I made the decision before hand to cut it short. The saving grace was that I actually had a really good run with my running buddy Emma. She assured me that its normal to feel like I do and that sometimes its ok to shove the schedule. I ran faster than I normally do and it was the first time in 2 weeks that I actually felt good about and enjoyed running.

I've been back on track this week but I'm still not loving it to the extent that I was a few weeks a go. Yesterday marked 2 months till the big day and the way I'm feeling right now it can't come soon enough. I'm really looking forward to just running for the love of it and not just because I have to.

I'm really going to push next week, try to enjoy it and remember why I decided to do this.

Has anyone else feeling like this about the marathon at the moment? 58 days to go...

Keep on running (whether you have to or because you want to)

Holly

x

On a lighter note...heres a picture of me just after stacking it in the mud on mile 5 of 16 a few weeks a go. Despite the Hitchin Hoop being all bogged up and me falling in it, I really enjoyed this run. 

Running to the Beat

Todays post is inspired by Meg Cross Menzies, an American lady who was sadly killed by a drunk driver whilst out for her morning run on 13th January this year. Those in the running community will be aware that members of her running club did a memorial run for her on Saturday just gone and invited runners from around the world to join them and dedicate their miles run on Saturday to the memory of Meg using the hashtag #megsmiles 

It was a wonderful way to commemorate what looked like a wonderful life and such a passion for running. I happily dedicated my 12 miles on Saturday to the memory of Meg and hope that her family and friends can take some comfort from the support and solidarity of what I have personally discovered to be such a wonderful community.

One particular tweet urged runners to just get out there, appreciate the gift and to just run for all those that couldn't. This got me to thinking about the last time I had ran without music...probably during the Great North Run last year. Its been a long time since I just went out and appreciated running for just what it is, so I decided to leave the headphones and iPhone at home and let my feet be the soundtrack. 

I'm so glad that I did and I'm so glad it was today as it was such a beautiful one. Without being distracted by music and any thoughts linked to it, I got to appreciate exploring the HOOP (see yesterday's post) for the first time, take in the sun shining down on my beloved town and enjoy hearing my running trainers crunch along the gravel path (does anyone else love that sound?). It also made me listen to my body and learn more about its strengths and weaknesses. I was able to feel the bits I enjoy most (long straight gravel paths with the occasional sharp incline) and gain insight on where I struggle (the first mile and long inclines). All this would have passed me by had I had my headphones in this morning.

Thats not to say music doesn't have its place...its a great motivator and at times a distractor, theres nothing quite like your favourite running tracks to push you through the wind and rain or when you simply don't feel like hitting the road. However, once a week I'm going to make sure I leave the headphones at home and just appreciate the ability to run and my love for it. So thank you Meg for inspiring someone you never met, I shall think of you everytime I'm MP3 free.  

I hope everyones running week has got off to a great start!

Run safely...

Holly

x

Marathon Training Plan Week 1

Well here I am on my rest day after week 1 of using an official marathon training plan and looking ahead to week 2...and what a week its been both physically and emotionally.

As I mentioned in my last post I decided to use the Nike+ coach (you will learn that I'm a bit of a Nike+ fan girl) as I use the apps to track all my running stats and got a Nike+ running watch for Christmas (see!). I looked through the plan before I commited and decided that it was doable and would fit around my lifestyle. As its also within the app it sends you reminders of what training you have coming up which keeps you on track/puts the guilters on if you're sitting on the sofa with a cuppa and a biscuit trying to justify a second rest day. 

The downside...once again it assumes a 9 to 5 job so the rest day is always on a Sunday, which is fine every other weekend but will make things even more tough going for the inbetween weekends. I'm a glass half full person though, so I'm trying to think that maybe it might be quite good if a part of my life does have a routine. I work shifts and the patterns change every week so I'm used to not having a daily routine as such so although this plan might sometimes be a hinderance it might also bring more order to my life. We shall see...

So, how is the training actually going?

Well physically, so far its not too bad. The runs in the week are challenging enough to complete every day but not pushing me so hard that I want to cry (yet). Even with my 12 miler yesterday I still felt not too bad until the last mile when my legs started to protest. Thats what confirms for me that running is all in the mind, I know I can run further than 12 miles (and I have to next weekend) but I think because my brain knew that I was doing 12 miles it started to protest when it knew that the finish was near. I can definitely feel myself getting fitter and starting to tone up properly so I'm really enjoying that bit and looking forward to seeing the changes to my body as my training progresses.

Emotinally, its starting to show a bit. I've worked a couple of day time shifts this last week which means I had to get up early, run and then go straight off to work. I've also been doing some overtime as well to pay for some post marathon rewards so I'm not going to lie it has been tough. However, hats off to anyone who is training alongside a 9-5 job, you have to train at some very unfun times of the day and I admire you for it. I have enjoyed seeing the miles rack up on Nike+ though (there she goes again) and I just keep trying to focus on completing the challenge and the feeling I'll get on the day. 

Which leads me on to some quite exciting news...as some of you may or may not know. I am running for the charity I volunteer for Leonard Cheshire Disability. Because I volunteer for my local service Symonds House, Leonard Cheshire are kindly allowing all funds raised to be donated directly to the service. So I got a call from Leonard Cheshire's press office on Monday and they left me a message asking me if I would be interested in doing some media work with them. They want to interview me for an article to go in the local press which will raise awareness of the service and the charity and hopefully also generate some revenue on my fundrasing page (cheeky hint there). Its quite exciting and an honour to be chosen to represent the charity for such a big event so I'm really looking forward to doing it. I shall keep you posted on the progress of that little piece of news.

I'm also really happy that I'm starting to connect more with the running community on Twitter, Instagram and through blogging. I've been chatting to a few other runners that tweet and others with running blogs and its really helps to know that you aren't alone. I don't know anyone else close to me thats running the marathon so its great to have somewhere to turn and others to share the experience with who know what its like. I'm also up for chatting to other runners both bloggers and tweeters/instagrammers so please feel free to get in touch on Twitter and Instagram. It would be great to chat! 

This post is scheduled for 9am so by the time this goes live I'll hopefully be eating my porridge in preperation for a 5 miler. I'm looking forward to exploring the Hitchin Outer Orbital Path! 

Happy Running!

Holly

x

Jantastic Week 1

So January is now in full swing...

As I mentioned in my last post I'm taking part in Jantastic (#jantastic for fellow Twitter and Instagram lovers) and my target for January is 4 runs per week, which I'm happy to say I have now completed. As the week was progressing I thought I might have underestimated myself by putting 4 runs a week, however after doing a 6.5 miler last night I managed to acquire myself a bit of a twinge in my right calf muscle which I've decided to rest. I'm also doing a heck of a lot of overtime this weekend so 4 runs has been on the money for this week. 

Although this week saw the official start of my marathon training it still doesn't feel like it. I've struggled to find a training plan that fits in with my lifestyle as they all seem to assume a 9 to 5 job (Sunday ain't a day of rest for us all y'know), but I like the look of the Nike+ coach so I'm giving that a try from Monday. Plans scare me a little as I'm not a big planning person. It makes me feel like I have less control over my running and my life if I'm sticking to someone else's plan, I also know from my job that one plan definitely does not suit all. However I know it's a necessary evil so I'm going to give Nike+ a chance. 

Scary official marathon training realisations aside I've really enjoyed my running this week as well as going back to normal eating after Christmas (even if it has meant divorcing myself from cheese for a while). I really love how I feel within myself with the combination of running and healthy eating. I can already feel the Christmas bloat disappearing, the pounds starting to come off and my muscles starting to tone. I'm still really struggling to get out of bed for those early runs before my late shifts though. Any advice on food/drink/routines that help you wake up of a morning would be greatly appriciated. Until then I shall keep parking my phone at the other side of my room so I have to get up and turn the alarm off. 

I hope everyone who has set themselves a running goal for 2014, even if it's not Jantastic has got off to a great start...and to those who have just taken up running WELCOME! Push through that pain barrier and you'll never look back I promise.

Keep being Jantastic...(sorry)!

Holly

x

100 days to go

Three things that rocked my world today...

1) Its 2014

2) Its 2014...which means that its marathon year

3) Its 2014...which means its marathon year and today marks 100 days to go!

I know it might sound a little cocky but I wasn't really worried about the marathon up until this point. Phrases such as "I've already run half way", "Theres no point starting proper training until after Christmas" and "If a 101 year old man can do it then so can I" have been batted around, however it literally was only today, when the London Marathon Facebook page stated that there is 100 days to go that a new phrase has been thrown out there..."I'm scared".

However, I'm also excited. I'm excited to kick start 2014 with a challenge, raise some money for the charity that I volunteer for (Leonard Cheshire Disability, I'll chat more about that another time) and for the actual day itself. If the buzz I got from the Standalone 10k and the Great North Run is anything to go by then running the London Marathon is going to blow my mind, or at least my feet and my muscles. 

I'm starting what I will deem to be my first training run tomorrow morning and I would love it if you would like to follow me on my journey by reading my blog, you can follow me on Bloglovin or just drop in when you fancy.

I have also just signed up to Jantastic to make sure I stay on track. It doesn't matter if you've just stepped into your first pair of running shoes or you're doing your first ultra, it looks like a great way of getting motivated towards a goal and sticking at it. Theres two days left to sign up so I've got a couple of warm up runs to do before I can start logging my miles.

I love to meet new people so if you're running the marathon, signing up to Jantastic or just have a crazy love of running then please drop me an email or get in touch with me on Twitter/Instagram at @ohhollygosh

Thanks for reading, I hope you stick with me.

Happy Running!

Holly

xx