The early gift of running

Last weekend I returned to my homeland of Manchester, the land of the music and bonkers people! This was a well needed trip to see family and friends, most importantly my father before Christmas.

Dads generally being Dads, with mine, like many before him being no exception, has absolutely no idea as to what to get me for Christmas. So as always he gave me some pennies. 

Off I went to purchase the only want that I had in the whole world... a new pair of running trainers!

They are Brooks Adrenaline GTS 14. I have gone for Brooks for a while now, they are my new go to running shoe. A couple of years ago I was riddled with shin splints, it was constant and it was frustrating! I got my first pair of Brooks and I have not had shin splints since. 

These I love! I tend not to care so much about what my running trainers look like, I have over pronation so I go for support, but these do not look too bad. 

There are some hiddious looking trainers out there! My last pair were to commemorate the Olympics; full of union jacks (horrendous) but they were the best I tried on.

Anyway... the Adrenaline GTS 14's are a road running support shoe, which are prefect for the type of running I do. The fabric is a very lightweight, breathable mesh which will be fast drying and they have something called a caterpillar crash pad. The caterpillar crash pad helps to guide your foot from heal to toe in a rolling kind of motion, hence the term caterpillar. 

They also have Thermoplastic Urethane Arch Shanks; this is the bit which is important for me! Because I have over pronation, when my foot hits the floor my arches collapse. This grouping of words, which I can barely understand, is the thing which pushes my arches back up to straighten my foot whilst I run, leading to an injury free me! 

Lastly the cushioning; they contain Brooks DNA technology, which I find a little bit amazing! The cushioning contains a liquid gel. When you are running fast the gel hardens to give you more support, when you slow down the gel softens to conform to each stride. 

The bit which was most impressive though was the price! I went to Sweatshop, as I tend to do when I need new runners, and it would seem that they were having a pre Christmas sale... yay! My trainers should have been £110 however, I paid £55... amazing!

Getting 50% off my trainers meant that I could also purchase something for me, so I got this...

The soundtrack to Lawless on vinyl (or a record dependant on where you are reading from) and it's ace!

So thanks Dad for my Christmas present of the gift of running! I did not want anything else this year and this has made me a happy girl!

Laters people, me and my feet are off for a run!

Help! The motivation has disappeared!

I have a confession to make; since the Grim Challenge, just over a week ago, I have only ran twice. I am really struggling with my motivation and the worst thing is that I barely care. Normally if I am unable to go running I am an absolute nightmare, it's all I want to do and all I can think about. At the moment though this is the complete opposite and I don't know why, which is not good when training for a marathon! I did however drag myself out of bed this morning for a run and whilst running spent some time mulling the possible reasons over in my head...

Recovery from illness -

A few weeks ago I came down with a sinus infection, it really took me out, but being far too busy at work I was unable to take time out. I think this marked the start. Motivation once you have it is great, but it's easy to lose and although (so I have been told) it takes about two weeks to get it back, it's getting it back that's hard.

Stress -

I have had a lot going on recently. My place of work has lost it's contract and staff are getting anxious about the take over. As a manager you have to remain professional and supportive, even though you have your own concerns. I have had University every Saturday, which has taken it's toll, but luckily I had my last class this weekend and I have passed my course. In addition to this I am making steps towards a career change and this has been hard work too.

Just to busy -

Let's face it, it's the run up to Christmas, there is just too much going on to try to fit training in on top. This weekend, rather than do my weekend distance run, I went to Glasgow and that marked the end of a week which also included the staff night out. The weekend ahead will see a return to Manchester for me, in order to see family and friends. Then it's Christmas and spending quality time with the boy before he goes to Sweden!

The weather -

This is a big one, it's bloody cold outside! The last thing I want to do, when my motivation is already waining, is stick my little toes outside of the duvet!

Anyway... it's not all bad, I have had fun this week. Rather than just relay all the negative, I will fill you in on the positive too. This week I went to see the new Hunger Games film with a friend from work and went on the staff night out (although my secret Santa hasn't turned up yet). The staff night was a good laugh and I got to dress up, which is rare for me, I'm normally in work clothes or gym gear.

Then on Saturday night in Glasgow we went to see Machine Head at the Academy!!!

So, I probably shouldn't grumble too much, life is not all bad.

I just need to come up with a way to get me back on track with my running and escape my winter blues!

We did it!

Yesterday was Grim Challenge day! I have to say that when I first peeped my head out from under the duvet this morning, it was cold, I was tired and we had an hour and 40 minute drive ahead of us; I cannot say I was feeling it at all. Despite this I got up and got the porridge on the go; porridge with blueberrys (or blueblees as Cali calls them) and honey. As the morning progressed I started to feel better so off we went to collect our friend Felix and get ourselves down to Aldershot. As luck would have it the sun started to peep out a little on the way down and the temperature turned out to be quite mild by the time we arrived.

...see, fresh as Daisy's! Obviously that is me on the left, Pete in the middle and Felix on the right.

It was a good run, my chest was awful though as I am still recovering from a sinus infection, couldn't stop coughing by the end of the race! 

Although, as I have just said, it was a good run. If you are experienced in doing bigger challenges then this one may be a little tame, I was expecting more, it certainly does not compare to Tough Mudder or marathon training. 

For Pete and Felix I think it was a great first challenge, they have never done one before and now they have dipped their toes in the water they just want to do bigger an better things. 

I reckon that out of 1361 runners, coming 663 ain't too bad, with a time of 01:24:47. Only just in the top half, but still there!

At the last water mass we had to wade through Pete felt the urge to dunk poor Felix into the water and then (in a massive loser way) we all crossed the finish line holding hands!

After the race, covered in mud and looking like we should be on a slab in the morgue, having dirt pulled from our hair and scrapped from under our fingernails, we went to Buddies dinner for Dr Pepper floats and celebratory junk food

I think that today will be a well deserved rest day, but I may have to make time to wash all of the dirt out of our running gear this evening, as last night I very much did not have the energy!

The official total for how much we raised for the People Like Me charity is not yet in, but it is certainly in the hundreds so this makes me happy!

Medals or t-shirts?

So... it's 2 sleeps until Grim Challenge!

I am feeling much better, still a bit chesty, but at least I am not running hot and cold whilst struggling to breathe. The down side to me getting ill a few weeks before the challenge is that inevitably I have passed this to Pete and he isn't as good at the moment, but he is man, he can handle it surely?!

I have to say that I got a little bit excited when these turned up...

I suppose it means that we are ready to go? Bring on Sunday!

I was however a little gutted to find out that we do not get a medal. I love medals, I have a big collection which I hang up. As this event is the first that my partner has entered too, it made it extra special and I certainly wanted one to commemorate the occasion. Apparently though, according to the organisers, most people hate medals and have said that they would prefer a t-shirt that they can use. Ok, I kind of get the being able to use it part, but if you use it, you probably cannot keep it. I don't know about you, but after a prolonged period of time wearing the same running gear, it gets to a point of no return, with the only place left to put it in the bin! Personally I think the organisers should give you a choice, t-shirt, or medal!

There is not much I can do about it now though, I must except what I do not have to power to change and just get on with it! On a positive note, it does mean that Pete will have to enter another event with me if he is to get his first medal.

In other news; it would appear that the people like me charity are close to reaching their £5,000 target to become registered... yay! Hopefully the sponsorship money that we collect for Grim with hit the target... that's when the real work can begin!

In an attempt to take my mind off wanting to run yesterday, I went out with Pete's Mama, Lucy and his Aunty Rose to a Christmas craft event, where I made a gift cookie jar...

and my own wreath. Well... I say a wreath, it's a star, which I prefer...

I suppose that my next post will inform all about Grim... watch this space!

It's all come to a sudden halt, but there is a deadline looming

Sorry for the lack of interaction on the fitness front, it turns out that I am actually quite unwell. Although I am starting to feel a little better, I still have a weazey chest and am coughing up a lot of horribleness... nice! There is a possibility that a visit to the doctors is a must as I may have a chest infection.

I did attempt the gym the other morning, but only managed half hour and now my body is aching more than ever... which just is not normal for me, I am certainly struggling to repair. The problem is that my first event for the People Like Me charity is less than 2 weeks away!

In addition to this the temperature has dropped. I woke up this morning to temperatures of -2 and the first thing that came to mind was the icy water of the Grim Challenge. 

That in all honesty is the thing which I am looking forward to the least. I have ran further than 8 miles in the past so the distance does not bother me. I have had to crawl through mud in the past, this again does not bother me. Plunging into ice cold water on a December morning... bhah! 

I suppose that if I can take on the challenge of the dreaded Arctic Enema of Tough Mudder fame, then this should be a doddle?! 

Either way it is the thing that I am currently not raving about and have my fingers crossed that I do not end up in hospital with both a severe chest infection and hyperthermia!

In my attempt to shrug this off, I have purchased Guardians of the Galaxy to cheer myself up and I will be wrapped in the comforting, healing arms of my boy, whilst eating my favourite snack of Marmite on bagels.

Lots of things are happening today... but I am full of a cold!!

First of all I would like to share some exciting news, which has absolutely nothing to do with me running, but has cheered me up no end today! We (that's me and the boy) are going to Download! The line up is by no means as good as Sonisphere last year, and I have to admit that I do not really get KISS so not really too bothered about the Sunday headliner, and I'm not a Manson fan... but I have festival fever! Yes, it's probably stupid. Yes, I don't think I can really afford our tickets... but Download here we come!!

Anyway... on to some real stuff! The People Like Me charity, the charity for which all of this running is in aid of, are having another fundraiser today. It is a Christmas Fair at the Green Room in Brackley and Pete's mum Lucy and his Aunty Rose have a lot of handmade Christmas cards to sell! It starts at 7pm I believe, so if you want some Christmas ideas then get yourselves down to help a good cause!

There has been more of the running this week, just a short run on Tuesday evening, following the long run we did on Sun. Yes, that's right, I did say 'we'. I think that Pete may very well have caught the running bug!

There was meant to be running last night too, but disaster struck! Pete has been over doing it at work, pushing himself too far like he usually does and his shoulder is playing up again. I cannot wait for him to have his operation so he can be back to his usual self. 

In addition to this I am full of a bloody cold! I hate having colds, I refer to mine as a rare strain of man flu, which has mutated to attack women! This gets argued against by the men who want to hold on to their man flu crown, but I tell you, I am a nightmare when I have a cold.

I am a little annoyed too as I am meant to be swimming again tonight, I have missed the last 2 weeks because of the trains and I don't want to miss another. I have brought my swimming things to work, just in case I have a miraculous recovery this evening... here's hoping eh?

All set for the Grim Challenge!

As we are only 20 sleeps away from the Grim Challenge, I gave out a personal challenge to Pete yesterday to get his 8 miles under his belt.

I have to say that I wasn't expecting him to complete, I had told him he could drop off at any point, but... the boy has bloody done good! I am so proud of him for pushing though and achieving the 8 miles!

At the half way point the battery on his phone died, I know how difficult it is to push on without music to give you motivation. So... after a couple of minutes of arguing whilst running, with me thrusting my phone in his hand, he finally agreed to take it. It seems like it did the trick, he even managed a sprint finish, leaving me behind (very unsportsmanlike, but I'll let him off as he is massively competitive and I don't really mind)

Anyway... this post is for my gorgeous boy Pete, keep it up, you're doing me proud!