Other exercise: Swimming
Still
to go: £808.00
In
keeping with tradition with past blogs I’d like to start by saying a big thank
you to the very kind people Derek, Lilly, Jax, Sara’s lovely Grandparents Harry
and Betty. I’d also like to say thank you to my fellow work colleagues
Michelle, Wendy, Duc and Rebecca for taking the time out to sponsor me this
week. It’s all going to a fantastic cause and helps me get through the long
lonely miles of marathon training. Also this week I found out who one of my
Anonymous sponsors was and can now thank them so thank you Nigel Bunnett.
My
god, how can one small toe get so many blisters? It seems I have been
collecting them over the last couple of weeks… No joke, I have five yes five on
my second toe (next to big toe). Does each toe have specific names like
fingers? I don’t think they do, other than big toe and little toe/pinky.
I
guess this must be a combination of increasing miles and wet weather, I’m
fairly confident(well more hope) it’s not the shoes I’m wearing as I have been changing
up what shoes I use.
So,
returning to my main topic this week: training for a marathon is tough and you
can feel rather alone.
Don’t
get me wrong, I do enjoy quiet time. I like pulling on my trainers and going
outside to ‘run the day out of my system’. Having the chance to clear my head and
have some stillness is great. However this is not always the case; two or three
hours of relentless pavement-pounding can get too much for anyone! I think this
is a little odd for me as I’m not really what you call ‘a people person’, which
is, I suppose, why I’m writing about it.
People
use many different tactics to help them to while away the weary, lonely hours.
These tactics include lots of things, from listening to music to having gadgets
and gizmos. And, of course, depending where you live some may try to enjoy the
scenery. I use all the above though there’s not much to look at when running
around Bracknell, well nothing worthwhile to write about!
My
song of the week for this week (whilst out running, I don’t just sit at home
listening to it) has to be the Superman theme. It doesn’t come on every time I’m
out (I’m not that sad), but when it does it gives me a little lift! Anyone that
knows me will know I am massive superman geek (well geek is better than being a
nerd don’t you think?), hence why the song is on my playlist.
I
suppose the best way of keep on track with the training and to stop yourself going
insane is to find a running-buddy. Sadly I have not had the pleasure or the
luck of finding one to help on those cold, dark evenings or even the painstakingly
long weekend runs.
This
week’s training programme is the same as last week and my third 16 miler,
however having said that I did increase the long run to 17 miles today, which
is good but stupid as it got pretty hot. This means I have set two new records
for myself one being longest run ever and 35 miles in a week!
Day 1 = 5 miles
Day 2 = 8 miles
Day 3 = 5 miles
Day 4 = 16 miles increased to 17 miles
Total = 34
miles increased to 35 miles
My
first attempt at 16 miles, I’m not ashamed to say, broke me. It took me 2 hours
and 49 minutes, maybe even slightly longer, to complete and I hated every
minute of it. However last week’s 16 miles was much better I managed to knock
off 20 minutes (down to 2.29). I’d even go as far to say it felt good, too.
This may be due to the fact that I broke my run down to an 8 mile loop. I do
feel I can possible get the time down further, as I ran in 2:29 with tight
hamstrings after doing some odd jobs in the garden the day before.
So note to self ‘make sure
you rest before the big day’
So taking my
own advised I sort of rested up yesterday and not from trying to, I managed to
knock of another 4 minutes of the 16 miles which spurred me on through the last
mile (17) from today.
I
put my fund raising into overdrive this week, I say over drive it’s more a case
of downright begging! I started by taking to Twitter and asking local
celebrities and press people to help spread the word about my four challenges
this year; I got five retweets out of ten (so not to bad I guess). I have also
been updating my status on Facebook every day to gently remind my friends they
can still sponsor me. The last form of begging this week was sending direct
emails to people, in case they had missed my not-so-subtle social media hints. I
guess you could say it kind of work, seeing as I have managed with your help of
course to raise £165 this week.
So guys I only have just over
a week to reach my pre-race target of £1,000. I only need £308 to reach this
goal, so please please please and one more for luck please dig deep and donate
generously. Anything you donate is a step in the right direction, even if it’s
£1!
Leigh
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