It was all going so well.
I think my Meniere's has once again reared its ugly head. I was clocking up the miles and feeling great. A little sore in the limbs and a familiar twang on my coccyx reminding me of its presence, but I was upping the distances and feeling confident. Group 6 is my ideal running group, the leader's pace perfect for mine and I was enjoying running with the group once more. This week as we crossed a wooden bridge I was towards the back of the pack, lots of feet in front of me could not run in sync and as I got about half way across I thought my world was going to fall down around me. My balance left me and I had to quickly grab the rail and hang on for dear life until the bridge became mine alone. Panic began to surface, I forced it back and took some deep breaths.
Being a strong believer of not allowing Meniere's disease to win I put my head down and ploughed on. Concentrating hard, one foot in front of the other, falling into step with the leader got me back on track. Strangely, as mentioned in the past, sometimes I can't walk in a straight line but running is usually fine and I had no further problems and completed the run including a sprint (of sorts) finish.
Usually after running I am starving within a couple of hours but not this time. I didn't want to eat and couldn't eat. The dreaded nausea set in and lasted for about three days. Not being able to eat very much at all made my after work run on Thursday slow and hard, Gill kept me going and I was determined to make my body understand that it is able to run on an empty tank and when tired. During the night I kept waking, my temperature either soaring or chilled and every little bit of my entire being hurting. My ear is still very painful at times and my hearing has taken another knock.
I missed my Friday wind down from work run, I missed the Saturday Parkrun and I missed my planned Sunday long run. I decided there was no point trying to put my trainers on until I felt better. I really couldn't risk triggering a full blown attack. My MD has been in a very good phase, bothering my life very minimally and if I have anything to do with it that's exactly where it will stay.
I think the nausea has eased off, I think my aches are nearly gone. My plans keep having to change but I'm not giving up, not yet.
I have a goal, I WILL achieve it.
Sunday, 23 March 2014
Sunday, 16 March 2014
Starter for Ten
Last week I ran 41km over 6 days. This week I thought I would up the ante and planned a 10K to start me off. I chose my route and although I hadn't run this as a complete course before I have run all the bits of it and thought it should be around about 10K To my absolute delight I actually ran almost 13K!
I had a lovely, if somewhat painful massage yesterday afternoon. My lovely Jo worked hard on my solidified shoulders and upon waking this morning I could hardly move. I questioned fellow runners if running today was a sensible option bearing in mind I was hoping to run further than I have in a long while. A resounding yes was their reply, so out again into the glorious sunshine I ventured.
I had given myself a slightly shorter route option if when I got to what I thought would be about half way I was flagging but I was very happy to discover that besides not walking a single step thus far I was more than able to tackle my longer choice.
Today's plan was to take things nice and easy, no fartlek ideas, just get round. I took care not to set off too quickly but enjoyed the stretches where I could stride out, just a little, and hoped this would make my overall pace acceptable. It did. I was also amazed to see when looking at my stats that my fastest section overall was well into the run when I was actually feeling quite tired. At that stage I felt I had fuel in the tank but my legs were aching somewhat.
My iPod sits nicely tucked inside my t shirt so I have no idea how far I have been nor how well I am doing until the end. Today I ran across my finishing line at the foot of our steep drive, hauled myself to the top where a conveniently placed brick wall always awaits my collapse and aids my stretching whilst I listen to my achievement. I have stopped listening to the false message that always declares "Congratulations, you have run another 500km," and wait for the more important facts, always distance first, then time, then pace then calories burned. The combined details had me grinning like a Cheshire cat and I confess to a fist pump and a whoop or two!
The best bit is the feeling that I could go further, is this possible? Both you and I will have to wait and see!
I had a lovely, if somewhat painful massage yesterday afternoon. My lovely Jo worked hard on my solidified shoulders and upon waking this morning I could hardly move. I questioned fellow runners if running today was a sensible option bearing in mind I was hoping to run further than I have in a long while. A resounding yes was their reply, so out again into the glorious sunshine I ventured.
I had given myself a slightly shorter route option if when I got to what I thought would be about half way I was flagging but I was very happy to discover that besides not walking a single step thus far I was more than able to tackle my longer choice.
Today's plan was to take things nice and easy, no fartlek ideas, just get round. I took care not to set off too quickly but enjoyed the stretches where I could stride out, just a little, and hoped this would make my overall pace acceptable. It did. I was also amazed to see when looking at my stats that my fastest section overall was well into the run when I was actually feeling quite tired. At that stage I felt I had fuel in the tank but my legs were aching somewhat.
My iPod sits nicely tucked inside my t shirt so I have no idea how far I have been nor how well I am doing until the end. Today I ran across my finishing line at the foot of our steep drive, hauled myself to the top where a conveniently placed brick wall always awaits my collapse and aids my stretching whilst I listen to my achievement. I have stopped listening to the false message that always declares "Congratulations, you have run another 500km," and wait for the more important facts, always distance first, then time, then pace then calories burned. The combined details had me grinning like a Cheshire cat and I confess to a fist pump and a whoop or two!
The best bit is the feeling that I could go further, is this possible? Both you and I will have to wait and see!
Sunday, 9 March 2014
Bring Me Sunshine
Woke up, got up, went for a run.
No hat, no jacket, no hesitation.
Ran a bit, jogged a bit, walked a bit.
No worries, no cares, no pressure.
And all because the lady loves...
THE SUN
Saturday, 1 March 2014
The Tale of the Tail
Today I had the honour of being the Longrun Meadow Park Run tail runner. I got up to a beautiful morning of sunshine and a frost requiring a deicing of the car. I arrived at Longrun Meadow in plenty of time and met the other morning's volunteers. A group photo was duly taken and I was very glad to hear that Dave the run director had been sweeping away one of the puddles. Worry not, there were plenty more lakes to wade through!
Plenty of runners gathered and made there way to the start. It was good to see a good number of new Longrun runners attending and I duly made my way to the back behind all the runners. In my normal way I had time to have a panic about what I might have to do if any runners got into trouble or if I dropped my phone in the mud and then wouldn't be able to call for help, thankfully the hooter soon sounded and away we went. No sooner had we started than I was alerted to a couple of latecomers who soon caught us, got into the pace and took off and disappeared into the pack. My next panic, what if the slower runners dropped out after the first lap, would I then end up needing to catch the pack, oh heck, I certainly hoped not.
Having the opportunity the make sure I was the last runner really took the pressure off. Now, the only results that matter really are your own results, there really is no pressure and although plenty of the runners have a desire to be up the front, beating your own time is what it's all about. But today I didn't even have to beat my own time. Therefore, I enjoyed my run a whole lot more than usual. No gasping for breath, no pushing myself, no charging through the puddles, the whole run was relaxed and I had time to select a course through the water and gloop.
I was very fortunate to be running with a lovely lady, whose name I sadly didn't ask. She hadn't done a 5K for a while and although we walked a little now and then, especially through the mud, (how on earth does anybody manage to run through that?) we kept going and she even put on a bit of a sprint at the end.
I'm never going to see the run from the front but I decided whilst running that being right at the back gives a completely different perspective to the run from what I am used to. I was able to see all the runners stretched out before me. Instead of concentrating on me I was able to look up, look ahead and see all the vibrant fluorescent colours, how do they get so far so quickly? I am usually near the back of the runners but I haven't been lapped until today. A young, tall and slender teenager tore past us and I'm sure he was the eventual winner. Oh how I wish I hadn't taken the short cut and hidden in the corner of the field during school days cross country!
The best moment by far was eventually catching up with a four year old. He was having a magnificent time too, splashing through all the mud and puddles and eagerly running on to find the next lot and all with a gorgeous smile. And yes he did run a whole lap.
If you haven't done a Parkrun yet I definitely recommend that you do. If you have but you have yet to volunteer please see if you can, I recommend tail running, being at the back is a good place to be.
Plenty of runners gathered and made there way to the start. It was good to see a good number of new Longrun runners attending and I duly made my way to the back behind all the runners. In my normal way I had time to have a panic about what I might have to do if any runners got into trouble or if I dropped my phone in the mud and then wouldn't be able to call for help, thankfully the hooter soon sounded and away we went. No sooner had we started than I was alerted to a couple of latecomers who soon caught us, got into the pace and took off and disappeared into the pack. My next panic, what if the slower runners dropped out after the first lap, would I then end up needing to catch the pack, oh heck, I certainly hoped not.
Having the opportunity the make sure I was the last runner really took the pressure off. Now, the only results that matter really are your own results, there really is no pressure and although plenty of the runners have a desire to be up the front, beating your own time is what it's all about. But today I didn't even have to beat my own time. Therefore, I enjoyed my run a whole lot more than usual. No gasping for breath, no pushing myself, no charging through the puddles, the whole run was relaxed and I had time to select a course through the water and gloop.
I was very fortunate to be running with a lovely lady, whose name I sadly didn't ask. She hadn't done a 5K for a while and although we walked a little now and then, especially through the mud, (how on earth does anybody manage to run through that?) we kept going and she even put on a bit of a sprint at the end.
I'm never going to see the run from the front but I decided whilst running that being right at the back gives a completely different perspective to the run from what I am used to. I was able to see all the runners stretched out before me. Instead of concentrating on me I was able to look up, look ahead and see all the vibrant fluorescent colours, how do they get so far so quickly? I am usually near the back of the runners but I haven't been lapped until today. A young, tall and slender teenager tore past us and I'm sure he was the eventual winner. Oh how I wish I hadn't taken the short cut and hidden in the corner of the field during school days cross country!
The best moment by far was eventually catching up with a four year old. He was having a magnificent time too, splashing through all the mud and puddles and eagerly running on to find the next lot and all with a gorgeous smile. And yes he did run a whole lap.
If you haven't done a Parkrun yet I definitely recommend that you do. If you have but you have yet to volunteer please see if you can, I recommend tail running, being at the back is a good place to be.
Sunday, 23 February 2014
Light at the end of the tunnel
A long tunnel, a very long tunnel, I have been jogging down. Every outing resulting in a slower and slower pace. Ok, I was having a go, it was better to be trying than to be doing nothing. But, it is so demoralising to seem to be making no progress what so ever. I know there are many factors involved and for me my Meniere's always seems to rear its ugly head when I am just getting into the swing of things. A two or three week break and there I am, right back at the beginning.
I even braved a wet and muddy park run ignoring my previous evening's high temperature attempting to beat this decline in performance. Soaking feet and working in a bug laden environment and there I was with a hacking cough and stinking cold. No running and back to square one. Do not pass go, do not collect £200.
Half term, come on let's get back on track. A 5 km run with Donna and suddenly my pace was better than it had been in weeks. I had to walk some of it, Donna didn't, seeing her get away from me kept me going. There was no way I was going to catch her but I was going to keep going.
The very next day I was back out there, almost the same route but I made it a little longer. No walking, slightly slower pace but I ran the whole way. I was so happy. Had I got my mojo back? Three days followed that were full to the brim with socialising, eating, drinking and generally sitting down and not moving much.
So, this morning, with some trepidation I set out on the same route intending to make it even longer and not allowing my head to think for one second about walking. Whilst pounding the pavements I was mentally composing my blog, I was convinced it would be doom and gloom, woe is me. I felt slow, I kept plodding on, I made it all the way out to East Reach, figure of eighting the various roads and avenues. I saw quite a few runners, all striding out and making quick progress, I continued to plod. I made it up the hills. I was almost back to my car when I decided to add the final loop, I could still breathe, my lower back sore but my legs were still moving. I turned away from my car and added another trip down Stoke Road, back uphill, well, slight incline, on, on, on, turned the corner and increased my speed! A very strong tail wind helping me enormously but I was determined to see a rise on my line graph instead of the usual dip, dip, dip. Last turn, another up, I can see my car, keep going, I did it!
7.5 km with an average pace of 7:04, hallelujah, even better than my outing with Donna.
Julie Booth, I have that smug smile on my face!
I even braved a wet and muddy park run ignoring my previous evening's high temperature attempting to beat this decline in performance. Soaking feet and working in a bug laden environment and there I was with a hacking cough and stinking cold. No running and back to square one. Do not pass go, do not collect £200.
Half term, come on let's get back on track. A 5 km run with Donna and suddenly my pace was better than it had been in weeks. I had to walk some of it, Donna didn't, seeing her get away from me kept me going. There was no way I was going to catch her but I was going to keep going.
The very next day I was back out there, almost the same route but I made it a little longer. No walking, slightly slower pace but I ran the whole way. I was so happy. Had I got my mojo back? Three days followed that were full to the brim with socialising, eating, drinking and generally sitting down and not moving much.
So, this morning, with some trepidation I set out on the same route intending to make it even longer and not allowing my head to think for one second about walking. Whilst pounding the pavements I was mentally composing my blog, I was convinced it would be doom and gloom, woe is me. I felt slow, I kept plodding on, I made it all the way out to East Reach, figure of eighting the various roads and avenues. I saw quite a few runners, all striding out and making quick progress, I continued to plod. I made it up the hills. I was almost back to my car when I decided to add the final loop, I could still breathe, my lower back sore but my legs were still moving. I turned away from my car and added another trip down Stoke Road, back uphill, well, slight incline, on, on, on, turned the corner and increased my speed! A very strong tail wind helping me enormously but I was determined to see a rise on my line graph instead of the usual dip, dip, dip. Last turn, another up, I can see my car, keep going, I did it!
7.5 km with an average pace of 7:04, hallelujah, even better than my outing with Donna.
Julie Booth, I have that smug smile on my face!
Thursday, 21 November 2013
New Recruit
I would like to report that I have been running regularly, that I have lost a stone in weight and that my diet is super healthy.
However that would be a total lie.
My running is at a serious all time low. My running manual says I need to be motivated and I do have a really good reason to shift this weight but I seem to have lost my running buzz. This extra stone, which could actually be more than a stone but I refuse to weigh is really slowing me down. Recent photos of me out on the road show a definite body shape change that I do not like. All my stats seem to be showing anything but improvement and I am queen of excuses.
No matter how hard I try to make sensible eating choices if I'm consciously watching my food intake I repeatedly find myself just popping into Maccy D's for a treat, having just one (or two) humbugs and rejecting my carefully planned gluten free lunch in favour of a trip to Barry the Baker. A thick slathering of butter on toast for breakfast becomes the mainstay of dark mornings spent snuggled in bed reading on my iPad because it's too cold and dark to get up.
Why am I doing this to myself? I am baffled. Up until not so very many months ago I had been completely tea total for several years, but can I stop now, NO. Not so long back I was running every other day without fail and included proper stretching and everything. Once I was able to stop lifting the fork to my mouth as soon as full was reached. I have to get back to that.
I ran last Saturday's Longrun Parkrun with the lovely Donna. We completed the course in 33 minutes. She has wondered if we can do it in under 30. Oh how I would love to. So there's a challenge and a motivation.
Today I ran after school with Gill. Whilst I was getting ready she managed to enrol a new recruit. Kirsty joined our school team in September, she is young and she has long legs. Gill is also tall, she is older than me but she can run faster than me. Surely being able to keep up with these two has to be another motivation.
I have just 24 days to get myself sorted. I can't say why but it is very important that I do. This is my major motivation I have to succeed. Losing a stone is probably not possible now but I can make a significant difference to the fit of my wardrobe. I have written it so I have to do it.
Please help me.
However that would be a total lie.
My running is at a serious all time low. My running manual says I need to be motivated and I do have a really good reason to shift this weight but I seem to have lost my running buzz. This extra stone, which could actually be more than a stone but I refuse to weigh is really slowing me down. Recent photos of me out on the road show a definite body shape change that I do not like. All my stats seem to be showing anything but improvement and I am queen of excuses.
No matter how hard I try to make sensible eating choices if I'm consciously watching my food intake I repeatedly find myself just popping into Maccy D's for a treat, having just one (or two) humbugs and rejecting my carefully planned gluten free lunch in favour of a trip to Barry the Baker. A thick slathering of butter on toast for breakfast becomes the mainstay of dark mornings spent snuggled in bed reading on my iPad because it's too cold and dark to get up.
Why am I doing this to myself? I am baffled. Up until not so very many months ago I had been completely tea total for several years, but can I stop now, NO. Not so long back I was running every other day without fail and included proper stretching and everything. Once I was able to stop lifting the fork to my mouth as soon as full was reached. I have to get back to that.
I ran last Saturday's Longrun Parkrun with the lovely Donna. We completed the course in 33 minutes. She has wondered if we can do it in under 30. Oh how I would love to. So there's a challenge and a motivation.
Today I ran after school with Gill. Whilst I was getting ready she managed to enrol a new recruit. Kirsty joined our school team in September, she is young and she has long legs. Gill is also tall, she is older than me but she can run faster than me. Surely being able to keep up with these two has to be another motivation.
I have just 24 days to get myself sorted. I can't say why but it is very important that I do. This is my major motivation I have to succeed. Losing a stone is probably not possible now but I can make a significant difference to the fit of my wardrobe. I have written it so I have to do it.
Please help me.
Sunday, 20 October 2013
Longrun Parkrun
I have quite a few friends that had already taken part in the Longrun Parkrun and this Saturday my lovely Saturday running partner Ali gave me leave to take part. No amount of cajoling was going to persuade Ali to join me but as she is recovering from a chest infection she really needed to be resting.
I was very nervous on my way into town. Does anybody else worry about silly things like will there be a parking spot? I don't know why I let these small things get the better of me. Oh and will there be a loo? No of course not, and I wont need one anyway so stop adding to unnecessary and pointless stress.
Where do I go and where is the start? Strangely enough it will be where all the other people are heading and surely there will be marshals to ask.
As usual I quickly found people I know and we had a natter. We were called together for the usual info about Parkrunning and for a plea for volunteers to help out. Just over 200 of us headed to the start and I placed myself somewhere in the middle of the pack, on the track, no grass for me thank you. After a bottleneck right at the beginning of the run we soon spread out and the proper athletes could be seen streaking ahead. I was determined to put in as much effort as I could muster but it took a while to get my breathing under control. I hadn't run since the 10K and I was expecting this to be fairly easy. It wasn't.
We had been warned about MUD on the course and I was trotting along thinking the middling sized puddles I was jumping and dodging were fine but then I came to the MUDDY section. It was possible to see that this part of the track is in fact grass however all signs of grass was quickly disappearing under a sea of gloopy mud. I don't do MUD. I hate MUD. It squelched into my trainers. I ploughed on, literally and was very glad to get back onto terra firmer. It's not just the revoltingness of MUD that I dislike it's also that one slip and I would be on my backside, my balance being what it is cannot be relied upon to aid with such disasters. Plus my coccyx would not survive another fall.
I was so pleased to see Ali waiting on the bend that signaled the start of the second lap. I thrust my jacket at her whilst fumbling in the pocket to get my barcode. No barcode = no time. Onto the second lap. Having to lap is not my idea of fun at all and just as I got into my stride my loose lace called for attention. I knew I was putting in some good effort because as I came back up to continue running I had a dizzy. For the next few minutes this took my mind of the pain of running whilst I pondered over the dizzy spell and prayed it wouldn't develop into anything more sinister.
I took right to the edge of the slippy section in the hope of getting some grip on the mangled grass. This second lap hurt. It was hard. I was seriously wondering why on earth I do this running malarky. I so wanted to walk. I didn't walk. I kept going, I couldn't catch anybody, I couldn't overtake. Not strictly true, I did pass a few parents with their young children but they quickly regained their places ahead of me. I don't think I managed to pass anybody the whole way round!
Finally the end was nigh, sprint finish? Not today, not an ounce of anything left in the tank. So Mr Higham I must have put in all the effort on the run? I joined the queue with my number, 168 out of 200 or so. Ali came to my side and congratulated me. I felt sick. I vowed never to do another run again.
I had no idea the lovely Mrs Higham was behind me, and she joined Ali and me as we were talking to her family. If only I had known she was there I could have run with her. The best bit for me about Parkruns is the lovely table of stats they produce. I could be pleased to say I came thirteenth for my age group however I have no idea how many of us were in that age group! I also know that I ran at 49% for my age, not quite sure how this works but I know I was in a fairly good place on the table but there is room for improvement.
Driving home and I had already changed my mind about running again. Of course I will. I've even volunteered to sort the number counters after a parkrun next month! Will I get Ali to join me? Of course I will!
I was very nervous on my way into town. Does anybody else worry about silly things like will there be a parking spot? I don't know why I let these small things get the better of me. Oh and will there be a loo? No of course not, and I wont need one anyway so stop adding to unnecessary and pointless stress.
Where do I go and where is the start? Strangely enough it will be where all the other people are heading and surely there will be marshals to ask.
As usual I quickly found people I know and we had a natter. We were called together for the usual info about Parkrunning and for a plea for volunteers to help out. Just over 200 of us headed to the start and I placed myself somewhere in the middle of the pack, on the track, no grass for me thank you. After a bottleneck right at the beginning of the run we soon spread out and the proper athletes could be seen streaking ahead. I was determined to put in as much effort as I could muster but it took a while to get my breathing under control. I hadn't run since the 10K and I was expecting this to be fairly easy. It wasn't.
We had been warned about MUD on the course and I was trotting along thinking the middling sized puddles I was jumping and dodging were fine but then I came to the MUDDY section. It was possible to see that this part of the track is in fact grass however all signs of grass was quickly disappearing under a sea of gloopy mud. I don't do MUD. I hate MUD. It squelched into my trainers. I ploughed on, literally and was very glad to get back onto terra firmer. It's not just the revoltingness of MUD that I dislike it's also that one slip and I would be on my backside, my balance being what it is cannot be relied upon to aid with such disasters. Plus my coccyx would not survive another fall.
I was so pleased to see Ali waiting on the bend that signaled the start of the second lap. I thrust my jacket at her whilst fumbling in the pocket to get my barcode. No barcode = no time. Onto the second lap. Having to lap is not my idea of fun at all and just as I got into my stride my loose lace called for attention. I knew I was putting in some good effort because as I came back up to continue running I had a dizzy. For the next few minutes this took my mind of the pain of running whilst I pondered over the dizzy spell and prayed it wouldn't develop into anything more sinister.
I took right to the edge of the slippy section in the hope of getting some grip on the mangled grass. This second lap hurt. It was hard. I was seriously wondering why on earth I do this running malarky. I so wanted to walk. I didn't walk. I kept going, I couldn't catch anybody, I couldn't overtake. Not strictly true, I did pass a few parents with their young children but they quickly regained their places ahead of me. I don't think I managed to pass anybody the whole way round!
Finally the end was nigh, sprint finish? Not today, not an ounce of anything left in the tank. So Mr Higham I must have put in all the effort on the run? I joined the queue with my number, 168 out of 200 or so. Ali came to my side and congratulated me. I felt sick. I vowed never to do another run again.
I had no idea the lovely Mrs Higham was behind me, and she joined Ali and me as we were talking to her family. If only I had known she was there I could have run with her. The best bit for me about Parkruns is the lovely table of stats they produce. I could be pleased to say I came thirteenth for my age group however I have no idea how many of us were in that age group! I also know that I ran at 49% for my age, not quite sure how this works but I know I was in a fairly good place on the table but there is room for improvement.
Driving home and I had already changed my mind about running again. Of course I will. I've even volunteered to sort the number counters after a parkrun next month! Will I get Ali to join me? Of course I will!
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