Drowned Rat

As my leg is now feeling a bit better,  I decided to run home from work last night. Whilst sat at my desk yesterday I watched the weather getting worse and worse. But I braved it and I went out and I did the six miles in the rain, rather stupidly perhaps.

It wasn’t too bad until I got to the other side of Hyde Park (although the sight of sad wet deck chairs was rather depressing) Then the heavens opened and it poured down. It was at this point that I proposed my new running hypothesis - the collaboration between umbrella size and annoyance. The bigger the umbrella (golf usually) the more the chance of being battered. Tourists with their cheap small umbrellas (which were more often than not inside out, but at least families could keep track of each other by spotting the matching style and colour) whilst dithering and getting in the way a bit – were generally harmless and could easily be swerved around. Every time I ran past a person with a golf umbrella I was dicing with death. The size of the umbrella means it takes up the whole of the pavement, so I would have to either a) run in the road (risking being hit by a car) b) do a sort of duck and under of the thing (risking being hit in the eye by the metal bits) or c) jump over the top (this option failed rather dramatically, I don’t recommend it)

Tourists watched me open-mouthed as I ran past them, I like to think that this was because the were so amazed by my running style, but I suspect it was because I was soaking wet and looked rather pathetic.  I suppose that as it is nearly September now that this weather is going to continue so I better toughen up and deal with it, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

I suppose looking at the positive side it meant the run was out of the way – if I had travelled home the usual way, I would probably talked myself out of going out again into the rain.  Lets hope the weather is a bit better for my next outing…

Training in Waterbeach

I finally have the time/strength to write about last week! Sorry about that, what with exhaustion/ cake bake madness I just didn’t get a chance!

After signing up for the Royal Parks Half Marathon, my colleagues here at St Dunstan’s thought it would be a good idea for me to go and train with some other fundraisers.

 I was thinking that it would be best for me to start slowly – like going on another seaside saunter or training with someone like Shizo Kanakuri (who holds one of the world’s slowest marathon times and took 54 years, 8 months, 6 days, 8 hours, 32 minutes and 20.3 seconds to finish his marathon!) Yup, I wanted to take it nice and slow, yes?  Yes?…..erm, NO. 

Instead of taking it nice and easy I went training with Squaddies SSgt Jim Offord and L/CplDean  Howard –  they are doing an event for the St Dunsan’s Forces Challenge in which they (and 8 others) will run 10 marathons in 5 days

Yes, 10 marathons in 5 days AND they will do all this in full Army gear (even 40 pound bergens) why wouldn’t I want to join them in their training?! Even the idea of training with those guys was exhausting!

Getting the train to Waterbeach was easy enough. Jim and Dean met us at the train station and took us to the barracks, luckily enough it was very quiet, the idea of loads of service people watching me make a fool of myself didn’t appeal.

The assault course was right next to Jim’s office and I have to say that some of it looked quite fun (the netting bit off Gladiators) but the wall looked a bit impossible to get over. Unfortunately (or not perhaps) I didn’t get a go at it!

Not long after arriving Jim said that we would go for a warm up lap – this was a one and a half mile gentle run (allegedly). They both started so fast and I usually take things slow at first, until I get into my stride (then run a teeny-weeny bit faster) I was out of breath after about 30 seconds! They were running rather too fast me (but I didn’t really like to tell them that for fear of looking rubbish) they were chatting away to me, whilst I was just trying to breathe.

On the lap around the barracks it has markings every 1/2 mile, which tell you how fast you should be running to be within the Army PT test. You will be pleased to know that I was well within it, so at least I don’t have to worry about that part when I go to sign up (unlike all the other parts)

After a breather we did another lap, this time you had to run as fast as you could to each marker. You had to get there within 5 minutes, if you got there earlier than 5 minutes you could spend the rest of this time having a fag (OK I am actually lying there, it was actually recovery time – or in my case trying to breathe time). Jim and Dean did this very easily, and I felt completely rubbish. After one mile I wasn’t actually sure if I would make it all the way round, but with their encouragement I made it to the end. I had to have a sit down after that to try not to collapse.

Due to my own daftness on a previous post, Jim decided that we would next have a go at the excercise trail (as I  had writeen that I have never seen anyone having a go at these things) Starting with the monkey bars, which I have never been able to do, they ended up carrying me across, oh the shame. Next was the gate jump, which I easily got over. Jim said the jump was boring, I take it this means that it is do-able by mere mortals such as myself.

With a gentle jog to the next couple of challenges on the trail, I had a go at the log vault (the small end obviously) the parallel bars (I thought I was doing press ups, but apparently you have to dip more than 1mm for it to be classed as such) the slalom (would be quite fun to do drunk) and the over and under hurdles (mainly under in my case, I had to be lifted over the over ones as I had no strength left at this point)

Not even having time for a cup of tea next we did another lap round the barracks – this time in all the gear! I had a fetching pair of combat trousers to wear (it’s like the 90′s never went away) and a 10 pound Bergen rucksack (a quarter of the weight of Jim and Dean’s, but heavy enough for me to get an idea of their challenge) This time I managed to keep up with the two squaddies (admittedly they were taking it easy, as they were both doing a treadmill marathon the very next day)

Whilst on the leg Jim went off to “answer a call” on his mobile, or so I thought, and he reappeared a couple of minutes later dressed as Wolverine! Dean had also snuck off during this and when he came back he was dressed as Shrek (but Shrek’s trousers kept falling down and he had to hold them up as he was running along) As I was rather tired (for tired read “an absolute wreck”) at this point it didn’t actually surprise me very much to see Wolverine and Shrek. At that point all I could think of was getting round the last lap without having to have a lie down on the grass. My ability to feel surprise (or most other emotions) had been surpassed by sheer desperation to make it to the end!

After all that (which felt like a whole day, but was actually only a couple of hours) I got the train back to London and had a much deserved lie down. My failure to stretch properly after finishing with Jim and Dean meant I was pretty sore the next day and was hobbling round quite a bit. But my mental exhaustion was even worse and I was completely useless in the office the next day (ignore those who say that is always the case!)

The bad news is that someone was actually filming us at Waterbeach – keep your eyes peeled on You’ve Been Framed I am bound to pop up there soon!

A big thanks to Jim and Dean for having us in Waterbeach, it was a great day (I can say that now I am not there) and now plan to get a bit fitter so that things like that don’t cause me such physical/mental exhaustion and pain. I’m just glad that I managed not to keel over even though I  wanted to for most of the day It made me realise that those guys are beyond fit, actually sort of super-human, so now I have a rough idea how hard they have been training for their HUGE challenge in November – so do make sure you sponsor them.

Injury update – sprained my thigh yesterday (only a little bit) I would like to say that this was caused by me doing star jumps or something like that. Actually I was sat on the floor and stood up a stupid way. Whoopsie!

Fail

Whoopsie, I deleted my last post in the attempt to add a photo. Basically, I am not going to write about what I did yesterday as that would involve using my brain, something not possible today.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow…

Bikeless

Well I went for my first long (well a bit longer) run on Saturday. I was originally planning to go for a run on Sunday, but my bike got nicked on Friday night and I was really, really, really (etc) gutted and I figured if I went for a run on Saturday it might make me feel a bit better (or just too tired to be upset) For a change in scenery I went to Brockwell Park, which is pretty big (over 1.5 miles a lap) and with much nicer scenery than the streets in london (unless you are a masochist) and there is even a lido. I got heckled by a couple of locals (on the bench with their cider) but everything went fine (maybe a bit too well, no sprains or cuts or bruises, something must be going horribly wrong) As most of the run was on grass it felt a lot slower, but I prefer to run on grass (avoiding the hurdles of dog poo and hidden dips) than the pavement (avoiding pedestrians, street furniture (and dog poo too I guess!) Does anyone ever use those excercise trail things in parks? In Brockwell park I spotted monkey bars, sit up thingies and leap-frog (one of the leap-frog posts was higher than me, you would have to be crazy to attempt to jump that one) I suppose I did feel a bit better after my run (my gentle sobbing had passed) but I was a bit useless afterwards - it took me ages to meet my mate in town due to general stupidity (I was running late to start with, then I went to the wrong place) I really could have done with having a nap, so maybe the Sunday would have been better (makes mental note to self) There are a couple of spots left on the St Dunstan’s Royal Parks running team. If anyone you know is interested in raising money for St Dunstan’s and fancies taking part please get in touch. Me and Burt and Ernie would love to have you join us!

I am taking part in an exciting event (erm or terrifying, depending on how you look at it) this Wednesday afternoon. If I am able to type I will do a post. Hopefully photos too……..

Durty Stinkin’ Streets

I ran in today! (so I can feel slightly more virtuous when I go to the pub tonight) The pollution for the first few miles was really, really bad. Every breath felt dirtier than the last. When I reached Pimlico it was like I had arrived in the countryside – breathing in the fresh air! Is it wrong for a runner to wear a mask to stop the car fumes? would I look like a complete muppet? (well, more so than usual)

After Pimlico I hit the back streets of Victoria, which was full of tourists looking at maps. This turned into a bit of an assault course, with me weaving around them. In my mind it was like I was a parcour runner, doing huge leaps and twisting round the people blocking my way. In reality I probably just tutted and moved a few inches to the side.

I saw some action in Belgrave Square, outside one of the embassies a car was surrounded by MASSIVE policemen with MASSIVE guns, obviously I was running far too fast to find out what was going on (guns tend to make me pick up the pace)

Not sure if I will run in again, if I do I will definitely take a different route to the Thames (not sure how) The first 3 miles were really quite nasty, and the buses that were kerb crawling me were far too tempting.

Check out Burt and Ernie! they are running for St Dunstan’s too! http://www.justgiving.com/bertandernie

Update…

I made it home! I didn’t have to get the bus halfway! woohoo!  it took an hour and 20 mins. It was a very bizarre experience, I have never run to get somewhere before - usually I run a very big circle or lots of little ones.  Running to Vauxhall Bridge was quite pleasant, but once over the Thames there aren’t really any back streets to get to my house, so the pollution was much more noticeable.

I never knew there were so many commuters who run! I suppose you never look out for them until you are doing it yourself

Secret Squirrel

I was going to post something on Friday but I really wasn’t feeling too good and didn’t want to write a post which was generally me whingeing.  Obviously it wasn’t too much training which had me feeling rotten, it was the Royal Navy giving me too much booze.

However, I did actually go for a run on the Thursday night, and I although the first 30 mins were pretty hellish I actually lasted an hour and a quarter and ran over 5 miles (then went to the pub)

Why am I writing this now, when I should be on my way home from work? Well, today I am going to run home! I have never done this before and am thinking it could be complete disaster - If I wait until everyone else in the office has gone then no-one will have to witness me in lycra and have the opportunity to laugh at my daft idea. 

I have checked out the route and I reckon it is about 6 miles (unless I get so embarrassed that I run only down back streets, avoiding the masses) As I normally tend to run in parks it is going to be a very bizarre experience, but I have my headphones at the ready so I can attempt to block out the world. Fingers crossed…

This sounds much more fun? (apart from the black outs and vomiting obvs)

http://exercisingwhileintoxicated.wordpress.com/2010/07/26/the-beer-every-mile-sf-half-marathon-13-beers-in-13-miles/

Sponsor Me!

Now my training has started I better get on with trying to raise some money!

Going round with a sponsor form asking people to fill in their details? chasing people for weeks after the event? That is not for me! I have just set up an online fundraising page, it took me less than 2 minutes (I love it!) All you have to do is fill in your basic information details and tick a few boxes.

Admittedly it looks a bit bare, but once I get up the nerve I post a lovely photo of me up there (and there will be loads of lovely people’s names underneath who have sponsored me shed loads of money) The more pictures you put up there, the more your mates will look at the website leading to loads more sponsorship money! and I know the photo thing is hard, but if I can do it anyone can do it (I will not be wearing lycra though!)

and here it is….

www.justgiving.com/catherineattwood

I also went for a run last night, round my local (flat!) park, 3.4 miles in 44mins, bit better thank last time. The park has a lovely view of the city, but I noticed that you can also see the hospital that I had my ‘weekend break’ in a few weeks ago, that sent a shiver down my spine!

70 Days until the Royal Parks Half Marathon

So, after signing up for the Royal Parks Half Marathon ages ago it finally dawned on me the other day that I only have just over two months until I have to actually run the thing. 

 Admittedly, I haven’t been totally slack and I had started doing a lot of training until mid May, but then things started going a bit wrong. Nothing like running injuries, not me, that would be far too obvious. Firstly I was knocked unconscious at a festival by a crowd surfer. This took a couple of weeks to get over, but I had started getting back into the swing of things when my wisdom tooth decided to start giving me infections. This happened a couple of times until I had the tooth removed. For most people this would be the end of the story, however, my face then expanded to the size of a house and I ended up in hospital to have an abscess drained (totally, totally grim experience).  

 That was a couple of weeks ago, and I was a bit knocked for six after I got out (and weak because I hadn’t eaten anything solid for what felt like weeks) After 10 days of not doing any exercise at all I started cycling again (old lady’s overtook me) and today (saturday) I went for my first run in nearly 2 months (I use the term ‘run’ loosely) To challenge myself that little bit more I ran it in Cornwall, which isn’t know for it’s flatness. I managed to do 3 miles in 50 mins, which is about 10mins slower than the last time I ran, but I know I shouldn’t be too hard on myself (which I always am) as I have had a long time off. Hopefully will be able to get a couple of runs in every week for the next few weeks and get back on track.

 Why am I writing this blog? Well, I work for St Dunstan’s and am (hoping!) to raise some money for them by being sponsored when I do the run. St Dunstan’s is a charity dedicated to helping servicemen and women who have lost their sight. There is already quite a team of runners taking part to raise money also and apparently my writing a blog will encourage them to keep at it (or laugh at my continual disasters and know that they will be doing much better in their training than me!).

I’ll try and post something twice a week (even if it is just excuses!) Let’s see if this remains a running blog or a becomes a not running blog…

 Days til RP: 70

Days minor injury free: 21