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I’m back!!

I can’t believe my last post was when I was on my way out of the door to complete Manchester Marathon!

A lot has changed since then and I have a few race entries to enter and some updating to my profile to do, but I have decided it is time to get back up to speed with my blogging and begin to bore you all again.

So before 2023 arrives  I aim to complete my Manchester Marathon blog (I am sure I’ve written it somewhere just never published it).

I also have the following events to blog

London Landmarks 2022.

See the at Slaithwait Slog Half marathon.

My first 50km Ultra which was completed at Longhorn.

My first 100km race – Race to the stones, still feels very unreal.

Yorkshire Marathon – Hilly, undertrained and still not sure how I got round but I did!

I also did my first Percy Pud race in December which I’ll share with you.

Then I will be ready to share my 2023 running goals!!

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Great North Run Not Meant To Be 😭

I’m absolutly gutted.
Hit by covid I’ve had to make the tough decision to withdraw from the Great North Run.
I’ve waited 2 years for this run and was so excited to see my sister in Seaham pre race. However, I know it’s the right decision to make at this time.
My isolation ends Friday as I’m due to run Sunday but having been off my feet for 2 weeks and not ran the prior two weeks very much I know I’d be pushing myself. My breathing isn’t great on and off so I made the decision in hope that doing so I can concentrate on getting back up and out and be able to at least make the start of Manchester even if I don’t finish.
Luckily my charity have been amazing and I’ve been offered a place in next year’s event which has softened the blow a bit so another one to add to add to next year.

I’m not sure what the best plan is for running Manchester, I’m not even sure there is a plan out there for this circumstance all I can do is try my best. So I’ve calculated 3 weeks with 1 week taper! I know my original taper was 3 weeks but I did a marathon with only a weeks taper a couple of months ago so during those three weeks I’d like to build up gradually, I’m no wonder woman that’s about to go straight out and run 20 miles.
My plan is a couple of 3 milers to see how I go if I feel OK up it 6 miles for a long run hopefully a half in week 2 if not keep doing smaller runs. I’d like to get a half in before taper but I’m not going to panic if not. Im learning I can’t control everything in life and sometimes you’ve just got to go with it.
I will be rooting for my friend who’s running the GNR as her first half marathon next week though.
One set back isn’t going to stop me moving forward.

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First official event is in sight

So I’m popping in for another update.

Things have been a bit like a roller coaster these last few weeks. With holidays (long awaited), niggles that just keep moving around etc I’m learning to go with the flow and with only 8 weeks to go what will be will be.

I did do a16 miler about 3 weeks ago which I was well impressed with and actually felt OK about 😁. Then things dont seem to have progressed since then.

I’ve 2 days before my first official event since the half I did at Blackpool in Febuary 2020! The nerves are kicking in, I’m not sure the knee which is twining is going to hold out for what I really would like to do on the day but throwing in the towel is not an option.

So what is this event you might be asking? Or you might not be bothered at all 😂.
I’m attending the Lucky Horseshoe at Horsheath Race Course. Its a lapped event with laps of 5.3km and it runs over 6 hours. I can cover as many or little as I like and was running it as a training event to reach around 20 miles, however my heart wants to go for more and I really would be extatic to run 8 laps 😬 which would mean a marathon 🤯. Not sure my knee wants the same thing but i’m just going to go and give it my best.
Watch this space for an update!

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Long Overdue Update

LONG POST ALERT!!!
I’m not sure where to start this evening, it’s been so long since I last posted I feel like I’ve abandoned you all 🤣.
So like many people I’ve spent just over the last year getting through each day, my goals have changed, changed and changed again 🙈 or should I say moved as my goals remain the same just different dates. My goals even include some new and exciting ones.
I’ve been motivated, unmotivated, suffered with sever sciatica and joint issues where I didn’t really run more than a couple of miles a week for what felt like years but was more like a couple of months. I’ve doubted my self, over if running really is for my and I’ve gained 2 stone in weight!! (this is a working progress to lose it but my running goals are more important to me at the moment and I know the weight loss will come with time).
So to catch up with where I am goal wise moving forward here goes.
London Landmarks was postponed to a date I was unable to attend so my place has been rolled over to next year 😒
Doncaster half Marathon was booked after this revelation and was cancelled a week after booking 🙈
Great North Run 🤞 will go ahead on 12th September 2021.
Manchester Marathon 🤞 will go ahead 10th October 2021, the route seems to have grown 2 hills 🤔 one being just after mile 4!! Better get hill training 😂😂.
I’m currently eyeing up a few in between races just hanging fire with booking at the minute.
I also have this crazy goal hiding at the back of my mind, I’ll let you into a secret. You are the first person I’ve told this too but I’m going to be saying it out loud more often cause if I don’t believe in myself and don’t believe I can then I won’t.
I want to run an ultra! There you go I said it.
Please pick yourself up off the floor from laughter 😂😂.
I have a bone to pick with a route I once did many years ago. Not running if you told me 3 years ago I’d be running it would be me rolling around on the floor laughing.
I entered London to Brighton 100km in 2015 I think 🤔, very uneducated, under trained, UN fuelled yup I was that person. I got to just before the 80km point (which is in its own right an achievement, but back then I was so dissapointed in myself) my brain and body wasn’t functioning together, I felt sick and knew there was a massive hill climb to still face, fear of not making it to the next stop I made the  decision to call it a day. (it was actually 3am in the morning) I didn’t even recognise distance back then like I do now otherwise I might have pushed on.
It’s always been there at the back of my mind niggling away and now I believe I can do it 💪.
I’m going to Jeff (or crawl) London to Brighton 2022 in May, only this time I’m going prepared, trained, fuelled and I will cross that line!
If there’s any crazy’s out there reading this that would love to join me I’d love some company along the way. (I can try 🤪)
I’m going to pick up my blogging as my training for Manchester Marathon is well under way, I am using Jeff Galloway 32 week Training Plan, I won’t bore you with every run I do but I will check in from time time, longer runs and any races I managed to participate in. So watch this space!
P. S I’ve recently started an online second hand book shop to help with my fundraising. If you like a read then check out Www.bookadora.co.uk or give me a follow on Facebook or Instagram, share with your family and friends lots of bargains to be had and all for great cause 😁.
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General update

I’m back again!
It’s been a tough several weeks since I last posted and the virtual challenges don’t seem to have done anything to re motivate me, but hoping they will do in the coming weeks.
I’ve struggled to get out with a twingy back, although it’s more in the buttocks than back but every time I stand up or sit down I feel like my backs going to snap, I finally caved yesterday and contacted the GPS after waking and hardly been able to walk, so currently on strong painkillers which will hopefully take the pain away enabling me to build back strength in my muscles. It’s a little hard to exercise when even putting one foot in front of the other hurts and its frustrating I cant exercise as I know doing nothing is only making my muscles weaker.
I’ve also struggled with me personally,  if I’m honest. So much has changed these last few months and I’ve not adapted to it as well as I’ve probably let on to people. I’ve gone from being such a routine person, on the go all the time, focused and goal driven to completely the opposite. Not all the changes have been bad ones and new paths have been created I just need to adapt to the differences.
I’ve not been very nice to myself recently, I’ve pulled myself down and apart, I’ve blamed myself for things out of my control, I’ve stopped planning because my plans have been squashed so many times this year and the saddest part is I’ve stopped believing in myself.
So it’s time to be nice to myself and to start taking back those steps to recovery and getting back to what I like most, Jeffing 😁.
It’s not a quick fix overnight and I know it will be awhile before I’m back running 5 plus miles but if I don’t start somewhere I’m never going to. I have until November to start my training plan again for my Marathon, so plenty of time to build back up.
I also know the next few weeks are going to feel like that first day did but with a little extra weight (something else I’m working on) but with Perseverance and self believe I know I can achieve my goal of that Marathon finish line next year. What better way to spend my last day of 39 than running my first Marathon 😁.
So it’s time for new routines, eating healthier, putting goals into perspective, being kind to myself and taking sometime back for me to get back to my happy place.
So what are my goals,
  1. To complete my virtual End to End run,  Lands End to John O Groates challenge, All 874 miles with a mixture of running and walking (so something I can focus on even at present time)
  2. To attempt to complete Great North Run Solo (I’m only on run 4 out of 40 and currently not running so we will see how that goes time and back issues depending)
  3. To complete 2021 Manchester Marathon 💪 on the last day of being 39!! This is one goal that there is no compromise on.
  4. To run 2021 Great North Run in September
But most importantly to get back to enjoying just getting out and moving more.
Took some time out to look at my  motivation board today, something I have not done in a while  but needed to see these quotes 🙂
    
I will continue to blog but for now will focus on posting maybe only once a week, unless something exciting happens! Once training commences i’ll re start Jeffs training plan and blog more frequently but it’s time to take that step back out even if it is just short walks or runs for now.
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No idea what week of plan I should be on!

You may have been wondering where I have been for June and the start of July? Or maybe you’ve not even noticed the lack of posting, or even don’t care.

I’ve been a little lost the last 8 weeks, and as much as I have tried to motivate myself with some new virtual goals and getting out on the odd Jeff or walk my training just hasn’t felt like it has in the past and to be honest I’m not really training for anything at the moment, even though I know I should be. So much has changed the last few months and I have no routines any more which I think is a major factor and something I really need to look at re introducing. Getting up in the morning and getting our early just doesn’t seem to work this year for me like it did last summer, I have no idea why as I use to love getting up and out. Maybe its the fact I wake wheezing most mornings and by the time I come around my enthusiasm has worn off, maybe I  am thinking about all things I could be getting done in that hour or two. Either way I know I need to make new routines and time for myself.

I have 7 days till the decision regarding Manchester Marathon is made, I think this is hanging over me more than I realise and the constant will it wont it has made my training seem pointless at the moment and repetitive around the same routes and lonely on my own. I know it’s not pointless because it’s all adding up but things have just been dragged out so long now that I can’t picture myself at that start line, getting all excited, like I could a year ago.

So I have decided to make those next 7 days just about getting out back in the fresh air and starting to enjoy running again without the pressure of a plan and miles to be covered. 17th will determine what I am doing plan wise moving forward  if it goes ahead then I will return to my plan and maybe tweak it slightly if not I’m going to consider an alternative Marathon or deferral, dates dependable as we are no longer going away next April now. In which case I shall go back to running with no training plan until nearer the dates.

I do have two current virtual challenges’ since I last wrote to keep me going for now.

  1. Great North Run Solo – 40 runs by September, so far i’m on run 2 so a little behind but it’s never too late to start!
  2. John O Groats to Lands End which is 874 miles in 6 months I’ve some serious catching up to do on this one and I am including walks as well as runs but only activity recorded ones not just general every day steps as I am trying to move myself more than I have been doing.

  My aim is to get out today for a short Jeff about teatime even if it’s just a short one down the trail with no pressure but I know how easy it is to undo all those hours in the past training and how hard it is to build them up again, i’m not letting that happen, I will go out!

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Week 9 Jeffing Marathon Training Plan week commencing 1/6/2020

Run 1 – Monday 1/6/20
Determined this week will not be like last week was, so up and out this morning despite still feeling wheezy, I found this started to clear quicker this morning than last week.
Changed my pre run breakfast today as finding the change in weather is making porridge less appealing so tried a toasted bagel thin with laughing cow light on with a banana and of course a cup of tea, can’t start any day without at least one cuppa 😂😂.
I decided today’s run wasn’t about speed or distance it was just about getting back out moving after a week of not running and enjoying it, so I headed down to Rothervalley.
I was surprised how quiet it seemed after previous weeks, maybe more people had started return to work or maybe I was just a tad earlier than I’d been getting up. Either way it was nicer not having to battle round groups of people like on my last run.
I decided to just run round the larger lake this morning. covering 4.5 miles. The first mile was a bit draggy but I often find it takes me a mile or two to get the feel of a run. It was good to just to have a steady one.
Sunday – 7/6/20
Much better food choices this week and feeling better in that department but I’ve not been as productive in the running plan area as I would have liked. I just don’t know where the week has gone again. With the weeks of training getting less an the hopefully, big date getting nearer I really need to find that commitment I seem to have lost to ramping up my training and following my plan.
The weather is miserable, my arms ache and fingers feel three times the size they actually are, nothing is motivating me to get out the door this morning.
Maybe seeing constant posts on facebook that it’s not going to happen is not helping. I know how much I enjoy getting out but just don’t seem to be able to get out the door again this week. I know this is going to have a set back on my training plan and may need to re asses the next couple of weeks whilst I get back into things.
My aim was to get up at 7am and be out the door no later than 8.30am, since at  11.30am and I was still sat on the sofa you can guess that didn’t go to plan. The day didn’t get any more productive either, after nipping out the house for ten minutes to collect something from a friend I returned and crashed. My joints ached so much and I felt so tired that I ended up going to bed. I didn’t actually sleep but when it came to trying to get up I felt like i’d not enough energy to pull my body into sitting position never mind going for a run.
Feel like this week has been another right off training plan wise.
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Week 8 Jeffing Marathon Training Plan week commencing 25/5/2020

Week 8
No idea what’s going on with me this week.
The week seems to have gone out of the window training plan wise, not sure if it’s the heat and just not being able to move my backside out of bed early enough or if it’s cause we’ve been really busy with the new business.
I’ve woken wheezy and achy every day a sign in the past my iron levels are dropping. I really should try and book in for a blood test since it was due back in April. I’m used to feeling like this some days but it’s taken me so long to come round in the morning all week, much longer than normal.
Poor eating habits haven’t helped this week either, I’ve picked at all the wrong things and turned to takeaways! We’ve had more takeaways this week than we’ve had in last 6 months! (2 to be exact and they weren’t even that nice) Despite my meals been planned out and shopping in the house.
I know this week was suppose to be a drop down week, dropping down to 4 miles for long run, but pretty sure it wasn’t meant to be a do nothing week😡 so angry with myself as those 26.2 miles are not going to run them self however, I know that’s not going to get me refocused. I was hoping to get out today but way I’m feeling it I’m not holding out much hope.
Week 9 starts tomorrow I will have a better week!
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Week 7 Jeffing Marathon Training Plan week commencing 18/5/2020

It’s been a funny hideley piddle week this week.
I’ve been busy with the new business getting started and building summer house’s but my training plan seems to have gone a little out of the window and as the week has gone on I’ve felt quiet tired. Getting up too late to get out in the morning and not really wanting to run at tea time.
Tuesday Run 1- 19/5/20
Tonight’s run was only suppose to be a short one and since I was falling asleep literally 10 minutes before I made my backside leave the house I’m surprised it turned into being my long run for the week.
I was so demotivated and tired that I almost passed on going out the door, not sure what it was, maybe it was the fact that i’d dressed for a run earlier and didn’t want to waste the attire I do not know but in the end I was glad i’d got out.
I decided to just to go for a plod telling myself anything was better than nothing. It was still really warm but bearable. With the longer light in the evening I knew I could head down to Rothervalley with plenty of time.
I’m not quiet sure at what point I had talked myself into doing a second lap but as I finished my first lap I continued along past my usual exit and round. It was  when I was on the second lake of my second lap that I started to calculate the mileage in my head  estimating I would cover about 8 miles doing both lakes and the trail home, I would be happy with that.
Surprised how easy this run felt with how I felt when I left the house, maybe it’s just what I needed.
Sometimes with Jeffing I do feel like I am dordling, maybe I don’t push myself enough and should be speeding up my walking sections etc I don’t know but what rings in my ears is Jeffs saying along the lines of you should always finish feeling like you have more to give. In one respect this gives me the confidence that I do have more to give, and its a good job cause I have 26 miles to reach!
Sunday Run 2 – 24/5/2020
So missed a run and Pilates session this week 👎not going to stress over it though as it’s still very early days in training.
I had planned to go out for a run yesterday however, was left feeling really lethargic and just not wanting to go out. Plus the battering winds (maybe a slight over exaggeration) and really dark clouds weren’t doing anything to motivate me either.
So on Saturday,  I told my self I’d go out tomorrow. I had no choice as I was suppose to be doing a leg of the Handsworth RoadHogs relay race, so making that commitment helped kick my butt out the door.
Woke up later than planned this morning. I really can’t get into getting up early at the moment, something I found so easy last year during my summer runs, not sure whats changed?
So after my usual pre run breakfast routine I made myself put on my running kit and told myself I’d just go and see how I felt. I’d already ran my 8 miles earlier on in the week so today was just about getting out.
It was overcast and much cooler this morning perfect for being out running so I headed off to Rothervalley. I’d got an aim of 6 miles in mind for the relay dependant upon how I felt, as it turned out after I’d ran one loop of the country park I started discussing with myself in my head how I felt about doing another 8 miler. With this being my relay run I felt like I had to run a decent stretch so decided to give doing another 8 mile a go. Maybe I should enter a relay every week it seemed to give me the motivation and determination today.
The park was already starting to fill up and people were congregating around the entrance / exit I really felt like shouting come on just move over there and chat so we can all come and go. I also felt like I spent more time on the first lap avoiding others and zigzagging around larger groups who were all together but taking up the whole path 😡 which got very annoying. The second lap seemed quieter not sure if people had just spaced out more or if I’d just got into routine of people dodging.
As I crossed the half way point on my second trip round the park I started to calculate how much more I could do if I added on the extra stretch to the furthest exit and then turned back on myself down the trail home, I reckoned it would it take me to the 9 mile mark. I seem to be getting good at setting little goals to take me further once I am out running.
My legs felt strong, that’s something I’ve noticed about Jeffing once I get going I feel like I can plod for hours without much thought process, my little gym boss keeps me in check, although sometimes I do think I could put more speed into my walking sections but then 26.2 miles is a long way and I know if I go to fast to start I’ll struggle so what I’m doing at the moment seems to be working.
As I started back up the trail the thought of ending on 9 miles just didn’t feel right 😂😂 it was an odd number after all so instead of leaving I carried on down the track till the opening that I then turned round and ran back along the bottom track before leaving and heading home via the horse field.
The stretch of trail down past the horse field always feels like that stretch to the finish line and I always feel myself get excited and pushing that little bit more, providing I don’t have to stop to let anyone past, today it was a straight clear stretch. I came out and up the hill checking my watch for millage. Just short of 10 miles, there was only one thing for it and that was to run around the culdesac and next row of houses down to make up the short fall. The neighbours really will think I’ve lost the plot running round their car spaces but I don’t care I’ve ran this far no way was I stopping short of 10 miles today! Just over two hours, my mind started ticking away is it wrong of me to start getting excited thinking that I could finish the full 26.2 miles in 5 hours 30 minutes range? I would be ecstatic.
Not the best plan following week but happy with the two longer runs i’ve done this week.
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Week 6 Jeffing Marathon Training Plan week commencing 11/5/2020

Apologies it’s taken me ages to publish the last few weeks of blogs, some of the weeks have not been the most productive training plan wise. I have been blogging on my phone just not found the time to sit and then put these blogs onto my site due to new business and lots of exciting things going on.
So catching up this morning with my posts, maybe this will re motivate me to get off my butt.
Not the most exciting week to report on this week.
This week is a drop down week, so much smaller millage, so I’ve decided to still keep myself moving and get some steps in to try and fit in some smaller walks in the evenings as well.
Jaffa (our lazy beagle) will love me for that 😂.
Monday 11/5/20- Rest Day
Today was suppose to be a rest day but I felt like getting out and getting some fresh air this evening so took the dog for a walk down the trail. I did consider a quick evening walk round Rothervalley however was trying to determine if I would get round and back down the trail home before the sun started go in. So played it safe and just went for a wander on the trail.
Tuesday 12/5/20 – Run 1
A nice steady one down to my second home today. Decided to do just the main lake and back up the trail.
Wednesday 13/5/20 – Pilates day
Pilates session this morning. Made sure I was up early so I could steal the living room for half and hour. Did the beginners session again and felt alright , maybe it’s time to try a longer beginners session. My hips are definitely feeling better since starting to do these classes already.
Thursday 14/5/20 – Run 2
Another steady run today down to my usual route. Again decided to just run the one lake at a steady pace.
Friday 15/5/20 – Walk Day
Rest day from running today so decided to go for our weekly walk to Rothervalley with Suzie. It is nice to get out for a stroll and today she managed to walk round both lakes, I cant wait till we can get off camping out in the countryside and enjoy the wider outdoors, I really think she’s going to be an outdoorsy person.
Sunday Run 3 – Long Run – 17/5/20
Today’s plan was 6 miles and 6 miles is what I did 🙂 Later than I normally like to get out but the sun was hot this morning and I really just cant seem to get out of bet and out of the house early this year so when it started to cool I headed off down to, you guessed it Rothervalley.
I’d already planned to run both lakes then back up to the furthest exit and back down the trail knowing this would cover me bang on 6 miles and it did. A nice steady one today. That is the beauty of Jeffing all my runs seem nice and steady.