The Start of Another Journey and A Sowing Needle Sending Me to A&E!

*****GRIMM PHOTO ADDED AT THE END OF THIS BLOG POST*****

So i have not blogged about running since October. It is now just over a week until Christmas and a fair bit has gone on in my running life. So much so, i'm telling you all.

I left my last review disappointing in not gaining a place into the London Marathon. My crazy idea of running Paris was more of a pipe dream to a certain extent. On two occasions i sat at the computer, so close to filling in my debit card details, but each time preventing myself from doing so. The whole entry fee was going to cost me around 120 EUROS. They keep quiet until the latter part of the registration that an entry insurance for 6-8 EUROS should be purchased, so if you couldn't run, upon presenting a valid Dr's note, you could gain your money back. Then, there was runners insurance that was around 12 EUROS, so like, if you died on route or something, your family can't go and sue the company. This was all fair and well, but with adding to that a £25 doctors note that is unavoidable if you want to even contemplate running this event it was leading less to be desired. Basically, you have to prove when picking your race number up at the depot, that your Doctor has deemed you fit to run! Absolutely ridic if you ask me! All of this money and i haven't even taken into consideration travelling, hotel costs, as well as spending money! As Simon Cowell say, "It's a NO from me!".

I was left trying to find a Spring marathon once again. Brighton- you have to go down one or two days before to pick up your race number. If i'm honest, if i drove myself, then that would be all fine and well. But at this stage in my life, i do not. So this didn't appeal to me in the slightest (picky bugger aint i?). Next i contemplated Edinburgh, love, love, love the city- hands down! But again the sheer travel cost and cost of a hotel means that you should really book it straight away and not a few months after the entries are opened. The cost of this event would see me spending the same kind of money as Pairs because all the budget hotels had been fully booked. With my student, part time self. This was out of the question. Lastly... PING! Manchester, yes Manchester, fast and flat says the course description, with an entry fee of around £55 and i can save money by booking the train tickets early. So, there you go i have my Spring marathon! It was a bit earlier than i anticipated (April 2nd) for running my second marathon, but due to the reviews of the course description and a 24ish week training programme, i felt i will fine.

So, my official training was scheduled to start the first week of November. I'm attempting to follow this plan as closely as possible and look, there's speed training in there too. Go me!

I started following the 3rd week on the plan above. First Fartlek training was different and very hard, but i managed to persevere.

I'm not going to lie, a couple of times on a Sunday after work, i've had to merge some runs together due to missing them in the week. But all in all, my training was going absolutely fantastic. Well in my  personal opinion. I felt stronger and faster with every run i did. PB'ing a 5km at 28:10 on November 22nd. My first major achievement was running 8 miles in 1:21:51 (route PB) on bomb fire night. With a 7 mile on the 25th- another route PB of 1:06:32! Man, i felt determined as ever, this speed play was already seeing results. First week in December marked a nice laid back week. 2 miles, 2 miles, cross train, 5 miles. I missed the 5 miles regrettably. But i was going to make it up the following week! Sunday night, i missed my 5 miler because i was feeling fluey, shivering, hot flushes, aches and pains- the lot. I then stupidly still went to my mother spin class on the Monday, coming home and feeling worse off for it. Tuesday, i managed to get into uni for the afternoon. I couldn't get warm, still achy as hell. I was generally just feeling under the weather- exhausted because of looming deadlines too etc...

Now for the dreadful bit! I'd noticed my Fiance has managed to split a pair of work trousers on Tuesday night, i decided to sow it back together... A nightmare in itself i finished- noting that i hadn't turned the trousers inside out, to top it off i had only gone and used white thread... ON BLACK CHEF TROUSERS! Haha. So i just coloured the thread in with black gel pen, hoping that it was too noticeable.

Went to sleep. Woke up with a banging headache, annoyed for not being able to get out of my bed for my 9am lecture, i started to put some washing away, scooted my foot with some force over to put some knickers in the draw. Then

BOOM!

I  feel on the bed, to be met with excruciating pain. Looked to the floor to find that i had trod on the sowing needle that i was using the night before. Not only this, i realised that the needle had snapped inside my foot. ARGH, I COULD FEEL THE METAL IN MY SKIN, WITH NO EVIDENT INSERTION POINT!!! This was bad, real bad.

My mind was everywhere, Jake was asleep, it was his day off. I tried to no avail to push and prod, but nope, it had well and truly been embedded into the ball of my foot. Absolutely fricken fantastic! Hysterically crying, i woke Jake after trying to call close relatives to see if they could pick me up to unavoidably take me to A&E. Nope, no one answered, my step dad. But he was on the other side of Rugby delivering parcels and had no way of coming to my rescue,

Finally, mother rang back in what seemed like eternity. I explained the situation and she was like

"A&E now, ill ring Shannon (8 months pregnant cousin) to see if she can take you."

She freaked me out and said they'll have to cut your foot open Nicole, its going to hurt.

Big cousin to the rescue!

Before i knew it i was hopping along to X-ray. The Dr was disgracefully abrupt and blunt. In short said, it was wedged in. The only way to retrieve the needle was to cut it open and try to get it out. The X-ray couldn't tell them how far in it was. If they couldn't get it with just the numbing injection, I'd have to be stitched up and go back on the Thursday to have a full on, put me to sleep operation. OK, Now i was really panicking. Before i could blink the tools were on the table the needle was out. It was huge, and i've never experienced pain like it in my life... but alas, least i could only feel pressure when he made a inch and a half slice down my foot. I have never been so happy to see a piece of metal in my life. when i herd it clang onto the metal tray full of iodine, it was like i'd just given birth. It was out, God bless!

I had 4 non dissoluble stitches added,with a heap of antibiotics and mostly annoyingly NO RUNNING FOR A MINIMUM OF 2 WEEKS!!! I was nearly crying at the fact. My poor, poor fitness levels.

It's now nearly been a full week since my accident. Suspected stitch removal on Friday or Monday. I still cant put my full weight on my left foot, i feel depressed, fat and helpless and i cannot even clean properly. I obviously had to take the weekend off from work so, to top it all off im broke right before Christmas too! All for the sake of a sowing needle.

Morale of the story is... either put your sowing needled away or bin them and beg your Mum or Nan to do any sowing disasters!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GRIM PHOTO BELOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Poor me!!

The Great Birmingham Run 2016- My Last Running Event of 2016, Lack of Training and Horrid Germs!!

Good evening all you wonderful peoples!

As the title states, this event was the last running event of 2016! I chose this purely because I enjoyed this event so much last year! I'm surely not going to hibernate from running for the winter, as i shall hopefully be starting marathon training again soon. I'll be doing some light running, with no targets to ascertain, as well as allowing me to focus on my first semester back at university! JOYS!

So as you are all aware. I had a lovely time in Rhodes, the injury I picked up from running the Hull Marathon was beginning to have me a tad worried. It took a full blown 3 weeks to bugger off and stop hurting! I laid off running and settled for a little short run on the beach... Purely for photographic purposes. I came home on Saturday to have the Sunday off and then back to university on the Monday. The Great Birmingham Run was 2 weeks off. It left me with two concerns...

1. If this injury would fizzle itself out of my foot, so I'd indeed be able to run properly.

2. I was wanting to avoid at all costs, that horrible sickness bug and of course the infamous Freshers Flu. (I was more at risk for going from a hot country to coming back into arctic conditions of Britain).

First week back, Monday to be exact. I wanted to test my foot on a steady 5km and of course, this would allow me to see how much my fitness had depleted whilst I'd been lying on a sunbed in the Greek sun! The 5km was a massive amount of effort. It felt as though I was running for hours. It's me, I obviously went out too hard, not taking into account at the time that I'd find it difficult for not running since my marathon. A 30:06 time came out, with my average heart rate zone being 181bpm. To paint a picture for you, I did the same run on the 11/08 in 28:59 with an average 174bpm. As you can guess this was not looking good. I felt like death running for three miles and my heart was also agreeing with me. If my heart could talk it would have probably said cheekily, "Nicole, you b@$tard. Don't go away for a week and work me this hard, I'm still in Pina Colada mode!"

With that, the next day I decided to run 5km on the treadmill because I had a 3hr wait for my next lecture. This came in at 35:10. I decided to just take it easy on this one. However, I still recall flagging at around 2 miles in. As you can imagine, I was thinking 'there is no way in hell I'm going to be able to run this half marathon, that is in under 2 weeks.' Believe it or not, this was my last running session I did before taking on the 13.1 miles.

The week before race day I got the startings of a cold, but I knew this was unavoidable. Germs everywhere, people coughing and sneezing around me in university. It was unfortunate timing of course, but it was imminent. Wednesdays 9am lecture seen me wanting to be sick everywhere, so I gave up and went home, avoiding the seminars for fear of puking on a fellow student and embarrassing myself. Thursday, I wasn't too bad I went into town and met my best friend for the gym and some lunch. But on the way home on the bus, I had to depart about a mile and a half from where I usually get off, due to feeling exceedingly sick. What was wrong with me? They were only cold symptoms, but the nausea was incredibly prominent, and in consistent waves. That night I felt like, so poorly. So much so that I begrudgingly had to call in sick for my Friday 12:30-18:00 shift! I was gutted. I needed the money, I love my job.

Saturday, I dragged myself to work. My symptoms getting better throughout the shift. People at work were strongly advising I give the Great Birmingham Run a miss. But lets be honest, a £35 loss if I don't take part. It played on my mind all day. Looking at the weather was pushing me to just curling up in a ball and stay indoors- yup, a lovely rainy race day forecast. But regardless of the latter, I decided to run and see how I felt, with two conditions... No PB chasing and to pull out if I felt any worse than what I started.

Race day had arrived people! It's Sunday. 8:45 pick up from my Papa. However, I had no excitement for the task ahead. I, of course felt butterflies, but not in the normal kinda way. Lone and behold it started chucking it down too. Wrapped to the eyeballs I set off for the start in Birmingham with a mass amount of feeling and thoughts going around in my head.

I was in the Green wave, so that was an 10:45 start. Assembly was quick and efficient as per with the Great Run series. I was on my adventure before I could say go!

Mile 1: 9:40. A lovely, downhill first mile out of the city center (same route for the 10km). I was feeling mightily fresh.

Mile 2: 10:20. Pershore Road, you tedious demon!

5km: 31:25. Between 5km and the 4th mile. You are met with Kensington Road a the first fairly steep incline, of which goes on for about 400 meters. This had my flagging. I just concentrated on my breathing and not stopping, as I seen so many fellow runners do,

Miles 4: 10:39. The Selly Park Savior, as I like to call it. A nice downhill reward for your previous efforts. I felt normal again!

Mile 5: 10:24. Back onto Pershore people, as well as going up by Cadburys world. We must be arriving in Bournville .... Oh so tempting to just break off the course and into Cadburys World. You're also met with some unduladingness around this specific mile. They're more mentally tasking though. I call this the 'Fight or Flight' moment in a half. Will you look at how far you've come or how far you still have to go? i.e. Doing the previous mileage over again. Although a nice steady pace for me. Feeling a little bit lifeless, but enough to not make me think 'OMG, take me home, country roads'.

10km: 1:04:07. Averaging out at my usual half marathon pace. Coming off Mary Vale Road and can you guess? Back onto Pershore for the tedious 2 Mile stretch back up. A SIS Gel had come out of my sports bra and I took it like the Eucharist is taken at mass. Like its baaaaare minging, but you know you have to do it! (soz Jesus, bro).

*Skipping 2 miles, because they were boring, nothing of significance happened. I just monged out and listened to my headphones*

Mile 8: 10:36. Hey Edgbaston Cricket Ground. Why do I feel like crying? I was really starting to feel it here.

Mile 9: 10:32. Hey Canon Hill Park. My legs at this point were saying. NOOOOOooooOOOoooo. Like why did you do this? You will not be able to finish, or if you do It'll be a shite time. Just give up now and savor your ridiculousness.  

Mile 10: 10:59. The 'You're so close, yet so far' mile. My pace slowed. However, my determination to finish increased. The 2:20 pacer woman passed me. I couldn't tell whether that would mean I was going over that time, as I didn't recall seeing her at the start. I was starting to believe, after she'd passed me that the sights of a course PB was unreachable. My legs were desperately crying out at me for poisoning them with lactic acid.

Mile 11 and 12: 10:45 and 12:04.Worst splits of the day, which can only mean one thing... *Jaws theme tune inserted* The Killer Hill, Ryland Road and Charlotte Road... I had to stop, but by no means was I allowing this section of the course to utterly defeat me. 30 strict seconds of walking and that was it... Back to my menial run/shuffle. I kept on thinking. 'You know what Cole, don't wussy out now... You're better than this... You ran a marathon for Christ sake's- get a grip woman. 2 miles... lets bring this home. Come on McClelland!'

Mile 12: Calthorpe Road. This is when you know you're nearly there, in both of the Great Birmingham Running events. Yes you feel like death, but you can stick it out for another mile and a bit. To my dismay, half way through this mile a man had collapsed half way through the Highfield Road section... Bless his heart. He was being attended by the ambulance crew and was conscious and looked seemingly coherent. I truly felt for him and hoped it was nothing too serious. From then, I was determined to carry on running what this man couldn't do. My pace was upped and I was on the home stretch.

Mile 13 10:13. My chest is hurting. I'm totally going to regret this tomorrow. But who the hell cares. Extra turbo initiated and installed captain. A, what felt like a massive stride and pace increase. Down and up the highway thingy onto Broad Street. "Run Angry Bird, run!!" I herd kids cry. I did just that! I got angry and finished strong!! So Strong that I didn't even bother thinking about my finishing pose and double chins for my finishing photographs. Upon crossing the line I didn't even bother looking at my watch. The last time i'd checked it was coming off Hagley Road onto Broad Street, I was about 13 miles in, with my watch on 2:16/17. After trying not to have a heart attack for finish strongly, I dared look at my watch...........................................




Last year-2:25:48
















This Year- 2:18:45!!!! A cold, bad chest and a freckin course PB baby!

Happy, elated, proud were just some of the emotions I was feeling yesterday and better still, the rain cleared, so my run was very pleasant! Yipppppeeeeee. I am now waiting to see my race photos... Gosh, not looking forward to viewing them. But smile and coughing fits all around. I've ended my 2016 race season on a very high positive.

This year has certainly gone beyond my ambitions and personal expectations... To list a few:

• I have gained a Sub 1 Hour 10km (6.2 Miles) of 59:08, when only last year, I averaged out on a 1hr:12min. 

• I have hit a half marathon PB in my hometown of 2:11:19, which, looking back i don't know how the hell I managed to do... It's certainly going to be hard to top.

• I have broken the seal of my marathon virginity, I AM part of that 1% of the minority that has completed a marathon in their lifetime. 

All of this achievement and elation has come from putting one foot in front on the other. Just try it, baby steps. I can reassure you it'll work wonders for you body, mind and soul.

For now, I leave my blogging for a while, until I embark on next years crazy journey's. One. I hope to be across the seas and into Europe. *cough* the Paris Marathon because I was unsuccessful in gaining a place in the Virgin Money 2017 London Marathon. As I said in my Facebook post last week, "Screw you London. Paris is Prettier!". I hope google translate, translates this properly! :')

Au Revoir! 

Revoir mes disciples snailtastic!

Future Plans and Aspirations As I Sit Reading Eat & Run in Rhodes, Greece

So I'm currently on my 3rd day (minus the day of travel) relaxing in Rhodes. Upon completing my first ever marathon I've had this terrible feeling on the top of my right foot. Like it kills. I put it down to having my shoe laces too tight. I have experienced this pain before, but it fizzled out after resting for 3/4 days. I went to work the day after the marathon feeling extremely dazed and still it ore of my runners high, the post race muscle pain wasn't too bad. But i was pre warned its actually the second and third day after a rigerous event which is the most painful. The 5 and a half hour shift was over in the blink of an eye. Being a cleaner, I still had to do my individual jobs around the Foodcourt when it wasn't busy. I had to get on my knees for one of them and it was then that i truly noticed the crippling affliction on top of my foot. I limped round the Foodcourt. Just putting it down to run/shuffling 26.2 miles with tight shoelaces. Friday came and the pain hadn't got better. It got worse. I checked it every day for swelling, bruising etc... Then Friday came and I cycled down to mother dearests and showed her. She was in a complete state of concern. The swelling was prominent. Like when you look at your big toe and bend it upwards you can see the tendon thingy and as you jiggle your toe up and down you can see this veiny tendon thingy protrude and retract up and down with the movement. Naturally. Yeah, well no. Not for my right. It was that swollen you couldn't see any tendon movement. I took some anti - inflammatory pills and hoped it would ease up. With any injury like this I feel it better to keep it warm and not sitting so much for it to seize up! 

Flying out on Saturday seen it ballooning, but I'm thankful I have a week to rest it on a sun lounger drinking and eating as much as I want. 3 days in and it's still killing. Any brush of other human flesh or any object on the top and I grimace in pain. The swelling is still there and it's now making a creaky sound when i attempt to fold my big toe downwards. Of which I don't try to do often as it is painful and the creaky pain makes me want to actually heave. This leads me to believe it could be extensor tendonitis or a slight stress fracture. With Brum half coming up, I am worrying as to whether I'll have to pull out because of it. 

Apart from my dodgy foot. I'm taking time for myself before going back into my final year as a undergraduate history student. But guess what? Instead of reading rich in academic knowledge texts and sources to help research my dissertation. I am indeed feeling sorry for myself whilst reading Eat and Run by Scott Jurek. It is amaze balls, I've read over a hundred pages in just over 24 hours with an aim to finish it by tomorrow. It's great. It gives you healthy recipes at the end of each chapter to fuel and recover from running. His accounts of the Western States 100 are incredible. I struggled and barely finished a full marathon. Never mind 100 miles. I thought people running 50k or over we're crazy. This man has taken my definition of crazy to a different level. It has so far inspired me to keep on challenging myself and research ultra marathons myself in the UK. 

My plans for next year go as follows:- 

On the 30th September (still being in Rhodes) I will receive priority entry to the first ever Birmingham International Marathon. Hosted by the Great Run Series. I SHOULD GET A PLACE. I've never been so iminent on wanting to cause myself pain for the say so of saying I ran the first ever one. Knowing that it will, in the future be possibly as big as London! Which then leads onto...

Hopefully gaining a ballot entry into Virgin Money's London Marathon 2017. I know chances are slim. So I have a back up being the Manchester Marathon. Failing that i might push for a May Marathon in Edinburgh if I can afford to get there. 

Obviously do as many half marathons As I can within the year. Not going too crazy though. Aim for a half a month. including running Coventry and BBCH again. 

Finally gain a team and stop wussying out over the expense of Tough Mudder. Failing that I definitely want to do the Autumn wolf run, but this time the Warwickshire one instead of Leicester.

Depending on where my degree takes me, hell it may even see me retaking the year. (Apply 1 for teacher training on UCAS opens 18th October 2016 for people like me who complete their degree next summer and want to go straight into working towards their QTS'). But if I get turned down for lack of classroom experience I am thinking of taking a year out as a teaching assistant part time ish as well as setting an aim for completing Chiltern 50km ultra marathon in Buckinghamshire in a hopeful 2018! As the saying goes,

"There will be a day i can no longer run. Today is not that day" 

"There Is No Victory Without A Battle" Hull Marathon Review

Well, well, well. It's my birthday, I'm 21 today!!! I'm in excruciating pain, having a chilled day to myself after an agonising shift at work yesterday. Which nearly brought me to the brink of tears. 

Many of you known by now reading this, I was successful on my marathon debut. But not without an epic journey of emotions, fatigue and wanting to give up!

The week before my marathon I started to get sinus problems and an eery feeling of a cold. I thought  "GOD no! Please just let me do next Sunday and do your worst thereafter!" Especially taking you back to January when it took me 3 solid weeks to get over the infection. My head was pounding, behind my eyes, my cheeks, my chest was tight, my teeth were hurting- but no mucus present. I was in a state of pure panic. Googling if I should run with a sinus infection, reading people's experience of doing so. Which were not very optimistic. 

On the Monday my mum had to go to get a deep salt spray so I could flush my nasal passages. And she said "look Nicole. I know you really want to do this and you're stubborn like me. But please. You're only near 21 years of age. You have plenty more opportunities to run a marathon. In full Heath. Nobody is going to think any less of you!". But to be honest, my heart sank. I wanted this so bad. I agreed with her to run. If I felt crappy at any stage I'd pull out. As Lisa Jackson states very wisely in her book 'My Pace Or Yours" (fantastic book-read it!) "a did not finish is better than a did not start."

So with this, I decided to lay off running for that week and just read her book for inspiration. I was taking everything from 1000mg's of Vitamin C to chesty cough syrup to Gavisgon. 

Thursday had come, and I was in work 10:30-19:00. I felt truly crappy. To the point where I felt like I was going to pass out every time I was wiping a table down. My chest was burning and tight. In the end, my supervisor sent me home. With strict instructions to go to the walkin centre. A 3 hours wait! Ironically I was eavesdropping on a couple next to me. He has a distinct Yorkshire accent and gave the impression that he was running the same marathon that Sunday. The best part was "yeah, I'm shitting it. I've ran no more than a half marathon in training". As you can imagine. It was a reassuring feeling, as I'd only gone as far as 16. Least I wasn't on my own. 

The doctor took my temperature, my breathing and said it was the starting of a sinus infection. She advised rest and to keep on flushing my nose. 

Friday came all too quickly, I had a minging pressure headache and was due to catch the train with my fiancé at 12:27. That night we just stayed in the bar playing pool. I had a great sleep, but the headache was still lingering. 

Saturday, no headache- I felt fresher than I had all week. Pre race nerves were settling in. So we took a toddle into town and visited the aquarium, had some coffee and for dinner, I had lasagne and chips. My apatite wasn't great. But I hear this is normal. I tried to force feed it down. Which I did so successfully. Hoping it wouldn't give me a dodgy stomach on race day morning. I was so excited on the night that I gained about 3-4 hours sleep. My Restless Leg Syndrome haunted me profoundly that night. Due to my inactivity of taking near on a week off running. So with my alarm was set for 5:45am all of my stuff for the morning ahead was laid out ready for me to throw on. Thoughts were buzzing around my head like the morning rush in London. 

*alarm buzz* a nice good morning world stretch and getting changed. The sense of worry and agitation still all too present. I had a problem with breakfast, as the our hotel brekky wasn't open till 8am. Which was way to late. I was expecting to be at the starting area by that time. So me and Jake played it safe and just went to McDonald's.  There were people that looked like they had a fantastic stress feel, alcohol intense night out and getting their hangover munchies for a lazy day of recovery. The stares that read 'crazy person' all over. With my white compression socks on. My stomach was uneasy. So I settled for plain pancakes and a tea. Then Jake goes "you do realise that tea acts as a laxative!?". Safe to say, I only drank half. 

By this time we followed some runners. That looked like they actually knew where to go. Unlike me and Jake. The start was beautiful in the Queens gardens. Marquees being set up. Refreshments. Toilet facilities were ace. They still managed to have toilet paper right through to just before the start. Well done race organisers! I assembled to the start fairly quickly and Jake stood on the other side of the barriers taking photos of my worrisome self. Dictating words of encouragement like. "You got this!"  I knew there was a reason why I wanted him to come.

The start was upon me. I averaged out in the first half to about 11:40min/mile. First 3 miles flew by. The  views were nice going through West park and not to mention the amazing volunteers and spectators who'd come out to cheer us on by the names on our bibs. The course to this point was flat. I was happy. Content in my stride. The first challenging part was around 10-11 miles. I started to feel the burn in my legs and there was an, what seemed like enormous hill to the point where I shouted to a Marshall "please let there be a downhill after this!" Her response no too canny "erm, maybe!". By this time there was a fairly big gap infront and behind me and it seemed lonely with only a handful of spectators. I kept on saying. 

"Come on Nicole. To the Humber bridge. Half way and you can have a break."

Just after I hit the 13.10miles I decided that I needed something to take my mind off the fact I was running. No headphones rule meant I couldn't zone out thoughts like, 

"Nicole, love. It's only going to get worse from here!"

I took out my phone and started a live session on Facebook. I was in awe at the amount of people that joined me for that 3-4 minutes of my marathon. People I'd never expect to even give it a second glance joined in. It was utterly breathtaking and I thank the people that joined as it gave me a mile of joy. I was here. I started as I mean to go on. After I finished, I had a whopping 150 views! I felt famous.  If I can. I'll try post it at the end of this blog post. 

So the Humber Bridge. I'dvstopped and walked for a bit. Just to take in the views. It was magnificent. However it went on for what seemed ages. Like, I know it's a massively long bridge and all. But I was looking at the cars going past like please. Give me a lift. It was at this point, my phone magically fell out of my arm band and smashed on the floor. Luckily it was the glass that broke and my phone was still in working order. I think at this point I was more gutted about my phone then that the pain I was currently in. 

Mile 16 was tough. This was where I was going to have to run further than I had ever ran before. The lactic acid was burning. There as a dull ache in my feet, back and shins. I took a gel and a nibbled on a banana. Not to mention the heat was scorching for a September day. Even one marshal said "trust you to pick to do a marathon on the hottest day in Hull in September!" 

18-20. More walking than running. I could feel every muscle in my body ache. The sense of giving up was becoming like a heavenly godsend. A fellow relay runner in the accend back onto the Humber Bridge helped me through this mile. She could see the fear of me giving up as I shuffled to a walk. She turned round after passing me and gestured for me to run next to her. We talked for about 2 minutes and fell silent. Her silent companionship was all I needed at that point and made me feel relexed. I didn't get her name. But thank you fellow relay runner! I left her and went infront after encouraging her not to stop. Momma then rang at dead on 18.5 miles and screamed out to everyone at the yard "My baby's at mile 18 and half. She's going to make it!" This had a great effect on me mentally. Even though I was still walk/ running. I walked/ran with a purpose. Faith had been restored. I cheekily put in a single headphone (shhhhhhh. They were banned. You were suppose to use them for fear of getting disqualified!) and played mine and my Nans fave song so loud the spring in my step made me feel on top on the world. 

It was at about 21 miles that I'd been following this middle aged man from the start. With a black and orange triathlon vest on, with bright orange compression socks. I got chatting to him for the next mile. He'd been nursing an injury and explained that was why he was going at a slower pace. This was a try run, if you like for the upcoming Yorkshire marathon. He'd done Iron Man UK and a whopping 100miles in 24 hours. What a true inspiration this man was. He also told me a funny story that for his mates 40th they'd signed him up to the 100miles in 24 hours as a joke present, which immediately backfired when  he succeeded. Haha. Fair play. After the decent I was struggling to keep up with his 12 min/mile. So I thanked him for keeping my company and left him to go ahead. 

21-25 miles. Ergh the worst. I have never felt so drained. I was shuffle running at this point. I'd hit the dreaded wall with an almighty thud. I didn't want to take in gels or even water because I felt so sick! But knew I had to keep sipping little but often for fear of becoming dehydrated and being hauled off in an ambulance. By this point the female relay woman over took me and shouted. "You are nearly there!"  It was just down that road that another lovely woman helped me, by talking. My favourite saying of the day "it's only 2 Park Runs and a bit to go". She was so supportive and was impressed that this was my first marathon. She also said that these were more mental miles than physical ones. And at 25 miles you would get an emotional lump in your throat. No matter how many marathons I decided to run. Boy was she right. But a quick mention before. I was met by the same woman just after I'd finished, she came up to me and gave me a mighty hug and said "Well done. You've done it. Congratulations". 

Skip to my loo mile 25. A great idea! Here I met a RUNNING ANGEL! These were fellow runners in a fairly secluded part of the docks. In bright pink may I add. Even a guy in a pink tutu. They were there to help almost giving up runners like me a chat and a sense of optimism in the wake of probably the darkest point of the run. I was introduced to Becky, a 27 year old woman. She was my star of the day. She stayed walking by my side for the whole of mile 25. But I had to promise her to run the last mile, failing that she said "you have to sprint finish!" 

I looked at this woman probably in her 60/70's in her fluorescent kit. My idol of the last mile and 20. I called her Gladdis in my head. I thought. Wow. You go girl. The fact she was still running and I was more than half her age, reduced to a walking got me. Without knowing, this lady helped me a lot mentally get to that finish. Thank you Gladdis! Mile 25 too. Seen me talking to a bird, not literally I wasn't that dilusional. But a costume bird. The guy was probably about my age. He looked sweltering in that suit. We both gave each other a "nearly there" prep talk to the point where a fellow spectator said "you aren't going to let the bird beat you are you?!" Hahahahaha. That tickled my humour spot. 

800 metres to go. I upped my pace. 

400 metres to go and Gladdis was still holding on infront of me. But I could see that damned finish line in sight... I was almost there!

200 metres. I took what Becky said onboard and erupted into a sprint!!!  To the point were even the crowed were cheering me on for seeing an incredible effort of a sprint finish. 

I fecking did it. I completed my first marathon in 5:38:09! As well as Mr Birdy finish shortly after. Saying My snailtastic sprint got him to the finish. I love it. It's becoming my trait! The medal was my equivalant to that of an Olympic gold. I rang Jake, seen him and flew into his arms crying. Never have I ever been so proud of my efforts to this date. I cried for thinking how proud my nan would have been. Wishing she could see me run through that finish line in human form. She was with me all the way. I could sense it. All the pain dissipated for those few minutes. All the nightmares of 21-25 miles felt like they just left my body like the deceased carcass forming into a heavenly soul. This was definitely the starting of a newly formed admiration of running. I look forward to my next journey and maybe in years to come an ultra. Who knows. Go wild. 

As always. Thank you for reading and if you've supported me on this journey. You're all amazing. I couldn't have done it without you all. Until my next crazy adventure. A farewell. But obviously a cheeky Great Birmingham Half on October 16th is yet to come. Oo and a week away in Rhodes, Greece.  

Quote to be left with 

"Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Yourself, You Can Learn In 26.2 miles"

The RB Hull Marathon is Just Under 2 Weeks Away, My Race Pack & Number Has Arrived People... A Final Update!

If you have asked any runner, they will tell you, you know shits getting real when you receive your race pack and number. It's an amazing, but daunting feeling. You've worked so hard for this one day in your life. However, you're probably praying to the heavens that you don't pick up any strange injuries, like falling off a pavement or getting the common cold or virus that's practically putting people in bed for 24/48hours.

I'm at the stage in training where I should probably start not missing meals after work and of course everyone enjoys the good tapering for an upcoming event (reduction in mileage). I'm currently thinking to myself that I really should start taking some sort of multi vitamins and staying away from fellow human beings that are coughing and sneezing. "Coughs and sneezes spread diseases", well not literal diseases of course! I really just want to put myself in a bubble for the next 2 or so weeks and stay away from society, but at current with rent and bills I cannot do this, bestest solution is just make sure I wear gloves at work.

The last time I updated was all the way back at the start of July with the Birmingham Black Country Half... and now it's September :0 what?!!! Time is for sure going too quickly. I don't like it, what's worse is I'm 21 in 15 days! (I feel old).

Marathon training has been so time consuming, and I have some confessions, like for example my longest run has only been 16 miles, but I felt fairly okay and Strava gave it a score of 'brutal' with 714ft ascent. It came with its flaws, I've never had to run on the actual road without a pedestrian path so most of my running was reduced to a walk in the first 2 or so ish miles for fear of getting ran over.

*Article blabber time, I cant help it, I'm a geeky university student. What do you expect?*

I recently read an article in Runners World magazine which made me feel more optimistic about my mileage sin. In short, all runners speeds per mile are different, as a result the distance covered will vary from runner to runner. they thus concluded that slower runners, like mwah should concentrate on time, not distance. They basically said a slower runner should use the basis of 3 hours of running in one session as a marathon training peak oppose to the generalised 20 mile standardisations in the vast majority of training programme! Mwhahahahahaha. So with that... I ran,

16 miles in 3:07:32 with an average pace of 11:43 per mile. That's pretty much what I'm aiming for, a couple of 12 minute miles isn't going to hurt me on race day. Putting into a pace calculator, if I stuck out and run/walked the latter of the course, I should get a finishing time of 5:07:12 and I put a 5hr 30min finishing time on my entry, so its cool!... I hope. When race day finally arrives I'm hoping the adrenalin will overpower my fatigue to make me get to at least 20-23miles, if I have to walk the last 3.2miles, I actually don't give two hoots, as my main aim is just to finish without gaining any injuries as such or collapsing. I'm thinking of doing that gay Facebook live session when I feel incredibly tired with hope of my fellow Facebookers giving me motivation. We shall see.

My latest long run was 14miles last Monday, it was such a calm and collected run. I'd worked 10:30-17:00, I felt restless, so I just made up the route in my head, didn't have a clue as to how many miles it would be. I just put my watch on and watched the miles pass me by with the stunning Coventry countryside sunset. I just went...

I felt fine having taken only 2 SIS Gels with me in my hydration pack at around 11 miles, I truly believe that we you run from your home you're familiar with the distance back to your house, I really do think this impacts your fatigue greatly. Like you know you've guestimated 2 miles until you can get home eat and rest, it then signals into your body, like "heyyyyyy, It's your brain here, you're going to feel like you cant continue for that last 2 miles" and it makes you feel like absolute crap. I'm expecting for this to have a delayed onset on marathon day!

So another 5 day week for me, a week has past. It's now Monday. My Mum texted me that my race pack had arrived. I awoke at a cheeky 11:30am and got round to hers as quickly as a child runs down the stairs to get into their presents on Christmas day and with it agreed to walk my doggies and doggie sit, from there I would cycle 2 miles back to where mum works and do her indoor cycling class and aqua fit, which I have done simultaneously for the past 4 weeks due to work being generous and giving me Sunday and Mondays off- Thanks guys. It's a nice diversion from running and its impacts, plus I get to have a bike at the front of the class and help teach with my mum- I love it. Like her little sidekick of DNA. Aha! Or as Fitness First For Women receptionist use to call me, back in the day "Little T", my mums name, Teresa- get it?!

Safe to say running a marathon isn't to be taken lightly, it is so time consuming. Especially when you're working and not finishing till 6, resulting in you not getting home until 6:40pm, what I've learnt is that even if you absolutely hate running on a treadmill, its really your saviour deep down. For example, when you were in your school days thinking a teacher was picking on you then you realise that you're a just a little shit and they do generally want what's best for you and to reach your full potential. I've done probably 5 runs in the past couple of weeks on it due to my gym being 2 seconds from work, If I go straight away, I'll just get on with it. Whereas, you come home do stuff, sit down and then convince yourself not to go out for a run, of late I've been exceedingly guilty of doing this.

13 days, I repeat 13 days before I take on the biggest challenge of my life. Will it make me, or break me? I have no idea as to what the future holds. Unfortunately, I have no future seeing powers. So the next time you hear from me on this will tell a tale not to be missed ;). For now I exceed no more than 6 miles and overdose on Berocca. Stay tuned.








My new purchase, courtesy of mother dearest for an early birthday present! Love it! I cant help it, I just like to be unique.

Birmingham Black Country Half Marathon- Perfect Conditions, A 360m Tunnel and a Forgotten Water Bottle!

Wow. Firstly apologies for the late post. We're skipping all the way back to 3rd July. Time is flying by. It's actually scary. In this space of time, I've moved out of my mothers with my amazing partner, into our OWN flat :P. So far, 4 weeks on. I haven't imagined killing him and I'm as happy as ever.

As some will already know, the Birmingham Black Country Half was my first ever half marathon challenge back in 2015. I feel i have come a long way since then, in my own person, as well as my general fitness and running ability. So let the my running narrative begin...

Because this run is a Saturday, i had to take it as holiday from work. Massive cock up on the rota-they'd put me in to work. I was like noooooooooooo. My main supervisor wasn't in when i realised. So, as you can imagine i was literally crapping myself... But i had evidence and noting that i'd requested the day off. Anyways, after discussing it over with my other supervisor (and after the half marathon) my main supervisor apologized, i had indeed put it on my running events sheet. I absolutely love my workplace, they've been exceptional with giving me my running events off.

So the day before on the Friday, i was working. My dad had gained a full time job and had been religiously working the week as well as the weekends. At this stage, i didn't even bother bringing it up to him, assuming he'd be working anyway and getting train times in order. He rang me saying,

"You have a run this Saturday don't you? well I've told work i cant work this Saturday. Pick up time?"

Much love for this man, he's only ever missed like two running events since i started this mad obsession.

I got home from work and done my ritualistic getting everything ready and putting it on the floor for the morning to come. With a 12:10 starting wave (like last year), i prayed to the heavens that the weather wasn't as hot as it was last year! I had flash backs of running along a tedious canal tow path, with half my body in the shade and half exposed - with absolutely no sun protection at all, resulting in me near on gaining heat stroke. Looking at the forecast, it was going to be cloudy and showers. But every time i check the weather, it changes!

I went to sleep and woke up feeling fresh as the day. Looking out of my bedroom window to see glorious overcast weather and the spitting of the rain... Maybe there is a God!

My dad literally dropped me round the corner from the start and left to get to Birmingham and await my arrival (And maybe go shopping a tad!). I had just over an hour to kill, upon walking into the Boathouse start line, i had then realized i'd forgotten my handheld water bottle, it was in dads car. I was absolutely gutted. I don't think I've ran a half marathon without one. As i will come to explain later on, it was the burden of the event that day, and it without a doubt added a few annoying minutes to my official time!

It was poring down, i was in compression socks, shorts and a t shirt! But i managed to huddle into some shelter and wait for my time wave to congregate for the official race day instructions. I'm sure i put an est. finish time as 2:10, back when i signed up. I think i was being too optimistic. Especially because I'd forgotten my water bottle.

Two SIS Gels tuck down my crop top, i was set off. I had my watch as well as putting Strava on so i could hear my mile splits.

My first mile came in at 9:23. I was pretty pleased, but bear in mind, this is suppose to fast and flat due to the nature of the canal path route.

2nd mile: 9:37. I was starting to tell myself that i'd see how i felt after 5km and if i was struggling. I would turn it down a notch.

5km came in at 29:55. Good pacing if my maths was correct, but i could tell my pace was easing off a little. The first water station was here. I had forgotten due to the low keyness of this event the water was given to you from the canal barge in plastic cups! Have you ever attempted running and drinking out of one of those things before, it near impossible. To my horror, i had to walk to retain my fluids.

Mile 5- THE DREADED COSELEY TUNNEL. It was pitch black and exceedingly slippery. Causing me to walk the majority of it's 360m eerie, mind boggling presence. It produced my third worst time split of the day, at 10:33 min/mile. Yey rain... NO, waterlogged footpaths due to a large influx of runners being set off before me, stampeding through the same narrow areas. Parts for the next mile made me think i'd had to ditch my beloved New Balance after the race. :(

10km 1:1:23. Even though my pace was deteriorating ever so slightly, along with the tunnel and water station literal stop, i still felt fairly fresh at this point. For a half marathon, half way through, i was impressed with my time. From this point i aimed to pick out a lovely man in a red top to focus on staying behind.

Skip to my loo. Mile 9- Worst split of the day @10:51. At this point, i was tired and sick of the scenery. It felt as if i was running, but going nowhere in a sense.

Mile 11- My red topped man staggered to a walk... Nooo. I even made the comment to this fellow runner,

"Please don't stop now. I was relying on following you to the finish!"
his response was, "I can't physically run anymore". 

I gave him a tap on the back for encouragement and overtook, for fear i'd stop too. I did not want to stop again! At this point there has been 3 water station walks and a reduced to walk tunnel!

Towards mile 12, i started to get that feeling of not stopping because i was so close to glory feeling, but the fatigue was well and truly present. The SIS Gels had helped, but it was going to be my own mental strength to get me over the finish line. Admittedly, the last 3 incline onto the bridges to swap onto the opposite side of the canal brought me top a walk. The sights of a PB below 2:11 were drifting far from thought.

Mile 13... YEY Birmingham, Brindley place. How beautiful thou art! I sprinted over that finish line and collected my medal for a second time. Incredibly proud of my efforts and with an official time of 2:15:16. I swear blind i could have shaved, if not 2 minutes off from water stop walks if i hadn't forgotten my water bottle. And at least 2 and half minutes off, if the Coseley wasn't a pitch black tunnel. I was gutted i didn't PB. On the other hand, i took a look at what a year of consistent running has done for me. Last year, i was 19 and came last out of the 3 few in my category, with a time of 2:58:37. This year, i had knocked an astounding (give or take, my maths is still poo) 43 minutes off that time.

It is amazing to look at how far I've come in a matter of 52/53 weeks and most definitely proves that you don't have to conform and be put off by stereotypes of ectomorphic, long legged fitness junkies to take up this sport. You make it personal to yourself and even though the cause for me starting to run was due to a tragic set of life realities, which in all honestly left a gaping whole in my heart. Pounding the pavements gives me time to refresh those amazing memories i shared with my beloved Nan, Pam, it gives me the will power and sheer determination. It makes me feel invincible within my own 'capabilities', its made me feel real again.

Thank you for reading. As always,

"If you can no longer run with your legs, run with your heart."

Two Castles 10km 2016- A Rainy Day With An Aspirational Sub 1 Hour 10km... Will It Be Today?

Another delayed post... In all honesty, I have just been attached to reading 'Your Pace Or Mine'. My newly purchased book... If you're looking for running inspiration and enjoy reading about other peoples experiences then its most definitely worth that £6.99 from Amazon- I'm only 50 pages in and completely glued. Book worm activated.

So another year, another Two Castles 10km. An amazing race. Regardless of the great ordeal of actually registering your entry... A minor blip, due to the change over of website organisers and online entry peoples, of who's servers could not deal with the influx of feisty runners sitting on their computer/tablets/phones wanting to gain a place. It only seemed like yesterday I awoke at 8-9am to make damn sure I'd be able to get into this run again. After all, its one of the all time favourites for the Warwickshire Road League race calendar.

Praying and hoping we'd swiftly avert from horrid humidity and heat (like last year), I got up at 5am on Sunday to look out of my window and see over casted, grey skies (Bliss!!). Hmm I thought perfect running conditions- I was also Cold and Cough free this year. I arrived promptly at 8am to be meet by runners in their herds of hundreds, an estimated 4000 runner were to take to the start line this year. Warwick Castle grounds only allowed runners access as per, which meant my awesome supporters would have to park up temporarily and say goodbye for what seemed like eternity until I met them again at Kenilworth Castle for the finale. No Granddad this year either- sad times. A very lonely start to my morning I must say, I had well over half an hour to kill and worry about things that could go wrong. I'd had my infamous dodgy stomach to greet me with no tablets to help the situation. For the past week prior in training, I kept on getting this horrible shooting pain up the back of my leg into my right glute. Upon googling profusely, I self diagnosed with either ITB Syndrome or more likely Piriformis syndrome. The latter would make more sense, as I had tried out some different routes, which included running on fairly long grass or uneven ground, so I'd obviously niggled it then and dismissed it to the point it became increasingly painful. I just hoped with two days rest, It'd hold out for a jaw dropping performance. I was hoping for a sub 1:00hr 10km time, but my training runs seemed to suggest otherwise. But as always, I am a suborn little shite, I WANTED THIS SO BAD- today was GOING to be the day.

This year there was no access to the start until 10 too 9. Some people liked it, some people didn't. To be completely honest being contained in a smallish area was fine... after all I got a bench to chill on. We got lead through promptly as stated. As always, due to the start being changed this year too, it was naturally going to be a little more congested with a delayed start. No fear- it didn't bother me, I'll get there eventually! Absorb the atmosphere I say!

THEN... NO...

My stomach had behaved up until this point. I thought toilet stop? No, I'll be fine. Near to the start I was like maybe not, so I started making my way backwards getting funny looks as if to say

"love you're going the wrong way! The starts this way."

To the point whereby I said screw it, It's raining... I want to start the race. I hoped this wasn't going to be a Kelly Holmes/ Paula Radcliff loss of dignity type of run, going to the toilet at the side of the road. Surprisingly, once I got running, I was completely fine. I used a pace calculator prior to race day which said I'd have to get an average of 9:35 minute per mile to get my year goal of a sub 1:00hr 10km.

1st Mile in - 9:20. I felt refreshed, the rain was light, my pace and breathing did it's usual levelling out. All in all a successful 1st mile. Fair few hills out of Warwick to get onto the Coventry Road.

2nd mile in - 9:16. A mix of unduladingness, but after all, where there's a hill there is a lovely recovery period downwards... Optimism at its heights. I also want to apologise to the woman that ran past me at the wrong moment, when I opened my hand bottle (with a hydration tablet in) it had a spaz attack and squirted her on the arm... She didn't look too impressed at all as she ran, flicking her arms to attempt to get off the stickiness. Good job it was raining! Again success. My Piriformis wasn't hurting, my legs still felt fresh.

3.1 Miles in - 9:46 (29:29 5km). O, deary me... a SIS gel for these hills dude. My legs were a bit tired now... Thoughts going through my head like... No Coley, You've screwed it already. Well done! We'd now turned off the Coventry Road onto HILL Wooton. Don't know what it is, but names in Warwick like to emphasise the HILL part. Haha! There was no mistaking it though, they were most definitely present!

4th Mile in - 9:59. My worst mile of the race, which to no avail came to me as a surprise. Logically, maintaining this pace, I knew it'd bite me in the arse at this stage. But I just kept on going. By this point, my leg pain was starting to become more evident. I tried thinking happy thoughts- Pain is in the mind after all!

5th Mile in - 9:24. Oooh, I'm not good at maths, but this is looking okayish... Maybe I can still reach my goal. John O' Grant road.

Amazing supporters and sugary treats being thrown left, right and centre. Love it. God bless you all for still sitting outside in this cold, wet and miserable weather- I salute you people of Warwick and Kenilworth!

6th Mile in - (57:11) 9:14. I'm happy, I'm Soaked, I'm in pain... OMG I'd partially forgotten about the incline into the Castle grounds. Erghhh, Yucky! How long does it normally take me to do 0.20 miles?... I don't know :(.

I gave it all I had after I past the photographers, I sprinted my hearts content. No joke, I think I sprinted as fast as I'd ever had before. I past quite a couple of people which surprised me. All the spectators looked at my little chunky legs in, what seemed oar! I past the line (unofficially) in 59.08. I couldn't quite believe it. What made it even more memorable was a gentleman, older than myself came up to me after the finish and said:

"Thank you for that, you got me over the finish line in that last little bit"

 I felt famous... Such kind words from a fellow runner! This event made me feel like I could finally categorise myself as a runner, not a jogger or anything in between.

Once again Mr. TomTom was accurate. Making my OFFICIAL time 59:08! I done it again. I met one of my year goals of gaining a Sub 1:00hr 10km- On, may I say, a hilly course!! Safe to say I was on a major runners high for the next couple of days... Until I got hit by my partners disgraceful cold >8-L (my angry face).

 

Not the best photos in the world, but the only ones of which didn't had flubber ripple from my exposed thighs! Hahahaha! Damn you gravity!

A Change of Events- Quite Literally...! Chester to Hull?!

So. Since my last post on my experience of the Great Birmingham 10km. There has been a, what can I say... Vast turn of events?! As you may be aware. I signed up for the Chester Marathon (2nd October) just after Christmas. But upon my dad booking a lush holiday to Rhodes for my 21st birthday on the 24th September - 1st October, it has slowly became more of a pipe dream. It was unlikely that this event would be great as my first marathon experience. Mainly due to the fact we'd land in Birmingham for early hours on Sunday. Meaning a exhaustive 4 hour car journey up to Chester, belly full, training on the low due to heat in Greece. It was a no go unfortunately. Luckily, I read that I could transfer my place to another runner. I posted on some local running club's Facebook pages, within the hour a lovely woman decided to buy the place off me at full price. However, me being a kind person, I let her pay the price for an affiliated runner, due to taking off my hands so quickly. 

With my first marathon turned into pipe dream... Gone as quickly as I'd signed up. It was time to google some marathons for a week after or just before holiday! I was craving to find a marathon whereby I didn't have to travel too much, as well as one that's profile was not like for example, 26.2 mile worth of beasty hills! But unfortunately, it was a no go - again. 

Carvers Wolverhampton Marathon: Close in proximity = check! Flat = nope. undulating. Mid September/ after holiday= nope, start of September.  This would mean I'd have to shave about a week or so off my training schedule which I was unprepared to do. Not on my first marathon. Even though I was tempted. I decided against it, I'd done the Banks 10km last year. I didn't like the idea of the marathon being 2x 13.1mile laps round... BORING! 

Next up Leicester, premier league champions! A fair course description! Why not? Nope...  A week after I'd be partaking in the Brum half once again on 16th October. I don't think I'd be mentally or physically prepared for it. No way was I going to miss this event, taking into the consideration how prone I am to some sort of injury during a mere half marathon. I'm aiming to avoid marathon injury. However, it's still at the back of my mind. Going on the worst comes to worse scenario. Leicester was an unlikely candidate. I want to end my 2016 running season (an aspiring route PB) at the Brimingham half. I've come to love the Great Run series! <3. 

Raged with not being able to find a suitable event and after people repeatedly saying,

 

"You don't have to run a marathon this year, Nicole!"

Erm, yes I bloody well do! I lost all hope. Ding!!! I then stumbled on the Hull Marathon, 18th September, £42 entry, a fair course description... But you know I said I wanted to find an event fairly close to home. That's gone out of the window completely! So I plan to travel with my fiancé to Hull on Friday 16th via train or coach. Make a weekend of it. Run my first ever marathon and travel back on Sunday/ Monday. Celebrate my 21st birthday on 20th September (in a wheelchair- safe to say I will NOT be wearing heels!). Go and enjoy a lovely holiday in Rhodes. Come home, hopefully still be relatively fit and revitalised (as well as carrying a bit of extra weight) ready for the Brum half! I hope I made the right decision!! 

Stay tuned. 

Conversation of the month goes to my amazing Nanny from Wales! 

"So Coley. You're the big 21 this year. Have you got a party planned?!" 

"No Nan. You need friends for that. I'm going to run a marathon instead!"

"You f@*king what?" 

Cheers Nan, pal! 

Great Birmingham 10km- Again! It's Been a Year Already! Crazy! PB's At The Ready Sarge ;)

Hello, hello, hello people! 

 

I'm not on drugs. I'm just still on my runners high! 

So I'm going to be honest. I had only run consistently for about 3 weeks leading up to this event and no further than 4 miles. But I was feeling relatively confident. I knew the course, I'd ran the half marathon and the 10k before. 6.2 miles isn't going to be that bad is it, surely?!  

Wednesday, 2 weeks ago I decided to go hardcore in my training and do a relatively hard 4 mile run to the gym, as well as do some leg and abs strength for a hour... and then decided to run 1 mile intervals back home. I awoke in the next morning in excruciating pain. Like of course you get your usual DOMS after half marathons, pain going up the stairs etc... But I mean I've never experienced pain like it! In my quadriceps! It seemed I was locking my knees out with every step due to the fact that the slightest bend on the knee nearly brought me TO my knees in tears! My own fault. I put it down to over training and not stretching adequately. 

It took me a whole 4 days to recover, to the point where I was thinking I'd tore the muscle in my right quad. I hoped that the Saturday at work would make it get warm and take the ease off (which it usually does) but it was to no avail. SHIT! The next week saw me revising for my end of semester exams on Thursday and Friday. Which is a very big deal. As usual, I left revison to the last minute and was too busy attempting to retain as much information as possible about People Politics in Britain and 20th century World Wars and Cold War to care about running. I most definitely noticed the difference. I was moody, extremely snappy and depressed. Maybe I should have just fitted 2 milers in for my mental health- I dunno! 

I worked a very generous 12-6pm shift on Saturday having worked the Tuesday and had done decking for a Sunday off. My shift went quick and I was overly excited upon heading home.  

I'd had a spending spree and decided to get over my Texas thigh insecurities and brought some Nike Tempo Shorts and was treated by my momma because she'd seen how bad and upset I was after my exams. With that, I brought New Balance shorts in a plum colour. I used the rest of my Saturday night, with my newly personalised running vest deliver on Saturday morning spending ages deciding on a race day outfit. (I don't usually do this). I was looking at the shorts, not fully satisfied, thinking i'd lured myself into a false sense of security of believing I'd actually look half decent in a pair of running shorts. Who am I kidding? I'm not one of these ectomorph built athletes!! But i said to myself. I'll go with the shorts, insecurities aside- F it! and put my compression shorts on underneath with my compression socks. 

Hello race day, after not sleeping very well due to excitement I awoke extremely fresh an hour and half before pick up! Toast down me, tablets taken and dressed (in my shorts!). Away we go! 

We arrived in Brum, Jennes Road for about 10ish. White wave wasn't assembling till 11:06. My Bestest supporters, craving heat on a unusually chilly May 1st huddled into Subway, stole 4 seats and sipped coffee delightfully waiting for the elites/club runner to be set off at 11! The time flew by and before I knew it, I was making my way up the narrower right side to gain access into the starting stretch. I seen my fellow secondary school tutor/ history teacher assembling on the other side of orange wave and wished her luck for the miles ahead. With the stretch beyond the metal enclosures too packed to even bother hurdling over them, I found a spot. Stripped off my hoody, necked a SIS gel and finally gained access into the strating paddock! Weeee heeee with a very congested start I was off! 

My pace was increasingly kind to me in the first mile! After getting lost in the atomsophere, I looked at my watch and had clocked in my fastest mile to date - 8:36! Yeah, that's amazing I thought. But too fast. I dreaded the horror of that March day in Silverstone happening again! I didn't want a burn out! Especially not with the last 2 miles of the course being the beasty hill! So I continued on, trying to establish a relatively stable 9:45 min mile. Apparently I did quite well, as mile 2 was a staggering 9:29. After the tedious Pershore road we hit Edgebaston cricket ground. Correct me if I'm mistaken. I don't recall going through the actual ground last year. I thought we had to go round the perimeter. But either way that was strange running through a stadium. My 5km time was an amazing 28:39- again another best. From that point, I knew I'd been on target for my aspirational 1:04:?? Finish. The run back up Pershore was intense. My legs were starting to feel the impact of my cocky big headed starting pace. I thought that's it. I've f-ed it. I'm burnt out. But I continued going down and under the bridge heading towards St James Road. When we turned left I knew, I knew it was that time of the day! The hill will defeat me completely or I will strive onwards and upwards (quite literally!). It just so happened that I felt like I was dying. But I preserved with a feeble striding. Refusing to walk. Pin pointing when I stopped once that whole year ago. No... You will not stop me. I recall singing Queen in my head "Don't Stop Me Now Cause I'm Having a Good... Run?!". I know right thoughts of a boarder line runner hey! 

The last incline up towards Broad Street. My legs were going, I could tell I was struggled when I looked after at my 5th mile, that clocked in at around 10:30 min mile- my worst mile of the day! Upon the last little bit, I'd strangely caught up with my old tutor, gave her the spaziest wave ever and a "COME ON MISS!" Motivational shout which effected me positively. Just hope it had the same effect on her too. Haha. Well, it brung a spring back into my step anyways. As well as knowing i was so very near to that finish for the 3rd time in the space of a year! 

The road going under the, I want to say bipbass on Broad Street was amazing. After all the incline us runners had been subjected too. The last up and onto the final stretch seen me looking at my watch. I was 200 meters from the finish on about 58/59ish minutes. No, had something happened. No way had I been that fast! Safe to say those last 200 meters of me upping my pace made my lungs feel incapacitated and left my legs feeling like sand bags. My snailtastic sprint fired up and took me over the finish line. Not thinking to even look at my TomTom. I progressed to grab my bling and finishers bag. I'd obviously clocked my dad et al on the left hand side shouting words of encouragement 200 meter before. So I knew I had a bit of waiting time until we were reunited. As a result I looked at my watch... I can't believe to tell you how utterly proud I was at that moment! I'd come in unofficially at 1:00:22! Feck my life, Mary, Jesus and the Donkey too. That was faaaaaaast for my snailtastic self. Hurray for Coley!! Over the moon with my time I was greeted with hugs and kisses off my Dad, Helen and little Kady! Selfies were a must as I'd PB'd. That very same day, a year ago I had took on my first ever 10km mileage and event. I completed that in 1:12:43. I knocked an amazing 12minutes summit, summit off the space of a year. Maths- not my strongest point!! It goes to prove once again. Mind over matter. If you believe, you will indeed achieve. Your body has no limitations to what it's fully capable of. I've entered May with a very positive outlook and with one more exam to go on Thursday, I look forward to (hopefully no retakes!) and the task ahead... CHESTER MARATHON TRAINING BABY! Come at me bro! The  biggest challenge of my life to date! 

BHF Warwick Half Marathon- A Lovely Course and Many Hills!

Well this was, just to point out. An amazing, well organised half marathon. No delay for starting, well marshalled and great support from the people of Warwick. I'm most defintely doing it again next year along with Coventry.

Again doubts had flooded my mind as to whether I'd be able to run this course. the course description was undulading, then i thought of Two Castles and that had its fair share of inclines. I'd managed to get out for 3x 5km runs and a 8mile cycle. Obviously, my fitness was far off its peak. Not great really is it? But due to this being a british heart fundation event, i wasnt going to let the inclines scare me off. It was for my nan and for my charity. You have to take in mind, whats the worst that could happen? You could be forced to slow your pace, walk and get a bad time? Meh, if you complete it, who cares really! 

With that in mind i decided to say, "COME AT ME WARWICK- DO YOUR WORST!" Just don't put me in the back of an ambulance! Because i'd really look foolish. 

An early start to a fairly cloudy Sunday morning waiting for my 7am pick up from dad's taxi service aha, i managed to eat 2 slices of toast and have a cup of tea- a great achievement for me on race day. I also decided to eat some spaghetti the night before- whoop on a role here. We arrived after the confusing road closures and got parked up for just gone 8am. Having some time to kill and pre race nerves settling in, i just made sure i got everything i needed out and ready. by about 8:30am, the vast majoirty of runners were flooding into the race course starting area. With the tannoid announcement stating that all runners should start making their way to the starting pens. I decided to put myself in the SUB 2:30 Pen, this was the last of the pens at the back. Saying a quick goodbye to my amazing spectators, by that i mean my dad, Helen, Kady and the family Chihuahua, Gizmo we progressed at walking pace down the strip of the race course to go over the start line. All i can remember saying to my dad was "i forgot to shave my arm pitts!", this was even more funny because i decided to wear my vest due to the sun that was supposedly going to appear at somepoint during the run. 

The start strip was a tiny bit congested, but it lead to the car park and out to the first incline. Not wanting to do what i did in Silverstone, burning myself out too quickly, i adopted a gentle, steady pace. It was a good job too, the inclines just kept on coming. It quickly came to mind that the course i was running was that of the Two Castles, which kind of meant i wasnt running the course completely blind. Mile 1 clocked in at 10:04. I was feeling surprisingly optamistic in myself. The route was incliny, but pleasent at the same time. I was shocked to see many people walking fairly early on. My 5k time came in at 31:35. I wasn't doing too badly. My breathing and pace had come back to a sense of normality. It was mile 6 that i really started to struggle, my legs were getting jelly-fied. 10k came in at 1:04:45. I had to take a short walk at around 7 and a half miles in. It was at this point i thanked God i'd tucked 3 SIS gels into my back pocket. I took the first at 7 miles, just before the 2nd water station. hoping this would help shift the Wall. 

Lone and behold, this seemed to help mentally as well as physically. It was also at around 7 and half miles the course became less harsh and had a fair bit of declines, it was never ending you'd go down to come back up again! I kept on telling myself just keep on running, dont think about the pain, focus on the beautiful surroundings. By about 8 miles i managed to shift the wall and my legs began to function as much as their fatigued self could. 10miles = 1:46:53. Somehow i managed to convince myself that this was undoubtably going to be a 2:30 finish. Maths is not my strong point- at all. I despise the darn subject! 

Feeling demotivated, i recieved a call from my pops asking me how far i was in. After some words of encouragement we turned off, what seemed a main road back into the country side. By this point, my tempo had took full advantage of the lengthy decline just past. I was so wrong when i looked at the course map before the race and convinced myself that from 7.5 mile it would be 'fairly downhill'. Oh how wrong was thy self! Us runners were met with about 2 miles of gradual, but unearthing inclines. i was forced to walk again, for no more than a minute at about 10 and a half miles. A fellow runner patted me on the back and said how well I was doing and to keep on going. Feeling like my legs were actually going to drop off from tiredness, we approached a small villiage where a very kind woman was giving out jelly babies, my saviour! Rich, sweet in sugary energy, she handed me 2 and said "you can do this!". You know that old saying, "The beauty is within the eyes of the beholder"...? Yeah - wrong! i've now changed it to. "The power is in the hand of the jelly baby consumer." It sure did help with my energy levels. After 2 SIS gels i couldnt stomach another.  Once again i had been drawn to a walk for about a minute. By now, i was seeing signs for Warwick and we were once again met with main roads. 

After being thankful for the last drinks station, with a mouth like Ghandis flip flop, i dont know what came over me. Maybe it was realising that I was so near the end, my fatugue seemed to vanish slightly and i managed to up my pace. i'd told myself... No walking, you're nearly there. I remeber reciting my fave quote from War Horse, in my head- obviously. I didn't want to look like a complete Looney Tune... "Let every man do himself, his King, his country and his fallen comrades proud. Be Brave". Haha. Some of the things that pop into your head when your running a half marathon an be so strange. 

I was brave, thank you Major Jamie Stewart!

The final stretch had my legs screaming in pain once again. i clocked dad, et al straight away about 200 meters from the finish. Yes, it was that time of the day... My snailtastic sprint was being exasperated. Once again my body proved me wrong. I finsihed a really hilly course, with only 3x 5k runs in hand after the Silverstone half on the 13th March in a time of 2:20:22! I was over the moon! 

Silverstone Half- Water Infections, Antibiotics, Low Calorie Intake andCar Puking

As the title suggests this was by far one of my worst races I have encountered. It's such a shame, as I can't fault any of the organisers or volunteers. The event itself was perfect. I just wish I'd been in the same state of mind and health as I had been 2 weeks before in Coventry!

So I left my last post on a high. I'd PB'd by over 10mins , with no injury ascertained as a result. However, the days after- I was dying. Your usual achy legs etc... I surprisingly managed to drag myself out of bed with great difficulty to get into university for 1pm. I decided to lay off the running for the next couple of days, to recover. Lone and behold my bone idle, lazy student self kicked in. With my final assignment deadlines due too, running seemed to fall low on my priority list. Unfortunately. As well as my fiancé finally getting two weeks holiday off work. A week had passed. I'd probably walked my dogs 4 times in the week. Which was probably the most I moved due to containing myself in my room, cooped infront of my laptop scream feverishly attempting to bullshit my essay for Enviromental History. The weekend loomed and I was at work Saturday and Sunday. Again no training. 

Silverstone was a week away. Thought it's fine, I won't push myself to PB, I'll take it easy. The course is the infamous F1 race track so it shouldn't be too hilly. The course description was mostly flat. It came to Thursday. T-minus 4 days en counting. My fiancé had gone home until Saturday night. I started to feel abnormally weird. A feeling I know all too much. Safe to say I was at the walkin centre at 10pm whereby the doctor confirmed my worst enemy of an infection. A Urinary Tract Infection. In a nutshell your stomach feels bloated, your belly is in pain and it generally feels like your pissing out razor blades, it doesn't stop there. You also feel the need to wee an awful lot. I was completely gutted. I'd gone near on a year without one, I used to get them like every other month. If you've never had one, just pray you don't!  

Trimopthrime (sic) were prescribed of which I took immediately. I said to the doc that I had a half marathon. She's advised me if I still felt no improvement to not run. I was in work the following day and managed to keep the water flowing through my body to help pass the infection through. I still felt fairly bad. But I needed the money, plus I was on decking and didn't want to let my colleague down. Saturday, busy, busy, busy shift. I'd had my traditional McDonald's lunch at an early 1pm and got let out on time. I then went to the cinema with my dad and his girlfriend. Consumed some nachos. I got home and Mr Fiancé was sitting there with a cuppa for me. I was excited because he was finally going to be able to come to one of my events, however the fear my infection was crossing my mind all to well. 

After a really bad sleep I awoke. The race wasn't going to start till noon. Dad picked us up and we were on our way. We had to go to the other side of Coventry due to him forgetting his big jacket. I was like:

"Crap, Dad. The magazine with final race instructions says you have to be there for 10:30am at the latest." 

It was coming up to 10pm and we hadn't even got out of Coventry yet! PANIC OVERLOAD. I thought an hour's drive away, it's a Sunday motorway / A roads should be fairly clear. It was partly true. However, a road work capped the speed limit to 30mph, causing our journey to be delayed. GOSH SAKE. DO THEY NOT KNOW ITS RACE DAY!  

We had about 3 miles to go and we hit traffic hard. They weren't joking when they said it takes a long time to get into the stadium car park, hence the 10:30am arrive time. Already I was feeling pretty crappy. The car journey seemed to make me feel really sick. I'd realised. I'd taken antibiotics, with vitamin C which are advised to be taken WITH FOOD. I was stupid and didn't eat anything for faffing around. Then it hit me. Bugger, I hadn't eaten anything properly since 1pm the day before, of which I'd obviously burned off whilst doing he rest of my shift. I don't think I've ever felt so bad before race day. But I thought to myself I'm not wasting £28. If I have to, I'll walk. No biggie! 

They were not kidding when they said it was 20minute walk to the start either. But, i made it with just 3 minutes to spare. I lined up. Looking at the sheer size off the track ahead. 

And we were off!!! 

Me, being me. I went out too fast. Considering I hadn't ran in 2 weeks. I dismissed the idea that my fitness would have dropped quite a considerable amount due to being stationary for the latter of the weeks before. 5km time came in at 29:42. Not bad. However. I felt awful still. Pace was over the place. My emotional state was deteriorating very quickly. Considering it was a nice day, which was lovely as it was early March, it wasn't all great for the fact it seemed there was no air flow around the track. 10k came along at a struggle. But still a good for me considering my form. 01:02:53. 

After this- it went all tits up. My energy depleted due to lack of food and going out too quick. I also forgot to take my hand bottle from my dad too. So my infection was stinging due to dehydration and lack of fluids. Every water station I took advantage and kept hold of until they were entirely finished. After 6 and half miles. I had to walk. I felt slightly disorientated. But I wasn't going to give up. My legs felt like hell. The dreaded 'runners wall' had taken advantage of my physical and mental disadvantages. At 9 miles I was shuffling, running for a maximum of 3-5 minutes before abruptly going back to a brisk walk. At this point I was more annoyed at myself. Why? You're an idiot, why didn't you run after the 2 weeks? Why didn't you eat? 

By this point, I'd wolfed down 2 SIS gels in hope they would replace some form of energy. I wasn't expecting miracles. But they did the job. Or so it seemed. 9 and a half - 10miles in my dad had rang me to see where I was. At 10 miles and a half. Lone and behold they'd timed it well. They were there shouting encouraging words, I was walking and felt ashamed, I must admit, slurping of my gel. Lucazade sport and water slushing around. The mere excess of suger was causing me to feel sick. I soldiered on. I kept on telling myself, everything comes to an end. Mile 11 and 12 seen my worse pace for a long time at 11:58. The finishing mile seemed to never end. I was done. Physically and mentally drained. Questioning once again my ability to actually complete this marathon in October that I'd signed up to.

I crossed the line at 02:24:50. Not as bad as id anticipated. I was still that little bit faster than my Birmingham half time. So it wasn't all that disappointing. However, it remained in the back of my head. What if I'd trained and was in full health? I think I could have come close to another PB! But that said. You can't always get PB's in every event that you do. However, you need think. Even if you didn't. You still completed 13.1 miles, as continuously quoted a bad run is still better than no run at all. 

I found dad, Helen and Jake fairly quickly. We started to walk back. I kept on saying to Jake I felt really uneasy. He was like "Well, Coley you have just ran a half marathon". But no. I knew how that felt. This wasn't normal. I dismissed the feeling, putting down to lack of food. In the car we'd stopped off. My car sickness was getting really bad. Down to the point I had to empty my finishing bag onto the chair and use it as a possible puke bag. We stopped off at McDonald at a service station and I kind hobbled, kind of sprinted to the toilets to attempt to be sick, in order to make me feel better. Nope, never happened. So I got some McDonald's chips and felt a little better. Back in the car we went. We'd pulled into the opposite side of Coventry and I felt REALLY BAD! Dad had to pull over at a park for me to run and be sick. All them chips, what a waste! I felt heaps better after though. There was dad leading on the railings that surrounded the park with his banana milkshake, watching me being sick, as well as laughing!! His response "I'm just making sure you don't collapse. Seen as though your fiancé doesn't care and is still in the car!"  

All in all. A monstrosity of a race. Of which I probably shouldn't have done. But I did it. My fiancé seen me and was exceedingly proud. I found the race less tedious as anticipated and the support was good. But no where near that of Birmingham, but what do you expect. I don't know whether I'd do it again. But knowing me I will because I want to prove to myself I could have got a better time in full health. It was a good experience and worth the money. I mean come on, tickets into Silverstone range from £100-200 a ticket. I got to run on the track for £28! I did refrained from going past dad et al making F1 noises. Hahaha. 

Tip of the week. Please don't run a half marathon with an infection and lack of calories/ carbs! Don't kid yourself. You will deteriorate pretty quickly and feel like crap throughout!! 

Next up. Warwick Half. Again my training is weak. So I'm just expecting a better race than Silverstone, with no walking, but no PB in mind. I'm concentrating on not getting Ill due to everyone coming down with this sickness fluey bug thing. Wish me luck amigos!