All Part of Life's Rich Tapestry

A little party never killed nobody...

[coleyaj]

Mr Motivator?

I haven’t run properly in ages. A few 3-5 mile runs here and there and I’m so out of shape with it all. The Half Marathon is so soon and its time to stop making excuses and find some motivation! 

[coleyaj]

I've hurt my knee! Running on it on Saturday hurt, to the extent that once I hit 4miles I walked home. It's been hurting in and off since so I've decided to rest it from running for a few days and ice it. A bit worried if I'm honest because it's about time I properly started training. 

[coleyaj]

Eat. Nap. Run

So the guilt had set in, having not run since Sunday (and that was only 5k) and I knew that today I HAD to get out an run somewhere after work today. In true dedication, I ate tons of sugar and bad carbs (triple choc shortbread x2 was the start) and found myself waking up from an evening nap at 7.30 - good one

I woke myself up, had a splash of water and dragged myself out. Although I didn’t try my best tonight, I got in some hill work and I managed a route of 4miles. I had a happy ‘moment’ and the sun was setting as I ran through town; a beautiful, bright orange and pink sunset and really enjoyed being out, appreciating what my body was allowing me to do, and how I was feeling in the moment. 

When I run, I’m completely free from everything. I don’t know the time, I don’t pick up my phone if it rings, and I’m not aware of any social media. I find it cleansing, therapeutic and real. Its most definitely a release, and although some days are hard to get out and are not about the progress, I’m always pleased I DID get out. 

[coleyaj]

A view of the cloudy South Downs this evening.

[coleyaj]

8 miles

After the 10k on Sunday, I felt I needed to push myself, that running had become stagnant in progress. My running buddy text me with a 14k challenge to do together and although I accepted, I didn’t believe I was there just yet. 

I didn’t run with her in the end, I got back from work and tried napping and decided I was gonna head out on my own. Shorts on, and music in the ears I went my normal (long route) and combined it with the hill of the Water Tower (absolute bitch) and my more scenic route. 

I’d planned on cutting down past my buddy’s house and then home, working out that it should take me 8miles. I took the wrong path, and wasn't pleased when I realised it would take me further to get home! However, the sun was out, I had nothing to get back to and really, deep down I was enjoying it and so I finished my run at 8.7miles this evening. My furthest yet, and felt I still had some energy left in the tank. Although it wasn't fast, I’d succeeded in reaching my goal and tonight I feel bloody pleased! 

[coleyaj]

[coleyaj]

10k Race (rain) for Life

This morning I was due to run a Race for Life 10k in Brighton. It had been booked for months, and I’d not been looking forward to it for months. This whole week had been the warmest week all year, highs of 30+ so I assumed, it would be a hot and sticky start at 9am..when I should have been in bed. 

The day started off with a text from my running buddy, “I can’t do it, I’m ill”. and so I faced either turning over and having a lie in, or doing it alone. I got up, had a cuppa and some toast (all before 8am) and the heavens OPENED. It literally hadn’t rained all week and THIS is when it chose to. Dad said I could go out late on my own, when its not running, and I nearly chose to. However, I laced up my trainers and got in the car (praying I’d get there and it would be cancelled). 

I got out the car and walked to the warm up alone, battling the voices in my head telling me to go back to bed. Then I started seeing who people were running for, and in the rain my tears stared falling..alone.Mentally, being there on my own way hard to not have someone distract me from cancer. It was just a bit too close to home. I made my way away from the warm up towards the car and stopped before the car park, told myself I needed to man up, that if I do it now, I’ve achieved it and I don’t have to run this afternoon. That if I do it now, I’ve no one to thank but myself, and its another mental struggle that I conquered. So I made my way to the start line after a small warm up (let me just remind you that it hadn’t stopped raining) and put my headphones in. 

The run was a challenge; hilly and wet and although there were times when I was walking the inclines, I didn’t feel like I struggled. I had a few really fast parts and I sprinted across that finish line! 

I completed in 1.06mins and was happy with my time. I was muddy, soaked through and alone but walking through the front door with Mum telling me she was proud was enough. 

This morning, for the first time,I felt like a runner, and I felt like a strong female both mentally and physically. This morning, with the struggles has inspired me for my Enfield Half. 

[coleyaj]

[coleyaj]

I’ve done a bit...

Whoops! 

I went out and did a great 10k with my running buddy last Wednesday - beautiful evening and scenery and felt good afterwards! 

On Saturday I did a short 2mile run up London Rd after getting out of bed. I then drove to Canterbury to spend a sunny Saturday with friends :) 

[coleyaj]

Scared to get out again

A post here is well overdue. 

Running has been varied in the past two or three weeks. I had a week (two weeks ago now) where my running buddy and I went out on the Monday evening (10K), ran with the club on Wednesday (over by Hurst School), did a lovely Friday evening run thoughout the fields around Theobalds (many hills) and then did our first ever Park Run at Clair Park (SO HARD!). That week I felt I was really motivated and doing well. 

It then seems that I had a really busy social week and I didn’t make any time for a run until the next Monday. Maybe at this point, I need to be scheduling them in around the social weeks, but I was exhausted all week. 

SO went to Running Club on Wednesday after running only on Monday (4miles) having not run regularly. I have to say that although the surroundings were beautiful (we were out in Hurst and Hassocks) I felt awful. I ran with the back marker and he really de motivated me, telling me how I was in the wrong group. In fairness to him, I was at the back struggling where everyone else was happily running away at the front, but now I’m really struggling to find the inspiration and motivation to get out again. I tried really hard on Wednesday and its taken a lot of the joy out of running for me. 

So, today I’m torn. I need to go for a run (although I don’t want to). I also need to start a training plan for the Half. Do I go out and do a long run, pushing myself? Or do I just do a short one to try and find the solace in it again? 

“it doesn't matter how you get knocked down in life, cos that’s going to happen. All that matters is that you get up”. 

[coleyaj]

Although I am posting this nearly a week later, on Thurday I smashed my 7miles goal. Instead of focusing too much on time I enjoyed being outside running and aimed to reach 7miles. With a stop at Nan's and getting lost a couple of times, I was eventually pleased that I'd managed my longest distance yet!

[coleyaj]

10k

Today I tried to justify any way of not having to run but after a kick up the ass from my running buddy I set off. My aim was to explore the route Graham had advised and so I didn't expect that I'd go far, however after enjoying the fields doused in the late afternoon sunshine my feet kept moving! From Valebridge I went over towards Wivelsfield and Jane's Lane, over to Dicthling Common (up the monstrous hill) and out over to Folders Lane through town and home! As I approached 6miles I was averaging under 11mins/miles which made me very happy. Below are a few snaps from my beautiful Sunday afternoon run. Reinforcing my love for the local area. Finishing at 6.4miles on 10.55pm I was really pleased - but wish I'd ran to the 7miles mark!

[coleyaj]

[coleyaj]

Field full of Bluebells over at Distchling Common today

[coleyaj]

The beauty of running is that your feet can take you to pretty places you didn't know (or forgot) existed. Tonight with 'The Club' ;) we went to Ditchling Common, a field full of beautiful bluebells with the sun slowly setting being the perfect lighting for them.

[coleyaj]

I think when striving to reach a goal it's important to remember this. Not every run will be a PB, perfect and exhilarating. Sometimes (more than often) they're gonna be hard work and when we look back at the stats it might make us feel like we're not making progress. In the midst off all this though, we must remember that every run helps us reach that goal, and although I have a time limit on my goal and I need to ensure I AM making progress, sometimes the progress won't be glaringly obvious and its important to keep the faith.x

[coleyaj]

The date has been set...

So after being inspired at enjoying myself during Running Club on Wednesday, I came home and signed up to the Race for Life 10k in Brighton (July) and the Half Marathon (October). Sitting on the sofa filling in my details on the mobile and texting my running buddy about our joint sign ups made me feel excited. 

The reason I started running last year was all because of a Half Marathon. My target, and now a year later (I'm definitely the Turtle from Aesop’s Fables) I have my goal date. 4th October 2015. 

I'm excited about the 10k, it will most definitely be an achievement (I still haven’t managed that distance yet) for a good cause, running with my running buddy - something we will have worked towards. However the Half, is the big one. My Everest if you will. 

The Half Marathon is significant for me. Firstly, it is an event by Cancer Research. Cancer is, has been and will always be a very influencing factor in my life (obviously I’d wish otherwise). Not only this, but the Half Marathon is taking place on my parent’s wedding anniversary (35yrs +) and Mum has said she’d like to see me run this distance. Lastly, the event is held in Waltham Cross, my Grandparents grew up around that area (Enfield Lock and Waltham Abbey) and to me, by achieving a goal like this in a place my Grandad knew and loved so well, will help me round those 13.1 miles. Ultimately, that’s the best place I could do this. 

So, although it might seem lame to some. This Half Marathon is going to be very significant for me. Signing up was the easy bit... now all I need to do is to train my body to be able to do this! ...Anyone pray?