Author: Maria Runs

First of all, thanks for all the comments about the run last weekend and so on. Each time I read a new one it really helps with my confidence, and also makes me smile.

So I keep meaning to say on here- you know a while back I got that lovely parcel from Meridian? Well the guy who sent it also let me know about a race, and I said I would put a link on here. It is called the cake race (great name to start with, yes?) and it is a 5k multi-terrain race. It is on the 22nd May, in the Bristol area, and is in aid of a local school. I would love to do it, but the timing does not quite fit with my training, and Bristol is a bit of a way to travel for a 5K. But anyway, if anyone fancies checking it out, look here.

So, back to the usual. I have been a bit busy these last few days. Thursday was body pump- again kept higher weights- hooray. Friday I had a lovely day after work- visited my Nan, went to the Waffle house with some friends (for belated birthday celebrations) and then out for dinner with some other friends (more birthday stuff). So no posts. I did have a lovely breakfast on Friday-

An apple, some rude health muesli and some apple and elderflower yoghurt (which is totally gorgeous). This was just so summery and perfect for a sunny morning.

Today my plan was 15 miles. I actually was really delaying my departure this morning- partly due to the weather (we had a few bouts of torrential rain and I did not fancy ruining my shoes) and partly due to being tired. Anyway, I planned my route (a boring out and back in the end as I could not work out another one, plus I wanted to avoid the lakes as they would be muddy and sometimes get underwater). It did not rain, and after a bit the sun came out, and it was just so muggy and hot. There was an occasional breeze, but it was warm and damp air so I was just so sticky. It was very slow (took me 2 hours 53) but there was stopping, and by the end my toe was hurting. I think I might need to get some kind of padded plaster thing as there is definitely something on the bottom. Once home I was in need of more liquid!

2 glasses of water and some lovely coconut water with pineapple- I had forgotten how lovely this is! I had loads of it last year when I was training for my half, but chocolate milk got in the way this year. I should have had an ice bath, but I forgot to make any ice, so made do with a cold shower.

My lunch was my take on a bakewell pitta (we never had a bakewell tart last weekend, and I never liked them when I was little, but now I do like almonds, although not pastry still, anyway, get off this tangent)- food doctor pitta with lovely meridian almond butter and cherry spread.

Yum it was so good! I am loving the almond butter, and the sweet cherry spread went very well indeed.

This afternoon was set aside for report writing, although I did pause in the middle for a toffee rice pudding.

Yum! I do like the plain one as you can then add pb, chocolate, or other stuff (I like dried figs in it) but this toffee one was good.

Then things went downhill- basically I was waiting for the shopping to be delivered (5-6) and was then going to stop work and make dinner. I had a call to say they were running late, so decided to keep on with the work. Bad idea, as then I got very tired and a bit shaky. Also I got very stiff from sitting down all afternoon, so my legs are more sore now. When the shopping finally came, I was starving, so made a cup of tea to drink while I cooked (not easy)- and in the end had a shortcut dinner.

Some carrot pancakes turned into carrot mix being cooked in a tray in the oven and topped with meridian tahini, and I used the other packet of Food Doctor easy grains (these ones are made of quinoa, lentils, spelt, kidney beans) with some tinned tomatoes, spinach, and topped with some Food Doctor seeds.

This was good, but I could have done with it an hour earlier! I love the way the tahini melts over hot things, and those seeds add such a good crunch to any meal. I am getting a bit obsessed 🙂

Right, I am off to elevate my legs! I have not washed my compression socks after last weekend, so we shall see if that adds to the after effects too. Night 🙂

Evening all

Today started off fab- with some porridge and delicious smooth meridian pb.

And at work someone made me chuckle as I was saying how much I love pb, and they went “is it just peanuts and butter mixed together?” Hmm. I did correct them!

Before my run I had an Eat Natural bar- normally I don’t go for these, but I had it in a Boots meal deal (from the day I flew to Italy- it is well travelled) and decided it might give me a boost.

It was delicious anyway. Then I went for my run. I measured out a 6.7 mile route (was supposed to be 6 miles with some tempo in there) and headed out. I managed some decent speeds at times, but my leg is still a bit sore, when going down steep hills, and as the route has some underpasses and things like that, I had to take those slowly. I had a couple of miles at 9.52 and 9.54, but the rest was rather slower. Plus I had loads of waiting as I was running at rush hour (you know, to cross roads).

Dinner was rather random- some chickpea stew with extra veg and sprinkled with some Food Doctor seeds.

The seeds added a lovely crunch, and they are great for protein- 28% (so a little 15g serving has 4.2g which is pretty good.

So my toe nail has not fallen off, and now I think maybe there is some kind of blister/ hard patch thing on the bottom. But who knows. I am sure it is something to do with the pressure- maybe I did my shoes up too tight or something. But anyway, until my actual toe falls off I don’t need to worry!

Bye

Thanks for all the good luck and birthday messages- I had a fab weekend.

First- Hooray!

This was me on Sunday afternoon! (That is the lovely view from where we stayed). Hooray! I finished the 20 miler!

I am proudly wearing my race t-shirt (although you can’t see that from the picture)- I was so pleased!

Race report further down! And impressively, later that very same day, we even managed a bit of walking.

My legs were so stiff that I was worried I would fall in the water!

Anyway, we had a lovely weekend away- some walking, some tea rooms (of course), lots of relaxing! I actually woke up in the middle of the night and remembered safety pins, and then while we were there I nearly left them in my washbag.

Warning- long rambled and garbled race account coming up!

The race was about an hours drive away, so we were up early (7am) for porridge and lots of water before we drove there. We had seen there were showers available so we packed a change of clothes and towel too. The race HQ was in a leisure centre, and started very promptly (and there were pots and pots of safety pins on tables so I didn’t need to worry!). Now I was planning on going slow and steady, but within 100m of the start I was about 50m behind everyone else. There was a police car driving behind me for a bit, but then decided that I was too slow to be in the race (maybe) and so left me behind. I had a few minutes of panic as I had no idea where I was going, but then I saw some marshals who realised I was last, and so then I had a guy on a bike escorting me for the first 5 miles! As it was on roads (no pavements) for the first bit he had to go right behind me. So we had a nice chat for the most part. Then I was left to my own devices- where the maths and internal dialogue began. It went like this “all those people on the start line looked so professional, they all had energy gels and everything. Don’t be silly, you have energy gels, we all need them for this distance. But they all went so fast. Yes, but you can’t run that fast- you need to finish this- it is a training run not a race. OK, so I did 5 miles in 57 mins- I can do the other 3/4 in 3 hours, so I will be fine. Gosh, the showers in the leisure centre didn’t have curtains. Don’t panic- you can dash in and out really quick. OK, so 8 miles in 1.30ish- that leaves me 2 1/3 hours to do 12 more miles.You can do 13 miles in 2.20 so you will be fine.(At this point the lovely marshals started telling me “there is a guy up ahead, you can catch up with him”). Oh look an extremely steep hill- keep running, power through, (I overtook the man at that point)- woah you are not last any more. Yes but being last does not matter, you need to finish this! Look, I am halfway! Yay! Halfway in under 2 hours, you can manage this in the time. Gosh 13 miles in 2.20- oh if I had done a half marathon I could have beaten my pb (2.19) because I would not have to save anything in the tank for the next 7 miles. Half marathons seem a much more civilised distance. Why did I not sign up for a half instead? Who’s crazy idea was this marathon anyway? 14 mile marker- wow that is the biggest marker I have seen. Oh my legs hurt. I am thirsty. Drinking out of cups is hard work. 15 mile marker- only 5 miles to go, come on, nearly there. 16 miles, gosh it is hot. 17 miles, come on I can run 3 miles before breakfast. 18 miles- oh pants I thought I already saw that marker. Come on, only 2 miles. I see some more people up ahead! I overtook a couple more people (only never sure if they were in the race as I didn’t look back to see their race numbers). Oh, a baby rabbit, how cute. Pick up your feet. Ow, my back aches. I am so thirsty. I ran out of water. Pour the dribbles into your bottle lid and drink it that way. (Here the marshalls are telling me “only half a mile to go, not far”)- Oh look Andy is waving at me over the fence 🙂 I can see the finish line. No, actually that is a sign saying finish line this way. Only the field to go, past the tapes, up to the table. Can I stop now?

Gulp down 2 cups of water, eat an orange nakd bar, stagger to the changing rooms (I even braved the shower- sort of- there were 3 showers at the end with 1 curtain to share, so I went behind that), then walk like a cowboy to the car. Andy finished in 3.02 (although he really struggled and was a bit down about it after)- so he had showered and changed while waiting for me. I finished in 3.48.58, in the time limit hooray! I am glad that I managed to keep my pace up and get to the end.

We went home and had some lunch (I also had a banana and half a protein bar in the car), then went out for the afternoon.

We had a gentle walk by the river (plus an ice cream- yummy) and then went out for a pub dinner for my birthday. Fab!

My right thigh (front and back) is so sore today, but the rest of me is actually alright. Going up and down stairs yesterday was hard, but I managed it!

I got to open a present this morning;

A PB&Co cook book! (And a close up of the t-shirt which I think is pretty understated compared to most that you get). 🙂

I learnt a lot from the race at the weekend, which I am sure will pop up in here in the coming weeks. Although I am not sure where the last 6 miles will come from. I hope everyone had a lovely weekend, enjoyed the fab weather etc.

Byeeeeeeeee