Running with the eighth dwarf

A short blog this week, primarily because I'm way too tired to even type after completing an 11 mile run around town this morning.  So, few hints, tips & 'what I've seen on my run' comments:

1. The people of London are not as miserable as believed.  Over the last few months I've had lots of cars stop to let me keep running, pedestrians move out of the way & people shouting words of encouragement - this hit a new high today when, as we ran down the Mall, a very smart elderly lady in her Sunday best started running with us and shouting, 'come on, keep going, who's going to win?' - she was at least 70 & VERY posh, hilarious

2. When you have your best run ever, it doesn't follow that your next run, or the one after, will keep up the trend.  On Tuesday evening, after spending the day on Jury Duty, I did my fastest 10k ever which included running up a significant hill in Greenwich Park, round Blackheath and finishing along the river in Greenwich.  It was a gorgeous evening & I felt amazing. So on Friday evening I set off to do a mere 4 miles with my husband & by mile 2 I was insisting that he run off without me - still did a great time, but felt terrible.  Saturday dawned & we set of for another quick 4 miles, only it wasn't quick & I didn't enjoy it - bizarre

3. Tourists don't like the clocks going forward - which basically means that there were less of them around St Paul's, Westminster & Buckingham Palace - this, for runners, is good news as tourists, unlike Londoners, do not generally move quickly or get out of your way

4. Tourists that do venture out early still insist on taking up the WHOLE pavement and do not understand the words EXCUSE ME - in capitals cos I generally shout it at them!

5. There were 8 dwarfs in the tale of Snow White, not 7.  This I learned off my husband after our second unenjoyable 4 mile run - number 8 is apparently called Arsey……..& is me…….

Its hard to feel good about a week of running angst, but three final thoughts:

1. I did my quickest 10k ever,
2. I ran 25 miles in total this week, 9 more than last week
3. It can only get easier, can't it……….?

Hula hoops, Randoms......& gin

Wasn't really sure what to call this weeks blog, 'Walk the Walk don't just talk it', 'Jonesy is a bad influence', 'don't check in on FB' or maybe just 'rubbish'!  Yep, after blogging last week about being on the road to (running) redemption, changing habits & knowing what to do for a great run, what do I do? Spend Friday night in the pub drinking too much gin, argh!!!!

Let me explain.  So my goal for the week was to run 20 miles comprising 3 runs of 6, 4 & 10. Wednesday morning I ran 6 miles round Blackheath before work -  anyone who knows me will testify that I am most definitely not Little Miss Sunshine first thing in the morning so I was very grumpy as I set off on the run.  I don't usually run to music, but I turned my iPod on for a bit of inspiration, set my watch & then didn't look at it again till I finished back at The Cutty Sark in Greenwich town centre - I had done my second fastest 6 mile run ever - fantastic start & just shows you don't have to be full of the joys of spring to achieve a great run.

That run though reminded me one of the reasons I do it, yes it keeps me fit, yes it stops me from getting down, but ultimately there is little to compare to how you feel at the end of a fantastic run and those endorphins are whirling around your body - though I'm sure the people of Greenwich wondered why there was some mad woman, dressed in running gear singing along to the Spice Girls as she walked back home (the song was Stop for anyone who's interested)

Anyway, so far so good.  I knew I couldn't run again until Saturday due to work etc, but that was fine, a quick 4 miles round town would be easy, wouldn't it?  Friday arrived & my husband & I after a long week headed to our local cocktail bar, The Cooperage, 'for just the one'....

Thats where my mistake started, I checked in on Facebook and 5 minutes later, having seen the post, in walked an ex client, Jonesy, with his lovely wife Sam. Back in the days he was a client, it was also the good old days of Financial Services, lots of conferences abroad & lots of business done in wine bars & pubs. To illustrate how bad Jonesy & his colleagues were for my health he commented on Friday night how much better I look since I stopped looking after them - says it all.  Anyway, 5 G&Ts later (doubles? who knows) all my good running intentions had flown out the window & I was munching hula hoops & Randoms as a post drinks snack

To cut a long story short, I didn't run my 4 on Saturday, I slobbed on the sofa eating Sugar Puffs.....

However, I have today completed my 10 miles supporting Richard on his 22 mile marathon training run.  Half way round the run I asked Richard why he thought it was that when running makes me feel brilliant & drinking makes me feel rubbish, I let the vino get in the way, his reply -  "Cos you're a Manc" - I think we'll leave it there!

PS no promises, but next week WILL be better & PPS despite ruining my run, I did have much fun on Friday night, wouldn't change anything, well maybe one G&T less.....

Train like an athlete, eat like a.......

Ever since I took up running at 15 years of age, my progress has been pretty inconsistent. Virtually non existent during my late teens/early 20s as the lure of alcohol, boys & The Stone Roses became greater, picked up a little in my mid 20s due to close proximity of some lovely woods & then increased dramatically during my divorce,  culminating in running my first London marathon in 2004.  Since then I've run London once more (2006) and done a few half's, but I always seem to get to a certain distance (10 miles) & then go back down to square one again, be it due to illness, work or lifestyle, (or all 3) something always seems to get in the way

In 2012 whilst on holiday I encouraged my husband Richard to join me in a run on the beach, he loved it and went from being a total non runner to completing his first half 5 months later, since then he has just got better & better and is currently training for London 2014 - 4 weeks & counting!

This made me reflect on why he has been able to follow a busy training schedule consistently for 13 weeks, taking account of mileage, nutrition, lifestyle & alcohol - I think the answer is pretty conclusive - I train like an amateur athlete & eat/drink like a professional cake eater/binge drinker - something has to change!

I'm no student of psychology, but I do wonder why, when I know what makes me feel good, (running, feeling healthy, feeling in control, drinking/eating in moderation) I am drawn to what makes me feel bad (drinking too much, eating the wrong stuff and feeling unhealthy/bloated) - is it self discipline? Is it genetic? (doubt it, my dads the model of self control) Is it generational? My parents generation had to do everything in moderation as they lived on rations, our generation has more access to food/drink etc than ever before - but lets face it, there's no excuse is there? 

So, spurred on by my lovely husband and the excitement of my favourite day in the London calendar (the Marathon) I've today entered for the Southend Half Marathon & this time I intend to do it properly, making sure I'm looking after my body so it's capable of getting me round the course in a good time (my previous PB is 2.06, I aim to beat that)

2 things I need to keep in mind - 1. Someone once told me, when things were not great in my life, that everything I wanted was in my control, ie it was up to me & 2. I today ran 10 miles round London, helped by the fact that it was a lovely sunny day, the horse guards were resplendent in their red cloaks & the church bells of St Paul's were ringing out, I felt fantastic afterwards & need to remember that feeling to motivate me out of my warm bed to run in the mornings

Countdown begins - 4 weeks to my husbands big day, 13 to mine - keep reading to follow my progress..........

Queen Spice in a mans world

I watched Trooping the Colour yesterday and when the anthem was played, my first thought was how alone the Queen looked standing without her husband, but my immediate second thought was one of admiration. Now many readers will be aware that I am a proud monarchist, but my admiration had nothing to do with that, patriotism or a love of London, but more to do with how this woman has, for decades, thrived in what is essentially a mans world.

She lives in a world that is dominated, sadly, by men, be it politicians, Civil Servants or world leaders, professions not known for their tact, subtlety or indeed lack of ego, but well known for a keen desire for personal advancement, steely focus and a strong grasp on the greasy pole of ambition. Yet they all express total respect for a woman who didn't even have to apply for her job, has done the same job for 60 years and will never have any chance of promotion.

Those who have seen The Audience starring Helen Mirren will have seen how even the most Socialist of PMs had utmost admiration for her, would look forward to their weekly meetings and would hang on every word she had to offer.

It was striking that soldiers taking part in yesterday's parade, when interviewed, were very clear that this was one of the best days of their lives and how they were immensely proud at being given the opportunity to participate - these are real men who have spent time fighting in places like Afghanistan, in shocking conditions and yet show enormous regard for this woman who lives in luxury protected by personal bodyguards.

She is the perfect example of how dignity, charm and a real belief in what you do can disarm others, gain their respect and build solid and enduring relationships - isn't this a fantastic lesson that we can all use, particularly women, in both business and life in general?

We don't need to fight fire with fire, we don't be to be cut throat in our approach and we don't have to play hard, we just need conviction, confidence and dignity

You don't have to like the Queen or even the idea of her, but you have to admit that to be able to hold her own in such a world shows real girl power - forget Sporty, Posh, Ginger, Baby & Scary, this is the original Queen spice, holding her own since 1952!

Summer of 76 - fact or fiction?.

At last it appeared this week that summer is upon us, maybe......which got me thinking about that oft remembered summer of 76, which for me means days of water fights with fairy liquid bottles, melting Tarmac pavements, cricket on the radio & sitting in the washing up bowl with my sister to cool down (oh to be that thin again!).

Was it really the romantic idyll  that we all recall though?

The summer of 76 was indeed one of the hottest on record, meaning that some parts of the South West went without rain for 45 days during July & August & for those us of growing up, it was a fantastic time to be young, enjoying those long hot sunny days. However it was also a time of difficulty and economic crisis, including riots at the Notting Hill Carnival, soaring inflation and finishing the year with the announcement of a 2.3 billion pound loan from the IMF

Which led me to ponder on the ability of  the Great British public to look at the past through rose tinted glasses. It is easy to label us as a bit of a moaning nation (whining Pomms???), but when looking at the past we tend to wrap it in a blanket of loveliness, days were longer, doors could be left unlocked, even the war is tinged with a feeling of mucking in & everyone looking after each other. 1976 is just one example, but each generation has their own, my parents certainly feel things were better in their day!  Is this a bad thing though? & actually isn't it nice that we can look back in this way & have the ability to feel good about a time that maybe wasn't quite the time we recall?

What does this say about the ability we have to be positive & deal with things? Well whatever it says, for me, 1976 will continue to be the year of sun, the Jubbly & those iconic orange space hoppers!!