Day 80: On the mend, back on the road

RUN: 1.2 miles

Still poorly sick today. This afternoon I managed to eat a little food at last, which made me feel a bit better.
So I left it until quite late this evening to try running. It was the last thing I wanted to do, but on the other hand I really wanted to get back to it after yesterday if I possibly could manage it.
So just one mile. It was very exhausting for such a short distance, but it's only to be expected having only eaten a bread roll in two days!
Next mission is to eat well, sleep well and get my energy levels back.

Here's the old route map and info

Day 79: Disaster strikes - sick, sick, sick!

RUN (walk): 1.0 miles

Today I hit a hurdle. I did anticipate that I would be ill at some point during the year, but I hadn't banked on it being so soon.
I have a tummy bug, and I'm feeling very sorry for myself. A day off work and lots of keeping very still and not eating has not made me feel any better.
I phoned my mum at lunchtime and she offered to come over. She came round this evening and helped me drag myself out of bed and out for a walk. Running was certainly not on the cards tonight. But I couldn't bear to give up on my full challenge, so I had to do a mile no matter what.
I'm pretty disappointed that I haven't run tonight, but I still made a massive effort to go out and fulfil my commitment ,even though I felt really really dreadful. It's been probably the biggest effort I've made since I started running.
I thought the fresh air might make me feel a bit better. It didn't. Hope I feel better soon.

Here's tonight's one-mile walk :-(

Day 78: A quick lap round the block before tea

RUN: 1.8 miles

Having to squeeze in a run between work and tea at my mum and dad's tonight, I just did a quick couple of miles. It's getting dark really early now. Well it seems that way compared to the light nights I've been used to.
The clocks go back in about six weeks, so that will mean no chance of running before it gets dark during the week. The sun is setting before 7.30pm now, so the nights are certainly drawing in. It's going to be a loooong autumn/winter.

Here's my quick trip round the block

Day 77: Three run a very warm five miles

RUN: 4.9 miles

I met up with Amy and Donna for a run today. We set off at about 10.45am, and the weather was glorious. Too glorious for running, you could say.
So we headed for high ground - Otley Chevin again - to make sure we could be nearest the sun and really sweat it out - I. Was. Roasting!
Again, I didn't help myself by wearing black and not eating very healthily for the past few days.
It was warm work but it was an enjoyable run on a lovely scenic route with good company. There were plenty of people making the most of the lovely weather up on the Chevin too.
We even overtook some cyclists going uphill! Go girls!

Here's our 4.9-mile route up the Chevin and down through Guiseley.
I should also add that Donna and Amy did an extra 0.8 miles - they ran back to Donna's house but I gave up at my own front door.

Day 76: Running on a full tummy (again!)

RUN: 3.6 miles

Well, you'll never guess where I ended up today. Pizza Express! What am I thinking?!
I did opt for a salad though (which is no healthier than the pizza I had the other day, actually - it just sounds that way). We had a lovely sunny day out in Ilkley and I threw caution to the wind and thought it would be nice to eat outside and make the most of the Indian summer.
Anyway, that was all lovely, but it did not do me any favours for my run later.
I set out to do a respectable four miles (because I have a feeling I have a big run coming up tomorrow when I go running with the girls from Day 73 again).
I ended up cutting the run short by 0.4 miles. I've had quite a good run of runs recently, so I won't be too harsh on myself. I'm feeling pretty tired. I'll try to eat better, slow the pace and hopefully regain my energy levels.

Here's my run map from today

Day 75: Food 2, Will power 0

RUN: 1.0 miles

More pigging out today, I'm afraid.
Just one mile - again squeezed in between work and a social engagement - which felt like much longer. Very tiring for a tiny little run.
I had pizza for lunch and a lovely big meal for dinner made by my boyfriend Andy's mum and dad, John and Una, for the four of us plus my mum and dad. Delicious!
So rather than making amends for the excesses of yesterday I've just built on my calorie collection - worth every one. Yum yum.
Bad run tomorrow here we come...

Here's my bare-minimum one-miler from today

Day 74: Calories out, calories in

RUN: 1.3 miles

I met my friend Emma for dinner this evening at Pizza Express. Having only been able to squeeze a quick run in between work and our catch-up, I just did the short route I've been doing quite a bit lately.
According to MapMyRun I burned 134 calories.

Then, according to the Pizza Express website, I ate 1,100 calories. I'd have to run 11 miles to run that off. How depressing! Ah well, it was well worth it. Very tasty. I even had three courses.
If I eat badly or excessively, my run is invariably bad the next day. But I can't be good all the time, so I'll just take the punishment tomorrow.

Here's my dessert. And my wine (forgot to include that in the calorie count!)

Find out about my little familiar run here

Day 73: All girls together for a big Chevin trip

RUN: 7.4 miles

Yes, 7.4 miles! This evening I joined friends Donna, Amy and Zoe for a girls' run from High Royds, up Otley Chevin, over to Yeadon and back through Guiseley to Menston.

I'm always too much of a wuss to head straight up the Chevin when I'm on my own, so group enthusiasm was just what I needed. We ran 7.4 miles (have I mentioned that part?) and it wasn't even excruciatingly difficult. Well, it wasn't easy, but I didn't ever feel the overwhelming urge to stop (well, except on the first bit, the big climb up - I might make it one day).

Amy, Donna and Zoe at the top of the big hill - go girls!

So thanks to the three ladies I was shown what can be achieved. Aim big and every mile needn't be a struggle. The company and chat helped a lot, of course.

In other news, my toes and ankles are hurting a lot after tonight's run. I've got some beauty blisters from these big runs - first blisters in ages - and I'm fairly sure I'm going to be parting with my big toenail pretty soon. Yeesh!

Here's our big map and info

Day 72: Ow... my feet hurt!

RUN: 4.0 miles

My feet are very sore today. Particularly where my big toenail is on my left foot. Ouch!
Google says I'm going to get 'black toenail'. Which sounds pretty grim. Let's hope for a quick recovery.
Also my ankles have been feeling quite weak (although not when I run, funnily enough) so I might get the pink tape out again this week for a bit of support.

My boyfriend Andy was kind enough to massage my achey feet, tonight too - he's a good 'un!

Tonight I did the same four-mile run as I did the other day on my 'best-ever' run (Day 67). I didn't feel as good today, but maybe it was all in my head because I did a similar time (well, 41mins 31s - eight seconds slower than last week!) So that's definitely a favourite route.

Here's all the details for the route around Menston

Day 71: Racing myself on a little rest-day run

RUN: 1.2 miles

My legs are a little bit achey today and my toes feel kind of bruised after yesterday's 10K, but I feel quite good, considering.
So I just did a little 1.2-miler today. I tried to do it as fast as I could - although speed isn't my strong point.
I managed to shave one minute off my best time for that little route. A little bit of competition with myself will help me see improvements, I think.
There will have to be a lot of improvement before May 26, 2013 - Edinburgh Marathon day!

Here's my route and stuff from today

Day 70: Bupa Great Yorkshire Run 10K day!

RUN: 6.4 miles

Today we went to Sheffield to do the Bupa 10K - along with about 9,000 other people!
The three of us - me, my boyfriend Andy and his friend Luke - did rather well and we're all pleased with our times, I think. Andy did it in 52 mins, Luke in 55 mins and me in 1 hour 3 minutes.

Here are my official results

About half way round I realised I'd never run that far before. I've done six-mile runs before, but they've been along the canal to Saltaire and I've had a nice little rest in Roberts Park half way!

No rests today, though. Well, I stopped for about 15 seconds about 7.5km in. Ah well. There was a big hill at the end and I didn't stop on that. Hooray! It was rather a warm day, too.

This picture shows some of the little cheerleaders and spectators lending support along the route. (I took it on the go, so it's not the best photo ever!) It also shows some people running with blind partners. The man on the right of the picture was attached to another man by the wrist and they were running together. The other man was blind. Amazing.

I wish there were cheerleaders and people encouraging me along the way every time I run!

Altogether, a great day and a good run. Under an hour would have been ideal, but this was my first official 10K and I tried really hard. Plus I've got something to aim for with the next one.

This is me and Andy after the run

Here's my map and info from the Bupa Sheffield 10K. I forgot to stop my MapMyRun until I'd got right to the meeting point, so the numbers are a bit out. I'm logging 6.4 miles for this one.

Day 69: Two miles' prep for tomorrow's 10K

RUN: 2.2 miles

Well today's trip to High Royds was much, much less of a disaster than the last one (Day 66 when I got trapped in the rain with my lungs giving up on me).

Speaking of the lungs, this dreadful cold that has been threatening seems to have just disappeared. Miraculous! I have been taking Berocca vitamin tablets (none of that effervescent dissolving faff for me), and it may be a coincidence, or it may be that these little beauties (well, quite large actually) have worked a treat. It could have been messy if that chest cold had got hold of me. I had a sneak preview on Day 66 and I did not like it one bit. So I'll keep on taking the tablets I think.

So just a couple of miles ready for tomorrow. Looking forward to joining the pack for the 10K. I think. Here's hoping I cross the line in a respectable time without medical assistance!

Here's tonight's run information

Day 68: Short run and back in time for tea

RUN: 1.3 miles

I was a little short on time tonight, but it's ok because I just wanted to do a short 'rest-day' run after yesterday's efforts.
So I got tea in the oven and set off. The thought of my tea kept me going and I was back in under 13 minutes.

Here's my usual short route with today's info

Day 67: Very comfortable four miles. Hooray!

RUN: 4.0 miles

Really good run today. Best run I've ever done! A total contrast to yesterday's disaster.
Tonight my boyfriend Andy and I did the same four-mile route as on Day 57.
The weather has turned very cool today, and it made a real difference to my run.
Normally when I'm running with Andy I struggle because he has a faster pace than me (longer legs, you see) but today I kept up well, felt good, didn't stop and could have gone further. This bodes very well for the Sunday's 10K and for autumn runs (although I'm touching wood as I don't want to curse myself)
I think Andy might have slowed down a lot for me, but I'm still very pleased with the run.

Here it is... 4 miles of maps and stats

Day 66: Trapped in the rain!

RUN: 1.3 miles

Nightmare run today. The worst run I've ever done.
Again I had to run before work (starting work at 10) so another morning run (boo).
It was raining quite hard, but I picked my moment to go out when the rain died down a bit. Set out to do a 2.5 mile circuit and my lungs did not work. My back and shoulders have been aching a lot for the past couple of days - I think it's cold-related symptoms to do with my chest/lungs so I've been taking vitamins and cold and flu capsules. I was feeling better than I did last night, so I set out quite confidently, but half a mile in my lungs were not feeling good. The fact it was lashing it down also did not fill me with confidence about not catching my death. Anyway, the rain only got worse, so I cut my run short and headed back to the main road from High Royds Hospital, via the cricket pitch.
Basically, lungs got worse (felt like only the top third of my lungs was working) and the rain became torrential. I sheltered under the trees, in only a vest and capri pants freezing and with poorly lungs.
I felt so sorry for myself I took this boring video to show you the rain, but it doesn't even look that bad. You can kind of see on the last shot.

As I type this I'm watching the Paralympics. Feel a bit silly complaining about the rain now, when I have four limbs that work.

Here's my 1.3 miles that took 19 minutes!

Day 65: Thinking healthy thoughts for weekend 10K

RUN: 2.0 miles

Still not feeling fantastic today, but a bit better than yesterday. Hopefully on the mend.
I will have to be in good shape by the weekend because I'm doing a 10K on Sunday.
Me and my boyfriend Andy have signed up for the Bupa 10K in Sheffield. Our race pack - with our numbers and timing chips and stuff - came in the post today.

10K is about the furthest I've run so far, but hopefully I should be ok. I'm hoping for some cool weather/ a bit of rain. I seem to run better in the rain. As long as it's not lashing it down.

Just a couple of miles tonight because I needed to go before work. I really don't like running in the mornings, I always seem to struggle. Sunday's run starts at 10am. Looks like I'll be getting up and getting moving pretty early so it's not such a 'morning run'.

Today's map and information here

Day 64: Heading back to the hill in the rain

RUN: 3.2 miles

Today I did roughly the same route as yesterday, but the other way round.
It was far less tough today - maybe because of the shallower gradient and longer climb, or maybe it was because it was chucking it down.
I like running in the rain. It will probably be a very different story in winter, but I do get very hot. Even if my lungs feel fine and my legs feel fine, I often really want to stop just to cool down.

Route and info here

Day 63: Heading for the hills (well, just one hill)

Run: 3.0 miles

The problem with living in a valley in Yorkshire is that there are only two ways to go to try to avoid the hills. And that gets a bit boring.
So today, feeling marginally better and quite ambitious I headed for the nearest big hill because I thought I could crack it in one go. I say 'thought' because it actually took me two goes. I stopped half way up, but I'm still quite pleased with my effort... it's a very big hill for me - 200ft climb in less than a mile. One day I'll make it up to the top in one.

Here's my 'big hill' route map and info