PREPPING FOR A MARATHON

Firstly, and most importantly, was the picnic for the spectators! I made some chicken and leek mini pies.

Some apple and pork sausage rolls.

And some chocolate krispies!!

I had spent my lunch break on Thursday working out the best route around the 26.2 miles in order to see Jack as many times as possible. My mum and I were going to try and see Jack at mile 8, mile 13, mile 22 and mile 25.

Jack laid out all of his equipment ready to pack his bum-bag....
Running number
Lucozade
Energy bars
ipod
Garmin
Kit bag
Hotel directions

I pinned his number to his fluorescent top and attached the chip to his shoe, and he was ready. With a 6.15 alarm set, it was early to bed to marathon runners and spectators!

GUTTED

I am absolutely gutted to tell you all that I have had to defer my marathon place to next year.

I went to the doctor a couple of days ago, and she told me that my knee injury from a couple of weeks ago has not healed and that I cannot run for at least 6 weeks. I have an inflamed ITB, also known as RUNNER'S KNEE. I have been seeing a physio for the last four weeks and stretching morning and night. However, it seems to be worse than I first thought, and it is going to need a lot more rest. I am trying to ease it back into exercise after my last couple of runs have ended it tears, literally. 

I have been cycling most days and am getting off the tube two stops early to get an extra half hour walk in each morning. It has been very pleasant walking along the VIctoria Embankment in the sunshine.

I am so frustrated and annoyed that after all my hard work and training I am not running tomorrow. At first I thought that it was all for nothing. All the early morning training runs, all the nights out that I have left early, all the missed after-work drinks, were wasted. But now I realise that the best thing I have got out of training is that I have caught THE RUNNING BUG. I never thought I would say this, but I LOVE running. 

More importantly, when I spoke to MIND, they said that I could have a guaranteed place in the London Marathon 2012, and have everyone's kind donations saved for next year.  Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me, I really appreciate your support!

In preparation for next year's marathon, I have signed up for some 5k, 10k, half marathon races as well as a kilomathon! I will post my race dates when they are all confirmed, but I am really excited to improve my pace and endurance over the next 12 months, and hopefully run a better race next year than I would have been capable of this year. 

I am also hoping that I will be able to rope in some friends to run the marathon with me next year, or at least join me on the tow path on some cold January training runs!! Any takers?

20 MILES

Jack's guest blog post 

I had a target before the marathon of hitting the 20 mile mark at least during my training. I was getting back into training after my week in St Lucia where food and drink were my main priority as opposed to hitting the pretty hilly roads. The two running machines at the gym were broken so I was restricted to cycling 10ks everyday to keep in shape.

I chose a crisp spring morning to tackle the 20 miles and donned the gear I would be wearing on the big day. I lubed up my nipples with some vaseline, unfortunately rose coloured, to stop the chaffing that I have been experiencing on previous runs.

 I wore my Princess Alice Marathon top, a pretty garish fluorescent yellow, with my name on.

The first five miles were surprisingly hard,  my knees were throbbing. Luckily after those first challenging five, I got into my stride. I was armed with my new I pod which had some fairly questionable new tracks on but kept me going.

I had borrowed Charlie's pink bum bag for the run and stocked it with Lucozade gel,  which turns out to be one of the foulest things that I have ever tasted, but seems to do the job.After twelve miles I was keen for an energy boost so whipped out my gel and, much to the amusement of a van driver on Kew Bridge, I spat it straight out.

My split times were pretty good, with an average pace of 9.53. I am going to have to speed up on Marathon day if I am going to finish in under 4 hours.

Mile 1 - 9.18
Mile 2 - 9.31
Mile 3 - 9.45
Mile 4 - 9.54
Mile 5 - 9.48
Mile 6 - 9.37
Mile 7 - 9.35
Mile 8 - 9.32
Mile 9 - 9.37
Mile 10 - 9.25
Mile 11 - 9.22
Mile 12 - 9.38
Mile 13 - 10.06
Mile 14 - 9.50
Mile 15 - 10.11
Mile 16 - 9.51
Mile 17 - 10.06
Mile 18 - 10.29
Mile 19 - 10.52
Mile 20 - 11.18

I slowed right down towards the end, but I am hoping that the atmosphere and the crowds will help me push through on the 17th April.

GETTING BACK INTO IT

Yesterday I went for my first run since I hurt my knee. It had been about 2 weeks since my seven mile disaster run, and I have been itching to run. Worrying that everyday that I didn't run was going to make it harder when I did run.

I set out with the aim of doing 5 miles, to ease myself back in gently. I also thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try out my marathon outfit: Mind running top, sweaty betty leggings, hairband and new sweaty betty bum bag.

'All the gear and no idea'.

I started running towards Chiswick House, and ran around the grounds for about 2 miles.

It was glorious sunshine and very busy with families, dogs and Tim Vincent, ex Blue Peter presenter (crap celeb spot of the day).

I ran about 3 miles at 10.30 min pace.

My knee started to hurt a bit so I slowed right down to 12.30 min pace. I have realised that since my knee injury, my marathon pace is going to be a lot slower than I thought and hoped. Finishing is the main goal, and if I want to finish then I am just going to have to take it slow and take walking breaks when I need to.

I am also slightly worried about how many times I am going to need the loo during race day!! Probably at least once an hour!