EDF Energy Birmingham Half Marathon '08 - Race against climate change

Monday 3rd November

How fantastic was that! My first half marathon and it won’t be my last. It’s still the topic of conversation with everyone talking about it and also everyone who ran being asked if they are still aching.

It was everything I thought it would be and more. Well done Birmingham, you really did yourself proud and thank you to all the supporters that lined the streets of the route, you truly spurred me on and your support was awesome.

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Monday 20th October 2008

The count down is on! Just under 5 days to go and counting. I must say the event has come around so quickly. I feel like I have been training for a long time now, but at the same time, I don’t feel quite ready to run the race. Never having ran a half marathon before I am not sure what to expect and I am worried that I won’t be able to run the whole route, which I really want to do. I have however done my 12 week training plan and stuck to it as best as I could, so all I can do now is turn up on the day and give it my best shot.

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Monday 29th September 2008

Where has September gone, I can’t believe October is nearly here, the time seems to be flying by. I am getting a little nervous now, even though I am still training as per my schedule. I keep thinking, what if I can’t run that far on the race day? But I am sure this is just typical pre race nerves. There is so much advice being given to me about what I should wear, eat, level I should train to, it all getting’s a little confusing. I am thinking of trying to run 13 miles, 2 weeks before the race, which some say is a good idea and others are saying I should run just under.

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Monday 22nd September

Well back into the training this week after a few days out with a cold last week and back on track. It’s been a bit of a boring week really and nothing really to report. I did manage to complete the longest run I have ever run on Sunday though, which was 10 miles and I completed this in 1 hour 32 mins, which I was pleased with. I did have some problems with my knees in the last 10 mins, but I struggled through even though it was very painful and I am hoping it won’t be an issue for future long runs. It is hopefully just down to the fact my body has never ran that far before and it will eventually become easier, the more I do it. I was also a little upset this week, as since doing all this training together, Tim has lost over half a stone in weight and I have lost very little, if anything!

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Monday 15th September 2008

Well we completed our first 10k last week and I must say Tim and I were both very pleased. We both ran our personal bests and beat the goal times we had set ourselves. Tim completed the race in 44.07 minutes and I came in at 51.17 minutes, which we are both really pleased with. However, if you happen to read the local press, they are telling a different story! The Littlehampton Gazette is congratulating me for being the 2nd women over the line, at 44.07 minutes?????? It seems that Tim and I put the wrong numbers on as he wore my number and I his. We had both been sent our individual race numbers in our registration packs. However, we managed to mix them up when we opened them and had no way of knowing which number was whose. We had a guess and clearly got it wrong, hence why I am being praised for being the second women over the line with Tim’s time! Tim was not happy! But I am secretly loving the fact, that people think I was faster then him. My advice to you would be when you receive your race information pack, make sure you fill out the back of the number straightaway with your details, that way you will hopefully wear the right number on the race day!

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Monday 8th September

What a week, my hardest so far. I can honestly say I have found this week exceptionally hard going. It started while running my long run on Sunday, where I only managed to do 50 minutes, before having to stop as I felt so sick. This then happened again on last night’s run. Now I’m not sure, but I think this is due to what I have been eating and drinking before I run. As on Saturday night I had a few glasses of wine and ate quite late, meaning the next day it felt the dinner and drinks from the night before were all having a party in my stomach. So this week I am trying to concentrate more on keeping hydrated and eating the right things before I run, so I have enough energy and don’t feel dehydrated when I am running.

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Monday 1 September

So with just 8 weeks to go until the big day, the training has really stepped up a level. As well as introducing the interval training last week, we are now running longer times and distances and its killing me! I must say, I found the interval training very hard, but I do believe it will benefit me long term.

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Tuesday 26 August

Last night it was chucking it down with rain and Tim and I went out for a 40 min run, and we both loved it; I never thought I would love running in the cold and wet, but it was refreshing and actually one of the best runs I have done so far. I felt fit and my blister has really started to heel, which has made a big difference to my pace and the length of time I can run.

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Monday 18 August

I started working for EDF Energy over 6 weeks ago and have been roped into running the EDF Energy first half marathon for the team, not quite sure what I have let myself in for! But there I was last Monday, starting my 12 week training plan with my other half Tim who is also running.

We have managed to complete 5 runs already and it is all going well so far; well apart from an injury already, a nasty blister on the arch of my right foot which is making the running a little painful; battling on though with the foot strapped up.

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