The New York Marathon

I came to just ahead of the alarm and was down in the hotel lobby ready for the coach departure at 6.45. With the heavy volume of marathon traffic headed to Staten Island the journey took us just over an hour and as we motored further and further away from Manhattan the full 26.2 miles suddenly seemed very real. Last minute fears about the knee (and having to walk the majority of the distance) suddenly surged but I did a good job of blocking them out by listening to the nervous chatter and words of wisdom from the other people on the bus.

Luckily the rain had cleared overnght and left us with a cool but pleasant temperature and overcast skies. Excellent marathon weather. Exiting the bus the huge scale of the marathon instantly hit me as we joined thousands of other runners from around the world all making our way to the starting area. Alongside the multitude of Americans one guy proudly wore a shirt which said "I'm from Uruguay and I have a dream... this is it." A french guy was encassed in a miniature version of the Eiffel Tower and "Harry the German" was right up ahead.


The 40th ING New York Marathon was the largest marathon in the world ever with over 43,750 finishers. To ease congestion the organisers staggered the start with three different waves, placing runners in pens according to their estimated completion time on the application form. After some final stretching and rallying words of encouragement (and one final loo stop) M and I went our separate ways. My Garmin took ages to switch on and I began to worry that it wouldn't be ready as I crossed the start line. Irrationally I panicked that I couldn't possibly run a marathon without it but it reluctantly cranked into gear just in time. After about ten minutes of standing around everyone began walking forward towards the Verrazano bridge. As we turned the final corner before the race began open top buses were blaring out New York themed songs and already policemen and security guards were shouting my name and words of encouragement.

And so it began. Being positioned at the back of the second wave I didn't have any problems with congestion but as the runners spaced out and I reached the middle section of the massive 1.5 mile long bridge with views of New York spread out wide in front of me I suddenly felt a little overwhelmed. It wasn't until I had successfully navigated the steep downhill section of the bridge and crossed into Brooklyn at around the two mile mark that I began to feel much more comfortable. One of the very first people in the roadside crowd shouted my name and as the street closed in and the supporters swelled I settled into my stride.


At the 5k mark I was averaging an 11 minute mile - slower than I had planned, but my confidence was growing, the knee was holding up and so I started to crank up the pace. The fourth avenue was possibly the best section of the entire marathon for me. Each mile got a little bit quicker, I felt fresh and the energy of the crowd was really spurring me on. Suddenly I was at the half way point and back up to a 10 minute mile. I really wanted to etch on my memory every step, every supporter, every banner, all 128 bands who lined the route, the groups of firemen and policemen and church groups and charity supporters but there were so many other things to concentrate on too - and at that precise moment in time it was finding the nearest roadside facility.

Getting going again was a struggle and the next mile took me over the Queensborough bridge and into Manhattan. People were beginning to flag. Seeing fully grown men and women wretching their guts up and stretching out on the floor to stretch their cramping mescles was unnerving but I still felt like there was plenty of gas in the tank so I tried to get my keep down and plough on through. Turning the corner to see First Avenue stretched out in front of me (all 4 miles of it) New York came into full view.


Over the next seven miles I had a couple of gels, a couple of Ibuprofen and plenty of water and passed through the Bronx and over the last bridge back into Harlem. One banner made me smile - "If you're hurting now it's because your kicking ass!" I knew the last 5 miles were going to be tough but I was unprepared that the final three would be the hardest, mentally, I've ever run. The hills, surprisingly, weren't the issue but I swear the mile markers were getting further apart. Entering Central Park was fantastic and I knew I was in the home straight but then coming back out again to run the outside perimetre up to Columbus Circle threw me off and I had a bit of a melt down. The supporters were four or five deep and the cheering was almost hysterical as people screamed "You got this Rosanne", "You own it!" The race photograhers were everywhere and the runners were crowded but suddenly I had just had to stop running and take some time out. As I slowed to a walk people shouted louder for me to "Finish strong" I started running again but I think I'd well and truly hit the wall. There was less than half a mile to go - I should have been flying.



Luckily a guy came up behind me just as we were about to re-enter the Park, slapped me on the back and said "Lets go!" That was it. I was back in my groove. I kept pace with him for about half the way but let him sprint off for the final .2. Crossing the finish was brilliant and also slightly surreal. As I was herded through and given my medal... I stopped for a photo. Not having to run anymore felt strange. I'd had waves of every kind of emotion on the way round but now I felt a bit numb. It was a mixture of relief, joy, fatigue and nostalgia. But underlying it all was a sense of satisfaction - I'd done it and done it well. Walking through the finishers area and back to the hotel was in a daze and it wasn't really until the next day that I felt able to really get excited about and enjoy my success.

Apart from having my family there to celebrate with I wouldn't change a thing. Running a marathon has given me so much more than a medal and respectable finishing time (I crossed the line in 04.33.22) I've genuinely enjoyed every minute of it. I carried the words and images of so many people along the course. I listened to everyone who told me to run harder, run faster, take it easy, stop, keep going, stride out, drink more, keep calm, suck it up, enjoy it, use it, smile. To all the people who sent me messages and called me, texted me, sponsored me, told their friends about me and listened for hours as I obsessed over injuries, routes, pace, blisters,what type of energy gels were best and what I could be doing differently - thank you. To all the people who joined me on the training runs or offered to cycle, walk or meet me at the finish - you were fantastic. I couldn't have done it without each and every one of you.

Arriving in the Big Apple

It's already been a week since I ran the New York marathon (yes I am now an official marathoner - hooray!) but I think that it will stand out as one of the best days ever for a long long time to come. M and I landed at JFK on the Friday before and from the get go the buzz surrounding the marathon was palpable. We checked in to our hotel, dumped our bags and headed straight to the Expo. Our excitement built as a steady stream of runners with their marathon bags kept passing us on our way. Registration was much easier than I had anticipated and once we had collected our race numbers and timing tags we were free to browse the array of stalls with ING branded running gear and accessories galore. Having sung the praises of The Stick throughout the training, M was excited to find a stand dedicated to the device and bought a slightly shorter and stiffer version of the one I have had on loan. The best thing about the Expo was the massive map which showed the route and how the course takes in the five main boroughs of New York City. Beginning on Staten Island, the race starts out with a 1.5 miles bridge crossing (the first of four) before taking in Brooklyn, then Queens, heading on to Manhattan at about mile 16 before nipping over to The Bronx and then using the fourth bridge to re-enter Manhattan in order to finish up in Central Park.


The following day we decided to loosen our legs with a 3 miler round Central Park, taking in the marathon finish line and trialing my ITB strap for the first time. It was raining and everywhere there were joggers of all nationalities taking their last run ahead of the big one. Despite being slow and slightly achy (these were my first post Cabbage Patch injury miles) it was a great feeling to be running again and the Central Park backdrop was very cool. What was not so cool was the stiff knee that developed less than an hour after the run. I was nervous about my ability to go the distance the following day without significant pain but luckily too excited to let it worry me much. I already knew that it was going to be an awesome day regardless of whether I had to run, walk or crawl round the course.


On Saturday evening we layered up against the rain and took the metro down to Brooklyn to meet up with some of M's family for a really decent pasta dinner and slice of Haloween inspired pumpkin pie. We found a lovely french bakery and bought some croissants for breakfast plus we stocked up on water and bananas to see us through to the start line. Once back at the hotel we spent the time before bed laying out all our gear and attaching our names and numbers to the front of our tops. Knowing I was staring pain in the face I calculated the maximum Ibruprofen it would be safe to consumer within a 24 hour period and then stuffed my running pouch full of the anti inflammatories, vaseline, gels and dextro energy tablets. Having been warned of the long wait at the start line in the cold early hours, and looking out of the window at the pouring rain, we lined up our additional clothing (which would need to be discarded on the roadside) and packed our last minute poncho purchases into the regulation see-through marathon bag.

With the clocks going back an hour that night (daylight saving) and feeling pretty content I settled down for a solid 7 hours of kip ahead of the 6.45 bus pickup from outside the hotel lobby.

It's The Final Countdown

Excited is an understatement as there are now only four days to go until the New York marathon. I leave on Friday and barring one very gentle jog to loosen up the legs upon arriving in the Big Apple, I've got just 26.2 miles left in my marathon journey.

I found this video of the course a few months ago on YouTube and thought I'd share it here.



My running number is 28654 and i'm starting in the blue section of the second wave at 10.00. If you want to follow my progress via email on the day you can sign up for runner alerts here.

Ready, set go... i'll see you on the other side.

Week 15 - Home Stretch

Considering I haven't run a single mile this week there's a lot to report. The knee wasn't feeling any better by Tuesday and I was beginning to panic so I booked an appointment with a physiotherapist to chat aches and pains. My hope was that they would confirm it was indeed ITB (not something more serious) and recommend the best possible stretches and exercises to relieve the symptoms and strengthen the muscles connecting the band.

After much discussion, poking, prodding and hopping on the offending leg the conclusion was reached that it was indeed an IT Band problem. The physio was cheerful enough and didn't seem to think it was too serious. She gave me a number of things to focus on (see below) and didn't tell me I couldn't run the marathon, just that I should take it easy and listen to my body. She ended the session with a bit of massage and I left the surgery feeling much more positive and virtually pain free.



Earlier in the day a friend had suggested I give Hot Bikram Yoga a whirl and having just been told by the physio I was pretty tight through my calves and hamstrings I decided now was as good as any time to give it a go. That evening I drove over to Fulham, met up with two girls I used to go to school with and signed up for my first class. HBY is the latest trend sweeping London and with a special offer of £10 for an unlimited 10 day pass the centre was ramos. In fact the first challenge was finding enough space on the floor to lay down your mat and strech out straight.

Bikram Yoga consists of a series of 26 postures, carried out in a room heated to approximately 40 degrees centigrade. I love the heat so wasn't worried about how I would handle that but I wasn't at all prepared for sharing my personal space with so many dripping wet strangers - enduring a foot in the mouth and some betty swallocks right up my nose was not very pleasant. The class lasted 90 minutes and afterwards I felt very loose and relaxed but despite all that I won't be rushing back as it just wasn't really my cup of tea.

For the rest of the week the knee kept stiffening up and then easing off again. Sometimes it felt great and other times pretty painful but it's definitely a lot better than either Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. I kept to my early decision that I wouldn't try to run on it until at least the end of the week and distracted myself with a bit of retail therapy. Firstly I purchased a strap which applies pressure to the area on the outside of the knee and works by shortening the band and relieving the friction of it rubbing against the bone. It's not too scary looking and reports from marathon running ITB sufferers are encouraging. It won't treat the cause, only the symptoms but anything to help me cover off those 26.2 miles is very welcome.




Next up was the all important New York Marathon top. I know it's advisable to train in the clothes you intend to wear on marathon day but my current tops aren't working out too well and i'm getting a lot of rubbing, so figured it couldn't get any worse. In the end I went for a purple racing back sports top from Nike which is breathable and has integrated support. Ideal - now all I need to figure out is how to get my name and number on there and i'm good to go.



All things considered I've managed to remain reasonably calm. I'm reassured that I got all of my long runs done and dusted before hurting my knee and so my fitness and endurances level are where they should be. Friends and family have been supportive and I've had all kinds of brilliant recommendations to put me back on the road to recovery. In the end I didn't risk running at all this week - suffering pain on a short run would shatter my blissful ignorance and, whatever happens, I will be lining up at the start in New York next Sunday. It's at this point in time that I am thankful (again) for the Non Runner's Marathon Guide which told me from the outset not to set a time goal. I listened and it's been my saviour because as long as I cross the finish line in New York (and run as much as I am physically able) I will have achieved my main objective. One thing is for certain... you can be sure that I'll have as much fun as possible along the way.

Week 14 - Transferral of Pain

It was Wednesday before I hit the streets again after my sixteen mile Sunday run. My 'race pace' had left me slightly stiffer than usual but otherwise I felt fairly good... or so I thought. Come Wednesday I set for the usual 5 miles but it seemed like someone had attached a concrete breezeblock to the underside of each of my trainers. The first 3 miles were some of the toughest yet which was frustrating because at this stage of the game they should be easy. Thankfully the weight in my legs just seemed to melt away after 3 and a half miles and I finished up ok.

I planned an easy 8 miles for Friday evening and that's what I got, it was the usual riverside route with Wes but we started off with a lap round the park which made it feel a bit fresher. With just over two weeks to go I figured the less eventful the remaining runs the better. So I just had one more run to do - a 10 mile race around Twickenham on the Sunday.

With a much more leisurely start time of 10am I rocked up to The Cabbage Patch pub at 09.30 and spent the final minutes ahead of the start in a seriously long queue for the loo - another good preparation measure for New York. With time to spare I lined up with about 1500 others and waited for the gun. The atmosphere was very friendly and there were groups of runners from various clubs in and around London all chatting away. The route meandered around Twickenham and then followed the Thames down to Kingston before turning back and hugging the other side of the river back to the start. Once again I started off fast but was genuinely surprised when my first mile came in at just under 8 and a half minutes... way too fast. I slowed up and let hundreds of runners pass me by.

As I settled back to a much more manageable 09.30 pace I was enjoying the run and was thinking about how I really want to keep up the regular running after New York. And then something pretty unusual began, I felt a niggle in my right knee. Employing the Non Marathon Runners Guide technique of 'but it doesn't matter' I carried on but it wouldn't go away. And then it got worse. And it got more painful. I began to worry, enough to slow to a walk. In Kingston I felt like I was bringing up the rear and The Cabbage Patch 10 was no different, especially when I slowed down, but as I limped along hundreds more people passed me by. Many of them shouted words of encouragement to get me going again. I tried a couple of times to break back into a jog but this was a pain like I hadn't felt before and a 10 mile Twickenham race was not the event to jeopardise my plans for New York.

To cut a rather long and boring story short I spent the remaining 3.5 miles walking (interspersed with a few short trots) and managed to lurch over the finish line in a blur of snot and tears. Nice. It was frustration and worry more than anything else. I queued to see the physio but it was really long and I was getting cold so I opted for a KFC, a Yorkie Bar and a shower when I got home. I rested up for the remainder of the day and stretched and massaged my legs with The Stick.

The Cabbage Patch Finish Line

It's Monday today and I'm still in quite a bit of discomfort. It's the outside of my right knee (not an previously troublesome area - but then again I've had a new pain nearly every week) and it bloomin' hurts when I extend it and bend it. I'm pretty sure it's a mild (fingers crossed) case of runners knee - similar to the niggle in my left knee I experienced back in Week 3. I'm confident that if I rest it (i'm not going to try running again until the end of Week 15), ice it, talk to it and play it some Jack Johnson it will respond favourably and make a full recovery. I haven't really thought about the alternatives. There were some worried looking faces when I hobbled into the office but hey - a little drama is always entertaining right?!?

Week 13 - The Breakfast Run

By the time the first outing of Week 13 came around the running blues were firmly behind me. Even torrential rain couldn't put me off my mid week 5 miler and dodging the puddles and central London traffic splashback was both entertaining and a refreshing change from the outings in the milder weather. I managed to shake off my sore right hip and achey left knee after a couple of miles and surprised myself with a speedy sprint section past the Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park on the home straight. I'm almost certain this is the fittest I've ever been.

Week 13 is the last of the BIG weeks and Sunday's 16 miler was the final hurdle before I officially entered the taper period. Brilliant. Very early on after deciding to train for the marathon I signed up to the Kingston Breakfast Run on 11 October. At the time is seemed so far away and the thought of running even 6 miles, let alone 16, brought me out in a cold sweat. Who would have thought that less than four months later I would be viewing a 16 mile run as middle distance!!!

With the exception of the three early summer 5k fun runs, which I did before my training programme proper even started, I haven't entered a single race. All of my training has been done alone or with one or two other people. The multitude of logistical complications that come with running an organised route alongside 41,999 other people haven't really crossed my mind up until now but three weeks before New York seemed like a pretty good time to try distance running in a pack. How would I handle the intial jostle over the start line, would I manage to negotiate the water stations with any success and how would I cope with having to turn up on time?!?

I didn't exactly spring out of bed when the 5.45 alarm call went off and as I ushered my two running buddies into the car the drizzle began. Navigting my way around Kingston Town and to the start line tested my mental agility pre 7am. The 16 mile (mainly flat) route involved two laps around the town centre, along the tow path by the river and on the surrounding roads. Huddling in a shop doorway sheltering from the drizzle I didn't feel much like a committed runner as all the seasoned pros (and lets be honest who else would turn up pre 8am on a cold wet Sunday to run 16 miles around... Kingston) did a very lively warm up lap around the block or strutted around in their de rigueur bin bags, keeping out the wind and rain. An event photographer commented that we looked like rather unwilling participants and when I mentioned we were running a marathon in three weeks time he looked visibly shocked - a now familiar reaction. The gun went off and so we left safety of the doorway and crossed the mat to activate our timing chip.


Bos was serious and had started up front (elbows out) so I knew I wouldn't see her until the finish line but M and I had settled for a more leisurely back of the pack position. My aim was to get round in just under 2hours 40 minutes (10 minute miles). The gang mentality at the start line swept me up and I immediately knew I'd set off fast so I wasn't surprised when my first mile came in well under 9 minutes, but what I was concerned about was running out of steam too early on. The second and third miles I slowed off a bit and felt more comfortable as the other runners really helped to keep my rhythm. After about the 5 mile mark I was still feeling strong and so I began to overtake a few of the people in front of me.

I crossed the half way stage in just under an hour and a quarter and felt confident I could achieve a little bit faster than my original target. After taking an Ibuprofen fix, chewing on a Dextrose energy tablet (my preferred alternative to Jelly Babies) and mastering a gel on the go I settled into the final six miles in a positive frame of mind. Waiting until the sixteenth mile before activating the turbo booster I sprung over the finishing line with a massive grin on my face in under two and half hours. Despite the early morning start and foul weather, once the race was underway I enjoyed myself a lot and began to imagine how amazing the atmosphere on Nov 1 is going to be. Up until now I haven't really thought about the actual day itself in too much detail but my mind is beginning to wander... and it's exciting.

So the last long run is done and dusted and I'm officially entering into the taper phase. Over the next three weeks I decrease the mileage to fine tune my body ahead of the big day. The long runs have enabled me to experiment with drinks and gels and to practice focusing the mind on the task in hand. I'm raring to go and worried that the taper phase is going to have a negative impact on my fitness and make me feel sluggish but all my research reassures me these fears are both natural but also unfounded.

The Race Stats:

Distance = 16 miles
Time = 2 hours 27 minutes and 30 seconds
Average Pace = 9 minutes and 13 seconds per mile
Booty = One medal, lots of Lucozade Sport and some grim Power bar thingy
PLUS The Glory

Lessons Learned:

Don't get stuck in a running rhythm anywhere near a heavy breather - they are freaky and annoying
Running harder hurts more but I can do it and I need to stop being lazy
Stretching and obsessive use of The Stick go a LONG way to post race recovery
Carbohydrates come in forms other than pasta - I need to find out what other forms and start consuming them because mixing up the shapes isn't making it any more interesting

Week 12 - 200 miles and counting

So I was going to devote part of this week's post to my running blues. After the high of Week 11 (which was always going to be unsustainable for the next month) I was floating around in a haze of self confidence before coming back down to earth with a bump on Wednesday with a slow, slightly sore and generally dull 5 miles around the bridges. Week 11 had been the best week of the training so far but at the start of Week 12 I felt like running was becoming a chore and yet I still had another three weeks of high mileage ahead of me.

Researching an appropriate image to capture this mood effectively on the blog I typed 'depressed runner' into Google and what should pop up on the front page but a picture of the delectable David Beckham! I kid you not - any doubters (read David Beckham fans) try it for yourself. That was reason enough to lift my mood and then, after chatting with a few people about my Week 12 downer, it dawned on me that I'm actually pretty lucky. Week 12 of 16 is not a bad point in the schedule to encounter your first 'i'm over it' vibes, in fact the Non Runner's Marathon Guide predicted I would have hit 'the emotional plateau' a good couple of weeks earlier... So the first 5 miles of the week were a struggle, and maybe I didn't quite make the full 8 miles of the medium run... and ok so I might have missed out the second 5 mile run of the week but once I'd kicked the 21 miler into touch it was all downhill (in mileage terms) until the big day.

But back to earlier in the week. Having got two long runs under the belt I had a better idea of what to expect for the coming Sunday and so for the first time I was not only apprehensive but also had a feeling that I just wanted to get it over and done with. Not ideal. Training for a marathon has made me fitter, stronger and generally more positive (not to mention all the mini highs along the way) but this week I felt a bit obsessed with running, bugged by muscle pain, tired and bored with pounding the pavements on my own. I still hadn't shaken off the running blues by Sunday morning and was unconvinced about my ability to complete the 21 miles even on my drive to Richmond.

Three laps of the Park meant three lots of seven miles (more manageable mentally) and two stops for water, gels, painkillers and any other necessary paramedic assistance. I took a deep breath and got going. The serious runners were out in force, sinking gels like tequila shots and I swear at least one of them lapped me. The shuffle battery life was going to be tested to the limit. On the third lap I had to remind myself that running a marathon isn't supposed to be easy and just because I felt a bit like giving up didn't mean I should. A worrying niggle in the top of my right thigh gave me reason enough to walk the hills (up and down) on the last lap but I still managed to finish with a strong last mile. Chalking up the 21 miles didn't give me the sense of satisfaction that I got from ticking off the 19 miles or the 16 miles. I just felt a bit numb - probably the four Ibuprofen.

The Non Runner's Guide really has been invaluable in the training. I've known what to expect and it usually been spot on and it has also reassured me that what I am feeling is completely normal. It's made me look back to all of the reasons I chose to run a marathon in the first place and forced me to acknowledge just how far i've come in the past five months (about two hundred and something miles so far). I'm swinging back into the happy camp for Week 13 when I'm going to turn my attention to the most important aspect of the pre marathon preparation... what to wear!

The Long Run
Distance: 21.01 miles
Time: 3 hours 31 minutes 27 seconds
Average Pace: 10 minutes 04 seconds per mile
Calories Burned: 2313

Lessons Learned
Tropical flavour SIS gels taste great but Apple flavoured caffine infused ones sound even more up my street
The last 5 miles of the marathon are going to be tough as hell
Too much marathon chat can send people to sleep

Week 11 - Movin' on Up

Five weeks to go. Eeeeeek. I can't believe it's coming round so quickly. Training went pretty well this week - I put in my fastest time over 5 miles which I was quite chuffed about. The mid week 8 miler was also a good run - down to the Houses of Parliament, over the Thames and back up to Battersea Park. I managed to miscalculate the distance which resulted in me doing three laps past the front door to make up the final mile but other than that it was pretty standard issue. London definitely has an autumnal feel about it now and the evenings are drawing in which means that by the time i'm home from my evening runs it's usually dark. One of the reasons I chose to run the New York marathon was the propsect of summer training - I'm a fairweather sports enthusiast, that's for sure.

The long one this week was scheduled for 18 miles. I had a three day weekend at home booked from way back and so my plan was to run the Camel Trail, a beautiful former railway which connects Bodmin to Padstow. In total the trail is 17 miles long. Looking at the map I decided to run from Nanstallon to Padstow (9.7 miles) and back again. The only problem was not having access to the car along the way and not passing anywhere to get a refil on the water. Thankfully my mum agreed to meet me at various points along the way in the car to make sure I was ok and hand out the supplies. I started out slightly later than I would have liked at 10am and the first 4 miles (usually my worst) passed pretty quickly.

It was sunny and still and the Camel River looked beautiful. Passing through Wadebridge and on towards the mouth of the esturay the views were stunning and you could see for miles. I cycled along the Camel Trail loads of times as a child but haven't done it in at least 10 years. The scenery, combined with dodging death by out of control cyclists, really kept my mind off getting tired.

Having met me in Wadebridge after just 4 miles Mum had jumped in the car and driven round to Padstow, the halfway point. As I rolled up to the jetty, where she was reading a magazine in the sun, my legs felt good but my right shoulder was in agony. I think I must be tensing my neck and shoulders whilst running, or maybe it has something to do with carrying a water bottle in the left hand. No idea but it was killing. My support crew administered 2 Ibuprofen and a refil of water and although what I really wanted to do was hang around for some Rick Stein Fish & Chips in a poncy box I promptly turned around to retrace my steps back to the original starting point.

Miles 13 - 15 were hard but after the third sighting of Mum, another water refil and my first sports gel (blackcurrent falvour (grim) but not as bad as the rumours made out) I was back on the road and ready for a sprint finish. Well almost. I was genuinely surprised at my stamina, perhaps it was down to the location, perhaps it was down to having my mum support me at regular intervals along the way or maybe it was down to my three helpings of all-you-can-eat party buffet at my friend's father's birthday party the night before. Any which way it was a genuine shock and for the first time the 26.2 mile distance felt really within reach. As the Garmin beeped to let me know I'd hit the 18 mile mark I pushed on through and ran almost back to the car, stopping just shy to walk the last half a mile with mum.

As the weekly mileage continues to tick up at a knee-shattering pace i'm focusing more on the nutrition. More than one person has told me it is key to success (er - what about the running?). Having stomached the energy gel on this week's long run I've stocked up on more and also (as recommedned by a friend who's just done The Great North Run) bought myself a book called Go Faster Foods.

I also bought myself a guidebook on New York. Woo Hoo!

Week 10 - A marathon is a long way

Getting back on track has been a struggle. It was only really after the long run on Sunday that I felt reassured I was making any progress. The mid week 8 miler was slowly slowly and my achey legs during the final mile got me worried. It was the furthest my flatmate has ever run so he was pretty chuffed but other than that it was just a few more miles in the bank to cash out on race day.

In the final few weeks until the marathon my life is dominated by running and I pretty much spent most of Saturday resting up ahead of the long one. I drank my own bodyweight in Evian and tried to eat sensibly (triple chocolate chip cookies and sausage and egg mcmuffin aside). I got a solid 8 hours sleep and reached Richmond Park just after 8am on Sunday morning.

Having not done a long run for a fortnight I was reasonably nervous... 16 miles sounds so much longer than 14. I've got just 3 more long runs before New York but right now they seem like mountains to climb. The new trainers were slightly broken in and ready for action and I had decided to experiment with Jelly Babies as incentivisation tools. A long time ago my friend, who has run both the New York and London marathons told me that these little sugar packed critters were the key to her success. After a certain point she would reward herself with one at every mile. Worth a shot I thought.

I set off in the usual direction and the first lap was fairly uneventful. During the long runs I have been listening to the iPod and trying to think of lots of other things besides running. The Non-Runners Guide to Marathon training has been giving me lots of tips to improve my concentration and also positive self talk to help me through the tough points. So far it has worked pretty well and I've not had to have a walking break or suffered a real sense that I just can't carry on since that first 10 miler in Week 5.

Whenever I run on my own I listen to my iPod. The book suggests that I don't but, for me, the dulcet tones of chris martin, britney speares, michael jackson and MC Hammer (don't judge me) are very motivational. I don't use it when out with others or in races but on a long training run, on my own, it definitely helps. At first I filled my iPod with fast beat, loud and pumping dance music to push me round those 3, 4 and 5 milers. Now i'm on the longer runs I prefer to mix it up more. I'm sure there's some scientific research out there that matches up your ideal bmp to deliver peak pace performance but right now i'm just happy to sing along with with the opening line of Castles in The Sky which goes like this. "Do you ever question your life... Do you ever wonder why?" Around the 12 mile mark and having not partied properly for a good month and a bit YES I DO.


So back to the Jelly Baby experiment... The first problem was how to transport them. Once that was overcome (wrapped in foil in my back pocket) the second problem was removing them, unwrapping them, consuming one, wrapping the remainders back up and replacing them. You'd have thought that 10 minute miles would be long enough to effect this series of manoeuvres but as I have all the awkardness of a new born giraffe on a trampoline in an earthquake it proved troublesome. The third and final problem was that after going to all this effort I realised that I don't actually like Jelly Babies and therefore their use as an incentivisation tool is altogether redundant! Rubbish. Next week I will experiment with the dreaded gels!

I'm lucky that training is still a novelty. I think your first marathon is always going to be the most fun to train for. Each long distance is further than you've ever run before, you don't have any existing times to measure yourself against and each week you feel you've made a decent amount of progress. Plus you get to experiement with what works best for you in terms of incentives, nutrition, hydration and so on. Blissful ignorance is more often than not a good thing in my opinion. Chatting on email to an experienced marathon runner he decribed his training as 'a series of disappointments interspersed with a few highs" but at the moment I can confidently say my training is the reverse.

Week 9 - Muy Bien

Week 9 was virtually run free. Despite my best intentions I didn't manage to cover off any miles in Barcelona. I probably walked about a 1000 ks but not really sure it counts.

I arrived back in London on Monday racked with guilt and vague concerns that I may not be physically able to run at all. I started off with the grand idea of running 16miles but ended up calling it a day after only 7. Richmond Park was eerily empty on Monday afternoon and for the first time since I began training I felt vaguely scared about being out on my Hans Solo.

The most important point of note is that the new trainers are very comfy didn't aggravate the blisters at all. Muy bien. Need to seriously crank it in Week 10.

Week 8 - No sweat (well less)

Week 8 was an eventful week - edited highlights include the discovery of a miracle prevention from further blisters in the form of zinc oxide tape, a new pair of Asics trainers, a couple of important additions to the running playlist and some good friends accompanying me along the way.

With the ongoing blister saga, which to be honest is becoming rather dull, I decided to investigate treatment options. Besdies a new pair of trainers I have tried Compeeds, vaseline, regular plasters, dual layer socks and bandaging them but nothing really seems to do the trick. My work buddy Bos has a friend in the Army who lent her some zinc oxide tape and she recommended giving it a go. It is white, super sticky and works a treat. It has revolutionised my running. Hoo Bloody Rah Ray! Looking like a foot extra for the Return of the Mummy I headed out on my mid week runs round the bridges with my flatmate in tow. We were both feeling a bit out of sorts on the short run and struggled to finish the 5 miles we had planned. The medium length run was much more successful and the ever-entertaining banter from Wes made the miles fly past. Having him carry my Zade is quite helpful also.

By the weekend it was time to go shopping. Now is probably not the best time to admit that the trainers I have been running in are almost two years old, have been used primarily for the gym and netball and I only got them because they were a nice colur and half price in Lilywhites. Sensible - I know. So it was with some nervousness I stepped inside a specialist running shop in Clapham Old Town to seek the advice of the experts and subject myself to embarrassment of video gait analysis on the treadmill in order to determine my form. The guys in the store were really helpful and as I suspected I have quite a neutral running style which means I don't need too much support in my shoe. So then it was down to style and comfort. One near death experience on the treadmill later - I'm petrified of them and when the guy hit stop I promptly shot off the back and smacked into the wall (Smooth)- I was ready to commit. Being Cornish has its advantages and in this instance it was a 10% discount and a free pair of socks!(the owner of the store is also from the motherland). Either that or he just felt super embarrassed on my behalf over the teadmill incident. Anyway here are the shoes that will hopefully carry me across the finish line in NYC.


One of the consequences of marathon training is less partying and that has meant bulk movie watching in recent weeks. I've seen some great ones with some pretty cool soundtracks and so there are a few additions to the running playlist on the wonderous shuffle. The latest is by The Temper Trap entitled Sweet Disposition and featured in 500 days of Summer.

By the weekend I was ready for the 14 miles. My NY marathon running buddy was over from Brussels for the weekend and this was going to be our first training run together. We got up early, headed over to Richmond Park and set off for two laps at a reasonable pace. I always get a bit nervous when running with someone new. What happens if they are too fast for me or worse still, they slow down to my pace and spend the whole run wishing they were going faster. Luckily she and I seem reasonably well matched and I really enjoyed running with her. We struck the right balance between chatting and focusing. The miles really did melt away, I felt strong on the hills and I genuinely enjoyed our two hours out in the sunshine.



I'm taking a bit of a break this week. Not ideal but work is off the hook and i'm off to Barceolna for a few days. Hoping to fit in a medium run round the city but we'll see. Not feeling too guilty right now but I'll update you next week.

The Long Run
Distance: 14 miles
Time: 2 hours 17 minutes 41 seconds
Average Pace: 9 minutes and 50 seconds per mile

Lessons Learned:
Treadmills are dangerous and should be avoided at all costs
Not everyone is as interested in my blisters as me

Week 7 - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

As I sat down to tap out my latest update Daft Punk came on the radio and I couldn't think of a better title for this week's post. It's been another good week only slightly hampered by those ongoing pesky blisters.

The particular highlight was my first 4 mile run of the week. My flatmate joined me for only the second time since I began my training. The first time was about a month ago where he pulled me round Battersea Park and made me work hard. Fastforward to last Tuesday and it was a different story. Not only had we knocked off 4 minutes from our previous jaunt I was the one dragging him around. Admittedly he has done very little, if any, running between our outings but it still felt good to hear him cursing under his breath, constantly asking how far we had left to go and out-sprinting him to the finish line.

Obviously not to be outdone by a girl he joined me again for a mid week six miler and was back on form although we were pretty evenly matched and maintained the 9 minute mile pace of a couple of days before. The fourth mile was tough as the blister on my right foot reminded me it was still around. By the time I got home it was a bit of a mess, so much so that I had to abandon the third run of the week less than a mile in. I walked for a couple of miles but decided to rest up ahead of the long one.

I'm still wedded to Richmond Park for the longer runs and with temperatures forecast to hit 26 degrees I got up early to avoid the real heat. Luckily at 8am is was overcast, slightly drizzly with a nice cool breeze. Needing to work off the mahoosive plate of pasta from the night before I decided to aim for 14 miles this week. The schedule calls for only 12 but having missed a few of the mid week runs and with a holiday on the way I just wanted to bank that extra couple whilst I still have the enthusiam and strength. It was a bit quieter than the last two Sundays and as I settled into the first mile the blisters weren't feeling too bad. I was really positive about doing the whole 14 miles and no part of me seemed to disagree at any point which made for the easiest and most enjoyable long run so far.

I actually felt strong right up until the final mile... which seemed to go on forever. The multitude of hot topless men striding around the park helped to keep my spirits up as well. Ha! To date I've only braved a smile and nod or maybe a quick hello but think I am going to aim for the odd high five before training is out. So I felt pretty good when I finished and without the addition of a Bodypump session I was far far less achey than the week before. The blisters coninue to grow and i'm really going to have to look into maybe a new pair of trainers (definitely time anyways) as well as some better preventitive measures.

The stick continues to work wonders, I haven't yet tired of the Raspberry flavoured Lucozade Sport, I'm taking Glucosamine Sulphate tablets, drinking bucket loads of water and trying to eat more healthily. Did I mention I've lost 7lbs... 'bout frigging time. Hoorah!

The Medium Run
Distance: 6.54 miles
Time: 59minutes and 49 seconds
Average Pace: 9minutes and 9seconds per mile
Calories burnt: 725
Lessons learned: Boys will only let you beat them once in their lifetime

Week 6 - Pain in the Ass

Not a very elegant title to this week's post but appropriate nonetheless. The Monday after my long run I definitely had some aches and pains in my thighs and the top of my hamstrings. My training manual says that now i'm into double figures I should try to take the day off from running before and after - so Monday I put my feet up.

By Tuesday I was feeling pretty much back to normal but the blisters were still looking pretty angry. I strapped them up with some Compeeds and set off for 4 miles round the bridges. I had a great run and stormed home in under 37 minutes and 4 seconds - which is one of my fastest solo runs. The only slight hiccup was that about half way through I managed to rip off the skin across the entire blister on the back of my right heel. Grim Reaper.

So despite feeling the fittest and most positive I have since I began my training I was confined to four rest days in a row. I braved iodine tincture (thanks Grannie) which definitely sped up the process and at 92 pence a bottle was an absolute steal. I had to forego a planned 10k around Regents Park on Thursday evening as it just wasn't healed enough to risk missing the weekend run. On Saturday I decided to fit in a session of Bodypump in an attempt to make up for dodging the midweek runs which made me feel a bit better. But come Sunday I was raring to do my long run (who would have thought it).

This time I was better prepared. I made sure to drink loads of water over the weekend. I charged up the new iPod shuffle. I strapped up the blisters and went back to my usual socks. A return to Richmond Park seemed like the most appealing option so I got up early and arrived at the park before 9am. Despite this it was already scorchio. I set off from the same starting point but decided to run in the opposite direction in an attempt to knock out some of those troublesome hills. Screw dominating them. I started off slow and like before I found the miles between 2 and 5 the hardest. However this time I knew I could go the distance, I had an iPod with a decent battery and was a lot fresher from my four days off. So much so that pretty early on I decided I was going to run an extra mile and shoot for 12 instead of the scheduled 11.

By the time I got to 6 I was feeling pretty happy and it was a whole different story from the week before. Running anticlockwise round the park was admittedly a bit easier than the alternative but the run just remphasised how much of this is about mind over matter. Miles 10 to 12 were hard and I felt my form disintergrate. In total it took me just over 2 hours. No prizes for speed but a definite tick in the box for endurance. Grrrrrrrrrr.

So at the end of Week 6 I felt a mixture of achievement and disappointment. I really wanted to get a full house of four solid runs which I didn't manage but then again the long run felt very comfortable and the thought of running twice that distance didn't totally freak me out. Although I felt sore at the end of the run I wasn't compeltely exhausted. I stretched and stretched and stretched, I attacked myself with the stick, I also took a couple of Ibuprofen and got a reasonably early night. Fast forward 8 hours and I sprung out of bed with the elegance and grace of a 95 year old. Can't wait to feel the burn the day after 26.2 miles. Seriously... I forsee a world of pain coming my way over the next 10 weeks but somehow it all seems totally worth it. I've surprised myself with how much I'm loving the running.

Bring on Week 7.

Week 5 - Eat It!

August is my least favourite month to be in London. I'd rather be anywhere than stuck in the office with all the traffic and people roaring around on the street below. Unfortunately almost everyone else in my office is actually somewhere else so Week 5 didn't get off to a very fast start. In fact, due to a variety of factors, my first run of the week didn't happen until Friday - whoops!

On Friday I decided to hook up the heart monitor for the first time to see how much of my 'i'm about to die' feelings are all really just in the mind. All I had to do was strap it on and turn on the watch. I haven't quite worked out how to accurately calculate my maximum heartrate and therefore what my appropriate training intensity should be in terms of bpm. Historically Friday evening runs haven't worked out that well for me because I'm usually tired after a long week at work and trying to squeeze in the run before heading out to start the weekend. This one was much better. Over a distance of 5 miles I averaged 9 minutes 39 seconds per mile had an average heart rate of 174. All in all it was a solid run and I felt in control throughout. Saturday morning was sunny and I hit Battersea Park for a quick 3 miles. The heat slowed me down a bit but it was still a pretty good run. I'm finding that I am enjoying the middle distance runs the most at the moment. 5 miles is long enough to settle in, too long to try and rush it but not long enough to get really tired. At 3 miles I am trying to push myself and the first and second miles seem to go on forever.

And so we reached today. 10 miles... hitting double figures for the first time. I was slightly nervous but also excited. On the advice of a friend I got in car and drove out to Richmond Park to run round the perimetre. I arrived just after 09.30 and it was overcast but warm. I strapped on the heart rate monitor, plugged in the iPod, switched on the Garmin and grabbed my bottle of water. One lap of the perimetre is 7.2 miles so I would need to double back a bit to make up the distance. I had no aches or pains from my previous two outings (could be something to do with The Stick, which I have been using religiously, but still too early to tell) and after the first mile I began to settle in to a run that was going to take me an hour and a half at the very least. Not long after, I encountered my first hill which was pretty tough going - but having hit it so early on I dominated (as my flatmate would say) and carried on. The sun had come out and I began to worry that I hadn't hydrated enough before the run.


My major problems began at mile 4, primarily because I thought I'd already run a mile further than I actually had but also beacuse my iPod decided to die (time for a new one I think) and I could feel the beginnings of a painful blister on my left foot (new socks - not a wise move). The iPod was annoying but no big deal, the mileage was disappointing but still overcomeable and the pain wasn't so bad as to need to stop but it was the combination of factors that put me in a bad frame of mind. Whilst grumbling away to myself I obviously took a wrong turn (no idea how - it was a fairly well marked trail) and ended up at a dead end with the only option being a slightly sketchy looking hill path through some trees. The hill was hard and I had to walk after about three quarters of the way to the top. It was at this point that I encountered some weirdo/scary looking dude picking blackberries whilst on a bicycle. I almost turned back to re-find the place i'd originally gone wrong but was near the top of the hill so stumbled on and luckily popped back out near one of the main entrances to the perimetre of the Park.

I needed a break to regroup and pull myself together. I stopped for a couple of minutes and downed a lot of water. Today was going to be a mental battle and so far the desire to give in was outweighing the will to continue. Starting off again I felt much better and my talking to seemed to have done the trick but I couldn't help feeling that if I'd had someone else running with me things would seem a whole lot easier. So I visualised that they were. The Non Runners Guide to Marathon Training really does seem to anticipate exactly what I'm going to feel like every single week. The latest chapter recommends creating films in your head to help you along the way when things get tough. Some suggestions include, remembering your greatest run so far... the sounds, sights and smells and where you were; another option is imagining you are as light as a feather or that all the muscles in your body are rowers you can command at will. I chose to imagine friends and family members accompanying me along the way. Some would join me for a mile or so and I would imagine what we would talk about, others would cheer me on from the sidelines and tell me to keep on going. I know it all sounds a bit strange but it massively helped.

My legs felt fine and my breathing was shallow so I knew it was all in my mind. The visualisations worked up until about 8 and a half miles, by which time I'd already done one lap plus a mini loop and was just passing the car for the second time (aghhhhhhhh). After that I just gritted my teeth and furiously clock watched for the next fifteen minutes. By that stage there was no way on earth I was going to stop before my 10 miles was up. I had worked it out perfectly and collapsed over the car bonnet in a sweaty bedraggled mess.

10 miles. Done. However it made me realise that the long runs are going to get even harder and that this is going to be as much of a mental battle as a physical one. I also need to pay more attention to what I'm eating and drinking ahead of the long runs. I think my mind was partly tired due to insufficient fuelling beforehand. Once home I checked the blisters (massive one on each foot - the new socks are now in the bin) gave myself a good going over with The Stick and sunk about a litre of water. Roll on Week Six.

The Stats

The Long Run
Distance: 10.02 miles
Time: 1 hour 41 minutes and 57 seconds
Pace: 10minutes 11seconds per mile
Calories Burned: 1107 (yes!)
Average Heart Rate: 175bpm

New experiences
Blisters the size of 10 pence pieces
Feeling dehydrated after a run
Running in Richmond Park

Week 4 - Return of the Rhythm

Perseverance paid off this week as I tried to put a bad week behind me and rediscover my rhythm. I set off for my first run of Week 4 with some trepidation, but heading back to the tried and tested Battersea Park loop worked out well and I completed a relaxed, uneventful 3 miles in 30 minutes which is just what I was hoping for.

This week the distance of the medium run upped from 4 miles to 5. The route took me round the bridges and I set off down the north side of the Thames towards Vauxhall. For a change I had remembered to recharge the iPod so brought it along and started slow. The pace was steady throughout and by the end I still felt comfortable. Remembering the pain the following day of my long run in Week 2 I spent a lot more time and attention stretching and icing which definitely made a difference.


I took a four day weekend off work and headed home to Cornwall for a friend's wedding. Foreseeing that Sunday was probably going to be a write off after the Saturday celebrations I decided to switch around my training and run the long 8 miler on Friday morning. Luckily for me I had the company of Julie, who took me along a beautiful stretch of the Bissoe trail, starting in Twelveheads and jogging out to Point. The weather was good and we had lots to talk about so the first 4 and a bit miles flew past. We stopped for a few minutes before turning around to head back to our starting point. We ran 8 miles in just under an hour and twenty minutes but it felt like less. Having a running buddy definitely made things easier and I was really pleased to have completed it without any worrying aches or pains. In the final mile my left knee reminded me it wasn't entirely happy but after some decent stretching at the end it seemed ok.

The strategy was right as on Sunday I wasn't best positioned to run for 8 minutes let alone miles. So I pushed back the final short run of the weekend to today. I went back to Bissoe and met up with Julie and we covered off a shorter section of the same route from Friday. We talked all the way along which I could never have managed at the start of my training and reminded me about how my fitness has improved already. After describing my pain from the previous week Julie had brought along The Stick. It's a device to massage your muscles and it is designed to provide relief from soreness, improve muscle strength, increase endurance and accelerate recovery time. I'll let you know how I get on with it.


So i'm 25% of the way there... well at least in terms of time (rather than miles to run before the marathon). I'm definitely back on track but I'll have to keep working hard to stay on course. Next week I'm hitting double figures with a long run of 10 miles. Fingers crossed I make it.

The Long Run
8.0 miles
Time: 1 hours 18 minutes and 59 seconds
Average Pace: 9 minutes 55 seconds per mile

Total miles run this week: 19.3

New Experiences:
Running in Cornwall in sunshine
The Stick
Lucozade Sport (Raspberry flavour)

Week 3 - Ow Ow Ow

Week 3 was not quite as much fun as I had hoped it was going to be. After bragging about my easy six miles and generally mouthing off about my progress I woke up the following morning barely able to move! Obviously this running marlarky is a bit more stress on the body than I'd appreciated. Despite my attempts to ward off aches and pains with a bit of ice, the back of my left knee was letting me know it wasn't happy and kept clicking every time I extended my leg. After Googling the most common running injuries I settled on Iliotibial Band Syndrome or ITBC which sounded serious but also curable. After a few discussions with my various mentors and a lot of hobbling I changed my mind and decided it was runner's knee - only to later discover they are one in the same. Whatever it was I needed a break and so RICEd for an evening with a bag of frozen peas wedged in the offending area. The following day felt much better but I was still a bit unsure about running so took off an extra day for precaution.

Work got in the way of the planned shorter run which meant by Thursday I still hadn't managed to get any miles on the scoreboard. Beginning to panic and falling short on hours I made the decision to operate more efficiently and run home from work. After remembering to pack a small rucksack with my gear and setting the Garmin (which took a bit longer than usual to get going) I began my journey home. I headed off down Chancery Lane and through the Middle Temple before hitting the Embankment and jogging along to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. The rucksack felt awkard and heavy and, combined with all the people stopping to take photos of the various tourist attractions, I slowed down to a walk whilst navigating the concentration of traffic lights. On emerging the other end I started running again but didn't get very far before slowing back down to a walk. Some runs seem almost effortless and the distance just slips away as my mind wanders. Others, like this one, are a real struggle and each step feels heavy and slow. Once i'd stopped for the second time my rhythm was shot and I spent the rest of the distance walking and running (with more emphasis on the former).


My copy of the Non-runner's marathon trainer has been my absolute Bible since the decision to embark on training for New York. In addition to providing a suggested running schedule it is also packed with helpful tips and hints on mental exercises, nutrition, stretching and injuries... plus lots more besides. The chapter corresponding to this week talked about performance and arousal. The book suggests that remaining calm (low level arousal) produces the best results over medium and long runs. When we are highly aroused our nervous system becomes activated and results in increases in heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen consumption and excessive sweating. I don't know if I would describe myself as 'aroused' on my Thursday evening run but I was definitely stressed, both as a result of work and through lack of running, and I'm fairly sure this sets off a similar set of symptoms. From there Week Three descended into total chaos after I overslept on Saturday morning and very nearly missed the Eurostar to Brussels. Having packed my trainers, i was planning on a 7 mile run through one of the city's parks with my NY Marathon buddy. However, after a heavy night on the belgian beers I slept through most of Sunday morning and and when I did wake up it was pouring with rain. No excuse I know but rain + hangover = no chance of running. Disaster.

By the time I got back to London I felt so guilty that I forced on the trainers and set off from the house to try and regain some of my lost ground over the week. Still slightly blurred around the edges this, as you can probably anticipate, did not go well. I very nearly gave up after only a mile but refused to let myself give in. Fighting every step you take is not condusive to good running. My right shin was giving me some serious pain and despite gritting my teeth and forging on, before I'd reached the second mile I was in enough agony that I had to stop. The rest of the 'run' (three more miles) was spent mostly walking. A did a few short sprints and did manage the final mile at a jog, but again it just wasn't flowing like I had managed during the second week.

So I enter Week Four with a massive crisis of confidence. Part of my underperformance was definitely down to not putting the running first. I need to change my lifestyle habits if I'm going to have any chance of finishing this marathon in November but more worrying has been the loss of rhythm and the introduction of some pretty bad pain. I'm wiping the slate clean and beginning the fourth week with a clear head. I need to try and forget these past seven days as I am conscious that if I force the issue too hard and worry about falling behind I'm only going to stress myself out and make things even harder.

Week Three Stats
Miles Run 4
Miles Walked 5
Runs Missed 2
New Experiences - Running home from work
- Pain
- Guilt through lack of running

Week 2 - Steady as she goes

Being back on familiar ground and returning to my usual routine definitely helped cover off the necessary miles this week. I started with a relaxed 3 miles around Battersea Park after a session of Body Pump on Monday evening. I didn't have my iPod with me and i'd left my watch behind and so I kind of just ambled round but after my wet and windy Cornwall runs three days on the trot and an hour of weights I was feeling a bit pooped.

After a rest day on Tuesday my flatmate Wes asked if he could join me for a 4 mile run on Wednesday evening. I was a bit dubious I would manage to keep up but he promised to go slow and let me dictate the pace. After settling in for a mile or so he started ramping up the speed and encouraging me to follow suit. Pushing myself to run harder up the hills and sprinting between particular sections along the straights really made a difference and I was grateful for his encouragement and refusal to let me slack off. Other than my races it was the first time I've really broken a sweat and got my heart pumping hard. It proved I definitely need to switch up my training if I want to see any real improvement in my fitness levels. Wes has said he'll come out with me once a week - which would be good.

After witnessing the powers of the Garmin last week I decided to bite the bullet and invest in the Foreunner 305. It arrived on Friday and I immediately unwrapped it, whacked it on charge and devoured the user guide. As i'm doing the majority of the training on my own I think this will be a good gadget to own. As well as measuring the time, distance, pace and calories burned you can set all sorts of alerts to ensure you know how far you've gone, if you're slowing down too much and whether or not you're running at an appropriate heart rate. So far I've just used its basic capabilities but am looking forward to testing out all the functionality over the next four months.


The Garmin's first outing was a quick 3 miler around the regular Battersea route. I cranked up the pace, spurred on by the alerts that let me know when i'd hit each mile marker. I felt like i'd run pretty hard and was gasping for the finish line so was somewhat surprised to learn it had taken me 27 minutes and 32 seconds. That was over a minute slower than my Pants in the Park effort a month earlier. Maybe it had something to do with it being the end of a long week or maybe it was down to the two and a half pints of lager i'd had over a long lunch but either way it felt like a lot more effort than it really should have.

My final run of the week was a whopping 6 miles. I was actually a bit nervous before I set off but decided to take it super slow and aim to just chalk up the distance without stopping or slowing to a walk. The Garmin was on its second outing and after taking a moment to locate the satellites I was off. Slightly varying my usual route I headed down the north side of the river past Albert Bridge, then past Chelsea Bridge and down to the next one which is Vauxhall Bridge. There I crossed the river and turned back down to Battersea Park for a single lap before heading for home. I had measured out the distance on MapMyRun before setting off and had made the decision not to set a time goal, so after pressing Start I resolved not to look at the watch again until I got to the end. With the exception of a few short bursts of speed I kept a steady pace that felt very comfortable cardiovascularly. I didn't get bored or fight my way round. Knowing I would be out at least an hour heped me relax into the run from the outset and I can honestly say that it was much easier than I thought it would be. Running mostly a familiar route gave me comfort but adding in the new section kept it fresh. My left leg got a bit sore right towards the end and my hips felt a weird but otherwise it was all good. I think I might ice my knees... just as a precaution.

In week 3 i'll be trying out running home from work and taking my trainers across the Channel for a spot of jogging in Brussels. Can't wait.

The Long Run
Distance: 6.75 miles
Time: 1 hour 6 minutes 45 seconds
Pace: 9.53/mile
New experiences: The Garmin Forerunner 305
Crossing Vauxhall Brige
Running with a boy

Week 1 - Battling the Elements

The start of my official training schedule coincided with a week at home in Cornwall. Weather conditions were far from ideal with flash flooding, thunder and lightning and gale force winds just some of the delights that attempted to hamper getting those first few miles on the clock. Rather than the familiar routes around Battersea Park and the banks of the Thames I found myself plotting miles around the country lanes, along cycle trails and across white sandy beaches. "How marvellous," I hear you cry. "What a treat compared to the smoggy, boring, traffic filled London roads and pavements," I hear you exclaim. Well... to be quite honest I'm really not sure I concur. One of the most fanatstic things about London running is that it virtually dead flat and largely dry and mud/sand free. For the out of shape, beginner runner I would descibe these conditions as IDEAL.

Easing gently into the programme, my training manual dictates that during Week 1 I needed to complete two short 3 mile runs, one medium 4 mile run and a longer 5 mile run. The short runs I planned to do around my house and found a circular 3.5mile route which worked well (although whichever direction I chose to go I encountered my first hills). I had to concede defeat on the first outing and walk the second half of steepest incline, but when doing the run in reverse I persevered with a slightly gentler uphill struggle and reached the top - triumphant - but utterly exhausted - before continuing along the road at the top.

For the medium run I met my friend Julie, an experienced marathon runner who trains in Cornwall, to do a 5 mile run along the Bissoe cycle trail. I am ashamed to say it's an area I've never previously explored and so I was very grateful when Julie introduced me to it and let me know that it's a popular running spot for marathon training with various routes of up to 22miles. Good for future reference. Julie also introduced me to the statisticians dream that is the Garmin Forerunner. I currently use a simple digital watch with a built in stopwatch but it would be good to invest in some technology that tracks my distance and speed as well.

For the long run I had planned to take part in a charity 10k fun run in Newquay. Unfortunately, it was cancelled on the day due to more horrendous weather and so I had to come up with a plan fairly sharpish to replace the miles. I decided that Perranporth beach at low tide would be a good option - long, flat and beautiful. And it was, until the rain started hammering down and the puddles got deeper, and the sand started sinking and the bottle of water I was running with turned out to be carbonated. Oops! Made it the entire length of the beach (about 2 miles) but as I turned around to come back again I was running head on into a pretty strong wind. By this time my trainers and socks were soaked through and also sandy which was causing some blister style grief. Looking like a drowned rat and unable to shake off the disappointment of the cancellation of the Newquay 10k I threw in the towel (note to self - remember to pack towel on rainy days) and ended up walking the remainder of the route.

Not a great end to what was looking like a strong start to the training but I'm not going to beat myself up about it as, on balance, I think Week 1 went quite well. I'm back in London for Week 2, the weather surely can't get any worse and the terrain will be mostly tarmac and flat. Hurrah!

Stats
Miles Run: 14
Miles Walked: 2
Average Pace: 10.5 minutes
New Experiences: Running up hills
Running on sand
Running in the rain
Training with someone else

JP Morgan Corporate Challenge

So these are the final few days before I embark on my sixteen week training schedule to carry me over the finish line at the New York Marathon on Sunday 1 November. During the last couple of weeks I have been running less regularly but I can console myself that the runs I have done have been slightly longer and felt a bit more solid.

On Wednesday evening I took part in the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge for the first time. The Challenge is a 3.5 mile event for corporate runners which takes place in various locations around the world. Combined over two nights, the London Corporate Challenge drew 25,196 entrants from 623 companies. Investment bankers, lawyers and accountants were all warming up, sprinting around, doing one armed press ups and wearing matching Federera style team outfits whilst simultaneously barking into their mobile phones and furiously tapping out orders on their BlackBerries.

There were only about a dozen people in the Bell Pottinger team, most of whom i'd not met before. We all gathered in Battersea Park beforehand to get our race chips and team t-shirts and then together we made our way to the course. I couldn't believe the number of runners and it took more than 10 minutes to even cross the start line. Once we did it was fairly slow progress and there was a lot of weaving around walkers and groups of joggers who took up the whole width of the course. The Bell Pottinger team soon dispersed amongst the field. It had been raining earlier in the day but the evening had turned out to be warm and humid. The course looped round the avenue, up along the river, squiggled over the grass and finally finished in the central avenue. It was a bit of a crush to get out the other side with thousands of runners all clambering for their free water and t-shirt whilst munching down the complimentary bananas. Skins were piled high on the roadside.

It was a really lively atmosphere which continued on into the evening as people spilled out of the park and into the nearest pubs. Our team all went for celebratory beers at the Butcher & Grill and agreed that next year we'd all do it again. The following day the results went up on the website and I finished in a reasonable 32.29. I think that i'm in pretty good shape to start my training proper but for the next four months i'm going to have to get more organised if I want continue to have a social life AND run four times a week.

Pants in the Park

Since my triumph at the Festival of Running a couple of weekends ago training has been a bit patchy. The week after was pretty full on at work and coincided with the London Underground going on strike. I managed a late evening run around Battersea Park on the Tuesday and on the Thursday I walked the 4.5 miles from the office to my front door. I had a really bad outing last Sunday where it all just ground to a halt and I decided to call it quits after only 2 miles. I'm not sure what was wrong but I began to worry that I was going backwards rather than getting better.

This last week has restored some of my initial confidence although more long hours in the office has meant fitting in runs late at night. I did a quick circuit on Tuesday evening over Battersea Bridge, down to Chelsea Bridge and back along the edge of the park. On Thursday I covered off my longest run yet, 3.5 miles, it felt comfortable but then again I was going pretty slow. Work got in the way of a planned weekend at home for Fathers Day so instead I woke up this morning, threw on my running gear and popped over to the park to sign up for my second 5k charity fun run, Pants in the Park, this time in aid of prostate cancer.


Although I think I do prefer it, one of the down sides about training on your own is that it can get a bit lonely and when you slack off the pace you don't always notice straight away. Signing up for a charity run gives you the experience of running in a large group, the fellow runners motivate you to keep going and the supporters and marshalls give you some much needed encouragement along the way. By the time I reached the registration desk there was a real carnival atmosphere with a steel band, face painting and lots of balloons. The majority of people were in fancy dress, wearing decorated pants over their running gear. Some people had gone to a huge amount of effort and looked great.

After a short group warm up we lined up at the start line and counted down to go. Knowing I could cover the distance I wanted to focus on running a bit harder than my usual mid week outings. The route was the same as before and so I knew what to expect. With a couple more weeks under my belt I definitely felt more comfortable and this was confirmed when I crossed the finish line in 26 minutes and 8 seconds. Considering where I was less than two months ago I can't be anything other than pleased, but with only 3 weeks left until my official 16 week training programme kicks in now is the time to start upping the miles.

Distance: 5k or 3.1miles
Time: 26mins and 08seconds
Pace: 8mins and 25 seconds/mile
Speed: 7.1mph

My First Race

Having been running (well lacing up my trainers and mincing around for a maximum of 40 minues) at least three times a week (ok... a couple of weeks it was only twice but I jogged on the spot in the office to make up for it) I decided that it was time to try my first 5k race and see if I could actually manage 3.1 miles in one go and, if so, how many hours that might take. By coincidence, the Festival of Running hosted by Great Ormond Street Hospital was taking place in Battersea Park on Sunday 7 June, and as part of it there was a 5k chip-timed 'Fun Run'. Perfect... I get to experience my first 'race', in my back garden, whilst supporting sick children AND getting to see Andrew Castle - GMTV presenter and former professional tennis player - in running shorts.

The field ranged from the keeno elite runners wearing alarmingly little through to dedicated octogenarians who had come straight off the night shift - specifically to intimidate me with their talk of sub 20 minute target times - to groups of girls in fancy dress and grandmothers pushing prams. After a Mr Motivator style warmup that almost finished me off before I'd got going and a countdown from the lovely Andrew Castle, everyone shot off out of the blocks rather fast. Whilst I got carried along in the initial enthusiasm, I soon dropped towards the back of the pack and the octogenarian was but a small speck in the distance by the time I reached the first kilometre marker. The route started down central avenue and then round the carriageway only to repeat again before finishing near the bandstand. Apart from a brief period somewhere between 1k and 2k when I got a bit down about just how slow I was compared to everyone else I actually had quite a nice time, and when I realised I was going to cross the finish line in under 30 minutes I was very pleasantly surprised.



The goody bag was an added bonus... I could've maybe lived without the white, pink and baby blue sports cap but the banana flavoured milkshake, Nature's Valley cereal bar and lemon & lime sports drink were all worth carrying home. And as for the rather fetching gold medal with magenta ribbon, well I wore that round the flat for the rest of the day.

Distance: 5k 0r 3.1miles
Time: 28mins and 54seconds
Pace: 9mins and 19seconds/mile
Speed: 6.5mph