OK, I'm gone for a week and dying to hear how Helen's race went, and I have to wait another two days!?!? Ack.

My DD has decided she wants to run everywhere. She is surprisingly fast for a 20 month old. I've been too exhausted to run on my own this week, although I am fast enough to keep up with her. Mostly.

Anne

Helen, I join in with the crowd in dying to read your marathon report - I guess we'll just have to be patient...

Me, I did my last long run this weekend before my half marathon in 2 weeks - I am getting very excited, but also slightly terrified. I'm sure I can do the distance. just nervous about being in front of all those other runners - I still feel a bit like a pretender.

Hello from sunny Madrid! (Well, sunny, but not sunny enough that it stopped me finding an internet cafe to update you all...)

I finished in...

3:52:11

I was pretty happy with that. Even though I knew there was an outside chance of 3:45, my main goal was just to break 4 hours, and I´d actually been thinking of 3:51 as a realistic finishing time somewhere between the two. I stuck with the 3:45 pacers until the 21 mile mark, then I had a nasty niggle in my calf/achilles/ankle area, on the ankle I broke and I decided that even if I took it easy to the finish I´d still break 4 hours comfortably, which at the time was a more appealing option than trying to kill myself keeping up with the pacers for another 5 miles. I struggled from 21 to 25, and then the last mile everything seemed to come together again and I overtook loads of people coming up to the line. I could barely walk at the end and had to shuffle to the pub, but have pretty much recovered now. I haven´t tried to run yet, but I´m walking OK and stairs aren´t a problem.

I´m flying to Gran Canaria tonight so will be able to post some more once I get there about the ins and outs of the race, but I thought I´d post a quick update here.

And 3:45 is in my sights in Amsterdam (October). After that I´m really confident that with another few months training I can break it and get a qualifying place for London.

Originally Posted by YP1:
I finished in...

3:52:11

Sub Four!! Oh yeah!

Anne

Spot the change to my signature ;)

Wow, congratulations Helen!!! That`s awesome!!! I can`t wait for the rest of your report.

(Now for something completely different)

I finished the first week of the C25K program and I think I am going to repeat it. Today was the first run I had where I didn`t get a stich or get shin splints. I think it`s because I spent more time on my warm up, and I started to warm up my calves with some exercises to strengthen my ankle muscles.

Today I also paid a lot more attention to my stride and went for smaller steps. If I can do this without a problem for another week, I`ll move on to week 2.

Today was also the first day that I didn`t step on any dog poop, so it was a victory all around!

And I`m still unusually excited about running! Yay!

CONGRATULATIONS HELEN on a sub 4 hour marathon!!!! That is amazing.

And CONGRATULATIONS ARCHY on finishing week 1 of C25K. That is very awesome :)

I'm proud to report I got a run in on my little mini vacation!:) Only 2.5 miles, but it was all uphill. I swear it seemed like it was uphill the entire way out, and uphill the entire way back. The point, however, is I exercised on vacation :)

Woo Hoo Helen! and woo hoo to you too Archy, first week is always hard, and not stepping in poop is always a plus. I ran 10 mins of my 30 min walk this morning, and going out for an actual run later, so be back to post about it.

Have a great day all!

:bravo:, Helen! What an achievement!

Originally Posted by archy:
Today was also the first day that I didn`t step on any dog poop, so it was a victory all around!

OMG, the coffee came spitting out of my mouth! Thanks for the laugh, Archy, and congrats on all your victories.

:woohoo: Helen!

:woohoo: Archy! (a special place in heck for people who dont clean up after their dogs.)

Yay, Helen!! :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:

And a cheer for you, Archy, for missing the dog poop today! Yeah!! :cheer2:

I did 4 miles on a treadmill today -- my "speed" workout, where I do 6 minutes of running followed by 1 minute of walking, then repeat it 6 times, and I increase my speed throughout and try to make the whole workout faster than my usual pace. Oh good lord, the buckets of sweat when I do that. The BUCKETS. And somehow, when I choose to do the speed workout, that always happens to be the day that a kazillion of my students are hanging out at the gym as well, watching me sweat and flail about on the treadmill like a crazy person.

Hi all! Mind if I join in? I'm not yet a runner, but I've started the Couch to 5K program as of yesterday. I need motivation to keep with it, and I figure you all would be the best to help me out!

Welcome, Lydia.

Well, runners, I'm on the sidelines for a while again--the stick turned blue and with my history of complications I'm making do with walking and swimming for a while. I'll continue lurking and maybe occasionally posting. I want to see Helen make her London qualifying time and all the C25Kers get to 5K. Plus goad Ilene about finally doing that triathlon.

Anne

ANNE!! You're sooo funny :lol3: I'm still not sure, it's in August, and I haven't swam since the biking weather is here ...

:welcome: Lydia :wave: ... Looking forward to hearing about your C25K ...

No running for me today, ran yesterday, did the gym thing this morning instead... off to get ready for work now... TTFN :wave:

Oh, AND :cheer: on the blue stick :woohoo: ... Take care of yourself!!