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.

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!

, Helen! What an achievement!

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

Helen!

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

Yay, Helen!!

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

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 I'm still not sure, it's in August, and I haven't swam since the biking weather is here ...

Lydia ... 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

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