A shiny new PB!

The story of marathon number 30 (and that's a title I never dreamt that I would use!)

Given that I was full of nerves the day before it was no surprise that I didn't sleep well although I felt well rested when the alarm went off at 4:30am.  I'd organised my kit etc. the night before so there wasn't too much to worry about; just feed the horses and Tinker then have a bowl of porridge and a cup of coffee.

Mike got up just before left at 6am so that he could do a final check to see I got everything and then to wave me off.  As I drove out of the gate I had a sudden panic because I hadn't put mum's ring on and I always wear it for my marathons so that she runs it with me.  Silly, I know, but it's one of my little pre-race things.  Then I got a bit teary when Mike gave me a hug then I was on my way.  As it was Sunday morning there was a program with a religious theme and I sang along to lots of the hymns until they played 'Abide with me', which reminds me of my dad, which made me teary again.  

None of this teariness is unusual as going off and running marathons is jolly tough and I'm focussing on what happened to mum which brings back sad memories.

I arrived at the car park at just after 7am and met up with a running chum, Kaz, who's recently completed her 100th marathon which makes me seem like a lightweight!  We caught the bus to the start together and chatted all the way which helped to calm my nerves a bit.  It was cold and drizzly and the grass in the park where the marathon starts was very muddy and slippery.

The first thing we did was head off to the toilets whilst it was still quiet as later on the queues are horrendous.  Then we just huddled by a pavilion until it was time to head to the start.  As it was so dreary I didn't take any photos but I loved these 2 men in their pink tutus and tights!

2 ballerinas

Before I talk about the race I must show my naughty water bottle.  It might look clean here as I wiped it before I thought to take the photo but it decided to leak right from the start.  As it was full of my own equivalent of a 'sports drink', beetroot and sour cherry juice, it looked as if I'd had a horrible accident as my hands were covered in bright red stains!

Beetroot and sour cherry juice

At the start I had a dilemma about what to wear because the forecast was for the weather to be warmer later in the day but at the start it was cold and we were running into the wind for several miles.  I was wearing 3/4 length tights and a light long-sleeved top with my ARUK vest over it and I decided to stick with that combo which felt just right for the first couple of hours.

Immediately after the start there is a short, sharp incline and so you can't really settle into your pace for a while.  Plus, as you're in a massive crowd of other runners, all jostling for position, the first mile is either faster or slower than your intended pace.

This photo gives an idea of what the start of a race with around 10,000 runners looks like!

Preston Park Avenue

But later on, this is the sort of view the slower runners can expect:

The donkey costume at the halfway mark

What an amazing costume to carry around for 26.2 miles!  There were several runners in costumes and I saw a rhino, tiger, clown, superman, supergirl and a gang of firemen carrying some massive ladders.  I take my hat off to them all.

Anyway, I digress.

When we started we were running into the wind for several miles but it didn't seem to trouble me. Then I realised that I was not only maintaining my chosen pace (10.5 minute miling) but I was enjoying it and feeling strong.  I got to the 10k mark in 1:05 and it was at that point that I made the decision to up my pace a bit to compensate for slowing down when it got hotter a bit later later.  It's always a fine line between setting a good pace and going to fast in the early stages but for once I seemed to get it right and I was feeling really good when I reached halfway in 2:17.

By that time the sun was out and it was getting warmer and I knew that I should slow down or risk suffering in the latter stages and so I took my pace down to 11.5 minute miling which felt really comfortable even though I was getting hot.

I saw lots of people I knew en-route, Tracey, Sharon, David, Green Fairy, the man in the rhino suit and I've forgotten who else so apologies for missing you off if you read this!  Petal and Fat Buddha (aka Claire and Dick) passed me quite early on.  They were doing it together as Dick has just turned 60 and Claire will be 60 in June.  They looked fab!  I didn't see them again until around mile 17 when I plodded past and it looked as if they might have been struggling a bit.

I reached mile 17 in 3 hours but I was starting to feel the heat and I noticed that I'd slowed to 11:45 - 12 minute miling so I told myself that if I managed to maintain 11- 11.5 minute miling then I would get to mile 20 in 3:33ish and that would give me a good crack at my course record of 4:55 even if I slowed down for the last 6.2 miles.

I got to mile 20 in 3:35 and at that point I just knew I had to go for it!  I was a bit cautious about pushing too hard, bearing in mind I've got the London marathon just a week later where I'll be knitting and running much slower, but I could see that if I just managed to keep my pace below 12 minute miling that I would beat my course pb of 4:55.

Oh my it was hot by then and it was one of the low points of the course for me - not much crowd support, blazing sun, uneven concrete surface and horrible speed humps to contend with which are a killer for tired legs as you risk tripping if you don't lift your feet high enough.  I forgot to mention that my breathing was fine throughout which, given the problems I had last year, was a massive relief.

Although I was hot, I still felt OK and I remembered what John, my favourite Coach and excellent runner, had said to me - that a lot of people treat the marathon as just a long training run and don't push hard enough.  Then all of a sudden I was at mile 24; I can't remember what time it was and I'd been drifting around the 12 minute mile mark for a while, but I knew that if I could push a bit harder then not only would I beat my Brighton pb, but I would also beat my all-time marathon pb.  I also realised that I wanted it so much that I was going to do it, so I went for it!

I saw Ruth (aka Plodding Hippo) up ahead and she was running a few paces then walking but as I ran past her I tried to speak but couldn't as I was concentrating so hard.  She later remarked that she'd seen me but didn't call out as I looked so focussed!  

My last 2 miles were 10:40 and 9:50 respectively and I had the biggest smile on my face as I ran towards the finish line.

My finish time?

4:48:34 by my watch - 4:48:29 official chip time.

So, not only did I beat my previous course best of 4:55, I've finally beaten my pesky all-time marathon pb which has been 4:50:21 set at the London marathon in 2006.

Fantastic!

As I crossed the finish line I just moved to one side, sat down and had a jolly good cry.  That often happens after a marathon - it's the grit and determination and then the sheer relief of having finished.  I phoned Mike and he was over the moon.

Then I collected my marathon medal, tee shirt, banana and some water and headed off to the baggage lorry to get my stuff before catching the shuttle bus back to the car park

This is the sort of scene you see at the end of a marathon!

The aftermath

Tin foil blankets

Rows of baggage lorries

When I arrived home it was straight into the bath for me and then we cracked open a bottle of wine to celebrate.  I am so happy that I managed it and now I've got a week to recover before I have a crack at another pb - my GWR for knitting whilst running the London marathon!

Calming the nerves and quietening the gremlins

Today I am a nervous wreck.  This is not unusual for the day before a marathon but I seem worse today and I think it's because I've trained so hard that if I don't put in a good performance at the Brighton marathon tomorrow I shall be very upset.  The gremlins in my head have been working overtime telling me I'm silly for even trying to get a faster time/I'm too old and fat/I haven't trained hard enough/everyone will be faster than me/etc etc.  Same old stuff, just a different marathon.  By this evening I will have, hopefully, regained my optimism and quietened the little blighters!

There has been such a lot happening this week that I'll have to do a catch-up post early next week.  This afternoon I just need to occupy myself with a more general, probably rambling, post.

This morning we went to Brighton to collect my number and timing chip from the Expo (which is just a room full of vendors plying their running related wares).  The first thing we did when we arrived in Brighton was to find a nice cafe, of which there are many, and have coffee and cake.  That's my raspberry bakewell in the photo and it was scrummy.

Fuel

I came away from the Expo with some new shoes; all girly pink and summery. Pretty as they are, I wasn't swayed by the colour as I'd have preferred some purple ones I saw but they didn't feel as comfy when I did a test run in them.

Here they are in all their girly glory - Mizuno Wave Enigma 2:

I shall break them in for runs up to 7 miles or so over the next few weeks before I use them for long runs.

Here are the 2 very helpful young men who guided me.  I've been wearing a different brand since I moved up to marathon distance 8 years ago but the latest model in that brand (ASICs Gel Nimbus) is so far removed from the previous model that I had to change my brand.

Sorry they're a bit fuzzy!

The oddest thing we saw at the Expo was this man collecting his number wearing this rather disturbing costume:

Creepy costume

I didn't take many photos in Brighton today as although it was fine first thing it soon turned to wind and rain at which point we headed home.

Here a few things that caught my eye today:

A beautiful church spire sticking up above Wetherspoons!

There are some really whacky shoe shops and I just had to take a photo of these shoes:

Yes, the bunny is indeed the heel!

They also had models piled high with fruits and flowers and all manner of baubles - great fun for youngsters or fashionistas but I can't walk very far in high heels these days.  I think Mike was quite relieved that I didn't want to go and try them on!!!!

I also kept seeing owls - everywhere!  A veritable parliament of owls in all shapes and sizes.  I saw glass/pottery/silver ornaments, cushion covers, greetings cards, mugs, placemats, books, knitted hats, wrapping paper to name but a few.

Owl  book

Owl cookie jar

Gorgeous owl wrapping paper

Earlier this week

I met proud granny Angela for lunch and a good natter and gave her the bootees for baby Violet.  She was bowled over by their cuteness and I couldn't have wished for a better reaction.

Cute bootees

Looking out of the window today at the grey sky and pouring rain it's hard to believe that earlier in the week the ground had dried up enough for the horses to come and graze the wilder parts of the lawn (I use the word 'lawn' loosely as it's very rough!).

Horsey lawnmowers

They absolutely love being allowed in here and were most indignant when I didn't let them in here when the rain started and the ground became waterlogged yet again.

It's nice to see that the daffodils we planted several years ago are bulking up nicely so we'll be able to divide them when they've finished flowering.

Daffodil clumps ready to be divided

Baby patterns from long ago

To take my mind of being nervous I've been rummaging around in my collection of old patterns and found these:

Mum's patterns

Oh my, mum must have used these to knit/crochet my baby things.  I know that because one of them bears the stamp of a shop from the town near where I was born.  That brought a lump to my throat I can tell you.

I still have some more baby things to knit over the next couple of weeks so I think I shall be using a couple of the cardigan patterns as they are still lovely and don't look dated.

On that note I think it's time for a photo of my mum, in whose memory I continue to push myself to the limits in my training to raise awareness of the devastating effects of dementia and to raise more money for vital research.  

She'll be with me every step of the way tomorrow and will give me the strength to carry on when the going gets tough.

An exciting announcement!

The lovely people at deramores.com

have very generously provided the yarn for my latest knitting adventure at the London marathon.  

Here's the beautiful yarn they've sent me.

Thank you so much deramores!

I think that news serves as an excellent introduction to my challenge for this year, supporting Alzheimer's Research UK, which is about to start, so here it is:

Having now completed 29 marathons & 2 ultra marathons, running 7 marathons in one year and marathons on consecutive weekends I needed a new challenge so that you don't all think it's getting too easy for me!

So, as well as running 2 marathons, I shall be doing a streak.  "WHAT?!"  I hear you cry!  Don't panic, it's not that sort of streak (which would completely inappropriate for a woman of my advancing years!!!) - it's a running streak which means I will be running every day for a specified period of time.

As always there's a link to what's going on in my life (usually my age!) so here's what I'm planning to do:

The Start:

- On 14th April I will run the Brighton marathon and I want to beat my previous time set there of 4:55.

The Running Streak:

- On 21st April my running streak begins with the Virgin London Marathon where I will be knitting my way round again.  For those of you who don't know me, I hold a Guinness World Record for the longest scarf knitted whilst running a marathon - I do like to multi-task!  

- At the beginning of 2013 I will still be 55 years old and so from Sunday 21st April I will run at least 5.5 miles each day on the 55 days prior to my birthday.

- On 16th June I will be 56 and so from that day on I will run at least 5.6 mies each day for 56 days.

So that will be a total streak of 111 days (oooh, I like all those 1's!).  The other link is that 2013 is my 11th year of running.

Why is this such a challenge for me?  

Firstly, although I'm used to running marathons and training hard I always take 2 days of rest each week to let my body recover from the rigours of my training schedule.  So I have no idea how my body will react to the extra pressure.  Plus I have a touch of arthritis in my feet (oh the joys of getting older!) so I have to make sure that my shoes are very well cushioned.

Secondly, I have Asthma which caused me untold problems in 2012.  I am determined not to let it stop me running well in 2013.  Please excuse my coughing and wheezing if you see me out training on the hills!

I know many people reading this will have sponsored me many times already, for which I am very grateful.  But all donations will be most welcome and will go to fund vital research into this devastating disease.

As soon as the Press release went out we started getting media enquiries which is fantastic!  We got a mention on the BBC Sussex website this morning and I've got an interview with Arrow fm this afternoon.

Exciting times - let's hope we raise lots of money for ARUK!

Tuesday titbits

It's amazing how many thing can happen in the space of a few days isn't it?!

More bootees

I crocheted the first of the cute little crocodile stitch bootees last night and they are so dinky.  I tried a small swatch to check that I liked the yarn colours and I think it looks really pretty.  I bought this yarn nearly 30 years ago when I was working in Buckley, North Wales.  In fact, I bought 2 of the giant balls and made a top for my mum out of one but never did anything with the other, until now.

Swatch

If you've never tried crocodile stitch then please do as it's really easy once you work out how to hold the crochet at each stage.  There are plenty of tutorials on-line but the instructions in the pattern were very clear and simple to follow.  It certainly didn't take me long to crochet this sweet little bootee.  

Bootee front

The colour is more realistic in this one - pretty pale shades

These are very teeny-weeny as they are for a newborn to about 3 months and so I didn't crochet as many layers of the crocodile scales - the pattern had 5 layers but I felt 3 was enough as more might swamp a tiny baby.

I just need to sew on 2 buttons at the side to fasten. 

Bootee side

Tinker update

Tinker has been doing really well since his operation but I forgot to write about what happened immediately afterwards.   At first he seemed fine and very perky but after a couple of days he started drinking lots of water and went off his food so we were worried about him.

We went back to see the vet and although she couldn't spot anything she thought that he might have a tummy upset and suggested we take a urine sample to check all was OK there.

So we came home with all sorts of goodies -  some medicine for his tummy which I had to squirt into his mouth twice a day before food  using the little syringe and some granules for his litter together with a pipette and sample tube for his urine.  When it was analysed the vet said that he had a urinary infection, poor little fellow so he had to have a course of tablets to get rid of that.

After the first 2 tablets he got his appetite back and he's gone from strength to strength thank goodness.

A little kindness

Every so often someone does something nice that brightens your day.  It doesn't have to be a big thing, a smile, a wave, holding a door open perhaps.

Today I was browsing in a shop and I saw this sweet little seahorse in a display on a shelf.  I love seahorses and like to incorporate them into anything I make using shells and so I asked how much he would cost.  The lady smiled and said that I could have him for free as he'd come in a box with some other things and she hadn't intended to sell him but had no use for him.

Thanks Blanche, you made my day.

Asthma

My chest didn't feel quite as grotty this morning and so I decided to do some intervals on the treadmill.  I managed 3 miles but then my chest started to hurt and I had a massive coughing fit and had to abandon it.  It's a good job I'm tapering this week so it didn't matter too much.  I just hope I get get it back under control before the Brighton marathon in 12 days time.

Greetings from across the pond

Meet Alan and Betsy Vinegrad, fellow runners from America.  Alan and Betsy ran the NYC 1/2 marathon on 17 March and Alan raised nearly $16,000 for the Alzheimer's Association NYC Chapter.  Brilliant work!

Betsy left a comment recently as she has been running and knitting since she heard about my antics!  In her own words;

"I started running in 2000 but only short distances. I quit my job in 2005 and decided to increase my distance. In 2008 I ran my 1st half marathon. But, being an avid quilter and knitter, I didn't like spending so much time running when I could be knitting or quilting. I remembered reading about you years ago in a magazine. I figured since I can knit while watching TV or reading, why not while running? So, the hours I spent training could also be knitting time! I decided to try knitting a mobeus scarf so I would use circular needles, knit or purl without looking, and only have to carry one ball of yarn. I found Cat Bordhi's website with instructions on how to cast on  - I've made about a dozen since last August, all while running."

Well done to both of you and thank you for getting in touch.

My run, asthma, signs of Spring & a tank

My run

Well Easter Day has been no warmer than other days and it's been dreary and cold with the odd flurry of snow.  Thankfully I only had to run 9 miles today and I kept myself occupied by looking for signs of Spring.

In the hedgerow there were catkins and pussy willow.  I always think catkins look like lambs' tails and pussy willow is soft as a rabbit's paw.

Catkins

Pussy Willow

In the verges there was lots of new growth with leaves of all kinds of plants thrusting through the undergrowth.   Primroses and celandines were in flower but the wood anemones weren't quite open.

Primroses

Celandines

I met these 2 gorgeous little ponies who came to say hello and get a stroke from me.  They were less than 9 hands high (about 3ft)!  They were very friendly and we had a nice little chat until I realised I was getting cold just standing around.

Cute ponies

As usual I managed to find an interesting tree root which I thought looked as if it was an entrance to an underworld.  I think that having a vivid imagination helps stave off the boredom of long runs and takes my mind off the cold!

Doorway to another world

When I reached the highest point of my route I stopped and watched the seagulls riding the current from the valley below.  You can just make one out in the centre of the photo.  Everywhere looks so grey and dull and I wished the sun had popped out for a while to brighten things up.

Soaring seagull

As I ran along one lane I did a double-take when I looked to my left and saw this tank parked in someone's drive.  How's that for a second vehicle!!!

Tank

So 9 miles in total but I did experience a few breathing problems.   More of that below.

Asthma, the return

I've been following a strict vegan diet for Lent, or at least until Good Friday this year as I didn't want to make anyone else miss out on Easter goodies until Sunday.  I've written already about how much better I've felt and how my breathing has improved dramatically which may or may not be related to the elimination of dairy products and eggs.

So on Friday I had 2 hot cross buns, which had milk, skimmed milk powder, eggs and butter in, and some Easter biscuits which had butter and a bit of milk in them.  Yesterday we had pizza for tea and that was the first time I've had cheese since the start of Lent so I was very interested to see how I reacted to this reintroduction.  I also had a few milk chocolate mini eggs.

This morning I can confirm that my chest feels heavy, full of gunk and my breathing was decidedly laboured during my run.  Bother, or words to that effect!

My next move is to revert to a vegan diet again during the week and see if I can just include these foodstuffs occasionally.  Watch this space.

The birds

As I was doing the washing-up earlier I spotted this little pied wagtail having a good splash around in the bird bath on the patio.  Sorry the photo's grainy but I took it through the kitchen window.

Wagtail bathing

Clean again

I also spotted an enormous flock of fieldfares in the field.   There were hundreds of them and when something scared them they split into smaller groups and flew in different directions.  I tried to zoom in on  a few of them in the oak tree.

Fieldfares

More baby booties

I found these sweet little booties made in crocodile stitch by Bonita and I knew I just had to make them for Angela's new granddaughter along with the violet and lemon ones I've made already.  I knew I'd got some variegated baby yarn in my stash so after a bit of rummaging I unearthed it and I think it could look very pretty.  It's got very gentle shades of white, pale blue, mauve, pink and turquoise.

More baby booties

Happy Easter everyone

Thank goodness the daffodils are starting to flower to brighten up a very cold and dreary day.  We've even had a few snow flurries throughout the morning.

I haven't been for my run yet as I've been busy making hot cross buns and Easter biscuits.  Who says you have to wait until they're cold?  That certainly doesn't happen in our household!

Here's one of the baby bootees which I think looks fresh and Spring-like.  I'm playing around with a design for a different pair and I think I'll add some little flowers to them.

I got the latest Crochet Club email the other day so I'll be working on the new designs after Easter.  Very exciting.

I asked Dixie if she'd got any buttons that would be suitable for Tinker's eyes (in my textile taxidermy project) and she found some that are a glorious bright green which will shine out beautifully when surrounded by the rust velvet I'm going to use on his face and head.  I'm not going for realism, just glorious decorative touches.

I loved the postcard she put in with the buttons - so many wonderful shapes and colours.  Just imagine what it would be like to have such an amazing button box to rummage around in.

I like that the buttons aren't flat and although they have a shank, which is not ideal, I like that you can see the dark backing through the eye which will serve as his pupils.

Have a wonderful Easter holiday wherever you are in the world and whatever you do.

Time to taper!

Now that's a statement that causes confusion whenever I type it so I'll explain; it simply means that I'm starting to reduce my weekly mileage both in distance and intensity ahead of a specific event.  On this occasion it's ahead of my first marathon of the year at Brighton.

Today's run was 12 miles and for most of it I seemed to be running into a bitingly cold wind.  I didn't  warm up at all and was heartily glad when it was over!

Of course, as Brighton is looming large, with London hot on its heels, we needed some new photos for the first round of press releases and so Mike assumed the role of  photographer and on a brighter day this week we braved the elements to take these photos.  Oh my it was cold and windy and my hair kept blowing across my face!

This one is for the Brighton marathon where I'll just be running

This one for the London marathon where I'll be knitting whilst running

More about these events soon but believe me when I say that my challenge for 2013 is one of, if not the toughest things I've attempted!

For any Brighton marathon runners reading this, please make sure you allow enough time for your taper.  At this stage in the game less is definitely more and you don't want to risk injury by ramping up your mileage trying to play catch-up for training sessions you might have missed.  You want to be raring to go on race day.

For those of you running VLM, you need to start your taper next week.

Hooky stuff

I haven't been knitting over the past few weeks but there's been plenty of crochet.  Last night I started these baby bootees - so sweet.  The colours aren't showing up very well but are a pale lemon and pale violet and look very Spring-like.

The start of a bootee

You can see the ridges formed by the front post and back post trebles (UK term, DC for others).  It's really simple and very effective.  This needs the top of the foot filling in with rows of DC (UK) and some contrast trim on the ankle and around the foot which won't take long.