Motivation

26 May 2009


Here is lovely photo of me and Nicky from my running group taking part in the Flagey 6k on Sunday
















Keeping up your motivation to run is tough. There are days when it's raining, days when its too hot, days when you're tired and some days when you really really just can't be bothered. Some days all of the above happens at the same time.

Take yesterday evening for example. It was beautiful in Brussels, perfect running weather and the park where I like to run is just down the road. But I can't get going. I can't even bring myself to put on my gym kit. I consider other forms of exercise: I know there's a step aerobics class going on at my gym. Again: I can't be bothered.

For most people the lack of motivation is mainly associated with actually getting out the door. Whether you are putting off going to the gym, avoiding a run or ducking out of a swim, the rot sets in at home, where the cozy sofa and the Six Feet Under box set beckon. The trick is to find ways of getting past the initial "I don't feel like it" feeling, knowing that once you get out there, you'll be fine. A very effective trick I used to use was to change into my running kit, which almost always forced me out the house.

And so to this morning, it is raining in Brussels, and I am still unable to get anywhere near motivated, so I get up and don my running kit. I pump up the i-pod, set the sports watch going and I run out of the house. Admittedly I don't get very far, as the rain comes down harder and I'm really just not in the mood, but I am feeling a remix of Madonna's Miles Away and that manages to spur me on for ALMOST 2.5 miles before I jack it in and come home.

Alexander James writes an interesting article in the Times about music, motivation and working out, here: Music holds the key to working out successfully


Ran: 2.48 miles (pathetic)
Time: 22 mins and 59 second (see above)
Average pace per mile: 9 mins 14 seconds
Calories: 261

Flagey 6k

24th May 2009

Exactly one year on from my triumph in the Edinburgh marathon, I signed up to run a 6k run in my new hometown, Brussels.

Walking down to the race, alone in the sunshine, I felt strangely nostalgic, remembering all the races and the preparation that I did last year and how great the Marathon Day had been.

The Flagey 6k race started in Brussels' famous Place Flagey, home to a very cool arts centre and cinema and also to Cafe Belga, a hang out for cool kids and one of the only places I have encountered in the city that doesn't have table service.

Before the start there was a great carnival atmosphere and a group warm up which involved a lot of jumping up and down, making me pretty sweaty before the race had even started...

A whistle sounded and off we went, through the blow up start line and around the Ixelles Ponds. The route comprised of two 3k loops.

The Étangs d'Ixelles are two long, skinny ponds separated by a narrow strip of road. It was hot and running down one side of the lakes we were going up hill and directly in to the sun. Not good, especially on the second lap.

At the base of the lakes, the run took us through the grounds of the Cistercian Abbey de le Cambre, founded in 1196. The gardens are immaculately manicured and part of the building now housees a visual arts school, while some of the other bits are used by the Belgian Geographical Society.

The finish was great, running through the blow up arch, directly on to the Place Flagey. There was a live band playing covers of The Beatles' Back In The USSR and a stand selling beer for Eur1.50. I was tired, but I got to thinking I could get used to running in Brussels...

Ran: 6km in thirty minutes and 41 seconds

Loot: VERY IMPRESSIVE: Pink rose (gotta love The Continent), running magazine (useful for future races), Vivaqua sports water (new to me), Eur15 voucher for Brussels running shop, microfibre headband

Visit the web page of the event

You can see my time, by clicking here

A distraction plan

28th April 2009


My friend is looking for a challenge. She's given up smoking, is bored in London and wants to get fit.











An email lands in my inbox: A distraction plan

The text reads as follows:

The new york marathon...

You and me

Whaddayathink?


Whaddaithink??? Giving it no thought whatsoever, I hit reply and type:

I am in. When do we register?


Fast forward 2 days and we're signed up for a four day trip to New York in November and a run of 26.2 miles. Only then does the magnitude of the decision begin to sink in.

WHAT WAS I THINKING

Last year I gave up four months of my life, every single weekend and endured a great deal of pain. What sane human being would put themself through that again?

Hysterically I phone my friend, who reassures me that I should focus on the "immense sense of personal achievement" rather than viewing the situation so negatively.

People are queing up offering advice on how to tackle "those dreaded bridges." I feel worried.

www.nycmarathon.org

Toe Nail Fell Off

June

Having spent a large proportion of my time bragging about the ease with which I completed the marathon (no strains, stiches, stoppages etc.) I've now got my comeuppance: A MISSING TOENAIL.

A blister developed on the second toe of my right foot during the marathon and it's since deflated, with the loose skin falling off only today, takign with it the entire toenail. It's a bit gross but doesn't hurt and is apparently caused by your feet expanding a little bit throughout the marathon and rubbing.

Apparently it's very common among runners to shed some nails, especially after such a long race and while it doesn't hurt I am worried about my summer holiday and how long it will take to grow back. Someone told me it will take 2 weeks but if it's bacly damaged it may never return.

Watch this space...

Pictures and Time Break Down

Wednesday June 4th

Here are some pictures of me taking part in the marathon together with a breakdown of my time over the course.

I haven't yet tried running again since completing the marathon, gave myself a full ten days off to recover. I felt awful last Monday and Tuesday and was still not walking 100% properly on Wednesday. By the weekend I was fine but still had a slight hamstring pull along the back of my left leg and didn't want to risk damage by running on it.

Off running tonight for the first time, will blog my progress.

NOW: Looking for next challenge to sign up to!

The breakdown shows I ran fairly consistently throughout, slowing by around what's expected during such a long race.

At the start: looking very happy. You can see the arm pouch bulging full of jelly babies and gel and the raspberry flavoured Zade in hand.

I like this picture: around 2-3 miles in and I'm running well.

Later on, not looking so happy but still trying to smile. This is around mile 16.

The Edinburgh Marathon - 26.2 miles

Sunday 25th May - D-DAY

And so it's over. I can't really believe it. But I do have the medal, scars and achey muscles to prove that I did run 26.2 miles on Sunday.

The start was fantastic. I'd walked to the pens with my friends and I felt really excited. The first few miles are through the centre of Edinburgh, down past the now-iconic parliament building with a fabulous view of Arthur's Seat - the peak of a group of hills which sit in Holyrood Park on Edinburgh's fringe.

The route then winds out of the city centre towards seaside resort Portobello and down the coast through a number of small towns before reaching the beautiful Gosford House where it turns back on itself for the last eight miles or so, to finish at Musselburgh Race Course.

At the half marathon stage in a town called Prestonpans I felt pretty good. I'd paced myself properly and I was running well.

The going got tough somewhere between miles 16 and 17. I ate 2 paracetamol, anticipating the pain to come.

That was wise. I started to feel the burn around mile 19. It was getting hotter, I was tired and my legs were aching. But I knew I had less than ten miles to go.

From mile 21 onward it's pretty much a blur -- I can't really remember much other than really, really wanting to get to the end and not allowing myself to stop running. All around me people were walking, stooping over and vomming in the road. My legs felt as heavy as lead.

As the Musselborough Racecourse came into view I picked up a little bit. The crowds thickened, knowing that soon I'd be able to stop. Crossing the line felt funny. I stopped moving and my legs turned to jelly. It didn't seem real. I'd finished in 4 hours 10 minutes, a time that made me very very happy.

My legs have been stiff for the past few days and I've got a little bit of rubbing around where my sports top was, but all in a escaped relatively unscathed.

A man dressed as spiderman broke his own world record, for the fastest costumed Marathon, finishing in an incredible 02:49:50.

Ran: 26.2 miles

Time: 4 hours, 10 minutes, 21 seconds

Ate: A lot of jelly babies, one disgusting gel, 2 paracetamol

Drank: Ridiculous amounts of water and lucozade sport

Felt: Hideous for 2 full days afterwards

Finally: A huge huge thank you to all my friends and family who came to watch, I really wouldn't have made it round without you there, you were incredible.

The Last Eight Miles

Wednesday 21 May

And so I ran the last eight miles before the marathon. In my new "woven shorts" from Nike and the RNLI vest that I'll be wearing on the day. I didn't want to go crazy so I stuck to the normal route, from the house, along the river to the park, three laps of the park then back along the river past my house for about half a mile then turned back on myself.

Battersea Park is a 200 acre park in south west London. It's London's only park to border the Thames and is very popular as a consequence. Opened in 1858, the park was once a popular spot for duelling.

The park was designed by architect Sir James Pennethorne, who was also responsible for another of my favourite running spots, Victoria Park in East London.

One of my favourite things to do in the park is to stroll along the river edge, with the water on one side and the green on the other. That route measures just over half a mile and takes you past the enormous London Peace Pagoda - a Buddhist tower which aims to provide a peaceful focus for everyone.

The first Peace Pagodas were built after World War II - to symbolise peace in two Japanese cities that were devastated by atomic bombs. They quickly became an international symbol of peace and by 2000, there were 80 in different global locations.

Ran: 8.11 miles

Time: 1 hour 18 mins 35 seconds

Pace per mile: 9 mins 40 seconds

Calories: 853