Great North Run - A very late post run blog!

Welcome back!

I have been a bad blogger. It has been 7 weeks since the Great North Run and I have not reported back!!

I do wish I had posted earlier as I thought a lot of the details might have gone out of mind - but no I remember the day like it was yesterday!

So get the kettle on and grab a cuppa and I will tell you all!

So, Saturday was good, I had a little bit of a lazy morning. then We went into town to enquire on the best travel ticket options for Ant. On the way we bumped into his cousin who was up for the weekend with her friends who were running too. Afterwards we walked down to the quayside to go to the pasta party. I didn't realise that the Junior Great North Run would still be taking place and when we got there we couldn't get moved! It took ages to get across the bridge but we did eventually.
We got out bowls of pasta and took them outside to soak in the atmosphere. it was buzzing; so much gong on. We decided to have a look around the stalls and saw some of the Ethiopian runners and looked at some of the running gear. We walked back up to Manors Multi storey car park where we were parked right at the top; we had a great view of the big sign that had been installed on the Tyne Bridge from one side and on the other a great view of the central motorway were I would be running the next day. I was so nervous and was trying not to think about it. I was keeping myself occupied by sipping on a bottle of water so I could stay hydrated.

We went hope an had pasta for tea (I know - again) and I got a everything ready for the following day. My vest, leggings, number, safety pins, blister plasters, plaster spray, jelly sweets, and my bag of spare clothes as I knew I'd want dry ones to change into!

I went to bed that night feeling very very nervous; but more so that I was going to sleep in!!

My alarm went off at 7:30; under normal circumstances I'd turn over and go back to sleep but there was no way I'd be able to do that. I got up and started to get ready with the TV on. BBC News were interviewing people from the start line already!I was trying to to think too hard about it; if I did it would have got too over whelming.

I was ready half an hour early and I looked a right picture in my plastic poncho with Ants old hoody on underneath! so on we went and set out to the bus stop; it wasn't hard to spot the other runners! As soon as we got into town the atmosphere was electric! I just remember thinking I might lose Ant and worrying people were going to trip over the dog! Walking over the bridge you really could see the amount of people. It was amazing! We saw so many fantastic fancy dress costumes; my favourite though had to be the two people dressed AS the Tyne bridge! Just brilliant! We walked past the elites and back and back and back...all the way to Pink Zone K, talked briefly with a clown and I eventually found another Mind runner, then another then another... it was brilliant!

Then the elites started, then the main run.. then we started to move forward. I'm getting nervous again.

As we pass over the start adrenaline just took over... hearing the oggy oggy oggy...oi oi oi under the bridge gave me goose bumps; hearing the read arrows over us more goose bumps! I ave to say though; running over the Tyne bridge was just a little stressful. I didn't take it in the way I wanted to because I was so scared of having someone bump into me, or I trip over something... but shortly afterwards I run past my sister and her friend cheering me on! That felt good! a few yards on my cousin runs past me like lightening!! It took a moment to realise who she was! haha!

the run from Gateshead stadium to Heworth  was stead - it hadn't rained properly by this point so other than a foot  I got in a puddle I was feeling pretty good!I passed my sister again at this point - still feeling good! Though given my training runs I found anything up to 8-9 miles pretty comfortable anyway (going at my run/walk pace) .

At 7 miles I ran past Tony the Fridge - local legend! I just had to stop and get my photo taken with him! from here I think I started to slow down a bit but I kept going. At mile 8 (bottom of John Reed Rd) my legs started to get very tired, my walking started to get more frequent but I kept trying to push. A great moment was when one Red Arrow flew right over the top of me to join the display - I could see it from where I was!

Along this stretch I say another mind runner, Jarra Jim, The Stig and a Kinght, got chatting with a few of them, then seeing The Marsden pub was the most welcome sight but short little steep down hill bank really hurt the legs!!

Turning round the corner I saw friends of the family on the right, then the first person I saw was my DAD!!!!! He told me he wasn't coming!! Couldn't believe it!!  As I kep going I could see both him and Ant practically walking along side me with my dog! That last mile was awful! My legs felt heavy, my feet hurt, my hands felt swollen... but then... the finish line was in site... I pushed as much as I could!! Then; the heavens ....opened!!

Torrential doesn't come close!!! I crossed the finish line in 3:25:15 soaked!! then I still had to find the Mind tent.. I got my finishers pack and water.. but I wish I had known about the finishers photo at this point! (next year!)

We all met up at the Mind tent where they were brilliant - that cup of tea was the best one of my entire life!!! I got into some dry clothes but I found my socks had unfortunately got soaked in the side pocket of the rucksack! (I can see I'm learning lessons the hard way). We walked to the ferry and set off home - I quickly got changed and we went for the best burger ever!

All in all - I can't wait for next year.

My official total for fund raising before gift aid is 404.00 pounds and I'm so proud!In my next blog I'll go into what my plans are for next year - I've been running since but not as much as I would want to. I will though. In the new year I'll be back onto a training plan for the runs i have planned!

Stay Tuned!!!

Thanks for following my journey with me!!!

Great North Run - 2 days to go!!

Welcome Back!

Here is my promised Friday blog. I said I was going to let you know how I was feeling with 2 days to go. Well; I hope this sums it up.

My sister sent me a text message this morning asking me 'On a scale of pebble to house; how much are you bricking it right now?' My answer? Hadrian's Wall!!

I'm very nervous, I'm looking forward to it in so many ways but on the other hand I feel that once it's done I'll be able to start training again for just running. Working on my times rather than my distances. I'm going to start doing Park Runs on a Saturday morning at least once a month and work on my 5k.

But back to the Great North Run. There is so much I'm looking forward to on the day. I'm well prepared now; I have my base layer (after seeing the forecast I decided bare arms may not be an option). Though that does solve the issue of my arms rubbing as I get towards mile 10. I have my armband for my phone; which means I wont need my belt. This will solve the distraction of my belt riding round all the time. I have new duo layer socks (see twitter) and spray film to try to avoid blisters. I also go some energy bars for the morning of the run.

My breakfast is tried and tested many times, a 9 Bar and a Nakd Bar; very scrummy! I know that they both are palatable as I won't be able to face porridge and bananas give me a really bad stitch. My energy bars are the same formula to the gel shots I've been using in training. I also still have 3 jelly power shots for the run itself. I can't help feeling all those running magazines have really paid off!!

In about an hour I'm off to meet my friend Kelly; who was one of my kind contributors to my blog a few months ago. I'm really looking forward to seeing her as it's been a while. I'm sure she won't mind me telling you all she is currently undergoing some therapy sessions and is doing very well.

I've also been lucky enough to not only have my name on the front of my vest, but my twitter name on the back too!! If you're watching the run on the television or are roadside, you won't have trouble recognising me at all!! I'll be posting a photo before I leave the house and I hope to take as many photo's on the day as I can!

I'm so close to raising 300 pounds I'm so happy with the amount of people who have donated, my website will be open until the 15th October so there is plenty of time if you haven't already done so.

I'm going to update you all on the escapades at the pasta party, very much looking forward to that,. Tomorrow I hope to create my playlist for the run; I don't intend on blocking out the crowd but I do like some background music to run to.

After this blog there is only one more blog before the run, even if it's just a short one after I've packed my bag and laid out all my things the night before.

I want to thank everyone for their support and kindness and hope very much that it will continue for all my future runs.

To donate follow this link

To follow me on twitter @79bobbin

Follow @MindCharitygo to Mind

Remember... Just keep running, Just keep running!

Chrissy

Just over 5 days to go...

Welcome back!

I can't believe how long it has been since I wrote my last blog!! I've just been so busy with work and training it's been hard to find the right amount of time to settle down and write something.

Training has been going well; the last time I checked in I was still waiting for my vest which has now arrived and I did my longest run wearing it last weekend. I actually really like it! Very comfortable and I now have my name ironed on the front and currently waiting to receive my letters to have my twitter name (@79bobbin) on the back.
I have had to sew in some velcro strips underneath the bottom of the top and on my leggings so my top doesn't ride up as I'm running; it's the one thing I just can't stand. Not only do I find it uncomfortable, it just doesn't look good!! Haha!

My 11 miles run went quite well. Well I finished it! In all seriousness I think after doing that I almost felt that with the crowd and the other runners, the finish line in sight I might have been able to do the last two!.

My stats for that run were 11.14 miles in 2 hrs 49 mins average pace 15 mins 14 secs. With this I predict that I'll finish in just over 3:15 to 3:20; I'm quite happy with that. At the moment I just want to enjoy it, so I plan to try to stick to my pace and soak in the atmosphere! Hope to take a lot of photos along the way.

I plan on writing a few blogs this week. I'm feeling quite rational at the moment, but it would be interesting to see how I'm feeling after my last run on Wednesday and on my day off work on Friday, and after the pasta party on Saturday.

I will take photos at the pasta party and give you all a run down on what was there.

Please sponsor me anything you can. You can do so by clicking here
Follow me on twitter @79bobbin
Follow Mind @MindCharity

In the meantime, just keep running, just keep running!

Chrissy

Nerves are setting in now

Welcome back!

I have to say the nerves are really starting to set in now. I read posts from the Great North Run Facebook page everyday reading tips and anecdotes from peoples experiences and my belly does flips!

I have one advantage though, my partner Ant has done the GNR 4 times himself and knows exactly what to expect. He is seeing me off at the start line with the dog and heading to the finish to meet me there, my sister has developed 'Team Chrissy' and will be doing a Metro hop all the way along the route. It is very useful knowing what my average pace is and what I'm aiming for.

At the moment I'm enjoying our last public holiday, I'm still in bed. I have got a 9 mile run planned for today. I planned in my route earlier this week but I think I might change it slightly. It's very warm today but I'm just going to plod on.

I have had a very good plan this week and it started to take shape on Saturday afternoon; I'm making cupcakes for everyone at work and giving them out with a flag in them which has my charity giving page on it! After trying my first batch I know I need to tweek the recipe slightly; my sponge is a little stodgy and my icing is a little too orangy. Next batch will be good though.

I'm also going to be working on my playlist for the race day, now this isn't going to be on very loud in my ear but I will have my head phones in anyway as I need my app to tell me how I'm doing with my pace, I'll have my music on quiet but when I think I need it, I will be able to crank up the volume and just go for it!

I'm also still waiting for my Mind vest - I really wanted to get my twitter name printed on the back for on the day but I might not get it in time now!

We will see soon enough. In the meantime I will be trying to stop my nerves getting the better of me!

Please do sponsor me - you can do via this link
Follow me on twitter @79bobbin
Follow Mind on twitter @MindCharity
Visit their website

Until next time, Just keep running, just keep running!

Chrissy

Less than One Month to go!

Welcome back!

I cannot believe how long it has been since my last blog. So much has happened!

As you can see from my attached pictures I have received my race number and pack. I also have heard from the Mind Running Group on Facebook that our vests are on the way too!

It's also been a week of action since returning from our holiday too! I have completed four runs to huge success in the end.

The first was on Monday, we went out quite late as we had all kinds of things to do. My other half did come with me. I found it very hard; my legs were heavy, ankles stiff and almost felt like I couldn't keep going. I did though and achieved 3.07 miles in 47 mins 36 seconds, a very slow average pace of 15:32 min per mile average pace.

Wednesdays run was a little easier I found. I picked an old route and went for it, first 2 miles was very hard work, once I warmed up it got a little easier and finished 5 miles in 1 hr 14 m 52 s - I managed to reduce my average pace right down to 14 min 59 seconds per mile! I couldn't believe I was able to shave of more than 30 seconds per mile!

Fridays run was interesting, I set off as normal increasing on my pace but horror struck when my battery flashed low just under 2 miles! I couldn't believe it! At just under 3 miles I lost it completely! in the grand scheme of things I wasn't far from home but I don't think I have ever felt so vulnerable. I realised I don't know any mobile numbers except my Dad's! My parents live 300 miles away! At one point I did think I was being followed, so I ran faster than I normally would to get far enough away as I could. I finished my route, I hoped to do 6 miles and I know I did at least 5. You can see from my photos that I was doing better than my average pace just before my battery died. But, alas, we will never know!

Sunday run I am most proud of. I pushed myself and planned a 7 miles route, I was a little nervous before going out but once was out there and past the first three miles I got into it. I found the hills really hard, I ended up walking them. I also made the mistake of not taking enough to drink with me, I had to stop n a bar on the way to ask them to fill up my water bottle. You can see my screen shot of my results, I finished 7 miles in 1 hr 44 mins and 33 seconds with an average pace of 14:54, still quicker than my 5 miles on Wednesday!

I'm looking forward to 6 miles tomorrow, then again on Thursday, 5 on Friday and 9 on Sunday!! I know I can do this now, I just have to keep moving!!

I intend to write as many bogs as possible between now and the Great North Run and I will continue to do so afterwards as I want to keep training and eventually run a whole half marathon.

Thanks for reading!

Please support Mind and sponsor me by visiting www.virginmoneygiving.com/chrissyrunsin2013

Follow me on Twitter @79bobbin

Follow Mind on Twitter @MindCharity

To find out more about Mind you can by following this link www.mind.org.uk

Just keep running, just keep running!

Chrissy

Running on holiday?? Am I mad?

Welcome back!

I had started to write a blog a few days ago but I was very much distracted by friends of ours (@arcticride2014 & @mrsarcticride Gordon & Kirsty) who gave us the thumbs up that we were able to book our holiday to Iceland!! (I know!!)

So, come January when you are all suffering from post-Christmas blues, we'll be off on a 5 day trip to Iceland; Husky rides, Northern Lights, Whales (hopefully), Blue Lagoon swimming, geothermic pools... needless to say, I can't wait!!

Returning back to August (can you believe it's August already!!??), I'm currently away with my partners family in Devon/Dorset. It's fabulous down here; green fields, rugged coast lines, pebbled beaches, fish and chips, and plenty of sunshine! Despite years of experience, I still got sunburn on my first day here!!! (slap wrists!) It's not been all sunshine though, yesterday we saw some very heavy rain. So we went bowling. Was good fun!

I'm still proud that I've been able to get out for a few runs since getting here. With much encouragement from Sarah (my partners, brothers, fiancee) who is running the Great North Run this year for The MS Society. The first  we did together; I was very pleased with myself. I was able to run consistently for half a mile, which was a good achievement in itself, but then I was able to keep up my pace to under a 13 minute mile for the entire 3 miles. You can take a look at my progress at my RunKeeper Profile.

At this stage I really thought I was going to be running at least 6/7 miles but I've ended up building myself up from 2 miles again. I almost feel like I'm starting completely from scratch! I can't quite believe that even though I was only out of action for about 10 days I've fallen behind my schedule so much!

I'm going to try not to worry about it though, if I do I'll not be focusing on each individual run I'll be worrying about the next one. I've got to stay focused.

I'm off out again in the morning, as another thing I've got to try to do it get my body trained up enough for morning runs! My second run this week was incredibly hard; every single muscle in my body ached, my calves were stiff, my ankles were stiff. I thought I'd warmed up enough but I really do find morning running so much harder than evening running! Additionally, I really need to continue to stretch my legs more on my 'off' days, it might be why I'm find it so hard in the mornings.

I did find something very useful though; in the latest issue of Women's Running Magazine I found a one week menu planner for a vegetarian. I'm going to give it a try the week I'm back to see if it makes much of an improvement to my energy levels, I may even try it for a full two weeks.

All in all, I know the Great North Run is creeping up on me, I know I'm going to find it very tough and I'm very glad I have a full body sports massage booked in the day after it!
I'm still very much focused on my target of raising as much as I can for Mind.

I hope to have my running vest very soon and I will be getting my twitter name printed on the back.

I very much hope to write another blog before we leave to drive back to Newcastle, at least with another 2 runs completed and at least one of them being 5 miles!!!

Please sponsor me by following the links below.

Mind Charity Website
Twitter @79bobbin
VirginMoneyGiving

Thanks for reading!

Just keep running, just keep running......

Chrissy

Summer Running - Fun in the sun? or Can't handle the heat?

Hello and welcome back!

I can't believe how long it's been since my last blog, though it has been eventful.

Running was starting to improve two weeks ago. I was actually starting to believe, but something has been stopping me from running since the weather started to get warmer. I've been suffering terribly from swollen ankles. I have had this problem for years, in the heat or if I've been on my feet for too long. Recently, the problem has caused me a considerable amount of discomfort.

My feet feel tight, I can't stretch them, when I press on the area they feel solid but if I apply pressure they are spongy and leave an impression of my finger before swelling back up within minutes.

Running with my ankles swollen like this has become very difficult. Despite feeling tight, I struggle to pull my trainers on and if I can and do get out to run; my feet feel so heavy as if I have wights tied round them!

I decided to visit my doctors, so I made a telephone appointment (I missed it because I was in a lift with no signal and they only tried me once) so I went to my local walk in centre. After waiting about 40 mins I was spoken with by a nurse who was behind a bullet proof screen and didn't even look at my ankles. She tod me to make an appointment for blood tests. So I did. the following week I booked an appointment for blood tests, waited 15 mins to be tod that I really should see a doctor. So, I made an appointment, again. Waited about 30 mins to be seen, I was asked all the relevant questions, only to be told they don't know what it is and should have blood tests and an ECG. (can you see a pattern here?) So, yet again booked in the the nurse, I went to the hospital and had my ECG. I've now had the blood tests (even though I hate them!)I'm now just waiting for the results. I have a follow up appointment in two weeks to get my results and see where we are going from here.

In the meantime, I can put tube bandages on them over night and they go down to a relatively normal  size by morning. It's not an ideal solution, but for the moment it's making it manageable.

So, all in all I've missed quite a few runs. I have joined a gym for a month just so I have other activities I can do in the meantime while I'm in between runs. By the time it runs out I should be back on the roads again and at least on 8-9 miles - a good few miles behind schedule but at least I'm not going to be too far behind.

I'm hoping to write another blog this week as I've got alot more I want to talk about but it's 1:15am and I'm literally falling asleep as I type.

Please support Mind and sponsor me by visiting Charity Page
Follow me on Twitter @79bobbin
Follow Mind on Twitter @MindCharity
To find out more about Mind you can by following this link www.mind.org.uk

Just keep running, just keep running!

Chrissy