London Marathon April 23rd 2023

• January 2023 - Before Training Starts:

2022 was a great year for training and running in prep for the London Marathon, completed a 9 mile run just before the NY, my last ‘free’ run before following the marathon training program. Then, I busted my knee, a recurring injury/niggle, rather annoying. Now, I have a swollen knee and rest is needed. Frustrating!

• 3rd January - Training Should Begin!

Today ‘should’ be the first day of training officially!  It is a 20 mins ‘easy’ run, so I will complete a 40 min very easy walk as knee is still not right. I have comfort that I know my knee will get better and I am ‘running fit’ but it’s still frustrating not to be following the program! As a PT said to me, its about the mileage in the legs, it doesn’t always have to be a run!

• 5th January - Knee Improving

Movement is improving in the knee and the swelling is reducing - I can now see my knee cap! Keeping up the RICE routine at the same time maintaining some exercise for my sanity; walking, rowing machine and stretches.  I like to follow a process/plan……… I have assured friends they will be fine and not to panic when in the same situation so…..friends have reminded me of the running I have done in the past. I will drag my arse round what ever happens!

• 6th January - Muscle Treatment

A much needed deep tissue massage was had, and it really helped the muscles around the knee (IT Band, Hamstrings and Calf Muscles) and the left leg which has been over working with the right leg not functioning properly! Blinkin' hurt but felt so much better after the sauna I had!

• 7th January - Itchy Feet.........

Today I wanted to do a brisk walk and try a jog, so I did. To be honest jogging felt better than walking, but took it really steady, as my fear was how it would be after. Plenty of stretches were done, ICE on the knee and Deep Heat on the IT Band!

• 9th January - Take 2 - while completing Red January

Decided to give it another go, knee was aching and slightly stuff, a lot could be down to sitting at the desk, not moving and feeling cold. I picked an ‘easy’ route and it felt ok - again lots of stretches when home. Sauna/Steam room at the gym tonight!

• 12th January - Small Steps of Improvement

I ran (steady), no walking and much more comfortable than walking. I have kept the knee warm today and I think this has made a massive difference. After a day of ‘nothing’ yesterday, I made sure I did some serious stretches, yoga and core. This I must keep in my daily routine - something I used to do all the time!  Note to self not to get complacent again!

• 13th January - A New Morning Routine!

When you decide to run a marathon or take on any challenge and it becomes ‘real’, you get guidance and advice from so many people/friends, which is great!

The support in what ever you chose to do is always amazing.

This smoothie recipe will be part of my morning routine - with the addition of turmeric and collagen (not mentioned - but recommended by a friend) to help with the joints!

• 14th January - An Element of Feeling FREE!

Despite the down pours I wanted to go running just like I have always done  …..my legs (and brain!) have been so used to all the runs to suddenly stop has been mentally tough. It felt great to be out in the rain and running! When will I be able to run and not be aware of the knee?

• 16th January - Week 1 Training Begins.......carefully!

I decided to push back the training plan for the LM by two weeks - starting with easy runs and no mileage agenda. As the past weeks running hasn’t ‘hurt’ the knee if anything the stretching has helped - I would like to hope I will be ok. Lets see how this week goes and a sports leg massage is booked in for Friday! Pre-empting the start of the training plan - I decided to send a fundraising email to nearly everyone I knew!

• 22nd January - LMT#4 - She's Back!

Had to think of a 60 mins run that was mainly road (boring?!) and make it a bit exciting! A little apprehensive at doing a longer run (used to be my norm!), but felt good, well ok!  Wore the new road trainers bought for purpose! In the words of a Strava follower and good friend ‘she’s back'! This signifies the end of Week 1!

• 23rd - 29th January - Week 2 Training

Well it is all getting a bit easier, the phrase of the month ‘slowly but surely’….definitely keeping up the yoga stretches and core exercises. Keeping to the streets and avoiding the countryside for now but hopefully back  on the trail soon.  Below are the completed runs for the week with a total of 23.94 miles completed.

• 27th January - Grateful for the Donations!

• 30th January - 5th February - Week 3 Training

Well I didn’t expect to get my Strava 100k badge in January but I achieved it on the button!

Running and walking is now happening with ease, there was a psychological change with the start of Feb, the sun was shining and it is warmer - always helps. I visited the RSBC centre on the 2 Feb 2023 and got myself a training top…. all part of the fundraising!

The week consisted of short runs with a long run on Sunday - its all going to start ramping up now!

• 6th Feb - 12th Feb - Week 4 Increasing the Miles

This week’s training of 4 runs with a mix of tempo looking at around 26 miles over all the runs and some strengthening sessions  More importantly a deep tissue Thai massage is booked for this week, looking after all the muscles!

What a week of training it has been for week 4 - increased length of runs in the week, ending with a 10 mile run. I completed a trail run on the Friday as it was so beautiful but nearly stacked it in the mud at least 3 times. I need to really think about what I am eating - as the desire for food increases with the miles. The 10 mile run after a long week felt really good considering, holding a steady pace throughout. This was my longest run on the road for a long time. The next 3 weeks will see the miles build up, so best stock up on the protein and recovery shakes!

• 13th Feb - 19th Feb - Continuing to Ramp up the Miles.....

The weeks of training are getting ‘heavier’ and I have felt exhausted all of this week…..? So a last minute day off booked to just ‘not think!’ and prepare for a 12 mile run with Millie on the Sunday…

A really lovely run with Millie. I was ‘worried’ about pace and the run ‘working out’ for both of us - and didn’t need too! We ran really well together, similar pace, comfortable, helped, guided and slowed down when needed - great support. The run gave us both confidence we can run together in the marathon and our next couple of training runs. Thanks Millie - it made the 12 miles enjoyable!

Strava 100km completed already this month - don’t think I will quite achieve the 200km badge! 21 Runs completed as part of the Marathon Training.

• 20th Feb - 26th Feb - The Runs just keep getting Longer!

The morning after the long run and I surprisingly felt fine and not too achy!  Went to a Step Class on the Monday (can’t help myself - can’t have ‘rest’ days!) and had a spa - much needed. The miles (again) are ramping up so, muscle care needed. Moving the 14 mile long run from Sunday to Friday for two reasons, make the most of a sports massage booked in and cold water swimming on the Saturday and allow me a few beers on the Saturday and enjoy a night out!

How steady are those splits!

This was a very cold and mentally tough run - the route picked on purpose!  One to test my mental strength and two, a safe route for an early morning run!

Longest run since the Summer of 2022.

The long run on Friday and cold water swimming was followed by a relaxed enjoyable run in the sun with no target, plan or anything - just back to the feeling of being free!

On Wednesday 22 Feb 2023  - we visited the Life Without Limits Centre at RSBC. It was a great insight into the history of the charity, their work and to be educated!

• 27th Feb - 5th march - Mixing it up in Week 7

With travels to Spain at the end of the week, I am mixing up my training but making sure I still get the miles in my legs. Trying a bit more tempo, speed and different routes - making sure the joy isn’t lost!  Can’t do too many Aylesbury runs!

Words can not describe how kind and thoughtful friends and family can be. Running long distances solo can be a ‘lonely’ place, helped by the tunes but also knowing you have such amazing support. Small gestures mean BIG!

LMT #29 and LMT #30 were in beautiful running conditions in Spain! More stopping than I would do normally, taking pictures (making the Strava family in the UK jealous!) and enjoying the scenery.  After food provided by my gorgeous mum, to be able to stroll in the sunshine and relax on the paseo was just the ticket, followed by Tapas (lots of it) and a few beers and vinos!

• 6th March - 12th March - getting Hard in Week 8

As I go into this week, I am feeling more tired. A cold while away probably hasn’t helped and the change of the weather. I really to need to think about more food and protein than I am currently. To top it off I have noticed issues with my Apple Watch not recording calories correctly, and a failed treadmill run showing 2.5 miles when should’ve been 4 miles approximately…….. checked my health data and for some reason it had changed to 65cm in height form 165cm in height - quick change and hopefully all corrected.

My long run this weekend was ‘just’ for 1 hour and 45 mins and I scheduled for the Saturday due to other commitments (husbands birthday and Ethan in the finals for a major squash competition - which he won!)….I decided to have no planned route and enjoy the run so that's what I did.  The weather was more pleasant than expected so hit the trail and far too much mud!

• 13th March - 19th March - A Mixed Week of Training

As I enter the final 6 weeks of training, I am astounded at the amount I have fundraised…84% of target achieved.......just amazing!

The plan is to do the long run (18 miles) on Friday due to another busy weekend - hopefully the last busy weekend and some calm in April. As a result the training days have changed.  There’s lots of excited and nervous mumblings from fellow runners as the date draws close. For me and a friend it is dreaded monthly cycle - not good at certain times when running……good to see an email on this from TCS in one of there weekly updates. Support for women on Marathon Day - TCS London Marathon

The week of running started great - picking up the pace and enjoying the running, but when it came to the long run - well!  With a busy weekend planned I decided to take the Friday afternoon off work to complete the 18 miles. Bad planning, bad route, bad timing - resulted in a broken Joni at the end of the run. The run consisted of heavy rain (not a problem) then glorious sunshine, roads, fields, canals, mud, reservoirs and an attempt at a speed finish!!  Oh boy did I enjoy my wine that night!!  next time better planning and maybe sticking to loops and roads!

Broken

• 20th March - 26th March - 5 Weeks to go!

Building up to a plan of running loops for the 20 miles - for a number of reasons. Staying away from the mud and not having to think!  Only thing is ending on Icknield way on mile 19 might just break me!!  So, thinking of extending the first loop to reduce the final one (and avoid Icknield Way) - or of course reverse the route each time!!  We will see!!

Preparing for the long run on the Saturday - checked a blog and pizza for dinner and cereals before bed time! What to Eat the Night Before a Long Run: 13 Meal Ideas (runtothefinish.com)

• 27th March - 2nd April - 4 Weeks to go!

200km Strava Badge Achieved!

• 3rd April - 9th April 2023

All getting exciting now - the RSBC Whattsapp group is getting busy as we await all the finer details. Longest run for this week is 90 mins and with sunshine expected by the end of the week hopefully this is a taster of what the marathon will get!

Due to the bank holiday weekend, I was joined by Martha on her bike one day and Matt for the 90 mins (madness considering he ‘hates' running and the last run he did was over a year ago and only 3 miles!  Matt was slow and steady and did amazing - just a little sore two days later!

• 10th April - 16th April - Belly Waves are Proper Now!

2 Weeks to go to Marathon Day and the fundraising has been phenomenal, overwhelmed would be an understatement!

Tuesday 11th we received our start waves and the anxiety is slightly raised!

"Your Start colour: Blue, Your Start wave: 9, Your Start Assembly Area arrival time: 09:27:00, Your Start wave opens: 10:22 - 10:32, Your Start time: 10:36 - 10:39"

But when you check the fundraising target you know all the training is worth it! Overwhelmed is an understatement. With nervous energy raised a lovely friend sent me the below:

‘If you’re aching you’re normal. If you’re nervous you’re normal. If you’re scared you’re normal. If you’re not sure you can do it you’re normal. Ten days to go, you’ve got this.’

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• 17th April - 23rd April - Final Week

A week of very short runs, lots of rest and getting marathon ready!

Thursday was an overwhelming day - training pretty much solo with 'remote' support has been amazing but to enter The Excel to get my 'kit' bag and name printed on my RSBC (Royal Society for Blind Children) vest, surrounded by so many other people who have been doing the same training as you from all over the world in the same place was rather 'wow'.......... the kindness from everyone there has made it all REAL! Roll on Sunday.....

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• 23rd April - Race day and after!

Race day or rather weekend where to begin?!!  Key words describe the whole weekend and journey!

• Overwhelmed
• Anxious
• Excited
• Emotional - really quite teary!
• Broken
• Relieved
• Proud
• Overwhelmed!

For me, the journey to Blackheath and the start was the best I could’ve hoped for, relaxing and chilled!  It took me a good 6km to settle in my stride and then you hit Cutty Sark (didn’t even notice!) and the noise from the crowds was insane - almost put me in a panic - where are my family, will I see them???  Then I saw Gaby and Luke and relaxed……. then round the corner I could hear the screams of my family and friends - just insane and emotional!

Now to relax and run - I felt I could go faster but I panicked…… so slowed down…… just before the half way mark, my watch stopped and had to re-set - this didn’t help my stride but what the heck!  I then knew friends on the bridge at the NSPCC stand so stopped and hugged, I just had to embrace each moment!

For some reason I started to feel some pressure not long after this and the worst section was the elites running in and we are running out!  I heard the DJ shout “you are doing amazing, only 4 miles to go!”……..agghhh not for us!!

To see my family and friends again at 23 miles was AMAZING, but the hardest bit was to come - experience from a previous marathon - the last 3 miles the worst BUT the loudest!  I started walking and was ‘picked up’ by a fellow runner and he got me over that line!!