your first thought when you look at the weekly weather forecast is, "When can I fit in my runs?"

So this title is perfect for this weeks update as for some reason I timed all my runs perfectly with the nearest heavy rain shower! This was fine towards the end of the week as the weather warmed but earlier on it was rather chilling! This week was a great week for running anyway. Got all the runs in and even felt great about them and not as sore or tired as last week. Fitness is coming back!

So the first run of the week was during one of the icy days. This was fine as I set off later then I normally would have to avoid the slippy ice. The scrubs though that I run through were so bitter! The ice was hitting off the back of my calves as I jogged through which then meant the cold started to creep up my legs. Was not very pleasant at all! But got it done (3.24miles)!

Now I know I said I got everything done and it was a great week but I did kinda skip my cardio in the gym. This was only because I forgot my running shoes and you kinda need them for the gym! I will remember them this Wednesday. I may even make sure my card will let me in today so I can go to the outside gym instead if the access is denied.

Now back to how great the running was ;) This was supposed to be a 4miler run but I got the worst cramps in my stomach during the run. I didn't stop the running but decided to cut the run .7miles short. The rain didn't help either but at least I felt better getting home. And I felt glad that I went out anyway as well!

At this stage of the week i was starting to get a little worried about my silly fast pace. For the run to the beat, I ran a comfortable 9min 47sec/miles but for some reason my runs lately have been 8:40-8:55min/miles. I have been trying to slow myself down but for some reason I end up running the same pace. I need to get this sorted soon or else my long runs will hurt a lot!

Talking long runs 5miles was the set distance this week which was another nice one to get back into fitness. And what was so great about this run? The rain that began about 2mins in? Yep! The wind that was blowing me backwards while I ran forwards? Yep! To be honest though, I like to train with these conditions because I think if it turns out race day isn't great weather wise then at least I'm prepared. There is no way to make race day nice and cool with no wind so may as well be prepared. Makes ya stronger too right?!

Recovery run then was more like a tempo run and I honestly thought my time was going to be so much slower! I felt like my feet were dragging! Maybe the watch is broken or something....not me obvs but I need to sort this out soon before I burn out!!

So far I've ran 30miles this month which is more then 9months of last years total and we're not even at the end. So glad to be back into running just a little scared of the long runs again and trying to fit them in without passing out for the day afterwards.

Week 2! Check!!

your in work thinking about running.. and out running thinking about work ..

Prague Half Marathon here I come!! So at the end of last year I decided that I would love to run 3 half marathons this year. This was of course just after completing the Run to the Beat half in September. I was on a high after finishing in 2hours 7mins and 36seconds. I couldn't believe that I could 1)actually get there to the run, 2) finish the run and 3) get it in under 2hours 30mins. I was aiming for 2hours 15minutes on the day but I thought that I would never get under that! I think I need to recap on that day as I never did it on my other blog that will return to a normal diary of London life.

Sept 25th 2011.
Temp at 10am: A whopping 23degrees.
People there: thousands in purple!
Feeling: Nervous but excited!

So the day started with getting up really really early and having loads of water and porridge. I had my bag packed from the night before so not to waste time being nervous. Hoping on the tube at East Acton with my fantastic housemates the nerves were sinking. There were a couple other runners it seemed on the platform and I thought cool I may see some people going there too. Umm...no. I may see a couple hundred on the tube! Getting to Bond Street the central line I was on was full of runners and the platform was so jammed I was looking for people that were in the same colour band as me! I was lucky to get a seat on the tube as it couldn't fit anymore people there were that many runners. This did NOT help the nerves. I was shaking as I kept drinking the water I'd brought. Hydrate loads before the race I was told. Getting off at Greenwich was like entering a purple sea! There were purple shirted runners everywhere! Everyone was in such great spirits it relaxed me a little. A little...Remember this was the first long race. I'd only ever competed in a 5km, I accidently entered. This event was much different! So I met my friend Charlotte who was going to run the race with me at the top of the station. We nattered and ran off leaving my house mates to find a good place to view the race from. I had a loo stop and then headed to our coloured area.

Me and Charlotte after the race! 

The race began at 10am! I was ready! But then....we had to wait....watching the runners leave their pens was awful. I wanted to be out there running! And what was worse was I could feel the hydration I had packed up on needing to be released. I was not in a good place. But off we set about 20mins later to the roar of the crowd. Each mile was supposed to have a music station which I thought would be a small stage. It was a little chipper van and there were DJs pumping out music that was only loud enough for you to hear when you were near them. This was okay though, I didn't mind. I had Charlotte (the best running partner ever!). At about mile 4 I spotted out other friend Holly who was just about 3mins behind us! She was running with her friend Rach who was injured but still going strong. I didn't take on any water until about mile 9 where I decided that not drinking because I needed the toilet was a silly idea. I felt so dehydrated! Charlotte was worried too but I did not want us to stop and ruin our time (I know now that this should have been done and it was silly! First big race remember!). Things were tough from then on. I was finding it hard and the heat was really not helping me! At mile 12 I told Charlotte to go on without me that I was afraid that I would have to walk and didn't want to ruin her half marathon time. She felt bad but I insisted. She finished 2minutes ahead of me and waited at the end. Throughout the run though my housemates were fantastic! They were screaming at mile 3, which was early but really nice! Then again at about mile 8 where we had just come up the hill so it was tough. Then again at mile 11 were I really needed the encouragement. They were so great! I couldn't thank them enough for their support! Though right at the end when I thought I had nothing left in me at all I saw 2 Irish flags hanging off the barriers holding back the hundreds of supporters. I don't know what I was thinking but I think I thought if I heard some Irish voices or something it would help. It turned out that it was my mother, my sister and my friend Sean. I blurted out an "I love you" and slowly made my way to the finish line where I never felt so much relief in not having to run anymore! I grabbed a bottle of water, downed it, looked up at Calvin Harris and then met Charlotte who was waiting for me. We got our medals and my Mum wrapped the Irish flag around me and told me I was just like Sonya O'Sullivan! It was such an emotional end to a great run! I saw loads of MNDA runners who I waved and cheered on! The atmosphere was fantastic and I felt so happy to have ran the half and ran for MNDA.

Quick trip to Nandos for protein and a treat and then off to the pub for 2 drinks before I collapsed into bed. My legs were shaking and aching but was good!

So now to the next event! I finished the year with a 10km Movember run which wasn't great 61mins and 10seconds. There were 4 hills with an elevation of 200ft in 0.2miles (something like that). But I didn't mind. It was still a run for a good cause and the atmosphere at this one was so much better then the Run to the Beat.

Next event? This one has to be a half marathon. So I signed up for the Prague Half Marathon on the 31st March. It is a very level half and I love Prague. Why not sure?! So training for this started this week and maaan am I out of shape. One 3 mile, 4mile and 5mile run. There was supposed to be a CT in there but I didn't have time. Time is my biggest issue at the moment. Getting myself out of bed earlier to run is hard!! But week one is done! This means that me and my good running/Science friend Holly can continue to talk about running all through lunch, google running while we are in the lab and can now actually do the running! Bring on week 2! I am going to whoop it's ass! Now to find a 10km race before this half! Oh and Royal Parks opens on Wednesday, super excited!! :)

Stretch!!

Aine