Great Barrow Christmas Challenge 26.2 miles

Yesterday Jane and I took part in the Great Barrow Christmas Challenge 26.2 miles. We walked with a lovely woman, Joyce, who Jane walked with a lot during her 4 day marathon. We had seen her in previous events and is a really fast walker.

I was dreading the weather as I was certain that it was going to be very cold. so I layers up with tights under my Sweaty Betty leggings and two pairs of walking socks. On top I wore two Sweaty Betty bamboo tops and my Help for Heroes Vest. I had a down gilet, a scarf and my Sweaty Betty ear warmer that Jon gave me for Christmas.

The weather ended up being really nice for December. We had a clear day and nearly no wind. The route that we did, I always find the hardest one. It was the route that I sprained both my ankles during my first Barrow Walk. We walk over the sugar beet fields and along roads. We were very fortunate as the fields were not too muddy from the storms we have had in previous days. I took us 8 hours to do the route.

Somewhere around 8 miles in, my hip started to hurt. I think I may have knocked something in the fall on my bike and the distance exasperated it. I kept rubbing it but it just wouldn't go away. The faster we walked the better it felt but by the time I got home, I could barely walk or balance on the leg and sitting was really uncomfortable. I took a shower and had dinner and went to bed. This morning when I woke up, I was not sure how it would feel but it seems okay. A lot better than last night. I think I will have to keep an eye on this and go to the doctor if it causes me any more difficulty.

Well I have completed 33.9 of my 538 miles.

You can follow my progress on my 538 Miles for Help for Heroes Face Book Page.

You can sponsor me here.

9 miles today!

I am on holiday for Christmas now and so Dusty and I are going to do 9 miles through Cambridge.

Wednesday is a rest day for me so I took that off and Thursday was a no go. There is one day a month I will never be able to run but he ho, one day off will not kill me.

I will not be running on Saturday as Jane and I will be sitting in line to go to the carol service at Kings College.

Gotta get in my kit!

Shaken but not stirred

Yesterday I was on my way to work and I slipped on ice on my bike and skinned my knees. I was looking very fashionable with gaping holes in my tights. The bruising set in today but I think my pride is more damaged than my body. I thought I might be in poor shape to run this morning but Dusty and I are hard core soldiers and we went for a great 5 mile run with Anna before she goes home for Christmas. Great way to start the day! Can't wait until the pantomime today with the Brownies and then Brown's with the leaders!

We did it!

I wasn't sure if Dusty would be able to do the full distance. In fact I wasn't sure if I would be able to as the longest I ran was 6.2 miles and that was in November at the Bonfire Burn 10k.

I got up and went to church and came home to change. I thought I would be bring the iPod because sometimes I use the music to motivate myself to keep going. The air was crisp and there was frost on the ground. I learned something on Sunday, ice and Dusty don't mix. He stopped and I was on a metal cover and kept going but luckily didn't hurt myself.

Once I get tot the River Cam, I allow Dusty to run off the lead. He usually stays with me but will venture off to some interesting smell and then race to catch up. Sometimes he runs right on my heels, right next to me and right in front of me. I wonder if he runs right in front of me to get me to slow down. The only thing I have to watch out for is if he stops suddenly.

I am sure some people thought we looked funny when I was holding his hind legs so he could get a drink from the river without going in!

We ran all the way to Waterbeach and I had Lucozade energy gel. I needed to try this out because I don't eat before I run. The only thing I forgot was the water to drink afterwards. I didn't have any problems with it but will have to try it when I run hard. I don't eat because my stomach tenses up so much that if there is anything in it, it makes me sick.

Dusty stuck with me for the way back. At one point I couldn't see him so I stopped and was calling for him and he moved up a bit looking down the river for himself.

I was certain that Dusty would sleep the rest of the day but he was up and jumping on Ruddles as per usual.

I came home and did some yoga for runners to help with the buildup of lactic acid and this morning I feel fine. I am just getting ready for a 3 mile run with Anna!

So here goes the first long one since the half marathon and the farthest that Dusty has ever run.

I was looking at the training plan that Alan, the Sweaty Betty running coach, sent out. I am very nervous that I am not on track so I think Dusty and I are going to have a go at 10 miles today to get on track.

One thing about the plan is that the marathon they are doing is at the beginning of April and mine is at the end so not quite sure when to really start but also my next half marathon is in March.

We will see how Dusty and I fair!


Happy Running!

Yesterday was fail but there was the first snow!

When Dusty and I got ready to go for our run with Anna, she texted to say it was raining hard. We decided to do the normal route but seemed to miss each other. Since it was miserable, we went back inside. I did this new full body workout that are 4 moves one minute each but I hope it will enhance my performance and be enough to help me cross the finish line a bit stronger. IT ended up snowing our first for the year!

Here is the video of this quick full body workout:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ti0KwzkdeFs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Dusty and I are going to run our normal short run this morning because we missed the run yesterday. I don't want to do more than that because we are also going on a 2 hour walk but I need to start get the training in.

Off we go!

Why I am taking part in Janathon

I always like a challenge and this year is not any different. I am not only tackling my first marathon, I am doing 538 miles for Help for Heroes. I am running 62 miles, cycling 260 and walking 8 marathons. I really need to start getting the training in as my next half marathon is on the 11th of March.

I thought that Janathon would be just what I need to get me going. Unfortunately I am not able to only do running because I have a few events already schedule but I will be being active.

Whilst Dusty is my main running partner, I am fortunate to have a few different people to spend my time running with, Jenn and Anna, we motivate each other to get running early in the winter mornings. 

A lot of people think I am over excited about my sports, you can tell by the enthusiasm and challenges I set myself, but there is something behind my enthusiasm. I have lost a significant amount of weight since separating from the United States Air Force. I found out that I am allergic to milk and soya. Whilst I was always a runner and fast, I could never shed the weight. Now its so much easier to run now and I am very proud to have run my first half marathon with Jenn in 1:50:21.  My target for the marathon is 4 hours. So I really better get on the training.

Please donate to this worthy cause at my charity page and follow my progress on my FB page for my challenge.

Happy Running!
Kim