What to do now??

Well, as many of you know, my infamous running partner is out of commission for a while. Dusty was diagnosed with a cataract, which for only in being two years old, was quite a shock for Jon and I. I was just getting ready to get into a schedule with running, work, school and life but have now a setback.

Dusty has another one growing in his right eye, but the one in the left was blocking his whole vision. It really surprised me because he is so full of life. Always ready for everything.

Dusty went in to the vet on Tuesday night. He had the cataract removed the Wednesday. I was on pins and needles all day and finally relieved when I got phone call saying everything went really well. Dusty was doing good, was very sweet and a favourite with the staff.

He had to stay with them until Friday to monitor his progress. We went through the aftercare with the vet. Dusty has to have 16 drops a day and 4 pills a day. After explaining that we have to keep him calm, the vet said "I'm going to go get him, but he is going to go mental." Luckily for us, Dusty was a bit subdued but excited to come home. He could only be let out on a lead for a potty break and has to wear that lovely soft collar you see in the picture.

So now we have had the first followup appointment, where they said everything is going well. He can see (thank you God!). Overtime the drops will be reduced and so will the pills. He has been very patient and cooperating more than you could ever expect. We can take him out for very short walks.

Our running plans have been put on hold because this is a very serious operation and so Dusty cannot be very active until everything settles, which could be months. We have to keep him as calm as possible. So that means I cannot go for a run because he gets very worked up when I go without him. So I have decided along side a new plan that I have, I will be doing videos for working out, yoga and pilates that I have. If Davina looks that good, why can't I?

I am very happy that the surgery was successful and if the running has to be put on hold so Dusty can get better, I am fine with that. We will have other runs. I may try to squeeze in a run with DT at work then (for the record, Dusty is faster than DT but he will do :).

I am hoping that we will be able to run in the Newmarket Heath race together in May or the 10k in July that they hold. I know that he loves it and I haven't signed up for anything yet. His rehabilitation is the top priority.

Kimx

Ran today!

Left it a bit late so had to go for a quick one! Really enjoyed it and was able to say 'Good Morning' to my father-in-law on his way to work.

I missed yesterday but you know what its like the first day back to school, nothing happens on time. I couldn't find my keys for work and after being away for 2 weeks, its hard to trace your steps bur found them today, the last place I looked, where I lock up my bike. If I took my bike yesterday, I would have found them! Oh well, I got them back.

How is your resolutions going?

Janathon is here!

As with everyone else, I have a few New Year's resolutions and one of them happens to be to get back into the swing of things and get back into my running. There is no better time than Janathon.

Janathon is a great way to motivate you to get moving. You just have to run or do some sort of exercise and blog about it. Its nice to have a community to support your efforts.

Amongst getting back into running, although I have not signed up for any events at the moment, I am going through a detox as well. I am not just going through a detox for my body, I am also detoxing my life and my house but lucky for you that is on another blog.
I just thought it would be good to clean out the system and help us (Jon and I) be a bit healthier. I got a steamer for Christmas from Jane and looking to use it as much as possible even though Jon says that the vegetables taste too healthy. I also wanted to help lose the weight after Christmas and my inactivity before.

I would also like to work in some strength training a couple of times a week to give my efforts a boost and perhaps a yoga session or two for relaxation. I have been going to the local beauty school for deep tissue massages to work out the adhesions I have on my back. I don't think I would ever let anyone but Clare and Faye to hurt me the way that they do. If you have never had a deep tissue massage, I would definitely recommend one especially before your big day. It does hurt but it is worth the pain. They say no pain no gain! I usually get one done the week before and cannot explain the difference that you can feel. It just helps loose the muscles which after running a huge amount of miles is likely to happen.

Today was a beautiful morning so Dusty and I went out for a nice 3 mile run. It was even better because we were able to say 'happy New Year!' to Joyce and Anna. I guess I get double brownie points because I am going to go for a walk with the dog and the family again.

What is your fitness resolution? What have you signed up for?

Ode to My Running Partner

For me, Dusty is the perfect running partner, always wants to go for a run, can keep up with me and makes me feel safe in our early morning runs in the dark.

Anna saw that Women's Running wanted people to write in about running with their dogs. I wrote in and sent some pictures and was picked!

I got a great top and Dusty got some food and treats, not too bad, eh?

I have recently returned to running as a regular thing and really enjoying it. I see how much of a difference it makes to Dusty and we have such a strong bond. I call him my shadow. I sent this article to the woman who sold us Dusty two years ago this Christmas and she said it was lovely that I found a soulmate in him.

Its funny because I never really reflected on how much we have been through in just our running together, the time he jumped in the River Cam to avoid a bike when we ran with the girls, the time we almost got swept away in the sea in Southwold, the numerous encounters with cows and having hypothermia after a long training run. He never complained once and was always ready for the next one. In fact he is calling me to go for a nice run on a Saturday morning right now.

Hopefully you will find your running solemate.

Great Yarmouth Marathon- Mission Complete!

I ran my first and probably my last marathon on Sunday. If you have been following my blog, then you know I originally signed up for the Shakespeare one but it was cancelled due to the weather. I hummed and hahhed about whether I should sign up for another and questioned if I really wanted to. In the end, I decided I did want to do one but I was unwilling to commit the same amount of time in case the same thing happened.

The marathon I choose was the Great Yarmouth marathon, a one off to celebrate the running club's 25th anniversary. I thought that this would be a good one for couple of reasons, it wasn't too far to drive and the course was flat.

I have to admit my training took a huge hit after the first marathon. I had other things on and I just could not bare to think about running for hours on end by myself and get there to find that it was cancelled. I was also busy with my walks and cycling events so I was still cross training. The last couple of weeks, I made sure I hit the long runs and when I was in training it was good but I had never run farther than 20 miles before.

I was kind of nervous before the start but I walked 4 marathons in a row a few months ago so I knew I could keep moving and that was my main goal. I wanted to make it under 4 hours but the coast is known for being windy and rainy and funnily enough it was just like the weather of the Shakespeare marathon. I was doing really good until I stopped for a potty break around 18 miles and then after 20 miles I just ran/walked it until I got to about 24.5 miles and then I told myself I needed to keep moving to the end then about 200m out I sprinted as hard as I could and finished. It was a few minutes off my target time but I have never ran that far before, the weather was not favorable, and I did it!

I am happy I did a marathon but not sure if I will do another one. I have other things I would like to do and can't really commit the time to training but I will continue running.

Running just because you love it

I have to be honest, running has been the last thing on my mind since the marathon. I have gone out at lunch time to run with DT a couple of times and I am hoping that will continue. I think he likes to run with me because when we sprint the 100 metre straight, he always beats me. Its nice to be able to take a break in the middle of the work day and go out for a run especially once he explained how to work an electric shower so I could have a hot shower.

When I was just starting to train for the Shakespeare Marathon and I think just completed my first half, Andy Clarke, my friend Hannah's husband and barefoot running fanatic, told me that he just loved to run not for a particular distance or time, just went out there and did it. I thought that that's crazy especially coming from him as he is a bit over the top with his running as way, I think he has more pairs of running shoes than most women have in heels.

But now I understand what Andy means. When I first started running repetitively and without a PT test to 'motivate' me was when I separated from the USAF, it was great way for me to keep my mind and body busy, me to maintain a schedule until I found a job and keep healthy. Then I started losing weight and deciding to extend my distances. I moved to Cambridge got a puppy to accompany me on my morning runs and for whatever reason I started to decide to move on from my 5k and 10k to half and full marathons.

Through this experience, especially after the cancellation of my first marathon due to weather and the thought of building all of the miles to have that happen again, my heart wasn't in it. I can't complain too much as the time I finished in a really good time, especially for my first marathon but if I had out in the training I did for the first one I would have been well under the four hour mark.

But what has all of this running taught me? I am crazy like Andy. I just like to run, some days its 3 miles and others its 10 miles but I do just like to run for the sake of running. I don't like to have my running to be dictated by some running plan. I like it to be fluid to suit my lifestyle not to be my life. I want to be able to do the other things that I love and spend time with my friends who do not show the affinity for running but do share my other interests. I find I like to run alone mostly but like to do long-distance walking and cycling with others. Its where I go to think things through and studies have shown that its increases the bloodflow to the brain and it does increase brain activity (so my great ideas are because of it), it boosts memory, growth of grey matter and reduces stress.

So I think I am going to be like Andy and start to run (again) because I love it, not for the distance or the goal but its because its something I enjoy.

Mindful Running

I am doing a workshop in Mindful Thinking and during the course, it dawned on me that the principles can work for running too and I usually end up doing this especially on my long runs (I think I even used them on the Great Barrow Challenge).

I started to do this when I started running without music.

I started to focus on:

My breathe:

• Was it too hard
• Was it forced?
• Do I need to get a rhythm?

My physical wellbeing:

• Is it too hard?
• Is it hard enough?
• Does anything hurt?
• If so, what kind of pain is it?
• Does it hurt because I am running?
• Does it hurt because I am injured?

 My thoughts:

• Am I being positive?
• Am I getting in the way of my performance?
•  Am I paying attention to this run?

My emotions:

• How do I feel about this run?
• Does this mean to me?

I know what you are thinking, a bit deep when its only a run, but I think that it is the only time that I find that I am in the moment and fully concentrating on the task at hand. I hope to use the tools that I learn to apply it to other areas in my life  as we only have one life to live.

Support

I was thinking about this the other day when my husband, Jon, cycled next to me for my last 20 mile run in my training for the upcoming marathon. If you don’t have support, you will not accomplish much, I think it is very much like the attitude that you have. I am very fortunate that I have a husband willing to give up his Saturday morning lie in to cycle all the way up the Guided Busway and back just so I can see if I can really run the distance. He will also stand in the rain waiting for me to finish my half marathon (thanks Rob and Sarah-Jayne for getting him that umbrella, I am sure he will use it!). He will wake me up to eat dinner (that he made) after my marathon walk and do it four times in a row. You see, he would be running with me and all my other crazy challenges if he hadn’t had a horrific work accident which has left him unable to do a lot, but he doesn’t know how much this support means to me. I couldn’t have a better cheerleader in my corner than I have.

Kaitlyn, Me, Jenn and Anna

This weekend it made me realise it is also about the support we give to each other people. I took part in the Perkins Great Eastern Run Half Marathon in Peterborough. A few of my friends (Kaitlyn, Anna and Jenn) were training to do this event but this was a taper week for me because my marathon is next Sunday. I decided that I would run with them instead of seeing how fast I can do it in and hopefully to help them over the finish line in their target time. I decided I would stick with whoever was at the back to keep them company and see if I can provide any tips. It happened to that Jenn was the last person so I talked to her the entire way round, I think people thought I was nuts talking the whole time. I probably sounded like a Sat Nav, I was saying things like her pace was good, keep going, to take advantage of the decline and to focus on someone and catch up to them. When one guy almost started to walk 1.5 miles away from the finish, I cheered him on and he started running again (he gave me a hug at the end and thanked me). This event she has been training for months. On the morning I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep up as I have not been as dedicated as Jenn has been to her regime. This race wasn’t my race to run and I felt that I needed to be a friend and stick with her. She didn’t hit her target but she had a personal best at 2:02:21 which is 6 minutes shorter than her last time and something to be very proud of! I was so proud of Jenn because she ran her hardest all the way and did it!

Who supports you or who do you support?

Running Tip #4: Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude

This is very true.  You can really make or break your training or your event. It is very hard to stay positive but if you don’t you can really impact your performance. Recently this made a BIG difference for me for some long distance runs I was doing in preparation for my marathon.

Before my birthday, I went out for a 16 mile run. I was not really in the mood, I had not been training so much because I was working on some other areas for my challenge. I just wasn’t with it. The whole time I was out running, my mindset was negative. I was second guessing if I would be able to get enough time in to train for the marathon and did I have the endurance. Also why had I signed up for a marathon again? The run sucked, I was a half a mile short, issues with my sports bra and everything was wrong.

Last weekend, I went out for an 18 mile run. Although I had some hiccups which delayed my run (leaving my GPS watch at work, killed the car at the end our road trying to go get said watch, cycling 5 miles to get watch and not charging my iPod), I was ready. I had had a good week walking marathons and the runners gave me the motivation to really get into my training for the marathon in four weeks (YIKES!).  It was a nice day, I had on my new shoes, sorted out my refuelling plan and even though I didn’t have any music, I kept up the pace I was aiming for. I had positive conversation with myself. I just told myself, “I could do this”, “I was ready” and “I only had one more long run after this one”. That talk carried me to the 18 miles in 2.5 hours which really pleased me because it meant I was on target for the time I am after.

“Whether You Think You Can or Can't, You're Right”- Henry Ford.

Running Tip #3: Targeting your Time

If you know what time you are aiming for at your event, you might like to print out the Runner's World Pace Band. This is great so when you are out and about, you can make sure that you are on target with the time splits you have. It might be helpful because its easier to pace yourself when you know that you are on track.

Running Tip#2: Music

When I first started getting into running, I had to listen to music. I just needed a beat and I swore that the fast the music was, the faster I ran. Then I found out that I was right.  They say that running music can increase you speed by 15%.

Sometimes it is hard to find the right music for the right pace you are after. Well look no further, Jog.fm is a website that takes into account your pace and suggests music that will get you over the finish line.

Do be careful when running to music. Be aware of your surroundings, watch out for traffic and be mindful of your personal safety. I run with one headphone in my ear when running around the streets of Cambridge but I have found that when I am running with Dusty that I don’t listen to music because I want to be completely aware so we don’t go running in front of a car.

So if you need a motivator, plug yourself in.

Running Tip #1- Shoes

My new Nike Air Icarus (feel like slippers)

I think because I do a lot of events and activities, I get asked for my advice quite a bit so I thought that I could start writing some of my best 'secrets' down. These are not gospel and I am not a professional but I am experienced and when I can I do try to back it up with research.

I firmly believe that the two most important items for running that you will are good shoes and a good sports bra (women only of course!). I will get on my soapbox in another post about why I think that sports bras are so important and how shocked I am at the amount of girls and women not wearing them.

Good running shoes don’t necessarily have to be expensive despite what people say. You just need them to fit properly and be comfortable. If your shoes are too small, you risk your toenails falling off which is no good in the summer time! You should have a thumb’s width from the end of your shoes and it is advised you go up a half-size to accommodate the forward motion of running. They tell you to replace your shoes every 300 to 400 miles. I always forget to track how much I run in my shoes so I usually use my feet as my guide. If you start to get blisters or any other pains, it might be time to get some new shoes. With places such as Sports Direct, you can get the expensive shoes you want at a lower price.

After watching the BBC’s Panorama report on ‘The Truth About Sports Products’, I am reluctant to provide any suggestions of the fitting of shoes based on if you overpronate or are flat footed. I have high arches and find that I do like my cushioned shoes.  If you are working out or running and feel that your toes go numb, you might want to relace your shoes by skipping a hole like in the picture above (right shoe). I find that my arches are so high that the laces cut off the blood supply to my toes and therefore they go numb. 

I like lightweight shoes. The ones in the picture are amazing! I need new ones because I was starting to get blisters. I needed some cushioned ones for my every day and long distance runs. I have really light weight purple ones that I call my ‘magic’ shoes because I am super fast in them. I wear these for my 5k, 10k and half marathons. I have tried them for my really long runs to see if they would be suitable for my marathon but I just don’t think that there is enough cushioning for that distance. But if you don’t try these things you don’t know!

The best advice when it comes to running shoes is wear what makes you comfortable.