Tag Archives: running

My first run in the rain

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Yes, I did get caught in the rain while running before, but no, I had never before willingly laced up my trainers while it was chucking it outside.

But as it has been raining for what feels like forever, and I needed to train, I thought I’d give it a go and went for a very quick 2 miles to Big Ben and back (I am lucky enough to live in central London).

I passed a few other runners – or rather, they passed me, I am still dealing with the slowness of carrying two extra stone of body weight on what is already a thick frame. Yeah, I’m slow.

And all these other runners, they looked so tough. Not the casual joggers I usually meet, these were hardened backpack-wearing ninjas that no wimpy little rainfall could stop. Respect. The backpack were probably full of bricks.

For about twenty minutes I was one of them, pushing through step after step, careless and focussed on the sound of my steps and my breath, for once not drowned out by my running playlist at full volume. I was an Invincible zen master.

I think I’ll do this again soon. But if the rain stopped for the upcoming long weekend, I’d be happier.

Where’s the last month gone?

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I seem to work and work and eat and eat and then eat some more (getting a bit out of control but will spend March detoxing so that's alright. Mmmh, was going to spend January detoxing, then decided it was going to be February…). No gym either, which is making me mad, but I was training for the Brighton half marathon and I have learnt that I cannot do weights regularly and go for three or four long runs every week. Oh, and the half marathon? Had to defer it to next year because of a rib I cracked (possibly, it clicked when touched and hurt like hell when running, it's better now thank you) while snowboarding (or rather, falling from snowboarding). Snowboarding lessons in Milton Keynes were fantastic and glad we thought of doing that before going snowboarding on the Alps in Italy. Leaving tonight actually, so bye for now and back to work.

2009 was not all bad

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I don't think I've ever done one of these end-of-year reviews. I always lacked the energy and motivation to look back.

But as 2009 draws to a close, after seeing so many friends' Facebook and Twitter updates bidding good riddance to what has been for them an awful year, I can't help but ask myself if it was all that bad for me too.

There are a couple of things that yes, I would have been happier if they had not occurred. Stuart mum's breast cancer (chemo- and radiotherapy completed, waiting game started), and my own mother's heart surgery (very slow recovery as she is 84; for a while we feared she would never be independent and lucid again, but we now hope for a full recovery in due time).

These were opportunities for me to grow and develop. I found the discipline to train for the Great South Run in Portsmouth while collecting funds for breast cancer research (a staggering 1,691 pounds, thanks to the generosity of family, friends and colleagues, and you can still donate if you wish to do so). And dealing albeit briefly with my mum I discovered what it is like to care for an old woman who requires assistance for even her most personal needs.

What else is there? I've enjoyed my job, I love the flat, city and country I live in (as a British citizen since August), I have been in reasonably good health and I am grateful for having family, friends and Stuart in my life.

So let me raise my glass (which is definitely half full) to wave goodbye to 2009 and welcome the new decade. May it bring health, love and work to all of you.

My Bupa Great Capital Run

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On Sunday morning I tied an electronic chip on my running shoes, pinned my race number on my running top and headed to Regent’s Park to take part in the Bupa Great Capital Run.

Runners were divided into England, Australia and Rest of the world teams, and all runners who completed the race in under forty minutes contributed to their team’s average time. I’m sure I registered as England but ended up being in the Rest of the World team. Just as well, as we were second and Australia won.

Until last week I was not even too sure I could take part, as carrying two extra stone makes running a pain: it’s like wading through treacle, and my joints feel like they are jammed with grit. But I trained moderately, took it easy and only did one full 5k run last week, just to reassure myself that I could still do it.

I had a fantastic time, the atmosphere was great, there was even a group warmup that brought me back to my aerobics and step-filled 90s (click on the link to listen to it):

Bupa Great Capital Run warmup

I ended up being at the front for the start (and saw the dozen or so elite athletesstart off in front of me). Which of course meant that for most of the race I was constantly overtaken by hundreds of people, but I kept going.

I did a very good personal time of 26:20, better than the first 5k I did when I took up running two years ago, but a little slower than the last 5k I ran in 2008.

There are a few pictures on the run site, but rights are reserved (the photos are for sale), so if you want to check my stats and see me pant you can enter my race number (1223) at http://raceresults.greatrun.org/?race=128.

My next race is going to be a real challenge for me, as it’s a longer distance (10 miles). So training starts today for the Bupa Great South Run in Portsmouth on 25 October.