Croxteth Park 10k

Instead of doing seperate race reviews, we decided on a joint review, 1st timer V's Elite !( Elite???!!! Hardly, it was only my 5th 10K!) to share the different experiences.


My Race day started OK - despite having the worst nights sleep ever - had my standard porridge (slightly more than my Slimming World allowance - sorry Kate !!) but stuck to the same breakfast - remembering the rules of not doing anything new on race day.....

I got up nice and early to have my usual bowl of museli with banana, seed mix and raisins with a coffee, then just before I set off to the park, about 2hrs before the race I had a small bowl of plain yoghurt with honey



Then we were off.......


I met Claire at Croxteth Park Hall and then the nerves kicked in and I started having sneeky peeks at all the other runners trying to suss out how fit/fast they all were and trying to figure out where I'd come - I did the warm up run - talking 10 to the dozen - visited the bathroom...............and again.........and again .......and (you get the picture!)

Although Ive met friends at other races before, this was different, It was great to do a warm up jog (something I mean to do but usually fail at), and standing in the start-up crowd chatting with Andrea was great ! The crowds at the hall were small compared to my 'usual' races, the atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, and there were no queues for the toilets at all - Bonus !!!


I must admit my nerves had gone at the start and suddenly after the start everybody started whissing past me - aaaggghhhhhhh - so what did I do ?? - after all the preparation - and talks from hubby ( who is a seasoned runner was getting antsy watching from the sidelines rather than being involved) - I did the fatal mistake, panicked and started off too fast trying to keep up with the pack, breathing went AWOL and took until about 2k to sort it out again...... (same thing happened to me, but realise THIS time that it will always do that, so instead of letting it put me off, I just went with the erratic breathing and wobbly legs for 2k until I calmed down and settled into the run). -


But we did it I finished whoop whoop go me !! I beat my training PB by 6 minutes (I somehow beat my PB by very nearly 5 min and got a SUB 55 mins time !!! I have to put this down to weight training - legs of iron and a relaxed start).





Here is the photo to prove it !!!!






The course was a surprise. I assumed that it being a park race that it would be on paths - I bimbled down the paths only to find myself running on trail tracks and across fields - good job it wasnt raining ! - this was probably ok for me because of being a beginner im not stuck to just one style of running - and because of where I live and where Im doing my normal training runs Im up hill and down dale as it is )I did worry about dirtying my trainers though - Im such a girl running lol !!)


Im not usually not a fan at all of anything remotely 'off road'. The park-y trails were fine, really nice actually and the fields were a surprise (note to self - find route map before run). In the end I wound up enjoying the field tracks, they were a bit uneven in places (I did stumble once, and there was a bit of an obstruction at one gate) but thankfully it had not rained enough recently to make them slippy at all. The views were nice, it felt nice to be out in the countryside a bit, and although it felt a bit narrow in places with not much passing space at times it did ensure I paced myself a bit. The race marshals were encouraging, they clearly indicated where we should be running and there were plenty of them, the signage was clear, and saw all the km markers (does not always happen).



The only thing I was worried about was coming last (I knew she wouldnt, and she didnt!). and to be honest I think I should have concentrated on my own game rather than what everybody else was doing and worrying about people watching me - I think I just need to boost my confidence in my running and my abilities.


Yes it was my first 10k running - but have been on the sidelines as a spectator for many years, and I personally thought it was extremely well organised, water at 5k, timings and photos were up on the website really quickly - I have a special thanks to the marshals who were brilliant and really encouraging - especially the one who told me to pretend it was a steeplechase when I asked him if he was having a laugh expecting me to get over a sty at about 7k (whoever you are you made me chuckle !)

This was a fab race to do and it'll go in my diary to do agaim, just need to remember to get trail shoes if it rains next year - there was even a free post-race massage available from Gina (of Mossley Hill Athletics!)


So BIG THANK YOU'S to Bug Runs for making my first 10k a really great day - and in the words of Arnie - 'I'll be back' - LOVED IT - thank you x x

Going gets tough

Ive also signed up for the Croxteth 10k on Sunday - must have had a moment of madness lol - I know I can run 8.5 miles and the 10k is only 6 (and a bit) miles - but I went out today and couldnt even manage 2 ?? - my breathing was all over the place, felt like I was going so slow I was nearly going backwards.

I had such a tizzy with myself on the way back to the car, whole mix of angry with myself, frustrated, crying, wanting to give it all up - all of the above.

Spoke to hubby who has done loads of running and apparently everybody has days like this, when its a struggle and you want to give it up but you just have to accept it - try and power on through and if it doesnt work accept that today it isnt happening and put it behind you.

I tried but it just wasn't happening so it is time to accept, deal with and move on .

This wouldnt be a problem if i didnt have the 10k on Sunday, my FIRST 10k race, and to be honest its making me doubt my ability to finish on Sunday.

Postive thinking, and onwards and upwards - I CAN DO THIS !!!!!!

I DID IT !!!!

Finally Ive managed to complete the 5k on the road !! -

Ive had the route mapped out for a while and have been edging closer and closer to finishing it all the way ...... and today I DID IT !!!!! and I felt fantastic and actually (and never thought id say it) felt that I could go on.

oh and on a funny note .... remember last post of treadmill not working - hubbys friend came round to have a look at it and ......it was a coathanger stuck in the motor lol - works fine now ! pity I prefer the open road (another thing I never thought Id say!) so I can see a treadmill coming to an ebay near you in the very near future !

Doing it the old fashioned way

Why is it as soon as you come back fighting something comes up to test you ?? - I was back up on the treadmill going great guns and it broke :( never to return again....... so what did I do? (apart from nearly flying off the back lol) I got off and put a plan of action in place..... as you know hubby has done many many years running so Im off out on the open road... plus I figured that if I am going to reach my goals for this year of a 10k, half marathon and possibly *whispers* a full marathon then I will need to do proper 'real life' running.

So Hubbys day off work up and ready to rock and roll 1.5 times around the park is 5k dropped the kids off and it snowed, and snowed and then to top it off .....it sleeted, I thought we would be able to have the morning in the cafe, but NO I was cold, and wet but I did it 45 minutes walk/running - and do you know what I WAS ECSTATIC ! It felt totally different to the treadmill and the next day my legs ached in places I never knew could ache but Ive got the bug - since this I have been out again different route still 5k and did it in 36minutes ! a WHOLE 6 MINUTES FASTER !!!!!

Bring on the challenges !

back on the wagon

Well Ive managed to flag down the wagon and Im back on again !!

Just been weighed this morning too see what the damage was and to my surprise I have only put 2lb on - not bad considering all the junk I have been eating - maybe chocolate IS one of the main food groups after all ??!!

So anyway Ive faced the music - which is always the hardest part I think, when you have taken a hiatus and had a few weeks off for whatever reason (in my case cold that lingered and lingered.....) but you have to think - Right it is what it is get back on track and onwards and upwards -

I know some people dont agree, and I know its not the healthiest way to go - but Me personally I am better if I feel myself waivering on the diet, training to take a break completely and then come back to it fresh when you are in the right frame of mind rather then carrying on half- heartedly and getting nowhere.

I already know that my training has taken the knock and it will take me a bit to get back to where I was before but I am postive that it is easier and better mentally to take a break, be a little out of condition and improve than run the risk of injury or even worse starting to resent the training and dread getting your trainers on - which if I have come this far I really dont want to do because Im really starting to love the training and the changes I can see - even if you had asked me a year ago I would have laughed at you !!

So here's to the wagon and all who ride on her !!!

confession time....

I love the companionship and the motivation that I have and share with my two other team mates but along side the 5k training I also have my own personal challenge.

Confession time...

I am the most overweight of the team, and my personal challenge is to lose 50lbs t(o start off with ) from August 09- August 10- I picked August because that was the last time I had my picture taken before I started healthy eating, pretty attainable you would think..

I am a typical yo-yo dieter and would love one day to wake up a size 10 (uk size) but it aint gonna happen,

I dont know what it is but I feel 'ready' for it now, in the past I have tried both weight watchers and slimming world with varying - limited sucess, whether it being, willpower, or not fitting into family meals ( I cant expect the whole family to have red/green days - Slimming World peeps will know all about them !!) or having to take a calculator around with me on the weekly shop to work out how many Weight Watchers 'points' are in each item.

So I am doing it the old fashioned way and calories in v's calories out - and to be honest I am not even counting calories I am aware of them and know roughly my intake but I really dont want to be one of those people with a photographic memory who can recite the exact number of calories per ounce of every single food item -

I also dont want my daughters to see mummy constantly dieting and counting calories and eating seperate 'diet' food - I personally think that kids these days have enough pressure on them through the media without the comfort and safety of family to fall back on.

Admitidly it is coming off slower but I have noticed that with the exercise I actually look better because it is toning up

BUT it REALLY gets me when a friend of mine ( and yes there is a small part of me that is jealous!) has gone on a really restrictive diet of 500 calories per day (food replacement) and has lost 11lbs in her first week - I am pleased for her though although she knows what I think of the diet !!

I'll keep you all posted on how Im getting on - whether or not you are interested !!! lol and of course also let you know about my Race for Life training - 1st post coming tomorrow

I just have to remember the old Aesops fable about the tortoise and the hare and in true 'Lets Fight This' tradition -

Its not the winning - its the taking part that counts !

Where do we go from here??

So the big event has come and gone, tweets & texts have been flying back & forth checking if we are all ok and comparing ailments - none of us seemed to have faired to badly - aches and pains but recovering well.

I figured that walking/running a marathon must be like childbirth you forget how painful it was as soon as it is over and start planning the next one ......

Which is exactly were we are at now - We have already committed ourselves to doing next years moonlit marathon (albeit with a few tweeks in tactics/training) but we loved it so much we are looking to ways that:

1. We can keep our fitness up

2. Still keep meeting up as a team for fun (along with the promise of lunch afterwards !)

3. Still keep raising awareness/funds for causes that are close to us.

So at the moment we are gearing up as a team to do the Race for Life 5k in Sefton Park, Liverpool July 18th a womens only fun run in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness.But before that @joesgirl74 is doing a 5k in London in June supporting the Lupus charity which I know is a cause close to her, so for the time being @joesgirl74 will be multi-tasking in true women fashion and using her training for the Lupus 5k to start and continuing on to the Race for Life.

Never let it be said that blockhead are lightweights !!

Doubting Thomas

Not long to go now, and I must admit that the self doubt is starting to set in now, I went on my last LONG training session on Monday and you know that self doubt that creeps in when you least expect it, thinking - 'what have I done?!' and 'Im not going to be able to do it' I really wasnt in the right frame of mind to do any training, so I thought what do I do?

Do I go OUT and train and miss the last day that Hubby is off work with it being Easter Monday and I was in work on the Tuesday - but have the distraction of the outdoors

OR

Do I stay IN and train on the treadmill? still technically with the family albeit stuck in the kitchen, and watch a couple of films?

I chose the latter, 5 hours I was on the treadmill for covering a total of 30k I WAS NEARLY IN TEARS AT THE END - I thought the films would distract me for however long they were on for - diddnt work just reminded me when it finished I still couldnt go anywhere - I had watched Donnie in Southie, and then Spy Kids, followed by actually a really inspiring documentary showing how introducing a classical music programme in deprived areas can improve academic performance which just happened to be based in Liverpool

- BUT

I was still on the treadmill so no improved performance here and no, not even Donnie could distract me!

then ironically after watching tv when on the treadmill, after having a shower and changed, I then sat infront OF THE TV !!! because I couldn't move - I was laughing at this point (and not because it was funny either!)

So.... what do I do?... I knew it was going to be hard, I knew it was going to be tough.

I asked Mark how he felt whe he was running marathons and apparently it is a phase that you go through - He said, It doesnt matter how much training you have done, you can cover the milage and more but you can still walk up to the starting line and not 'feel right' more of a mental issue rather than a physical matter.

I felt a bit better after that, at least I knew that it wasnt due to lack of training and that I can physically do it, although sometimes I think it is easier for it to be a bodily problem at least you can see and feel any changes - attitude is something else completely

On a better note, since then I have been feeling better and am feeling more confident, think to be honest it was more of a blip than anything serious, probably just the nerves starting to kick in ... at lease I hope so !

19 days to go

Had a bit of a reality check the other day, got so wrapped up in kids finishing school for Easter, baby finishing playgroup, letter home re-opening playgroup on 13th April.... oh ok then no problem

BUT.... WAIT....THE 13th ..... BUT THATS THE WEEK OF THE MARATHON.......But it can't have crept up that quick surely...but yep here we are 19 days to go including today..

starting to feel a bit nervous/excited about it now.... t shirts are ordered, and despatched...Diet is good .. due to giving up Chocolate for Lent... (that was another good idea at the time!) ..

*note to self* - dont give up chocolate if you do the marathon next year - because it has now in fact been promoted to one of the main food groups...

training has been stepped up..now up to 13miles which includes 2 rounds of the couch to 5k (week 2) running programme (thanks to ktsummer and the running blockheads) to increase the intensity, and have now included core stability excercises and rowing machine...wow I could even pass for actually knowing what Im taking about - but alas no for my training I have my long suffering supportive husband who has worked most of it out for me - I LOVE YA MATEY x x x

Missing in Action !

Well I've been missing for a week or so, LIFE !!!!! We've had Joes Girl out of action being a tumble tot in work and Ive been laid up with the flu for the past week, this training malarkey would be so much easier if life didnt get in the way !

I did however do my training up to being ill, and took delivery of my christmas/birthday present early of a vibration plate machine - for those who dont know what they are it is a platform that you stand on which vibrates and you do various exercises on up to 3 min on each it does work because it throws you off balance so you have to work twice as hard on the muscles. well I think I spent most of the time laughing or falling off it not sure that is what you are supposed to do but I had a giggle, Mark was rolling on the floor laughing at me he couldn't speak for laughing at me - so much for support! and a week later my teeth still havent stopped rattling -

So I'm back in circulation now, fighing off the last bit of flu and getting back into the training, met with Joesgirl today and she is good now, and back in training herself and all entered into the Santa Dash in Liverpool - love to do it myself but am literally left holding the baby because hubby had already entered himself and then takes my 2 daughters around the mini dash so I am left with only the baby and Starbucks for company -- oh well its a tough call !

Missing in Action !

I know I havent been here for a while I have been working out - I promise - The kids and hubby have been off school this week so Ive had to try and fit it in around all sorts plus had an injury, - my first !! so to bring you all up to date, 2 weeks ago maintained weight, Friday 30th October lost 3 lbs, so still going in the right direction, x

Went on my long walk/job on Sunday last week did well then went supermarket shopping and twisted my knee turning the trolly - so not exactly a sporting injury, but sounds better than 'I did it shopping' - thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it !! so for last week I could only do upperbody exercises at the gym and no long walks - not very exciting im afraid.

One thing I did discover though was one night my calves were REALLY, REALLY painful, apparently it was a build up of lactic acid in my muscles because I hadn't been exercising but for one night it was so painful, so if ever I needed an excuse to carry on exercising that is it just so I dont have to experience that again.

On a positive note though, because me knee still isn't right yet I have invested in a treadmill, so I can still walk/jog at home until it is better because I dont want to set out on a long walk/jog and my knee be too sore and Im in the middle of nowhere, so until then Im tied to the treadmill.

Kids are back in school tomorrow so I'll be able to step it up a gear between now and the Christmas Holidays

to lose......... 70
Lost .............11

To go ...........59

Till next time, be careful x x x

Reality Check

Well, sorry it has taken me a while to do my next post, the shock of being accepted has worn off and reality has set in now !!



My Husband has done many marathons, and various other runs - (he calls them fun runs, Why I dont know?? there isnt ANYTHING fun about this !!)



So anyway I figured it was better to get some advice from someone who had already done a fair but of running and knows my habits - all good of course - NOT !! rather than trawling the sites and books for advice on how to start running rather than the obvious put one foot in front of the other faster than normal - and someone who will kick me out the house even when it is raining and there is something really important on the TV - soap operas are informative and real life arent they ??



My Personal Trainer as hubby will now be called rather than what I want to call him after excercising has sorted me out a training plan for the next tow weeks based on a complete novice, so here it is:



Monday - Walk/Jog
Tuesday - Gym
Wednesday - Day off - WOOOOOO !!! and Hump day too!!
Thursday - Gym
Friday - Gym and Small walk/Jog
Saturday - Day off - I could get used to this !
Sunday - Long Walk/Jog



and Week by Week


Week 1 - Walk/Jog
Weekdays - 35 min
Weekends - 45min


Week 2 - Walk/Jog
Weekdays - 45 min
Weekends - 1 hr



Week 3 - Walk/Jog
Weekdays - 55 min
Weekends - 1hr 10 min



Week 4 - Walk/Jog
Weekdays - 1hr 5 min
Weekends - 1hr 20min



Week 5 - Jog
Weekdays - 1 hr 5 min
Weekends - 1hr 20 min



As you can see my husband is obviously getting his own back on me for what I called him when I was in Labour with the kids !!!



so far, so good though, the gym I go to is Curves, dont know what type of workout you would call it Ill find out and let you know but there are various machines that you do 30seconds on each with a 30 second jog inbetween and you do the circut 3 times, and it is OWWWWW in the morning so it must be working.



In the next few weeks I will let you know my PERSONAL reasons behind wanting to do the run for a breast cancer charity, and to also if you dont mind I will pass on the donation details on so if you would like to sponsor me -



And finally I will start to post some pictures for you, when I get some batteries for the camera or I get brave enough to post them - whichever comes first



Until then take care and be safe - keep checking yourselves x x x