I DID IT :-D Dublin Marathon 2011

Hello Fudgey Friends,

Just a quick post to let you all know I'm now a 2 time Marathon finisher.
I completed the Dublin Marathon on Monday in 5 hours, 34 minutes & 17 seconds according to Mr Garmin.



I'll be back as soon as I can will a full race review but right now I'm trying to recover a little - it was a really tough day. My IT Band decided to start playing up at around 11 miles so I had run & then run / walk the last 15.5 miles (Garmin says 42.71 km / 26.54 miles) carrying an injury. I also got soaked to the skin in the torrential rain between miles 20 & 24 which I'm sure has developped the existing sore throat I had into a full blown cold.
Giving up was never an option though & I was so happy to receive my medal at the end - I feel I really earned this one.



Thank you to everyone for their Good Luck wishes & Well Done messages - it really means a lot to me.

Take Care Everyone
lots of love
Fudgey xxx

I'm Still Here

Hello Fudgey Friends,

I am so so sorry for the lack of blog action - I can't believe my last post was about 6 weeks ago.

I just wanted to write a quick post & explain my absence & to let yu all know I'm still here & I'm OK.

The last 3 months have been pretty stressful for me and my family.

After the elation of finishing my first marathon in Edinburgh in May, Mr Fudgey & I were surprised but delighted to find out at the end of June that we were pregnant. Heartbreakingly in August we lost our baby. On top of this we received the news that my Gran's cancer was terminal & over August & September we tried to see her as often as we could, though each time knowing it could be the last.
My Gran died about 3 weeks ago and we are all very sad but know she is no longer suffering & that through her illness she was surrounded by people who love her. She inspired so many of us with her strength and her dignity and she will never be forgotten.

I hope you understand why my blog had to take a break during this difficult time. I'm doing good now & it's Thanks to my amazing husband and great family & friends who helped me get through everything.

It hasn't all been bad news, Mr Fudgey & I finally did get to go on our honeymoon & had a brilliant week based at Lake Como, with visits to Bergamo, St Moritz, Lugano & Lake Maggiore.

I started a running challenge on 30th September to run everyday through October & so far have stuck with it. I'm not in the shape I was but I am feeling strong. On Monday I'll be running the Dublin Marathon. It may not be a better time than Edinburgh & I know it's going to hurt afterwards but I will do it, spurred on by the fact that I'm raising money for the miscarriage association. If anyone would like to sponsor me please let me know & I'll send on a link.

I'll let you know as soon as I can after the Marathon how I got on.

I'm not sure what the next challenge will be yet. I'm going to take a little time to rest & recover - but watch this space......

lots of love
Fudgey
xxxxx

Hello Again Blog World

Hi Fudgey Friends,

How is everyone? What have you all been up to?

I apologise for being away for so long it's been a emotionally difficult time for Mr & Mrs Fudgey & our family & we have needed some time to deal with what has been happening & to grieve for a recent loss. I've also needed some time to heal physically as well as emotionally. On top of our immediate personal issues some of you may know that my Gran is very poorly and we are all trying to cope as best we can. I took some time away from blogging as I needed to focus my energy elsewhere and also I don't want to burden others with sadness too. I hope you will all understand.

The good news is though that September has seen me getting back to 'normal' & Dublin Marathon is very much back on the agenda. This is one tough challenge as I only have 7 weeks to get somewhere close to fit, but as many of you know my middle name should be Determined. I CAN DO THIS!

Hopefully regular blogging will return very soon.

Take Care everyone
lots of love
Fudgey xxxx

Time Out

Hello Fudgey Friends,

Sorry to have left you blogless for the last couple of weeks I know I promised to return, but sometimes when life gets in the way we need to take a step back & take some time out. There is a lot going on in Fudgey World right now and mostly I can't write about it - partly because it's too emotional and partly as it's not about me so not for me to blog about.

On top of this work is busy as ever but good and I feel like I've refound my confidence that was lacking this time last year and that I'm making progress.

I think I'm pretty much fully recovered from the yucky virus but Mr Fudgey is still coping with the tail end of it - think we will both be ecstatic when neither one of us is coughing anymore.

I am still training - not as much as I'd like but it's fairly consistent, I'm running, having my weekly PT & trying to do my gym programme once a week. It really helps me deal with all the other not so great stuff that is going on around me.

Hopefully I will get back to some more frequent blogging soon but I'm not going to promise too much - but fingers crossed.

Take Care Everyone
lots of love
Fudgey
xxxxx

Bliss Edinburgh Marathon Festival Team - Well done!

Hello Fudgey Friends,

Remember me? Yes I know I'm sorry it's been a while - nearly 3 weeks to be precise since my last post. As this blog is meant to be about my training & there has been a distinct lack of that recently due to this grotty virus thing I haven't a) had the energy or inclination to post & b) had virtually no training to really talk about.

However the good news is that I am finally finally feeling much more Fudgey. This week I've managed my PT session, 2 short runs & a cycle & hope to fit in my weights programme today :-)

I do have some non training stuff such as couple of days in Glasgow & some foody posts to share & will do so soon - watch this space.





















I wanted to post today though to say an ENORMOUS THANK YOU to everyone for their support & sponsorship for the Edinburgh Marathon. I raised £982.48 so am delighted.
If anyone didn't get round to sponsoring me & would still like to my page is still open for another 3 weeks.
Sponsor Link


I've had an email today from Bliss to say Thank you which prompted this post, as I couldn't have done this without all of you.

"Thank you all so much for sending your funds in for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival. I can reveal that the Bliss Edinburgh team has overall raised a truly fantastic:

£11,000

We’re so grateful for all of your incredible hard work fundraising for Bliss and for you all choosing to support our work for special care babies in such an amazing way. Thank you for being part of the team!

Thank you all again so much for your wonderful fundraising. We really couldn't continue our work without the support of fundraisers like you and we are so grateful for all your hard work!

The funds you have all raised will make a real difference to the lives of special care babies and their families- these monies could fund 22 Bliss support groups for a whole year, or go towards funding one of our major research projects, making sure that more tiny babies have the very best start in life. Because of you we will be able to help even more sick and premature babies and support their families, so a huge THANK YOU!"

I'll be back soon - I promise

Take Care all
Lots of Love
Fudgey
xxxx

Finally Feeling Better

Hello Fudgey Friends,

Last week was another almost non existent training week. After Monday's 2 mini runs, I had PT on Tuesday afternoon & then didn't manage anything else all week.

However I pleased to say that today I finally feel much much much better and am hoping to get to the gym this afternoon.

I'm going to take it easy as after nearly 3 weeks of practically nothing I know I can't expect to return to normal immediately but fingers crossed that this will be the start of a return to normality & some form of consistent training.

Will let you know how I get on

lots of love
Fudgey
xxxx

Normal Service slowing returning

Hi Fudgey Friends,

Well it's been a wee while since my last post. I'm sorry I haven't written anything & I've had a few comments about the missing posts but sadly I've just not felt up to it.

In my last post I told you how I really struggled in the Race for Life 10k & I've been struggling ever since. I've had the most awful cough for the past 18 days which resulted in 3 days off work sick and in the last 2 weeks of June I only went to my weekly PT sessions and had one disastrous run - couldn't stop coughing.

Stats for June show how much my training dipped







I also had to temporarily suspend the 200 sit up challenge & the 100 press up challenge - which I'm pretty gutted about as I was going so well - but as I said this just a temporary suspension until I get myself well again.

I'm pleased to report though that finally I seem to be on the mend & the cough is nowhere near as fierce. I'm also counting my blessings that all that I've had was a very tiring & irritating cough. Unfortunately others are having to deal with much bigger and significant health issues so I am not going to whine or whinge.

Today I was back running - 2 mini runs of 3.15km & 4.19km - not going to set any Olympic records & still a bit of a cough but feeling a trillion times better. Still going to take it easy though till I know that I'm 100% as don't want to put myself back to square 1. Sometimes you have to listen to what your body needs & rest IS as important as training.
My attitude is; better 2 weeks off now than trying to push through & ending up having to take 2 months off because I've broken myself.
I wish I could say I was always this wise but those who know me well know I'm strong willed, stubborn, independent & don't do sick well!

Good news to share
So enough about me & now for some lovely news. I became an aunt for the 3rd time last Monday when my 3rd niece Elizabeth Erin arrived weighing 8 pounds 0.5oz. A little Sister for Rose & Margaret Mary. Huge Congratulations to my Sis & her hubby. Love you all lots & lots & hope to come & visit soon.

Last but not least
Massive Massive Thanks to the long suffering Mr Fudgey who has again done me proud - the Marathon vid is finally here. I can't believe how fresh I look after having run 26.2miles - makes me even more determined to do another :-)



and that dear lovely Fudgey Friends is all for just now. Time for me to get to bed.

Take Care all
lots of love
Fudgey
xxxxx