Official Marathon Training Week 5

Hello lovely people

How are you all?

I apologise in advance if this is a bit of a random rambling post. I haven't been feeling at my best and incredibly tired so please bear with me.

So it occurred to me that it's now March - where is this year going? So I decided to look back at my February mileage and after 62 miles in January was delighted to see I had logged 68 miles for February and some pretty decent consistent running :-)

Now onto March.....

So I never actually ran last week apart from the half marathon on Sunday. I had planned to but circumstances just conspired against me.

Monday - lunchtime running conditioning class. 

Heading home in the evening and just about to get off the bus when the snow started....from clear to this in 2 minutes

So I was very excited to run up the hill and get my footprints first in the virgin snow

Tuesday morning I had planned to have a short run pre work but this is what we woke up to

If it hadn't been for the half marathon on Sunday I would still have run but no way was I risking any mishaps

Lovely sky on way to work

Not the best prep pre half marathon, Friday night Miss Bug was sick all over her cot then all over me and then Saturday I had a terrible headache that I couldn't clear and had to go to bed in the afternoon when Miss Bug was sleeping too, though she was unsettled too and ended up cuddled in with me.

Sunday = Meadows half marathon = @&#%€$#% hard! A personal worst for me....But I did it :-)

I am going to write a race report asap.

But that is where I am leaving you for tonight, apart from a wee photo of Miss Bug, especially for my followers who haven't seen how grown up she is getting. 

So goodnight all, take care and I will be back soon

Lots of love

Bug's Mum xxxx

Official Marathon Training Week 4

Hello Fudgey Friends,

How are you all? Who has snow? I can't believe it is March! It's been pretty cold here all week, but also mostly bright & sunny.

It has been a mixed week of training for me with ups & downs.

Monday - Running conditioning class at lunchtime. These classes have been organised through my work with a company called Total Health I am very lucky that I work somewhere where we have these kind of opportunities and I have been fortunate to take part in a number of different classes and workshops through a programme that my company runs called Fit for the Future. At the moment there is a running conditioning class on a Monday lunchtime which is absolutely perfect in conjunction with my marathon training & great on the back of a long run over the weekend.

Tuesday - I had hoped to get in my long run early this week, but really wasn't feeling great, I have had a very sore tummy on & off all week. Initially I thought it was stress, then I was concerned it was a recurrence of my diverticulitis but I think it has simply been a wee tummy bug as Mr Fudgey also felt pretty bleugh on Saturday evening.  So no running on Tuesday :-(

Wednesday - Decided I'd attempt my run pre work & managed 7.23 miles but I really wasn't in the right head space, my tummy was not happy with me, it was very icy underfoot and I felt constrained for time so cut it short at just over 7 miles - not a bad effort though. A view of part of my route especially for Liz...more scenic ones next week hopefully :-)
Feeling much better and energised as the day went on I decided that I would also run part of the way home. I opted to get the bus part of the way & then get off about 4 miles from home....a big mental hurdle as it would have been so easy to just stay on the bus, especially as it was starting to get dark, cold & a bit rainy, but I did it & ran 4.04 miles home much to Mr Fudgey's surprise when he stepped of the bus to see me running past up the hill. The run home was better than the morning & on average 24 seconds faster per mile....such a data geek! Delighted with a total of 11.27 miles for the day & my first double run session since the arrival of Miss Bug.

Thursday - quite rightly a rest day.

Friday -  I had a lovely days holiday from work & took Miss Bug into Edinburgh, we started with a visit to Bannatynes for a swim & Miss Bug loved splashing and checking out the facilities including the lockers. She had so much fun that she had a power nap on the way to Marks & Spencer  so I managed to get something to eat & drink without sharing. We then visited my work & Miss Bug shared her Peppa Pig cakes. She also paid special visits to Maggie, pretending she was shy!, Eileen & Jackie - Thank you Jackie for the chocolate & the pennies. Then we went along to Daddy Bug's work & picked him up for cake & coffee at Debenhams. The highlight at Debenhams was going down the escalator with Daddy Bug while I took the buggy in the lift. Home & an afternoon nap for both of us. My stomach was really sore in the evening & I ended up having to go to bed.




Saturday - I really didn't feel great & was gutted as I had hoped to do 11 to 13 miles but I knew that physically it wasn't the right thing to do, even though mentally I was prepared. We took Miss Bug to her weekly swimming class & then to visit Granny & Papa. When we came home & she had her afternoon sleep so did I. Unfortunately when we got up Daddy Bug was feeling poorly so he had to lie down too.

Sunday  - feeling much better but not 100% I didn't want to venture too far from home so decided I'd go for a treadmill session & could do as much or as little as I liked. Absolutely astounded myself 12.49 miles and I never walked or stopped once, feeling immensely proud. I find running on the treadmill so much tougher than running outside and I'd opt for outdoors at any chance I can, but it's a useful training tool especially have the little one & living in Scotland. It means I have no excuses what so ever. I think the new running music hubby bought me really helped - Thank you. I only ever listen to music when running on the treadmill, never outdoors for safety reasons but also I have learned to love the awareness of my breathing & feet on the ground and the clearing of my mind.

So somehow I managed to rescue week 4, still mange 3 runs, log 23.76 miles - pretty good effort in my opinion.

Lighter training week for week 5 as I have a half marathon at the end of the week....Eeeek :-$

Have a great week all

Lots of love
Bug's Mum

Official Marathon Training Week 3

Hello Fudgey friends

How are you all?

It's been a long tiring week here but somehow at the end of the week I salvaged this weeks training and managed 20 miles in 3 days. I should say I would not normally run on 3 consecutive days, it has just been circumstance this week.

 

Monday - Miss Bug had a restless night and had us up from 12.20 and ended up in beside us. This picture pretty much sums it up....at one point she was lying on my head

Running conditioning class. Organised through my work and my friend Lyndsey and I went along. Learnt some new warm up movements and was great hearing other runners hints, tips, and moans too. The class runs for 4 weeks so interested to see what else I can take from it.

Tuesday - had asked for some self development / learning at work which meant being in the office for 7am, this meant no pre work run and I also didn't manage the gym at lunchtime. Opted for the treadmill in the evening but was tired and grumpy and really not in the mood, but managed 2.61 miles.

Wednesday - Miss Bug had us up about 5am, really not her usual self, so no nursery. Massive Thank you to Granny and Papa for taking her for the day. This meant that I was later into work and earlier leaving so no gym or running at lunchtime. Exhausted in the evening I opted for an early night in case it was another disturbed one.

Thursday - I had the day off and little Bug was still not herself so no nursery. However she did sleep till 7.30am and was a little brighter so I was able to take her and get her passport photos taken. In the afternoon when she slept I really should have tried to run but just so tired and didn't run in the evening either.

Friday - As I hadn't been in on Thursday I couldn't do a pre work run as didn't have clothes etc at work to change into. I also wanted to get in as early as possible to catch up a bit. Knew I had to get on the treadmill in the evening and though it started out Blah I managed 8.2 miles and finished strong. Came into the kitchen to this....

I am so lucky to be so supported, Marathon training is tough enough without a 2 year old and a full time job and Mr Bug has been brilliant he has totally helped keep my training and sanity on track this week and he has had to 'pushed' me out the door on Tuesday. I am so grateful for his love and support.

Saturday - Regular swim lesson for Miss Bug in the morning and then I headed out for my run when she had her afternoon nap. 7.46 miles....feeling proud of myself

Sunday - Motivated by Miss Bug as she was looking at my Sports shoes flyer and said 'That's Mummy' 

So inspite of the freezing rain and wind I headed out the door for my short recovery run when she was sleeping this afternoon and smashed it...fastest run this week even though wind was trying to blow me sideways and on the back of the 2 previous runs. I was grinning like a Chesire cat :-D

So somehow I ended the week with 22.73 miles logged and feeling amazing. 14 weeks today till the marathon.

Well off now to treat myself with a piece of Rocky road cheesecake.... I think I have earned it.

Have a great week everyone 

Lots of love

Bugs Mum xxxxx

Official Marathon Training Week 2

Hello Fudgey friends

How are you all?

Well last week was my second week of marathon training and 3 runs all outside, no treadmill. I also discovered that I have an extra week of training as I had the wrong date for the marathon!

Monday 9th Feb was a rest day after my 10 miles on the Sunday. Legs felt surprisingly good though.

Tuesday 10 th Feb I ran part of the way to work, leaving the house about 6.15am, ran 7.5 miles, jumped on the bus the rest of the way and showered and at my desk before 9am

Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th rest days. Should have really got to the gym but too many other things going on.

Friday 13th Feb I ran part of the way to work again, this time 8.33 miles. Good run but poorly hydrated and felt rubbish all day.

No running on Valentine's Day. Swimming lesson with Bug and a romantic dinner for 3 with heart shaped pasta :-)

Sunday 15th....terrible run, wrong frame of mind, bad tempered, tired, heavy legs and set out to do a route that I used to regularly run when I trained for the Edinburgh marathon in 2011. I knew the first mile was all uphill but I totally forgot how undulating the next 2 were with some killer hills before the last 2 miles downhill. I found this photo online which gives a hint at what the route was like. As you can see no pavement either so absolutely have to be road conscious and safe.

Another 5.03 miles recorded though. I got home to a very upset little lady though ....poor Bug has a sore throat and not her usual wee self.

So 3 runs totalling 20.82 miles for the week and feeling pretty pleased with myself. 

Half marathon in 3 weeks and feel more confident about it, realistic and know that it won't be fast but confident that I can do it.

Well I am going to sign off here as need to get sleep after a restless night with Miss Bug last night.

Back soon, have a great week everyone.

Lots of love 

Bug's Mum xxxxxx

Official Marathon Training Week 1

Hello Fudgey friends

As you know I have signed up for the Edinburgh Marathon in May this year. This will be my 3rd marathon after Edinburgh and Dublin in 2011. 

My last big event was The first ever Edinburgh Rock and Roll half marathon in April 2012....finding out that I was pregnant the following day with Bug 😀

My running has been a bit hit and miss since she came into our lives, being a mum is the hardest but best job in the world. 

I had a place for both the kilomathon and Edinburgh marathon last year but due to illness I had to transfer my places to other people. I did manage the Edinburgh marathon festival 10k and last November the British heart foundation winter warmer 5k, but really wanted to try another marathon and had entered the ballot for London again for 2015 unfortunately unsuccessful again 😢

Not one to be defeated I immediately signed up for Edinburgh instead....the bonus of this being our amazing wee Bug can come and see me finish it. 

In my last post I told you about my great month of running in January.....

Official marathon training started on 1st February (16 weeks to marathon) with food, fizz and friends! Kirsty, Rob, Lorna, Mandy, Hubby, Chilli and Bug 🍸

 I went to the gym on Monday and Tuesday and first run was on Wednesday 4th - 3.17 miles and it was a slog. I never ran again till Sunday partly due to a busy week at work and a also couple of disturbed nights with the wee one. On Saturday afternoon when she was sleeping I also took the opportunity to get a couple of hours sleep too. The rest must have really helped as did the lack of running activity as I went out on Sunday and ran 10.07 miles. Absolutely bursting with emotion the first time in double figures since The Rock and Roll half marathon on 15th April 2012. 

I'm happy with week 1 of training as I needed a cut back week after increasing the mileage every week in January and a long run of 10 miles in week 1 for me is amazing. It wasn't fast or pretty but it was 10 steady miles and I have felt great since. 

On a less positive note my training plan isn't on paper yet and I need to get that sorted sooner rather than later, though the next 3 to 4 weeks are clear in my head.

I have also signed up for a half marathon on March 8th... Very excited

Hope to be back at the end of the week or start of next with a week 2 update... Watch this space

lots of love

Bug's Mum xxxxx

Jantastic

Hello Fudgey Friends

It's taken me a little longer than I hoped since my last post to get a chance to post again.....the challenges of being a full time working mum & wife & of course fitting in running.

Just a short post tonight to give you an update on my January running.

At the end of last year I signed up to the run yourself new challenge on The Running Bug website, each week from the 5th January they set a mileage target and you could log your bugmiles and track your progress. There were also opportunities to win prizes every week.

The plan for January was simply to get some consistent running 3 or 4 times a week and build up a good base before starting official marathon training in February.....

I smashed it....4 weeks.....4 runs per week.....62.54 miles run :-)

There were good runs, bad runs & some just OK runs but over the month it was just Jantastic.

Highlights were my longest run of the month at 7.59 miles and a week with 3 x steady strong 5 miles.

Thank you to everyone who motivated and supported me.....and to hubby for occasionally bullying me out of the door. Thank you also for the new running kit for my birthday & Christmas - it is being put to good use.

February sees the start of my official Marathon training & I have signed up for a half marathon in 4 weeks - more on both of those in my next post. I have also signed up for the February run yourself new challenge which starts today & have a 15 mile target total for this week. I have also joined The Boys versus Girls challenge....so plenty to keep me motivated.

Lots of love to all of you

Fudgey
xxxx

The Fudgey Blog is back.....

Hello all

It's been a while but whilst out running today I decided that I would like to try and resurrect my blog.

My reasons are:

• I am committed to a Marathon this year and blogging is a good way to keep my fabulous supporters updated.
• I realise that not all my facebook friends share my passion for running and don't necessarily want to read status afrer status on my training. Also not everyone, who is interested,is a facebook or twitter user.
• Keeping a blog lets me and others see my progress. It encourages and motivates me knowing that I need to post and keep everyone updated.

Life has been busy here and running and fitness had taken a bit of a back seat and my blog long neglected for a variety of reasons, the biggest of course being a mum. My little Bug.....well is still little but now 2 years old and I just love her so much. Now she is getting a bit older I really want to set her a good example and I want to be fit and healthy to run around with and after her.

After the disappointment of having to transfer my Edinburgh marathon place in 2014, I entered the Virgin London Marathon ballot but unfortunately was unsuccessful for the fourth year running :-( So before I could dwell too much I signed up for the Edinburgh marathon........and then had hardly ran since last November!

2015 - a new year and I wasn't certain if I wanted to or was able to run a marathon but I have decided that I do want to and that I can. January has already seen me run 44 miles slowly building up my mileage each week and enjoying my running. I have rejoined Bannatynes gym and am really hoping Colin Fraser can train me again. Official marathon training starts February.....hope you will join me on my journey, I need all your support and encouragement please

Lots of love 

Bug's Mum xxxxxx