ASICS Target 26.2 Team: Rosie

Introducing the third member of our ASICS Target 26.2 team - Rosie (aka RosieA)

She’ll be posting her training progress and be receiving physio and nutrition advice from the ASICS PRO Team live on this thread so make sure you bookmark this thread to find out how she gets on.

You can read more about Rosie's running background and goals by clicking on the article link at the top of the thread.

Good luck Rosie!

Good luck Rosie......all the best and congratulations..........not jealous in the slightest.... Look forward to seeing your progress and listening to the advice from the pros.

Note to self run 12 marathons in 2012.........

Rosie,

As I said before ...a place both earned and deserved !

If you need a bit of company on a long run, gee me a shout and I will venture east

Cheers

Graham K

Congratulations Rosie will keep a tab on how you're getting on.  

I found the 'On a Plateau' shortlist to be the hardest to vote on, I never checked the forum posts but used the information on the shortlist pages and had to leave this category to the end before selecting.

I hope those that were not selected keep their heads up and keep running  

Hey Paul

That's nice to hear - thank you!  I'm sure we're all feeling a bit flat today but it's just like one of those bad runs - have to put it behind you and move on!  I spent quite a bit of time talking to Rosie in Birmingham and think she's just lovely - I don't think anyone who voted for her will be disappointed! GO Rosie, GO Rosie 

Hello!

Thanks mcs, Sleepy Bear, Graham and Little Ninja. Was a big surprise to get through. Still haven't quite got my head around it, but as of this morning Dug has his dogsitter booked for Paris weekend so there is no going back now!

LN, I neglected to add to that story (I like to do my public embarassment in stages it seems!) that I met a stumbling block that day on getting home - I couldn't get the hospital gown off (I'd just thrown a coat and jeans over it so brisk was my escape) as I was very short for time before the race and my arms and shoulders had these big burns dressings on. I didn't want to cut it as I had to go back and pretend I'd been fetching pyjamas, or something, so, in what seemed an obvious move at the time I stuck baggy running gear over the top. Fortunately it was minus 4 at the start so the michelin man look was very in, but I think the race photos for that day are still floating round somewhere, and on some of the ones I've seen you can see bits of gown escaping from my ensemble.. I can also confirm that hospital gowns generally do not make good running attire and have various disadvantages when they are put to active use. I'm yet to see a gear review on here for them though. When someone posts one I'll definitely add my thoughts..

Anyway, as I now have to go to London this weekend, here is Dug of the day. A feature I'm afraid may become regular here. This is him last time I went to London on the train - needless to say it was him that got us upgraded to First class - has never happened to me before:

More puppies welcome!!

knight rider: ha!  yeah, I suspect my race-habit may be a problem for my go faster plans.. I really do need the race-entry equivalent of those mail-goggles you can put on your email for when you are drunk, except mine would need to stop me from entering more races for a period of 48hours after any racing activity. I get over the finish line and before I know it I'm at my computer entering more. Is there an online support group for that kind of thing do you think? Oh, wait a minute..

Congratulations, Rosie! I'm so glad you got through as I was very touched by your personal story and I'm really looking forward to following your progress (and to more photos of Dug ... he is completely adorable! Don't come anywhere near Mayfair today, otherwise you might find he gets dognapped  )

So, for anyone intending to follow the running aspect of this, I should probably detail my crimes against proper training. Here is a typical week for me:

Sunday: 20K run

Can anyone identify with struggling to include variety? I suspect this is a lot to do with why my times have plateaued. Anyone else managed to break out of a rut like this?

Hmm, well that was badly formatted, for anyone who couldn't be bothered to read it, here it is again in a slightly less eye-hurty way:

Monday: 10-15K run, 30min crosstrain, 60min other sport.

Tuesday: 10-15K run, 30min crosstrain.

Wednesday: 10-15K run, 30min crosstrain.

Thursday: 10K run, x 2.

Friday: 10-15K run, 30min cross train.

Saturday: 10-15K run.

Sunday: 20K run.

So pleased you got through Rosie. I am hopeful that we will see lots more pics of Dug on your forum. He is AMAZING!!

Enjoy the whole thing. I am sure you are going to make the absolute most of this opportunity. Totally worthy winner

x

Little Ninja wrote (see)

Congrats to you Rosie. Well-deserved! I liked your thread and the way you showed the person behind the screen, especially with your story about escaping for a run when you were in hospital.

Wot she said.

Well done.  Congrats.

Rosie,

That would have been a site in the 1st class carriage, big 'luv me' puppy eyes of Dug and he looks so natural sitting there.

I am tempted to do the GSR this year and it'll be my 1st half marathon since the 90's but I plan to hang my football boots up and concentrate on my running again, once injury free.  Also looking at doing the Polariod 10k series, Rouken Glen 10k and the Mens Health 10k again this year as it was fun fitting in 6 10k's in a month not as impressive as your 12 marathons in 12 months or your typical training week.  I'd have thought that maybe you're doing a wee bit too much as your body always needs a rest for the muscles to repair.

Do you use any recovery drinks, after a hard session?

Sleepy Bear, I hope your flat feeling soon dissipates and your back to smiling again, just like in your photo

I've not managed to get out for a run with 'Bree' recently as other things have taken over and unable to fit it in but hopefully will sort things out in the next couple of days as don't want her being a wee podgy dog

Thanks SNHN and oscarr.

Mssive complaint noted Spoons. I shall endeavour to include imperial units in all future communications .

For now, lunchtime run.. it's bizarrely sunny here just now and don't want to miss it..

In case anyone wants to know, a bit of background, plagarised then adapted from KR's thread:

Age: 31

Lives: Edinburgh

Pets: Dug the dog

Occupation: Depends what day it is, but variously: Vet, PhD student, PA to Dug the dog

Running history: Started 2007 as part of recovery from serious illness, first marathon 2008, 2009, brief interlude due to burn injuries, 2011 ran 12 marathons to raise money for Samaritans.

Times:

5K: 22mins (2010) [n=3] (though did 21min something in Birmingham at bootcamp, if that counts!)

10K: 44mins (2010) [n=4]

13.1miles: 1:37 (2010) [n=20+]

26.2miles 3:34.41 (2010) [n=18]

Have run 3:34 or 3:35 a number of times. The current goal is sub 3:30. Realistic?

Paul Gunn 64 wrote (see)

Rosie,

That would have been a site in the 1st class carriage, big 'luv me' puppy eyes of Dug and he looks so natural sitting there.

I am tempted to do the GSR this year and it'll be my 1st half marathon since the 90's but I plan to hang my football boots up and concentrate on my running again, once injury free.  Also looking at doing the Polariod 10k series, Rouken Glen 10k and the Mens Health 10k again this year as it was fun fitting in 6 10k's in a month not as impressive as your 12 marathons in 12 months or your typical training week.  I'd have thought that maybe you're doing a wee bit too much as your body always needs a rest for the muscles to repair.

Do you use any recovery drinks, after a hard session?

Sleepy Bear, I hope your flat feeling soon dissipates and your back to smiling again, just like in your photo

I've not managed to get out for a run with 'Bree' recently as other things have taken over and unable to fit it in but hopefully will sort things out in the next couple of days as don't want her being a wee podgy dog

You're probably right about doing too much. Rest days are a weakness of mine. I'm lucky in that I can run fine the day after a marathon (not trying hard enough in the race??) and as I often run for convenience reasons - to work or when out with the dog, it can be hard to find days when I'm less active. I've probably had less than 10 non-running days over the last two years . Even on those days I often swim or hillwalk. I haven't been injured at all in that time, and don't ever feel burnt out, but do think I'm not doing things efficiently when it comes to training, and am aware there are smarter ways to do things. What do people think?

Re: recovery drinks. Here you may have identified another of my problems with race prep. My nutrition is rubbish! I find it hard to make time to eat and so get a lot of my energy requirements from sports drinks or similar drunk while at my desk/on my way to somewhere. I know improving this might help my running but although I know the theory somehow haven't known where to start..

Dug says Hi to Bree. Do you have a picture?

There's a dog thread on here. I'll bump it for you so you can show off Dug a bit more

Little Ninja wrote (see)

There's a dog thread on here. I'll bump it for you so you can show off Dug a bit more

Hi Rosie, well done on getting though. 

I'd had similar times to you this time last year (slightly fast HM, slightly slower 10k) and I ran 3:28 in London, so I'd say yes your target is realistic. 

Rosie A wrote (see)

Occupation: Depends what day it is, but variously: Vet, PhD student, PA to Dug the dog

Thanks Spoons, Paul, Minni and Fraser. Encouraging to hear people think 3:30 is doable. I do have a secret (so secret I'm posting it on here) aspiration to go faster, but guess the timescale for that may not be this spring. We'll see. I'm looking forward to finding that out! What sort of training did you do to get your 3:28 Minni? Are you in again for London this year?

I run by the canal sometimes so if you see me do say Hi, Fraser. I'm sometimes found on the bike paths as well but mostly Holyrood or The Meadows. Though I have been tempted by the hill running types, so might be heading Pentland-wards too. So are yours Shepherds? That is a most excellent profile picture.

Rosie, I ran my first marathon in 2003 in 3:43 and it took 8 years and 8 marathons to finally get under 3.30.   I'd never been a fan of speed and frankly just didn't bother doing it.  I basically just trained through running lots of miles (I love long runs).  I knew I could get under 3:30 if I could just put enough effort in.  I was selected as one of the Forum 6 and was mentored.  I chose the P&D schedule, up to 55m per week, and more or less followed it to the letter.  The mentoring was the motivation I needed to get the sessions done.

I ran 3:28:28 on the day and was thrilled.  It was a massive barrier to break and I've haven't looked back.  I have run pbs in every distance since including a half in 1:32, which I never thought would have been possible.  

Yes, London in the Spring. 

I'm up from your neck of the woods too, but the right side of of the Border.   I did the Meadows half this year and will definitely be signing up for it again in the Spring.   Do you know of any flat 10ks around Edinburgh? 

Oh and I have 2 labs, mother and daughter .  Pup is 8 months... need I say more. 

Ding Dong Minni-ly on High wrote (see)

Rosie, I ran my first marathon in 2003 in 3:43 and it took 8 years and 8 marathons to finally get under 3.30.   I'd never been a fan of speed and frankly just didn't bother doing it.  I basically just trained through running lots of miles (I love long runs).  I knew I could get under 3:30 if I could just put enough effort in.  I was selected as one of the Forum 6 and was mentored.  I chose the P&D schedule, up to 55m per week, and more or less followed it to the letter.  The mentoring was the motivation I needed to get the sessions done.

I ran 3:28:28 on the day and was thrilled.  It was a massive barrier to break and I've haven't looked back.  I have run pbs in every distance since including a half in 1:32, which I never thought would have been possible.  

Yes, London in the Spring. 

I'm up from your neck of the woods too, but the right side of of the Border.   I did the Meadows half this year and will definitely be signing up for it again in the Spring.   Do you know of any flat 10ks around Edinburgh? 

Oh and I have 2 labs, mother and daughter .  Pup is 8 months... need I say more. 

Flat? What is this flat you speak of?

 I know there are 10K's in Musselburgh and Haddington but haven't tried them so not sure how hilly they are. The Meadows half is open already I think (the students are all organised this year!) and they were offering limited places to do it as a full as well, I'm in for it, but not sure I can count that many laps. I struggle to count them as it is!!

Me too for London.

Wow, 8months huh? I do see what you mean! Mine is 5mths so I have that joy to come.. 

Thanks for the heads up about your forum mentoring thread. Will seek it out.  

Simon Santa Claus wrote (see)

Rosie - Well done on getting selected, your personality and attitude shone thru at boot camp. And I can back up that Pb 5k you ran after lunch, I was nearly puking at the back of the pack, now I know why you hardly ate anything for lunch. Looking forward to following this thread over the next few months. Btw I'm the other Simon that didn't get shortlisted.

Simon! Really sorry you didn't make it through, but great to see you here.

Are you going for sub 3:30 next year too?