GULP just entered my first half marathon

Had to be done Julia. You will feel it when you run though!  I did my Boxing day run as planned, it was a wonderful day, and nice to run something different down in Wiltshire but legs were heavy and tired and it was a tough one.

I can feel the Xmas overdose of food and booze esp the rather strong "white lady" cocktails my Dad made for lunchtime yesterday. 

We have visitors today but I am making a lovely healthy weight watchers beef and apricot casserole with rice to aid the recovery process.  A festive mince meat bread and butter pud may undo all the good that does of course let along the inevitable cheese and biscs.  Might (?!) even go for a booze free day (can't guarantee it though).  Very tired and achey and not sure how I am going to manage a 10 miler tomorrow but only that and a 5 miler and I see my miracle masseuse on 30th so I can get through. Lots oflovely new kit from Santa and Mr FL was pleased with the running gloves the cubs got him.

Julia- consider yourself kicked!!

I am going out at 8.30am tomorrow for a 10 mile easy run!  Feel free to join me in spirit for at least part of it.  I made the mistake of standing on the scales this morning which I had said I wouldn't do until at least a couple of days after the gluttony ceases; VERY depressing.  However only tomorrow with visitors and New Years day at the outlaws (and I'm running 10 miles there and driving Mr FL and cubs back home so that shouldn't be too bad).  So really I can say I'm aiming to be back on the straight and narrow (bar the Xmas cake) from Monday.  And I only had one glass of bubbly today and about 8 QS- sooner they are finished the better, palmed lots off on our visitors today.

So switch on that Garmin, look at your training plan and get back to it.  Weather is perfect for it and Mr FL wore his XMAS running gloves today and was very pleased.

Same to the rest of you who are fit enough!  The time for idleness and gluttony is almost over!

Kicks Julie up the backside.

Well I did 9 miles in the dark, so I can. I am training for FLM.

Well done for all those that have carried on training, you are not on your own Julia.

Took my new trainers, jacket and shirts (no garmin as yet) for an outing today 4.5 miles harder than twice that distance a month ago but I feel i'm back in the swing.  Soon be over only out tonight, then the youngest birthday (loads of guests) then new years eve(friends over) and finally news year day.

Take care

OW OW OW Thank-you for that

Got on scales this morning to discover 5lb has suddenly put itself onto my body  still I know that will go quickly and having had that shock I managed 3.5 miles this morning. Blimey my heart rate was up! Then did half an hour on the Wii fit with my personal trainer, he was getting a bit friendly for Mr T's liking but very flattering

I think i've turned the corner and will be ok now, thankyou all! and well done for getting out. FLM Tracey! WOW! Foxy, are the gloves self wicking/specially for running ones as my mitts woz a bit chilly this morning. Enjoy the youngests Birthday Darren, it wasn't you who was getting the 405 for Christmas then, can't scroll back to check for fear of losing my words.

Julia- well done on getting back out there, when you start getting the mileage up you will find the weight comes off (I hope).  Having done my long run today I risked weighing myself (the best time) and have an additional lb of QS and mincepies on board to get rid of.

Talking of the long run- dragged my neighbour out (he only gets to run once a week at the moment and is increasing that run at a mile a week as I am.)  Anyway he suggested an alteration to route and 10 miles became 11.5 so that was impressive and I feel surprisingly good on it and a lot better than this time last week.  Only a 5 mile steady run tomorrow and I see my massage lady on Tuesday am.  I have done my month of maximum mileage since getting the Garmin at the end of April and having done that run today know the HM is achievable once again and now it's a matter of cranking up the speed a bit.

89 miles so far this month, so all going well tomorrow that will be 94 .  Shame not made it into triple figures, maybe January will break that barrier.

Darren- thought of you on my run on Boxing day as I was running up a long steep hill out of the river valley my Dad lives in, couldn't make it quite all the way an had to walk the last bit, although managed the rest of the short sharp hills on the route, makes me realise quite how flat the Thames Valley really is.

Lovely weather for running, and Julia the gloves were Ronhills runners gloves from Sweatshop, not too expensive (about £10 or less and lots of sales on at the moment) so worth getting.  I have a pair of Nike ladies lightweight running gloves a friend go me from the US last year.

Happy running folks, I'll be out there from about 8.30am again tomorrow, knees permitting!

Am I the only one still running on this thread? 

Another Steady 5 miles this am, not quite at 8.30am; took a little while longer to get the aching bones downstairs today, but I did it anyway.  94 miles in December, most ever in a month.  Just looked at the training schedule for next month and it's down to about 84 but that doesn't allow for the odd route alteration, but does seem to have more speedwork- ugh.

Mince pies are gone, only a few biscuits and Christmas Cake to go now.

Two days rest and tne 10 miler to set the New Year off with a bang.

Have a good one everyone!

Oh Foxy! I feel so humble at your mileage  I'm going out again tomorrow, and then once I start back at work on friday I reckon all will be back to normal. I have about 10 weeks to my half marathon so really need to start upping the miles now, I was doing about 18 a week up till Christmas. I think I'm going to start going out on more days, trouble is, running for 1.5 - 2 hours at a time takes a big chunk out of the day and needs planning!

Enjoy the massage!

mmmmmmmmmmmm more cheese Saltpot? (An overdose of Wallace and Gromit I'm afraid!) and well done for your 4.5 miles. Is it just me who has a keyboard with no fractions on it?

Managed my 6 x 400m intervals today, phew! feel good now. Foxy, which week are you on with your training schedule? I've downloaded mine again as I got out of sync., and seem to be on about week 3 now, are you tuesday intervals, thur 3/4 miles sat 4/5 miles sunday longer and building up?

Well done Julia.  I had a day off.  Had my sport massage which was pleasantly painful, and later on a hot tub at my neighbours.  Still eating far too much as there is still food to be cleared up but gradually winning the war. However now have an old friend I haven't seen for nearly 7 years popping in for lunch tomorrow so that'll be another session!

 Garmin training schedule- funnily enough I reviewed mine yesterday; I've "tweaked" it so much that it was quite hard to work out where I was meant to be!  In the end I counted back. I'm half way through week 7 and seem to have 2 long runs this week somehow!

Usually I do my long run on a Sunday (while cubs are at rugby), then steady medium run on Tuesday afternoon, intervals Thursday am and easy/steady run on Friday am.  Over the next few days I have an easy 10 miler on Thursday,  steady 4 mi on Friday, intervals on Sunday, steady 3 mi Tuesday and Friday with more intervals on Thursday- presumably I've swopped intervals and long run between NYD and Sunday so I can do my second long NYDay run.(and earn my lunch!)  

My HM is first weekend In Feb so I am well ahead of you. Scarily I am looking at another in July- especially worrying as my running deteriorates as the weather warms but I am wondering if that's due to doing 10Ks mostly at that time of year and usually a 5k (RFL) in July, so mentally and physically it all tails off.  Hence the thought of another HM to aim for.  I am looking at the Thames Tow path run,as it is down river this year, fairly slow because of narrow route and pretty flat inevitably.

Hi all, hope everyone had a good xmas.

Saltpot - much watch that cheese, know what you mean though it's to moorish, but it is the one thing that really puts the weight on me.

Foxy, where do you go for your sports massage, never had one myself but was wondering about them, so do you really think they make a difference? - mind you I guess you do as you wouldn't have them. Do you think they prevent injuries, strains etc?

Julia T, eight weeks should be enough I reckon baring injuries of course so stick with it. Mine is Feb 8 so am sweating somewhat, still resting my injury so will have to see.

Still injured so concentrated on swimming - don't know if anyone else noticed this but since my stamina has improved through running (8/9 mile runs) I noiticed I can easliy swim freestyle for a couple of miles now - could just about do 50 lengths before I started running again, I was amazed. I shall definitley keep up the swimming even when I start running again (which will be hopefully tomorrow - hangover allowing of course).

Happy New Year all.

MTP

MTP- I see a wonderful lady called Michelle Wilson- she is a runner and trains people at Readng Roadrunners.  She either works out of physiocare in Twyford or (slightly cheaper) from home in Woodley (£30 for an hour).  She is fab and I really feel the benefit.  She has so far fixed and a long term ankle problems and knee problems as well.  It's money well spent and I try and see her once a month, to prevent me falling apart.  Also being a runner she understands when you limp in and say you need to run the next day!

Do you want her details? 

I am just praying I can stay fit and healthy for Feb 8th- no lurgies please!  I'm running to Wokingham for lunch tomorrow so will be doing part of the route; chekced out where I am going on mapmyrun as need 10 miles- scary how far that is!

Hi Foxy - thanks for that, if you could forward her number that would be great. I will definitley give it a whirl and let you know. Gets a bit frustrating when you struggle to shake something off.

Good luck on the 10 miler - I guess you do that 13 should be well within reach.