Final long run today!

It's 8am on Saturday morning and I'm drinking Lucozade Sport in preparation for my last long run before the big race 1 week tomorrow! The past few weeks have flown by, and it feels great to know that all the hard training is nearly behind us, and we'll be standing on the start line in my home town in little more than a week!

I had my first ever sports massage on my lower legs this week - it was quite painful! Apparantly my calfs and right foot were really tight, and my half hour session got extended to 3/4 hour so that she could really loosen my legs up. Since then, and after a 4-day rest last week, the pain in my shins has very nearly gone! Consequently, I've booked myself in for another sports massage next week in preparation for the race.

I'm now starting to feel a little nervous, and little excited about next Sunday. I really want Kate & I to hit the 2 hour mark, but if we come in a little over, then so be it. At least I know that Kate & I have put in more than enough training to get us to the finish line in our best possible time. I feel much more prepared than last year, and I can't wait to get my Lucozade Sport kit on next week and take part in the biggest half marathon!

2 1/2 weeks to go!

Went for an hour run last night, and either my running partner Kate was going faster than normal, or I was going slower and struggling! I think it may have been the latter! I'm off work this week, but not to rest and relax, I'm decorating the house. So I think the fact that I had been sanding and painting non-stop all day didn't help when I came to put my running shoes on last night!

Off our for another long-ish run tomorrow, then we've got 3 days off - hoorah! Hopefully that will help my shins recover - they're still painful.

I can't believe race day is less than 3 weeks away! I'm quite looking forward to the big day now. Last year when I took part in the run, I loved the experience! The atmosphere was brilliant! Looking forward to finishing the race too, and meeting up with a few of the Team Lucozade Sport members for a celebratory drink or two!

Up early again on a Saturday morning (7.30am) so that I can eat some breakfast and ice my sore shins before I venture out on another training run. I think we're going to try 9 miles again today, which seems like a big task the way I'm feeling this morning!

The great thing about being in training for the GNR is that I wake up at weekends now without a self-induced sore head! Can't believe race day is 3 weeks tomorrow!

We've put in 9 weeks of hard training, and we haven't slacked off at all, so I'm feeling fitter than I think I ever have been and looking forward to the big day now! I'm also looking forward to no weekend training runs!

Great North Run

I started my running journey last July, when I entered my first ever Great North Run. Until then, the furthest distance I had ever run was 3 miles on a treadmill! Needless to say, the challenge I had set myself seemed extremely daunting!

After a grueling 10 weeks pounding the streets, I successfully completed the course in 2 hours 24 minutes. I loved the atmosphere, and I’ll never forget the feeling of crossing the finishing line! From then on, I’ve been hooked!

I’m now training 3-4 times a week for the ‘07 race. Whereas last year, I hated every single day of the training, this year, I’m quite enjoying it (I never thought I’d say that!) It helps that I have got a fantastic training partner, Kate. She really keeps me going if I begin to struggle. We’re raising money for the diabetes nurses at the King’s College Hospital, too, so when the going gets tough, I focus my thoughts on all the money we’re raising for such a great cause.

I’m looking forward to the big day now – it’s such an amazing experience. Roll on September 30th!