How mental are you?

I'm not being derogatory to anyone reading this, just alluding to the importance of being mentally ready for the mammoth task ahead and the training runs leading up to the big day itself. It goes back to my previous blog about 'Whatever it takes' (feel free to read it, I think it's quite good) to get you around be it the superstition element of your routine or actual true benefit of carrying out those 'rituals', for want of a better phrase. The mental state of mind has just as much to do with it as putting in the miles themselves. How often have you not been in the right frame of mind to do any task and failed because you're not quite feeling it, or you just can't get into the rhythm? How much of it is due to mental attitude of how you are approaching the task ahead? A hell of a lot. Now, obviously I'm not qualified as a psychoanalyst or in psychology so this is purely based on me but I definitely notice the different when I'm 'in the zone' and can have a much better run when I'm mentally ready for it. How do you get ready for it? At this stage in the training, you know what you have to do so need to strike the balance between knowing that you have to get the miles in versus any personal goals you might have set in terms of timings versus feeling good at the end of the run whilst ensuring that you remain uninjured. The phrase 'spinning plates' springs to mind. But the tolls of daily life sometimes allow little time for the transition from being in work mode to strapping on the shoes, plugging in the iPod and getting the miles under the belt, so it can be a struggle to switch your frame of mind. I know that I struggle with this and if anyone has any tips on how to mentally get prepared for the long training runs, the Silverstone Half and the Virgin London Marathon then please let me know, it could really help!

That said, this morning's training run of 11 miles (the first 10.5 miles without stopping, get me!!) was good; hard going but good. So how I can mentally get in the right place for this, after a week of rest, and get round so far without stopping is beyond me but I would like to replicate it at every run here on in, so I'll be thinking about how I prepared for this morning and repeating at every available chance......but maybe eating Quorn sausages, beans  & eggs and being tucked up in bed at 9.30am on a Saturday night is not the best for one's diet & social life!! It's all a 360 - what worked last time, what did I eat/drink the night before/morning of the run, what tunes were on the Pod, which route was it.....once again back to 'Whatever it takes' and mental prep. And focus. It's easy to see how training for such a big event can take over a huge part of your life, there's a lot more to it that putting one foot in front of the other with a bit of velocity. It's all a bit mental, to be honest.

Speaking of taking over a huge part of your life....there's the fundraising side of it too! We're doing really well so far with our online donations - if you'd like to support us, visit our Team Jones Just Giving web page - and we have sold out of our Maggie's Fundraising Evening tickets which we hope will give a welcome boost to our total and get us well on the way to exceeding our £4,000 target. Brilliant. Just Brilliant

The weeks are flying by and this time in 6 weeks it will all be over and I will no doubt be doing a 'Saturday night' i.e. tucked up in bed by 9.30pm - but it will have all been worth it. I hope. No, I know it will because as I said, it's all a bit mental :o)

Whatever it takes.....

Well, training has been a bit non-existent this week due to a niggling potential injury following last weekend’s planned 12 mile training run which actually turned into 10.5miles. Tuesday’s 6 miler was aborted after 2.5miles resulting in a slow cold walk home. Still, I’m resting this week until this Sunday’s 12 miler and with new trainers arriving tomorrow, I’m sure I’ll be good to go and get back on track with the miles. Up until now, it’s been going well and I have been feeling good after every run, with recovery time reducing and the endorphins kicking in. Last Thursday was the first run without any music at all following the unfortunate demise of my iPod but I managed it. I wasn’t sure if I could cope with a 12 miles ‘sans music’ so dug out the brick-like first generation of the iPod shuffle....maybe that’s where the injury came from; too much extra weight onboard! It’s funny how we get used to, and attached to, certain items, ways and superstitions; can’t run without music, can’t run without that water bottle, can’t run unless I wear a cap, can’t run unless I’m on the right side of my running mate (you know who you are!), only one song can spur you on to the end, got to have an energy tablet/bar at x miles, can run better in this t-shirt etc, etc.  I’m also convinced that the much debated ice baths help too although it’s a mental struggle to get into the water in the first place but I feel much better afterwards. (I would recommend if you’re brave enough!) So how much of it is psychological and how much of these things really matter, really make a difference? If I’m honest, as long as it gets me through and round which ever course I am running, then I will keep on wearing the t-shirt, taking the energy tablet at the x miles, listening to the best running song and making sure my running mate is on the right side of me!

It’s just over a week to go until our Team JonesBig Weekend; Saturday 5^th March being our fundraising evening followed by the Silverstone Half Marathon on Sunday 6^th March. We’ve sold out on our fundraising night and have some great raffle prizes so we should raise a good bit of money on the night too. Maggies have been great with their support and the hall will be well kitted out on the evening to make it look as spectacular as possible. We’re all hopeful for a big night and that everyone has a fantastic time and we’re making sure we do all we can to make it happen! So, if you’re coming along and reading this, you’re in for a cracking night; if you’re not lucky enough to be coming then you’ll just have to check back here in a week’s time to hear all about it!

If you want to support us in our quest, you can sponsor us at www.justgiving.com/teamjones2011 

A lot of firsts....

Well it's my first foray into blogging and I never thought I would get to do this, I mean, who wants to read what I'm doing in my life? The answer being that I'll just have to wait and see!

One of the reasons for the blog is to keep everyone updated on the progress of the training for my first ever London Marathon (VLM). Yes. Me, running a marathon. I know, it's a little hard for me to get my head around it too but I've had my bluff called (so to speak) and am doing it in 9 weeks time. Oh lordy, I've just realised its in 9 weeks time, eek! I'm running for Maggie's cancer caring centres http://www.maggiescentres.org/ and have a target of £4k to raise for them, along with two friends who are running the VLM and their husbands who are running the Edinburgh marathon. Don't be misled, none of us are athletes - or claim to be - so it's hard. Very hard. But we're doing it and will get round the course. So expect a few more updates as the weeks go by on how we're getting on.

As a sign off, I have to figure out how to get my iPod to work again after it becoming water logged during last night's 6 mile training run in the pouring rain. At least I know I'm not a fair weather runner. Every cloud and all that jazz.