Well, how things have changed since my last post almost 9 months ago! I say changed but nothing too outstanding has happened really - Royal Weddings, Birthdays, fun nights out, a lot of work, Christmas etc etc - but a good few months have passed and, I am not proud to say, that it has taken me a long time to finally get around to a) get back on track with writing a blog and b) getting back to running. Sadly, since my aborted marathon attempt in April of last year, I had barely donned my running shoes more than maybe half a dozen times. I think I might have left my running mojo at the St John's Ambulance tent at the 8 mile mark (although I did come away with a lovely & shiny foil blanket!) There was just a mental block about actually getting out of the door and putting one foot in front of the other with some velocity, admittedly albeit a minor amount. My focus had gone and I needed something to give me a goal; apparently, trying to get and stay fit and lose a few pounds was not sufficient enough to focus the brain. Or to bring about any amount of drive or determination. All this compounded by the fact that I have always stated that I am "never any good at running but I just enjoy it" - by the way, what does constitute being 'good' at running? Is there a perfect stride? Perfect breathing technique? Optimum speed? Posture? Shoes? iPod track? Please don't feel obliged to answer, it was purely rhetorical and has just made me realise that I don't have to be 'good' at it as long as I am not damaging myself. Right, now that's out of the way, back to a little update on me! - So, in order to get my focus back I signed up to run the Reading Half Marathon on 1st April 2012. Dear Lord.
With the dawn of the New Year of 2012, came the dawning realisation that I have a Half Marathon to train for so prepared a training plan. However, my body had other plans and succumbed to the glorious flu virus and put me back two weeks. I was actually quite surprised to find that I was genuinely a bit narked to have my plans put back but I did manage to bottle my enthusiasm to crack open when the cold had departed.
So I am now underway with the training and enjoying it, so far, and long may it continue! I have sought and taken inspiration from the ladies taking part in the 26.2 Project from Womens Running Magazine, and fellow runners on Twitter. Although, I have a long way to go to reach their levels of fitness but it is great to feed off the enthusiasm and training tips! I am taking part in my first Park Run in Abingdon tomorrow morning; I am a little nervous about as I have not run with a club type thing before but I am assured that they are all lovely and its for all levels of ability (thank goodness for that!) and I am kinda looking forward to it. Although not as much as I am looking forward to my reward of a slice (or two) of cheesecake one of my besties has promised to provide for the girl's night in tomorrow night.......!
Now, where did I leave my self-control and diet discipline?? :o)
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