The Magathon

Odd

2012-02-27T19:15:00.001Z

What with everything that's happened over the past couple of days, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm now a part of a real life Truman Show; recent events certainly read like the script of a sit-com.

I'll let you decide for yourself...

Today, I awoke at 6am, showered, dressed and drove to Tesco Extra. I bought myself some breakfast and lunch for the day and continued my way to work. I chatted with a colleague, prepared my lessons and marked a couple of books. At 8am I sat down in staff briefing, chatting merrily with my colleagues as we waited for the meeting to start. It was ONLY then, that I looked down and realised that, if my antics yesterday were to have provided some level of comedy value then, you ain't seen nothing yet!

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to a whole new level of Monday madness: As I walked around, all day, like this...

An unmitigated disaster!

2012-02-26T17:59:00.000Z

If there was a higher power guiding my life, I would say that today, it decided to teach me a lesson for lack of faith and ignorance. When I was unable to sign up for the Great North West Half Marathon, because I was too late, I refused to accept this fate; instead of saying 'oh well, not to worry, it's only one race amongst many- I'll do it next year.' I thought 'I bet I can sign up on the day, there's bound to be some runners who drop out.' and I promptly hot-footed it to Blackpool.

I say 'promptly' but I did, of course, wait for the day of the race before setting off to the great, grey British seaside resort; which was today.

At 7am, I leapt from my comfy, warm, delectable bed and sped my way to Blackpool promenade. Where, by 8.30am I was a fully fledged, legitimate racer. I idled away the next few hours, waiting for the other Oldham and Royton Road Runners by drinking tea and reading various intellectual material (not 'Now' magazine... No, no, no, not me... I very definitely didn't read 'Now' magazine because I'm a cheap skate and it was only 65p!!) in the bar of the Hilton hotel.

At 11am, after a swift mile warm up along the seafront, and another toilet stop, we were off. To begin with I felt really good: I was running at 9.25 min mile pace and feeling quite 'bouncy'. However, the title of this post includes the word 'disaster' so I'll spare you the full exposition and get straight to the problem. At mile 3, my l knee 'went'. By that, I mean it kinda twanged and my leg collapsed a little beneath me. Obviously I stopped to stretch it out. I stretched, walked a little, tested it with a little jog, decided it was fine and continued. Only it wasn't fine. As I hit another undulation in the pavement, my leg did another collapsy dip.

Now, at this point I probably should have stopped running. I didn't. Obviously. And don't look at me like that, you know you wouldn't have either! You see, there were 3 reasons not to:
1. I got up at 7am in the morning to do this run. 7. 7AM. On a SUNDAY!
2. I was always going to be last out of the club runners in this race, but last gets you 1 point. Dropping out just gets you to Loserville!!
3. Running 13.1 miles earns me over 1,300 calories... That's more than a day's worth of guilt-free, fat-free food... I wanted those calories burnt!

So, I adjusted my pace once again and bedded in with the 2hrs11 pacing team. This strategy took me another 7 miles until, at mile 10, the same undulating path caused me to pull up once again and I waved my pacemakers a fond farewell. By now, this race had turned into one of the longest in the world and I was really starting to struggle, so thank goodness for Asheela who pulled up alongside me, at mile 11, and started chatting. Having run 4 marathons, and in training for her 5th in London this year, she provided a good, steady pace, great company and a much needed distraction from the pain in my knee for the last stretch and I can't thank her enough for that. If you know Asheela from Leeds, please pass on my gratitude!

And so, hobbling over the line, I proudly received my goodie bag.

Well, thank goodness for goodie bags I say. As very quickly, the pain in my knee became accompanied by a pain in my stomach which was threatening to show me it's contents despite my reassurances that there really was no need; I had seen everything that had gone in, in a far more pleasant state only a few hours earlier. We entered battle. My stomach vs my mind. Unfortunately, whilst driving on the M61 at 60mph, only 1/2 mile from the safety of a service station, my stomach won. I won't give you the puke-filled gory details but needless to say, it's quite hard to vomit into a goody bag whilst maintaining full concentration on the road. I mainly missed the bag. However, I did manage to empty it of my medal before the evacuation... There's a bright side to everything!!

Putting everything into perspective, and with the power of hindsight, I now think that maybe I'd have been better off staying tucked up in my lovely, warm, comfortable bed this morning; then again, if I had, there'd have been a far less interesting story to tell. And I wouldn't have earned myself 1 whole championship point and a medal!

I have a plan...

2012-02-25T17:45:00.001Z

Over the past couple of weeks, running has only occurred twice a week at club due to a complete lack of motivation to force myself out of the house / work/ coffee shops/ restaurants/ parties/ shops/ bed!

So it comes as no surprise that, with an equal level of procrastination, I managed to completely miss the deadline to sign up for the next club championship race which is the Great North West Half Marathon, in Blackpool, this weekend.

But... I have a plan:

1. Get up stupid early (for a Sunday).
2. Make a peanut butter sandwich.
3. Drive to Blackpool, carefully eating -aforementioned peanut butter sandwich on the way!
4. Shamelessly beg/ buy/ borrow/ steal race place from organisers.

If all goes to plan, I will then have 2 1/2 hours to kill in the delightful seaside resort of Blackpool... Where I will try not to kill myself and instead Maybe eat porridge in Starbucks!... This will then be followed by a slow 13.1mile jaunt along the seafront and a much needed one extra point in my club championship kitty!

...I'll let you know how I get on!

Excess and Exercise

2012-02-14T12:26:00.001Z

This week has been a blur of food and running. Therefore, as someone who is trying to lose a few pounds, it has also been a week of finely tuned balance.

The blur began last week on Wednesday with The Impossible Session. With a night out on Thursday (scoffing my face with fish and chips in Bradford) I felt I had no option but to force myself to attend the 'hard' Wednesday night session at running club- please note: 'hard' is placed within the inverted commas for emphasis and in no way suggests any form of irony... Trust me! - So, we set off to the starting point where Pete described the session: run out for 8 minutes, come back in 7. Take a 1 minute recovery (1 minute? That surely can't be enough??!! - it wasn't!). Then, run out in 6 minutes and return in 5; out in 4, return in 3 - all still with a 1 minute recovery in between - and finally, out in 2 and return in 1. We duly undertook the session which required pushing out and literally sprinting back and, to be fair, I was doing very well at arriving back in the allotted time. Until the final interval of course, as this one was actually, physically impossible. By this point, I was pushing out at about 8.30 min miles; even with my poor maths skills, I can work out that to return the same distance in half the time would require me to run back at 4.15 min miles. Yep. Impossible. I can't - obviously - run that fast! I ran back as fast as I could instead.

The following night, I stuffed my face with fish and chips in celebration of Mik's dad's birthday (happy birthday Sean!) and completion of the impossible session. On Friday, I stuffed my face with cake and pizza; on Saturday we took Doris for a long walk, so I could stuff my face with Chinese; on Sunday, I walked the 6 mile round trip to the city centre so I could stuff my face with Sunday dinner (guilt free) and then I took Doris for another 3 mile walk.

Come Monday, you'd think I'd have had enough of stuffing my face. No, you're right, not if you know me... In fact, if you know me well, it'll be no surprise that I dutifully continued to stuff my face with sandwiches, wedges and the-nicesest-chocolate-in-the-world when I visited Slattery's tea rooms for a 'ladies-what-lunch' catch up with the girls.

By the time I left Slattery's, my stomach ached with the excessive delights I had stuffed it full with, so, naturally, by 7pm I was out running 23 hills at running club. Ouch.

Unfortunately... Or maybe, fortunately, these 'stuffing my face' exploits are due to continue for the rest of the week. In fact, I am currently sat on a train heading to London where I will be taking my mother for an surprise birthday afternoon tea... Nom, nom!

Thankfully, in all of this, I have one saviour; that which will hopefully save me from gout, obesity, or just simple stomach explosion: myfitnesspal. I have installed this little, trusty app on my iPhone, and have been using it to ensure that my excesses have not become excessive! And, despite the slight obsession I've developed with the thing, I think it's doing me good. I've always maintained that dieting is not about denying yourself things you want, or denying your body food it needs; that's not sustainable. If I had been doing that, I would have given up and gone 'off my diet' on Thursday with my fish, chips and curry sauce - I didn't mention the curry sauce before did I :-o - Instead, I've been keeping my excesses balanced with my exercises. Granted, I've not been eating the most nutritional diet in the world this week (so the gout is still a possibility) but I have managed to keep losing weight! Woop! All I have to do is keep the average calories, over the week, below the red line on the pretty little graph (shown below) and it doesn't matter if the little, daily green ones turn red every now and then! Simples!

And perfect, as I'm off to stuff my face with more food... Ooooh, and maybe a few glasses of wine... What? I'll have a salad tomorrow!

The Not-a-pyramid Pyramid Session

2012-01-31T22:22:00.001Z

Magic Moments come at a price. Yesterday, I had to pay up. In fact, I paid so highly for my amazing Yasso capabilities on Sunday, that I was even too exhausted to write this blog post yesterday. I've only just recovered.

In real terms this tiredness translated itself into the Not-a-pyramid Pyramid Session. Not-a-pyramid because a pyramid requires two equal sides to create it's shape, whereas my attempt looked more like this:

Still, it made for a good recovery run!

Which segues me nicely into some congratulations... WELL DONE to all the Janathoners who, today, completed 31 days of running and, tomorrow, will (hopefully) be enjoying a well-earned rest. You are inspiring (or mental!) and I am in awe -even my pathetic unofficial attempt fell by the wayside just a few days in. Maybe I'll join you during the warmer climes of June... then again, maybe I'll think on that just a little longer.

Anyway, here's to a well-earned rest and a great start to running in 2012.

That magic moment when...

2012-01-29T18:47:00.001Z

... You realise you've just achieved something you didn't think you could do... however small that may be!

Fuelled with copious amounts of hangover following a fab night at the theatre, watching Oliver, last night, I didn't expect much more than a vague attempt at plodding back and forth along the same stretch of road several times when I joined some runners from club today. The session, mainly aimed at the marathon trainees, was the Yasso 800's; but rather than doing them on the track, we used the same stretch of road we had used on Monday night's session. For those of you unfamiliar with the session, it's built around 1/2 mile reps - which the others were aiming to run in 4 minutes (as they're aiming for a 4 hour finishing time in the Manchester marathon) - followed by 1/4 mile recovery in the same time. This is repeated 10 times.

Yep, that's right. You read that right.

Ten.

I'll be honest, I turned up to the session thinking I'd have a go and see how far I got. I wasn't aiming to do all of them and I certainly wasn't so presumptuous to think that I'd be able to keep up with the rest of the group, who are all much faster runners than I.

So, you can imagine my amazement when I finished the first rep only slightly behind the rest of the group. Followed by further amazement as I continued to keep up, falling only 15 (or so) seconds behind on each rep. Of course, there were two perfectly simple reasons for this - neither of which involve any kind of hocus pocus, Harry Potter style wizardry!

The first is that the rest of the group, although faster, were running slower; proven on the final rep when Pete knocked his time down from 4 minutes to 2 minutes something (I don't even know what the something was because my brain got distracted by the number 2 at the start of the time!).

The second of the reasons is that I cheated. Cheated myself that is. Not wanting to fall behind the others, on the 1/4 mile recoveries I took a reduced recovery time. this meant On the next fast rep, I started with the rest of the group and ignored the extra recovery time I should have (technically) taken.

All of which led to 'that magic moment'. On each fast rep, I expected to fall further behind. I expected to slow down. I expected to tire. Yet I didn't! In fact, my last two reps were my fastest of the lot, hitting 8.10 minute miles (a pace that hasn't been in my running vocabulary for a very long time!) As we ran back to the cars, taking our total distance to 10.5 miles, I realised just how well I'd run today; and so, Twitter might be obsessed with '#that awkward moment' but for me, today was all about '#that magic moment'!

Hey Little Cupcake!

2012-01-25T22:02:00.001Z

Cakes, sugar paste and buttercream were the ingredients for this evening and, for once, I wasn't eating! Well, ok, I admit it, I did HAVE to have one of my creations when I got home... It just looked too irresistible!

So what exactly have I been up to?

Well, I've been taking part in a cupcake decorating course at 'Hey Little Cupcake' situated in Spinning Fields, Manchester. This cute little cupcakery provided me with a pretty pink apron, freshly baked cupcakes and all the utensils and know-how to enable me to get creative and decorate my very own, beautiful (if I do say so myself!) cupcakes.

Starting with sugar paste, I perfected butterflies, stars and flowers before moving on to learn how to make the perfect buttercream (I am now LUSTING after a Kenwood mixer!). Then the rest of the night was spent learning, and practising, different decorative effects, that were to make our cupcakes look as yummy as they taste; including the 'Cookie Monster' and the Hey Little Cupcake classic, 'Viva Las Vegas'.

Considering I missed running club for this calorific creative evening, I should have resisted eating one of my creations once I'd plonked my backside back on the sofa; yet, alas, I am a far weaker woman than that and I caved after just 5 (or maybe 3...) minutes back home. Still, as Bad Wabbit (of http://badwabbittails.wordpress.com) revealed, following his attendance at a marathon workshop the other day, what is more important for a runner is carbs - sporty peeps should aim to intake 60% of the little blighters as part of an overall daily diet - and there are plenty of carbs in a cupcake... Especially an 'American' which squirrels a sneaky Oreo cookie within its soft, scrumptious sponge... Mmmmmmm.

Ok, so I'm stepping away from the remaining 5 cakes and planning several runs over the coming few days... After all, practice makes perfect and I need to perfect my creative skills... Cupcake anyone?!

Calories? What calories?

2012-01-23T22:08:00.001Z

Fresh air, country walks and the company of good people meant for a fun and relaxing weekend and, it seems, great fuel for running.

After a weekend in Alton (not Towers!) enjoying myself with my family, I was understandably tired by the end of today's working day... There had been many wine o'clocks in the evening (watch this space for the wine-o-meter cannily suggested by http://fortnightflo.wordpress.com)! So, running club was not the first thing on my mind this evening - lying on the sofa was! However, due to my over-zealous wine consumption at the weekend, I knew that whilst I had been working hard today, many pesky calories had been equally hard at work, hurriedly attaching themselves to my ass! Not good. Running it was.

However, despite my initial lethargy, I ran better, and felt better, than I have in ages. Running 4 x 1/2 mile reps with 1/4 mile recoveries, I aimed for 3 and completed 4... And I didn't come last! Bonus!

Plus, clocking up just over 6 miles in total means that those pesky calories have been well and truly beaten into submission...

Ha...

Have that calories!

Pooped...

2012-01-19T21:41:00.001Z

Parents' evening followed by running club?...

I'm completely pooped!

Zzzzzzzzzzzz

Smashed it!

2012-01-18T21:35:00.001Z

That'll be a reference to my beep test PB.. Which I totally smashed today!

Hitting a whole level higher than last time, I reached 8.5; and if you haven't already been able to tell, I am very chuffed with myself!

We're having a final go (for a few weeks) at it again next week and hopefully I'll be able to reach even higher again; however, I'm going to have to work on my turns before then as at the moment, I think that's what's holding me back. By far, the hardest thing for me is finding that explosive power needed to sprint from a standing position, which is what is essentially created by having to turn and run in the opposite direction; it's just not something I'm used to. Saying that, I'm quite enjoying the challenge of trying to raise it each week and am already looking forward to my next attempt!

However, what I was more impressed with today was my weight lifting ability and core strength. Moving on to the fitness room after the beep test, our 'teacher' took us through a range of resistance and endurance exercises using the weights and equipment... Despite my usual aversion to picking up anything in a gym with the letters 'kg' at the end, I really enjoyed myself and discovered that I'm stronger than I thought. So, by my (extremely accurate) calculations, I reckon I only need to spend a few more hours in the fitness room with my new 'kg' babies and I'll be hitting level 9 before I know it... Plus I'll (clearly) be an eenie meenie, skinny mini, teeny tiny, weight loss goddess...

Surely?!!!!

Too many excuses for the excuses!

2012-01-16T21:40:00.001Z

I can't lie, I tried to find many excuses why I shouldn't go running tonight. However, none of them were good enough. I kept finding excuses for my excuses! And so I went.

It was an out (in 20 mins) and back (in 18 mins) run...

Out: I very quickly became the last runner out of 18. Up hill, struggling, pathetic!

Back: I'm in the lead!!!! Until, I was very quickly overtaken by several runners on their return. Ignoring them, Not giving up, running hard. Finish 37:45

Not bad, not great, but at least I tried! And... That's 350 calories in the bank for wine o'clock at the weekend... Who needs excuses?!

I ran 10 miles because...

2012-01-14T23:14:00.001Z

I didn't have to!

When running partner, Paula (not Radcliffe), asked me if I wanted to join her on her 10 mile marathon training jaunt today, I thought 'you know what... Yes I do...!' not 'oh, wish I didn't HAVE to go out today.' or 'no, I want to laze about on my sofa.' or even 'I suppose I should.'. No, I didn't think any of the above, just a simple 'Yes...' Oh, and 'Brilliant! That means I can have a couple of glasses of wine!'.

And so, I have run 10 miles today... Because I didn't have to... And I loved it!!

I also discovered (thanks to the very knowledgable girl behind the counter) that the best treat to eat at Eat is their Victoria sponge slice - only 166 calories would you believe! I also discovered that it's worth asking what the calories are in the food - if you've got geeky-OCD-like-calorie-obsession-problems like me - because they have a folder behind the main counter with them all listed... And I learnt all about prams - thanks to not-so-little-bro and lovely-sis-in-law- and just how dear (as the kids would say (no, really they do!- I know, it sounds like something your granny would say doesn't it!) they are!!! Seriously... This baby thing is quite pricey, I'm glad I'm only 'The Aunt' (official title!).

Anyway, did I mention I ran 10 miles today? I've no time to be wasting on here... I've got wine to drink people!... Now, where did I leave that glass of well deserved calories?

Beeps, Hills and Horseshoes...

2012-01-11T21:58:00.001Z

Although much of what I say whilst running up hills has to be 'beeped', the title of this blog post is actually all to do with actual beeps... That is actual recorded beeps... More specifically (I'm getting there!) the beep test.

Otherwise known as the multistage fitness test, for those of you that aren't familiar (or have tried desperately to erase it from your fond school memories of PE lessons), the activity requires participants to run back and forth between 2 lines which are measured 20 metres apart. The idea is to hit the line as the beep sounds. Level one is easy- for me, it was 'trying to keep up with my brother' walking pace. Level 2, speeds up to a slow jog, level 3 a little faster and so on. Each level has at least 7 stages in it, which also rise as the level does - so by the time one reaches level 12 (notice the purposeful lack of 1st person in that sentence!) there are 12 stages. As the running is continuous, it is a good test of a person's cardiovascular fitness and is used to measure the efficiency of a participating athlete's V02 max.

After completing the test with all of the kids at school, and seeing some rather interesting results, the head of PE offered the opportunity out to the staff to have a go... Well I only need asking once and so 3 of us turned up today ready and eager to discover how unfit we were... Or not as it turns out!

Don't get me wrong, I'm no elite athlete, but I was quite happy with my results; achieving level 7, stage 6, I am distinctly average in my capabilities. This is good - I was very worried before we began that I would be collapsing in a dying heap at a 'below average, you are stupidly unfit, go and sign up to The Biggest Loser now' kind of way! More to the point, I now have something to aim towards as we'll be doing this each week, and I intend to improve!

Which is why, just one hour later, I was joining in with the wednesday 'hard' session at running club. I usually avoid these. The eponymous name should tell you why! However, I am on a path to improvement, the road to fitness, the highway to weightless... And so, needs must!

Once again, I did well! Well, better than I thought I would anyway... One horseshoe of just under a mile, followed by a mile circuit, followed by another horseshoe... Except I did 2! That's right 2... Like a little running geek, I did 1 more horseshoe than I needed to! I rock!

Unfortunately, I had to take the shorter route home in the cool down because I felt sick and my legs had turned to (actual) jelly but that was just the cool down, I've decided it doesn't really count because I ran the 'hard' session! Woop!

So, I am well on my way to cardiovascular perfection and should have no problems beating my beep level next week, right? Well...maybe... but I'm certainly heading in the right direction. Yay! Go me!

Dear race organisers,

2012-01-09T22:26:00.001Z

Please would you add a completely downhill race to the UK's racing calendar for 2012 this year.

Although this sounds like a lazy request, it is quite the opposite. When one is running, or indeed attempting to achieve anything which requires overcoming challenge in order to improve, it is important that one is able to identify key strengths and use these fortuitously. This evening, at club, I ran hill reps: fast up, rest, fast down.

By the third rep, it was clear that I was running 'fast' up but fast down; evidently, my strength is downhill running and not only that but also... I love it!

And so, I am now looking for an opportunity to explore this strength further and to really hone my skills within this particular key area. Look at it this way: downhill racing could very well be the new fad of 2012! If that's the case, you've got to act fast, after all where do you want to be when it all takes off: heading the pack on the inside lane? Or struggling behind, desperate to catch up?

You know the answer to this one. If 2011 was the year of backwards racing, then 2012 will be the year of downhill racing. Don't get left stranded at the top, organise your race now*...

Many thanks,

The Magathon x

* priority and complimentary race entry will be more than enough thanks for helping you become known as the organiser of the most popular racing phenomenon that ever occurred!

Countyathon Part 4: London

2012-01-08T18:49:00.002Z

Starring:

Fortnightflo (Carla)

Abradypus (Louise)

Cake of Good Hope (Katie)

Fairweatherrunner (Rachel)

Plustenner (Alma)

The Magathon (Me!)

Chapter 1:

"You're doing what?" Mik questioned in amazement.

"I'm running the Regent's Park 10k tomorrow, in London, with a group of other 'Athoner bloggers and Carla has very kindly said that I can stay overnight at her house because she lives much closer to London and the race is at 9am."

"But you don't know Carla."

"Well, no... but I do really because I've been reading her blogs for a year now and she seems lovely! And anyway, I met Louise for the Parkrun up here and I only knew her through her blogs before that too, and she was lovely, so it'll all be good!" I babbled. Mik, just stared at me.

"So, let me get this right... you're going to stay with someone you don't actually physically know, but you've met 'on the internet'?"

"Yes."

"Well don't come crying to me when you come back dead... have you seen Wolf Creek?!"

Actually, I hadn't seen Wolf Creek - and still haven't, although apparently it's enough to put you off travelling Australia on your own! - so, brushing Mik's misgivings' well and truly under the carpet (or laminate to be precise), I jumped into my little blue Micra and sped off down south.

One wee, a cup of tea and a Starbucks' Granola bar later, and I arrived at the lovely Carla's where I can confirm I was (obviously) not murdered, hacked into tiny pieces and buried under the floorboards of the patio - a la '90's Brookside - but quite conversely was treated to a delicious meal of speed enhancing spaghetti bolognese with a side of garlic bread, followed by - not any key lime pie but - a Marks & Spencer's key lime pie... Mmmmmmmm... Great conversation, a little red wine and a good night's sleep meant I was more than ready for the challenge that lay ahead of me the next day: The Mornington Chaser's Regent's Park 10k.

Chapter 2:

We woke up bright and early... well, alright then, it was early, but I certainly wasn't bright! and set off for London Town. A few yawn's later and we arrived at Regent's Park, immediately meeting up with Louise and Rachel, who seemed to be coping far better than me with the early morning start! Within seconds Katie, who had braved the train from Oxford that morning, had identified us as the people she was looking for and, before we knew it, Alma had joined us and we were a complete brave band of 6 early morning Janathoners stood on the start line of our 3 lap pursuit.

photo courtesy of Fortnightflo

The gun - well, horn sounding thing - sounded, and we were off...

Lap 1 - I'm feeling good: The wind is in my hair. I'm running well. It's a good, flat course.

Lap 2 - I've questions: Did I start too fast? Can I make it round? Where did that hill come from?

Lap 3 - I've answers: Yes. Don't even think about that now. It's even bigger now!

Thankfully, just at the 9km point where I thought I might just possibly collapse - or at least slow to a pace slower than a snail's - I heard Louise's words of encouragement calling from behind me: 'Go Maggie! You're doing great!'. Those were the magic words I needed. I lifted my head, dug deep and found the finish line at 58:48.

Chapter 3:

Of course, once everyone had finished the race, there was only one thing left to do: breakfast. Oh, and what a good breakfast it was... toast, poached eggs and bacon with a dollop of brown sauce... heaven! It was also the perfect opportunity to have a good old natter about all things running with the girls, all of whom are as wonderfully warm and welcoming in real life as they are in their blogs; and if you haven't had a read them yet, then make sure you do... go on... what are you waiting for? Oh, of course... the end.

Well, there's not much more to say really, except that, all in all, I've had an absolutely fantastic weekend and will definitely look for more opportunities to meet up and run with everyone again. Of course, I have to give a massive thanks to Carla for not just putting up with me, but for making me feel like a real VIP.

My next race will be the Blackpool half marathon in February (part of my 'run every race in the club championships' challenge); and if anyone fancies joining me in a race ooop north sometime, then give me a shout! Now, what are you waiting for?... skip back to the top of the page and read some brilliant blogs by some lovely ladies!

Wow!

2012-01-07T12:52:00.001Z

This is amazing! Guess what I'm doing... Go on, guess...

Ok, ok, I'll tell you! It's absolutely fascinating!

Wait for it... Drum roll please...

Dddddrrrrrrdddddrrrrrr...

I am simultaneously Janathoning and blogging! I know... Amazing!

Doris and I are in the park having a very enjoyable, if not windy, time. Hopefully tomorrow will be a little less windy as Fortnightflo* and I will be joining a bevy of other Janathon ladies for the Regents Park 10k... Watch this space for more on that!

For now, I shall leave you with a picture of how happy the park has made Doris.

* it turns out you can't tag on the mobile app but you can find Fortnightflo here: fortnightflo.wordpress.com

A Lesson Learnt from Dad

2012-01-06T21:33:00.001Z

From an early age, my dad would take the dog for a walk every Friday night. Each week, on his return, it would be clear that he had partaken in quite rigorous exercise as he would always return fatigued, collapsing on the sofa and falling fast asleep. On occasion, he would return so exhausted from walking the dog that he would even be known to fall asleep on the way home, only finally making it to his abode thanks to the help of our kind neighborhood policeman who would help him to his feet and back on his bike.

Of course, as with Santa Clause and the Tooth fairy, it wasn't until I got a bit older that I began to question certain details: why did his dog walks last several hours? Why did he need his bike to walk the dog? And why did the dog never go with him?

It was on my 18th birthday that he finally disclosed these secrets and thus the real reason behind his regular friday night expeditions... Unbelievably, 'walking the dog' was actually a euphemism for going down the pub!

It was also at this time that he taught me about the real skill, effort and determination that is required to spend several hours lifting heavy pints, maintaining scintillating conversation, whilst fighting the rapidly increasing exhaustion and desire to take a quick nap at the table. And all of this would then be followed by a long trek home. Truly inspiring.

Even today, after much practise, my efforts still pale in comparison to the championship levels my dad used to achieve but, practise makes perfect; and so, tonight's (unofficial) Janathon effort took place in the pub as I trained with the effort and dedication that would make my dad proud!

Interval Death

2012-01-05T21:14:00.001Z

Phew!

If yesterday's 'exercise' was questionable, today's certainly wasn't!

At club tonight, we ran half mile intervals with quarter mile recoveries... It was sooooo hard - half a mile is really, really far when you have to run it hard!! - However, despite bringing up the rear of the pack for most of the night, I enjoyed the running, fresh air and wind in my hair - which was, thankfully, a lot calmer than last night which would have probably blown me away if I'd tried running in it... Or that's my excuse anyway!

As a consequence of this evening's deadly intervals, I am now unable to do anything but keep Doris company on the couch... Who, after the ordeal of teeth cleaning at the vets today, is in a period of recovery herself... Needless to say, we're both quite content now! :-)

Exercise: activity that maintains fitness

2012-01-04T20:56:00.001Z

For my Janathon activity today, I started a diet.

'How is this in the spirit of Janathon?' I hear you cry! 'surely you have to do some form of exercise to qualify such claims!'

Ah, but calm yourselves my loyal readers, I did indeed carry out exercise today; indeed, a form of exercise that not only worked to improve my fitness, but also required energy, effort and exertion...

I exercised my willpower*.

* As I am self-professedly taking part 'unofficially' in Janathon, this totally counts and therefore I'm totally counting it! Plus... I invented** a new technique for reinforcing diet willpower today: when you want to eat something calorific (for example a mass of roses chocolates, a tub of pringles or some stale mince pies - which are really, really tempting by this stage in the day, even though you know they're 2 weeks' old and as stale as a cracker in the desert) instead of eating it, you picture it turning into something disgusting as you do eat it; for example, I imagined that the chocolates turned into baked beans when I put them in my mouth, this made me a little bit sick in my mouth, and consequently I didn't feel like eating them any more... 1-0 to willpower vs cravings! Woop!

** This may not be invented by me, it may well already be a technique adopted by some random weight loss company who will happily charge you your well earned cash to impart such peculiar 'psychology', but if this is the case, I honestly didn't know and fully believed I had invented it. However, if it is yet to be invented as a cunning weight loss plan by which to extract much money from many people, then watch this space for my forthcoming book...

A Race Against Darkness

2012-01-03T19:26:00.001Z

Doris and I ran the gauntlet this evening in the race against darkness; a run/power walk strategy ensured that we managed to leave the creepy park just before the true swathes of darkness swept in.

And so (my now unofficial) janathon day 3 was completed with a score of 1-0 to Doris* and Maggiee vs The Darkness**

* For those of you unawares, Doris is my dog, not an elderly lady I take for run/power walks on an evening... That would be weird!

** Not the band that sang about believing in 'a thing called love' and, more seasonally, to not 'let the bells end', but in this case actual darkness that draws in with night and makes the park a more creepy place to be!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T19:16:00.001Z

Happy New Year*... Happy First of January**... and Happy first day of Janathon*** everyone!

I haven't had much of a chance to catch up with everyone's blogs yet but a quick scan of twitter tells me that there have been garden gallops, double park runs and guilt-inducing emails.

Well, it being the first day of the month**** today, clearly I had to get out and do some running. As it was also a bank holiday and my final day of holiday freedom, I decided I would spend the evening relaxing and, rather than go out to running club, would opt for a run in the sun (Ooooh... like the rhyme) early on instead (early being 1pm when I finally dragged myself away from Friends and the work I was supposedly doing but was really just sat on my lap staring at me whilst I ignored it!). There really isn't anything better than a New Year's Day***** run and, with the sun on my back, the cold air whipping through my hair and my trainers squelching through the mud, I headed into the local park, nodding at dog walkers and passers by alike; all of us sharing in our enjoyment of the beauty of the first day of the new year******... awesome.

And so, with the first day of Janathon*******, and the first day of the new year almost over, I am looking forward to what the other 29 days have to offer... Even more so, I'm looking forward to next weekend where I will be adding another race to my Countyathon belt when I take on the Regent's Park 10k with a group of other 'athoners (a group who I suspect will do a far better job of Janathon that I will... although I have no idea why I suspect that at all... nope, no idea... really!).

Anyway, Happy New Year******** to you all, and to those of you Janathoning, good luck!

* A little clichéd but a timely greeting for the time of year... still
** Sshhhhhh... confidence is everything
*** Three is the key... it's the magic number... persuasive, don't you know!
**** If I say it loud enough... will it become true?!
***** Maybe if I say it often enough?
****** Hypnosis! Does that work through a computer? listen to my wooords... belieeeve what I saaaay...
******* Did I tell you I'm a Time Lord? I have my own tardis and everything! I know, it's amazing isn't it!
******** Ok, Ok, Ok, so I slept through yesterday... so sue me!... If I lived in another time zone then today could possibly have been January 1st... I mean didn't you see the news item about Samoa? They lost a whole day... what if that had been January 1st? Would they have failed Janathon? surely not? That wouldn't be fair would it? because after all, time is relative, right? Yes?... YES? Surely yes?... no? you're right... I've failed Janathon... but hey, you can't say I didn't give it a good try right?!

Stockport 10 2011

2011-12-11T22:37:00.001Z

When I ran the marathon in April, the first part of it included 10 miles. I have not run as far as 10 miles since. Until today.

The Stockport 10 is quite a famous local race, known for two reasons: it's hills and it's weird and wonderful goodie bag (which last year contained a meal worm, and this year a cod liver oil capsule... Amongst other things!). Today, those running - and marshaling - might well remember it for the water which fell from the sky in copious amount and - believe it or not - was stolen from the 5 mile water point along with the tables!! Seriously!

Despite the wet conditions, I gallantly (surely, yes?!) ran the full 10 miles and achieved a time of only 1.40.55, which I was very chuffed with as it was only 10 minutes slower than last year despite my 2 hour predictions!

But, that's not the only good news about today's race... There's more... Much more: 1. Stockport is technically in Cheshire so I have now completed the 4th race in my countyathon, covering Manchester, Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cheshire; 2. The Stockport 10 is the 3rd race on the club calendar for this year and is therefore another tick on the list of club championship runs; 3. I am currently in the lead of the Ladies' competition... And I will take the opportunity to celebrate whilst it lasts!!

So all in all, braving the rain was more than worth it, and I have a shiny, bright yellow technical t-shirt to show off at club tomorrow... What could be better?!..

What's that I hear you say?

Stuffing your face with pulled pork sandwiches, waffles with maple syrup and a mug of mulled wine at the Christmas markets? Well, yes... I'll admit it, that was pretty good and, of course, completely guilt free after a 10 mile race...

I LOVE running!

Happy Birthday Blog!

2011-11-27T21:21:00.001Z

'I'm sure I blogged about this race last year' I mused to Coach Pete as we drove back from Preston to Manchester, having earned our latest medals in the Best Preston 5k. 'Hang on, I'll have a look and see...'.

tap... tap... tap onto the Iphone and within ~~seconds~~ minutes I had discovered that I had indeed blogged about the Best Preston 5k last year - 28th November: a very, very frozen -4 degree experience!! Thankfully, today had been a very balmy 13 degrees warmer! - But I made another, even more exciting, discovery: that the chilly Best Preston blog post had been only the second in my blogging history... and therefore today... the 27th November 2011 is the official birthday of The Magathon blog! And I nearly missed it!

The Magathon blog began when my training started for the London Marathon last year. With 20 weeks to go, I decided that the added motivation added by airing my successes and failures in public might just do something to spur me on in my training. Little did I know then that blogging would become such a wonderful world to live in! This time last year, if you'd suggested to me that I'd be meeting up with people I'd only ever met on the internet, I would have suggested that you were a complete nutter and that I, on the other hand, was not!

However, nutter I am it seems as the experiences of the last year have taught me the errors of my ways. My Magathon Marathon training offered many difficulties along the way, yet whenever I wrote about them on here, there was always someone, often many, offering advice, sympathy and encouragement to keep me going. When I thought about giving up, I also thought about the shame of having to admit it on here; the guilt associated with possible failure is enough to get anyone going again! In January, I discovered the joys of running and blogging with a group of like-minded ~~crazy~~ people around the world when I signed up to Janathon. In April, I shared the success of completing the London Marathon with all those who'd been ~~mad~~ kind enough to read my ramblings and motivate me along the way. In June I shared my new found love of car dancing and supermarket aerobics as I attempted, and failed, to complete Juneathon. When I found myself unable to run in August, I submersed myself in running by reading the blogs of my online friends, and just last week, I met with 'Abradypus' to take part in a local (for me) parkrun. All this in one year. All via the internet. Who'd have thought it?

And it's not over yet. Just today, I've arranged to join Fortnightflo and a whole other host of 'athoners' for the Regent's Park 10k in January; and in doing so, I seem to have inadvertently signed myself up for another month of ~~poor excuses disguised as~~ running every day!

A year ago, this blog started life as a record of my running. Today, The Magathon and I are a part of a community of people who love running, sharing experiences and motivating others. Now who could ask for a better birthday gift than that?

Finale of The Festival of Running

2011-11-20T20:25:00.001Z

And so, the Magathon's Weekend Festival of Running saw closure today in the form of the Leeds Abbey Dash. A 10k race and the first of the 2011-2012 club championship races. As a special extra twist, it was also the second of my Countyathon* races; and a very good race it was too.

The fact that it ended up as a 'good'- one might even be as bold as to use the word 'enjoyable' - race is interesting as when I woke up this morning, the last thing I was wanted to do was run. Warming up in Leeds, the last thing I wanted to do was run. Standing at the start line.. Yep, you've got it! But... And it's a big, huge but of a BUT, just 1 mile into the race, I was having a whale of a time. At 5k, I was feeling strong, despite feeling like I wanted to die at the exact same distance yesterday. And, with 2 miles to go, I realised I was definitely going to achieve my 10k pb of 2011!

Now, whilst most people don't court yearly personal best times, preferring to see them as cumulative across a running 'career', those of you who've been following my Magathon antics since the beginning, will be aware of my record of declining times this year; in fact, the last 10k race I ran was the Great Manchester Run which took me the grand old time of 1 hour and 2 minutes! Follow this with a summer of injury and no running and I'm not silly enough to be thinking I can chase previous bests of sub 50 minutes! No. Today was about running and finishing.

So, when I ran a time of 58.11, I was incredibly chuffed! In fact, I think it's fair to say, I still am! So chuffed that the festival of running was rounded off with a yummy - and moderately 'Diet for Crimbo Because Oh My Word Nothing Fits' friendly - skinny muffin in Starbucks! Mmmmmmm...

*Countyathon... The name given to my ongoing challenge where I aim to run a race in every county in England.

Festival of Running Part 2...

2011-11-19T22:38:00.001Z

I'm the Oldham and Royton Harriers and AC Ladies Cross Country Champion 2011!

I know... It's a little unbelievable isn't it! Don't worry though. Everything you thought you knew about me hasn't been completely upturned and overthrown; as the old adage goes, you've gotta be in it to win it... And being the only one 'in it' does help too!!! Tee hee... Still, that's another trophy for effort, and you'll never hear me knock that - especially when I have a (not so) secret sneaky plan to win the Ladies Road Running championship with exactly that next year!!

Accepting my shiny new trophy has very nicely rounded off part 2 in The Magathon's Weekend Festival of Running... Watch this space tomorrow for part 3: The Leeds Abbey Dash!

Magathon's Festival of Running

2011-11-19T16:52:00.001Z

Welcome to the Magathon's Weekend Festival of Running!

Or that's what this weekend feels like anyway! Part 1 of my running 'festival' began at 8.45 this morning, when I met another 'Athoner and Blogger, Abradypus. A nomadic park runner, Abradypus has run over 40 different park runs; and not just in this country, her park run experiences stretch as far as Reykjavik; so much so that, at my local Parkrun, it was Abradypus who knew the most runners, bumping into another Reykjaviker also!

As if he knew of the festival of running, we were also graced with a local celebrity, Ron Hill, who was handing out the 50 t-shirts as well as running his fourth Parkrun at Heaton Park.

Dr Ron Hill... who even in his 70's is faster than me

Unfortunately, I was unable to keep up with Dr. Ron in the race... no, don't be fooled by his age!!... however, thanks to the self-confessed sloth... no, don't be fooled by her name!... I achieved a very respectable time of 28.44.

Though, to be honest I could have waddled around in 40 minutes and still have had a great time, as it was truly a great morning: great to finally meet my first 'Athoner, great conversation, and a great morning for running.

The Magathon and Abradypus!

Part 2 of the festival begins at 7.30pm this evening: Club Presentation Evening. Apparently, I've won an award, no idea what... I'll let you know! And then it's off to the festival finale tomorrow for the Leeds' Abbey Dash 10k for which my current PB stands at 49:49...

Ha ha... I'll let you know!!!!

Skechers ProSpeed SRR Review

2011-11-13T18:39:00.001Z

'I believe in pink'. said Audrey Hepburn.

And do you know what? So do I.

More specifically, I believe in my pink trainers.

I've had my Skecher's ProSpeed Resistance trainers, that Skechers sent me as part of their seeding project, for a good few weeks now and have been wearing them for the majority of my running; so, I thought it was probably about time to give you a little more info on them and let you know what they're like.

Fit and Facade:

These bright pink little beauties do offer themselves up in colours other than the eye-popping bubblegum, however, I have to admit that this was one of the first things I liked about them. Making an appearance in other colours including silver, blue, black and white also, the ProSpeed trainers offer quite a wide fit so, unlike most other trainers, a normal shoe size will probably suffice. Despite fitting a feminine size 5 beauty on a night out, I always have to size-up to a 6 in my running shoes. However, the Skechers are very roomy trainers and I am having to pull the laces on my size 6's a little too tight in order to stop them slipping; with the virtue of hindsight a 5 would have been more than enough. Saying that, this has not proved too much of a problem, and I should add that I do have quite narrow feet generally, however if there was one thing I'd definitely offer as a suggestion to Skechers it would be to consider producing a narrow fit trainer also - I can't be the only runner out here with narrow feet and it does often prove a problem when choosing trainers.

Feel and Fleetness:

One definite pro for the ProSpeed is the feel of them. Again, a little background information on me will help with this. Whilst running, my heel is rather lazy. In fact, where possible it tries to avoid all contact with the ground whatsoever. What this does mean is I have a nasty habit of running high on my forefoot; unfortunately, this eventually caused me injury and, consequently, I have had to adapt my style to land much more on the mid-foot than the fore. The Skechers trainers are designed to promote mid-foot running and give maximum return through here, rather than the heel. For me, as a mid-foot runner, this is perfect. The ride the trainer provides not only feels cushioned and smooth but it also feels energetic and fast.

Additionally, Skechers promote the trainer as a lightweight running shoe. At first, I was a little judgemental on this, whilst holding them in my hands, weighing one Skecher's ProSpeed against my normal trainers, I came to the conclusion that my current trainers were lighter; a very scientific approach, I think you'll agree. However, having run in them, I would agree with Skechers: whilst the trainers are on my feet, and I am running, they do in fact feel very light - offering a soft slipper-like quality... and of course, on my feet whilst I'm running is really the only place I should be judging these!

So, so far so good, I was enjoying running in the Skechers' ProSpeed and felt like I'd really bonded with my trainers; Surely, I was ready to write my review? Well, almost. Whilst reflecting on the trainers, I realised I'd been running in the ProSpeeds almost exclusively for the past month, and perhaps, for purposes of objectivity, I should be able to draw comparisons back to my (now long forgotten) 'favourite' trainers. So, swapping back to my Brooks Glycerin for Thursday's run, to give me a better sense of comparison, I put them through their paces on a hill training session. Whilst I still like the feel of the Brooks, one thing I did miss was the slipper-like feel of the Skecher's and the mid-foot energy return, which was particularly noticeable in it's absence. On reflection, I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort of the ProSpeed, however for me, this would be improved further by a narrower fit.

Fumbs up or Fumbs down?

I don't know where my obsession with the letter F has come from in this review, however I've started, so I'll finish...

In summary, I have found the Skechers' Pro-Speed Resistance trainers to be:

Comfortable
Light
Soft and cushioned slipper-like feel
Supportive yet light-weight
Wide-fitting
Good for mid-foot striking
Hardy in wet weather
Ventilated
Pink

Of course, these were gratis, so the big question is, would I hand over my hard-earned cash for a pair? Yes... I would.

Which all in all, gives them a 'fumbs up' and I believe in pink!

If Only I could have said that the trainers made me look like svelte, skinny woman in their banner... but they didn't... so I can't... maybe that's still to come!!

I am a tortoise... And proud!

2011-11-06T12:09:00.001Z

I had my best run for 6 months on Thursday at club when I ran out in 20 mins and ran back in 17.30 mins; technically I was aiming to arrive back in 18 but as I haven't managed to get back in under 19 recently, I'm not quibbling over 30 seconds!

I have to say, after being out of running for so many weeks, with my back, I'm enjoying being back now and as such, the times I'm getting are neither here nor there to me. In fact, with my garmin broken, I'm having to rely on other people to tell me what time I've run once we've finished anyway, which is quite refreshing! Running is purely pleasurable again and I think I've finally come to accept that I don't need to run fast: I am a tortoise, but I enjoy running so who cares if it's slow?!

That doesn't mean I've given up though, in fact quite to the contrary as in two weeks I have my first race since May coming up - Leeds Abbey Dash. This will be the second race on my Countyathon challenge (closely followed by Preston the week after) and will also be the first race on the club calendar for the 'new' year. Which leads me up to my very exciting second challenge I have set myself this year...

To run every race on the club calendar!

There are 25 races altogether ranging from 5k to 20 miles! This year, the club championship for the women was won, by Sara, with 25 points. Now, I had resigned myself to the idea that I would never have ANY chance of winning - I'm just not fast enough and to be quite honest have no interest in trying to be! No, as previously discussed, what I am is a plodder... But a plodder with determination! And a plodder who enjoys running... In fact, I love running races. In the past, I've missed races because I wasn't up to speed or thought I wouldn't do well in them; I've regretted that. However, in this plan, I only have to run. I don't have to run fast, I don't have to get a pb and I certainly don't have to win. All I need to do is turn up, run, and enjoy it!

And you never know, maybe the tortoise, with a little determination, could just well be holding the Ladies' championship trophy next year!

Trick or Treat

2011-10-31T21:04:00.002Z

Happy Halloween everyone...

A spooky time was had by all at running club tonight; I think it's fair to say we brought a few smiles to some faces on our 4 mile run!

The Dallas myth!

2011-10-27T15:08:00.001+01:00

There are no big shoulder pads in Dallas. Fact. I'm quite disappointed that, once again, it turns out that TV has lied to me. Dad reckons its because Dallas is off of the 80's but I'm sure I found it on a sky channel the other day, so how can that be?!

Anyway, unless I see some this morning I will have to accept that the big hair and shoulder pads are simply a myth. I fly back today but before I do, we're going for a real American breakfast at Ihop; apparently this is the place to go for your pancakes and maple syrup with bacon... Sounds disgusting? Trust me, it's heaven!... Previously Mik and I have been to Denny's but the locals pull a face when you tell them this and recommend Ihop instead so I'm thinking I may be in for a treat!

Dallas has been everything I expected and not at all either! Everything is big and vast; they don't do thing by halves as proven by the Walmart I shopped in yesterday- it was the size of the Trafford Centre! Equally, everything is so new, even the 'historic' areas, which are really quaint and pretty, as you imagine little America to be! The malls are everywhere and people drive from one shop to the other it's that far to go (and most of them are quite large themselves!) and once again, as I've found wherever I've gone in the USA, everyone is so friendly. We stopped by a little town called McKinney yesterday and were greeted like old friends! I've bought clothes from A&F (my favourite store!) for less than a meal at subway! and had gel nails for less than that again; I've been thoroughly spoilt and had a fab time... I think I might just come back again... Maybe a shopping trip once every year??!

So, that's it for Dallas, I'll tell you something about running next time we meet!

Dallas

2011-10-24T16:08:00.001+01:00

Would you believe it? I've been in Dallas for 2 days now and not a shoulder pad in sight! I feel a bit let down if i'm honest!

However, I have seen a lot of Stetsons and cowboy boots so at least TV hasn't been lying to me about that too!

Yesterday, I went to the Texas State Fair. Amazing! This is the biggest fair I have ever seen. In fact, in England we just don't have anything like it; I think partly because we don't have the space like they do here; but also because we split our 'fairs' into separate entities. So, for example, this fair had exhibitions, museums, fairground rides, fried everything tents, music, dancing, theatre, circus, a bird show, horse riding, pig racing... Yep, you name it, it was there! The particular highlight of the fair seems to be the fried stuff; they are particularly proud of the variety of weird things they've been able to fry. Some highlights included: fried bubblegum, fried beer, fried cheesecake and fried s'mores (which are apparently a biscuity marshmallowy thing). I am pleased to say I didn't eat any of these things but I did have a Reuben and a funnel cake (donutty-pancakey thing) which I thought were keeping in the spirit of the day but without clogging my arteries instantly and causing a heart attack at the age of 33!!

It's fair to say that Texas does things big! And incredibly cheesy. I saw the best and most dorky bird show i've ever seen in my life, and I watched pigs race around a track. Only in Texas!

Today, we're off to downtown Dallas, where I think I'm hoping all the big haired, shoulder padded people live. I expect so.

By the way, if you're reading this expecting some running... Sorry, there is none... I haven't even bought my trainers! Normal service will resume next week... Until then it's yeee ha and howdy partners and I'll let you know if the TV Dallas is all really just a big lie!

The excitement of travelling...

2011-10-22T08:14:00.001+01:00

"what time are you meant to be getting up?"

Those words, as a sudden interruption to sleep, are never good are they? Inevitably they mean that something has gone wrong. It's a rhetorical question in a sense because the person asking has realised that the time you were supposed to have been awoken by your alarm has passed and instead of lying cosy and comfy in your bed, you should be arriving safely at the airport shuttle park!

Ooops!

This WAS how my day began. The time was 3.45. I should have been up an hour earlier; why wasn't I? Honestly? Ok, it's because I'm a complete tool and I'd set my alarm for 2.55... pm!!!!

Ooops!

Needless to say I hurled myself from my bed, threw myself into the shower and bundled myself into the car, just 10 minutes later!

'Ok', I thought to myself, 'you've still got plenty of time... And breathe...'

Silly Maggie. EVERYONE knows that it never runs smoothly when I travel somewhere... I'm always late... Just ask not-so-little-bro! So I was naive really not to have expected obstacle...

number 1: the closed motorway!

What?! Yes, that's right. The motorway... The route to the airport... was closed! At least, the bit I needed was; I won't tell you what I said, because I think it was a good job there was no one else in the car... It would have been a shock even to the kids I teach, and that's saying something! Thankfully, once my brain had emerged from the blind panic of fog this 'small' diversion had thrown it into, I was able to re-navigate myself towards the airport again, onto the necessary motorway, when I hit...

Obstacle number 2: the 40mph reduced speed limit!

Noooooo!!!! Seriously, do they know you're coming? The ONLY time this EVER happens is when you're in a rush... Isn't it?!! Once again, 'calm down Maggie, take deep breaths, 1,2,3... Ooooh, Take That on the radio... And relax...'

20 minutes later (what? Speeding? Me? No, never...) I arrived at the airport, completely broke the law attempting to follow the directions on my phone to the car park, grabbed my stuff and RAN for the shuttle bus that had just arrived. Things were looking up; the bus only comes every 15 minutes but here one was ready and waiting for me... My troubles were nearly over... Oh. No, wait. Here comes ...

Obstacle number 3: my own ineptitude!

In fumbling around for the parking ticket, using my phone as a map, grabbing my bags and legging it for the bus, I had managed to drop my phone in the car... The very same phone with my electronic boarding pass on it.

Agggghhhhhh!

I have never ran so fast in my life; no, not even in a race! Especially not in heels with a suitcase in tow! Grabbing my phone, flying back to the bus, I arrived just as it started pulling away.... "Nooooooo!" I shouted, "please wait, please". At which point, as if bu a miracle, the bus stopped. The doors opened. And voice from beyond welcomed me aboard "alright love? On yer get!"
I could have Kissed that bus driver, I didn't, but I could have!!

I'm now sat in the departures area at Amsterdam. I'm on my way to Texas to visit my dad; for some reason the plane saw fit to bring me an hour further away from my destination before we actually start the 'proper' journey. I've had 4 hours sleep, which was an hour longer than I should have had, I'm very grateful to Mik for waking me up in time and I've got my fingers crossed that the rest of the journey is far less eventful!

And if you're reading this Dad, your Christmas cake made it through passport control but only after the most prodding, weighing and scanning a cake has ever been subjected to, ever! I can only assume it's still edible, in fact, I'm quite surprised the guy at the desk didn't try that too to be honest!

Anyway, after all that excitement, I need a coffee... I'll see you in Starbucks!

Today...

2011-10-17T22:24:00.001+01:00

Zombies... Aggghhhhhh!... Heeeeellllllp!!!... Agggghhhh... more zombies.

Alarm.

Tired.

Shower.

Dark.

Drive.

Peanut butter on toast... yum... cuppa tea... slightly human... only slightly.

Kids.

Eat.

Kids.

Eat.

Kids... Agggghhhh... Heeellllllp!!!!... Agggghhhh!!!... more kids...

Bell.

Meeting.

Shopping.

Walk the dog.

Fed-up.

Running?

Running.

MONSOON!!!!!!

Wet... cold... hills...

Running :-)

Hot shower.

Fluffy dressing gown... slippers... warm.

Spag-bol.

IOS 5... eventually.

Bed. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Running, Aliens and Essex

2011-10-13T22:12:00.001+01:00

Woop!

Running club was fun, fun, fun tonight! Mainly because it was easy!!! But to be fair I think that is just running karma from Monday night, which was long hill reps in the pouring rain! Surely, the gods of running appreciated the blood, sweat and tears (only minor exaggeration applied here) that went into each, tough hill repeat?!... Or maybe Coach Pete just decided to be kind for once... What?!... No, you're right... Don't be so ridiculous!... A higher power must definitely have been involved!

Whilst out on our 'fun' run, we saw a strange glowing shape in the sky with flashing, sparkling lights encompassing it. The strange lighted shape travelled over our route, before heading into the distance, over Manchester city centre. As I travelled home in it's direction, the shape of the unusual flying object became larger and clearer until it was evident that it had to be, without a shadow of a doubt...

an alien spaceship!

Well, either that or an inflatable airship; but personally, I'm going with alien life as I think that's far more feasible!

Following a hard running session, I always think it's important to relax, and tonight was no different, despite the absence of the adjective 'hard'. So, after a nice hot shower and a tasty curry, cooked lovingly by Mik, I settled down with my new favorite programme: Educating Essex. If I'm honest, I can't rationally explain why I like this programme because, in reality it is a very accurate representation of my daily life! Sometimes a little too much so; and sometimes, like last week's episode, that makes me want to cry a little because it's really sad! But mostly, I think I like it because it makes me laugh... And maybe because it's nice to see other people doing the same things as you do, if you know what I mean. The staff in the school are doing the same things with the kids as we do every day, and the kids are just as bizarre, odd and off their heads as our lot... It's quite reassuring that! A well as being really quite funny! And if you haven't caught an episode of this yet, you should; it's surprisingly well done, sensitive enough to be respectful to both the kids and adults concerned, whilst depicting the reality of working in a modern, comprehensive secondary school! If you work in one yourself, you'll recognise the characters, and if you don't, it's a nice eye-opener as to what actually goes on in a school! Hilarious!

The cat and the dog have finished the night off nicely for me as the cat has decided to forgo the litter tray tonight in favour of the floor; the dog decided to forgo her food in favour of the cat's 'offerings'; which caused her to promptly vomit all over the floor!

So it's been quite a night really what with running for fun, discovering aliens, educating essex and cleaning-up animal bodily fluids!

Zebedee's bouncing his way up the stairs, it's definitely time for bed!

Good night!

There has been some running

2011-10-11T22:32:00.001+01:00

Ok... So a quick update on activities of the running kind as we rapidly head through the the month of October:

1. There has been some running! This is an immense improvement on the month of August, during which there was NO running, and the month of September which saw only 1 day of running! So far, so good!

2. There has been running in NEW SHOOOOES!! sorry... Let me correct that... There has been running in gloriously PINK, fabulously FREEEE, bright and sparkling brand NEW shoooooes!! And, to repeat a theme: so far, so good!!!

3. There has been running in a heat wave, running in a gale, running in almost minus conditions and running in rain; to which my new Sketchers shoes held up very well... even when I plunged them into the second biggest puddle in the world - bettered only by the puddle Paula plunged her foot into which was THE biggest puddle in the world!

4. There has been running fast, running 'easy', running uphill, running down hill, running the same hill several times (like some kind of hill obsessionist!), running alone and running with club.

5. There has been NO running with Garmin because he will only work when he's plugged into the power source and despite desperate attempts to sort this problem, it turns out that running with a laptop is not an easy feat!

6. There has been back-pain free running and a discovery that the back is only a meanie if I sit down all day; thereby providing more perfect excuses for running, but not so many excuses for watching multiple episodes of Eastenders on catch-up! Dammit!

7. Finally, there has been much enjoyment of all aforementioned running activities and consequently there has been some signing up to races, some arrangement of future park runs and some planning of fancy dress for upcoming club Halloween and Christmas running events!!! :-)

After such an succession of successful running in the first two weeks of October, I'm wondering whether I'll be able to keep the momentum going; but with half term looming, some races to prepare for and a trip to Texas, I'm thinking I'm going to have a fun time trying!

I'm so excited...

2011-10-05T20:52:00.001+01:00

Yay!

My trainers have arrived! they've arrived, they've arrived, they've arrived...

And...

they're PINK!!!

Yes, that's right, totally, utterly and completely... PINK!

If you are unaware of what I'm babbling about, along with quite a few other running-obsessed bloggers, I've been selected to take part in the Sketchers Pro-Speed seeding project; which basically means that they've sent me a pair of their new, and first, professional running shoe... for FREE!!!

I know... there's not much that could be described as more exciting to a geeky runner than a pair of exciting, new and unique trainers! And at first glance they seem really good: very lightweight, designed to promote mid-foot strike and (did I mention it...) pink!

Needless to say, I am very much looking forward to donning them at running club tomorrow and putting them through their paces; and if you're interested in what the SRR are like, stop back here in a couple of weeks' time, once I've given them a real run for their money, and I'll let you know my verdict.

The Running Renaissance

2011-10-02T17:51:00.000+01:00

My running renaissance... term stolen from Abradypus because I loved it so much... has been mildly successful. I say mildly because I have been running - yay! However, only on Monday - boo!

I am being sensible (of course) that's why there has not been so much running in the running renaissance (honestly); however you'll be pleased to know that what running there has been has gone quite well... much better than expected actually... in fact, I might even be bold and go so far as to say it was quite magnificent! OK... too far with the adjective 'magnificent' but it was certainly slightly successful and very enjoyable!

Thankfully, I wasn't the only one to be returning from injury on Monday - although I was the only one who hadn't run in a VERY long time - and so with others recovering from races on the Sunday and / or preparing for marathons in the near future, we set off on an 'easy' run. I have to say ' ' around the easy because it is an inaccurate use of the term, to say the least. But... and a big BUT here... it wasn't half so bad as I thought it would be; yes, my fitness levels are much lower than they previously were, BUT they're not zero like I'd anticipated. And I managed to run 4.5 miles. And I managed to push the pace faster than I'd run the rest of the route in the last mile. And I felt like I'd finally recovered from all the little niggles I'd picked up in my marathon training. So, to surmise, I think it's fair to say that the Magathon's Running Renaissance is now fully switched to go and so long as I don't stay in work until 7.15pm again next week, I'll manage to run on at least Monday AND Thursday as well.

In other news...

I had a fantastic time on Wednesday night at a cupcake course in Manchester. Run by 'Hey Little Cupcake', in Spinningfields, I was booked onto a cupcake decorating class- bought for me by my lovely friends for my birthday - but ended up on their first ever jam and baking class instead due to a mix-up with booking. The class was fab! It involved a cupcake baking demonstration, followed by a tutorial on how to make jam. Then, we had a go at making mini-scones, followed by learning how to decorate 6 of the freshly baked cupcakes made in the demonstration at the start of the night. With only 6 people to a class as well, it felt really friendly and personal; if you live in Manchester, and you like baking, I would seriously recommend it. Of course, the only downside to this class was that I returned home with a pile of freshly baked, yummy scones, cupcakes and a jar of jam! Best get that running renaissance into the next gear!

Look at my pretty cupcake - should I admit
that was my 4th attempt at a rose?!
The first 3 were rather less rose-like!

And Finally, I can't write about this week, without saying a big WELL DONE and CONGRATULATIONS to my mum, who completed the Shine walk, in London, last night. Mum, and her friend, successfully completed the whole 26.2 miles of the marathon walk through the night; and in doing so she now has a whole new respect for the idea of running it, and will from this day forward have complete empathy with the inability to walk downstairs for 3 days! Well done, Mum!

So, this week's challenge is to make it to running club on Monday AND Thursday. If this goes well, I might even stick another cheeky day in there as well... Leeds Abbey Dash, watch out... here I come!

Hello Strangers!

2011-09-24T18:16:00.001+01:00

Hello strangers!

I'm back... back like a thing that's come back!

Well, almost...

I've still only been running once in the past 9 weeks and that was really a run / walk if truth be told; but it felt OK and I thought it might be time to get back into things again. However, I also started a new job three weeks ago which has caused spare time and any excessive energy to take a holiday for a while so despite all good intentions, 12 hours plus in work and an ongoing battle?... stand-off?... cold war maybe?... with teenagers, who currently despise the new 'prison officer' on the block, has meant that those pre-mentioned good intentions are falling asleep before I do... and that is early!

I have not given up though... no, in fact I have a new plan which involves a short 1-2 mile run tomorrow, followed by a swift kick up the backside into running club on Monday night.

And despite the lack of running, all has been good; although difficult, the new job is fantastic: challenging, different and thoroughly enjoyable. Even better, less than four weeks ago, I was in holidaying in the big NYC where we experienced an earthquake AND a hurricane... both of which were disappointingly uneventful; particularly if one was to compare the News coverage with the actual experiences! I do LOVE American news, they really know how to hype a situation! Of course, from a tourist perspective the hurricane was brilliant (or tropical storm as it was downgraded to by the time it did hit the city)... just take a look at our photo of Times Square; I can pretty much guarantee that you've only got a picture like that if you were in New York City on the weekend of 29th August 2011!

Times Square, NYC and Hurricane Irene!

At the Rocky statue,
Philadelphia

To look at things from a fitness perspective, the bonus of the hurricane was the consequential closure of the whole New York transit system which meant we had no choice but to walk EVERYWHERE, which turns out to be further than you first think and causes bruised heels... seriously - big black bruises on my heels for at least a week afterwards... lesson learned: Don't walk 4-5 miles in flimsy, cheap-skate ballet pumps by George! As an added extra on our hols, whilst over the waters, we also hired a car and took in the sights of Washington and Philadelphia... running (well, as close to it as I could manage at the time) the 'Rocky' Steps, Sylvester Stallone stylee!

Seriously one of the best holidays I have ever had!

A MASSIVE Reuben!!

Of course, in addition to all the walking, there was also A LOT of eating and, since returning to England, I seemed to have taken on board the American sized portions... and free breakfast at work on a Friday doesn't help when I'm incapable of avoiding the bacon sandwiches!... so getting back into running is definitely in order.

Hopefully, if all goes to plan, I'll be running in the Leeds Abbey Dash on November 22nd; I'm also hoping that the time off running has ensured that Marathon recovery is now fully behind me, so I can simply concentrate on bringing my fitness back up to speed and my speed back up to PB level!

Fingers crossed anyway... I'll let you know how it goes!

Fame again... kinda!

2011-08-21T22:20:00.000+01:00

Mik has described me as a 'Media Whore' - his words entirely (obviously!), not mine - I think he's probably right, but I'll let you decide...

I bobbed into Manchester City Centre, at about lunchtime today, with the intention of returning some leggings from Primarni that were sadly lacking in adequate waist-band elastication (new word) so that I was unable to get them any further up my legs than my knees, unfortunately I have a terrible habit of telling complete strangers far too much information so that when the nice man at the desk asked me why I wanted to return them, I told him this; I also told him that I didn't think I was so obese (yet) that it was my chunky, chubster legs that were the problem, but rather there was a fault with the leggings. 'So, to put it simply' he suggested, 'it's not you, it's them?'.
'Precisely'.
After a quick reunion at the till next door with two former students - how bizarre! - I tootled off down Market Street to continue my shopping. Sidetracked by Zara - all too easily done - I nipped in for a quick browse, just in case, only to reappear on the main shopping concourse to now find it full of people clutching 'I Love MCR' Posters.

For those of you not 'in the know', these posters have absolutely nothing to do with My Chemical Romance (Gosh, how trendy am I to make that connection!) but rather MCR is short for Manchester. Following the riots, there's been a whole campaign of civic pride throughout the city from this wall:

to what I walked into this afternoon; apparently a big, warm, Manc show of love for our great northern city. To cut to the short of it, it turns out that the politicians were (naturally) a little disappointed with the recent marketing images of Manchester and wanted to 'set the record straight' so they'd organised a little get together of people and posters which looked something like this:

So, naturally, I took a few pictures and listened to what was being said and was about to toddle on my way when 'It Must be Love' by 'Madness' began blaring out the speakers.
'Come on Manchester...' Councillor Pat Karney (a little concerned I actually did recognise that 'local celebrity'!) shouted to the crowd 'Let's dance to Madness in Market Street...'.
Thinking how lovely and strange that was all at the same time, I turned to go when I made the mistake of catching the eye of the teeny tiny little lady stood next to me (honestly, she was really tiny... you'll see in a minute, there is no hyperbole here!) who promptly grasped hold of me and began dancing.
Well, what was I to do... her little smiley face beamed up at me, she was loving it. Could I let this lady down? No, I couldn't. So really there was nothing I could do when the TV camera came up and started shooting us; and equally, I couldn't ignore the question put to me by the nice lady, who accompanied the camera man with her over-sized fluffy microphone, and so as it turns out, I inadvertently became a part of the crowd of happy, proud, prancing people and have been imortalised in Granada TV's VT history as a consequence.

So, 'media whore' - Mik's words - or simply a willing participant of circumstance? You decide...

Click here for Maggie's Grand Granada TV moment!! (For those of you that don't know me by sight... I'm the one dancing with the teeny tiny lady, and then the second one vox-popping (can you verb that noun? hmmm... you can now!) with lazy sunday make-up and I'm going on holiday tomorrow - so all my best items are in the wash - clothing... best to get the excuses in, especially when I'm currently incapable of wearing leggings because I can't get them any higher than my knees!)

The REAL Manchester

2011-08-10T17:13:00.000+01:00

If you have been watching the television for the last few nights, you may be mistaken in thinking that Britain has gone mad. That we've descended into riots, looting and anarchy and there are no decent people left. But that's not true.

Miss Selfridge on Market Street

Watching idiots (that's the politest term I could find for them) caught on camera ransacking my home city last night was heartbreaking; it also made me exceptionally angry. What gives them the right? I know many felt the same way.

The Manchester 'Wombles' gathered at 9am

Today, those many were out in force in Manchester city centre and it was a scene to behold. One young girl (only 15yrs herself) commented that it's something like this that shows the very worst and the very best in people; and she was right. Last night, the very worst people were out in Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool, today I saw the very best of Manchester gather in Picadilly Gardens; people who voluntarily turned up because they were available to do so and they wanted to clean up their city. Thanks to the work of the Manchester City Council night team, the city already looked much improved from the 'bomb site' we'd all seen on TV last night and so, after just an hour, we were heading back to base to find out what else we could do to help. by 10am there were 500 people helping with the clean up and the organisers reckon that all in all around 1,000 people turned out to clean, support and brew tea!

If you're looking for good news in the midst of everything that's happened over the last few days, that's it right there: The spirit of the people.

I can't run at the moment (my back's still out) but I felt very satisfied with today's exercise - conducted with broom and bag in hand! - More than anything, I was glad I could give something back to my community and stand up there with the good guys. As for what will happen tonight? Well, the city council have invited us back tomorrow in case of further trouble but it's raining outside so finger's crossed it'll be all quiet on the ~~western~~ northern front!

Ed Miliband even stopped by to say hello!

My words (of wisdom?!) in Running Fitness!!!!

2011-08-08T19:29:00.000+01:00

Excitement... excitement... excitement...

My 'Guru Maggie' words have made it to the September issue of Running Fitness Magazine!! Woop Woop... My name in print... 15 minutes and all of that!

To take you back to the beginning of the story, a couple of months ago Midgie Thompson, mental performance coach and writer, interviewed me for an article she was writing for Running Fitness Magazine; she was writing a piece on the power of positive thinking and when asked to try and include a little more on the experiences of the 'ordinary runner', she ~~very strangely~~ thought of me. The reason for this isn't completely random, but instead links back to Janathon when I was running and blogging everyday in the name of a ~~mental breakdown~~ running competition whilst also being in the early throws of my marathon training. What I discovered is neither rocket science, nor new, but for me made such a difference, particularly to my early training, that I coined a new phase and called it Positive Running Belief, or PRB for short.

PRB got me up a set of 8 hill repeats; to those of you that regularly run up 8 hills and then add on another 8 for fun, this won't sound like much, but for me this was massive. I had never, ever, ever managed 8 in the regular session that we do at running club, and to add to the difficulty, I was half way through a month of running every single day - something else I had never, ever, ever done before (or since, as Juneathon was a massive month of made up exercises used as excuses on my part) and it was bloody knackering! I won't repeat how it all happened as Midgie has talked about my 'epiphany' in her article, and I also wrote about it once before HERE.

It's actually Maggie of 'The Magathon Blog', but I'll let them off! :-)

In the end, it was PRB that got me through my marathon training; shifting my thoughts from I can't to I can. Sometimes this shift in attitude would happen before I left the house like when I planned to run 16 miles for the first time HERE; sometimes it would happen whilst running; and sometimes it would be instigated by a well-timed, magnificent piece of music blaring through the headphones of my I-pod which would cause me to run like an idiot and achieve PRB LEVEL 2 as happened HERE.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a completely changed woman and I still often lack confidence and feel as though I can't do things; but from my marathon training, I've become more aware of the thought processes I go through and the way I approach things. Recovering from the marathon has perhaps been even harder than training for it as I've been slow and sluggish, achieving far slower times than a comparable level of exertion would get me pre-marathon training. Also, I've been a little unlucky with injuries (I'm suffering from torn muscles in my lower back at the moment - and for a change, not achieved through running!). Not being able to run is incredibly frustrating however I am applying some of what I've learnt from my PRB epiphany to this and I am finding alternative ways to exercise and keep moving; consequently, the Kinnect Dance game is getting a lot of attention at the moment, and I have a dog that hides under the sofa when she sees the lead... again!

I learnt how to apply PRB from my own experiences in running, but also from those of others. It was reading everyone's blogs in Janathon, that helped me realise that there is so much we can achieve, if we put our minds to it and we're passionate about it. If you want a little bit of PRB inspiration yourself, check out these people who are all currently completing amazing challenges for charity:

- @RunGeordieRun, otherwise known as Mark Allison. In order to raise funds for St Benedict's Hospice and The Children's Foundation, he has run from California to New York in 100 days! As I write he's on his last 30 miles!

- @Runningthetube, aka Stephen Wright who is running 400 miles across London to 'get people talking about stillbirth and pre-birth trauma'.

- @100maras100weeks, Simon Buckdon, an Ex-Soldier with PTSD who is running 100 marathons in 100 weeks (a marathon a week over 2 years!) in order to raise funds for Help For Heroes as well as awareness of PTSD.

- @running_dan_w, Dan Wymer, who is now half way through his 800k, in 12 months, running challenge in aid of Maggie's Centres.

...and they're all on Twitter, so why not go and find them and pass on some positivity their way!

Running Manifesto?... Go on then!

2011-08-08T12:03:00.000+01:00

Where bandwagons are concerned, I'm like a Lemming off a cliff, so here is my Running Manifesto to join the ranks of K, Lazy girl Running, Nosomuchofarunner, Fortnightflo after the idea was initiated by Run Dem Crew.

Running is… an addiction

Running is not… just exercise

I run… because I'm incapable of controlling what I eat!

I run for… enjoyment

I run because… I love it so much

I run when… I feel like it

I run with… Oldham and Royton Harriers and on my own

I have always run… wearing a bra!

I run in spite of… being incredibly slow and an appalling runner!

I don’t run… when I'm injured (like now)

I should run… another marathon - but I won't

I might run… Until I die!

I will run… Until it's physically impossible

Why not jump on board the ever-growing bandwagon... it's fun... What's your running manifesto?

Happy Birthday...

2011-08-02T13:09:00.000+01:00

To me!!!!

Yes, I'm not shy to tell you, it's my birthday today!

Original plans had been to go for a birthday run this morning, however the 'old' back is still playing up, so I went shopping instead!! Oh well, how awful!

And this afternoon I'll just have to go to the pub I suppose! Dammit, life is tough!

Ah well, it will give me time to recover from the £25.50 tariff I had to pay for the car park in Manchester because I lost my ticket... £25.50... seriously?! Thankfully, I'm taking painkillers for my back, otherwise that would have hurt!!

Oh well, only way forward is to get drunk and forget about it!

Thanks to all of you who have wished me happy birthday on Facebook and Twitter... I am having a lovely day and I intend for it to get even more lovely! Happy Tuesday everyone... and happy birthday to me!!! :-)

Shameless Request for Sympathy

2011-07-29T15:58:00.001+01:00

Let's get this straight from the start. I am writing this post purely for sympathy reasons; i.e. for me (the writer) to gain sympathy from you (the reader). Therefore, following the reading of this blog, I expect lots of sympathetic comments posted at the bottom. If you can't manage sympathy, i.e. because you just don't care, then at least do the decent thing and offer a small amount of empathy. Why? Because I deserve it of course!!

So, why am I shamelessly asking for sympathy? Because I've hurt my back :-(

I know... awwww... poor me (honest, I did say this would be shameless... if you're still reading, it's your own fault because you were clearly warned from the beginning!). To be precise my back seems to have completely given up on me; no longer wanting to function like a normal back, it has decided instead to forthwith restrict all movement up, down, sideways or forwards with accompanying pain; The only way to move around the house is to waddle, very carefully, in a fashion akin to that of a pregnant woman.

Something tells me that it might be punishing me for working it too hard recently (sorry back). I am not sure whether it is upset from the 10k race on Sunday, the ~~hideous~~ fun-filled BMF-style boot camp at club on Monday, the packing and moving of 7 years worth of rubbish on Monday, Tuesday AND Wednesday (seriously... 7 years of crap stored in a cupboard... I gave myself a serious talking to, it will not happen again... maybe...) or whether it gave up because I suggested to it that we might join the local gym for the summer; or maybe it was a combination of all of that. Whatever reason it has (it's not telling me, I presume the silent treatment is also a part of my punishment), it caused me to come home early from running club last night - imagine how upset I was to discover that I missed out on a run that combined 5.1 miles with 22 hill sprints(!) - and has imprisoned me in my own home today as I grunt and groan with discomfort every time I attempt any form of movement!

Of course, it might be sympathy pain itself, as Mik is also poorly... awww, poor Mik... suffering from terrible stomach pains. I suggested that his stomach pains may be sympathy pains for my back but he disagrees with that theory saying he has no sympathy for my back whatsoever! Nice... that's enough sympathy for Mik then! Although I might go and buy him a bottle of Lucozade later as suggested by his ~~balder~~ elder brother.... Lucozade does, after all, solve every illness!

Anyway, I'm off to tempt my back out of hibernation with a long, hot soak in the bath, whilst you get started on those words of sympathy...

Excellent...

A letter to Orbana Healthy Energy Drink

2011-07-25T17:51:00.000+01:00

Dear Orbana Healthy Energy,

Thank you and sorry!

Let me begin with the sorry; back in June (which feels so long ago now!) you sent me a sachet of Orbana Healthy Energy Drink to try out. I opened the envelope, smiled and then put it in the box of doom (the box which all of the post goes into and generally never comes out of). This could have been the end of your powder, rarely does anything emerge from the box of doom as rooting around in it scares me too much, I have no idea what to expect from it!

However, on Sunday, I ran my first 10k race in the past 2 months and about 1/2 hour before I was due to head out the door, your I was reminded of your delightful gift, very carefully I placed my hand into the box of doom and was lucky enough to discover that the sachet was still there. Making it up into my sports bottle, I tentatively took a sip...

Thank you, for sending me your DELICIOUS energy drink! I have to say, I was quite impressed. I also have to be honest and admit that I wasn't looking forward to tasting it, it is quite rare that I like the taste of sports drinks, either finding them too sweet, chemically, or bitter. However, yours is really quite tasty. I would even have to agree with your own marketing that it tastes natural.

Of course, taste isn't the most important element with a sports drink, which is why I have suffered many I can't stand the taste of, performance has to come at the top of the list. I can't lie, I have no idea whether it improved my performace in the race - I ran very well, but I can't say that wasn't down to me rather than your drink! - however, what I can confirm is that it settled very well on my stomach and did not have any of the usual - ummmmm, should we say - side effects that other sports drinks have had on my digestive system.

I will certainly be buying some more of your product. However, I won't be using it for all of my runs, and that is simply because it is very high in calories... I understand the point behind this of course - calories equal energy - however they also equal fat if I'm not burning them off. Of course, if you were to introduce a lower calorie version that was equally as tasty and effective, I would be more than willing to try it out on my shorter training runs... more than willing!! :-)

And so Orbana, I would like to say once again, sorry - for not trying it earlier! - but thankyou, for sending me a sample of your yummy drink. I like to think it played some part in my best race performace of this year, so far!

From Marathon to 10k

2011-07-25T17:45:00.002+01:00

A marathon is a significantly greater distance than a 10k race: Fact. What is also a fact is that since running a marathon, I have been almost incapable of running, let alone accomplishing 6.2 miles! Okay, so that's a slight over-exaggeration - for dramatic effect of course - yet, I have struggled. Everyone talks about the difficulties of training for, and actually running, the marathon distance but very few people discuss the difficulties that can occur afterwards. I wonder if this is maybe because the post-marathon - should we call it - trauma - too melodramatic?... Okay - difficulties don't affect everyone in the same way. In fact, in my observations, I've been able to categorise post-marathon runners into two distinct groups:

Mmmm... Chris Evans!

Group A - those that train for the marathon successfully, run it successfully, and recover quickly. They don't find it 'easy' - that would be impossible because it's very definitely not easy, I don't care who you are, even Superman would find it hard... although perhaps less so Captain America, he's very fit - in both senses of the word... anyway - no, they find it the same challenge as everyone else but there's something about it that means the whole process has perhaps felt more natural, perhaps they were lucky enough not to encounter any pitfalls along the way, or if they did perhaps they were just more capable of coping with it. Consequently, this group of runners also seem to benefit in their long term training from running the marathon; they become faster, stronger and better.

Group B - also complete the marathon. However, their training may not have been quite so successful; perhaps they picked up an injury, or they discovered that raising the distance was much harder than they thought.; for some reason, running at this distance didn't come 'naturally' and every step along the way presented yet another obstacle. yet, they persevered and conquered the distance. They are also within a select group of people who have taken on the tough challenge and succeeded. However, post marathon, they have continued to struggle; running feels difficult, sluggish and they haven't felt quite the same since.

I've been told by many people that full marathon recovery can take up to 3-6 months and certainly, I've seen that recovery affecting the people around me in many different ways. As a first time marathon runner, it's been hard not to compare myself to my running partner, someone I started out with, someone I ran my first official race with, and someone I used to cross the line practically holding hands with. She now lives in Group A: faster, stronger and a better runner as result of her first marathon. She's applied to London again next year, and if she doesn't get in, she'll run Edinburgh. Whereas, I am sitting very comfortably in Group B; In training I'm now a full minute per mile slower than my former training partner, struggling to control my breathing, to push my body and ultimately to regain my fitness and confidence.

However, I'm just as proud of myself; I don't always remember that - when I'm far behind the rest of the group at running club, or I finish a 10k race in over an hour, when my previous best time was under 50 minutes - but I am, I'm proud. I'm also frustrated. But I know what I need to do, I need to channel that frustration; pick up my running, enter more races and keep training until I'm back where I was... and maybe I need to pay a few more visits to Jo (the ~~evil~~ lovely physio). And as I persevere, I'm beginning to enjoy running again.

On Sunday, I ran the Moonraker 10k. Nothing at all to do with James Bond... although I have always quite fancied life as a spy... the Moonraker is a friendly, hilly and enjoyable local race organised by Middleton Harriers. It was great fun. I loved it. It was also the first race of my offical running 'Come Back'. Despite the hot day and the first 5k of the race being entirely up hill, I managed to beat my previous 10k time at the flat, Great Manchester Run; I also managed (with the help of Coach Pete) to out race another runner in the final 1k, leading to (if I might say myself) a rather magnificent finish! And all of this sans-Garmin as I managed to leave it on the side in the bathroom when I went for my pre-race wee before I left home!

During January I coined the phrase 'Positive Running Belief' when, during a hill session, I discovered that if I truly believed I could conquer the hills, then I could. Since then, I've struggled to take my own advice. During the Moonraker race, I found it again. Throughout the race, I set myself little goals and I achieved every one. I'm now going to apply the same strategy to my training as I still have some way to go before I'll be completely happy with my performance; I was a full 10 minutes slower this year, than last on the same course. However, it is with small, achieveable goals that I will achieve my next post marathon PB, and that ensures that this time next year, I have a whole new, shiny and magnificent Moonraker 10k PB.

'Art and Emotion' ... and a really fast Mother!

2011-07-10T10:51:00.001+01:00

Lewis Hamilton had nothing on my mother yesterday as she threw a racing red Ferrari 360 around the Three Sister's track at Wigan.Of course, it's a strange comparison to open with as other than the close proximity to which they were born (Hamilton born in Stevenage, just down the road from Letchworth where Mother has spent most of her life) they clearly have nothing else in common - in fact, Lewis Hamilton wouldn't even be racing in a Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz might have quite a lot to say about it if he did! But we shall ignore all of those points, accept the comparison as the metaphorical hyperbole that it was intended as, and quickly move on...

Mother turned 60 in February and to celebrate her increasing years, yet youthful demeanour, we (her children and partners) bought her one of those driving experiences, where you fling yourself around a track for 6 miles attempting to get faster and faster in the process. If you like driving and you've never given it a go, you should! I was bought one for my 30th a few years back, and it is still one of the best experiences I have ever had! There is nothing quite like the thrill of sitting behind the wheel of a super car, that effortlessly reaches adrenaline inducing speeds; of course, if you're sitting here reading this thinking:
'I know. I own a Mercedes-Benz and drive it super, adrenaline-inducing, magnificent speeds every day of my life'
then 1) Hi Lewis, thanks for visiting! or
2) Stop! this can't go on... sooner or later you're going to get arrested!

Of course, I do completely believe that the whole point of these things is to drive as fast as possible. Yes, it's nice being a super-car, but I'm not a car geek - I own a Nissan Micra myself, says it all! - And as much as the car can be appreciated, it's the speed that counts! So, as Mum got in behind the wheel of the car (sporting a very pretty plastic blue cap beneath an even more fetching helmet), it was this point I pushed: 'You drive fast. That's the whole point! Don't let me down now!'
And she didn't! She went whizzing round that track. My 60 year old Mother embarrassed the young lads out on that track yesterday as she overtook them one by one, leaving them trailing in her dust! Lewis Hamilton watch out; Mother is coming to get you!

Of course, as exercise goes, I count watching Mother throw herself around a track in a racing red Ferrari as exercise in itself as there's a fair bit of adrenaline involved in that too, I tell you! However, I'm quite sure the number of calories burned is rather measly and I've a wedding to go to in August and therefore a dress to fit in to; so today's exercise will (hopefully) set the precedent for the rest of the week, whereby each day I will walk to work, and run home again. Only today is slightly different as I intend to walk to town to pick up the car I left there last night, and then go and eat a HUGE Sunday dinner... hmmm, maybe I'm going to have to expand my exercise plan next week to incorporate more exercise... ah well, I'll worry about that when the dress doesn't fit! Live in the moment I say... :-)

I'm Mr(s) Brightside!

2011-07-05T21:26:00.000+01:00

'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life...' wrote Eric Idle in 1979, and do you know what, he was right; however, looking on the bright side of life can be really difficult sometimes, particularly when we're feeling tired and run down. On days like these it can be all too easy for the dark side to creep in. I realised today that this has been happening to me too much lately and so I have decided to bring a little bit of positive thinking back into my life. This, I have achieved through making simple 'swaps'; changing the 'dark side' thinking to the 'bright side'.

I am also taking practical steps to make simple 'swaps' in other areas. So far this week, I have swapped the following:

And on another positive note, I have been sent (as I know have others) some healthy Orbana Energy drink... If I had been feeling more positive (and less ill) earlier today, I would have run the Rochdale 10k race (well done to all those at club who did run it!) and tried it out; as it is, I shall ignore the fact I didn't and instead think more positively: Next week I will run the Royton Trail Race... because it will be fun!... and it'll give me the perfect opportunity to give the Orbana drink a whirl.

For now, I plan on relaxing in the lounge for an hour in front of the tv for a bit of 'Man Vs Food' where I shall feel very virtuous as I swap a late night chocolate bar for a cup of tea, whilst watching someone else gorge themselves on disgustingly bad food... Mmmmmm... deep fried mars bars with mac and cheese wrapped in a taco!...

Juneathon Days 28-30: Back to the future...

2011-06-30T19:49:00.000+01:00

To my dear Readers,

As we reach the final day of June, I would like to take the opportunity to implore that you please excuse Maggie from her poor performance in Juneathon. When she signed up to the challenge of jogging, logging and blogging for a month she recognised that she may not manage to 'run' everyday, but she would certainly commit to some form of exercise each day instead. Unfortunately, her record in this area has been less than satisfactory, including many attempts to 'pass off' routine activities, such as walking the dog and visiting the supermarket, as 'exercise' as well as 'inventing' new forms of 'exercise' such as walking in heels around a race course and car dancing.

Maggie accepts that, in making the commitment to Juneathon, she should have have applied greater motivation and effort to achieve her goals; certainly she now realises that if she'd applied her time more effectively she would have had more time for exercise, rather than wasting it on the various ridiculous excuses.

However, despite having been unable to blog for a couple of days, Maggie has been in no way sitting idle; instead, as Juneathon draws to a close, she has seized the opportunity to try and redeem her lack lustre exertions in some way and consequently has been working very hard. In fact, as I write this, Maggie is currently jogging home from work after walking there this morning; making Juneathon Day 30 a nice, neat 10k round trip. As you can see, Juneathon has certainly not been forgotten. In fact, with the desire to make up for her inadequacies, Maggie mangaed to make Juneathon Days 28 and 29 the most significant of them all; not only will the following story adequately explain her absence from the Juneathon community for the past couple of days, but it will also reveal to you her most exciting discovery of a brand new, and exceedingly unique form of exercise, undertaken by no other Juneathoners in the entirety of the challenge.

It all began on the morning of June 28th. Arriving at work for the day, Maggie began her usual routine of planning, marking and catching up on unread emails. However, after about 20 minutes of working, she realised that, not only was she a little bit peckish and in need of her morning porridge but, she also rather desperately needed a wee. Leaving her little cabin in the yard, she chose an alternative route to usual through the school and up to the staff room, knowing that there was a disabled toilet slightly closer by that she would be able to 'nip into'. Now, although she knew of this toilet on the far side of school, Maggie had never actually used it before; however, a toilet's a toilet's a toilet, right?

Wrong.

This toilet wasn't just any toilet. This toilet was a magical, time travelling toilet, and when Maggie re-opened the door post wee, she was met with a sight that defied belief: Gone were the drab green walls; gone were the cramped claustrophobic corridors; gone were rows of classroom doors. In their place stood a wide open space, banked with windows above, around and beyond as far as the eye could see. Students, gradually beginning to fill the space, calmly passed each other via the various tiered, floating travellators which seemed to disappear into nothing, the students 'vanishing' before her eyes. Maggie rubbed her eyes. Clearly she'd fallen asleep in the toilet and was now having some strange science-fiction dream. She pinched herself. She rubbed her eyes again. She tried all the clichés. But the scene before her eyes remained.

Despite the bizarre nature of what lay before her, Maggie's natural curiosity soon took over so, leaving the 'safety' of the toilet she tentatively stepped onto a travellator and allowed it to glide her through the 'building'. Never had she seen such fascinating sights; A building encompassing floor to ceiling bright, open learning spaces; in every room happy, engaged smiling faces; all around her smart, stimulating technology not yet created.

And so, my dear friends, Maggie spent the rest of the day taking in the wonders of this new world until, at last, as the novelty began to wear off and the water she'd drank began to wear through, she was reminded of the tiny toilet by which she'd been transported to this amazing place and she began to make her way back. However, no sooner had she stepped onto the first travellator, than she was confronted with the most electrifying and energising discovery of them all. Immediately, thinking of her Juneathon commitment and the promise she had made herself to be more motivated for the final few days, Maggie was galvanised into action and within minutes she'd picked up the rules and was looking like a pro; 30 exhilarating minutes later, she was back at the toilet and back in her own time.

The next day, with the astonishing experience still fresh in her mind, Maggie, understandably, was unable to focus. Try as she might, she just couldn't keep concentration; her mind wandering back to the world she'd experienced. At the end of the day, as she was leaving school, she 'unexpectedly' found herself back outside the tiny toilet and, before she was even aware of it herself, she was back inside: back to the future.

My dear friends, I'm sure you would love to hear about that intoxicating second day; I'm sure you'd read on open mouthed in amazement at the wondrous events that occurred; and I'm certain you'd be intrigued to hear why she'll never be able to return again. However those are stories for another time. For now, I return to my initial request and, indeed, reason for writing: that you are able to find it in your hearts to please excuse Maggie from her poor performance in Junethon over much of the 30 days; for she really did redeem herself in the final few days of the challenge, when she perfected and became: a professional Hoverboarder.

With best wishes to you all,

Optimistimaggie. x

Juneathon Days 28 and 29:
Activity: Hoverboarding
Distance: 100's of miles that don't exist yet
Time: days and days of time that hasn't occurred yet!
Feeling: Futuristic

Juneathon Day 30:
Activity: 3 mile walk to work and 3 mile run home again
Distance: 6 miles
Time: 1hr 15 minutes
Feeling: Finished!

Juneathon Day 27: 1-2-345

2011-06-27T22:32:00.000+01:00

1 - 2 - 3,4,5

I no longer am alive

6 - 7 - 8, 9, 10

'Cos I ran up hills again and again

Why - did - I decide to go?

'Cos now I ache in places so!

Which - bit- hurts the most tonight?

This little bum cheek on my right!

Juneathon Days 25 + 26: Each Jog, Walk, Run...

2011-06-26T19:51:00.001+01:00

Each Jog Walk Run(*)

I spy Juneathon
Juneathon's become a habbit
I spy Bad Wabbit
Bad Wabbit in the cellar
I spy Fairweather
Fairweather's on the move
I spy Marts2smooth
Mart2smooth out swimming
I spy Oldbagrunning
Oldbagrunning at a show
I spy Fortnightflo
Fortnightflo on the bus(**)
I spy Abradypus
Abradypus in a van
I spy the Runningman
Runningman o'er the bog
I spy jogalog
Jogalog on the go
I spy Shaz and Jo
Shaz and Jo in the buff (***)
They spy Fattipuff
Fattipuff writing her blog
I spy Jogblog
Jogblog in the sun
I spy everyone!

* Some might say a 'low-brow' pastiche; I prefer to use the words 'nostalgia' and 'popular culture'
** please apply Northern Accent
*** I know, I know... and I do apologise, but you try finding something that rhymes with 'puff'!

Saturday:
Activity: Walking in heels back and forth under a racecourse to place and retrieve bets at Chester Races
Distance: I'm sure it was a very long way... did I mention it was in heels?!
Time: 4 hours in all - a long time in heels!
Feeling: Brilliant! It was Charlotte's 30th birthday celebrations and we had a great day!
Lessons learned: 1 - don't wear heels to the races!

Sunday:
Activity: A walk around Hollingworth Lake with Paula and Doris
Distance: 2 miles
Time: 1hr 30 mins (including frolicking in the lake - Doris that is! - and eating icecream - us that is!)
Feeling: much better for it, although very sunburnt with silly strapmarks
Lessons learned: 0 - I'd like to say 1 - wear suntan lotion - but I make this mistake every year so I don't think I can honestly claim that one!

Juneathon Day 24: Car Dancing

2011-06-24T21:55:00.001+01:00

Hands up... who's tried car dancing?

No? Well you should try it... it's great fun!

And... yes! I can see your hand up over there in Essex... excellent! As a convert to the great art already, you'll be more than versed in its positive properties and calorie burning potential. Plus the many and varied opportunities it offers, on a drive home, to be caught enthusiastically embraced 'in the act' several times by the occupants of the cars in front, either side and, believe it of not, even behind you!

Wayne and Garth knew how to pull off a 'cool Car Dance'!

Activity: 'Car Dancing' to Take That on the drive from ~~Not-so~~-Little Bro's house back to mine.
Distance: As the car is actually moving, I will count it as approximately 4 miles of Car Dancing
Time: 30 minutes (including some stationary traffic car dancing, offering multiple opportunities for Car Dancing Voyeurists.
Feeling: Not in the slightest bit embarrassed!

Juneathon Day 23: She's Back!

2011-06-23T21:37:00.001+01:00

Waking up this morning, I knew. Before I even looked, I knew. Things felt different this morning. Even so, I still lifted my pillow a little tentatively to look beneath; my stomach fluttering with butterflies as I braced myself for disappointment…

But there she was! I needn't have worried; She had returned to me. Optimistimaggie was back!

Optimistimaggie was under my pillow all along!

Clasping her tightly to me, I bounced out of bed and began preparing myself for the long day ahead. Unlike yesterday, with Optimistimaggie back on my shoulder, I was positively looking forward to it, and so, as I brushed my hair and applied my make-up, we chatted happily together; so much so Pessimistimaggie couldn’t get a word in edgeways – which is probably a good job, or we never would have had the opportunity to conjure our clever plan:

‘The problem is Optimistimaggie that Pessimistimaggie really doesn’t like exercise and she always talks me out of it when you’re not around. I’m not blaming you, but I really wish there was at least some chance I could fit exercise into my day today; but I’ve Parents’ Evening tonight, so I can’t even go to running club.’ Dejectedly, I looked away from her positive, smiling face, catching a wry smirk plastered across Pessimistimaggie’s as I did so.

‘Well, why not just work it into part of your day?’ Suggested Optimistimaggie, ‘There’s no reason why you can’t run to and from work, for example.

‘You’ll get too sweaty’ chipped in Pessimistimaggie.

Unfortunately she was right.

‘Okay, well what about riding your bike to work?’ returned Optimistimaggie.

‘It’ll take too long to set it up, you should have got it out the cupboard last night if you wanted to do that.’ Retorted Pessimistimaggie.

Once again, she was right.

‘Okay.’ Began Optimistimaggie, refusing to give up, ‘Why don’t you just walk to work then? You’ve plenty of time, it’s only 6.30am, you’ll easily be there in 45 minutes!’

‘ummmm, well, yeah… I guess…’

‘No, you can’t. It won’t work it…’ began Pessimistimaggie.

‘Yes! That’s a great idea.’ I interrupted, refusing to allow Pessimisitimaggie to have her way again.

So, today, I walked to work.

And what a lovely walk it was. I can understand why people like to get out and exercise in the morning, there's something about walking alone and just letting the world fade into the background for a while. Unlike driving a car, it didn't feel like a commute and before I knew it I had arrived at school feeling completely refreshed and ready for the day.

In fact, the positive feelings I gained from my walk to work stayed with me all day... whilst I wrote reports, whilst I waited for year 9 to 'settle', whilst I wrote more reports, whilst I 'dealt' with year 8... right up to the 40th, and final, parent interview of the night. At which point, I pulled on my running gear and jogged the 3 miles back home again. Perfect.

Activity: walk to work; run home again.

Distance: 6 miles total

Time: 1.10 mins

Feeling: Positive!

"I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you - we are in charge of our Attitudes." - Charles Swindoll

Juneathon Day 22: Bovvered?

2011-06-22T18:42:00.000+01:00

Activity: What activity? I can hardly count walking the dog again can I? It's just pathetic!

Distance: practically zero... hardly did anything... should have gone of a run. Didn't.

Time: No idea

Feeling: All alone with pessimistimaggie.

Juneathon Day 21: I'm not obsessed, but...

2011-06-21T22:09:00.000+01:00

'I think I saw someone famous in town at the weekend' I announced to my year 9 class who were diligently attempting to get quietly on with the essays I had set them.
'Oooh, who?' one mildly curious student questioned, only just able to tear herself away from the pages and pages of work, already completed, in front of her.
'Well, that's it, I'm not sure exactly who he was but he was definitely famous because...' And I recounted my story to the eager ears of my students.

Not that I'm obsessed or anything, and it very definitely hadn't been playing on my mind - no, of course not! - but as the thought had passed through my mind, fleetingly, I thought I might as well ask, you know, just in case. Providing the students with a full re-enactment of my ~~stalking of~~ encounter with the possibly famous man in Paperchase, I also provided a full description him with as much dedicated detail as I had given my own friends: Tall, dark hair, wearing sunglasses in doors and those big massive silly headphone thingys that everyone seems to be wearing these days. My main thought behind this was that my friends are now as old as me - some of them older even - and perhaps this was a possibly famous person who appears on popular teen shows such as Hollyoaks; and although I ~~religiously watch the omnibus every weekend~~ don't watch this programme at all because it is aimed at a demographic half my age, I may have seen him on another more cultural show such as ~~Loose Women~~ The One Show or equivalent. Unfortunately the response was hardly useful:

'What do you mean that's not a very good description of him?' was my response to their outburst, which might I add was rather inappropriately accompanied with laughter! 'It's a great description!'
'I hope you never have to report a crime Miss' sniggered one, 'they'd never be able to draw one of those photo thingy's'
Puh! what does he know, the child doesn't even know what a photo-fit is called!
Unfortunately, however this conversation was acquiring a severe atmosphere of deja-vu about it!
'Where were you?' another eager student questioned.
'In Paperchase'
'Oooh, I LOVE Paperchase'
'It does have fantastic stationery in it, doesn't it!' I agreed, 'That was when I realised I recognised him - when I was over in the magnificent stationery!'
'Was he in Coronation Street?' A new voice piped up.
This time, I was prepared: 'No, I've Googled the Coronation Street characters and he isn't one of those; I've also Googled Emmerdale, and I watch Eastenders all the time, umm, well occasionally anyway... you know when I'm not reading War and Peace and similarly cultural canonic literature... so I know he's not in that one'.
'Is he in Hollyoaks?'
'I wouldn't think so, I don't watch Hollyoaks ~~lie lie lie~~ so I couldn't be sure, but I don't think he was good looking enough! Also, when I saw Darren from Hollyoaks in a restaurant a couple of months ago, I recognised him straight away!'
'Miss? How do you know who Darren is if you don't watch it?' Oooops....
'Ummmm... so, any ideas then?'
'No, Would you like me to Google it for you?'

You see, even the next generation rely on Google for all the answers (particularly when their teacher doesn't have them!)... they are going to be SO disappointed when they discover the real truth of the matter!

Unfortunately, all this means is that I am still no nearer to knowing the truth about who the possibly famous man was; and unfortunately the image of him is rapidly disappearing, by the minute, in my ageing brain to the point where I fear that even if I did see him again, I would have forgotten that it was him I had seen in the first place. If you know what I mean!

And just to make things clear, I'm not obsessed about it... I'm not! really... I'm not!

Activity: A walk around the park, a chat with a very young lady who thought Doris looked like a 'fluffy cloud' and a sprint after my dog to prevent her from being
A: never seen again or
B: eaten,
when a local Chav Dog chased after her.

Distance: about 1/2 a mile - total estimate, and although this doesn't seem like much, it did include a little interval training if you include the Chav Dog racing.
Time: 15 minutes - cut short you see, by the Chav Dog.

Feeling: Like my coach decided to do some new-fangled, fancy London running yesterday which has left me incapable of moving!

Juneathon Day 20: New-Fangled Fancy London Running

2011-06-20T22:47:00.000+01:00

Today I discovered what it's really like to need all your stamina, strength and staying power. Sod the marathon. This was circuit training!

Something happened to Coach Pete whilst he was in London, and he came back with some new-fangled, fancy 'London' ideas. He claims they are neither new-fangled, nor fancy 'London' ideas, but he didn't have them until he spent the week there, so I disagree.

We should have foreseen what was to come when he started tonight's session with a very mysterious introduction: 'We're going to do something a little different tonight' he announced, 'Something we've never done before.'
We all looked warily at him.
'First of all, we're going to run up to the park; when we get there, I'll explain the session'.
Very cunning you see... he doesn't tell you the sadistic details until you're a mile from base, which ensures that by the time the revelation has occurred, you're too far from your car to leap back into it and make a quick escape!

As it turned out, the session involved: a football pitch; squats, burpees, jumping jacks, lunges, press-ups and sit-ups; with a lap and a bit of the footy pitch in between each set! Seriously!... I know!

During the session, I discovered that my stamina is not too bad - better than expected anyway - and that I have zero upper body strength! In fact, I was incapable of completing the burpees due to my demise into a fit of giggles at quite how weak I really am - strength of a gnat - actually, that's unfair to gnats, they manage to fly around places so clearly have quite good upper body strength... perhaps the strength of an amoeba.

Regardless, the session nearly killed me - actually killed, not some metaphorical use of hyperbole to highly over-exaggerate the situation which in reality was really just a little hard - no, really nearly dead.

I hope you're reading this Coach Pete... and you consider this before you start introducing any more new-fangled, fancy 'London' ideas! I nearly DIED tonight!

Though if I'm completely honest, it was really good fun, and although it was incredibly hard work, I have to admit (very quietly) that I did enjoy doing it. Shhhhhh... don't tell Pete!

Thankfully, I didn't die... as you can tell - writing a blog is not the actions of a dead person - but instead have two rather achey legs, which I'm going to take on their way to bed, whilst I continue to contemplate who the possibly famous person was that I saw yesterday! I'm not obsessed about it... I'm not (really!). However, if I haven't managed to dig his name out of the distant reaches of my mind by tomorrow morning, I am going to take Fattipuff's advice and ask the kids... kids know everything! (BTW Oldbagrunning... he was in his early-mid thirties...ish!). Any suggestions, more than welcome; I'm not obsessed... I'm not, I'm not!!

Come on legs... off we go.

Activity: Running and silly new-fangled clever London circuit training thingys
Distance: 3.89 miles
Time: 50 minutes
Feeling: Nearly dead!

Juneathon Days 18 + 19: Google it!

2011-06-19T20:20:00.002+01:00

Sometimes Google can't give you all the answers; which is a shame because I like to think that there is nothing I can't Google and find out the answer to these days. In fact, I love the fact that 'Google' is even a verb. But then 'Googling' is a true technological testament to the modern world in which we live; and of course with the rise of the smart phone, it is on very rare occasion that my brain is called on to identify an answer to something for me as, without even a second's thought, my hand has whipped out my iPhone and is 'Googling' before my brain has even had time to notice.

Alas, yesterday I discovered that you cannot Google everything and as a consequence I have been haunted by my brain's own inability to search out the answer I require.

As part of yesterday's Juneathoning (another excellent noun-verb transition!) I walked into Manchester city centre for a spot of shopping (I also count walking around as, although I didn't GPS this part, I know I walked a very long way because my feet hurt by the end of it!) Whilst shopping in Manchester, I popped into Paperchase and was leisurely perusing the card section, when I noticed a couple of teenage girls next to me becoming quite excited. Taking a closer look at the girls, I ruled out that the excitement wasn't from seeing their teacher shopping in Manchester (the excitement of the day for some teenagers, who naturally believe that teachers live in the stock cupboard of their classroom and only venture out for the odd cuppa tea and to buy those brown leather patches we all have on our favourite tweed jackets) but that instead their focus was on a very tall man who was wearing sunglasses indoors and those oversized headphone thingys off-of the 80's that everyone's wearing these days. Stalking him around the collections of cards, eventually they built up the courage to ask him if they could have their photo taken with him, to which he kindly obliged.

'Oh.' I thought to myself as they stood there posing next to the quirky 'you won't find this in Clinton's' brithday card selection. 'He must be famous.'
I sneaked a little look. Glancing askew, he didn't look in the slightest bit familiar, and not wanting to look like a sad 30-something woman who gets excited over seeing someone 'famous' in Paperchase, I quickly retreated behind the Father's Day section with a definite air of innocuous browsing about me.
However, a few minutes later, glancing over towards the till from my new position within the collection of completely useless but 'oh isn't that cute' stationery that had cunningly distracted me on my way out, I caught a glance of the tall, dark haired, possibly famous person again, and realised that he very definitely was (and still is I imagine) famous and I very definitely did know who he was.

But who?

And this is the question I have been unable to answer. I couldn't bring myself to go over and ask him; even if we take into account my apparent ability to constantly embarrass myself in most situations without trying, and therefore that I am generally the sort of person who is not easily embarrassed, that would have been highly humiliating even for me; I couldn't ask the giggly teenage girls as they'd already left the shop, no longer speaking to each other but hastily sharing their treasured image on every social networking site that ever existed. I stared for as long as was reasonably possible, and then a little longer, hoping that my brain would drag the name out of the darker recesses of my mind; but no, it wasn't to be. I left Paperchase still pondering.

Now, don't get me wrong, this is not a question that I have been agonising over for the past 24 hours or so (except I clearly have!), but it's irritating me; like a song you've forgotten the artist of, or a place you've been on holiday that you can't remember the name of.

Last night, whilst sat with my friends in the pub, I attempted to describe the man to them to see if they had any idea who he might be. With a very accurate description: 'Quite tall, dark hair, wearing sunglasses and those big, silly, oversized headphones like off-of the 80's that everyone's wearing, average looking, no - not as famous as Colin Farrell'; you'd think that at least one of them would have given me a name that rang a bell.

'That's a great description Maggie' was the sarcastic offering I was given as a reply, 'tall and dark haired! 'cos there's not many of those around!'. I quickly forgave them for the sarcasm, realising at once that it was due to a realisation in their own brains that they were going to struggle without the support of Google on this one - a survival reflex, we could call it!
'He may be on Coronation Street.' I offered, but then realised very quickly that I don't watch Corrie, so all the people that my friend was now suggesting, were not going to be him, because I didn't know who they were, but I DO know who he is... kind of'.
'Is he a footballer?' Someone else suggested.
'I don't think so, as I only think I'd recognise someone like Wayne Rooney and it wasn't him, he was much taller and his hair was much darker.
'Was it Julian Clary?' my friend persued.
'What? Julian Clary?'

So, at the end of our discussion, we had managed to establish two things:
1. He was not Julian Clary and...
2. Unlike the boy in the Sixth Sense who does see dead people, I - don't- see- famous people! (Although I do see dead squirrels, but that's a story for another day!)

So, sitting here now thinking about it, I realised that the one thing I hadn't tried, that usually comes so naturally to me when I need an answer, was 'Googling'. However, it seems even Old-faithful can't give me the answer to the question: 'Who was the tall, famous man I saw in Paperchase Manchester yesterday?'

I think you'd agree with me that the first option that question pulled up was highly unexpected and a little disturbing considering what I asked!!

I'll be honest, I feel a little let down by Google; I'm used to this sort of disappointment from my own brain - it's common knowledge amongst my friends that I don't see famous people - but, in the past, Google has always been there to pick up the pieces and fill in the gaps. Sigh.

Anyway, to take my mind off it, today I went over to Bradford and paid a visit to Murgatroyds: 'Britain's Best Fish and Chip Restaurant'. One HUMOUNGOUS plate of fish and chips later and I feel a lot better. For my Juneathoning today, I have counted eating the enormous place of fish and chips, accompanied with bread and butter, curry sauce and a good ol' cuppa tea... really, it counts, look how enormous it was...

... that took effort! However, for those 'purists' of you out there, I have also counted taking Doris on our favourite route down Boggart Hole Clough. All of which has successfully taken my mind off random famous people and my inability to 'see' them... although maybe I typed the wrong words, maybe if I just tried Googling... ... ...

Juneathon Day 19

Activity: Walking 3 miles to town, then shopping. (I should also point out here that due to time constraints, I had to get a bus back; as a self-confessed complete and utter snob, this was a highly distressing situation and consequently caused me to consume copious amounts of alcohol to recover from the ordeal later that night!)

Distance: 3 miles + at least another 2 I reckon!

Time: 45 minutes

Feeling: happy, obviously - I was shopping!!

Juneathon Day 20

Activity: Eating an enormous plate of fish and chips and walking Doris (Who asked me to say how very grateful she is for all the lovely comments and should anyone wish to Dognap her for a while she is a very sociably animal and will be more than happy to offer equal levels of excitement on any run!)

Distance: A whole plate full then 2.3 miles

Time: An hour of so in the restaurant followed by 35 minutes walking!

Feeling: Completely stuffed. And a little let down by Google.

Juneathon Day 17: I LOVE Running

2011-06-17T21:37:00.000+01:00

OH my, oh my, oh my! Today was the best- best-best-bestbestbest!

I went for a run... running running running all the way! It was sooooo much fun... Eeeeeeeeeeee I'm still soooooo excited!

We ran down the road and then we ran around the corner and all the time we were running and running and running and running and then there was another road and we kept running and running and it was the best thing in the world!

It was the most fun thing ever until we stopped at a road and a big red car went whoooooooshing by and I stuck my tongue out at it! Then, when it had gone past we ran again and we didn't stop running until we got to the park - I LOVE love love the park. Isn't it the best?

I ran LOADS in the park - I ran up and down and round and round in little circles and BIG CIRCLES and it was the most fun ever until it started raining...

I LOVE rain - love, love, lovelovelove rain and I got so excited that I had to stop and have a little poo.

I was at my excitement peak now and I thought I might bURst; I really didn't think that I could have any more fun and but there was even more! There really was because I ran all the way round the park. All the way! Running and running and running and running - Oooooooooooh and there was so much stuff to see and smell and hear - so much - so much fun!

The best bit though - the best bit had to be - the best bit was the stream! I LOVE the stream... love - love - loveloveLOVE it! I Whooooooooshed into that stream so fast I was a blur, making the water splash, splash SPLASH all over. It was the BEST! I got so wet that when I got out I had to shake and shake and shake and shake all over and it was so exciting I had to have a little excitement wee.

Then, just when I thought it was all over because we were turning for home, I realised that we had to RUN home too! We just had to... yes- yes- yes!!! It was Brilliant! And all the way home we ran and ran and ran and because I had been so good... cos I'm good - I'm so good me - all the time - I am... we did a special extra lap around my favourite park in the world right behind our house - a special treat! because I'm soooogoooood!

Awwwwww... I just LOVE running! Love loveloveloveloveloveloveloveLOVE running! It's brilliant!

Oh my, oh my, ohmyohmy... Can we go out again?

Doris x

Activity: Running
Distance: 2 miles
Time: 20 minutes
Feeling: Fun!

Juneathon Day 16: Rain, Shine and Sparkle...

2011-06-16T22:18:00.000+01:00

'Wet Wet Wet'...

...A band formed in the 1980's, particularly popular in the 1990's and fronted by Marti Pellow; which, at the time, I thought were a band whom perhaps understood me and my tortured teenage soul better than anyone else; whom I believed made beautiful, soulful music solely for my ears... Now of course, I fear that their name was, in fact, eponymous of their music...

However, it is not wet ~~behind the ears~~ band of that era in our history that I am referring to in the above statement, but rather the weather outside. So wet in fact that I'm sure I saw fish swimming past the upstairs window at one point... or was it a flying pig? Either way, I was very comfortable working at my desk and not in the slightest bit eager to pull on my running gear to 'swim' to running club!

~~Unfortunately~~ Fortunately, I have recently discovered the delights of Twitter and consequently was ~~bullied~~ persuaded into pulling on my running kit and joining the 'hard core' runners at club! (Well, let's be honest, I wouldn't have mentioned it if I hadn't been looking for a little kick up the bum!)

And am I glad I did! Apart from the fact that I actually managed some proper exercise today, rather than a measly shopping trip and a jaunt round a field the size of a postage stamp, I was also witness to my friend Natalie's new PB!

Absent Coach Pete (who is this week braving it in the distant, southern lands of London) had set us an 'out and back' session. With a slightly larger group of hardcore runners turning up today (but notably with girl power still ruling - in fact exclusively ruling if we are to assume the reappearance of Dom(inique)!), we set off under a suspicious looking sky, all of us absolutely convinced that at some point, if not in the 20 minute run away from the track then definitely in the 18 minutes back, we would be soaked, drenched and battered with rain.

However, it was not to be. In fact, all in all it was a fantastic run in which Natalie and I not only hit a perfect 38 minutes round trip but, as I mentioned previously, she set herself a brand, new sparkling PB for the 5k distance! Superb.

And so, the soundtrack to my run tonight was not the 'Wet, Wet, Wet' that I expected as I headed out the door, but rather 'Sunshine on a Rainy Day'!

Activity: Running

Distance: 3.1 miles

Time: 38 minutes

Feeling: like sunshine on a rainy day - what? I'm liking that one, I can't say it twice?!

With Big Congratulations to: NATALIE!!!!!

And thanks to: Absent Coach Pete, Fairweatherrunner, Psycojog and Runningman856

Juneathon Day 15: Great minds!

2011-06-15T19:36:00.000+01:00

Happy Half Way Juneathon everyone!

Thank you to all those of you who commented on my blog yesterday and completely validated my Supermarket Slimnastic exercise for the day. In fact, not only validated but were happy to admit that you too, joined the basket carrying cause yesterday in your Juneathoning - There must have been something in the air! - However, I have to admit that I am in awe of notmuchofarunner and Carrick "Pyro" Armer who even went to the extent of activating their GPS devices within order to officially record the activity, with notmuchofarunner answering that age old question (of course it is!) of how many calories does a supermarket dash burn? Answer: 6...which I am under the impression he used to treat himself to a slither of chocolate!

We are certainly a creative bunch and I think the challenge is surely now out there as to who can complete the most creative Juneathon activity as we enter the second half of the competition!

Additionally, as we are clearly not alone in our creativity I propose that we should also take the suggestion of Fortnightflo (who notably also took part in some Supermarket Slimnastics yesterday - although at least she walked there and back!!), and lobby RunningFree to get Supermarket Slimnastics added as a activity; It is a travesty that we are unable, at the moment, to log this increasingly popular (surely soon to be) sport as part of our official Juneathon. More needs to be done people!

As for today's Juneathon, after the strenuous pursuits of yesterday, today obviously had to be a rest day. So, in the true spirit of Juneathon, I still got out there with Doris and I completed a gentle mile stroll round (and round and round and round) the small field behind my house. In order to complete a mile, I did have to complete several circuits of the field (it is particularly tiny) and add on a walk up to the high street and back again. However this was very useful, as I was able to creatively combine my exercise with some social networking, enabling me to catch up on the tweeting and facebooking of the day - Well, I am a social butterfly you know!

Activity: walking and tweeting
Distance: 1 mile
Time: 19 minutes (social networking whilst walking slows you down apparently!)
Feeling: very social

Juneathon Day 14: Supermarket Slimnastics

2011-06-14T22:04:00.001+01:00

Finding it hard to fit your Juneathon activity into your busy lifestyle? Me too. In fact, today I found it so difficult, at one point I had convinced myself that I had failed and hadn't actually managed to do any exercise at all. I couldn't believe it. Surely this couldn't be right; after all, in January I managed to run every single day even when I had to fight my way through the thick, deep snow!

'You've failed' said little Pessimistimagathon on my left shoulder.
'Don't listen to that witch' said teeny Optimistimagathon on my right shoulder, 'She's no idea what she's talking about; you've not failed... you don't fail... you don't even know the meaning of the word, you couldn't...'
'Of course you've failed.' rudely interrupted Pessimistiagathon. 'You've not done any exercise today; so you've certainly not succeeded have you?'

Certainly, this was a dilemma; desperately, I wanted to believe the lovely Optimistimagathon flitting happily and positively at my right hand side. Her enthusiasm and determination for my success was truly inspiring, something I just didn't want to ignore. Yet, at the same time, I knew it to be true. I had done no exercise at all, I still hadn't completed my work, I could hardly take time out for a jaunt around the park, when there were more serious, pressing matters.

'I could go out now...' I told myself, looking at the failing light outside the window. I stood up to give myself a closer look. Moston looked the same as usual: The vicious looking dog ravaging its ball in the park, the ominous gang of 'hench hoodies' 'hanging' menacingly at the park gates, the swaying gait of the old man as he crossed the field clutching desperately to his can of 'Red Stripe' fighting to remain upright....
'Hmmm... maybe not then' I reflected. 'Oh well, time to admit it then. Clearly, I've...'

'No! Wait!' Cried Optimistimagathon, very cunningly interrupting my thought process at just the right moment,
'I've got it!' You HAVE exercised today. In fact you spent at least 20 minutes doing so.

Quickly, I thought back over my day: I'd driven to work - no exercise there; walked around school - can that really count as exercise? unlikely; I'd driven to the supermarket - nope, still can't see it; I'd walked around the supermarket...

'That's it... that's the one! Your workout at the supermarket!' Exclaimed Optimistimagathon.

Really? Can it be true? Can I really count my trip to the supermarket as exercise? I mused. I pondered. I deliberated. And yes! Lo and behold of course I could! And here are the reasons:

1. I walked around the supermarket at a constant and steady pace for 20 minutes;
2. As I walked, I used a resistance device, more commonly referred to as a basket, to tone my arms and add extra difficulty to my overall cardio workout;
3. As the workout progressed, I added weight to my resistance device, thus increasing the difficulty and intensity of my workout;
4. During my workout, at regular intervals, I added squats to condition and tone, intensified also by the increasing weight of the resistance device;
5. At the end of the workout, I cooled down by transferring the weights from one device to another, finishing the workout with a brisk walk back to the car.

All of which, I think you'll find, creates a perfect session of Supermarket Slimnastics. Excellent. And, if you're in any doubt as to how you can work a Supermarket Slimnastic Session into your daily Juneathon schedule, then take a quick look at this brief video for more ideas on working out in your local supermarket:

Working Out At the Supermarket by 5minFitness

Activity: Supermarket Slimnastics
Distance: Must be at least a mile around all those aisles!
Time: 20 minutes
Feeling: very hungry by the end of it!

Juneathon Day 13: Dear Coach...

2011-06-13T22:07:00.000+01:00

Dear Coach Pete,

I hope you are having a truly wondrous time in the land of Big Clever London, where the streets are paved with gold and the sun always shines.

We, of course, missed you at running club tonight. Well, I say 'we' but I'm sorry to say that it is only a small, dedicated band of your speedy side-kicks that can be included in that exclusive group tonight. And exclusive it was. Yes, Pete, I'm proud to say that I am now in an elite group of 'The Hardcore Runners'. And it's fair to say that 'Girl Power' rules!

Roy Castle would have been proud of the bantam band of X chromosomes who held the fort in your absence tonight; and your praise, indeed, should be showered on the following devotees of The Oldham and Royton Harrier's Road Running Club:

Angela, Sara, Natalie, Lindsay, Candice, myself and Dom(inique)...

A group of your runners who, tonight, demonstrated the same commitment, enthusiasm and dedication that you, yourself, have given to running.

Following your training schedule, our (clearly hardcore) gaggle of girlies set off on a figure of 8 run, or 5km route; completing the routes with the motivation and ardency, you would expect from a (clearly hardcore) group such as ourselves.

However, despite the energy, eagerness and earnestness of the whole group tonight, one special mention must go out to someone who went above and beyond the call of duty, demonstrating the true nature of our club by supporting the other runners: Dom(inique), who thanks to ~~his~~ her strength, support and assistance to others tonight, earned ~~him~~ herself an honourary position in your band of 'Hardcore Runners'... Go Girl Power!!

Coach Pete, we hope you're as proud of us tonight as we are of ourselves, and indeed, ~~as you muse on what to set us for Thursday's session~~ we also take this opportunity to let you know how proud we are to be your dedicated, driven and devoted band of (truly hardcore) runners.

Best Running Regards,

Maggiee (One of the dedicated and devoted band of clearly hardcore runners!)

Activity: Running

Distance: 3.1 miles

Time: 40 minutes

Feeling: Hardcore!

Juneathon Day 12: Running Releases...

2011-06-12T15:12:00.000+01:00

'Running releases more than just sweat'

... thank goodness!

Activity: Running
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 1hr 54.
Feeling: much lighter!!!

Juneathon Day 11: Some sense of purpose...

2011-06-11T19:39:00.000+01:00

Today I went walking with Doris and Mik...

And then I had lunch...

And then I started marking...

And then I fell asleep whilst marking...

And then I went to the shop and bought yummy stuff that will make me fat...

And then I ate too much yummy stuff and felt sick...

And then I carried on marking...

And then I fell asleep again...

And then I blogged...

And then I marked my own writing

And I only gave it 5 out of 18: Clear communication of ideas with more sense of audience and purpose. Uses some organisational devices appropriately with occasional conscious selection of words.

And then I thought that was not good because I am an English teacher

and people will judge me

and they will think that is bad and that I am not very good...

And then I thought maybe I should change it

and write a better blog rather than this blog

which would only be marked 5 out of 18

if I was being marked by a GCSE examiner...

And then I realised that I'm not writing in a GCSE examination

and I'm already a teacher

and an examiner so it doesn't actually matter.

And then I said to myself 'you should stop writing

because this is getting ridiculous and long'.

And then I realised that now my writing wasn't even a 5 out of 18 any more

because I had written too much and had lost awareness of my audience

who had now probably stopped reading

so now it was only 4:

an occasional sense of audience and purpose.

Ideas sequenced simply.

And then I thought 'I better stop now because there is no sense in what I'm doing'.

And then I did.

Juneathon Day 10: Round and Round...

2011-06-10T22:25:00.000+01:00

Round and round the garden,

Like a teddy bear,

One step - two step -

It's for Juneathon... I swear!

Doris loves a Dressing Gown Dash too!

If you were familiar with JogBlog back in Janathon, or you're following Notmuchofarunner during Juneathon, this dressing gown business will make perfect sense... If you're not, you probably think I've gone bonkers (Okay, more bonkers?!)... I have; paper 464 is now done... I have no stamina, no skills and no brain left... 'nuf said!

Activity: The Garden Dressing Gown Dash
Distance: 0.04 miles
Time: 30 seconds
Feeling: Oh my... so very tired!

Juneathon Day 9: Catching up...

2011-06-09T22:38:00.000+01:00

Today I...

Didn't catch up with the pile of marking I'd set myself to do;
Nearly caught up with reading some blogs... but not quite;
Enjoyed catching up with some friends at running club (metaphorically, not physically, they're far too fast for me!);
Caught up with last night's Apprentice (Oh yes... good decision!)

And now I'm going to...

Catch up on the sleep I missed last night...

Night all!

What 5th member? There's only 4 in my dreams!!

Activity: Running
Distance: 4.6 miles (intervals)
Duration: 55 minutes
Feeling: sleepy... yaaaaawn....

Juneathon Day 8: Take that Juneathon...

2011-06-09T17:16:00.001+01:00

As I was a dirty stop-out and arrived home at a quarter to midnight last night (and on a school night too!!!), I've struggled to 'Shine' today so decided to leave this post until later!

I managed to get in a sneaky Juneathon exercise when I suggested to my friend that we should walk to the Take That concert yesterday evening. Of course, she clocked what I was up to but ultimately we both agreed that it would be a better idea than paying an extortionate tenner for parking. As it was, it worked out well as the traffic was a nightmare at the end of the night; I have a feeling I'd still be there now if we'd tried to get home in a car and I'm not sure I'd have had the 'Patience'.

However, it did mean that they ended up 'keeping me up all night' and we arrived home rather late. I'm not sure how Paula has coped today, but I've been half dead... I might be still at an age where I can dance all night, jump up and down and scream like a banshee at 4 grown men on a stage, but my body now screams back at me the next day!

Needless to say, we had the best time in the world... ever! and I would gladly have stayed 'up all night' for the show they put on for us; not even the rain could dampen our spirits. It was certainly a concert I will 'Never Forget'.

Anyway... I'm making very little 'Progress' here and I'm 'Sure', to be honest, 'I've said it all'. I also am in desperate need of a pick-me-up before I take on Juneathon day 9; so I'll leave you for now whilst I hunt down copious amounts of caffeine to consume before running club begins at 7!

Activity: walking and dancing!
Distance: 5.25 miles
Time: 1.39 (including walking around the stadium for a bit and putting the bin out once home as I forgot to press pause!)
Feeling: Like I could 'Rule the World'!

Juneathon Day 7: The worst blog ever written...

2011-06-07T18:15:00.000+01:00

Six days of exercise I've done,
made up to seven with today's run;
I only went a mile quite slow,
because I had my dog in tow,
but at least I'm in the game
to drop out now would be a shame.

But

this might be the worst blog ever written
or it may be cute - just like a kitten!
However, I feel I must explain
why it's so bad like the crash of a train;
I've been up since 6 - with work - you see
no, not because I needed a wee!
And now I'm home, I'm marking papers
and eating very salty capers.
(that last bit really isn't true
But I struggled to rhyme it... wouldn't you?)
And so the reason this blog is crap
Is because my brain has gone...

kersplat!

Image by James Callahan

Juneathon Day 6: Looking for Inspiration?

2011-06-06T22:38:00.001+01:00

Then use this man...

I went to running club this evening, I ran and it was lots of fun.

But I'm not going to tell you about that; instead I want you to read about Eddie Kidd, the ex-stunt rider who suffered brain damage, in 1996, when his bike crashed. Eddie started the Virgin London Marathon on April 17th, with every other participant, and completed it this evening, raising more than £72,000 for Children with Cancer in the process.

Today, Eddie Kidd, with the help of a specially constructed walking frame, crossed the finish line at the Mall, 50 days after the starters gun was fired. I also started in the London Marathon on April 17th, and completed it the same day; It took me 5 hours and 46 minutes: it was really tough! And still, I think I only have a small insight into the strength, will and determination it must have taken Eddie to complete the Marathon as he did.

I am amazed, inspired and motivated by people like Eddie; real people who have such a zest for life, despite the odds; people who challenge their bodies, and minds, at unbelievable levels. I take my hat off to anyone who is willing to test those boundaries; to set a challenge and overcome it; to identify a personal goal and achieve it, no matter how big, how small or how long it takes. After all, it's only when we challenge ourselves - when we really test the limits of what we think is possible - that we realise how capable we actually are of achieving so much more.

Now, who fancies a run?

You can read more about Eddie on the BBC News website.

Activity: Running
Distance:
Time:
Feeling:
Run Saturday

Juneathon Day 5: Kinnecting with Sheila

2011-06-05T19:33:00.000+01:00

Today didn't start well, when I stupidly did this...

... and discovered that the 5lbs I'd lost in the last two weeks had been reduced to a much more minimal number as, this week, I'd put 3 back on again! Hmph.

So I promptly got off the scales and went for a run. My intention was to run 1 mile but I chose to run with my new Iphone and its Nike GPS app which has a nice lady that talks to you... Sheila... and although she's nowhere near as motivating as Chad, she does help by whispering words of encouragement in your ear every mile. Sometimes those words are encouraging because they're what you don't want to hear; for example, on completing my mile, Sheila announced I had ran it at an 11.33 min mile pace... a what??!!! How was that possible when I'd been running so hard? Hmph - again. I knew that was never going to burn the dreaded calories that so eagerly want to wrap themselves tightly around my waist and hips, I would have to continue running.... and up the pace.

Eventually, Sheila and I completed just over 3 miles and we'd managed to raise our pace to an average of 10.33; I felt much better for it, so much so that I remembered my 'don't be a slave to the scary scales' plan which meant that I was also supposed to be tracking my weight loss with my trusty...

And would you believe it... I'd lost inches... well 1 whole lovely inch... from all the different measured areas of my ever decreasing body!

Comforted by the thought that all my hard work for the past 3 weeks had not been entirely for nothing, I got on with some marking. However, I couldn't concentrate because in the back of my mind was a niggling desire... a desire to burn more calories but, more importantly, also a desire to play on my new game... Kinnect Personal Trainer (bought at a super sale price, in a well known supermarket with a bright green sign, yesterday).

Tick.... tick.... tick... 'Go on Maggie, go and play on the kinnect'... tick... tick... tick... 'Go on, it's way more fun than marking'... tick... tick... 'you know you want to'... tick... 'kinnect, kinnect, kinnect kinnect...'
'Oh, right fine!' I gave in, slamming my pen down on the desk, 'I can't concentrate with you wittering in my ear anyway.

So, giving up, and vowing to have words with my motivation later about his recent poor performance (hiding when I need him, and a complete pest when I don't!) I hurried down the stairs to play my new 'game'.

half and hour later and I can barely move! That was hard work!! But, good news...

I burnt 123 calories! bonus!

So all in all Juneathon Day 5 has ended up better than expected: Not only has there been successful shrinkage of The Magathon, but I've also taken another step towards my goal of introducing a wider range of exercise into my routine. Excellent.

Activity: Running and Kinnect Aerobics
Distance: 3.05 miles
Time: 1hr (or so)
Feeling: that exercising made me feel better!
Run Saturday

Juneathon Day 4... Our Day Out...

2011-06-04T19:49:00.000+01:00

Activity: Walking (and climbing in ballet pumps!! - not an easy task!)
Distance: 6 miles (Dovestones and Asda walk)
Time: 2 hrs 20 mins.
Feeling: great - if a little soggy!
Run Saturday

Juneathon Day 3: Don't leave home without...

2011-06-03T11:25:00.000+01:00

I needed Him and He knew it. He was teasing me; taunting me even. As I hunted high and low throughout the house, I could hear Him: sniggering round the back of the sofa, giggling in the garden, fidgeting behind the fridge; but by the time I reached there... gone... always gone.

Eventually, at 10am, I gave up. 'Fine' I grumped, 'I'll go without you then.' So I did.

However, running alone in the ever increasing temperatures, the shade rapidly disappearing into the terraced houses, as the sun rose higher by the minute into the sky, I struggled.

'I can't do this' I dejectedly told myself as Ben Folds sung me a ditty about 'Zac and Sara' (without an 'h'); 'I need Him' I pitifully wailed as Scouting for Girls confirmed their belief that 'Elvis Ain't Dead'; 'It's too hot' I protested even as Queen told me 'Don't Stop [them] Now'. I was almost about to turn home, almost... just about... when...

A friendly runner bounced towards me, sweat pouring from him, face as red as a beetroot and a super-massive smile that stretched from ear to ear... the biggest smile I have ever seen... ever! He put me to shame. I thought back to the intricate game of 'cat and mouse' I'd played with Him this morning; the charade of 'hide and seek' that had almost stopped me going out for a run and the memories of which had almost sent me turning for home.

And so, it was Green Day, Off -Spring, The Prodigy and, most importantly, a friendly runner with a big smile that helped me to finish my run. All the same, it was a job made harder than was necessary by the lack of one very important element...

Motivation.

Don't leave home without him!

Activity: Running
Distance: 3.2 miles
Time:34.39
Feeling: hot and lacking in Motivation
Run Saturday

Juneathon Day 2

2011-06-02T21:31:00.000+01:00

Speedy 'Road Runner': Maggie

'Which way back would you like to go now?' Pete asked the group, as we neared closer to track and the end of our training session, 'The slightly longer way back, along the road, or the shorter route but with the danger of nettles?'
'Nettles' we all agreed.
'Although...' I mused whilst checking my Garmin, 'If we took the longer route, we might make it up to 5 miles'.
'It's probably not quite far enough still.' replied Pete, confirming for us all that we would definitely brave the nettle route. 'And anyway, it doesn't matter because tonight wasn't about distance, it was about speed.'

Oh.

'I didn't hit much 'speed'...' I admitted.
'Were you running faster than this?' Pete questioned whilst indicating to the slow and relaxed cool-down plod we were all currently doing.
'Oh yes.' I replied with certainty, 'Definitely much faster than this.'
'Well then you did speed work.' He confidently assured me.

Excellent.

Tonight's club session was speed work. I did 3 x 'fast'... sorry: fast... 1/2 mile repeats along the bank of the canal with 1/4 mile recovery between (except I cheated and cut my recoveries short as I was conscious of falling far behind the others!)

So as a result today's Janathon activity was once again running and, as was reliably confirmed by Reliableplodder earlier in a conversation (that I gatecrashed) on Twitter, (Well, the mention of wine caught my attention!) I will have earnt myself 1 large and 1 small glass of wine. I'm thinking of saving that until tomorrow when I shall add it to some unearned, guilt-ridden wine and consume in comfort under the blaze of the afternoon sun whilst reading a good book...

Activity: running
Time: 49:49
Distance: 4.68
Feeling: slow and hot!
Run Saturday

Juneathon Day 1

2011-06-01T21:03:00.000+01:00

The dilemma: Today is the first day of Juneathon. On this day I managed to:
1. do some marking
2. have my hair cut
3. do some more marking
4. eat lunch
5. do some more marking
6. meet my friend for a diet coke
7. do some more marking...

By which point, the time had reached 4.07pm (precisely!). Plans for the day to come included:
1. walk Doris
2. do some more marking
3. go to the cinema with Mik to watch X-men (Which incidently was really good... First Class in fact! You should go and watch it!!
4. do some more marking.

As intelligent people, I doubt I need to spell out the dilemma - but I'm going to anyway - When was I going to E-X-E-R-C-I-S-E?

For those of you who were following in January, you will remember the craziness of Janathon, where I ran, blogged, and was followed by (dead) squirrels every day. Well Juneathon is a very similar event except there are no squirrels (yet) and I don't plan to run everyday; if you have been following since January, the 'no running everyday' idea will make perfect sense because you will also be aware that in the intermediary period, I have run the London Marathon and consequently broken my running. Juneathon requires physical activity / exercise everyday, rather than running specifically so this is the approach I have chosen to take for Janathon's warmer sibling.

Therefore, with today being not only day one of Juneathon but also National Running Day it was imperative that I ensured some exercise was achieved and that really this exercise should be running.

'So, What did you do?' I hear you cry... 'What did you do?'

I went ~~sort of~~ running. Yes, at 4.09pm I laced up my trainers, put the dog on the lead and headed out of the door for a ~~sort of~~ run...

Doris and I do Day 1 of Juneathon in style... dress, mac and trainers

This counts as Juneathon activity because:
1. If I had just been taking Doris for a walk, I would not have put trainers on - trainers are for exercising in!
2. If I had just been taking Doris for a walk, I would have not inserted little mini bursts of running into the walk - in fact, I just completed some Fartlek training!
3. If I had just been taking Doris for a walk, I would not have bored you with a blog about it, or recorded the activity with the Nike app on my shiny new iphone and neither would I have added the activity to Run Saturday.
4. and finally, if I had just been taking Doris for a walk, Lance Armstrong would not have personally congratulated me on achieving a personal best!

So, Day one of Juneathon... done.

Activity: walk / run
Distance: 1.33 miles
Time: 21.11
Feeling: good
Run Saturday

What I've learnt from running...

2011-05-29T23:24:00.001+01:00

Half term beckons and so does a HUGE pile of marking. Whilst out on my 7.8 mile run today (my little treat for completing 15 papers that morning) I realised that marking papers is much like running 20+ miles in that both require a large amount of discipline; the kind of discipline that does not come naturally to me. My brain is a happy, flighty, imaginative little blighter; if given the opportunity, it will gladly break free of its leash and rush off on strange and bizarre tangents. This of course only happens when I'm not looking and so just a moments wayward thought in another direction: what's that happening out the window?... hmmmmm, what should I have for tea?... has that cat really been sleeping there all day?... leads to a complete lapse of concentration; therefore if I'm running, I forget I'm running and although my feet hold a level of capability to complete this action on their own, they lose all purpose, determination and speed; and if I'm marking, I realise I've read absolutely nothing on the page I've been staring at for the last half hour and had better begin over again.

Anyway... What was I saying?... dammit, I think I've just done it again!

To return to the point, I realised, whilst out on my 'treat' run today, that the same disciplinary procedures I had used to train my brain for the long runs of my marathon training could be applied to the marking and as such I have applied the following positive thinking strategies:

1. Get up and do it. Don't think about it, don't leave it until later in the day when tiredness and lethargy set in: get up, fuel and do it!

2. Just like a long run, don't think of it as one big hill to climb, instead break the marking down into smaller manageable chunks i.e: 'I only have 10 more papers to go and then I'll let myself stalk a friend on Facebook for a few minutes'.

3. Reward myself; each day I have a little treat planned for completing my marking - yesterday was retail therapy, today a run, tomorrow lunch with ~~not-so~~ Little Bro and his lovely wife, Tuesday cakes(!), and Wednesday a hair cut and coffee with a friend (I realise that's two treats but I've none planned for Thursday so I reckon that's fine!)

4. Keep well-fuelled and hydrated to keep the energy levels up and the mind sharp!

See... running teaches you so much!

Good luck to those of you running the Bupa 10,000 tomorrow... I hope you achieve the times you want and enjoy the day... happy running!

Retail Therapy...

2011-05-28T20:26:00.000+01:00

'What? You're going to go and buy some trainers? But you've got loads of trainers! Tons of them... all clogging up the spare room.'
'Well, no... not really because I've only one pair that I actually wear for running because...'
'Well there's about 10 in the spare room...' (That's an exaggeration - there's only 5!)

My planned retail therapy for today created a bit of a stir this morning; and he's right, I do have an unusually large number of running trainers in the spare room however I do need more because...

1. The Nike Pegasus are 2 years old now... I wear them for walking the dog and doing aerobics!
2. Asics gel something-or-other are heavy and they make my feet feel like I strapped weights to them instead of shoes (once I have some new trainers, I'll demote these to dog walking and aerobics doing instead)
3. The Adidas Kanadias are trail running shoes and therefore do not fit the purpose of road running!
4. The Puma cross-country shoes are (obviously) cross-country shoes but are also not mine... I just keep forgetting to give them back to Sandrine at club (Sorry Sandrine!).
5. My Brooks Defyance... have absolutely nothing wrong with them but...I just don't like them! Which very likely does just sound a little ridiculous, but they have gone from being a lovely comfortable shoe when I first bought them to shoes made by the devil which feel horrid and flat and nasty and painful every time I lace them up! So I'm giving up and buying new ones.

And anyway, after marking 32 scripts in a day, a bit of retail therapy is just what the doctor ordered. So, this afternoon, I hot-footed it off to Sweatshop in Manchester Arndale where a lovely man spent 45 minutes with me. We did a gait analysis where he confirmed that I do slightly over-pronate on my right foot - though nothing as bad as I used to, it seems all my work to improve my running gait has been paying off! So, with that in mind he tried me in a pair of structured neutral trainers... perfect. With the anti-pronation sorted, we went through 4 pairs of shoes: Mizuno - felt too high at the back; New Balance - too wide; Asics - oooh... quite nice; and Brooks Glycerin 8... ooooh... also quite nice. After some 'umming' and 'ahhhring'... a lesson in how to tie my trainer up better... another run on the treadmill... several runs up and down the shop.... and bouncing about from one foot to the other... I chose the Brooks Glycerin. And, with Sweatshops' 30 day exchange period, should they not be right for me after all, the problem with the Defyance should be eradicated: 'You can run through mud in them, batter them, bash them, train hard in them' the guy assured me, 'but if you find they're not right for you, bring them back with the receipt within 30 days and we'll exchange them for something else'... brilliant! And with a bonus 10% running club member discount I bounced out the shop before I'd even put them on!

If nothing else, maybe these trainers will have a place(sh)bo(e) effect; I wouldn't be surprised if my feet and my Defyance had just fallen out with each other following 5 and 3/4 continuous hours in each other's company during the Marathon!! Anyway, I shall let you know how the new, shiny, very girlie looking silver and pink, Glycerins and I get on.

All in all, the retail therapy was fully successful as I also bought a new pair of socks, plenty of things I did and didn't need from Boots, a vegetarian Moussaka and Greek Salad from Marks and Sparks for tonight because I'm lazy and can't be bothered to cook, some alice bands from Accessorise, and nothing from Oasis or Coast because I don't need any more dresses even though they were very beautiful!

As quick as the wind...

2011-05-27T19:24:00.000+01:00

If only!...

Although at least on a track you're only fighting the wind for half of the run, the other half it's giving you a helping hand! 400's on the track yesterday; fast running with 200 metre recovery. I manged to run 5 400's which I was rather impressed with. However what I'm more impressed with is the speed at which I ran my first and last. It's a shame I couldn't maintain the speed in the middle 3, but I'm ignoring those and instead choosing to acknowledge the 7.39 pace of my first lap, and the 7.43 pace of my second! It was the fact that I fear however, that it was my inability to barely breathe a recovery at the end of each that caused the middle ones to be slower; after the first lap I realised that if I was to keep it going at that pace, I would only achieve a collapse into a broken heap on the floor! Still, I'm pretty proud of myself!

Tonight was, once again, Zumba night! I love Zumba! And now, having just caught up on my recorded episodes of 'So you Think you can Dance', I've been reminded of how much I love dancing and have consequently been dancing everywhere I go around the house. I am also aware that as my mother reads this, she will be reminiscing of how, when I was younger, I used to traverse everywhere in that manner... It's good fun... If you see me dancing round the streets Manchester, you'll know why!

On Hills, Health and becoming a Hermit...

2011-05-24T22:00:00.000+01:00

Yesterday's club session was good. Which is not a normal thing for me to say as we were running up hills! The difference this time was that we were also running down them... fast! I love running down hill fast; it's so exhilarating! I managed 3 times up and down the hill, each sandwiched between 1 minute recovery and on the last down hill I decided to push it as hard as I could... how fast can I really run down hill? The answer is... bloody fast!! Particularly when compared to the same distance up hill: 1 min 45 up... 44 seconds down! Now, if anyone knows of any downhill races out there, I think I've found my forte!

Today, Paula and I went for the slowest run in the world! Well, actually that's perhaps exaggerating a little... but only a little, as my marathon was slower! I am clearly still recovering and where yesterday I felt that I'd sprinted 2 steps forward in my ability to run, today I lolloped 3 steps back! Ah well... it's all exercise making me fitter and healthier... and, therefore, all is happy in the world of the diet... and keeping week 2 going strong (fingers crossed!).

On another note entirely, I am signed up as a GCSE examiner once again and I have just had a lovely chat with my Team Leader, who's cleared me to begin marking my scripts following the arduous process of online samples and standardising; what this means in layman's terms is that I now have 25 days to mark 611 GCSE English Language papers! This works out at roughly 25 a day so if you don't see me for a while, I've become an marking hermit... it's an official title! I'll see you in July!

611 exam papers to go... next to Doris for true size comparison!

The Booze Cruise

2011-05-22T17:46:00.005+01:00

I spent a lot of time around canals yesterday. However, I have to note the distinct difference between where I started the day and where it ended...
My Canal day began with a 9.1 mile run alongside the Rochdale canal where Paula and I took the scenic route on a run out to Rochdale and back. Intending to run 10 miles, we wimped out on the steep climb back up to where we'd parked the cars as soon as we attempted it. The attempt resulted in a lot of 'ooh... ahh... ow... ooh' from both of us and we agreed that tow-path running had been hard, we must have burned more calories from the trail-like nature of the terrain, and we definitely needed to 'walk it out', so we treated ourselves to a gentle walk (with intermittent jogging on the down hill) back to the cars!

On the 'booze cruise'

Racing back home, I had just enough time to eat, walk the dog and doll myself up for my booze cruise. I have to say, booze cruises are definitely for winners, especially when they have copious amounts of free booze on them! The price we paid to hire the boat included several bottles of wine, which was being generously decantered into our glasses by one of my colleagues; and if that wasn't enough, our own 'Esteemed Leader' very kindly put some of her own, hard-earned cash behind the bar so we could all have 2 free(ish) drinks each - free(ish) because if drinking alcohol, the voucher required 'topping up' with your own money, but still... I'm defintiely not complaining! The barge took us on a 3 hour trip up and down the Bridgewater Canal from the centre of Manchester and by the end of it, we were all up and dancing... with one of my colleagues very impressively pulling off the splits in the middle of the floor!!

I then spent the next three hours supping cider (the girlie fruit sherbet tasting sort) at a canal-side bar and then true to the theme of the day we trotted off to Canal Street for the end of the night. For those of you not au fait with Manchester, this is our version of London's Soho, only tinier. Otherwise known as 'The Gay Village'. Hilariously, my previous visit had been with a large group of people out celebrating a friend's birthday, all of whom were allowed in, except me and my friend (I think because we very much look like the sort who'd cause trouble in a bar!); after much ~~begging~~ negotiating, they did eventually let us in but insisted we were to stay only in the room upstairs... which turned out to be a large empty function room with no music and the lights full on! Needless to say, we made the most of it!

Thankfully, this did not happen last night and we all trotted into the first bar we found which played the most perfect cheesy music all night. I kicked my shoes off and danced the night away around my handbag, and although tempted by the very shiny dancing poles positioned around the dance floor, you'll be pleased to know I managed to resist the temptation of heaving myself around one thus avoiding any potential embarassing pole dancing disasters with all my colleagues watching! As it was, it turned out to be a good job that I spent the remaining 3 hours of the night dancing as, in addition to the ~~large~~ moderate amount of alcohol I ~~binge~~ drank last night, I managed to accidentally stumble into a fish and chip shop on my way to find a taxi and whilst in there similarly manged to accidentally order a massive portion of chips which I fiendishly devoured with no thought to my diet what-so-ever!

Oooops!... Running Club tomorrow!

stupid alcohol making me eat stupid chips!

Join the Party!

2011-05-20T18:26:00.000+01:00

Zumba! I've been to Zumba!

Zumba! it's great at Zumba!

Zumba! it's fun to Zumba!

Zumba! I like to Zumba!

(to the tune of Calle Ocho by Pitbull)

Zumba will make me as skinny and happy as those girls!!

Today 'I ditched the workout and joined the party'! Yep, I've just spent an hour wiggling my hips, shaking me booty and shimmying me boobs! Fab! And what's better it was at work with the mega bonus of being... completely FREE!! I've been wanting to do Zumba for ages but have been put off by various factors such as classes too late / clashes with running club / more money than I want to pay / have to be a gym member etc.etc... So it is with great relish that I am now looking forward to more opportunities to laugh at myself in the mirror as I set fire to those pesky calories!

Talking of calories, My first week of dieting is nearly done and all has gone well. I think I could have done more exercise... Okay, fine... I know I could have done more exercise but I've stuck to my calorie count each day and I reckon it just means that I'll be able to boost the weight loss next week when I add an increased exercise quota into the mix; everything has a silver lining! I'm holding off weighing myself until the end of next week as experience has taught me that my scales will register zero loss in the first week of the diet, but double the pounds in the second, so I'm not jumping on those babies until I'm sure they're going to kind to me! My next challenge is tomorrow as I'm joining a different type of party: a 'Booze Cruise', on the Bridgewater Canal... Classy, I know!... so I've got to make sure I don't blow everything then; I just need to make sure I don't drink too much, that's all... hmmmm...

Anyway, the 10 mile run tomorrow morning should give me some leeway... and if all goes to pot, I'll just run another 10 miles on Sunday - simples!

The lure of Juneathon

2011-05-18T19:46:00.000+01:00

Today I read a very exciting email... it read:

Hi Janathoners

June will soon be here and so, of course, will Juneathon, hooray.

I’ll have the new website and entry form up next week but in the meantime, I’d like to get a rough idea of how many of you would like a t-shirt...

Wow! A t-shirt! Hooray indeed!

Now, I'm not easily bought... except I am: Last June, I ran the Sotos 10k, in Fleetwood, on an agonisingly hot day, so hot in fact that I suffered a severe bout of dehydration which culminated in me throwing a cup of sweet, sticky electrolyte juice over my head (I thought it was water, even though I'd already taken a sip of it prior to doing so!) and wobbling a lot when I finally crossed the line; but I crossed the line! I finished. Why? Because I am a strong-willed woman made of stern stuff and double dealings of determination? No... because I wanted the t-shirt!

So despite my 'ummings' and 'ahhhings' about whether to take part in Juneathon, I instantly replied to Cathy with a big fat... ME PLEASE!

Judging from today, Juneathon is exactly what I need anyway, because despite all my exercise promises, today I have once again failed to run. Excuse #1 occurred when we received a warning that there was a man in the local area approaching women; not generally a problem, except that the description of this man included the words: He is naked from the waist down. Hmmmm... Now, would the canal towpath be the sort of place a semi-naked man who approaches lone females hangs around?... So, that's that idea out the window! Obviously, the canal is not the only place to run, however the thought of grey, drizzly Moston as an alternative was enough to put me off giving me an excellent opportunity to employ excuse #2: work... there's a lot of it at the moment... so I stayed put in my comfy, swivel chair making a poetry pic-charades game for my year 11's (a cunning revision devise whereby they will be completely fooled into believing they are simply playing a cleverly combined version of two well known parlour game favourites and not realise in the slightest that they're also revising for their literature exam!) Of course, if I'm completely honest (which I'll try to be now), if I'd really wanted to run, I'd have done so! The problem is that I don't want to go out by myself (Oh woe is me!)... I've done a lot of running alone recently and I just don't fancy more of it; the only problem with that is that whilst everyone is burning their calories at running club tomorrow night, I'll be sat on my (increasingly pudgy bum) at the annual school 'award's evening'!

...saying that, I wonder how many calories hand clapping burns... perhaps I can make up for it by clapping especially hard!

On the 'Hunt' for speed...

2011-05-17T18:48:00.000+01:00

There is still a significant gap in my running ability... it is called speed. Last night's session at club required some speed however with the infamous (at club anyway) Hunt Lane laps. The idea of the session is to run 3x laps hard - getting faster over each lap - with 3 minute recoveries between. So, after a warm-up, we set off.

The great thing about running club is that everyone is at different levels; and particularly on a session such as this, it doesn't matter if people get ahead of you as at the end of each lap, you all stop for the recovery in the same spot. Except it does to me! I was determined on my first lap to keep up with the main group of runners and so off I set at great speed up the road. Unfortunately, after the first corner, there is a ~~slight incline~~ massive hill which hit me like a smack in the face. I slowed and consequently fell behind a little. I wasn't worried though as something I am good at is catching people on the downhill; which, having turned the second corner, I started to do - great! - only it wasn't because in order to catch up with them, I had to work hard... very hard... and turning the 3rd corner, I realised I'd forgotten about the other ~~relatively steep incline~~ enormous hill that loomed before me. By this point, my breathing issues were very prominent and I struggled tooth and nail up that hill... puffing, panting, heaving and huffing; bright red, barely conscious and wheezing, I ran the last 100 metres to where everyone was waiting, only to be told off by Pete for running 'too hard'.
'TOO hard'?
'Yes. Look at you, you shouldn't have finished like that on your first lap; how are you going to get faster?'
Hmph. I knew he was right but I wasn't going to admit it.

So, on the next lap... I set off just as fast! With my Garmin back from ~~not so~~ Little Bro, I had an idea, for the first time in a week, the speed at which I was running. This is not a good thing! In fact, now I knew that despite the fact that I could barely breathe and felt like I may very likely need resuscitating any second, I was only running an average of 9.50 minute miles! In November, I could run that same lap at an average speed of 8 minute miles and still not feel quite as bad! Anyway. Needless to say, Pete was right and I finished the lap 15 seconds slower than my previous time.

As I'd arrived back later than everyone else, I also had a reduced recovery time, and after just 2 minutes, Pete was getting us ready to go again. Obviously I had a little moan about this and Paula requested, on my behalf, that I could be allowed a little longer recovery time as I'd got back last. Pete agreed to this, but I still wasn't happy! No... because longer recovery would just mean I'd be even further behind everyone else. 'Set off now if you want' Pete offered in reply... I was off!

Very kindly, Pete then clearly held the others back a little longer before they all set off for their last lap as it wasn't until I'd turned the second corner that the first runner overtook me. Of course, Pete knew what he was doing; pyschologically, this was much better for me as rather than feeling like I was falling further behind with every step I took, I was trying to keep my lead on the others. However, quite embarassingly, everyone who overtook me could hear my heavy breathing... and it was heavy! Once again, I dragged myself huffing and puffing, panting and heaving around the 0.83 mile lap, only this time I did finish faster... clearly being 'chased' by the others had a beneficial effect, reducing my lap time by 5 seconds! Well, it's better than none! Anyway, I think this session will now act as a bench mark for recovery: I'll know I'm post-marathon clear when I can run Hunt Lane without looking like a gereatric beetroot!

Today, plans were changed to meet up with friends for a run, and for a short while I did contemplate going out for a run on my own instead; however, I managed to find many inventive excuses not to, and running is now postponed until tomorrow. Perhaps a jog along the canal will be a nice end to a Wednesday at work...

Countyathon #1: Great Manchester Run

2011-05-16T22:14:00.000+01:00

Haile Gebrselassie, My ~~not so~~ Little Bro and my friend Lisa will all remember yesterday's Bupa Great Manchester Run as being significant in some ways: Haile because he won for the 4th time; my not so Little Bro because he earned himself a brand new sparkling PB when completed the course in 57 minutes (well under the hour he was looking for); and Lisa because she ran a 10k distance for the first time ever in her life and also earned a tremendous time of 57 minutes - wow! And indeed, if I was to spend more time on here I'd mention all my other friends who ran for the first time, earned new pb's, raised magnificent amounts of money for charity or didn't run but enjoyed jesting others about their times - Andy, you know who you are!

For me, this year's race was fun. Paula and I went down early and acted as Haile's personal cheering squad as he sprinted passed us, closely followed by Chris Thompson; we danced at the side of the 'Bupa Boost Zone' to the Kaiser Chiefs; we cheered Elmo on despite the fact we only remembered his name once he was 50 metres away from us; I surprised myself by recognising a celebrity and then acted in a suitably embarassing manner as Nell McAndrew raced past us; and if you look really closely at the side of the television screen at about 1 hour into the race, you'll see Paula and I heading back along Chester Road whilst I happily chomp on a peanut butter sandwich - what can only be described as an epic failure in 'trying to get on TV'!

And that was all before we even started running! At 12.30pm, the final wave of the Great Manchester Run set off with us in it. Within seconds, Paula had disappeared off into the crowds dodging past Spiderman, a Tweenie and several tutu's. Next to disappear from sight was Lisa, who fuelled with enthusiasm bounced effortlessly in and out of the crowd of colour until she too could no longer be seen. Which left ~~not-so~~ Little Bro and I to pick our way past the mass of running fruit, firemen and fairies. However, ~~not-so~~ Little Bro had a plan and at 3km he picked his pace up a little and waved goodbye. I contemplated staying with him at this point, using him to pull me along so to speak... not literally of course! That would be cheating!... but decided instead to take it steady, not wanting to burn out too soon.

However, at just past the 3km point, I spotted Pete, resplendent in orange, stood high above the runners, astride the central reservation barrier. I waved like mad, he spotted me and jumped in to run alongside. As I was running Lud-style, he informed me of my pace (sub 9.30 at that point) and kept me occupied with stories of the other club runners he'd jumped in and run with already that day; at this point he had clocked over 5 miles (hitting just under 10 miles in total whilst supporting runners in a 6 mile race!). I always like it when Pete runs alongside and could feel him pick my pace up instantly. However, I know I didn't manage to keep this pace as my overall average dropped to just below 10 minute miles overall. Still, as he left me at Old Trafford, I swept into Salford Quays feeling energised and confident.

This feeling continued as I passed the legendary Clint Boon, DJing in a discrete corner of Salford Quays and as I, unexpectedly passed the 7km mark and realised quite how short 10k actually is these days! Short it may have been, but as I came into the final 3km, I started to feel it and became very aware that it was only 4 weeks ago I completed a marathon. Once again, I found I had the stamina and strength in my body to continue with ease, however my breathing was very laboured at, what used to be, a low speed and I found myself really having to push hard in the final 2km. At just before 9km, Pete swept up the road on the other side and found me again immediately identifying a target for me... a giraffe!

Lanky - LCCC's Mascot

My first glimpse of 'Lanky' the giraffe had been in Castlefield before the race even started, at the time he was sprinting... very fast for a giraffe... in the wrong direction and we'd commented on how good a runner you'd have to be to run in a costume such as that - running in shorts and T-shirt can be hard enough! The next time I saw Lanky was during the race when he passed me on the 'hill' outside Old Trafford, on the return leg back to town. 'Ooooo... there's that giraffe again' was my first thought as he gracefully tackled the hill - well, giraffes are graceful creatures, aren't they; my second thought was: 'I wish I had a camera... Oh, if I get to the finish line at the same time, there'll be a picture of me and the giraffe!'. Despite this, I had failed to keep up the Lanky - maybe it was those magnificent lanky legs of his speeding him on - and although I gave it a good effort, as we neared 800 metres to go, Lanky was living up to his name and lengthening his lead on me. So I puffed and panted my way through the last 800 with nothing left to give at the end at all... not even one of my infamous sprints to the finish line. As for the giraffe, it turns out he's quite a celebrity himself, as Lancashire County Cricket Club's official mascot, he was running to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Research... good on ya Lanky!

So, Paula and I have completed our first race on the Countyathon challenge: Greater Manchester has been conquered with the Bupa Great Manchester Run, 2011. As expected my overall time from last year was up, with a finish time of 1.02.40 and so for now, I have a new 10k target for 2011 to beat and my target for the race next year... beat the giraffe!

Rolling, rolling, rolling...

2011-05-13T18:45:00.000+01:00

... Or I will be if I don't do something now!

This week, I went to running club twice. On Monday, we did an out and back which was difficult, but I conquered it! And yesterday we did hills. The group did 20 and I did about 14 or 15. Today, I feel like yesterday was the first time I have ever exercised... I ache ALL over!

I was considering this earlier, whilst also recalling my inability to fasten one of my skirts this morning (not because my hands wouldn't work, or because the zip was broken... but unfortunately because it was just too tight), when I decided maybe I should weigh myself. Now, I should point out at this moment that I have not weighed myself since beginning my marathon training because it was giving me a false reading: I was panicking about putting on weight when really I was building muscle. Instead, I took to taking measurements - a far more accurate evaluation I decided. I should also point out however, that I have neither weighed myself nor taken measurements in at least a month, possibly longer.

So, I ~~anxiously~~ gingerly placed the scales on the floor... breathed out... pulled my stomach in (well, it feels like it'll help!) and stepped on...

WHAT THE ...???!!!

I am ~~no longer~~ not the lean, mean running machine I ~~formerly was~~ dream to be! I am feeling like I've exercised for the first time this week, because I have... at this weight! I can't bear to divulge the exact figures that the scales read, and to be fair they weren't high up in the stratosphere... but for me, they were high enough... high enough to explain why I have an ever-decreasing wardrobe to wear... and so, what I will share is that I am now on a mission to lose 11lbs!

As I am a complete and utter geek, I immediately constructed a spreadsheet to:
1. Analyse my current consumption of food and calories (which reveals that despite a realtively 'healthy' diet, I've been fuelling myself as though I'm still training to run a marathon!)
2. Plan my new reformed diet for the next 4-6 weeks.
3. Monitor my food and calorie intake for the duration of my diet.
4. Record and monitor my weight and body measurements.
5. Plan and record my (increased) exercise regime.

As a former Leader of a well-known world-wide weight loss organisation, I know exactly what I need to do, I just now need to get off my (increasingly larger) ass and do it!

And so, my mission statement is this:

For the next 4-6 weeks I will: exercise at least 5 times a week; eat only when I am hungry; eat according to my strict healthy, yet low calorie, diet plan; gradually begin to fit back into the clothes in my wardrobe!

Wish me luck!

I am a girl

2011-05-11T19:48:00.001+01:00

I am a girl. That statement is a fact, but facts must be supported by evidence; so today, in the interest of factual research, I have gone out of my way to prove that statement with the following incidents:

1. A visit to a DIY store... alone. Yes. As I headed off to B&Q (other quality DIY stores are available - although rapidly disappearing!) I didn't for one minute pause to consider, or even question, the rashness of my actions or the hastiness of my feminine decision. No, I set off in the car to buy some woodchips for the gardener to lay down tomorrow (yes, don't scoff, I have a gardener... With two gardens - one laid with woodchips and one fresh with newly sprung grass - and many episodes of Master Chef, Great British Menu and The Apprentice to catch up on, it is essential for any modern living, on-trend couple to have a gardener!...). Naively, I circumnavigated the store until I found my treasure, grabbed myself a trolley and heaved two ENORMOUS bags of woodchips onto the wooden flatbed. Ta daaaaa... I congratulated myself: Well done Maggie; you are strong, independent, woodchip buying female. Excellent. Now to the till.

This was when I realised that B&Q make trolleys that will only move for men. Yes. Only men. How do I know this? Because there were several other people around me in the store, merrily pushing their trolleys around without a care in the world; all were men. My trolley and I however were firmly grounded where we had begun; it seems in laying my load upon my trolley, I had inadvertently wedged it between the display of woodchips and it's own immovable wheels. We were stuck. I pushed, I pulled, I twisted and heaved... until 'Can I help you there Madam? you seem to be having a few problems'.

Am I ashamed that I let the nice man in the bright orange t-shirt move my trolley for me? No, of course not because I am a modern living, on-trend, independent, garden accessory buying woman who is quite comfortable with a little helping hand every now and then. The nice orange man moved it away from the display and I set off, wobbling dangerously through the store towards the till. It was when I nearly crashed into an oncoming (male) customer, that I was offered the advice (by him) that there is a specific skill required in moving a flatbed trolley ladened with bags of woodchips through a DIY store, and that is to pull it. 'Just mind your ankles' he helpfully advised... as if!... Oooof... Ouch! Hmmmm.

My woodchip buying experience had turned into quite an adventure so it was no surprise, when I reached my car, that the boot (that has not had a problem, that I've failed to get fixed, for the last 6 months) refused to open and I had to haul the ENORMOUS bags of woodchips into the back seats of my 3-door Micra, covering me in wet, red dye and teeny bits of woodchips. However, what was more upsetting was that ~~despite the big wide eyes and helpless expressions I offered several passing males~~ this time there was no offer of help. Anyway, mission accomplised and onto incident...

2. Tesco. Well, not actually Tesco itself (other big branded supermarkets are available) but the discovery, in Tesco supermarket on return to my car, that not only does the boot not open and the passenger seat no longer swing forwards, but I also have a flat tyre. Oh. Flat. Hmmmmmm. Right, well I can sort that out no problem. Pulling into the petrol station, I sprung from my car ready for action. Except I was scuppered by the first hurdle as apparently air costs money in a petrol station and, whereas I was under the impression that a small donation of 20p is enough for the machine to embellish your tyres with air, this particular machine was some kind of super-combo-air-water-supremo machine and required a pound! A whole pound! I know... Now, after being caught out at roadside ticket machines several times in the past few months, I have taken to keeping some cheeky change in my car for just such emergencies... if only I could remember where...

3 minutes later and the machine was happily whirring away! Taking advantage of the ~~extortionately priced~~ water on offer, I filled up the screenwash tank that has been empty for 3 months and it only took me 2 minutes to work out how to open the bonnet! I filled the tyre with air and only had to look at the side of the door twice to know which PSI (look what I've learnt!) to set it at and I even gave a little bit of air to the other tyres, even though they weren't as flat as a pancake!...

Returning home, proud of myself I concluded my scientific investigation with the final incident...

3. I asked Mik to carry the woodchips from the car, into the garden. I didn't attempt it myself... I didn't even consider attempting it myself... I shamelessly, with full pride and dignity, played my helpless female card: 'It's just too heavy for me... thanks...'

So, to summarise, on evaluation of the incidents documented above, which took place within a time period of just 2 hours today, I have can conclude that the following statement is a clear, proven and fully evidenced fact: I am a girl.

Scrap that...

2011-05-08T18:14:00.000+01:00

Okay, okay, okay!!!

I've just had a Facebook 'talking to' from my friends! And just in case I'm to suffer the same fate here too... I've reconsidered... I'll run the Great Manchester Run next weekend because it will be fun... not because I'll get a time... not because I'll be fast or slow... but because it will be fun!

I'm starting at the back though... right at the back I mean... behind the giraffes, the Chinese dragons and the three-legged couples!... and that way I can feel good when I overtake at least a few of them!!

So, sans-garmin and sans-target... I'm taking running back to basics!

Oh, and by the way... thanks! :-)