The night before...

In just over 12 hours, I'll be running.

Now this blog, I feel deserves total honesty from me.

So this week:

I managed not to drink any coffee, until this morning when I got a take out Cappucino, got into the car, and drank half of it before I remembered. Oops?

I hadn't drunk any alcohol until yesterday (friday), when I fell over whilst running in heels, ruined my fave blue woollen tights and grazed my knee. The pain was such that I had a fruit cider to numb it.

I tried running on Tuesday, but my legs were like lead and hurt like hell, so it was more of a long walk. I haven't been out since.

I have spent all day today trying to forget why I am staying with the lovely Holly Shaw and her family. I'm convincing myself it's a mini-break. Could be a bit of a shock to the system when I have to not only put a tracksuit on tomorrow morning, but also be seen in public in said tracksuit. Oh dear.

I have written the names of everyone I can think of who has been directly affected by transplant on my t shirt - whether they're waiting, they've received an organ or more tragically, if they've died waiting. So they are my motivation.

On the offchance you're reading this before I run - please send me a text, drop me an email, facebook me. I will try to reply! I could really do with the distraction whilst running!

I love you all. Wish me luck!!
xxxx

Hitting the final countdown (dee dee dee dee, dee dee dee dee deeeeee...)

So people. Hold on to your underwear, we're into the final week.

This is the tough bit. Not only do I really have to run, but I have to behave myself in a manner fitting that of a top athlete (like what I obviously is...). So this week, I have a plan:

At least 1 pasta meal each day (have stocked up on sauces and the like already)

No Booze. I stopped on Sat Night (in amazing style in Durham, of course, where I decided that G&T is always better minus the T. Hardcore, me.)

Sleeping normally. Well, I'm trying on that one. Going to tonight (after I've caught up on Glee...).

No Caffiene. Now this I'm REALLY struggling with. I live off coffee. The girls on my course all commented this morning when I bought a bottle of Oasis instead of the 5th espresso I'd normally be on. Tonight, I nearly fell asleep in my sign language class. Luckily I pulled myself out of it, as it's not like anyone could have shouted at me to wake me up...

But onto the good news before I cry myself to sleep, faced with a week of bloated tiredness ending in a god-awful run.

Yesterday, my darling brother Hazza (or the Lanky Git, as I like to call him) decided that we should have a dry run of the full 10k. 6.2 miles. As I said, Git. So I went for it, and learnt a number of things:

By Mile 2, crying about how hideous it all was really did seem like a logical thing to do. Quite glad my little bro didn't let me stop running and swore at me until I pulled myself together.

Harry running ahead doing the YMCA, skipping and generally taking the Michael was not a great support at some points, but did at least make me smile sometimes. That helped.

My brother really cannot read a map. That's an extra half a K I'm never getting back...

I can run further and faster than I previously believed. Yes, I did it. 10.5k. And guess my time...

No, you really have to guess...

This is a fully interactive blog, and thus you must get involved too....

ok, No, you're all completely wrong, it was not the 2 hours I myself had thought, but 1 hour 15mins. Oh yes. and I did walk little bits (though in no way stuck to a regime). SORTED!!!

Must not get complacent now though. Noooo. So out again tomorrow morning. And now, I want to get it down to an hour...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

PS. Thanks to everyone who's sponsored me, I'm REALLY grateful - please don't hold back if you haven't got round to it yet though. Every Little Helps (the smaller man's mantra...)

xxx

day whatever it is now - and look, i can blog from my blackberry!

I'm easily pleased. Bless.

So as election-fever grips the country, I know all my devoted readers (that's all three or so of you!) Are far more interested in my legs than those of any party leader (though I hear that Clegg is quite a catch - I digress...)

I have a confession. Forgive me fanclub, for I have sinned. Until this evening, I had not been out running since that 10min extravaganza. Maybe I had a "quit while I'm ahead" feeling, or more likely, I was just too damn lazy.
Either way, I was a Bad Pops. Sorry! I did however spend a good few hours power walking around Newcastle delivering flyers for an unnamed political party, so that is some exercise at least. Hurrah.

Today however, that changed. After lectures, I went home, and with lots of nagging and persuasion from Emily, gave it another shot.

My final aim is to run this thing 20mins on, 10mins walking. I wasn't expecting to hit 20mins pretty comfortably so soon. No really. And I didn't fall over or bribe a passing husky family to drag me.

You may cheer now. Go on, no-one's listening. Promise.

So now I have a dilemma. Do I aim to get that to 30 mins? Or stick with the original plan?
It's a tricky one.

Answers on a postcard please. And while you're there, answer this - my metro has been 'arriving in 2 mins' for the last 20mins. How does that even begin to work?!

Xxxx

Day Five - finding the pain threshold...

I HIT 10 MINS!!!!

This won't sound like much of an achievement, but it REALLY is a huge improvement on last 5 mins attempt. Did only do it once, but warmed down with a lovely walk while chatting to the FAB Emily Thackray (LLTGL Chair) who was remarkably unperturbed when picking up the phone to a panting woman...

Another thing I have discovered - I run listening to a playlist on my BlackBerry (that previous sentence makes me hate myself a little) - and can thus check my facebook on the way - and reply! This is an amazing distraction, and really helped pass the time. So please, Facebook me, text me, email me, whatever me on the day of the race (and before if you like - spread the love!) and help distract me from the breathing thing...

Right, I'm off to shower and gorge myself on food (been typing and stretching - I'm so good!!!)

xxxxxx

Day Five - leaving the bed of warmth...

I am quite attached to my bed. Admittedly, I'm quite nocturnal, but I love my bed, especially at the just-woken-up-and-all-snuggly stage of the morning (like, um, now...).

But I am about to leave my bed an hour before I need to to go for another bloody run. I didn't, admittedly, go yesterday. This was because I was hugely angry at the Mystery of the Disappearing Beer caper that was going on in my flat. (You can take my food, you can take my pots and pans, but you will NEVER take my STELLA!!!).

The last couple of days have not been without achievement though.

On Weds, I went for a run. 5 whole mins, non-stop, as per Rugby Boy's instructions!!

Phoned He Who Knows All from the middle of some hill in Newcastle, unable to really speak, but not sexy enough to heavy breathe (it was, apparently, more like death-panting) to tell him the good news, had a bit of a chat, then DID IT AGAIN!!!

I know. Clearly whooping the ass of the training schedule upto now.

Except I missed yesterday's 6 mins. So today must be 7. Twice. Yuck.

I'm heading down south this weekend, and so may not blog, but AM taking my kit with me. Ugh. This people, is total dedication. Sod the other Three, vote Pops and her Wobbly Legs Party. I may not know where I'm going, and I can't count, let alone understand economics, but I will at least do my very bestest to run 10k. Though, having said that, I need to get out of this bed first. The second Duvet always makes this that wee bit harder (don't judge me, I'm a snuggler...).

Right. On with the smelly gym kit of doom...

xxxxx

PS. This running thing is making me fat. On Weds, I ate 2 large meals (one, admittedly, was pizza and chips), and yesterday nibbled on 3. I'm normally impressed if I hit one. Not sure weight gain was entirely the point you know... xxx

Day Two - and you didn't think it could get any worse...

Once upon a time, I lived with a rugby player. He was, and remains to this day, a machine. He seems a logical person to ask for help.

First response was "drop out", and the word "goon" was also bandied around. Harsh, but possibly fair. When I said that wasn't going to happen, he came up with the following...

try and run for 5 mins non stop tomorrow, then 7 the next day, then 10 the next day, then take a day off, then do 10 again. Then try 11, then try 12, then try 13 then rest.

So...
1) Train EVERY day
2) Rest 1 out of 3, but stretch and walk
3) Increase the distance/constant running time every time (even if only 30 seconds)
4) Eat decent amounts
5) WATER WATER WATER
6) Lots of rest

... or rest 1 out of 4 if you are feeling up to it later on

So in other words:

1) Wave goodbye to a social life/dress sense/your reputation as a sensible person (well, kinda)

2) I say you get a day off, but that's not strictly true. If there's no rest for the wicked, this must make me as wicked as the pre-loved up Simon Cowell. But without the high waistband.

3) When your lungs feel like they may burst, do MORE!!!

4) Eat. Remember that food stuff? It's helpful.

5)Drink. Piss like a horse but love the skin improvement which you will then sweat through.

6) Sleep. Go on, change the habit of a lifetime...

Oh dear.

Good news though - tomorrow, SHOE SHOPPING!!! xxx

Day Two - Finding a 'Training Plan'

So after last night's little disaster, I decided to do some searching.

I am now officially signed up to do the race - no backing out now - and they have some funky plans on the Great website. So I fill in all the details, including my height (short), my resting heart rate (which as a nurse, should not have been so hard to count...) and my weight (never you mind!). Then the date of the run. 16th May 2010.

I get this message:

Your chosen date is less than 10 weeks away. Our schedules are based on 12 and 16 week plans and we strongly recommend that participants complete a full schedule. You may still continue by clicking on “Next”, however there may be a shortfall in the amount of training you complete in the time available.

Oh dear oh dear oh dear.

So I continue and get the following training plan:

Schedule Summary:Print Schedule

Wk	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
1	Rest	10 min run/walk	Rest	10 min run/walk	Rest	10 min run/walk	Rest
2	Rest	15 mins easy run	Rest	15 mins easy run	Rest	10 mins easy run	20 mins easy run
3	Rest	20 mins easy run	Rest	15 mins easy run	Rest	10 mins easy run	10 km race with easy warm up and cool down

So not looking great then. Do like the sound of resting though. Mmm. Most worrying is that I don't actually try the 10k at any point before the 16th. ANYONE ELSE SEEING A PROBLEM WITH THIS?!

I then decided to look at the training advice section. Some gems for you here...

It's not the end of the world if you don't run as well as you had hoped on race day.

Um, what if I end up walking/crippled?!

Take a break from training if you have an infection or illness.

I still have tonsilitis... I can't break before I start! Especially with the non-existent training schedule!

Give yourself time to adapt to new training demands.

Um, is 2 weeks long enough to adapt to training full stop?!

Sudden rises in your (heart) rate are signs that you are putting your body under too much stress.

Right, so that will be having to put trainers on then...

Build up your training gradually.

Again, not really an option there...

Please sponsor me people. There is no way in hell I can do this without your support.

And please, please, SEND ME TIPS!!! xxx

Day One - The first run and the return of the Hangover

Last night, I experienced Vodka Jelly for the first time. This would probably have been fine, had I not also re-experienced Vodka Shots and 4 different types of Wine. Such Larks.

As a result of my crazy-lady drinking session, I was not very well today. Having Tonsilitis didn't really help with this.

After eating something this evening though, I decided I should try giving the trainers a go. BIG MISTAKE.

If I was nervous beforehand, now I am pooing all sorts of building supplies. I ran for 3 mins, and felt like my chest was going to explode. So I walked for a few mins. Then ran again, for about 2 mins. Then walked some more. The only reason I ran the last stretch was because I was running past a bar full of very posh students, and didn't want to look silly walking. Or for people to think I normally dress like this.

And the headache and nausea returned. Oh crappity crap.

xxx

Day One - Hitting the Hangover

Day One, Hours trained: 0 (Ever. Oh dear...)

So I'm running 10k. Soon. Normally, I don't do anything which cannot be done in Heels.

I am not a fit person. I am thin because I have an amazing ability to forget to eat. This is neither big nor clever, but hell.

This must, however, change. So I have dug my trainers out from the bottom of my wardrobe (they're very clean!), have set up a JustGiving page (www.justgiving.com/PopsBarham - please sponsor me!), and here we go.

I had grand plans to run in a silly outfit (that way, no one expects anything out of me!). But He Who Knows All says that this is not wise for a first attempt. He may have a point. Apparently, I should also do more than simply go for a jog each day, as that will just kill my knees. So I have to try swimming. Except I can't swim, and have not got time to learn that too. Or ride a bike. Don't have one of those either.

I'm so screwed... Please send me tips. Literally anything, I have no idea where to start.

xxxx