This week has felt a bit like a final week of relative freedom, with more focused training for my next big running goal starting on Monday. With this in mind, I have simply enjoyed running what I have wanted and according to how I have been feeling - it has been nice!

MONDAY: Strength and Conditioning for Runners followed by Body Pump.

TUESDAY: a steady 5 miles with a hilly test thrown in at the start just to add a bit of variation and challenge!

WEDNESDAY: despite the weather significantly improving from last week’s rainfall, the river path I like to run on during Summer was still flooded, so this morning’s 4 miles consisted of a few laps up and down the section that was passable on the pathway. I did not mind this repetition, and it meant I could try a couple of faster miles, with the run resembling more of a short tempo run by the end.  

THURSDAY: my morning run was another instance of where I made up the challenge as I went along, starting steadily, throwing a couple of faster miles in, and then finishing with some steep hills. I ran 4 miles in total and then later on a further 3.36 (to be precise!) miles at Run Club. One of my fellow Run Leaders had planned an orienteering challenge for us working in small teams. It was great fun and my competitive side definitely came out a little bit!

FRIDAY: Rest Day

It is mid June; and yet I have spent most of this week running in squelching trainers, attempting to avoid the streams and lakes forming on pavements, and finishing my runs looking like I have literally just stepped out the shower – it has been very wet. On the positive, my hamstring injury is vastly improving and I am pleased my sensible approach to running is paying dividends.

MONDAY: a double strength session of Strength and Conditioning for Runners followed by Body Pump. I had to adapt a couple of exercises to account for my leg, but generally it felt much better.

TUESDAY: I woke today and I could instantly hear it was absolutely chucking it down. I tentatively got into my running gear and then proceeded to sit and stare out the window debating if I was really going to run in the downpour. I did; but I reasoned to do a brief 4 mile loop, as my vague logic was I might not get as wet..! Unsurprisingly, I was instantly drenched upon stepping outside, however my leg felt improved again when running. I kept the pace steady but did throw a couple of hills in at the end just for a tester!

WEDNESDAY: today’s planned run had to be dramatically re-routed as the path I was running along was flooded to the point where I think I would have had to swim through it in order to keep following it. Summer running madness. I managed an off the cuff 5 mile route though and picked up the pace slightly for the first time in a while.

THURSDAY: I logged a total of 8 miles today, split across two runs, both completed in yet more rain. The first was my own run in the morning and an easy 4 miles, then later 4 further miles as Run Leader at Run Club. I ran the majority of these evening miles with a fellow Run Club member, encouraging her to reach a new distance milestone. It is really fulfilling being able to support others achieve in running, but moreover, making them realise their own potential.

FRIDAY: Rest Day

This week will not go down as one of my greatest running wise - there has not really been much running to talk about! Obviously, this has not been through choice, and instead my lack of miles have been enforced after picking up an injury niggle. What I have been impressed with however is my ability to cope with this minor setback; I do not feel down about my reduced running or the need to keep things steady for a few more days. Fear of making things worse has actually led me to being rather sensible! This is progress for me.

MONDAY: after Woodhall Spa 10k on Sunday my legs felt sore and I had some sharper pain toward the top of my left leg. To be honest I think I knew I had torn something, you get to learn you own body at times. I went to my Strength and Conditioning for Runners class and Body Pump, however, on the small stretch of running I was required to do, I could feel that sharp pain into my leg which made my running very difficult. Alarm bells were now ringing - this was definitely more than just DOMs. I already had an appointment booked to see my Sports Therapist on Wednesday anyway, so I knew I needed to try and make it to that without doing any further damage.

TUESDAY: with the above in mind, I rested today and hoped to give my leg some healing time.

WEDNESDAY: my appointment with my Sports Therapist was not until the afternoon today, however I woke with what I thought was no leg pain. I had already cancelled meeting my Wednesday running friend, but reckoned I could maybe manage a few easy miles. I was wrong; as I started to run with each step that sharp pain returned. I made it to 0.60 of a mile before I gave up and limped back home. The consultation with my Therapist later told me I had in fact caused a slight tear at the top of my hamstring close to the attachment. Some rather painful cupping treatment was used on the area and I was informed to rest until Saturday. 

THURSDAY and FRIDAY: Rest Days

SATURDAY: after virtually no running all week I was keen to run at Lincoln parkrun today. It was also the celebration of the end of the first 6-week block at my Run Club, so I wanted to support some of the fellow members. I was cautious in my approach to running; I literally had no idea how things would feel and was fully prepared to have to run very slowly or even stop if I needed to. As I gathered on the start line I found my friend, it was her birthday in the week and I wanted to give her a belated birthday squeeze before we set off. This did mean however as the 'go' signal was given I was probably a bit further forward in the masses then maybe I had planned. I went with it and slotted in behind my friend. Chasing my friend around the park was very good for me, it kept me at a steady pace which I was working hard to maintain, but I was not pushing myself to the maximum and straining my leg. There was something so familiar about running with my friend too; it felt natural and not like I was forcing myself to slow down. My leg was not perfect, I will not pretend it was; it twinged a bit and was a bit tight, but I could run and I was very happy! I finish in 22:27, a second behind my friend. As we finished, I thanked her for helping me with my run and gave her a proper post run/birthday hug. 

​Hindsight is a great thing - and looking back on this week I have realised I probably asked a little bit too much from my body. Ignoring running; work-wise it has been a busy but rewarding week, and the long days have left me feeling a little tired at times. From a health perspective, I have also been slowly recovering from my loss of voice, with a progressive return to vocal capacity occurring as the week simultaneously went on. It feels good to be able to communicate again, but the strain of trying to speak, and the niggling chesty cough which accompanied it, has also tired me a little. Now onto running; I started the week with all good intention of taking things easy, but ended doing almost the complete opposite! The benefit of hindsight is however, that I can try learn from my mistakes going forward.

MONDAY: feeling tired after an active weekend away with work and with virtually no voice, I knew that even with the Bank Holiday temptation of having a free day to effectively run, I had to be sensible. I reasoned with myself, and completed an easy 2 mile run to the gym for Body Pump, and then another 2 miles home afterwards.

TUESDAY: still not feeling my best, some more easy miles were on the cards, and I logged a 10k at 8.26 min/mile average pace.

WEDNESDAY: after a couple of days of easy running I still felt like I needed to take things steady, so agreed on an 'easier' run with my Wednesday morning running partner (note: his easy is definitely my steady!) My breathing seemed a bit laboured this morning, especially with the slightly quicker pace, and the final hill at the end finished me off a little. Despite this, I was pleased to average 7.49 min/mile and to log nearly 7 miles.

THURSDAY: today I simply forgot my aim of trying to be good to myself and my body. The draw of taking part in a Track running session with Run Club, with the chance to join in as opposed to being Run Leader, was simply too much. A Track surface is something I have never trained on and the prospect of pushing my limits running in circles strangely appealed to me. It was a hard but fun session featuring a pyramid of running 800m down to 100m, then 100m back up to 800m again, with recovery periods in between. Unaccustomed to track running I just let my watch keep going rather than perhaps recording each set distance as a different lap, so I have no real idea what my times were like. However, I do know I worked very hard, and as soon as I stopped I could feel the soreness and fatigue in my legs, especially my quads.

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: despite a day off exercise yesterday, my quads were still very sore today and at a level where simply touching the muscle caused me to flinch a little. It was a beautiful sunny day though and there was no way I was missing Lincoln parkrun, so I convinced myself that maybe a run would help get some blood flowing and ease away the pain. As soon as I started running the tightness in my legs was apparent, but as the muscle warmed, they did loosen and I was able to set a very speedy first mile split. My legs soon tightened back up though and there was no way I could hold the pace, and I finished eventually in 21:21. My poor little legs were not happy with me afterwards, feeling extra sore and achy, and they still had a 10k race to run tomorrow...

SUNDAY: I really wanted to have my voice back for Woodhall Spa 10k after being practically a mute at the event last year, and thankfully I achieved this aim. However, what also would have been handy was not to be stood on the start line of a 10k with a pair of sore legs and quads which hurt to even move let alone run. Add to this a warm, muggy day, with an equally warm, gusty wind, and I think I knew the next 6.2 miles were not going to be a walk in the park. It certainly was not - in fact I found the 10k extremely hard work, but somehow managed to struggle home in 45:11. Full blog to follow, but simply put I was not in racing condition and paid the price a little for some unwise decisions mid-week, and probably in my approach towards the race. We live and learn! ​

This past week has been a bit of a blur to be honest - life is busy, which I like, but I still think it is important for me to find the time to reflect on my running. This is a relative 'down' period for me in terms of training, I have half an eye on a local 10k in a few weeks time, but I am also mindful that with Autumn goals to chase, I need to keep myself from overdoing things. 

MONDAY: a double strength session of Strength and Conditioning for Runners and Body Pump - it has been a while since I have managed both, so I knew I would probably feel the effects from it. 

TUESDAY: the soreness in my body was already developing as I woke this morning, and it is at times like this I am pleased to get a run in early before the real DOMs hit! I opted for the same intervals as I ran last week, 5 miles with 6 x 600m repetitions, as I had enjoyed it before. My legs took a bit of time to loosen up, but I finished quickly with some sub 7 min/mile reps. 

WEDNESDAY: my Wednesday morning running partner couldn’t make it this week, but I surprised myself by finding some motivation to attempt some solo hills without him. I could not quite face the entire 'rolling hills' route we usually do, but I mapped out a 5 mile circuit which still had five good hilly tests in. I am definitely feeling stronger from this type of running, it does take enduring some tough runs, but I think it pays offs. 

THURSDAY: an easy 6 miles just to ensure I am not constantly asking a lot from my legs, averaging around 8.20 min/mile. I logged maybe a mile or so at Run Club later on as Run Leader – probably not even that!  

FRIDAY: a vague Rest Day, although I did take a group of young people to a Trampoline park with work and ended up completing a two-hour jumping session!

SATURDAY: today I felt my strongest at parkrun for a while and incidentally it was also my quickest time for a good few weeks, logging at 21:01. I started well and found myself running behind a fellow female runner who seemed my pace. I hung onto her for the full three laps and the motivation to keep with her really helped me. I actually managed to out sprint her in the final few metres to stop the clock first, which I did feel almost a little guilty about after she had unknowingly helped me all the way round! I made sure to thank her and shake hands though in the finish funnel, as that’s the kind of running spirit I like to be regarded for having.  

SUNDAY: after a full on week I struggled a little today on a longer run. It was not horrendous, but I just felt a little tired. It was warmer than I anticipated too and I do not feel I am quite adjusted to running in that kind of weather yet. For the first time in while I also found myself wishing I had someone to talk to on the run, especially as I was just taking things quite steady. I ran an out and back route to the top of a hill - I can’t seem to get way from hills at the moment! - and back down again, which gave me 11.5 miles in distance. I was testing the hill for a future Run Club session, so the purpose to the run did help me keep a bit more focused.
 
I have some more busy weeks ahead as May finishes and throughout June – a mix of running and social commitments. I am looking forward to the mix, and it has rather helpfully all fallen quite well, as my shift in focus for Autumn races will begin at the end of June. I therefore hope I will feel more free and able to enjoy my time in the weeks ahead, before I can reveal and start to work towards my next goal.  ​

This week has been great - simply put. I am really enjoying my running despite the fact I have no real schedule or plan to follow, which can sometimes leave me feeling a little lost and logging seemingly 'pointless' miles. I have challenged myself, but under no pressure, and I have also been sharing some miles and my passion for running with others - which always makes me happy. 

MONDAY: a Bank Holiday rest day following Sunday's North Lincs Half Marathon - although I did manage a ten mile walk - so some active recovery!

TUESDAY: I woke up today and really fancied giving some intervals a try - strange I know! My next race is a local 10k, so I found a few suggested sessions from a training plan and decided to opt for one with 6 x 600m reps and 200m recoveries, which with a warm up, gave 5 miles in distance. It felt good to feel some speed in my legs and also some consistency too, with all my reps hovering around the 7 min/mile marker. 

WEDNESDAY: my Wednesday morning running seems to be turning into a weekly hill session at the moment, which I am enjoying and which is something I most definitely would not be motivated to do without some company. My usual run buddy's friend joined us again and suggested we try some hill repeats, which for some reason I agreed was a good idea! This involved running uphill at maximum effort, walking the downhill as recovery, and then jogging to the next hill. It was hard work, but good.

THURSDAY: yesterday's hills had left me with some soreness and with Run Club in the evening I logged an easy 10k as my morning run. Later at Run Club my role as Run Leader saw a few more miles added to this daily tally, however I did not turn my watch on, so I am not entirely sure by how much! The session is not about my miles though and it was really satisfying to be able to support others through some interval work. 

FRIDAY: a few more miles in the form of a brisk 3.5 mile run, which I logged since I was not running at parkrun on Saturday.

Without following a specific training plan, I can sometimes lose track a little of what my ‘running week’ has looked like. This week has been a good example of that, and sitting here reflecting on the past seven days I have realised I have achieved quite a lot, especially during a period when I was in the mindset that it was ok to take things a little easier! I feel like I am truly 'getting back on track.'

MONDAY: a double dose of cross training with the start of the next block of the Strength and Conditioning for Runners and a Body Pump class.

TUESDAY: I had debated trying a few intervals this morning, but to be honest, I woke up and did not feel sharp or particularly motivated enough to test myself in this way! I opted for a 5 mile tempo run instead, with the middle 3 miles all sub 8 min/mile pace. This felt enough of a challenge and I also actually quite enjoy tempo running!

WEDNESDAY: I re-joined my Wednesday morning run buddy for the first time since Brighton Marathon for a 6am run today. To ease myself back into things we obviously opted to run 6.2 miles of ‘rolling hills’…! This week we were also joined by two of my friends other running buddies and it felt good to have a group of us out on the streets. They are all training for a Skyrace in Italy – which sounds brutally beautiful – so hill training is essential for them, whilst for me it was a good test to see where my body was at. The verdict – not too bad! I completed all of the hills, but did have to stop to shake out the lactic acid at the top of a couple!

THURSDAY: after the hills of yesterday, my body needed a few easy miles. I completed a comfortable 4 mile loop in the morning, before logging a few miles as Run Leader at Run Club in the evening.

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: the start of a double weekend of running in Scunthorpe, with a trip to Normanby parkrun. The course is my work colleague’s local event and I like to join for a run when I can – it is probably my favourite place for some parkrun tourism. This time I was joined by my sister and her boyfriend who were visiting for North Lincs Half Marathon on Sunday. Set at the beautiful Normanby Hall Country Park, we were greeted by blossom, sunshine, peacocks and a few people in Star Wars fancy dress - Normanby parkrun were fully embracing the fact it was ‘May the 4th’ and it added to the friendly feel. Despite a race tomorrow, I decided to give my all across the 5k, as I enjoy running there so much. From the start I went off fast and within the first few yards I knew I was in First Female position. From then on, I knew my challenge was to try hold onto this position – parkrun is not a race – but it gave me a focus. I find the Normanby course goes by so quickly, passing the grand hall a number of times and weaving through woodland, and before I knew it the final sections were approaching. I held strong, my colleague shouting encouragement as we past each other on the course, finishing in 21:25. Naturally, this earned me the title of ‘Princess Leia’ from the wonderful friendly Run Director.
​
SUNDAY: back to Scunthorpe today for North Lincs Half Marathon. I was not really sure what today would bring – I knew I would not be challenging a PB and I also knew I wanted to enjoy the run and not give myself 13 miles of utter pain! I think I succeeded in the latter pretty well, running a consistent and strong race to finish in 1:41:02. Full blog to follow -  but on the Brighton Marathon comeback and after a pretty full week of running, it is a race I both enjoyed and am proud of. ​

What a difference a week makes... Last week was tough, and after the joy of completing my 9th marathon in Brighton, I hit the post marathon blues, which were also combined with the fact I was in a lot of discomfort from my legs still. This week I feel like I have actually been able to start to recover properly from my latest 26.2 miles, physically and mentally, and writing this blog I feel a lot happier in myself than I did seven days ago.

MONDAY: at this point in the week, my quads were still not my friend. I ran 2 careful miles to the gym for Body Pump and then 2 miles home again - I only really ran to the gym as it was another beautiful Bank Holiday day and it seemed a shame to waste it. My quads still felt restricted, but the pain was slightly less, which boosted me a little. 

TUESDAY: I had two further boosts today; firstly I had an appointment with my Sports Therapist for a much-needed massage. The verdict was that my troublesome quads were still very inflamed from the marathon, but they were flushed out, and instantly felt better. My second boost was actually being back at work; I love my job, and at the moment my colleague and I are involved in something very exciting (the fact I am writing about it on my running focused blog gives some vague hints about what it could be connected to..!) and that additional focus helps keep my mind from overthinking running/recovery. I actually rested from running today, but went to Body Pump later and enjoyed being able to actually use my legs properly.

WEDNESDAY: not many people can say they are excited to set a 5:30am alarm, but I was. Being able to get up and run before work felt amazing. Although my legs felt vastly improved, I did not want to push things today, sticking to a comfortably paced 5 miles. My body was pain free, but I felt quite tired still - this emphasised to me that I was still in recovery phase. 

THURSDAY: today was the launch of Lincs S&C Run Club - a new development from the Strength and Conditioning for Runners sessions I have been attending for the past year or so. I have never been part of a running club before, but for a number of reasons this has felt right for me, and I have also volunteered to be a run leader. Aspects such as attending the S&C sessions and being an increasing part of the parkrun community have emphasised the benefits of having the social support in my life, whilst pacing my friend around the Lincoln 10k a few weeks ago also made me feel so happy that I have realised how much I also want to help others achieve their goals. Before the Run Club session in the evening I completed 4 miles early morning before work, picking up the pace a little. It felt good to turn my legs over a bit quicker, but I did wonder how I had ran 26.2 miles at an even quicker pace! A sign I still need the recovery. 

FRIDAY: my colleague invited me to join her at charity Fitathon this evening - so I signed up for a Yoga class with her (see image). My flexibility is shocking, so I was well and truly shown up by her 7-year-old daughter (who can casually drop into the splits!) but I enjoyed myself. 

SATURDAY: the real difference a week can make can be seen in my Lincoln parkrun today. I decided to test my legs and I tried to run as fast as possible, managing a 21:26 time. This is not my speediest 5k, but it was a million times better that last week when I had no choice but to complete 3 easy loops.

SUNDAY: I got out early today for 10.5 miles, making sure I was home in time to watch the London Marathon on TV (see image). Having ran the London Marathon in 2015, 2017 and 2018, and been on the streets supporting my friend in 2016, it was a little strange at first the thought of not being part of the event this year in some capacity. I loved watching it on TV though, and it made me very excited about the potential of running in 2020 (I am praying my Good For Age time is quick enough to get me a place!) I also loved my run beforehand; 10.5 miles with no pre-planned route, just winding through the quiet streets of Lincoln wherever my legs wanted to take me. I will not pretend my legs felt their best, and some tiredness crept in again, but it was just pleasant to be running and enjoying it. 

Two weeks post marathon and naturally, the 'what next Alice' question has started to creep in again, and whilst I do have things planned for later in the year, my focus for the next few weeks is on a couple of local events. I may even try and do a bit of focused 10k work for a local race I have entered - see what that could produce time-wise! However, my overarching focus is still on recovering; I have big goals to chase, but I cannot even try and reach them if I am a broken. ​

I am not sure I can really call this week 'calm' - it has been busy with lots of festive activities at work and some much needed end of year socialising/letting my hair down. It has however been my final week of 'non training' as my sixteen week journey towards Brighton Marathon begins on Monday - the incoming storm! With this in mind, I have kept my running relatively easy this week, and embraced the other elements of my life a little more; it has all been quite well timed really.

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: an easy 5 miles averaging 8.27 min/mile. My legs were also a little sore in places today, which I can only presume was from my efforts charging round the Santa Run on Sunday!

WEDNESDAY: another steady 5 miles before work. I was pleased to get out early today as Tuesday night had been the first instalment of my work Christmas party at an Escape Room, and I had thus gone to bed much later than my normal, often embarrassingly early bedtime! My slight tiredness did help me keep my pace in check though. 

THURSDAY: 5 more miles in the morning, followed by a festive themed Body Pump class in the evening. 

FRIDAY: a vague Rest Day - that's if you call being part of a coaching team delivering a Christmas holiday club to 180 very loud and excitable children a rest! 

SATURDAY: the last Lincoln parkrun before Christmas. This is always one of my favourite events of the year as there always seems to be that extra warmth and friendliness in the air, as well as Santa hats and fancy dress aplenty (see image). I pulled mine own Santa hat on, and as I do each year, prayed it would both stay on my head but equally not make me too hot in the process! I actually barely noticed the hat until I finished and then the sweaty seam seemed to suddenly feel claustrophobic on my head! Whilst running though I felt strong, and I managed to pick up my pace for the final mile, which is always a good sign. I finished in 21:13; creeping that tiny bit closer back to sub 21 min territory again. Today was also my friend's 100th parkrun and at the end I gave her a card to celebrate the milestone accompanied by a big hug. 

SUNDAY: Saturday night had been the second part of my work Christmas party - the more traditional type of meal and drinks festive celebrations. With more free Prosecco consumed than probably advisable, my dancing shoes were out, and by the morning my legs and head were both very sore. I debated not even running at all today, but I got itchy feet by lunchtime and headed out for some miles just to clear my mind. Out in the refreshing air my legs came alive, and whilst I kept the run shortish at 5 miles, my pace was good at 7.48 min/mile average. Prosecco power!

Next week is both Christmas week and when my marathon training begins - the question is, which am I actually more excited about?! ​

This week the weather has added a lot of variety to my running, even though my general mileage and weekly structure has remained quite consistent. As long as no snow appears and any icy conditions are kept to an absolute minimum, I can adapt to most other winter weather, whilst still wearing my shorts of course...!

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: the run with the ice - this morning's run had to be kept very steady due to glistening footpaths. I knew it was cold outside, but it was only as I started to run that I realised the full extent of the overnight frost. I instantly adapted, slowing down and focusing on logging 5 safe miles rather than at any speed. 

WEDNESDAY: the run with the rain - I worked late Tuesday evening, getting home at virtually 10pm, therefore when my early alarm woke me accompanied by the sound of rain splattering my window, I was very close to staying in bed. I laced up my shoes though, and although at first I did question my sanity as icy rain drove into my face, endorphins kicked in and I enjoyed a faster 5 miles. 

THURSDAY: the run with the warmth - after the week so far, I did not trust the iPhone weather app when it told me it was 11 degrees outside at 6am in the morning - surely not. I layered up and as soon as I started running instantly regretted my mistrust; it was so mild! These 5 miles were thus completed with sleeves rolled up, gloves stuffed into the hem of my shorts and finished with me being a sweaty mess. Body Pump class in the evening. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: the run with the wind - the gusty wind woke me early Saturday morning and I thought to myself this is when the power of parkrun is proved, the fact that people will get up on their weekend to run and volunteer outside in this, when they might have rolled over in bed otherwise. By the time 9am came round, conditions had thankfully eased a little, and there were only a few pockets of stronger wind at Lincoln parkrun's Boultham Park setting. I tried to run to feel today, sticking with a couple of other runners rather than focusing on my watch. I felt vaguely optimistic this might keep me closer to 21 minutes again, but I was wrong, finishing in 21:36 (see image). I am not sure why this week was back to being on the slower side for me - sometimes you just do not know what factors are influencing!

​SUNDAY: the run with the perfect winter weather - the weather this morning was beautiful, a crisp air, but with winter sunshine and clear blue skies; perfect for Sunday running. I felt less than perfect however after a Saturday night spent celebrating Christmas early with my work colleague before she heads away on holiday. There was gin involved, I did not get to bed until the early hours of the morning, but it was mainly my secret love of dancing which seemed to hit me hard, combined with the fact I rarely wear heels anymore. On Sunday morning my quads felt like they had had a workout and the balls of my feet were battered - I think my feet have actually felt better after a marathon! I did not mind though, it was a bit of escapism I needed and I had already fully accepted it would affect my running. Therefore today I went out with no expectations. I hid my watch under my sleeve and just enjoyed an out and back 10 miler along the local riverbank. I thought I was running slower than I actually was, which was pleasing that even with less than ideal pre-run prep, I could still manage an 8:25 min/mile average. ​All about the balance. 

The past seven days have flown by for me, as it seems has the year, with this week entering into December. I have felt a little tired this week, a kind of weary haze I have not been able to fully shift. I think this has been due to being busy at work, which I enjoy nevertheless, but also being unable to switch my head off from other personal things, which I do not enjoy! Running remains my constant though - as always...

MONDAY: Rest Day - after Sunday's Doncaster 10k my legs were a little achy and my body generally felt fatigued, so I listened to it and rested. 

TUESDAY: rising early I managed to avoid the monsoon like downpours that arrived during the day and logged a steady 5 miles, easing my legs back into things. Body Pump class in the evening.

WEDNESDAY: feeling a little more energised I opted for one of my hillier 5 mile routes. This proved to be a good choice, as I could feel the strength had returned in my legs, and I logged an 8:15 min/mile average pace.

THURSDAY: another wet and wild day, which this time I was unable to avoid. It was mild though and the rain actually felt quite refreshing on my 5 miler, and I remained close to 8 min/mile pace throughout. Body Pump in evening. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: after a full on week I woke today feeling a little down and deflated, which is when I know I really need my parkrun fix. It seemed fate that today I bumped into so many people I knew at Lincoln parkrun at literally every point of my morning; from arriving at the car park, to finding my jacket on the bandstand at the end, I had someone friendly to chat to - I loved it. In running terms it was also quite a good morning for me, I managed my best time for a while, 21:17, and also finished first lady again. I was helped when running by a friendly chap who has been trying to pace me back to sub 21 minute territory for a few weeks now; we ran together for the majority of the course and using him as a marker helped keep my pacing quite consistent. I now just to regain that little bit of extra speed from somewhere!

SUNDAY: I was unsure of how to approach today's planned 10 miles; I knew I had been running well at the distance over the past few weeks and that my legs could be tested, but I did not know if I had the mental energy to commit to that. I think if I am honest this was a day when I would have preferred some company on a longer run, and to enjoy some 'chatty' miles. Sometimes when you are on you own though that's when you can really test your strength, and I think I did that instead. I set out at an optimistic pace and just kept going. It was a unseasonably mild December day, and even wearing just shorts and t-shirt I was sweaty and warm! At mile 7 I started to consider slowing down and comfortably making it home instead, but that was when my determination really kicked in. I kept going, finishing with a 7.55 min/mile average pace (see image). My Brighton Marathon training starts in three weeks, and whilst I will be slowing down on my longer runs to avoid burning out and especially as the miles get longer, for now I am enjoying these Sunday tests. I also hope these miles will provide good foundations going forward. ​

Celebrations in running terms often mean PBs, whether that be distance or times, however this week I have been celebrating the success and achievements of two of the running communities I am part of...

MONDAY: a double hit of Strength and Conditioning for Runners followed by a Body Pump class.

TUESDAY: throughout Monday I had noticed how tight my legs had become, especially my left hamstring, which was now so tight I could barely straighten my leg fully - I think my limbs knew they were overdue a Sports Massage. Thankfully I had one booked for Thursday, however I still had a few runs I wanted to complete before then. With my legs feeling as they were I kept things steady on today's 5 miler; it took my legs nearly the entire run to feel loose anyway! Body Pump class in evening.

WEDNESDAY: the tightness in my legs remained, but there was slight progress during today's 5 miles as it only took 2 miles this time for my legs to feel a bit more flexible! 

THURSDAY: another morning 5 miler, practically counting down the steps to my massage later in the day! I had some cupping treatment on my hamstring - a strange sensation - and it sorted it out instantly, the relief when walking was enough let alone for running purposes!

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: today was my day of celebration, kicking off - where else - at Lincoln parkrun. It was Lincoln parkrun's 5th birthday (see image) and the cheerful, friendly atmosphere that brightens up my Saturday morning every week seemed to be exacerbated. Large '5' balloons floated around the sky, some of our dedicated volunteer team were given special thanks for their marshalling commitments, which even as a regular parkrunner I had not quite realised just how many high-viz stints had been racked up amongst them, and special mention was given to those who had helped make Lincoln parkrun a possibility to start with and who without we would never had made it to five years - it was perfect. My run - not quite as perfect! I worked hard, still managing to beam a smile at the marshals cheering me on even though I was gritting my teeth inside, but time wise I still stuck in that 21 minute region; finishing in 21:29. I was first lady home though, which felt quite nice on the birthday event! 

After parkrun I headed to a Hot Pod Yoga session, which had been arranged for members of the Strength and Conditioning for Runners group I belong to to celebrate a successful year of classes. Hot Pod Yoga is essentially a yoga class completed in a dome heated to 38 degrees, yet despite this rather warm temperature I did not sweat a single drop (see image)! I am not sure what is wrong me, as everyone else was dripping - maybe all that summer heatwave running has acclimatised me...!

​SUNDAY: Saturday night had also involved a some social drinks with the Strength and Conditioning group, nothing too wild, but still a few G&Ts and an early morning bedtime - which on reflection is actually quite wild compared to my usual Saturday nights! I thought I would just see how I felt running but on a beautiful autumn morning, things felt good. I headed out with a ten mile route in mind and ran the first 5 miles strongly, which then led to me challenging myself to try hold onto my pace for the next 5 miles. I stuck at it, but by the final mile and half I really was holding on! I held strong and finished with an average pace of 7.58 min/mile - I was very happy; however I was also nowhere near my house, so opted for a steady 1.5 mile 'cool down' run home... you would think after all my running in and around Lincoln I could plan routes by now! ​

This week has been a bit of a mix in terms of running, maybe a reflection on the mixture of emotions I have also felt personally this week. The consistency of running in my life remains key though; I think I shocked a lady I was chatting to at parkrun on Saturday when she asked how many times I run and train a week even when I do not have a race I am particularly focusing on. 'Its my life' I think I said to her, 'I am lost without it'. Her response was simply - 'good for you'. 

MONDAY: I was faced with the box jump again today in Strength and Conditioning after my slight falling out with the piece of equipment last week! With the support and encouragement from my fellow class attendees I managed to put my fears behind me and complete some plyo jumps - I definitely would not have done this alone! 

TUESDAY: aside from box jumps, last night's Strength and Conditioning class also featured some sprinting exercises and I could feel the exertion in my legs as I began this morning's run. I was tired and did not even need to tell myself to keep this run easy paced; logging a gentle 5 miles. I nearly did not go to my Body Pump class in the evening as I just felt a little bit lacklustre still, but I dragged myself there as I figured it would mentally make myself feel better - and it did. 

WEDNESDAY: after taking it easier on my run yesterday, today I felt refreshed and even in swirling wind and rain I kept good pace for 5 miles, averaging just over 8 min/mile pace. I think this reminded me the importance of easy runs being part of my running regime still; I find it more logical to do when I am in 'training mode', but with the amount of miles I still do in what I guess you could call 'off season', easy sessions still have great value.

THURSDAY: my body felt a bit tired again today, with some tightness in my muscles, so I kept my run to a brief 4 miles, with a Body Pump class in the evening.

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: on a beautiful Autumn morning I headed to Lincoln parkrun - where else! There was a fabulous turn out of 478 people taking part, and I enjoyed catching up with familiar faces. My run was not so great, I just did not get into my stride at the start and it felt like I was running unnaturally, with a stitch then threatening to form as I tried to keep some pace. It was not pretty, but I stuck at it to finish in 21:39 (see image). After a good parkrun last week I was a little disappointed at the contrast in my performance, however looking around at the hundreds of people enjoying their Saturday morning, as ever it is always hard to let the time bother you too much outside of those few seconds of post run reflection in the finish funnel!

SUNDAY: 10 miles appears to be my distance right now, and today marked another consistent longer run, with a near 8 min/mile pace held throughout. I feel more powerful over 10 miles than I do on a 5k at the moment - which as a marathon runner I probably should feel pleased about! I think I was especially satisfied with today's run as I set off with the notion that I may feel like taking things a bit steadier after a bit of fatigue during the week, however this seemed to still be a comfortable zone for me. How I wish I could keep this pace up over 26.2 miles! Never say never... ​

The clocks have gone back, its dark, noticeably colder - but I am still running, even with a minor bump at the start of the week..!

MONDAY: said bump happened tonight during my Strength and Conditioning class after the wooden box jump and I had a little falling out... Whilst completing plyo-jumps onto the box I got slightly distracted mid-jump, which meant my attention was not on my landing and, as you can probably guess, I clattered the edge and side of the box. It was a complete accident but it still hurt a lot! I soldiered on, but as I completed Body Pump afterwards I could already see I was developing a rather bruised and swollen shin. 

TUESDAY: Rest Day - my shin was badly bruised and the swelling meant I had slight pain every time I took a step. I knew it was only a superficial injury, but at the same time I also knew that running was not going to be a comfortable or particularly enjoyably experience, so I rested.

WEDNESDAY: on a very cold morning I wrapped up and tried a 5 miler - I think the cold helped numb some of my shin pain to be honest, and I quite happily completed the distance at 8.23 min/mile pace. I really enjoyed the run as it was my first morning run since the clock change and I was able to run alongside a beautiful rising sun - a perk of a 5.30am morning alarm!

THURSDAY: another 5 miler at around 8.20 min/mile pace, followed by a Body Pump class in the evening.

FRIDAY: on this morning's run the footpaths were glistening in places, with an overnight frost threatening to take hold. I did not like this, as the thought of ice reminded me of having to resort to the treadmill! Today the patches were small though and living quite centrally in the city meant that some roads/paths had actually been gritted, which pleasantly surprised me, and I ran another 5 miles at 8.21 min/mile average pace.

SATURDAY: during the week my home parkrun, Lincoln, had been recognised as being Physical Activity Programme of the Year at a regional sports awards ceremony (for the second year running!) I may be slightly bias as an avid parkrunner, but I feel this is truly deserved, and as 400+ runners and volunteers joined me at Boultham Park to complete a morning 5k run, jog or walk, I do not think I was alone in this thinking. My run was good today, I felt strong throughout and my first 2 miles were both at sub 7 min/mile pace for the first time in a long while, leading to a finish time of 21:15, and a bonus of being first lady home.

SUNDAY: ignoring the small glitch at the start of the week, today I completed a positive week of running by logging a very pleasing ten miler (see image). Even though I chose a slightly hilly route I found I was running consistently with a lot of my splits just under 8 min/mile pace. It is hard to describe how I was feeling when running; I was not pushing myself unnecessarily, but I just felt like I was in a powerful zone. People often ask me what I think about when I am running, and when running solo as I have been a lot over the past months, to be honest I simply allow myself to get caught up in the run itself, and that's what it felt like today. ​

​I am still sporting a very bruised shin, but thankfully without any pain now - think my box jump days may be over for a while!

As I sat reflecting on this week it dawned on me that so much has happened across the last 7 days personally, professionally and in running. Generally it has been a very positive week; I finally decided on and booked my Spring marathon - Brighton (more on that to come in a blog soon), I am fortunate to love my job and whilst this week has been very busy it has also been extremely rewarding, and my running seems to be settling quite nicely to a consistent level which I know I can build on. There are still a few personal challenges that have been rearing their head, and amid the positivity there have been moments where I have sat and just wished I could fix/change certain things going on... but I have to try remain focused on what I can control. 

MONDAY: my usual Strength and Conditioning class was cancelled tonight due to a flood, however I was still able to take part in Body Pump and get my strength fix. I also had an exciting meeting. In recent weeks I have been working as a coach for Lincs Injury delivering further Wednesday night Strength and Conditioning sessions for fellow runners, and we met to discuss future plans. My background is in sports coaching and being able to combine this with seeing runners progress has been a real highlight since getting back from Australia. I feel I have become part of another running community.

TUESDAY: a steady morning 5 miler averaging 8.26 min/mile pace. The niggle in my ankle from last week was still apparent at the start, but the uncomfortable sensation faded quickly; hopefully it is sorting itself out?!

WEDNESDAY: on Tuesday night I had got home late after watching the mid-week Lincoln City F.C. match (which is where I work!) and this meant I did struggle to get out of bed early this morning to run. I had evening plans again with work though, so knew if I wanted to run I had to get out there. I logged another steady 5 miles, averaging 8.23 min/mile pace. At work we had visitors from Poland spending time with my colleague and I on a study visit, so in the evening we took them out to see the wonderful sights of Lincoln! It was another late night with some wine consumed and I already knew that setting my morning alarm for a run was a little optimistic... 

Despite developing a mysterious ankle niggle/injury/issue (I am not sure what it is!), this week has a been a good week for running. I have pushed myself a little more at times, just for fun really, and have also exerted a bit of self disciple to listen to my body too - testing myself in both ways. This week has also ignited my excitement to start training again in a few months time!

MONDAY: Strength and Conditioning for Runners followed by a Body Pump class

TUESDAY: this week I wanted to try and add a bit more pace to my mid week running, not a lot, but just enough to add a little more stimulus for my mind and demand on my legs. This morning's early  5 miler involved a long hill to begin with and then trying to keep pace afterwards. I like creating challenges like this every once in a while and I recommend it if you want to mix up your running a little. 

WEDNESDAY: another 5 miler, however this run naturally turned into a progression run as with each mile that passed I simply felt I could give a little more. I was really pleased to finish with a 7.37 min/mile split without it feeling too much like I was killing myself! 

THURSDAY: after two good runs today was the complete opposite. My 5:30am alarm went off and I was awake, dressed and out ready by 6am. All was good until I took my first step. My left ankle felt painful instantly, like a twanging feel radiating from the calf/soleus into my foot. It hurt every time I pushed off the ground. As I had felt nothing in the days before or even as I had been walking around my house beforehand I hoped the pain would just ease and might be stiffness. I plodded slowly along, but the pain remained and rather than fade seemed to shift all over my ankle. I made it to 1 mile, stopped, realised this was stupid, turned around and plodded home. I was not too upset - if I had been in marathon training then it would have been another story! Instead I was more puzzled and curious as to why it felt like this, especially as later when walking to work it was absolutely fine. I even went to a Body Pump class later and again felt absolutely nothing. I started to think I had imagined it all, but I promise the pain had been very real when running!

FRIDAY: Rest Day - and a lot of ice and compression applied to the ankle. I still was not sure what was wrong, but figured this would do no harm. 

There has been one main thing which people have been talking about this week - the London Marathon ballot results. Even if you did not put your name into the draw, chances are you know someone who did. My name was in the proverbial hat, and this week I received my rejection email and magazine - a double whammy! I will admit in previous years I have hung a lot on running the London Marathon, and rejection has been hard to take. This year though I am fine with not having a place for 2019. I am fortunate to have experienced the magic of running London three times, in 2015, 2017 and 2018, and was there as a spectator in 2016 to see my friend conquer the race. Each year has given me treasured memories which I will keep for the rest of my life; it feels almost selfish to want more. This year's London Marathon was particularly special too as I got to share running the race with my friend for the first time, and my Mum and Dad were also on Tower Bridge; hugging them mid race and sharing an absolutely exhausted embrace with my friend at the end made every single one of those horrendously hot steps worth it! Let's not forget the heat - I think I need another year just to get over the feeling of intense heat radiating from the London tarmac too! I have a Good For Age place for 2020 - I feel that this will be the right time for me to run through the capital again.

Aside from the London Marathon fanfare, this week has been a little mixed for me. I felt like I was there with recovery, but I think this week has highlighted that whilst I may be being kind to my legs in terms of demands and mileage, I cannot neglect other areas just because I am not in training mode. My energy levels this week have been poor, so sleep and nutrition are my focus going forward. 

MONDAY: after Sunday's Hedgehog Half Marathon I felt a little fatigued today, understandable at this point I think, but managed a double session of Strength and Conditioning for Runners and then Body Pump.

TUESDAY: my tiredness lingered today, so I kept my morning 5 mile run very easy, almost like a 'shake out' run as people like to call it!

WEDNESDAY: whilst I have got into a habit of running early, today my morning alarm was a struggle. I went out later than I had planned so squeezed in a quicker 4 miles. The miles were not as quick as I would have liked though, as my energy levels felt low and I was noticeably hungry, which is never a good feeling when exercising. 

THURSDAY: a better run; 5 miles at 8.11 min/mile average pace followed by a Body Pump class in the evening. 

Physically I think this has been the first week since the Sydney Marathon and landing back in the UK that I have felt almost 'back to normal'. It has taken a while, even though by my standards I have been quite disciplined with my recovery. Mentally I am not yet back at the stage where I want to be pushing myself too much when running; I am very much in 'running' mode rather than 'training' mode. I know I need the break though and it is not something I am particularly concerned with right now - I even debated not running the half marathon I had entered for this Sunday. I did find myself on the start line though, but with a fresh focus it felt a happy place to be...

MONDAY: a double session of strength work due to work commitments later in the week, starting with Strength and Conditioning for Runners and ending with Body Pump. 

TUESDAY: I lacked a bit of desire to run today plus had a slightly sore quad muscle (probably from too much strength work!) so kept it short and steady, logging 4 early miles at around 8 min/mile pace.

WEDNESDAY: my quad was still a little tight, so I opted for an easy 5 mile run just to try loosen it off, which actually seemed to help. 

THURSDAY: I felt like a little more of a challenge today, but did not think I could rely on my own motivation to push the pace. Instead I included some hills in my 4 mile route - nature's way of testing myself! Body Pump class in the evening. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: it was parkrun's birthday today - 14 years since the event started at Bushy Park (which I am determined I will go and run one day!) It was grey, wet and miserable in Lincoln and probably more remarkable in these conditions is the fact that hundreds of people now chose to spend their Saturday morning running and volunteering every week at Lincoln parkrun - and indeed across the world! I could write paragraphs about the benefits of parkrun and even more about what it has added to my life, but I think this article sums it all up quite well - BBC News - it is so much more than just a run. Back to today's effort - the main positive was it felt a million times better than last week's return to action, however I still managed virtually the same time - 21:37. I am not 'training' in the week so not expecting to suddenly running sub 21 minute 5ks again, and that does not matter. The happiness I get from running with others and chatting to familiar and new faces each week overrides that. ​

This was the first full week of my 'real' life since landing back from Australia - back to reality you could say! My aim was to continue predominantly with easy paced running whilst focusing on reintroducing strength work into my exercise regime - after a period of about four weeks without any, I knew this would be enough of a challenge! 

MONDAY: I kick started my focus on resuming regular strength work with the latest block of the Strength and Conditioning for Runners session I attend. I loved being back, but I could certainly feel the short break I had taken from strength training - my legs were shaking at the end!

TUESDAY: despite it now being dark in the mornings and markedly cooler, I still had the urge this week to want to run early before work. Ignoring the summer heatwave, I have tended to run in the evenings, but it seems I may now have broken the habit! This morning was an easy 5 miles, I wanted no pressure on pace and unsurprisingly my body had bad DOMs from Monday's session! I made a tentative return to Body Pump in the evening - more pain!

WEDNESDAY: double DOMs meant for another easy paced 4.5 mile run.

THURSDAY: today was my birthday (27 on the 27th - I pretended that was a thing!) so started the day the best way I could think, with a sunrise run. After being disciplined and keeping my running very easy since the Sydney Marathon, I allowed myself a little treat today and pushed the pace with a 5 mile progression run. It still was not super speedy, but it was nice to challenge myself a little more. I went to Body Pump again in the evening which thankfully now was less of a shock to the system!

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: my love of parkrun meant I was excited to be running my home Lincoln event for the first time since my Australian adventure. I knew it was going to be hard work; it would be my first real speed test post marathon, combined with the fact my legs were still not feeling back to normal yet. My sister and her boyfriend were visiting and I was more optimistic about their chances of running good times than caring about what I could do!

Last week was personally one to forget, and this week I was determined to try and make things better. The challenges in my personal life have not really gone away, but I didn't want them to affect me as badly as they did last week. I can't control what is going on, believe me I have tried, but I can try and control how I deal with it. This week I also wanted to have another relatively easy/care free running week doing what I wanted. Although it seems a lifetime ago now, it is still only a couple of weeks since the Liverpool Marathon, and next week my new goal commences - which will be revealed soon!

MONDAY: on a beautiful Bank Holiday Monday I started the day with a Body Pump class and ended with an 11 mile cycle ride - yes, not even running! I had been given a free bike a few months back and had never really had the time (read - have been prioritising running) to take it for a spin. It was relaxing to do something different and definitely helped clear my mind.

TUESDAY: a friend has recently got into Body Pump classes and although I did the class yesterday I wanted to go along with her again today and keep the encouragement going. I therefore ran an easy 4 mile loop to the gym and back, with a Pump session in the middle. Running felt purposeful, but without any pressure. 

WEDNESDAY: a run I absolutely loved. I headed out the door with the aim of running 5 miles but with no focus on pace. The weather was a delight; cool and drizzly, which although might sound horrible, after weeks of running and racing in intense heats, it was heavenly. I ran just over 5 miles in an average pace of 7.47 min/mile - it felt great.

THURSDAY: today I took another turn at revisiting my old football roots and spent a day at work coaching a half term holiday club for children. It is always tiring, but I prepped well and as soon as worked finished rushed and made it to the gym just in time for another Body Pump class with my friend. Three Body Pump classes in one week - I am expecting to be 'hench' soon! Today I also started to notice I was losing my voice. I knew I was a little run down after the stress of last week, and just put it down to that combined with shouting at children all day!

FRIDAY: Rest Day - I woke today with absolutely no ability to speak. My day was unbelievably frustrating, and made me realise just how much you rely on your voice to not only communicate but also to feel a part of things.

A week without much running, I know what you are thinking, surely this is going to be a thrilling blog article then!? I write this blog primarily about my running, but running and my life are so closely intertwined it is hard to separate the two at times. This week has been hard for me, but probably least of all in running.

I ran Liverpool Marathon on Sunday, my second marathon in a four week period after the London Marathon in April, with a half marathon race also thrown in the middle for good measure... mad I know! It has been a big four weeks for me, and I am proud of what I have achieved and still probably slightly amazed and unable to believe it. This week I knew I had to fight the desire in my head to lace up my trainers, and I had to really focus on rest. I mean REALLY focus on rest, not the usual 'couple of days' Alice form of rest. This years is far from over for me in terms of running and I need my body and legs in one piece. 

MONDAY: the morning post Liverpool Marathon and I woke to near perfect legs, again making my doubt had I really ran 26.2 miles again? Still in Liverpool, I enjoyed a gentle 6 mile walk around the city, reliving the race with my sister and her boyfriend.

TUESDAY: I had developed blisters on the base of nearly all my toes today, a delayed reaction maybe, but my legs were great still, and I was walking and getting up/sitting down completely normally. I found it so hard to believe. I did go to a Body Pump class this evening, but only as I hoped I may be able to see my friend; I didn't and it made the class a bit of an effort as I probably would not have gone otherwise.

WEDNESDAY to FRIDAY: I completely rested - making it five days without running a step. 

SATURDAY: I was at work early morning so unable to attend my home Lincoln parkrun as usual, which made me a little sad, so I laced up for 4 early morning miles instead (see image). At first my knees protested as I started to run, but after this I felt fine, keeping the pace steady.

The highlight of this week has been the one non running thing I actually did - which instantly says something about how my running has been! Starting with the good; I watched the excellent Skid Row Marathon at the cinema on Wednesday (see image), a powerful film which to me emphasised just how transformational running can be to life. The film was being screen in selected UK cinemas for one night only, but I recommend if you do get a chance to watch it in future, you definitely take it! Now the not so good; running has been an effort all this week thanks to a niggling and draining cold. My germs started last weekend and I seem to have been unable to shake them...

MONDAY: as it was beautiful Bank Holiday Monday I took an easy 3 mile round run to the gym and back for a Body Pump class, not wanting to push my legs too much after Sunday's North Lincolnshire Half Marathon. My cold was stuffy and in my head, am sure you know the type, and the warmth of the day did not help how I felt. 

TUESDAY: on another warm day I tried to run later in the day hoping it would affect my cold less. Short answer: it did not help. I ran 6 miles which just did not feel that great, and I had the first sense that I just lacked any real energy. 

WEDNESDAY: heading out for an early morning 5 miler I was not really sure why I was expecting to feel any better than yesterday. I felt worse - my legs were lead and just not wanting to run, and my cold was seemed like it was somehow in full grasp of my body. 

THURSDAY: I hoped I would start to feel better as the week wore on but today was the biggest struggle. I had a headache all day and just felt lethargic. Me being me, I pulled on my trainers after work still and did an easy 4 mile round run to the gym for Body Pump. Exercise made me feel better mentally, but my body still was not right when running; it just did not feel like me - which sounds a weird thing to say, but it didn't. 

I have felt quite free this week - no training plan to follow, not having to solely focus on trying to do the right thing in order to recover from the marathon, just doing what I want. In the past this would have been something I hated, but I have enjoyed this week. I think because I trained so hard this time for the London Marathon and then the day itself was so demanding, I actually feel like I need a bit of a physical and mental break from pushing myself too much. I mean, this week has still contained a lot of running and a half marathon race (and also a lot of gin!) - but by my usual standards it has felt quite relaxed!

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: an early morning 5 miler. My legs felt very heavy from the start, which I think was predominantly due to there not being many hours recovery between a late night Pump class and an early morning running alarm. I managed to keep a steady pace though, averaging 7.57 min/mile. 

WEDNESDAY: another steady run, 6 miles this time on improved legs, but with a couple of hill challenges thrown in... just because! I have no real motivation to be running intervals or anything like that right now, so I guess hills were my form of natural test. 

THURSDAY: a run commute to the gym and back for a Body Pump class. I ran a faster 3 miles to the gym, around 7.30 min/mile pace, but was less bothered by my pace running the 2 miles home after the class and just kept it gentle. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day - and a slightly different Friday evening to my usual rather unexciting routine. I attended a friend's wedding reception and without the pressures of marathon training I felt fully able to embrace the occasion. I (literally) dusted off my high heels, drank too much gin, and danced without a care in the world until 3am - running was the last thing on my mind!

As the title suggests - its been a mixed week. Running has not felt great some days, and other days I have felt ok. The end of the year is nearing, so I put it down to just needed a bit of a break - which I have vowed to do after Christmas Day and the end of the Run Up To Christmas challenge. It will only be for a few days before my marathon training starts in January, but I feel it will help. 

MONDAY: a fast five miles on the treadmill before Body Pump. I chose the treadmill as ice had returned to paths, and in the evening darkness I did not want to risk running outside. I pushed the speed a little, making the run a bit of a progression run, which helped the time pass quicker and make it feel less monotonous. 

TUESDAY: in contrast to yesterday, today's run was a slow struggle for five miles. I didn't feel right before leaving the house, a bit queasy for some reason, so my expectations were not too high. I did not quite anticipate it feeling so uneasy though. I trudged around; I had planned on running six miles, but felt there was no point in pushing it when nothing seemed good at all!

WEDNESDAY: 7 slightly better miles. To begin with I felt a little anxious as I ran, my breathing unnatural; I think I was worried I was going to feel like I did yesterday. It took a few miles for me to feel more 'normal', but I managed 7 miles before my Body Pump class.

THURSDAY: back to a struggle today; I felt tired and low on energy, but squeezed in a short 4 miles early morning before work and a Christmas party in the evening. The only satisfaction I got was that I had fitted a run in early, and with a rest day planned tomorrow, I would have nearly 48 hours of recovery. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: a festive Lincoln parkrun. After a week of running not feeling great, I was looking forward to some light relief. The final parkrun before Christmas always makes me feel festive; its great to be surrounded by so many happy people, the vast majority in some form of fancy dress. ​

I had donned a Santa hat (see image) and my aim was to try and complete the three laps of Boultham Park with it remaining in place! I ran much better than I anticipated, and at one point thoughts flashed into my head about whether I may be able to push to get close to low 21 minutes. I could not quite maintain it though, finishing in 21:21; however my hat did remain on throughout! A lovely morning of Christmas cheer, and I made sure to wish all the volunteer marshals on course a 'Merry Christmas' as I passed by on my final loop.  

SUNDAY: a Christmas Eve 12 miler back in my childhood hometown of Stowmarket. I ran with my sister (see image), and as seems the case each year, trying to plan a long run route just seems to emphasise how small Stowmarket is! We plotted an out and back route to a nearby town, which whilst I tend to avoid running out and back, I really enjoyed. It was nice to chat and a great opportunity for us to catch up across the miles. The run also saw us both exceed our Run Up To Christmas targets with one day to spare!

I wish everyone who reads and follows my running adventures a very Merry Christmas - I hope you have a lovely festive period. 

As Christmas rapidly approaches we have been treated to some suitably seasonal frosty weather at times this week. This has meant some adaptions to my usual running habits. I have also been continuing to log miles towards my Run Up To Christmas challenge, which has helped me get a few extra miles in, especially when the weather may have otherwise put me off!

MONDAY: it was so cold today I literally could not face putting myself through the numbing weather outside for the sake of running a few short miles before my Body Pump class. I wimped out, and ran a quick half mile to the gym and then hopped on the treadmill to get 3.5 miles in before the class!

TUESDAY: I was due to be working late into the evening today, so set my alarm for an early run before work. As I drew my curtains though I was met by glistening, icy paths - not ideal for running at all. I was close to crawling back into bed, but dug out some motivation (definitely helped by Run Up To Christmas!) and carefully walked to the gym for some more treadmill miles. I managed 5 faster miles; I had to up the pace a little as mentally it gets me off the machine quicker! The treadmill was just about bearable and I was consoled by it being a much safer option to running outside. 

WEDNESDAY: today was marginally warmer which meant the ice melted and joyfully I could return to running outside! I loved the run for that simple reason, and got 6 miles in at just over 8 min/mile pace before my Body Pump class.

THURSDAY: another ice free day and another run I found really joyful. It was still cold and rain threatened to set in, but I ran around my familiar Lincoln streets almost thoughtlessly and 7 miles ticked by very comfortably at a steady 8.11 min/mile average pace.

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: the return of the ice. It was very frosty today and as I entered Boultham Park ready for Lincoln parkrun I could see the paths were a bright white colour in a number of places. Needless to say it was slippy underfoot at times and a few spots on the corners of the course did require you to resort to almost walking pace to safely navigate. The volunteers had the course well marshalled though and we were suitability warned of all hazards, so I did not feel unsafe at all. It was also great to see other runners looking out for each other, warning of patches ahead which may be hard to see were actually icy - the parkrun community at its best! I ran sensibly (see image), pushing when I could and being safe when I needed to, and finished in 21:16, which I was really happy with in the elements. 

SUNDAY: ​more ice - the conditions actually annoyed me today. I set myself a goal of running 11.5 miles, which would see me hit 95 miles for my Run Up To Christmas challenge, and used that sole focus to keep me going. I started off well, but my enthusiasm faded as I got tired of dodging ice patches and trying to assess pavement surfaces. It was a bit bleak and miserable to be honest! I am praying for less festive conditions next week, and I do not care if that makes me a scrooge!