Since my last blog and my simultaneous decision to end any form of marathon training, things have felt good. I am not missing the structure of marathon training and I am certainty not doubting my decision not to have any involvement in a virtual London Marathon and/or attempt a new Good For Age time.

Mentally it feels like a hanging weight has been lifted; I pretty much know where I stand now in terms of the rest of this year, and although I am waiting on an email from the London Marathon to confirm what will happen with my 2020 place, I am not wasting any energy worrying about what that outcome may be. Physically, my body already feels better for a drop in mileage too. It has made me realise how much pain the tendinitis that my Sports Therapist had recently diagnosed as developing in my left knee has been causing me, mainly when not running. Recently when driving my car and my leg being stuck in a fixed, bent position it was becoming extremely uncomfortable and was seeing me finish even short journeys ready to literally jump out the car and straighten my leg. This week I drove from York to Lincoln without any pain whatsoever. 

In York I had been staying with my sister and her boyfriend for a few days, and my parents also came up to stay, so I was able to see them for the first time since Christmas. The timing of my little trip away could not have fallen more perfectly really; with the marathon plan torn up I was able to really enjoy some time out of my lock down routine and also to switch off. I still ran most days with my sister and her boyfriend (it is so great having family who also love to run!) but there was no pressure to get up and squeeze 20 miles in before joining the days activities. We are still an active family though, so we walked lots of miles and I even went on a bike ride for the first time in many years! We cycled 24 miles and although I have absolutely no cycling gear (my backside was a little saddle sore sat on a rock hard saddle in flimsy running shorts!), was borrowing my sister's second hand bike, and got a puncture a mile from home whilst cycling up a hill - I really enjoyed it! 

At times whilst away I was almost able to forget the ongoing impact of Covid-19. In fact some areas of my life are beginning to shift slowly back towards normality. I am still working predominantly from home, although can go into my workplace/office now if there is a need to - these little breaks from my kitchen table are very much welcomed. Our Run Club is now meeting in slightly larger numbers and we even have a track session planned for next week. 

Perhaps most surprisingly for 2020, I also have an actual race - the Normanby 10k - taking place in two weeks time. This is an event I have absolutely zero expectations for in terms of my own performance but simply want to experience a race day feeling again with friends and also support Curly's Athletes, who I know through our joint involvement in the Lincoln City Half Marathon. I trust that the Curly's team will be doing all that can to deliver a safe but enjoyable event. 

Running wise I am simply going to do what I feel like in the weeks ahead; I know I need to keep my mileage a little more conservative for a few more weeks, and I actually feel quite inclined to do some shorter, sharper runs for a change - I can get myself 5k ready for the long awaited return of parkrun! ​I am also going to be a little more relaxed with blogging - not stopping! - but without 'training' as such to report on I am simply going to write when I feel like it. 
 
I feel comfortable with my next steps, and my biggest hope is that things also keep progressing forward more generally in the world and society. 

So, the week I was waiting for arrived – the week London Marathon would be announcing their plans for the 2020 event. The Great North Run was postponed early in the week, and logic seemed to suggest a similar announcement would be arriving from the London Marathon organising team. However, for some reason all week I felt anxious about the announcement. I had a feeling deep down that it was not going to be what I wanted to hear – and if I am brutally honest what I wanted to hear was that they were postponing this year’s event and rolling all entries to 2021. My fears were unfortunately met, and on Friday morning I received a rather waffling email from the London Marathon about there ‘still being hope’ and how they were planning ‘creative ways to social distance’ and that ‘the world will be a different place in October’ – basically the London Marathon were again making no decision on the event and would update us further in late July.

If you know me and/or have been reading my blog you know I love the London Marathon, it holds a special place in my heart and has given memories and experiences that I will treasure for life. However, I no longer feel it is right to hold the event this year, we do not know what the world will look like in October, but I am pretty sure it will not be ready for gatherings of tens of thousands of people. As for creative ways to socially distance the event – I am also not sure how this will help keep the ethos and feel of the London Marathon, which we love for its spectator lined streets and the general mass participation craziness of it all.

​Perhaps my biggest frustration at the announcement was the seeming lack of consideration for the impact that marathon training has on people’s lives – we are now effectively faced with needing to start training for an event which still may not even happen. I am relatively lucky in the sense that I do not have too many other external factors to consider in my training, but I feel for people with families to juggle, work schedules which are currently nothing like normal, and even those who may currently not even be able to run outside – having to think about training amidst the current uncertainties we are all facing is tough.

I also have seen a few people commenting that if we love running, we should be pleased the London Marathon is trying to make the event happen. There is a difference between running and training for a marathon though, which probably only those who have trained for one will know what I mean. It becomes your life for 16 or so weeks and is much more than just doing a daily run. 

This week has seen me pass the three month marker of working from home/lockdown life. It is crazy when I think about how different my life has been during this time, and whilst there have been challenges, I continue to be upbeat and have been quite reflective this week about the positive parts of lockdown and the things I have learnt to appreciate and value much more.

Running wise, this week should also be my final week of ‘no training’ with the 16-week countdown to the rearranged London Marathon starting on Monday and consequently the beginning of my usual marathon training plan. Am I starting marathon training on Monday? The short answer is no. We have been promised an update from the London Marathon next Sunday and I am both hoping and expecting that they tell us this year’s race will not take place, which feels quite strange to admit. I do not want to run the race if it will not feel like the London Marathon we all know and love, and, most importantly, I also do not want to put myself or others as risk – sadly I cannot see a way the race can safely go ahead this year. Whilst the announcement is due to be made only one week into training, I do want to exert any level of emotional attachment to training or to psychologically begin to think about the weeks ahead – it feels like wasted energy. If by some miracle the announcement is that the marathon is going ahead, starting training one week later will have no real major impact on me, especially when I am running well at the moment anyway. So, I await next Sunday’s news, as I am sure many thousands of other people are too.  

MONDAY: online exercise classes

TUESDAY: an easy paced 10k to kick off my weekly running

WEDNESDAY: speaking of marathon training, this morning I opted for a 7 mile loop I run often during my marathon training cycles due to its relative flatness and the long straight roads which allow you to build up some rhythm. I aimed to run a bit quicker today, keeping my splits in the low 8 min/mile region.

THURSDAY: this morning I had to get out running earlier than normal as I had scheduled myself a 9am video meeting at work (what was I thinking?!) I wanted to do some speed work as I have skipped speed sessions a little bit of late, and thought some hill reps would be a good way to motivate myself. I ran to a steep hill fairly near to my house and logged 10 x sprints uphill with a slow recovery jog down. It was short, sharp and intense and afterwards as I ran a cool down mile home my legs were knackered!

I think it is safe to say over the past weeks we have all come to appreciate things in our life a lot more than we did before, or we have started to appreciate them in new ways. This week has emphasised to me just how important becoming part of a running club has been in my life. I have written about it before; but I was so apprehensive about belonging to any form of club for reasons I cannot really put my finger on, it just did not seem for me. However, being a member of Lincs S&C Run Club has added so much to both my running and life in recent months, and this week, despite not being at the stage yet where we are physically meeting as a club, I have really felt that sense of community and belonging.

One of our members - Tom - was undertaking a challenge to run seven half marathons in seven days to raise funds for the NHS, and throughout the week various members of the club were able to join him for socially distanced running. We also tracked his progress each day virtually on social media. His challenge really brought people together, gave us something to look forward to each day and to feel good about, and as someone else put, they had not seen so many happy smiling faces in so long. It is certainly something I will remember as a highlight when I think back to lockdown in years to come.

MONDAY: online exercise classes – I did these first thing in the morning today before my living room had a chance to warm up. That was the plan anyway – although it was still boiling. Is it too much to install home air conditioning during lockdown…!?

TUESDAY: today continued to be very warm still and I got out running a bit earlier to try beat the heat. I logged a steady 10k in the low 8 min/mile region, but what really struck me about running slightly earlier was the traffic on the roads! A few weeks back I had been weaving through an almost ghost town and now cars were whizzing past me almost disturbing my running zone. Again, perhaps I have taken for granted the peace lockdown has offered.

WEDNESDAY: with the knowledge I was joining Tom for a half marathon tomorrow as part of his challenge, today was supposed to ‘just’ be an easy 5 miles. I hit a quick rhythm from the start though and just never seemed to slow down. I was unable to join Tom until Thursday due to work commitments, but I did manage to get out and cheer him after my run as he ran past the top of my street. Stood at the top of my road scanning the horizon, waiting for a running figure to appear in the distance it almost felt like I was stood on the side-lines of a race again. I enjoyed my brief moment of overzealous cheering as he passed me and then headed back to the reality of a Zoom call!  

THURSDAY: after a hot start to the week I was really pleased today’s weather was pretty much perfect for our half marathon – a cooler air, but still mild, and no wind. I am honestly not sure where the 13.1 miles we ran went to though; we were joined by another club member on their bike and later another runner for the final miles, and it all just passed so quickly. I also had no idea what pace we were running as it just felt really comfortable and chatty, and as long as Tom was running ok (which he was, despite this being his fifth half marathon!) that’s all that seemed to matter. As I jogged home afterwards I felt really energised and positive; it felt like a good thing to be part of and had given me a buzz that we all have probably not felt for a while. Tom went on to smash the remainder of his challenge and has raised over £1,500 in the process.

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: this week’s ‘not Lincoln parkrun’ was practically a 5k swim. I stepped out the door in fairly heavy rain, which then proceeded to quickly become torrential for pretty much the entire 5k – I could barely even see coming down one road as the rain lashed into my face! Despite it sounding pretty horrendous, it was actually quite invigorating in a weird way. I opted for my hilly 5k loop and shaved another couple of seconds off my course PB – so maybe the rain encouraged me to get home a bit quicker at least!
 
SUNDAY: having already logged a longer run for the week, I planned today’s Sunday run to round off my mileage. I set a target of 38 miles for the week, which left me a precise 10.6 miles to run. I pushed the pace a little more than a long, slow run as it was cool and drizzly, and for some reason ten miles also seemed short in my mind! It felt good just to turn the legs over a bit quicker though and I ventured onto some paths I had not ran on for a while, knowing the rain would make them less busy.
 
Amongst the positive running this week, personally we also had to announce the news that the Lincoln City Half Marathon was being postponed until 2021 due to Covid-19. I have been involved with bringing this event to Lincoln heavily through my work, who are one of the joint organisers, and it has involved a lot of time, energy and passion from myself and my colleagues. However, we know this is the right decision for the safety of all and to ensure a positive event can take place, so I do not feel too disappointed. Perhaps I even feel relief that I now know we do not have to worry about how to make sure we keep thousands of runners safe, that's if mass participation events are even allowed to take place by September.

2021 will be special in many ways, but let’s also keep embracing the positive moments and good in what we have now too. ​

Friday 13th March was when I entered a ‘lockdown / non-normal’ way of life (a whole week earlier than most!) and after eleven weeks I can safely say this one has been my most enjoyable. Life is not perfect, but I find the small ease in restrictions that allow me to meet a few people and get out the house more often are a massive boost for my happiness. This is possibly why it makes me feel very frustrated when people are blatantly disregarding the fact we are still living in a pandemic, and I worry about repercussions down the line… I am still shopping each week for a vulnerable lady on a Saturday morning who has not left her house in all this time – it is not fair on people like her who are quite frankly becoming scared of the outside world and the behaviour of others. But I can only do what I can and try play my part.

Ignoring my Covid grumbles, this week I can say I have felt happy, the weather has been beautiful, and although it does make running a bit tougher at times, it has meant I can enjoy seeing friends outside and just generally being outside (which is good, as after so may weeks at home I have well and truly exhausted the tidying, cleaning, sorting, painting etc. I can do!) I have managed to log 35.5 miles and enjoyed a nice mixture of running experiences.

MONDAY: online exercise class in a hot living room

TUESDAY: I had planned to meet a friend for a run this morning and explore some local trails. The excitement setting my alarm the night before for an early morning run was real; it was great to be looking forward to the next day arriving. We met just outside Lincoln and proceeded to run a 10.5 mile route through some lovely local landscapes. I am not overly experienced on trails (I practically dust off my trail shoes each time I do have to wear them!) but I do enjoy them. It is running with no pressure, taking in your surroundings, concentrating on navigating along intricate pathways and just enjoying being outside and running. We were treated to some great views back across towards Lincoln that simply made you stop in you tracks – and the beauty of trail running is that stopping does not really matter.

WEDNESDAY: after yesterday’s slightly longer mileage and with the knowledge I had a rather tough looking interval session planned for tomorrow, I tried to keep today’s run easy, reverting to a familiar 10k loop.

THURSDAY: I had more plans to run with a friend today and we had agreed to meet in the evening to attempt a Run Club session of 14 x 400m. I would not have opted for this on my own that is for sure, especially on what was a warm evening of around 20 degrees. I loved it though, and although I was pushing myself and it did feel tougher at times, there was that shared experience and the chat we shared during rest periods which, some may say weirdly, made it pleasurable. As we ran up and down the same stretch of road we even made friends with the woman whose house we were resting outside and who seemed to rather enjoy chatting to us each time. ‘Are you training for the marathon?’ she asked (by which I guessed she meant London!) ‘Supposedly’ I said, practically rolling my eyes ‘but can you see it going ahead?!’ That’s another story…

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: after a good week of running so far, today was less great. Another ‘not Lincoln parkrun’ but it was tough on a warm morning and with a hidden wind which caught me out along the river. I finished running and instantly thought – I miss parkrun!

SUNDAY: after finishing running today my instant thought was ‘I need to get myself into gear much quicker!’ Although I was out running fairly early, it was nowhere near as early as I would have been if my mind was fully in ‘training mode.’ It was 21 degrees by the time I was finishing and just too hot. I knew as soon as I started running it was warm so kept my pace nice and easy, stopping in the shade for a couple of water breaks. I ran 10.7 miles, which I planned to round off my mileage for the week at an even number, and the run served to remind me of just how testing long runs are during training in the summer months. Getting up early may seem strange at the moment when I never really have much planned for the rest of the day, but it will make running in the heat much more bearable!

Next week I am looking forward to joining another fellow Run Club member who is taking on a challenge to raise funds for the NHS by running seven half marathons in seven days – I am joining him on day five and am hoping for a slightly cooler day for us both! ​

This week is lockdown week number 'who even knows anymore' and also another Bank Holiday weekend - really another one!? Perhaps more importantly, this week has also been Mental Health Awareness Week, which considering what collectively we have all been through in recent times, is probably more appropriate than ever. My work created a week long feature of articles and support, ending with final tips from our own members of staff on how we have been maintaining our mental well-being during lockdown. It did not take me long to think of mine, aside from being able to keep working (even if working from home drives me mad some days!) it has been running, and my friends and family who have helped me cope with the challenges presented. Running has always been key for my mental health, but perhaps more than ever it has mattered so much these last weeks in giving me freedom, a chance to feel a small sense of normality and an essence of control, and to simply feel like me. 

MONDAY: exercise classes with Run Your Marks, who somehow read my mind and incorporated some upper body exercises, which hurt but felt great at the same time!

TUESDAY: the weather started to warm up today, but getting out fairly early meant I was able to enjoy a steady 6 miles mainly at sub 8 min/mile pace. My 'normal' work schedule would see me setting off to run between 5:30-6am in the morning, but during lockdown it has been more like 7:30-8am - which will have to change as the temperature ramps up!

WEDNESDAY: today the temperature did indeed ramp up, and it was already nearly 18 degrees as I headed out to run. I knew I needed to keep this an easy run as I am not acclimatised to pushing myself in the heat yet. I ran a 10k at about 8:30 min/mile pace, but it felt a tougher; I was just so warm! I will adapt better, but these first runs are always a bit of a shock to the system, especially when the temperature suddenly changes. 

THURSDAY: I made myself get out the door earlier today as I wanted to do some intervals and it was still fairly warm. I opted for 10 x 200m reps with a minute recovery in between, and whilst it did not feel like I was flying along as sometimes it can during speed work, I actually logged some good times, including a couple of sub 6 min/mile paced reps.

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: this weekend was windy - again. In fact it was very windy today, perhaps not the same gale force levels we saw back in February, but enough to not even make me consider attempting to push myself for an all out 5k along an exposed river. Instead my 'not Lincoln parkrun' was my city centre hillier route which I managed an unofficial course PB on. Not a bad alternative!

SUNDAY: when I woke this morning I was pleased the wind had died down a little, although it was definitely still present. I tried to plan a half marathon route which would not be too exposed, but in reality I knew that it was still going to be windy wherever I ran! In fact it seemed like I had a headwind for virtually 10 miles of my run, with the final 3 offering some shelter/tailwind. Why is it always the case that headwind seems far more apparent!? Despite the conditions I actually ran fairly well; I did not focus on my pace, but after finishing was pleased to see it had ranged between either just under or just over 8:20 min/mile. 

Next week I have a couple of arranged socially distanced runs with friends which I am looking forward too - actual plans during 2020! Combining running and friendship I know will be excellent for my mental health too. ​

It has been a strange week – I feel like a lot has happened and changed, but at the same time things are still the same… if that makes any sense! I am sure everyone has their opinion on Boris’ address to the nation on Sunday night regarding the ‘road map’ for exiting the lockdown in the UK; personally I found it unclear and worrying at the same time – so open to interpretation with a reliance on common sense, which I am not sure some people do actually have these days! I was sat cringing at my TV as he waffled on, whilst also trying to make sense of what this meant for my life.

It was however a relief to hear I could now ‘exercise unlimitedly,’ which does not mean I will now be running multiple times a day, but does mean I can at least run in the morning before work and then go for a walk in the evening again to escape my house a little more. It was only on Monday when slightly more clearer guidelines were published by the Government that I realised you could now actually meet one other person for exercise providing you social distanced – it almost felt too good to be true; I could actually run with someone!

I have spent a lot of this week getting my head around the new guidelines. Strangely I have realised I have almost become used to the lockdown way of life and to being by myself; I have formed habits and ways to cope over the past two months that have started to become quite engrained. I also do still have in my mind that whilst I want more freedom and I want to do things I used to be able to do, Covid is still very much apparent, we have to still respect this, and the last thing anyone needs is a second wave.

Anyway, enough virus talk! I have run well this week, logging just over 35 miles. My legs do sometimes feel a little tight at the moment, and I really am missing my sports massage, but know I probably need to try and spend a bit more time on the foam roller – I literally have no excuses at the moment!

MONDAY: online exercise classes at home. These have been great over the past weeks, but I will admit I am starting to miss the gym a bit now – I know in particular my upper body strength is declining and I lack both the equipment and motivation to try address this at home!
 
TUESDAY: lately I have been running a lot of new routes, so this week I reverted to one of my old 10k loops which I had not ran for a while. I ran just to feel, finding I sped up naturally as the run progressed to log some sub 8 min/miles, which felt comfortable.
 
WEDNESDAY: after enjoying revisiting some hill work last week, I have told myself to incorporate a few more hills into my running; I live near plenty so hardly have an excuse! This morning I ran a 6 mile loop with four different ascents in it; two longer, drawn out hills, and two a bit shorter and sharper. It was a great test and I find hills always motivate me to work harder when maybe I do not feel like trying to do this through running quicker on flatter terrains.

I question lockdown as this week has been almost as unpredictable for me as the weather this Bank Holiday weekend (one day 24 degrees and feels like summer - the next day 21mph winds and lashing with rain...!) Some days have passed quickly in my now near normal life routine, and I can almost forget that I am acting under restrictions about what I can do. Other days have drained me a little energy wise, despite spending far more time sedentary than before! I know its that constant mental requirement to keep almost pushing yourself to keep going - and the now seeming endless work zoom calls! I also question lockdown as other people's behaviour has started to bother me. I can honestly say I have adhered to the guidelines fully and despite spending nearly two months working from my kitchen table and barely seeing or speaking to anyone, I know its what I must do. It frustrates me when others are not.

Deep down I do feel positive though, my new appreciation for the things and the people who really matter to me means I am looking forward to the future. Daily doses of positivity as I like to call them (like baking delivered to my door by friends - see picture) also makes me feel the warmth and care from the communities and people I have around me. I also know I will come out of this stronger than ever - maybe not physically, as two months without the gym is going to hit me hard! - but mentally. Looking back at certain points in my life I would not have coped with lockdown, and whilst it still tests me, I am coping now. 

MONDAY: online exercise classes with Run Your Marks - who deserves another mention for delivering these free classes each week for the past months for anyone to access. 

TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY: both these runs followed the same kind of pattern; I headed out the door and did not really know what I was aiming to do - run fast? run easy? run steady? - I literally just ran. Both times I logged 10ks and each run was about the same average pace (8.13 and 8.11 min/mile respectively). I could not find any extra drive within me to make anything more focused from these runs, and I think I just wanted to embrace the freedom and time outside instead. 

THURSDAY: despite having a planned Run Club session I could try today, again I struggled to find the desire to push myself. I wanted to run, but I didn't have the mental energy needed to make a 'session' worthwhile. I found myself instead running to the local Common not far from my house and doing a large 5 mile loop around here. The uneven ground and trail like conditions tested me, but it was a break from the streets which I enjoyed the most. 

FRIDAY: today should have been a Rest Day, but faced with a long three day weekend ahead of me (weekends are not my favourite at the moment!) I knew I wanted to get out and run in the morning as it would mentally set me better for the day. It was a beautiful day too and this motivated me to revisit the Run Club session I skipped yesterday, which was hills. I ran to a hill we have often used as a club and tested my self with 10 x continuous sprints, followed by a cool down loop home. I actually quite like hill sessions, and although at first it did feel a little odd running up and down on my own without club mates to motivate me, I was pleased I did it. 

SATURDAY: after enjoying yesterday's hill session I decided to mix up my 'not Lincoln parkrun' this week and planned a hilly 5k circuit. I ran as hard as I could on the hills still trying to push the pace as much as possible. It was tough but I enjoyed the burn in my quads - why I like hills so much I really do not know! I would take hills over running in the wind any day!

SUNDAY: speaking of wind - today was a dramatic change in weather with the aforementioned rain and a strong gusty wind. I held off going out for my run until at least the rain had eased and hoped it would not be too miserable out. It was gusty, and certain roads with a strong headwind did make me wryly laugh at times, but I ran well and it was one of those runs where my legs hit a rhythm which was so natural I barely had to think. This enabled me to take in some of the wonderful VE displays still adorning houses and just appreciate the cooling fresh air. I logged another half marathon distance with a 8.23 min/mile average pace. 

I am writing this blog pre the Boris 7pm address to the nation - so what lockdown looks like going forward may now be clearer (or not!) depending on when you are reading this. The current lockdown rule which has enabled me to continue to run has been an incredible bonus these past weeks, and this week I have managed just over 37 miles. Whatever Boris has to say, I hope we should all be able to continue to run going forward - keep our running strong and our heads stronger. ​

After last week seemed to pass by quickly, this week has stalled a little in the unknown lockdown countdown. It has not felt horrendously tough, it has just seemed long, and the routine I have been developing suddenly a little tedious at times. My pattern of morning running and then having enough work to do at home keeps me going, however it is the weekends which are becoming more of the dread - motivating yourself to get up and find things to do to fill a day is weirdly tiring. I am thankful I shop for a vulnerable couple on a Saturday morning as it gives me a reason to get going; they are always so appreciate of me doing their weekly shop, but I do not think they realise how much it helps me too. Sunday morning this week was a struggle though - I woke up and just felt so flat and it took me a while to find the energy to go out for a run, half putting it off, as I knew once it was done I was faced with finding more things to do at home...

MONDAY: if the 2.6 challenge was supposed to replace the London Marathon then the running challenge I set myself on Sunday did a pretty good job of replicating the intense DOMs and impaired mobility I usually get post marathon! Shuffling around my house during the day I was not sure if I could attempt my evening online exercise classes, but I gave them a go, taking comfort from the fact at least no one could see me! I actually fared better than I thought and went out for a walk straight after whilst my muscles were warmer to try and loosen up my body further. 

TUESDAY: my legs were better but still sore today, so easy miles were on the cards. I planned another new 10k loop and just enjoyed allowing my legs to move - it was a bit like a post marathon recovery run, although thankfully slightly less sickening than some of mine have been in the past!

WEDNESDAY: I decided to try and keep running a bit easier again today, Sunday's challenge clearly had tested my body and I needed to respect this. I ran 7 miles, and whilst my pace crept up a little, generally it felt a comfortable run. 

THURSDAY: I opted for a slightly easier (maybe on paper!) speed session today rather than our set Run Club activity and ran 5 miles with 10 x 300m reps and 100m recoveries. My sister gave me the session to do from one of her old training plans and it appealed as it was a different interval distance to run. The short recovery period meant the intervals came thick and fast, but it did make the distance fly by. My paces were also good and it made me feel like my legs may be back to normal again.

This lockdown thing is starting to scarily feel a bit too normal now isn't it? Maybe it is just me, but my life seems to have slipped into a routine of waking up, lying in bed for what feels like forever not particularly looking forward to the day ahead, but then somehow getting back into bed that evening and wondering where on earth the day has gone! Needless to say this week has passed quickly, which I know is due to the fact I have been busier 'at work' (aka my kitchen table). It is bittersweet really, as my extra workload comes from the fact we have had to furlough other staff and I am now taking on other's roles. There have been points of struggle though do not get me wrong; I am worried about a few friends who are finding things tough and yet I feel helpless to reach them. This week was also due to be the London Marathon and the influx of 'memories' I had popping up on social media from past events made me a little wistful. Berlin Marathon also announced its cancellation this week, and this was due to be held the week before the rearranged London Marathon date in October. This made me fearful of further cancellations ahead, and whilst I spoke last week about not minding races being off for a while, it was more the feeling of not having anything to look forward to which hit me - I guess it would just be nice to have something in the future to feel happy and confident about!

MONDAY: home exercise classes 

TUESDAY: I am enjoying creating new running routes at the moment; all too often when I know I am waking up to fit my run into a precise schedule before getting ready for work, I revert to similar pathways to save time and out of ease. This morning's 10k was therefore a joy; a new route and my legs just happily ticked along at 8 min/mile pace which felt so natural - if only it was London Marathon week after all!

WEDNESDAY: easier miles today, again winding through Lincoln on different roads to cover nearly 7 miles. 

THURSDAY: with the motivation of a planned Run Club session I seem to be using Thursday's as my chance to do more of a 'session', usually taking the form of intervals. This week I ran 5.5 miles with 12 x 200m reps and 200m recoveries. My paces were good again and maybe that sense of being outside and freedom right now makes pushing myself to go quicker feel more natural, rather than a chore or something which has to be done. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: I am not sure what came over my legs this week but I ran my fastest 5k time for over a year at my 'not Lincoln parkrun' attempt. I have been off pace across the past however many weeks of lockdown when I have tried to go 'all out' for a 5k, but this time something just clicked. My first mile was quick, as was my second, and I then fought really hard to hold on for the final mile, sensing a good time could be had. I finished in 20:40 which I was very pleased about!

SUNDAY: obviously today should have been the London Marathon, but instead of feeling sad about it, I took on the 2.6 challenge the organisers of the marathon and other race companies have promoted to offer support to charities during this time. I work for a charity and I know the struggles we are facing, so it was logical for me to do something on the day I should have been testing myself over 26.2 miles. After a lot of brain storming I came up with the idea of running the 'Lincoln 26' which would be 13 miles with 13 of Lincoln's toughest, steepest hills included. I was worried when I planned the run that it may not be enough of a challenge and not fitting of asking for donations from people, however I was very wrong! I planned a 6.5 mile loop which I repeated to incorporate my chosen 6.5 hills twice. The centre of Lincoln features a number of steep and quad killing climbs, notably the famous 'Steep Hill' but also some hidden gems like 'Motherby Hill' and 'Carline Road.' After the first loop my legs were already tired and running back to tackle some of these hills again I knew would be a test. The challenge really motivated me to keep plugging away though and ticking off the inclines. Weirdly it did not feel like I had ran that much distance, but I felt those hills for sure, and arriving home my legs felt spent, pretty much like stopping at the end of a marathon! 
If you would like to put a few pounds in my fundraising pot then please visit here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/my-2-6-challenge-e6889c19-5ba9-4c2b-a7a0-27922ed57d7d
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What does next week hold - who really knows! I just keep trying to take it all one day at a time. 

It is hard to describe how life is at the moment; some days I almost surprise myself by getting through the day like this has always been my life, and it is quite normal to only speak to people via a 'Zoom' video call. Other days I wake up and lie in bed and really struggle to want to get up and try tick off another day in this countdown with no fixed end point. This is where my running really helps me, and I have perhaps realised this more than ever across the past week. 

When I have been lying in bed thinking 'do I really want to get up?' it is the desire to feel that rush from running which makes me throw back the covers and get my act together. When I arrive home after a run I feel far more equipped to face another day; mentally stronger, I have more energy and I feel more like myself. Running itself I therefore do not miss - I still have it and it is still something I love very much. I have also reflected this week that it must be the first time in perhaps 5 years that I have not been training for an event or having a few weeks of recovery before another training block starts. I am enjoying this freedom and perhaps it is what I actually needed (shame it took a worldwide pandemic to make me realise it!) What I do miss from my running though is being able to share it physically with others, there is something so powerful about that and I know as soon as we get back to being able to go to parkrun, run with friends, and take part in Run Club sessions my passion for running with be heightened even more. Races may be further away on this unknown timeline - but I can wait for these. 

MONDAY: home based exercise classes with a big focus on working the glute muscles (it hurt!)

TUESDAY: when I woke I was already sore from last night's online classes, so I laced up my trainers with no pressure other than logging some easy miles. I started steadily, my sore muscles taking a couple of miles to warm up, but then I hit a real rhythm and found myself picking up the pace naturally. A few glances at my watch told me I was heading towards logging a near perfect progression run, and that then became my focus. I logged six miles starting at 8:33 min/min and ending at 7:32 min/mile. It felt effortless, whereas if I had gone out with that intention in my mind I think it may have been a different story!

WEDNESDAY: after yesterday's run turned into a bit more of a harder effort than I had planned, I really tried to keep my pace comfortable on this morning's loop - I do not want to knacker myself out, especially when running is so important to me at the moment. I enjoyed a nice 7 mile meander around the historic quarter of Lincoln; it is so quite and peaceful it really is the time to appreciate the beauty of my city. 

THURSDAY: my Run Cub continues to support our members by posting weekly run sessions which we can complete and share our results/how it felt with each other. This week was a tough little interval session of 10 x 400m reps. The cycle path along the river near me is perfect for this type of run, and I can run a mile exactly to the start of the long straight section as a warm up and cool down - it is almost as good as the track (almost!) Speedwork felt a bit more challenging this week, but looking at my splits afterwards they probably told me why; I logged some really quick times on the efforts and with very little variation throughout the 10 reps. I was pleased, and the feeling after a hard run is still very rewarding. 

A month has now passed since Friday 13th March, when the impact of the Coronavirus really started to make itself known on my everyday life. On this day my workplace closed down its normal functioning and my Spring marathon was postponed; I can still remember walking home that day feeling like a massive part of my life had been taken away from me. Little did I know what else was to come. Now the impact of said virus is being felt with such impact in everyone’s lives, and in particular the postponement of a running race feels a lot less significant.

Lockdown does not get easier for me, but I am continuing to find better ways to cope with it. This week I have been helping a number of vulnerable and isolated people with shopping; I am volunteering my time through Run Your Marks Community Champs, a scheme my friend is coordinating to mobilise local runners, and we have also created a Community Response Team within the charity where I work. Shopping often takes up to two hours for one trip with the queues both outside and inside supermarkets; it is surreal really, but already I am coming to expect that ‘nipping’ to Tesco for someone will take up my whole morning. Not that it really matters, it helps me to get out of my own space for a while and being able to reach out to someone who is struggling makes my day feel a lot more worthwhile.

Although I am adapting to the ‘new normal’ there is a part of me that also does not want this all to become too normal – I miss my ‘old life!’ Technology is great, and I continue to keep in touch with people via messages and have ‘Zoom’ calls through work and with friends and family, but it is not the same as being able to spend time with people you care about and doing things you love together. It really brightened up my day this week when a couple of friends dropped some Easter treats at my door and I was able to talk (from a distance!) to friendly faces for what felt like the first time in weeks, I do miss that the most whilst being on my own. 

Being able to get out and run this week has felt even better in the improved weather we have been experiencing; warmth is still a bit of a shock to the system, but again I adapt – changes in life is something we all have to get used to, especially at the moment!

MONDAY: home exercise classes – even jumping around my living room is feeling a little less random now!

TUESDAY: my body felt sore and weary from yesterday’s classes, which were quite leg heavy. Perhaps the joyful thing about not being in training for anything is that there was no plan telling me I needed to try and run some intervals etc., and instead I headed out for a steady loop, which ended up being 6.6 miles. The first two miles were ploddy, but then it suddenly seemed like my body woke up and I found myself running more like 8 min/mile pace toward the end.  

WEDNESDAY: this week we were able to announce some hopefully brighter news in the running world – the next stage of the Lincoln City Half Marathon route. I have been working on this event with colleagues at my work for over a year now, and it is due to be held in September. We are hoping we still stand a good chance of bringing it to Lincoln and feel that both runners and the city itself will actually embrace something celebratory like this even more by this point – more information about the event and the route can be found here. However, in order to release this news, we needed some accompanying photos – which we did not have. ‘No worries’ I said, and laced up my trainers and headed out to run some of the route and take selfies with key landmarks. This run therefore was not about anything other than photos, and I enjoyed an interesting new challenge! I still logged 10k in distance – although it was very stop start!

THURSDAY: after a couple of days of easier running I felt ready for some speed today and headed down to the river path near me for some intervals. I like shorter reps, so chose to do a 5 mile session featuring 8 x 400m reps. I just loved it; a warm morning meant for running in vest and shorts, and whizzing along a completely empty cycle path in the sunshine I felt free. My enjoyment probably reflects the paces I hit during the efforts, which were all well under 7 min/mile.

FRIDAY: Rest Day – still one of the hardest parts of Lockdown is resisting the urge to run all the time, especially with the prospect of a four-day weekend looming.

SATURDAY: on another gorgeous day I headed out for another attempt at ‘not Lincoln parkrun’. I really went for it this week and pushed myself hard but was a little disappointed to run a time well off my usual parkrun range. I think I find it tough to almost race on my own and on random streets, I need the buzz of being around others, the support they give me etc.

SUNDAY: I loved today’s long run and it was my best for a while. It was very warm again, but I prepared well and took water with me, which is such a mental boost. I planned a half marathon route and set off nice and steadily, knowing I needed not to overdo things in the relative heat. My legs just slotted into a natural rhythm the whole way round, and my pacing was spot on without me even thinking about it, keeping in the 8.20 min/mile region. I was thinking about other things though as I ran. One was the sheer number of other runners I saw out (all adhering to guidelines, running solo, and giving other walkers lots of space). There must have been over 20, when it is quite common for me to only see a couple of others on a Sunday morning. It made me think that I hope these people are finding some comfort from running in this time and realising its therapeutic power. I also ran past the hospital and I could not help but feel a little emotional as I thought about what it must be like inside. Slightly more light hearted, I could feel the sun burning my shoulders and thought I definitely should have put sun cream on! Whilst I also dreamt amount the Easter chocolate I was going to enjoy later at home.

I seem to be running between 30-35 miles a week at the moment; this feels ok and like what I need. Will things change in the weeks ahead in terms of how/if we are allowed to run… maybe, so for now I embrace it and face the prospect of adapting to more change if and when it comes. ​

Another lockdown week passes - although it feels far longer than a week to me! This is however my third week of 'abnormality' with my work having closed normal operation a week ahead of the UK, so maybe that's partly why. Although I am adapting in many senses, there are still days or moments within days when I literally just lose that forward thinking/positivity for a moment. It feels tougher and especially the inability to be able to count down the exact amount of time we will be in this situation - the unknown. I think what I miss most at the moment is waking up and truly looking forward to my day; I was in a lucky position before where I was actually able to say this was the case, but now its more a case of getting through the day, sometimes wishing hours away. It still also remains challenging being alone and the lack of 'real life' human interaction - but through my virtual networks we continue to check in with one another, and this is support which will never not help. 

Running has been helping me keep that consistent routine and I feel much more ready to face a day after some morning miles. That moment when I get home from a run and soak in the post run endorphins is probably when I feel most like my usual self at the moment. I am not really following any plan with my running, although I am trying not to over do things, as it could be very easy too, especially with the amount of home workouts being thrown in my face every time I log onto my phone! It almost makes you feel like you need to be doing tricep dips on the bottom of your stairs every spare minute of the day! I guess I am simply just doing what I want and at whatever pace I feel like on the day. I am doing some home based stuff to try and keep my strength up, although realistically nothing I can achieve at home will replicate my usual weights class at the gym (that first class back is going to hurt!)

MONDAY: home exercise classes from 'Run Your Marks' - I am still enjoying the fact these are streamed live and therefore gives a structure in my day and a feeling of being in a class with others. It helps get the week off to a good start. 

TUESDAY: a lovely 10k run where I went out with no pace in mind, but found myself getting progressively quicker and enjoying that sense of pushing my body a little.

WEDNESDAY: I planned a 7 mile loop today and as soon as I started I could feel my legs were a little weary, so I kept it comfortable, enjoying being outside and the fresh air and freedom!

THURSDAY: this week we should have been on the track at Run Club, but we shared the planned session anyway and I tried to replicate it on the streets. I got out early when I knew the river path near me would be virtually empty and logged 10 x 200m reps up and down. After my first 200m sprint along the path I did think to myself that this was going to be quite an easy session - by the 7th I had other thoughts! My splits were really consistent though which I was pleased with despite the dramatic change in perceived effort, and it was certainly not a run I would have attempted without the virtual Run Club motivation. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day 

I think it is apparent that my running blog is going to turn more into COVID-19 survival blog over the foreseeable weeks (months?) - it is hard to focus on much else right now! The past seven days have seen the UK enter a period of 'lockdown' which has further impacted by life and running. It had to be done, and despite the challenges I now face, I am pleased the Government is taking these measures to essentially save people's lives and protect the NHS - I have friends who work at the local hospital, and they are always in my thoughts. 

Lockdown rules thankfully permit daily exercise, which as I watched the Prime Minister address the nation, I have to say I was immensely relieved about. It might sound selfish to essentially be pleased to be able to run still, but it certainly helps safeguard my own mental well being in this all. The rules did outline however that exercise can only be completed with members of your household - when you live by yourself that is not a massive difference! So sadly runs with friends have now stopped, and I do miss them. The extension on my Run Club sessions being cancelled, as well as parkun bring cancelled was also announced this week - I miss these too - and my next race currently looks like it may happen in June (although I think this is still optimistic). But I can still run, and that morning escape out the house is something I am very grateful of right now.

Personally, this week has been a bit tougher - there is the obvious lack of social contact (living by yourself in all this really is rubbish!) and then there have been concerns around my work. Socially, I again have to be so extremely grateful for the network of friends I have who do keep checking in on me; it is not as fulfilling as seeing people in person, but it certainly is comforting. My work situation did for the first time in all this bring me to tears this week though. I was faced with discussion around being 'furloughed' for three months, and the notion of losing my job even temporarily felt gutting, let alone the financial implications despite the Government support on offer. Thankfully as I write this, I still have my job, although some of my colleagues have been furloughed. I worry for them, I still worry about my own small workplace, but I am going to do all I can to try and help us survive this. 

Running remains key to my own personal 'survival' and I have managed a good week of 36 miles and moreover, can say I enjoyed every step.

MONDAY: shifting some furniture around in my living room I made space to complete my first home gym session following a couple of Faecbook live exercise classes from my friend 'Run Your Marks' I liked tuning in with others, it gave a small sense of being part of a group still and I also felt less ridiculous for jumping around in my living room!

TUESDAY: I had DOMs already from my home exercise classes, so opted for a steady run. The first mile I was stiff, but once I warmed up I found I was hitting low 8 min/mile paces really naturally and enjoyed a lovely 10k run. 

WEDNESDAY: again I surprised myself today, heading out once more for a planned steady run, I logged 7 miles with an 8:15 min/mile average pace. I probably have some marathon training benefits in my legs still, but it is also funny what you can achieve when you do not obsess over pace all the time!

​THURSDAY: as if to tease us, this week has seen some warmer Spring like weather - so in order to maximise this, I headed out a little later for my run today, enjoying the sun along the local river bank. I intended to push myself and took on the weekly planned session from my Run Club, which was a 50 minute 'out and back' run aiming to get back to the same start point, or further. I made it exactly back to the bottom of my street and was really pleased with my splits and pacing, mostly in the 7.20 min/mile region and achieving 6.6 miles in distance. I do not want to push myself too much at the moment, but a bit of hard effort still felt good. 

FRIDAY: to make sure I do not over do things, I want to try keep one rest day a week still. This is tough as I also want to not feel too trapped in my house. A daily walk is permitted though - although I have to say it does not quite bring the same mental benefit to me as running!

​SATURDAY: another 'fake Lincoln parkrun' mixing up the course to try and avoid the strong winds! The wind was unavoidable and where I live in Lincoln it is also hard to avoid a hill unless I just run up and down one road - and we are not at that point yet! - so whilst I found it hard to find much pace, I was pleased to spot a few other parkrun faces out (from a distance!)

SUNDAY: back to Sunday long run days and I set myself the goal of running a half marathon today - just for some purpose really! The weather was so mixed, I started in sunshine and although I had actually hid away my watch, I realised after I was running quite quickly. Then came the hail/snow, and then the wind really picked up for the latter part! I embraced it all though, just winding through the streets, which I have to say were eerily empty. I felt much more tired after my longer run than I expected - so good job I had to stay at home!

I hope the week ahead allows me to keep running, if further restrictions come into place I respect it will be for good reason, and I shall embrace my miles whist I can. ​

​Tomorrow marks the start of my 16 week training pursuit ahead of the London Marathon in April. It feels like a while since my last marathon training block ahead of Chicago Marathon in October, and mentally I feel refreshed and ready to work hard again – I am even prepared for those 5:30am training alarms! Physically the last couple of weeks have not been perfect prep though; I have been battling on with a cold/cough/flu like virus which seems to be widespread this winter. Over the festive season running has not been as consistent as I would normally like, although on the flip side, perhaps you could say if I had perhaps rested more from running then maybe I would have shaken my germs a little quicker... I could not resist the plethora of parkrun opportunities which were presented to me over the past two weeks though, and these have formed the majority of my harder intensity runs. In between I have managed a few runs, not much in distance and keeping the pace comfortable – mainly because the longer I tried to run the more my cough threatened to take over my body!

The highlights of my festive period of running have been my parkrun trips which included Ipswich on Christmas day – a festive blast around Chantry Park, which I remember well from Cross Country at School, and Bury St Edmunds parkrun in the ‘betwixmas period’ - the muddiest run I have possibly ever completed, with a sticky, boggy course creating some fun challenges whilst also highlighting my road running abilities!

On New Year’s Days I took on the parkrun double at Normanby Hall and Scunthorpe which both saw huge numbers, the latter 919 runners, which is the biggest parkrun I have been involved in. I ran well at Normanby, feeling like my cold was shifting, however got a bit stuck in the crowds at Scunthorpe and wasted far too much energy trying to catch up with the frontrunners and found it a tough little leg test. I was really pleased that my work colleague who lives near Normanby also challenged himself with the parkrun double; he normally swears that 5k is his max but proved himself wrong. In term of longer runs for myself, I have managed a 6.5 miler with my sister; when we both didn’t feel that great but each other’s company spurred us on, and a couple of 5 milers.

This weekend felt like a bit of a breakthrough with my virus though; I felt and ran better back at my home Lincoln parkrun in the first event of 2020, finishing in 21:30 – by no means my best time, but getting back closer. Today I then managed my longest run for a couple of weeks; 8 miles at a better pace too. The only niggle which still remains is a rather pathetic coughing induced injury. After relentless coughing, on New Year’s Eve I finally felt my body give up a little, as the muscles downs my right hand side strained and pulled. It hurt a lot at the time and at one point I debated whether I would actually make my New Years Day parkrun plans, but I have managed to keep running. I think the adrenaline of running overrides the pain slightly, although certainly not completely, however day to day the pain has often been very intense, like a sharp stabbing. Its not pleasant I have to say, and I can tell my body is not aligned right as I try compensate the muscle imbalance. Physio is booked for Friday needless to say!

Looking ahead to next week and the start of my training, it feels good to have a plan to follow, as whilst I have enjoyed some relaxed weeks, I am ready for structure again. My goal for the London Marathon will be to try and hunt for that PB again – so something in the 3:30 region! It will require hard work and determination, but I have been close before, so I have to remain confident, learn from the past and draw on the experiences of others around me. I will be committed to training and developing myself as a runner, whilst also continuing to develop my life around running - there is one I promise!
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The next adventure begins... ​

I was going to say that this week has been a bit of a running write off, and my heart does still feel a bit like that, but my head tells me I have still manged a fair bit despite feeling considerably under the weather. I am rarely ill (thankfully!) and I do not cope well when I am not 100%. Pretty much all week I have been struggling with a form of cold which has given me at times headaches, earaches, a feeling of never being able to be warm, nausea, loss of appetite and most annoyingly, a chesty cough. With this in mind I should be thankful I have logged the miles I have done and also managed to keep going into work each day! I think I only have myself to blame for succumbing to winter illness; its been a busy few weeks recently, not even particularly in a running sense, and I have simply worn myself out and allowed myself to become more susceptible. Lesson learnt - usually the hard way!

MONDAY: this was the one day of the week when I felt good and completed my usual Body Pump class as normal. 

TUESDAY: I enjoyed a nice run this evening, logging a comfortable 8 miles achieved through running to meet some members of my Run Club for a social run and then home again afterwards. However when I got home I began to sense things were not quite right; I could not get warm and was almost to the point of shivering in bed...

WEDNESDAY: I woke today feeling ok, but with ice on the pavements and no plans for the evening, I decided upon an evening run when I at least thought I would be able to run with a bit more freedom on the footpaths. It seemed a great plan at the time, however throughout the day I could feel myself deteriorating; a cough developed and my body temperature seemed all over the place. After walking home from work I literally had to jump into a hot shower and then straight into bed - which is not like me at all. No running needless to say.

THURSDAY: after succumbing to my bed for all of Wednesday evening, I tried a few miles this morning with no ambition other than just to see how I felt and assess whether I would be able to join in my Run Club session later that evening. I ran 3.5 miles very gently, and to be honest I could not up the pace even if I wanted to as my cough threatened to battle through my breathing as if to remind me I was not 100%. The run gave me confidence to join Run Club later though, which I really did not want to miss as it was our final session of the year and we had a social run planned to give Christmas gifts to residents at a local care home. It was only 2 miles, so I did not overdo things too much with a double run. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day - if I felt better I had toyed with the idea of making up for missing Wednesday with a few miles today, but I was honest with myself - I felt no better and also wanted to try and feel some improvement to be able to enjoy parkrun on Saturday, as well as my work Christmas party on Saturday night!

SATURDAY: I made it to a Christmassy themed Lincoln parkrun, but I did not feel great. It was still lovely to be there though and see people in their festive dress; I had my own Santa hat hair clipped to my head, which I am always determined I will keep on throughout my run! Running was ok for the first couple of miles; I was going steadily, not as speedy as I can be, but not as much as a struggle as I thought. The final mile however was really hard; I felt all my energy drain from my body almost instantly, which considering my food intake has been pretty poor all week, was not really surprising. I finished in 22:02, which was good all things considering, although my cough and body soon reminded me that maybe even that was a bit too much of an ask today as I spluttered next to the finish funnel trying to get rid of the taste of blood in my mouth. Delightful I know. I managed to wish most of my parkrun friends Merry Christmas though - so I was still pleased I had ran.

SUNDAY: when looking at my calendar a few weeks ago I had thought today's run may be shorter and easier due to Christmas festivities on Saturday night as part of my work Christmas party - but to be honest our party was not that wild or late and if it had not been for my illness I think I would have woken feeling virtually normal. My lurgy still remained though, and sadly it seems neither running or gin is a cure for a cough! I had very little energy today but felt like I really wanted to try some form of run. It was not great, my chest did not enjoy it and any demand on my legs other than a nice flat pavement felt like a huge test. I called it a day at 4.5 miles; it seemed pointless to try more as there was no real benefit. It bothered me a little as I want to try and keep some consistent mileage during this non training period; but I have to be realistic as to what is best and actually beneficial for my body. I have probably done too much this week as it is! 

I hope my germs will disappear quickly, especially as we head into Christmas week. My festive season features a lot of parkrun plans and I want to enjoy these runs, as well as simply Christmas itself! ​

Christmas craziness has hit me this week - its been very busy and full of lots of different elements; one of which still remains running of course! Work has dominated proceedings and I have worked a lot of long days, late evenings and had something work related on all seven days of the week. It is easy to see how you could let running slip from your agenda during times/weeks like this - but for me its the one constant that keeps me sane. 

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: I am not really sure why, but Monday night's weights class really hit my body hard this week, and I woke with bad DOMs. An easy 5 miles was therefore in order trying to shake out my legs a little.

WEDNESDAY: after a late night working Tuesday and another long day ahead taking some young people bowling in the evening as part of their Christmas social, it was tough to get out of bed this morning. I wanted to push myself a little more on my run but knew I needed to find the challenge from somewhere other than my own motivation. On occasions when I feel like this, I like to take to the hills; you cannot hide from the challenge on the inclines! I logged 4 miles with 5 hills tests. 

THURSDAY: tonight's 6 miles were split into two runs; 3 by myself with some steady loops incorporating a couple of hills again, followed by three more sociable miles with my Run Club, taking part in a Christmas photo challenge (see image) ending in chocolate orange and drinks at the pub. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day - although working from 7:30am-9:30pm did not feel like much of a break, and after an already busy week, by the time I got home I was knackered. I had also felt a bit ill during the day, which is unlike me, but I certainly felt like I was struggling a little. 

SATURDAY: for the first time in what feels like forever, when my alarm went off this morning I did not instantly want to go to parkrun. The tiredness remained and the thought of just rolling over into bed and hiding in the covers felt very appealing. Of course, I still found myself stood in the chilly wind whipping across Boultham Park, and what motivated me to be there was getting my weekly hit of chatter and friends, not really the running! As I walked over to the start area with the other hundreds of runners I suddenly remembered I had set myself a goal for this week's run. Last week I had been chatting to a fellow runner I am often running near to at parkrun and had mentioned how I wanted to try and get back under 21 minutes before the end of 2019. My fellow parkrunner had told me to stick with him next week and he would try pace me under the time. I had forgotten his kind offer until he smiled at me from the starting line up this morning. 'Ready?' he asked. Well I wasn't. but I nodded anyway!

2019 is drawing to an increasing close, with just over three weeks left until we enter the next decade. I have found myself a little reflective this week, and thinking about certain things which have changed in my life this year did leave me feeling a little down on a couple of days. I can always rely on running to lift my spirits though, and this week has been boosted by some happy running and exciting forward planning for the new year...

MONDAY: the week started with my usual venture to a Body Pump class, however my working day featured some exciting new running plans for 2020. The charity I work for - Lincoln City Foundation - along with event organisers Curly's Athletes are holding the first Lincoln City Half Marathon event in September 2020, and entries launched today. It comes after a lot of months of hard work (which have truly opened my eyes to the behind the scenes aspects involved in organising running events) and is something I have become very passionate about. It feels special to be involved in delivering an event for my home city, which I know will have such a positive impact on so many people and communities. I never thought I would find myself in this position, and its an opportunity I am relishing. Feel free to take a look here www.lincolncityhalfmarathon.co.uk if you would like to find out more. 

TUESDAY: a quick 4 mile spin around the centre of Lincoln which ended up being a fartlek style session where I pushed the speed on some flatter sections, but also tested myself on a couple of hills - I did not plan it particularly, just went out and had a bit of fun!

WEDNESDAY: this morning's run was spent chasing after my Wednesday morning running partner - he was just too quick for me this week! Our first three miles were around 7:30 min/mile pace and this pace probably shocked my legs a little too much, and I found myself hanging on for the remaining 3.5 miles we completed. Trying to keep up with him was a motivation boost at least!

THURSDAY: tonight's Run Club session was a time trial on the track - however when we planned the session we probably did not expect it to be a very windy evening... A couple of warm up laps highlighted very obviously that the home straight and the preceding bend were pretty much into a direct headwind, which just added to the challenge ahead of us! Did I think running time trials would be as hard as it was - short answer, no! We all ran 800m, 400m, 200m and 100m distances trying to set the quickest time we could, and it truly wiped out my legs! 800m was first and it was disgusting; the second lap felt like 400m of running on empty, especially battling that head wind twice; my time was 2 mins 59 seconds. 400m seemed slightly more bearable and I managed it in 1 min 19 seconds, however coming off the track my legs felt almost like I had just run a marathon! For someone who prefers distance running, strangely I felt stronger running 200m and 100m, managing the former in 36:39 seconds and 100m in 18:58. I am not going to be breaking any track records in my lifetime, but I enjoyed the different test and also the camaraderie among our Run Club members as we cheered each other on from the track-side. 

I say this is the week of 'downtime' however it has in fact been incredibly busy, with lots of positive things happening professionally and personally. I use the term 'downtime' more to refer to my running this week - I gave my all in one final push around Doncaster 10k on Sunday, and I have just felt the need to press pause again these past few days. There are five weeks until my London Marathon training starts and I will then be back in full marathon mode. I need to enjoy the rapidly approaching festive season, relax and feel refreshed ready to tackle the training challenges, both physically and mentally, especially as I want to be chasing a big goal. I am not going to be slobbing out on the sofa for the next five weeks - I do not think I could ever do that! - but I am going to allow myself as much freedom as possible. 

MONDAY: I was sore after Doncaster 10k - a level of DOMs which shocked me at first, but then made me reflect on how much I must have challenged my body on the day. It was perhaps a good omen that my intended Body Pump class was therefore cancelled. 

TUESDAY: tonight was something very different for me running wise as I volunteered along with other members of my Run Club to support a local Hospice with an event they hold to remember loved ones during the festive season. As part of their planned Torchlight Procession they require a number of runners to run from a local church carry lit torches, to then light up the torches of the thousands of people gathered to take part in the procession. Running is only a very small part of the event, and I did not volunteer because I wanted a running challenge, it just seemed like a lovely thing to support, and  I ran to the meet point and home again after logging 5 miles of my own 'training' away. The event itself was wonderful, although a little scary at times carry what essentially are these massive wooden ticks which are set on fire! 

WEDNESDAY: with my legs still a bit sore from Sunday's race, this morning's 5 miles were taken easily, whilst squelching through huge puddles and embracing the downpours of rain.  

THURSDAY: after some pretty easy paced running so far this week, I was looking forward to some speed work at Run Club. On the agenda were minute reps completed as many times as possible during the time duration. It was a great session, with a mile warm up and cool down allowing me to catch up up with a few members, with then the 'all out' efforts in the middle. I managed ten reps, with a recovery jog in between, and despite completely messing up my Garmin programming, I was able to decipher later that I had been very consistent with the amount of distance I was able to achieve each time, averaging roughly 6.20 min/mile during the effort periods.

FRIDAY: Rest Day

​SATURDAY: when it takes you over ten minutes to de-ice your car you know it is pretty Baltic outside! This morning's parkrun was indeed cold and frosty, with a glisten of ice and frost on the paths and grass. 'Not a day for PBs' our Lincoln Run Director rightly warned us! I did not run too bad, finishing  in 21:38, but just did not feel confident enough with my footing to push myself fully at certain points on the course, especially as the footpaths become a bit slipper the more people had ran on them. I would of course rather run parkrun safely than not at all though!

​SUNDAY: Saturday night was our Run Club Christmas Party and we had a wonderfully jammed packed evening, starting at an Escape Room, followed by drinks and nibbles at a Board Game Cafe, and then a few of us headed out for some more drinks in other bars across Lincoln. Somehow I did not get home until nearly 3am - I am not even sure how that happened but shows you how much i was clearly enjoying myself! Time just flew by and a fair bit of gin was consumed along the way.... needless I was not really feeling Sunday morning's longer run. I do not really drink much anymore and also seem to need my sleep - so a double whammy of too much of one and not enough of the other knocked me for six a little. I eventually got out for some miles - settling on an easy 8 miles quite quickly as it felt a bit of an effort to keep my legs moving. It was nice to have the freedom to be able to enjoy a night with my Run Club and not have the fear of things affecting a training programme or race. ​

This week I signed off my 2019 racing year with a final 10k blast around Doncaster. The days preceding this were busy; work is a little full on at the moment with some long days, in addition to me trying to stick to some form of running schedule (thank god I am not in full scale marathon training at the moment!) It has been tiring; but I find it hard to truly complain about it when I am doing things I love. 

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: I woke this morning to a glistening frost on the ground. Peering from my bedroom window I could see the footpaths sparkling and that car windows were quite thickly iced - real winter running time. I opted for a cautious 5 miles; the footpaths themselves were not actually too bad, but patches where leaves had accumulated and extra water remained were very slippery and could easily catch you out. Simply put, any form of speed was just not worth this risk!

WEDNESDAY: after a few weeks where our schedules had not quite fitted, I rejoined my friend for an early Wednesday morning run and we had decided to test ourselves with 10k of 'rolling hills' which is a fairly well known running route in Lincoln incorporating a lot of the city's steepest inclines, including the infamous Steep Hill. I had one aim and that was not to stop on any of the hills! I am pleased to say I accomplished this, and whilst it was a indeed a test, I actually felt stronger than I expected and was able to recover quickly between the hill challenges.  

THURSDAY: this week's Run Club session was planned for the track and I knew sensibly I should not take part; I have not run on the track for around 6 weeks now with marathon running and recovery, and with a 10k race on Sunday I knew it would just trash my legs! I was so tired after a long and jammed packed day on Wednesday, instead of a morning run I planned to run to the track after work and help with the session, then run back to work after to drive home; what I had not planned for was another very cold day, and after spending all day outside at work I just could not face being stood in the cold again. I chose to take part in the track session instead, but took it very easy, and it was more a case of me running laps to keep warm rather than to train! With my run to and from the track I accumulated 6 miles - along with some very cold hands!

FRIDAY: before resting ahead of Sunday's race I decided to give my legs a bit of a stretch with a quicker 5k. The run was not quite as speedy as I would have liked, hovering around the 8 min/mile mark, and I was just feeling a little drained. I think a busy week and the cold conditions throughout had took some of my energy from me; it was good to note this though, and I made sure I focused on having a quiet Saturday before Sunday's race. 

SATURDAY: Rest Day - including a soggy but happy stint of volunteering at Lincoln parkrun

​SUNDAY: my final race of 2019 - Doncaster 10k. This was my third consecutive year at the event, and on the previous two occasions I had ran a PB... no pressure then! I actually had no expectations about my performance today; my post marathon running had been fairly mixed and I was more looking forward to spending a morning with a number of members from my Run Club who were also taking on the event. I felt relaxed and happy at the start and by the finish my happiness still remained - with a little bit of added pain! 42:42 on the clock and my first sub 43 minute 10k (full blog to follow) I had amazed myself and was even happier that so many of my Run Club friends had also set new PB's and met their goals. I run better when I am happy - its a fact. ​

I am really enjoying my running at the moment; I always love running, but currently with no training pressure and having successful made it through the post marathon struggle period, I just feel very happy with how things are. Its a simple feeling, but a good one. 
​
MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: I will soon be recommencing with a number of Tuesday evening work commitments, so am making the most of being able to join my Run Club's Tuesday social run whilst I can. This week's run was planned closer to my home, so I ran to join the group, enjoyed a lovely chatty few miles with friends, and then ran home, giving me a total of 6.5 miles at a nice mixture of paces. It is always enjoyable to run with others and also breaks up my normal 'training' routine of getting up early to run before work. I am therefore also enjoying some relative 'lie ins' at the moment, which is giving  my body another form of rest from peak training demands. 

WEDNESDAY: with a slightly longer run bagged yesterday, and the prospect of some tough hills on the agenda for tomorrow, I kept today's run shorter and steadier, aiming to hold close to 8 min/mile pace across the 4 miles. 

THURSDAY: I led my Run Club's session this week and had planned a hill session, with some tough hill repeats completed at maximum effort. I logged nearly 4 miles, but it wasn't the distance I was really after personally, but the intensity. I have been slowly incorporating a few more higher intensity runs back into my schedule lately, but nothing like this. I loved pushing myself up the hills, as well as looping around at times to support other members of the group. I had not tested myself like that for a while, and in the company of others, it was the perfect way to get back into it.

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: today marked Lincoln parkrun's 6th birthday and it made for an extra special Saturday morning. I have spent the vast majority of my Saturday morning's over recent years at Boultham Park, running my weekly 5k, but also making friends and happy memories along the way. I openly refer to Lincoln parkrun as 'my happy place' and it is simply for the sole reason that it is there for me every week no matter what is going on in my life, and never fails to bring a smile to my face regardless of how I run, or even whether I run or volunteer. 

To mark the 6th birthday celebrations all runners were given a hankerchief which we waved at the local residents of the care home which overlooks the park. Every week our very own fan cub sits in the window of the care home and waves to us runners as we make the walk from the bandstand briefing to the start line, and its just one of the little things which makes our Lincoln parkrun community so special. As I completed my three laps I made sure to wave at the ladies each time, my show of appreciation for their ongoing support. In terms of ongoing support, it is on occasions such as this that I feel we have to say extra thanks to the core volunteer team we have at Lincoln parkrun who make our event happen each week (including those who have taken on the roles before), as well as the number of stalwart volunteers the event has - I hope days like this make them proud. Running wise I continued to shave a further few seconds off my recent running times and edge closer back to sub 21 minute territory, finishing in 21:04. I pushed myself, but I actually felt like I had something left in the tank at the end, so I was pleased to feel that strength returning again. 

SUNDAY: this morning's Sunday long run was a bit dreary; as I headed out the door the heavens opened, blowing cold rain into my face for the vast majority of the run. It would have been easy to cut my run short and head for home, but I wanted ten miles, so I stuck with it. I didn't focus on pace at all, just getting some consistent distance in, and the final few miles, when the rain finally stopped, were far more enjoyable. Next Sunday is my final race of the year - Doncaster 10k - I feel a lot more prepared to give it a good go then I did a couple of weeks back, and as ever, I am just happy to be running. ​

This week has been my best since Chicago Marathon; one month post marathon and I think I can say I am beginning to feel like myself again in running terms – slow and steady wins the recovery ‘race’…

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: I knew this week I was going to be incorporating some more higher intensity runs back into my weekly schedule, so I kept this morning’s 5 miler reasonably easy. The positive for me was my ‘easy’ pace seemed to be back to my perceived normal range, and it did not feel a slog.

WEDNESDAY: Tuesday evening I had enjoyed a slightly abnormal weekday evening, attending some fireworks with my friend, as well as enjoying a few accompanying gin and tonics – the perks of not being in training mode meant I felt no guilt about this! I woke feeling a little tired - I am still used to my 8+ hours of sleep each night! – so decided upon a short sharp run. Heading down to the river near me I made use of the fact the footpath was flooded in places to test myself with some uninterpreted 1k reps. I logged 4 miles in total, with a warm up and cool down, and was very impressed by how my legs responded to some speed work.

THURSDAY: this turned into a Rest Day as my planned return to track running with my Run Club was thwarted by flooding. I ended up staying at work later than intended, add to this the torrential rain and I just decided tomorrow may be better for running…

FRIDAY: today was indeed better for running. I headed out for another 5 miles on one of my routes that incorporates a long hilly start. I ran up this hill well, at a much better pace than previous weeks. I then just grew into the run, naturally picking up the pace to finish with some sub 8 min/miles, which importantly did not feel a test.

​SATURDAY: I spent this weekend visiting my sister in her new home in York – this of course meant the perfect chance for some parkrun tourism. We had intended to go to New Earswick parkrun, which is the event closest to my sister’s home. However, the extensive rainfall in the week meant this grassy course had to be cancelled; so we headed to York parkrun, which is held at the main racecourse in the city. We were joined by over 600 runners on a very chilly, slightly frosty but perfectly parkrun morning. The course followed one and a half circular half loops around the edge of the race course; it felt a little bit like running on a race track (ignoring the massive puddle to splash through!)

I can't quite believe it has been three weeks since Chicago Marathon already - time has absolutely flown. Looking at the positives, I would say I am doing well in avoiding too much of the 'post marathon blues' feeling which I have sometimes struggled with in the past; I have kept myself very busy - not just with running! - and it has helped. The one negative is however that my legs do not feel back to normal yet, and I am sure this is the longest it has taken me post marathon to feel a little bit more normal. This week things have seemed to begin to improve a little though, and I am happy with small steps forward, as long as things are progressing. 

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: as I was not at work this evening I managed to make my Run Club's Tuesday night social run for the second week in a row - unheard of! I really enjoyed 4 chatty miles, catching up with a few people and not even thinking about pace (see image). Run Club has given me a lot of new friends - people I had never met before, and people whose face I knew from the running scene, but had never spoken to before - and I am thankful for that. Our Thursday Run Club sessions still have a large social element, but tend to also be more structured with intervals, hills etc., so especially in this non training period, I am going to aim to make these Tuesday evening sessions whenever work permits. 

WEDNESDAY: my Wednesday running friend had to cancel on me last minute, so I was faced with trying to push my legs on a steadier run without his motivation. I managed 5 miles hovering in the 8-8:15 min/mile region, which I was pleased with, although it did feel much harder than it used to, which I took as a sign my legs were getting better, but are not quite there yet. 

THURSDAY: after pushing myself a little more yesterday, I aimed to ease off the effort today as I headed out for another 5 miles. Starting my run with a long drawn out hill - just to add a little bit of challenge! - it then turned into a slight progression run as my legs felt looser as the miles progressed. Again, more promising signs. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day

​SATURDAY: after a fairly slow (by my standards I know) reintroduction to running Lincoln parkrun last week, my aim for today was to try get back into the 21 minute region. It was hard, but my legs were much improved from the previous week, and I kept reminding myself this as I ran. My first mile split was actually akin to what I had been running pre-marathon and logged at sub 7 min/mile pace, but I couldn't hold it and slowed for the final two miles, although remained consistent with matching splits. I finished in 21:44, still nowhere near my best, but 30 seconds quicker than last week, so again I was happy. I then enjoyed a post run breakfast and chat in the famous Lincoln Bowls Club with a few members from my Run Club - I have ran Lincoln parkrun 131 times as well as 30 (I think!) volunteer stints yet this was the first time I have ever sampled a bowls club breakfast!

​SUNDAY: more steps forward today as I upped my Sunday long run to 10 miles and also ran at a good pace throughout. My splits were within the 8:10-8:25 min/mile region, and whilst like earlier in the week, this did feel tougher than it has done before, I felt my legs did have some strength back. 

On a slightly non running level, this week I was also recognised on Lincolnshire's 30 Under 30 List (more here) as one of the counties young rising stars (see image). My colleague/friend had nominated me and whilst I was extremely flattered to be included in the list, it was however the passage she had written about me which touched me the most. She had written something so genuine, that encompassed all that I try to do professionally and in my personal ethos in terms of trying to help and make a difference to people - as well as getting my parkrun and marathon addiction in there too! -  reading it just made me believe that little bit more in myself . A few things have shaken my self confidence in recent weeks, and this recognition was incredibly well timed. ​I am sure improved self belief can only help me in a running environment too. 

I will be honest, I am feeling a bit torn at the moment. Part of me wants to enjoy an easy spell of running, with no training, and relax a little generally, whilst the other side of me fears losing fitness and does not want to lose sight of the goals I am chasing. If I am honest I feel I probably need the former; over the past 18 months or so, physically I have achieved so much in my running, trained hard and raced in a number of events, whilst mentally I have continued to push myself not just in training, but in order to keep going on a personal level when at times life has really hurt me. This week has not given me too much choice in my rest/training debate as my body still feels very indifferent post Chicago Marathon. I feel tight in my muscles and a bit tired still - which probably confirms my thoughts about what my focus ought to be now. It is not always that easy though!

MONDAY: I returned to my Body Pump weights class today after a two week break. I knew the class would make me sore afterwards as it does not seem to take much for my body to lose any strength I gain. I was half tempted to lower my usual weights, but once stood in the class, my desire to try get back to where I was before fitness wise was too strong, and I whacked my usual weights on the bar. I actually managed to complete the class without problem, but the next day my body paid me back for my overenthusiastic approach...

TUESDAY: my DOMs were very bad today, not post marathon level DOMs, but still 'cannot bend down to tie my own shoe laces' level. My own fault really! I was covering the weekly social run which my Run Club hosts tonight; usually I find myself working late on Tuesdays and cannot make them, but this was quite well timed. I was able to run nearly 6 miles with friends at a nice and comfortable pace, which suited both the soreness in my legs and my post marathon recovery. 

WEDNESDAY: 'I will be slow!' I had warned my Wednesday morning running partner after we agreed to meet for one of our 6am runs. Although my soreness was a lot less, I still knew I was not up to pre-marathon speed levels yet. Our first mile ticked over at 7:45 min/mile pace - a bit quick for my limbs - but we then settled around the 8 min/mile region, which to be honest I was shocked to be able to hold. However the final mile of our route featured a long drawn out hill which my quads simply did not have the power to drive up. I plodded up it, pleased not to stop at least, but once flat path resumed it was clear the hill had wiped my legs out a little, and it was a slow finish for the final half mile or so. Our average pace was 8.11 min/mile - which although it was a tough ending, I was really pleased my legs had managed. I hoped it may have been a turning point. 

THURSDAY: yesterday's run had buoyed me, however I was conscious not to overdo things. Unable to make my Run Club in the evening due to work, I headed out for 5 easy solo miles. My pace was slow, and even though I was not zooming, it did not feel easy; my legs were tight and each stride just did not feel normal. I was a bit sad at how much of a contrast it was compared to yesterday's seeming progress, but tried not to let it bother me. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day

​SATURDAY: back running at Lincoln parkrun in the absolute pouring rain (see image). The conditions and World Cup Rugby on the TV meant for a much smaller field size to normal, and I must applaud all those who decided to come run today, as well as volunteer, as it was pretty hideous! I was absolutely soaked to the skin when I finished running, and the course even featured a very large water obstacle puddle, which emphasised the amount of rainfall we have had of late. I did not run very well to be honest, I gave my all, but my legs were just not there. My quads were so tight and I did not have my normal leg lift and ability to drive forward. My first mile was vaguely ok, but I faded badly, finishing in 22:15; which for me is a lot slower than normal. I was not too down, there is nothing I could do if my body was not ready to go any quicker, and I did try my best. It is also hard to feel too down after parkrun anyway with so many people to chat to and lift your spirits - despite the downpours I still found myself stood around the finish area in shorts and t-shirt chatting to people like a mad woman!

SUNDAY: my 'long run' last week was 6 miles, so this week I aimed for 8 - a sensibly steady approach. I set out to explore some new routes in Lincoln on a beautifully autumnal morning, and tried to let this take my mind off how my legs felt. It was real mixed bag of miles, some I ran well, in the 8.20 min/mile region, but there were a couple of much slower ones when it was like my legs just stopped working. Despite some pace improvements, I have to say it did not feel totally comfortable throughout. That tightness and limited range of movement in my limbs was still there. 

So this week has been a bit of a mix bag in terms of running. Next week I feel I will just have to continue to listen to my body and see what I am capable of; I need to try accept the easy weeks I need. ​