A great run to end the year!

After a stressful supermarket experience this afternoon, I was glad to get out for a run...I won't go on, well not too much anyway!, but why can't you get fresh herbs in a supermarket, why is it that every time I need some fresh sage or chives they just have empty boxes and then how come I couldn't buy any beef fillet either today, what sort of supermarket doesn't have beef?? Anyway, sorry, but after visiting three different supermarkets just to get all he ingredients I need for our New Years Dinner Party tomorrow...a run in the cool fresh air was just what I needed; and a really good run it was, again not that very fast but solid. A good base run of 40 minutes, which is just what I need at the moment.

So, all that's left for me to say is Happy New Year Everyone, hope that 2009 brings you health, peace and happiness.

Another good (albeit slow) run!

I managed to get out again today for an easy 26 minutes; it wasn't a fast pace at all, but it was an OK run. The main thing is that I am getting out. The pace will no doubt improve with my fitness.

I am also very pleased to note that I haven't put on any weight over the Christmas period. I have been trying to lose a few pounds (and have lost about 11lbs over the past 7 weeks) and I was hoping that I wouldn't put too much back on over the few days of Christmas entertaining; but I was completely amazed to see this morning when I jumped on the scales that I was exactly the same weight as I was at last Monday's weigh in.....hurrah!

The last 2 weeks have been a write-off; but I'm back into my training shoes this morning!

Yes, due to illness I haven't been able to run at all in the last 2 weeks! Unfortunately all of us (my daughter, then my husband and finally me) succumbed to the dreaded cold/cough that is going around at the moment, and it really did knock us all out for over a week, and the cough is still with us and is here to stay for a little longer I think!

However, this morning I was determined to get out and run, even if it wasn't for long and I managed a good 25 minutes. It was made even better by the fact that Steve an Grace joined me on their bikes. It was a very cold morning, but it felt really good to be back out running again and hopefully the fresh air will have blown some of the cobwebs away!

A good 40 minutes on the treadmill

Already, and its only Tuesday, this week hasn't gone quite to plan. It cannot be helped though, as unfortunately my daughter has been ill and the school phoned me up yesterday lunchtime to ask me to come and pick her up just as I was about to head out the door for my run. Nevermind, I will just have to make up for it later in the week....however today I decided that come what may I would run and do my scheduled 40 minutes, so after spending a good 30 minutes moving boxes, wrapping paper, presents and other items relating to the festive season, I was able to access the treadmill! and ended up doing a great 40 minutes during my lunch and whilst my daughter was sleeping. Tomorrow is scheduled to be a rest day, but as I missed Mondays 30 minute easy run I may just try to fit this one in tomorrow some time. If I can manage it (well drag myself out of bed!) then I may even try to get up early and get it out of the way before the rest of he day begins..........

A good 30 minute run

This morning I got straight up and headed out the front door without giving myself time to think about whether to run or not! And what a good move this was, as it turned out to be a very good run. It was an OK morning weather wise (well a lot better than the persistent rain yesterday that’s for sure!) and it felt good to be out in the fresh air and clocking up ‘time on my feet’!

Tomorrow is the start of my build-up training before starting my proper marathon training in the 1st week of January. So another 30 minutes scheduled for tomorrow and I just hope it will be as good as todays! Happy running everyone :-)

And finally a plan!

Well, I have finally got my act together and put together a proper training plan! I know, I know, you don’t have to say it, I know it’s about time I got my act together!

My aim for next year’s marathon is not to necessarily get a PB (although if that was to happen then of course it would be wonderful); however being realistic and knowing that I haven’t got anywhere near the base fitness now that I had for previous marathons, then I would be silly to go down the route of aiming for nothing but a PB. Instead I have decided that my main aim is to finish (of course!) but to also enjoy it...this isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy the last three, however it is fair to say that for the last two particularly I did push myself to the limits in the hope of fast and respectable times and although the event was still very enjoyable and more importantly I got the times that I was after I also added a lot of pressure to myself – so this time round it will be ‘no self inflicted pressure, but an enjoyable journey’.....perhaps this should become my new running mantra when the training gets tough!

Anyway, back to my training plan – with the above aim in mind, I have decided to set a plan based on ‘time on my feet’ rather than specifying miles. After all, the time I finish the marathon in isn’t my main aim, so the most important aspect of my training is building the fitness and endurance and that means just getting a plan together that will provide me with a lot of time on my feet! I’m sure no one is really that interested in my plan over the coming 20 weeks (yes, it’s only 20 weeks away....eek!!) but I have added it anyway....and it can be found on the sidebar on the right or HERE!

Welcome to my blog!

Its been a long time since I was here - yes some of you will remember my 'Following Charlie' blog from a few years back! Well I am back running (albeit not quite as much as I should at the moment) but that will be changing as I have got a place in the Flora London Marathon next year - so training starts NOW! Please pop back to see how I am getting on and for anyone who would like to sponsor me (large or small!) then please visit my Justgiving sponsorship page: http://www.justgiving.com/charlottedutch

Have a good day everyone.