Nearly there!

Since my last blog, I’ve run two runs of over 20 miles, and on the second run, last Sunday I knocked half an hour off my time. That sounds impressive until you realise it took me 4 1/2 hours to run first time, and 4 hours the second. But if I can average just under 12 minute miles round New York, that’ll make me a very happy woman, and give me plenty of time to enjoy the sites whilst I run!

I am still feeling very much “love it, hate it” about running. I HATE wearing the gear… trainers, sports bra, hoody sweatshirts and trackie bottoms are so NOT me. I had to go out and buy myself a decent balcony bra from M&S as a treat after my last run.

I LOVE running the long distances though! For the last 2 long runs I’ve chosen an easy route on purpose — running West to Norman’s Bay (into the wind on the way there). Because it takes me so long, I’ve started listening to the radio as I run, and I caught the first half of a dramatisation of “Howards End” by EM Forster on the last run. That might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for me, it was a blissful combination. I also like the monotonous linear route out to Norman’s Bay, through Bexhill and across the marshes. It’s a route I normally see quickly from the train window. It makes me think of Dining on Stones by Iain Sinclair — his characters walk from Hastings to Pevensey Bay. There’s a bleak, wintery feel about the coast road, despite the caravan sites and mobile homes. Definitely hinterland.

On Friday, as an exchange for some work I’ve been doing for her, Nicky Smith gave me a Zero Balancing session — a gentle practice which combines osteopathy with an understanding of chinese meridians — a gentle ‘listening touch’. I lay on a bench with my clothes on and she lay her hands on me. It was a very light touch, gently pulling or lifting and I found it incredible. I am sure it helped me with my run on Sunday — and to deal with the wisdom tooth I had extracted on the Saturday morning.

So, just over a week to go now. I feel like I’ve been very lazy since that Sunday long run, but I also feel comfortable and confident, and excited!

Love it, hate it, love it, hate it, love it, hate it…

I don’t know why, but I LOVE running up Barley Lane. My run starts with what feels like 3 miles of relentless uphill, but for some reason it is enjoyable. Then you get to Coastguards cottages, and wheee! across the fire hills is fantastic… the nearest to parcour that I’ll ever get.

On Sunday, I even enjoyed the horribly punishing coastal route back to Hastings. This is the first time I’ve run in cool weather, and makes it so much more easy and enjoyable.

Having said that, I WAS meant to run on to Bexhill and back, and I’m afraid I didn’t get all the way again… it was getting cold and dark and VERY windy and I bottled out. Wuss!

BUT my knees are feeling better and I think I’m going to do a slow and careful, but concerted effort over the next week to build up time and distance, with a load of knee exercises in between. My sports-physio, Lesley, was right to give me extra exercises, because daft and irrelevant as the exercises seem to me, my knees are getting stronger. She said the problem is with my ITB (Illeo-Tibia Band?) It’s the muscle group that stretches from my hip to my knee and its common for ‘novice athletes’, off-road runners and the flat-footed to get this kind of knee problem.

My friend Anna ran her first marathon today — an off-roader and it only took her 4 hours 11 min! Rest assured that my time will be significantly more than this.

Zola Budd-ing on the East Hill

So obsessed have I become about knees and running shoes, that I’ll try anything.

Iben, the danish designer I share my studio with reads a Danish newspaper over the internet. There’s a bloke who writes about running. He says shoes can be your worst enemy, and what you should do is run barefoot, and think about how you run. Then remember that when you have to run in shoes.
Today – a wild and windy Saturday, I ran up as many steps as I could find until I was on the top of the East Hill. The grass was seductively short and dry. People stared in disbelief as I stripped my shoes and socks off and just ran, ran, ran barefoot over the rabbit-cropped grassy slopes. It felt FANTASTIC! I could feel the fronts of my feet and toes spread across the turf.

The wind was very wild. It was incredibly different to be running with it or against it. But the whole experience was invigorating.

It wasn’t a long run, and I’m very nervous about tomorrow, when I’m going to try again to hit 20 miles. But at least my knees didn’t hurt!

Over the Fire Hills and (not so) far away

Sunday was meant to be my longest run yet, though sadly it didn’t work out that way.
I planned to extend last week’s run, and continue along the Royal Military Canal to just beyond Winchelsea and back again.
The 6 miles to the Smugglers was a joy. But the run up the Royal Military Canal was very exposed and the sun was REALLY hot. It was also difficult running on the longish grass. I got up to the Bridge Inn and lost the canal, but continued a short way back along Sea Road back to Winchelsea Beach, before turning round and stopping off at the Bridge Inn for a coke and a bag of crisps.
This was a similar mistake to stopping off at Steamer Trading on my first 15 mile run. As soon as I headed back along the canal, my knee started really hurting, and I walked most of the 4 miles back to The Smugglers, where I got a taxi home.
It was my second real low point in my running. My one optimistic thread is that after my miserable Steamer Trading run, my left knee got miraculously better. I just hope the same thing will happen with the right one.
I need to find routes which give me a good circular route without any tempting stops in nice shops or pubs!

I should be so lucky

In the whole time I’ve been running, I’ve only been out ONCE in the rain. This summer has been glorious.
My Saturday morning ‘long’ run was a delight.
At 12 miles it was quite short for a long run… after dropping some Sussex Apples tea towels off with Michele for the i-Candy market, I ran up Barley Lane and across the Country Park, along the Fire Hills, through Fairlight and on to the Smugglers at Pett. I set off about 9.30 and there was a bit of a mist on the fields, but the smell of Summer Holidays was STILL in the air. As my run progressed, the weather really hotted up. I decided to take the coastal route back — something I’d normally avoid because it can be quite muddy and slippery. What I had forgotten is that it is simply a series of badly made steep flights of steps up and down. Good cardio-vascular training, but not really a pleasant run.
However, it was beautiful to run back across the East Hill into town, listening to the sound of live music and watching the crowds at the Seafood and Wine Festival.
It reminded me again how very, very, very lucky I am to live in such a beautiful town surrounded by such fantastic countryside.
My trip to the sports-physio didn’t end in needles, but some good stretches and an instruction to get different shoes. I am putting too much pressure on where the arch of my foot is / should be — i.e. I’m a bit flat-footed. I’ve got more exercises to do too, my favourite! Maybe I’m not SO lucky!

Back to the running…

It’s been a very intense 2 months. I have been really glad to have my running schedule to help structure my life and give me time to work out emotions — both sad and happy ones. I’ve kept to my schedule reasonably well, although knee pain has meant that I often complete a run at a walking pace.

Thanks to a Facebook friend, Jeff, I adjusted my running style back to my original ’sole-down-first trot’ rather than a heel strike. This stopped the pain in my left knee. I also had a trip to a sports physio and started knee curls with a 1k. weight which I’m sure helped strengthen the muscle groups around my knees. And then, my right knee started hurting in just the same way! Tomorrow I’m booked to see a sports physio who uses acupuncture, so that will be interesting!

The half marathon that I ran the day before my birthday was surprisingly easy and enjoyable. In fact, I found the 6-mile walk in Richmond Park led by my mum on the following day much more challenging! My birthday (2 August) started off remarkably. My teenage niece got up at 7.30 to go running in Finsbury Park with me! Something which none of us can quite believe really happened. It was the best birthday present — closely followed by a lovely pink top and running shorts, a gift from my brother and his partner Tracy. Oh yes, the birthday breakfast of sweetcorn and cumin pancakes with chilli sauce was REALLY lovely too!

The 15-mile run that I attempted two weeks after my birthday was a personal low-point. I ran to Battle with Anna. That was all fine — even though its a long, up-hill run. On the return half, we made the mistake of stopping off at Steamer Trading (a posh kitchen shop that we both like), and went round touching all the items in the shop. After the break in momentum, I was USELESS — and my left knee was particularly painful. I had to let Anna go on in the end, and I walked the last 2 miles feeling pathetic. I realised with horror that there is a huge difference between running a half marathon (achievable), and continuing to do longer distances (need for more energy to be consumed rather than depend on internal resources).

I’ve been running off-road too — 2 long runs on the 1066 Country walkway. I keep getting lost which makes me slow, but its been enjoyable to run across fields and get another perspective on the fabulous Sussex countryside. On one run, I had navigated a whole 90º out, and sat trying to work out where I was, when Barbara Beaton from Action in rural Sussex (one of the organisations I work for)  appeared magically and pointed me in the right direction!

My body is beginning to change shape. I was ‘officially’ overweight at 10st 7lb. I am now about 9st 11lb — not much weight loss, but I am a lot more toned and, most disturbingly, I’ve lost my lovely curvy bum. As I walk around, I am aware of feeling like I have a ‘fifth gear’ — extra power that its easy to hook into, as if I could just spring into Warp Factor 9 and zoom off.

Last weekend I did 18.5 miles running to the Star at Norman’s Bay and back. Running there, with the wind behind me was a breeze. Coming back was a bit more of a struggle, but I made it.

I’ve done a lot of runs with my friend Anna — especially shorter week-day runs over the summer holidays (she’s a teacher). She is a MUCH fitter runner than I am, but she’s been fantastic to run with. And its motivated her to do an off-road marathon at the beginning of October!

Blog interrupted

There is good reason for me to have been so silent on my blog.
It is not because I’ve given up running, but because the rest of my life has changed significantly. And running had a part to play in that too.
My last entry was just before I went to Latitude festival in the middle of July. It was a memorable festival, but not one that I particularly want to remember.
Sometimes, when you are camping, things become a lot clearer. Especially when it comes to relationships. Nothing is hidden. Everyone can see and hear what is going on. It is important to communicate well with your partner and friends. Sadly, at Latitude, this just did not happen.
On Saturday late morning, I set off on my first long-ish run – a 10-miler. I had a lot of time to think, and it made me realise that there wasn’t really much point in holding on to our relationship any longer. Unlike my run, which took me to magical and restful Southwold, our relationship was going nowhere good. I became really aware that our relationship worked well only if I fitted in with M’s plans, and I was not prepared to spend the rest of my life doing that. By the time I got back to the camp site, I was apprehensive about how we could hold out for the rest of the weekend. It was not a happy two days.

Onwards and upwards

My last post ended with worry about my knees… I have been worried about them since my 8 mile run on 21 June, when I ended up walking the last 3 miles because if I ran my knees hurt badly. This was probably exacerbated by running over the shingle/pebbles on the beach on the way back from Glyne Gap. I won’t do that again!

My training went into a bit of a slump, partly because of my knees, and partly because I’ve moved studio — so I was getting a lot of cross-training from packing and carrying and painting walls.

Lovely Susan Barnard came to the rescue with some specially blended oil to rub into my knees. I started using it immediately — rubbing it in before putting my knee supports on and going for a run. I’m delighted to say that it appears to have done the job!

The official NYC Marathon training programme began on 30 June and so far I’ve been keeping up with the training recommendations well. I am worried that I’ve got a 10 mile run to do this Saturday when I’m at Latitude Festival, and a 13 mile run to do 2-weeks after, on Pride Day (and the day before my birthday). I think that is going to be a real telling point for my training.

Meanwhile, I’ve been eating fish (don’t tell Anna and Tom), and generally cycling more than usual, but only been back to Military Fitness training once. Apart from my arms getting a bit more toned, and a lot more chafed from my expensive running top, I don’t think there’s been a major transformation in my body yet. But I am enjoying the journey!

Catching up…

Wow, I haven’t posted since 6 June, so here’s a quick catch up…

I ran that morning — about 4 miles around the lower park, then on over the West Hill to the Old Town, down to Rock-a-nore and the harbour, then along the seafront to Wisden’s — the independent sport shop in Hastings. I decided its about time I bought some ‘proper’ sports gear. It was a real struggle to try the tight and stretchy tops on (I was horrified to discover that I am a ‘large’ in sports sizes — that’s a 12-14 in normal clothes). The white tops looked HORRIBLE and revealed all, but I ended up getting a rather glamorous black top with cross straps at the back, and a utilitarian sports bra. Sports clothing is ghastly, but I know its important to have some support for even the smallest tits, and I  needed to find something to stop my nipples sticking out like sore thumbs…

On Sunday I ran to the shingle works at Portslade. It was really hot and I found it a real struggle. It took an hour and ten minutes. I was gutted to discover that I’d actually only run 5.35 miles. It felt MUCH longer than that. Still, at lunchtime we cycled to ‘Glastonwick’ — Attila the Stockbroker’s mini music and beer festival at Coombes Farm. This was along my FAVOURITE lane in Sussex (OK, one of my top 3). We had a lovely afternoon, and witnessed the ASBO Derek Bread Riot first hand (don’t ask…). Cycling there and back was probably about 14 miles.

There then followed a whole week of NO RUNNING. I felt absolutely exhausted. Probably due to a bit of iron deficiency and the on-set of the hayfever season, rather than over-exertion. Also, I’ve been really busy with some very demanding and tedious jobs. It was a very low week.

On Friday I got myself some Floradix (liquid iron), and went off to my mum’s. On Saturday we drove up to a fantastic cottage in Stainforth, Yorkshire. We walked everyday (quite challenging because of the hills), and on Monday and Tuesday morning I ran the 5 mile round trip to Settle and back. The landscape was absolutely stunning, it was a privilege to run in such gorgeous surroundings. I did the route in an hour exactly, which was not bad given the gradient.

I have to add that I’m a *little* bit worried about my knees. Nothing serious yet, but they do get sore after running. Another reason to go gently with my training.

… and the week flew by…

On Tuesday I cycled up to the top of Battle Road again — this time to collect something from my printer. It was so much easier and quicker this time, which was cheering news.

In the evening I cycled over to West Hill Road and went for a long walk with Vanessa Fowler over the Filsham marshland and back along the seafront. We went at a slow pace, but must have covered a fair few miles.

Wednesday involved me cycling to the BIBS group in St Leonards, then to town to get a camping frying pan and saucepan for M’s birthday. Terry and I then spent half an hour delivering more anti-BNP leaflets and I walked up (at an  unnaturally leisurely pace) to catch a train to Brighton, had dinner with M. and Pete and Zena at Terre-a-Terre, walked to the Duke of York’s to see King Creosote and the Pictish Train, then walked back up to M’s place in Hove.

Thursday exercise was my customary run to the station — I JUST caught the 6.30 am train, and was back in Hastings by 7.30. I had a long day at the computer working on the Childcare Management pack. Terry and I went to vote at about 6.15 and I wandered on to the Old Town for First Thursday of the Month late night opening. Both Esther and Bob Mazzer had private views, and there was a really busy vibe. Esther’s work looked great, and Bob’s photos of the London Underground in the 70s and 80s were marvellous. I ended up having a drink in the Jenny Lind with the Grumpy Vegan and Gary, and met Tim and Georgia from the Stone Squid gallery. I was more than merry by the end of the evening and had to buy a hummus and salad kebab on the way home…

Friday was a stressful day working on the AirS annual review / business plan, but I JUST got it done in time. Then cycled back over to St Lens for 3 more private views. I made Keith Sadler AND Godfrey Daniel buy one of Selina’s paintings, and I bought one of her goddesses for Fi & Gabriel and the baby. Janey’s works were also lovely, but the corrider they were in was too busy at the PV for a good look, so I’ll go back in a quiet moment. Keith and I went on to Robyn Holtom and Emily Johns’ PV and I bought a woodcut of an octopus for Melita. Then we saw a fantastic photography show at Hastings Arts Forum, and Keith and I had a late supper at the Gurkha Chef.

It’s been a hard-working and enjoyable week … not much running though … oops!