Another week closer.

Its been a good week for training.  The weather has remained fair, temperatures have been perfect, but the wind has been a nightmare.  Even with this menace of nature I have covered 41 miles this week, some runs felt really easy some like today felt like I hadn't run all year but then find that I have broken 3 personal records. I have been experimenting with running before breakfast,  the reason for this is simple...I get a stitch.  I have tried so many remedies for this problem,  dropping my arms so I straighten up my posture but once you are tired posture leaves anyway its not until you see the finish line that the posture returns. Drinking on the move, not drinking at all, eating hours before the event, breathing exercises .

A couple of years ago I ran the Leeds 10km as I approached the 7km point I got a stitch, it was quite possibly the closest I have been to quiting an event. I stopped at a water station and with the aid of 2 St John's ambulance volunteers tried to rub and stretch the stitch out, it was pure agony.  After 5 minutes I had a choice to make quit/run,  I decided that I had to carry on during what felt like a half marathon I came across "the hill" oh goody just what I need at 8km.  By this time I had nearly got rid of the stitch now trying too hard was my biggest problem.  I knew I had lost time, up to the point of stopping I was on target for an under hour, now it was going to be at least an 1.05 this was unacceptable so I began to push.  As I approached the Headrow I knew a turn to the right and I was on the home stretch, push even harder...wait a minute they are all going straight on....oh dear this means I have another hill Albion Street. ..I now have nothing left. As the pack turn into Albion Street you can see the top of the hill well actually you cant what you can see are lots of heads bobbing up and down but you know the top is there. ..somewhere.  Yes there it is, please turn left and head downhill to the finish, yes that is exactly what happens.  I crossed the line in a 1.05 not what I wanted at all the stop, the effort I put in after it meant that I expelled so much energy that even the faster pace I put in meant nothing.
After this episode I tried to find the best solution to stopping the dreaded stitch.  The only way so far has been to run early on an empty stomach,  but this as I found out on Thursday also has a very serious side affect.  When I got back from my run I grabbed my water and energy drink,  I made my breakfast bit of beans on toast.  It didn't take very long for me to start feeling very ill. I decided that to avoid the potential revisit of beans on toast I stopped drinking. I felt shocking all day, felt cold and shivery no further appetite. I came in from work,  I was frozen still feeling unwell I hit bed fully dressed and tried to get some sleep.  I woke in the morning still not feeling too good,  I simply couldn't run like this I will get up and have...then it hit me....idiot woman....DEHYDRATION. .. I couldn't believe I could be so foolish. I spent Friday only drinking water and no surprise I was feeling better by the hour by lunchtime I was ready to eat again.  A hard lesson learned on running on an empty stomach, this morning I did run on an empty stomach but last night I hydrated really well and truly felt the benefit from it.
So back out tomorrow for the start of a new week of adding a few more miles on. Just hope that the April tornados stop or at least ease by half. 

If you would like to help to raise money for Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice please follow the link.  Ta ra for a bit.

www. uk.virginmoneygiving.com / ElaineWinterbourne

London Marathon.

I have watched the VLM for many years in awe of so many having the ability to run 26 miles. As you watch the elite runners coming home in a time that you would be happy with for a half-marathon, you watch the paralympic athletes and wonder where they find the strength to compete let alone finish 26 miles. You then see the throng of charity/fun runners who have trained hard in all weathers to enter this amazing event, every one that crosses that finish line not only pick up a medal and a t-shirt but they can say without challenge " I have completed the London Marathon " its not always about time its about your personal challenge, your goal, your aim. Whenever you send in your application for any event you have to set your stall out for making sure you are fully aware of what you want from yourself. You cannot attempt any type of event without making sure you and your body is ready for it not only do you risk injury but you are not giving 110% in effort. Its not all about training on the park, its about your food intake, water and lifestyle. You need to mentally train yourself to the fact that no matter what event, you are asking your body to perform, if you dont maintain your body it wont be at its optimum for your event. I sound like I know what I am talking about, but I dont really its common sense, however having learnt from 4 years of events the right food + water = energy. More importantly no alcohol, the odd take away is okay but if you value your aim then you will make the changes.
I will never be fortunate enough to run the VLM, however I do intend to run the York Marathon next October, at this point I will have completed 5km,10km,Half Marathon and Marathon. This will require more training, even now as much as my aim is the half marathon my training must incorporate a pattern for 26 miles, extending out all the time not pace everytime but distance is the challenge.
Last weeks training had gone really well, the weather hasnt interferred too badly and my pace and distance are on par for me to be happy. I go into this week with an aim of a 5 day training week, I am back in work this week so it can cut my training time down a little, but at least my diet should be back where it belongs.
So have a good week one and all, hopefully I shall have an update during the week.

School child errors galore

So the weather is wet and currently raining tge temperature is average the wind has dropped.  Ideal running conditions,  but this is exactly where the problem begins.  To waterproof or not, gloves and hat ? So I decide that due to it raining already I shall wear my waterproof,  I shall also wear my hat, this is not an unusual sight on me I like my ears nice and warm.  Off we go, it soon becomes apparent that the jacket, hat and gloves are a good idea as I can feel a breeze and the temperature is a little bit cooler than I first expected.  3km in I now decide that the jacket, gloves and hat are a stupid idea as I am now way too hot and melting.  I dont like running with my jacket round my waist and the pockets are not actually made to carry anything so I am stuck in my attire.  Then comes an error of biblical madness my shoe doesn't feel tight enough so by whatever lack of sense hasnt left me in the heat of my attire I readjust the lace. I know I know. ....huge, monumental mistake.  As I now have one tight shoe the other one feels slack so I make the same mistake again. At this point I am at about 4km my intention this morning was to do an 8km after my messing around with the shoes I set back off immediately there is a problem,  my shoes are too tight.  So do you stop and fiddle again or carry on and hope that they slacken themselves.  I carry on but as I should have known my feet are getting tighter now because of swelling. By this point I have lost my pace and stride I am annoyed with myself for messing around.  At 5km I know that I can no longer run in the attire and my shoes are squeezing my feet. I turn for home feeling utterly annoyed at myself.  I shouls have known better than to play with my shoes I still cant believe I've done it.  As for the attire its one of those things it can be difficult to find the balance. As they say tomorrow is another day and despite the agitated state of running my times are dropping significantly I am into the 5.59 per km which I can maintain just want it down a bit more.  So out in the morning, today I have learnt if its not broken don't fix it.

A week off work means....

Well decorating first, the plan was to put in as much running as possible, however due to the gale force winds we experience in our micro climate near the Airport this has had to be reduced to walking. I suffer from vocal chord dysfunction which has been caused by acid reflux burning them away..nice I hear you say. There is no cure only maintenance but I suffer real problems trying to run into strong or cold winds, anyone who suffers from Asthma will know exactly the problems I face. It can and does severely hamper any and all running during the winter months but on windy days it can mean that I simply run in a non windy section backwards and forwards. This plan works really well for shorter runs of maybe 3km but if I am on an 8km then it does tend to hamper my time due to boredom. So the plan for this week remains to be out in the morning the forecast is for rain but reduced winds, the remainder of the week suggests that maybe the winds will return and increase so I shall pick my space carefully.

We have seen over the last 24 hours a devastating explosion in Boston. Terrible scenes of maiming and suffering from people who were trying to achieve a personal goal. There is no political sentiment in running, we run for PB, charity for loved ones these people who have attacked these runners and their loved ones have now made the seeking of justice for those that have died and suffered a full on political motion. Our supporters who stand and wait to cheer us over the finish line in all weathers after we have made an herculean effort to challenge and to beat the voices in our head and the lead in our legs, do this with no thought to an attack like this. They cheer and applaud every single person who crosses that line because we have succeeded, we have achieved, we did it. This event in Boston shows us that we are never safe from the politics that surround our existence and somewhere, somehow there will always be that threat. The Boston Marathon 2013 will be forever remembered with great sadness, I for one will take time to remember those that lost their lives to inhuman thugs who targeted a happy day for so many. This weekend the London Marathon takes place again they run for PB, charity and loved ones, it will be a different atmosphere after the events in Boston.

To the victims of Boston I send my heartfelt prayers and thoughts.

A million reasons not to !!!

I am a 44 year old Wife, Mum of 3, Nanna of 3. I have countless problems physically that cause me problems daily. So to add to this little exciting bag of tricks I have decided to do ......The Great North Run to raise money for Sue Ryder Wheatfields in Leeds in memory of my Sister Anne who sadly passed away from lung cancer in October 2012. She always supported me whenever I did an event, so to give a little bit back to those who supported her when she needed it I do what I know I can do.

Along with many I have watched the GNR on the telly and wondered " how do they do that " ? So this year I will find out. I have taken part in quite a few events over the last 4 years, ranging from 5km & 10Km Race for Life, Leeds 10km twice, Leeds Abbey Dash (10km) twice.
I love my "plodding" I will not put my pace anywhere near a run, it does qualify as a jog but must look like a plod. I have raised money for various charities including Cancer research, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and MacMillan Cancer Support. Due to the menace of injuries and a diagnosis of vocal chord dysfunction I had no choice but to take the winter off, which means getting back in the saddle is proving a challenge of its own making . As a prequel to the GNR I intend to do the Leeds 10km for fun to gauge my pace. To help this little mind set the organisers have changed the route making for a flatter faster course, I have not done an official 10km time in under the hour so my target for Leeds is sub 55mins. My target time for the GNR is sub 2hr 15mins but will be aiming for under 2 hours.

So far my training is going okay, I am very happy with my pace and distance. Since having the luxury of a phone that works properly I can have my Runtastic app as well as my Runkeeper giving me miles and km paces. I have always run my sectors in km and keep and average of a 7min km but at event pace I can maintain a 6min or less km with a sprint finish.
My challenge will be to remain healthy and injury free, during the next couple of months, the muscle rub will be bought in bulk just to maintain the creaking gate that has become my body.

So this is my challenge for 2013 and this is my story, my name is Elaine Winterbourne and on the 15th September at 9am my dream will become a reality. As the title suggests there are a million reasons not to do this event, but there is only One reason to do it....because I can. If you would like to help me on my journey by donating to Sue Ryder Wheatfields you can follow this link. Thank you.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ElaineWinterbourne