90% of the way.

I am currently into the 5th week of the unwell feeling, I still don't eat a great deal ice cream is my favourite breakfast,dinner and tea. Nevertheless I am back into the swing of things, after 3 weeks of a sinus and throat infection that cleaned me out. I finally had enough energy to take on my first run, a gentle 3km. I have slowly built back up my distance but have kept the pace low to allow my breathing to function properly. The lack of proper food has had an effect on performance so this will need to be addressed it has however taken the hassle out of watching what I eat as I have dropped close to a stone and a half in weight but this has taken all my energy with it. The problem that remains is that I still don't actually look at food and think ' mmm that looks good ' and performance building food I simply cannot take in. 
I am really happy that I have been able to get back out, it feels good to be out. I know that it will all come back it will take time, after such a long layoff it will take time and I need to wait for it.
As you can see from above an article appeared in the Yorkshire Evening Post promoting the GNR for Sue Ryder Wheatfields. After it appeared the cutting went up at work it will show people that when they see me dragging myself around in all weathers that its for something very special. I hope it also encourages others to raise money and prove to themselves that 'yes you can do it' . This also gives me a real boost to achieve my goal of finishing the GNR. I was having the feeling that I would never be able to complete 13.1 miles, but now I know it's within me. It's not about the time, yes I would like 2 hours but to finish will be my challenge complete. I am running the Leeds 10km in 3weeks this should give me a fair reading of my potential over 20km. My aim for Leeds is under the hour, ideally a sub 55min would be a very happy Elaine. 
The training plan this week is Monday through to Friday running with rest days Saturday and Sunday. I am running with a training plan but due to the illness I dropped 10 days over 3weeks so I am trying to compress more than I should be into a shorter space of time. This means crucially staying healthy, fit and injury free. 
If you would like to help me reach my target of £500 please follow this link.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ElaineWinterbourne

Hope you all have a lovely week/weekend catcha on the flip side.

Wot no training ???

It has been a week I would rather forget. It started last week with what I thought would be a simple cough/cold I would recover over the weekend ready to hit the streets by Monday. Oh how wrong can you be. It simply got worse and worse, I spent 5 days stuck to the sofa dragging myself off to attend work. I knew something was not right when I felt this bad, as I don't suffer like this usually, no energy, lack of appetite, headache, sweats, freezing cold. The GP confirmed along side a stinker of a cold I had a throat and sinus infection, anti-biotics recommended. He was very confident that it wasn't hay fever related, although that has been a problem of late, not sure what gave it away, maybe it was the soaking wet t-shirt and goosebumps told its own story. I wasn't sure the GP would give me any anti-biotics, as I read the leaflets in the surgery that state "Anti-biotics don't work on your cold". Therefore I was quite relieved that this could be treated by them and was confident it would make a difference, the nausea that goes with taking them is unpleasant but they have reduced the pain in my throat and face/head. However it seems to have heightened my sense of smell which is very weird, but it is causing a difficult situation, feeling nauseous at the smell of food. So unless its yellow and has a peel able skin I cant eat it, yes good for weight loss I know but not a great deal else. When I explained to the GP that I need to be training for the GNR he simply smiled and said "Not until those are finished and you are better". I have to agree the way I felt and feel I couldn't have run to save my life, walking was even off my calendar.

So a very slow build up will be required hopefully at the end of the week. Restocking of the energy banks is essential as I still feel very weak which wont be helped by the lack of food. My nasal passages need to be a little lighter as I cannot run carrying a toilet roll round with me, might get some funny looks with that one. I expected to feel very frustrated that I was unable to run but for the first time I think I have realised that if I am unwell then only I will suffer by pushing myself on.

On Sunday a great friend is doing The Race for Life in Bradford. She herself is a cancer survivor, a fighter, a winner, she will enter this event carrying a card on her back with names of those that she wants to remember that have passed from cancer. It came as a real surprise for her to ask to display Annes name,  I didnt hesitate, it made me very proud of Liz for doing this event and for thinking of others like she always does. A true inspiration to so many, a wonderful generous, warm, honest, genuine person, who whenever you see her brings a smile to your face.

On Monday we say goodbye to a friend David, who sadly lost his fight with cancer last week. He was a very special friend to my Husband Mark, they shared a great deal together, plenty of smiles and laughs, but sometimes tears too. His request is no Black attire to be worn, this mirrors the true brightness that will be missing to so many with his passing. The colours will shine brightly, they will honour you, whilst we remember you. God bless you David and Rest in Peace.

Back to the dark ages.

Training had been going well this week, good pace in good weather. On Thursday I ran my fastest mile and Km, so therefore it was with a heavy heart that I took my phone in for repair. I have only had this phone for 3 months and it has been my constant companion on my runs.
Previously I have had a less than helpful phone, no internal memory so I couldn't run any applications. I struggled with it for a couple of years, then one day on a wander around the White Rose..........a new possibility arose. My Hubby is a real gadget man, I on the other hand can take or leave the techno bits. As he approached the phone shop window my parting words to him were "don't sign anything". As I had finished my bit of shopping and headed back towards where I anticipated my Hubby to be sat, no Hubby, I will just pop by the phone shop to see.......argh he's sat down....with a member of staff. As soon as he saw me his first words to me "I haven't signed anything" now if that isn't a plea of not guilty. However the deal put to us was taken up and we both left happy with new phones, I could get apps I didn't need to empty everything out just to run Runkeeper. My new phone was tremendous, the running apps were great, integrating with other programmes, working effortlessly.
Then starts the problem, the phone begins to flash on and off without me touching it. The battery is zapped after a short time, but worse was that once it was inside my armband the plastic cover would press on the buttons sending noises through into my ears. This you may think is not too bad, however when it begins to press the 'Emergency dialler' then dialling numbers you have to stop and fiddle with the thing. This performance has been going on for close to 3 weeks, on Wednesday I had enough it had to go in for repair. I didn't want to do this as I knew my phone would be gone for at least 10 days, I didn't have time to be without my phone. I didn't want to be without my phone on holiday, I didn't want to be without it anywhere near the GNR. So I have got to get it done now or October.
As I showed the very nice lady in the phone shop what my phone was doing, she couldn't believe I had put up with it so long. She explained my phone would be away for around 10 days, at this point I knew I now had to rely on my previous phone for my training for the next 10 days, was this the right decision after all.
The following morning I ran out with just Runkeeper on, more importantly NO MUSIC, this phone simply cannot do 2 things at once. I cannot remember ever running without music, it therefore was a new experience, felt good, kept a reasonable pace and found to my surprise cracked a couple more goals. I didn't really enjoy it though but I have sometime to put up with this so its something I will just have to put up with.
Since the invention of ipods, MP3 and phones the silence of running for many is no longer. You see so many running with earphones but is it to block out noise or to introduce it. When you have to change from noise introduction to the sound of your own breath, gasping and footsteps its like going back in time. I will be a very happy camper when my lovely phone arrives back home and me, my apps and music will be reunited.
Unfortunately this weekend our little household has come down with colds, for a change I have got a full blown cough and cold, including shivers, banging head and runny nose. This has a very real possibility of keeping me off the running for a couple of days. The cold has hit my throat and chest hard, I know it is better to feel better before I run, I have time on my side at the moment so maybe a couple of days recovery will be beneficial.
On Friday our family were saddened to hear of the passing of a dear friend and neighbour. He had been cared for in Wheatfields who made his final weeks/days comfortable, he was not alone. Once again the reality of this terrible disease has hit another family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this very sad time.

www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ElaineWinterbourne