Great North Run Jog Blog

New Blog

2005-08-16T05:21:00.000+01:00

I am still mourning the loss of a blog but in order that I am not altogether out of the game I have set up a new one withnoname as yet - just keeping my options open. A word of warning...the template is a slightly different colour...!

A sad end

2005-08-10T09:12:00.000+01:00

It is with great sadness that I announce that I will not be running in the 25th Anniversary Great North Run. My (boggy) swelling on my left leg is still very much in evidence and although it is much less painful when walking, it is still sore when I attempt to run short distances. I hope that i will be able to get out running within the next month but there will not be enough time left to train to a sufficient standard.

My place will be taken by one of my colleagues who will use it as training for the New York marathon! I had not even got round to introducing the charity I was running for - Tiny Lives, for the Special Care Baby Unit in the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. If anyone would like to sponsor my friend Clare then get in touch either by email or through the blog and I will let you know how you can go about it.

So here endeth the blog... at least for now, after all there's always next year!

8 weeks and counting

2005-07-26T02:17:00.000+01:00

My knee injury has remained better over the last couple of weeks and the plan was to start running again this week in a new pair of trainers. Unfortunately while I was away last week I suffered injury to both legs whilst gorge walking in Glen Sannox on the Isle of Arran. I jumped into a pool, at the instruction of our guide, where we were not suppose to be able to touch the bottom but I walloped both shins on a ledge of rock under the water. It was fairly(!) painful at the time but I was still able to continue, though not able to assess the damage under all the layers of soaking clothes. Fortunately none of the kids suffered the same fate. Over the course of the next 24 hours a fabulous bruise appeared on my right knee and a very large area of my left shin is 'boggy' with altered sensation. The verdict is that I have bled under the skin and have a large collection of blood(known as a haematoma) which will take some time to resolve. It is not too painful when left well alone but is too sore to run with at present. Things are not looking good... Ah the pitfalls of the Great Outdoors!

I am planning to see how things go in the next week and then will have to make a decision as to whether or not I will run.

Less than 10 weeks left

2005-07-13T06:15:00.000+01:00

Miles run: Still none
Miles walked at work in last week: 15 thousand (approx)

Have now not run for two whole weeks and am already feeling very lazy. I have realised how much of an effect exercise has on feelings of general wellbeing. My knee is feeling a lot better - last week it was slightly painful even when driving, it affecting my clutch leg but now that seems to have fully resolved. I am still not sure how training will go when I start up again. One of my friends who is doing the New York marathon in November and who does not have a place for the Great North Run has offered to run in my stead if I cannot manage it. I will be very disappointed if that is the case but at least I do not have to worry about finding a substitute!

Plan for the week: Trip to 'Northern Runner' (running shop in Newcastle) to see if they can persuade me to buy some trainers that may help me run without injuries. Once purchased I will use them to test drive my knee on an easy run of about two and a half or three miles.

Rubbish (and 11 weeks to go)!

2005-07-05T05:37:00.000+01:00

Miles run in last week: A pitiful 4

My knee is much better than it was but is still niggling. I have now had 6 days off and am feeling somewhat down-hearted. If I flake out at 5 miles what chance do i have of getting to 13.1? Also have been in touch with my next employment and it might be a problem for me to get that weekend off as one of my colleagues needs time off around then to get married. Will have to see what happens both with the knee and the rota.

Aim for week: Sorting of knee

Injured!

2005-07-01T06:23:00.000+01:00

Over the last few occasions when I have been out running I have had a bit of a niggle in my left knee. Unfortunately in the last day and a half it has become more sore even when I am only walking. Climbing stairs is especially painful which I cannot quite understand. I had to abandon yesterday's 4 mile run in the hope that I will be recovered by Saturday. I am hoping to have it looked at my one of the physios on the ward (there have to be some perks to the job) and am also praying for a speedy recovery with no recurrence. Will keep you all posted.

12 weeks to go

2005-06-27T19:02:00.000+01:00

Total miles run in last week: 11.5
Run breakdown: 2.5 (22mins), 4 (38mins) and 5 (49 mins)
Number of 'incidents': 1 horn blast and 2 episodes of (incomprehensible) comments being shouted from lads in cars.

Despite being on dodgy shifts I am very pleased that I managed to run three times and also managed another run of five miles. It is amazing how much better I felt when I got home compared with 9 days before when I first did the same distance. If I run half marathon at my 5 miles pace I will manage it in 2 hours and 11 mins but in order for that to happen I will have to work on my stamina.

I'm running 6 (yes, 6) miles on Saturday morning and aiming for sub-1 hour. If you'd like to join me just let me know!

13 weeks to go

2005-06-21T03:32:00.000+01:00

Total miles run: 9

I am not managing very well at getting out running more than twice a week at the moment but am still very pleased with Thursday's achievement.

My aim for this week is to try shorter routes but more frequently which might be easier to combine with night shifts.

5 Miles Milestone

2005-06-17T07:17:00.000+01:00

I am very pleased as this evening I ran five miles for the first time ever. I managed to run all the way but did feel slightly 'odd' when I got home - lightheaded and not a little sore. My last big milestone was 5k over two years ago so this has been some time in the making. It had been my intention to post on a weekly basis but thought this deserved one of its own!

When going through Newton Hall a helicopter circled twice overhead. I wondered if HM Prison Brasside had lost an inmate but reassured myself with the thought that I was definitely not running fast enough to be mistaken for an enthusiastic escapee.

One of my previous running buddies has just run her first 10k which is great. Maybe I'll be the first to 10 miles...it's still all to play for!

14 weeks to go

2005-06-14T02:15:00.000+01:00

Miles run in last 7 days: about 8 over 2 days

Quite disappointed with myself as I slept in on Saturday morning and therefore did not have time for my big run of the week. Also very upset to find that the run I thought was 4 miles long is less and therefore the run I thought was 4-and-a-bit is only 4! I have, however, managed to find a 5 mile run to work towards in the next week.

As I'm working at the weekend all my running will have to be in the week. I am also thinking about mixing longer runs with shorter ones to build up speed so that I don't take a half a day to run from Newcastle to South Sheilds!

Aim for week: 3 runs, at least one of 5 miles.

A quick rewind

2005-06-09T04:00:00.000+01:00

21 weeks to go (25th April): Total miles run 2.5
20 weeks: 2.5 miles
19 weeks: none!
18 weeks: 8.5 miles (3 runs)
17 weeks: 8.5 miles but a bad week - walked large sections. Very demoralising.

15 weeks to go

2005-06-07T02:30:00.000+01:00

Miles run in last week - 8 over two days
Wildlife spotted - about 100 slugs!

This week was spent working at the four-mile distance. Initially I was having to walk sections either near the middle of the run or, in the case of the day I ate too soon before running, right from the start due to a very painful stitch! Incidently this is caused by lactic acid build up due to anaerobic respiration and from personal experience it can occur on either side or bilaterally which is even harder to ignore.

Plan for next week: Three runs aiming to increase to 5 miles.