Oh I do like to be beside the seaside...Not!

I'm still on cloud nine, amazed at just how I managed to run 20 miles without stopping yesterday. I'm not saying it was easy, it wasn't, by mile 15 my feet were sore, I had just about had enough of the revolting carb gel and could not even face the thought of another one, and whats more didn't really have the patience to squeeze the gloop out of the pinhead sized hole that's left when you tear the top off, thrusting a jelly bean into my mouth it felt like a whole cake or something, so the fuelling is not going to be easy over 26.2 miles is it? However, I did it and although I was feeling very tired I'm told that London will be a much better course with a lot more support, yesterday's race was mainly on cycle and walking tracks and also consisted of a lot of 'out and backing' where you found that the faster runners were coming back at you, they had done 16 miles in the space of time that I had done a lot lot less! There was also very little support and none of the sea front, amusements and beach I was expecting. For months I had been looking forward to a run by the sea and all I got was a few canoeists on the River Lune, housing estates, upside down trees, stables and a whole lot of graffiti that I was unable to even read! Whilst I agree it is probably a great preparation race for fast runners doing London, I would not be keen to recommend it to fellow 'less fast' runners!

By mile 19 I think I had virtually lost the will to live knowing that a run round the track to finish quite probably lay ahead when all of a sudden I spotted a familiar face, my sister-in-law, Tricia, and her husband Neil - there's nothing like a face you know to lift your spirits, with that out from behind a bush jumped my son Marc and Husband Martin, I had waved goodbye that morning safe in the knowledge that they were going to spend a day together doing dad and son things! I thought I was going to pass out! I managed to carry on and once I had got over the shock managed an uplifting TWO laps of the track to the finish!

Free use of the facilities at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre tempted the four of us,Me, Sophie, Lisa & Jo to go for a post run swim, bliss! I'm sure that has assisted in reducing the aches and pains today as I don't feel anywhere near as bad as I thought I was going to. Great job, I'm so proud of all four of us!

Keeping on track...

I'm still feeling a little achy after Thursday's intervals session on the track at Horsfall Stadium. It all seemed very professional as we were given instructions on the correct use of the lanes and how to avoid collisions etc. By this point I was feeling a little daunted. However, once into the swing of the 4 lap warm up, stretches and alternate 5k pace laps interspersed with a recovery lap, everything fell into place. I must say I didn't feel very athletic after the 3rd lap at speed! I began to mentally write my blog there and then...well this weeks distance training session was the worst yet..... However, I'm pleased to report that once the intervals were completed I really didn't feel that bad at all!

My intended cross training session went out of the window as Marc's football match was moved to today due to tomorrow being Mothering Sunday. Dejavu struck as I found myself in the vicinity of Horsfall Track once more as the football was Undercliffe Tykes versus Bradford Park Avenue - based at Horsfall.

My cross training consisted of hopping from one foot to another trying to keep warm on the sidelines and an afternoon of housework!

I have little doubt though that the rest will be a positive attribute to the 20 miles ahead of me in Morecambe tomorrow.......

Fundraising is still very steady many thanks to those who have sponsored me so far and for those still thinking about it www.justgiving.com/julie-steele is all the information you need.....

Dejavu!

Ahh rest day today, Sunday's 16.03 miles was so much more pleasant in the lovely sunshine. Sophie and I set off from Esholt after marshalling the final Peco Cross Country race to complete a slightly altered version of the run I did with Lisa and Jo last week. It wasn't too long before we hit a hiccup, the main gate by the filter beds was locked, no way through so we about turned and carried on through by an alternative route. I wasn't entirely sure where we were going to end up but it wasn't too long before we decided on a way through which we thought would still take us in the direction of Guiseley. Low and behold we arrived at the bottom of Gill Lane as planned. The roads and shopping areas at Guiseley and Otley were absolutely full of cars and people obviously brought out by the sun, making it difficult to negotiate crossing the road and getting down to the river. This done we administered ourselves another carb gel and set off back in the direction of Whitecross with a slight feeling of dejavu!

Once we reached the bottom of Hollings Hill, a little way along Baildon Bottom we diverted off the road onto the canal. It was like paradise getting off the busy roads down onto the tranquil, scenic canal. We finished our run in what seemed like no time at all. What a difference the sunshine made, I also have a sneaking feeling that the 17+ miles last week made 16 miles seem so much more acceptable too!

Monday's speed & hills session was a tempo run (dejavu once more!) which all the members seemed to really enjoy, Lisa had put together a slightly shorter version of the sessions we have done with Mick, starting and finishing on Gain Lane and it all went to plan!

This week I have a club run on Wednesday, distance training at the Horsfall track with Mick on Thursday, and instead of club on Friday we have a talk from a nutritionist (arranged by Airedale Athletics) followed by a curry (not sure he'll endorse the curry!). I am considering a short run or cross training of some description on Saturday ahead of the Trimpell 20 mile in Morecambe on Sunday which will be the highest mileage I have done to date.

I've been running for two years! : o

This week's training has once again gone well, I constantly have a nagging doubt in my head at the start of each week that maybe this will be the week I don't get through without problems, but yet again apart from a chesty cough and a few cold symptoms here I am looking forward to my long run on Sunday after marshalling the 5th and final peco cross country race of this series at Esholt.

I've run with club as usual, Monday's speed and hills session was a brilliant aid to loosening my legs after our long run to Otley, whilst Wednesday was another 'easy' 8 miles in the bank. I noticed from my training log (www.fetcheveryone.com) that I have run 102 miles more last month than I did in February 2009! Amazing!

Thursday's distance training session was not at Cliffe Castle as I had hoped but Wallis Street at Four Lane Ends. However, I had to chuckle to myself as some of the stories emerged of people being led into a false sense of security thinking they were going to a track when in fact, and I already knew this having worked in the area some years ago, we were meeting at a very industrial area complete with roadworks, diverted traffic (and lots of it) and uneven pavement hazards! (The road exploded just before Christmas when a major water main burst sending parts of the road and water over 50 feet into the air!) We were to run around what I can only describe as a 'block' which measured 1 kilometre, at 10k pace - mine was calculated to be around 5:30/k with 3 min rest in between each one. These type of sessions are known as intervals, yet another string to my bow, I've learned such a lot since my association with Mick. Despite the initial disappointment everyone agreed what a great session it had been. Mick advised us that these type of sessions, would greatly improve race times, as doing speed work makes your longer runs easier, well that's the theory anyway!

This evening's club run was another chance to take it easy and rack up just over 5 miles - the Harrogate Road 3 split, meaning there were three points along the route to cut off if needs be but I managed to hang in there and go the whole distance even though up Harrogate Road from Greengates was a bit of a drag for my tired legs. Linda and I were running along Idle Road heading back to club when a teenager flagged us down wanting directions to Gaisby Lane as he had been chased by some girls and got separated from his friends. After we explained where he needed to go he politely asked if he could jog with us - we promptly agreed. Making conversation as we went he asked 'how long have you been running?' - 'about two years' I answered, his jaw dropped 'Eh?' I immediately realised he meant this evening! 'Oh since 7 0'clock' I giggled!! Imagine running for 2 years solid - 17 miles was quite enough last weekend!!! He bid us farewell and thanked us when after a few hundred yards he spotted his 'lost' friend and we parted company.

Still smiling I mused how not all kids hurl abuse at us runners!

Bye, bye February *waves*

I'm Still feeling quite giddy as I write! Having completed 17.32 miles (not quite the 17.5 'map my run' declared!) Lisa and I were positively excited in quite a juvenile manner! Jo was a little more reserved having turned up feeling a little below par she still insisted on going the full distance which was raising her mileage more than necessary but as she and I groaned in unison as we descended back to Apperley Bridge I joked with her that we could make it into a song! The start this morning was 3 hours behind us and it felt great, painful but great! Just where one pulls such elation and excitement from after covering such a distance is beyond me but believe me it felt good. I'm sure Jo felt the same even if she didn't show it.

If I had to hazard a guess some of it may have spawned from the fact that we didn't get the soaking we were expecting as the weather forecast had been for a downpour, high winds and a storm, the reality was overcast, at times a cold breeze but nonetheless pleasant conditions in which to run, also the time, taking into account that the route we had just covered was quite a tough climb up to Guiseley, through Menston, down into Otley pause by the river for a photo (above) and then uphill back to Menston, up through Whitecross to Hollings Hill, down through Baildon, up to Fox's Corner at Shipley and then back up Leeds Road to Thackley, along to Apperley Lane back down to Woodhouse Grove School, we dared to equate our time with the marathon and came to the conclusion that realistically - dare I say it - we should be able to do our respective marathons in 4 1/2 hours - that makes my heart miss a beat but I'm still sticking to my statement 'I will be elated if I can go under 5 hours' - oh ye of little faith!

Never mind the weeks, there goes another month, bye bye February!

Fundraising is going quite steadily thanks to those who've handed over their hard earned cash - Mick, Scott, Mick & Dawn, Sarah, Kyoko, Tom & Gemma & Linda x
If you haven't visited yet, please do: www.justgiving.com/julie-steele

Here there and everywhere

Au revoir to another week! Following our mammoth run in the snow last Sunday I thought maybe I might ache on Monday but that was not the case. Off I went to club for our regular speed and hills session, this week was the Co-op pyramid so with that under my belt and still feeling fine, Wednesday's mid-length run to Saltaire and back seemed like a walk in the park. I took it nice and steady running back occasionally to the back runners, chatting as we went then getting slightly ahead before returning to the back and so on putting just over 8 miles in the bank. The apprehension I felt in the early weeks of my training plan seem very distant now as I look forward to the big day, 8 weeks on Sunday....

The start to Thursday's distance training was marred slightly by heavy rain, we were all soaked to the skin even before we had finished our warm up. Undeterred we headed off down to Gain Lane to start this week's long tempo, no explanation needed! A slight change to the route took away the feeling of dejavu, we headed down to the dual carriage way but instead of taking a left up Woodhall we went under the subway and headed along Galloway Lane to Pudsey centre, Sophie and I ran it together chatting where possible! We found ourselves getting all the way down to Swinnow before the 35 minutes were up. "About turn" and we were heading uphill back the way we had come, Pudsey Pacers runners were frantically running in pairs, in all directions like buzzing bees! "Well done Ladies" - I'm sure they thought we were some of their members and do hope they weren't missing us when they got back to base!! Finally getting back to the start point I was once again delighted to have completed the exercise in 72 minutes. A jog back to the cricket club followed by cool down stretches and drills ended another brilliant session. Mick is looking into the possibility of us training at Cliffe Castle, Keighley next week. I'll look forward to it!

Tonight's club run was thankfully a short run, Westfield Lane loop from club totalled just over three miles in 36 minutes, a perfect recovery run ahead of a rest day tomorrow and a planned 17.5 mile run to Otley and back via Shipley on Sunday - in addition this week I have run through Guiseley, Horsforth, Adel, Bramhope, Yeadon, Rawdon, Idle, Shipley, Saltaire & Pudsey!

Return of the White Stuff!

A rigorous stretching session and a much longer warm up jog preceded the planned short tempo at distance training on Thursday. The short tempo turned out to be a shorter (surprise, surprise!) tempo session than last week and much faster. Together with the sleet blowing at us we really were treated to a tough workout! Friday's Carr Lane run was much tougher than I had anticipated. I had hoped to get up it in one go but this was not the case, the hard session the night before really showed. I had a much needed and, I thought, well earned rest day on Saturday in preparation for our long run on Sunday.

Opening the curtains on Sunday morning I was shocked to see a white blanket of snow and it was still coming down. I immediately thought this would put paid to our long run. However, a few hours later Sophie texted me to say 'is nowt we haven't seen before. See you at 2 pm' I was delighted! Acting like a small child I demanded Martin take a photo in our snow covered garden before I set off, just in case it had all melted by the time I returned!

Off I went to the meeting place at Apperley Bridge Lisa was there too - perfect! We set off with the intention of seeing how it was under foot and making a decision as to whether to stick to our planned 15.7 mile route or just run 7.5 miles along the canal towards Rodley and double back to make up the 15 miles. After last week's long haul from Silsden on the canal I didn't much fancy that but needs must.

After 3 miles or so Lisa announced that now was decision time, follow our route or carry on along the canal? Sophie very nicely asked a lady if she would take a photo of the three of us before we agreed to go along with the plan and so turned off the canal up towards Horsforth, continuing through to Adel, Bramhope, Yeadon, Rawdon and finishing off with a gruelling downhill to Apperley Bridge, by this time we were all weary but I couldn't help feeling great satisfaction at sticking to our plan even though the white stuff had tried to scupper our best laid plans......