Total Miles Run = 1,008.7
Races Run = 22
(including 6 Parkruns)
Number of PB's = 4
(5km, 5m, 10km and Half Marathon)
Favourite bit of kit = Garmin Forerunner 305
Favourite Event = Thunder Run 24hr Relay
Most miles in one pair of shoes = 537 miles
(Brooks Vapour 9)
Toenails Lost = 2
Today nothing else mattered, I had 2.5 miles left to run and that is what I would be doing, but I would not be doing this alone. This was too big for me to start celebrating in the street alone and jumping up and down whooping with joy while passers by shielded their children from me and averted their gaze - I needed companions and I knew exactly where to find them.
Today is New Years Eve and in anticipation of some hangovers tomorrow the weekend long run had been moved to this morning, with a shorter, and later run planned for tomorrow.
I arrived at the meeting point early, keen and with a tin of my famous family Christmas cake - made by few but loved by many! There were six others running today, I couldn't keep my eyes off my Garmin as the distance gradually added up, I was getting close and before we knew it I was there, 1,000 miles! There was no fanfare but my fellow runners congratulated me, James gave me a good pat on the back and as is the way we continued along our route. James said I didn't have to work hard now because anything else was just for enjoyment! It came at the right time as we had reached the woods and went for a lovely jaunt (me lagging slightly behind) through woods and trails, through High Elms Golf Course. As we reached more built up areas I saw the unmistakable gait of a fellow PWR runner Dave B and immediately I felt it necessary to stop him to tell him of my 1,000 miles achievement, he hugged me and wished me well for the New Year and we were off again!
We returned to our meeting point, by which stage I was once again full of beans and soon Christmas cake as well. The rumour was out and I was joined by another PWR, not running that morning but keen to share the joy of my achievement (and more likely the cake).
Next stop was Emma's where we had a cuppa, delighted in my mileage once again and ate the remaining cake. Her very sweet daughter also rewarded me with a lovely painting she had done by way of congratulations too!
Now I am home, not yet deflated and running a bath in which to soak off the 11 miles that took me comfortably over the 1,000 mile threshold this morning. A great run with great company and a great end to my year of running!
This time the fable did not come true with the tortoise winning the day. The first of the weekly track sessions I hope to complete over the next 16 weeks as I approach the London Marathon was tonight. There was a good turnout with 11 runners, plus Jerry who was doing some pacing work (only 3 seconds out he was chuffed to bits!).
The track training session was not so easy, not that I would expect it to be, we did a good warm-up and then 3 sets of 1600m with 1 minute recoveries. As I approached the final lap left of my first mile both Grant and John overtook me - oh woe to be lapped so early on.
I had chosen my pace, I was sticking with it, I am nothing if not consistent, just a shame that tonight I felt consistently slow. At some point jerry changed direction and hollered good encouragement at us as he passed by in the opposite direction. My thoughts remained with keeping my pace steady and counting down the miles left to hit 1,000.
During my final lap (all the others had finished but were still shouting encouragement to me) I had a moment where I really felt like crying, being ill earlier this month has maybe rested my legs but it has certainly been no good for my stamina, it will return I know it will as I get deeper into my training schedule my legs will start to feel normal again.
I finally finished and as we cooled down and stretched the question that stuck in my mind was do I stay on the track until it is done or go home ready to run another day, I have two days left after all. My decision was to go for the James Bond finish, lets cut it fine!
So I know some of you are waiting with baited breath and others may have seen my updated running log and know that tonight was not the night to hit 1,000, however with a mere 2.5miles to go it should be as easy as 1,2,3 (see what I did there!).
There was a time when such a goal would be an outlandish and crazy thought for one such as myself, to even start running was achievement enough for me. This year as the miles clocked up I knew it was possible, I entered November well ahead of schedule and if I continued as planned I would reach the magical (maybe to me only ) number well ahead of the end of the year.
Then disaster struck, I got a cold, followed by a virus, then a nasty cough and lost my voice.... the days were slipping away and with them my chance of reaching my goal. I soldiered on trying to stay positive and hoping somehow 3 weeks off would give me a boost rather than set me back. I have been running steadily for nearly two weeks now and although my fitness has suffered the miles are slowly creeping towards the 1,000 mark. On Tuesday I tagged some distance to the start and finish of the club run and now I am left with 8.3miles with today, tomorrow and Saturday to complete. It can be done, I know it can.
Tonight I will be joining others from PWR for the first week of track training to get us prepped for our 2012 running challenges, the Spring marathon for many of us. With warm up and reps the overall distance covered has been advertised at about 6-7miles... it will take me within spitting distance... will it be tonight with two days to spare? We shall see soon enough.
Next stop was Emma's where we had a cuppa, delighted in my mileage once again and ate the remaining cake. Her very sweet daughter also rewarded me with a lovely painting she had done by way of congratulations too!
This time the fable did not come true with the tortoise winning the day. The first of the weekly track sessions I hope to complete over the next 16 weeks as I approach the London Marathon was tonight. There was a good turnout with 11 runners, plus Jerry who was doing some pacing work (only 3 seconds out he was chuffed to bits!).
