Silverstone Half and My Running Journey

I did it! I ran a half-marathon and in a pretty decent time too – 02:02:28 for anyone who is still interested! Not too bad for someone who was barely coping with 5km at the start of the year. I just want to do it all over again. I want to get sub 2hrs… I want to run a full marathon. I’m a mixture of suffering from post-race blues and still on a high and wanting to talk all things running with anyone who’ll still listen to me ramble on.

When I signed up for the race, I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of how I would do. At that point, I’d have been happy to just complete it. In terms of preparation, I stuck pretty much to the 12 week beginners training plan which was given by adidas (the race sponsors). This was based on two short runs during the week and one long run on a weekend working right up to a 12 mile run 4 weeks before race day. I definitely recommend sticking to a plan as much as possible. If I’d have just done haphazard running and building up my distances with no thought put in, I don’t think I’d have done as well as I did on the race day. I also found that it didn’t interfere too much with a social life either. I could still manage to fit these runs in without having to say no to big nights out or events.

I invested in a little bit of new running kit. I already had a pretty decent pair of trainers and sets of sports bras (M&S do great sports bras in cup sizes). I went to Primark and got a bright pink waterproof (which has been great), a couple of tops (which have also been great) and some leggings (not so great – they fall down a little bit and don’t have pockets). The running leggings I did swear by were a pair of Karrimor ones that were reasonably priced from Sports Direct. I also had a little waist pouch from h&m that fits in a couple of cards, keys and an energy gel. Rather than using a running watch, I used the mapmyrun app on my phone which works brilliantly. I have my phone for music when I’m running anyway and this gives me a recap at each KM of the time, distance, pace and split pace.

I didn’t want to end up spending loads of money on kit and equipment only to not enjoy running and/or only do one race. It would have just been a complete waste of money and also even more unused things when I'm trying to drastically de-clutter. Now that I know I want to carry on, I’m happy to start investing a little bit more of my hard-earned cash. New trainers are the top of my list.

I did a little bit of research of what to eat before running and how to fuel myself but it wasn’t a strict diet. On a normal workday, I’d have breakfast which was either cereal, cereal bar, yoghurt, fruit, a lunch of pasta, sandwich or soup and then a banana at around 4pm. It always seemed to work. I’m much more of an afternoon/evening runner/exerciser anyway. I’m just generally not a morning person at all. On long runs, I would usually have porridge mixed with some fruit about 2hrs prior to going out. This served me well. I had to be careful to leave enough time between eating and running. The first time I attempted to do a 10 mile run, I ended up having to walk a big chunk as I started to suffer with bad stomach cramping, almost like period pain. Lesson learned – but I guess that’s part and parcel of training, learning to know what your body responds to both positively and negatively. I used one energy gel on long runs and I’m still unsure as to whether I did need them or not. I think it was more a psychological thing more than anything else. I felt I could go on more if I had them. I used the SIS GO ones purely because they were easy to get hold of in my local Tesco.

 

Silverstone Race

The race was the adidas Silverstone Half at the F1 race track. It was a three lap route. In terms of the venue, on the plus side, it was pretty flat the whole way round with a few slight inclines which makes it great for a first race like mine. Also, if you're an F1 fan, you may also relish running on such an iconic route. On the down side, it’s slightly out of the way making it difficult to get to unless you drive.  (although there are buses put on specially from Birmingham and London). I think this combined with the layout of the route meant that there were large parts of the race with little or no spectators. I’m only speculating here but I’m guessing with races through city centres, you end up with a lot more accidental spectators…. The organisation was faultless though and all in all, it was a great day. We were also blessed with gorgeous sunshine which definitely helped! Not sure I’d have enjoyed it as much in the pouring rain.

 

 

For the first half of the race, I was keeping pace with the 01:58 pacer. I was even a little bit in front at one point. My target finishing time was 02:10 and there was no way I was expecting to get sub 02 hours. However, there was the voice inside my head just saying “What if…. What if?” I pushed myself at this pace for a little bit longer, but by 08 miles I knew I had to slow down. I still tried to push myself in certain places but my legs were getting tired. I’m still pretty happy with my time and know that with some work, I will be able to get sub 2hrs which is more than I dreamed of when I first started training back in December.

 

 

Right, now to go and find some more races to run!!

An Ode To RIAD... My Palentines

2011

2016

 

 

It’s Monday morning and I still feel like I’m recovering from Saturday night. I’ve checked my bank balance and have £100 to last the next ten days. I woke up so late that I didn’t have time to get milk before work so I’m getting through the morning on some left over Galaxy Minstrels that I found in my desk drawer. Sounds like an all-round depressing situation, right? I’m actually feeling pretty content, albeit a teensy bit tired.

The reason for such a chipper mood? Friends. I know it’s a cliché single person thing to say about Valentine’s Day, but celebrating love doesn’t have to always be limited to the romantic type. It’s good to take time to appreciate all the great relationships in your life. And at one point or another last week I got to catch up with all my favourites.

The icing on the proverbial cake was the arrival of two brilliant babes in London, the other half of RIAD (Rhythm Is A Dancer - as none of really have any rhythm at all) to celebrate Roxanne’s 27^th birthday. And it was the best way to celebrate #Palentines. A weekend full of yummy food, good wine, belly laughs, getting dolled up for a night out, skittle bomb shots, late night McDonalds and even more yummy food.

So, although there was a lack of romance on my Valentine’s Day this year, there definitely was not a lack of love (awwwwww) and for that I’ll always be grateful. Grateful for friends that always have my back and never fail to make me smile.

If, by some stroke of luck I manage to find a man by next Valentine’s Day, he definitely has a lot to live up to in terms of beating this year’s celebration.

Roll on Newcastle in April for the next RIAD reunion.

Running and Other Bits of Life

A moody looking Clapham Common on my run

 

I feel like this year has gotten off to a pretty good start (almost the end of January already YAY!). I’m feeling focused on some goals that I’ve set myself. I refuse to use the word resolution as I know that I will fail immediately. I want this to be the year I finally feel a bit more in control and sure of where my life is going rather than constantly feeling like I’m suffering from duck syndrome (calm and collected on the surface and paddling like hell underneath the water).

Signing up to a half marathon has really helped me to push myself out of my exercise comfort zone and gives me that motivation I need to get myself up and moving, even when it’s the last thing I feel like doing. On the 17^th January, I ran 10 miles which is the furthest I’ve ever done. It wasn’t easy. I got stomach cramps at around 5km and had to stop and walk for a little bit until they eased off. It’s probably a mixture of not eating properly the night (I had pancakes for breakfast and then an M&S sausage roll for lunch and dinner consisting of picking at a feast of crisps, sausages and Percy Pigs) and running too soon after eating my breakfast on Sunday morning. Food and fuel is an important part of the running process and I need to be able to ensure that I prepare better for my longer runs in the future. I managed to get to 10.04 miles in 1:43:56. I would’ve liked to have gotten sub 1hr 40min but I know that I can if I prepare better.

Two months ago when we signed up for the half marathon, I never thought I’d be able to reach the distances of 08 miles, 10 miles but I’m enjoying pushing my body (and my mind, running is such a mental sport too) that little bit further each time I go out. I ache a lot afterwards but I feel accomplished. I’ve even entered the ballot for the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October. I know this is nothing new to a lot of people and my times aren’t worth shouting about but I feels good that I’m improving and achieving something.

My second aim for this year is to say no more. Kind of an odd one really, as most people want to say yes to more and cram more things into their time. When you live in a big city, especially London, you do get FOMO a lot. Because of that, I’ve said yes to going out and doing things when a) I can’t afford it, b) I’ve been absolutely knackered c) I’ve wanted to do anything at all d) I’ve felt obliged to, like I will offend the person asking if I say no. I want to concentrate on running at the moment and also on saving some money. I don’t want to feel constantly bloated and run down because that one glass of wine after work turned into three bottles. I don’t want every single weekend crammed full of activities that make me anxious that I’ll have no money left by the end of the month or no me time at all.

So yeah.... here's too 2016!

Favourite Moments of 2015

So it’s now 2016…… I’m sat back at my desk after a very refreshing 10 days off work most of which was spent up in glorious Yorkshire. I’m not really into all the New Year, new me bullshit. However, I do like to take a bit of slower pace in January mainly because Christmas leaves me skint, knackered and with a booze bloat that is just not very becoming. Therefore, it’s the perfect time for a bit of reflection on the year that was 2015.

 It was definitely a mixed bag of a year but full of high points which is what I will focus on.

1)      Seeing Years and Years at Heaven just before they really blew up and became massive.

              It was a really amazing night with great music and great company.

 

2)      Mine and Beth’s boozy day out! I love how unlimited brunches are now a thing. Me and my former housemate (*sob* - come back Beth *crying face emoji*) booked in at the Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings in April and enjoyed a leisurely morning of bacon and bloody Mary’s followed by Prosecco and the Grand National. We may have also indulged in a little bit of drunk shopping! The best kind of days. This has also been replicated with other bottomless brunches through the year (Bad Egg and The Jam Tree in Clapham) and boozy dinners (Cookbook Café, Cinnamon Kitchen & Anise and Roka Canary Wharf) and some really fun nights out which leave me with the fiercest of hangovers but make me realise I have the best (worst influence) friends.

 

3)      MARBS MARBS MARBS!! Roxanne’s Hen Do over May bank holiday weekend was the perfect way to kick start summer. Lazy days by the pool following by messy nights celebrating one of my best friend’s last days of freedom. Julioooo……. Get the stretch!!

 

4)      Rox and Scott tie the knot! So lovely to be able to watch a best friend become a Kennedy and join our crazy family. The venue, the guests, the dress, and the food. Everything was spot on and created a warm and wonderful day.

 

5)      Work trip to Germany – Working in the travel industry does have perks sometimes and I was invited in July to take part in a familiarisation trip to Bavaria by the German Tourist Board. I’m a massive Germanophile but had never actually visited Bavaria so it was a bit of a no-brainer. We visited breweries in Kelheim, Weltenburg, Abensburg, Regensburg, Nuernberg and Bamberg. I don’t think I’ve ever drank as much beer and eaten as much sausage! I definitely want to go back and revisit Bamberg and Regensburg and visit other areas such as Rothenburg and Fuessen (and the famous Neuschwanstein Castle).

 

6)      Everyone’s turning 30! 2015 was a big birthday year for a lot of my friends (and myself included)! I’ve had lots of fun celebrating with people, from fancy dress house parties and murder mysteries to trips to Spain and Manchester and afternoon tea at the Oxo Tower. It’s been a blast. I had a little bit of a wobble about turning 30 and not being where I want to be but it’s so exciting to see how much we’ve all achieved and grown up in different ways.

 

7)      Family time – I probably don’t spend as much time with my family as I should. However, I’ve made up for that in the latter part of the year. October saw the Kennedy (and two Mastermans) have their first holiday together abroad. It was my Dad and two brothers first time on an aeroplane also. It was nice to see them out of their comfort zone and embracing and enjoying it. The main delight for me was getting to spend quality time with the cheeky little bundle of joy that is my niece, Marcie. It was the same this Christmas. It’s great to see her growing up and developing her personality and mannerisms.  

 

There’s so much to look forward to in 2016 too, my first half marathon, a girls weekend to Newcastle, more 30^th birthdays, revisiting Ibiza and my sister Shona’s hen and being honoured to be her a bridesmaid! BRING IT ON!!

Running, Running, Running

 

Picture: Pintrest



August, September and October were pretty miserable months. I was moping a lot and having a bit of a woe is me time. I wasn’t making an effort for friends unless they were contacting me first. I was finishing work and heading straight home and eating crap and watching TV until I went to bed.

Enough was enough though and I knew I had to snap out of it. One of things I felt like I was missing was exercise. I missed the ache in my muscles and that drained but exhilarating feeling you get post work-out from the release of endorphins.

I decided to re-join the gym. I was a pretty fair-weather gym bunny. I always managed to find excuses not to go and earlier this year cancelled my membership as it £60 that I could really do with in my pocket, especially as I was only going once a week, if that. Plus it was summer and I thought I’d run outside more!! Yeah, good one.

To give me that extra boost to go more often, I let my best friend talk me into signing up for a half marathon….. in March!! She had put herself into her work ballot for a place in the London Marathon but was unsuccessful. The charity she was she going to run for, Myeloma UK, offered places in some other races through the year, one of which was the Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon. I think I might have been drunk (or at least hungover) and I said “Yeah I’ll join you!”

At first, I thought I’ll never be able to run 21km (13.1 miles). I usually run about 5km and it leaves me feeling like I might collapse and/or throw up at the end. However, I’ve been pushing myself through and slowly building up my distance and stamina. I find the first few kilometres the hardest. I just want it to be over with as quickly as possible. Then at about 5km, it’s as though my body has resigned itself to the fact that it’s been pushed and I can manage to get to the target distance I’ve set myself. Last night I aimed for 9km and managed it in 58mins. That’s roughly an average speed of 6mins 26 seconds per km. If I can manage that pace the whole way through, I’d finish at 2hrs 15mins and 15 seconds. We’re in the starting wave of 2hrs and 15mins so I definitely would like to achieve a time that is sub that!

I’m aware though that those are treadmill times and running outside greatly differs. I need to fit a lot more running outside into the training to get used to the climate, atmosphere and dips and hills. Pretty much giving up drinking after Christmas will also be something I'll be having to get used too.

WISH ME LUCK, I definitely need it.

25-30

When you turn 30, you start to think about how you've changed, not only personally, but in your looks and style too.
I recently went back through the archives of Facebook and found some pictures of either my birthday night out since my 25th birthday or a time pretty close to it.

25
Oh dear! I was trying to grow out a bowl cut and look like I've got a bit of a mushroom head!
I loved this dress at the time I bought it. I used to want my outfits to get me noticed in either a bad or a good way. I favoured body con dresses that showed off every curve. The 30 year old me would definitely feel way too self conscious to wear something like this now.

26
This leather dress has been dubbed my porn star dress but again at the time I loved it. I wanted to be noticed. I'd just come back from a weeks holiday in Ibiza so had a bit of tan. Again, this dress is something I'd feel way to self conscious to wear now but I felt great in it at the time. It's one of those dresses that I couldn't throw away because of the memories. It was probably not the best idea to wear a pleather dress to London's sweatiest club though in hindsight.

27
This was taken at V Festival so I guess it's OK to go a little flamboyant at a festival. I think this is when Jessie J was my style inspiration. Everything had to be a garishly printed along with those big tacky earrings! I also had a full fringe which isn't in view, pinned back due to greasy festival hair (EWWWW).

28
I'd calmed down with the way I dressed here. My hair was longer, I was growing out the fringe. I didn't want to be as try-hard anymore. I think in the previous years, I was dressing to try to be someone I wasn't, trying to exude an outer confidence that I didn't always feel inside. I'd also had a really crappy year at a job I no longer enjoyed and my weight dropped. Probably the slimmest I've been in my adult life.

29
Although I don't wear them as often, I still can't resist a colourful print and where better to indulge than on holiday. This was taken on our last night in Lisbon last year to go out for dinner. I love jumpsuits. They're perfect for when you want to dress up but don't want to bare all. It's coming with me on holiday again this weekend.

30
My 30th birthday night out outfit. It's not the most original of outfits, but it suits me and I felt confident and comfortable. I wasn't trying to pull it over my stomach or checking that my bum was hanging out. I'm a lot more sure of my style and what looks good on me. I don't try and dress to get the attention of others. I don't need to have all my flesh on show. My hair might be a little bit boring but at least I don't have a mushroom head anymore!!!

Roll on the next five years.

Morning Thoughts

Alarm goes off at 06:50. I inwardly groan. Two thoughts are buzzing round my head - “How it can be morning already, I feel like I only slept for 20 minutes.” And “how much longer can I stay in bed before I REALLY have to get up?” Snooze pressed for twenty more minutes. I don’t know why I’m trying to delay the inevitable.

I drag my arse out of bed and into the cold bathroom. Can I get away without washing my hair? I’ll wear trousers today. Can’t even think about attempting to shave my legs. Ah least it’ll be tights season again soon. Ahhhhhh this shower is so nice and warm and friendly. I don’t want to get out. I might sit down and let it just wash over me. I don’t though – that kind of comforting shower hug is reserved only for the severest of hangovers. Right, time to get out. Shit, there’s water everywhere. Splash Bandicoot strikes again. The world is just so against me. Ah but fluffy dressing gown, can I stay in this forever?

TV on – GMTV, Daybreak, Good Morning Britain – what’s it even called these days? Why is Kate Garraway so cheery in morning? Laura, please give me some good news about the weather. Raining again. Shit. Never mind, only 18 days until I’m on holiday again. Today is definitely a glasses day. I don’t think I can focus on putting my contact lenses in the right eyes this morning. What’s the minimum amount of make-up I can put on without people asking me if I’m feeling ill? How is it 07:41 already? I best dry my hair….. not enough time… up in a messy bun it goes, complete with baby fringe sticking up making me look cray-cray. Better hairspray that down.

Time to get dressed, no time to let the deodorant dry under my pits so I end up with stains all down my dark jumper. No time to change, I’ll just have to ride with it. Shoes on, jacket on. Phone – check, keys – check, oyster card – check, purse –check, lunch box – check. Still bet I’ve left something behind.

Mad dash to the bus stop. Oh great, two buses arriving at once of which I manage to miss both. Oh great, the next one is in seven minutes. I’ll be late for work. No time to get breakfast. I’m sure there’s a mouldy banana at the bottom of my bag. Start walking to the station or sit and wait? I compromise and walk to the next bus stop along. I manage to squeeze myself on and arrive at the station and jump onto the northern line straight away. Ah…. And relax. Well, as much as is physically possible when you’re jammed into someone’s armpit.

Wait, why is every other female in this carriage looking at lot more polished than me? Right, that’s it. Tomorrow is a new me. I’m definitely going to wake up earlier and do my hair and make-up properly. I’ll plan my outfit tonight and make sure everything matches and doesn’t have tooth paste and/or deodorant on it. I’ll be a polished city worker rather than a scruff ball who looks like they’re on the way home from a mad all-nighter. I CAN DO IT.

Oh, fuck it. Who am I kidding? I’m just not a morning person. If you need me, I’ll be pressing snooze continuously.