"Snow way I can run on the roads!"

What a lovely week of snow, kids have loved it and I think I could probably add in a couple more miles of hiking the kids around on their sledges.

But as for running on the roads its been too dangerous here, tried it last year and many times nearly landed on my behind!  After my injury last year I decided to err on the side of caution and if there are other options available to train then I will take them rather than risk another injury.

I approached a local Gym a while back and asked if their donation to my training could be the use of their gym when I can't get out on the roads.  They have been fantastic and agreed to help in any way, so twice this week I have been to the gym and had an hour cross training and on the treadmill, not only is this easier on my joints but I managed to wedge in a bit of hill training too!

So this week I would like to give a huge thank you to Adam from AGW fitness gym at Towcester Rugby club for their help.  Its a fantastic friendly gym with great equipment.  Join them here on Facebook.

A little motivation goes a long way......

I have been thinking recently how to motivate myself to get through the next 14 weeks of training. The thing about running is its very much a mental battle as well as a physical. No one wants to run for 2 hours+ on their own, training. So I am thinking what will help me get through the next 14 weeks. Its very personal, what motivates one person may not motivate another..... So here's mine:

1) Running with others - its not possible all the time but having a companion does mean you don't feel like you are doing this all by yourself.

2) Good music - I have tried many times running without it but it does help you get through those tough bits, having 'Greatest day' and Gary by your side does a girl a lot of good!

3) Seeing how far you have gone, how quickly and what you have left - This is one I definitely think is my OCD, I wear both a Garmin (which I can glance at on my wrist) and use my iphone with my Nike app on it, this provides my music and a American lady in my ear telling me what I am doing every half a mile and cheers from you guys 'liking' on facebook! - I am thinking of writing a post on this little app as I love it (coming soon!)

4) Telling people before hand what I am up to on that day - this means mentally you are stating that its going to happen, whether you fancy it or not! It makes it real and you feel obliged to go through with it. So sorry guys that's why I often post on facebook etc because it means I feel like I can't back out!

Am going to try a audiobook (if someone suggests a good one) or maybe a podcast (again suggestions welcome) as it does take your mind somewhere else away from your legs.

So what advice or suggestions have you got for me for the next 14 weeks?? please drop me a message below and tell me what you think!?

oh and I bought some new trainers.... : )

As always, feel free to sponsor me and I am still looking for a few more great sweepstake prizes for you lovely people to win on the big day!

stepping out....

17 weeks to the big day! I am into week six of my proper training plan, this week I should be doing approximately 19 miles in total, however I do supplement my distance with a little bit of spinning!

So today I set out to do 7 miles to get a chunk done early in the week as trying to fit it all in before Christmas is a real challenge recently.

I fancied a bit of a change of scenery so as I was in Milton Keynes decided to go to Willen lake.

 Two loops of both lakes and another smaller loop for luck = 7.5 miles, if you want you can take a look at how I did here

 As we know I am not a fan of hills, the car was parked at the bottom of some steep steps so I bit the bullet and decided to do a few reps as a challenge.

After 3 goes back and forth I was completely done in... off home for me! 12 more miles to squeeze in this week... let see how we go!

{ Wet, wet, wet } - Training run

Okay so my weekend training run today was interrupted by all the masses of rain we have had in the last 48 hours.... twice we were running along quite nicely when we had to divert as we could not possibly run on the paths!

Plus we got wet feet from running through puddles and streams!

Still managed 4.9 miles but timings are a little slow due to two reasons!  1. stopping to take flood photos.... 2. last nights wine consumption for some people ; )

As they say 'onwards and upwards'...... less water!
Oh and couldn't get out much earlier in the week so ..... Davina came to my rescue! Thank you Davina x

{ The no-hill half } ~ Shakespeare Raceway

It's been great this year, having a training buddy....... well it was till she decided that we should do a half marathon only weeks since my last half marathon in London!!!!

So anyway decided that why not, I'll give it a go! The thing that sold it to me was the fact that its on a disused airfield...... now you say airfield ~ I think flatness!!!!! yes I was right, my GPS watch told me my total elevation gain for the entire 13.2 miles was in fact..... wait for it..... 22 meters!!! oh yeah that's what I'm talking about!!

I HATE hills, they are my biggest downfall, I just grind to a halt going up even the slightest elevation.... however I am not going to let this information take away the fact that I still managed a new PB of 2 hours 21 minutes and 58 seconds! I was thrilled and felt really good, no down points and even had energy for a sprint (of sorts) at the end (helped by Jess!)

Tracy my training partner also had a great race managing 2 hours 4 mins a PB for her as well.

Now we are looking at maybe a 10k before Christmas just to see if we can pick up our speed a little more!  I fancy trying a sub hour 6 miles as my goal!  Any ideas for a good race anyone??

Here are some piccies from the weekend, a before and after with medal!.

You can also see my pace, map and splits here. Click on the tabs at the right of the page to see splits and player!

Feel free to sponsor me if you think I am doing well so far.... its good motivation for me to keep running, thank you all!

Suzanne : )

Back at it.... my first half marathon for 2013 training

Okay so last years training resulting in me fracturing my ankle.... hoping for much more success this year!

After seeing a consultant and having 5 months with no training August saw me donning my kit again and hitting the road running!  There was me thinking I would be back real quick but alas it took a good month of hard work before I felt I got my pace back.

Me sporting a rather fetching 'Beckham boot'.   That's how they sold it too me anyway!
I'm doing things a little differently from last time.  Previously I solely ran and I did this all on my own...... this time I would like it to be different, I am currently training with a friend and also attending spinning and using the pool for an hour on 'ladies night' plus road cycling and obviously running - I am doing this to gain greater fitness, improve my speed and cut down the risk of another injury.

I have also set mini challenges throughout my training to 'spice' things up a bit! So along with Lucy Peacock and my Brother Richard we enrolled in the Run to the beat half marathon at the O2.  I was a bit nervous as had only managed 10 miles in the run up.  I wanted to beat my 2009 half marathon time of 2h 32 and managed to finish this one in 2h 33! bah!! Still I have booked myself in for another half marathon this weekend so will give it another bash at finishing in under 2h 30..... off to Stratford this time

So my fundraising page is still open and I managed the technical crossover of money from 2012 to 2013 with the help of the lovely people at Virgin so your messages are still up plus your great donations! Thank you for all my sponsors last year, but if you feel like you would like to sponsor again please feel free!