30 /01 spinning
31/01 intervals on treadmill
01/02 OUCH knee really hurts NO RUNNING
02/02 Cross trainer and rowing machine
03/02 Cross trainer and rowing machine
04/02 NO RUNNING
05/02 8 miles 1h 11 min 9:00 min miles. Really cold, snowy and icy and my knee started hurting at about 6 miles.
I think I really over did it the week before with 7 miles, 15 miles then a XC race all in a row as I have done something to my IT band/knee and had to take a few days off running and rest my knee so I spent a lot of time at the gym this week which was fairly dull trying to go on the cross trainer rather than the treadmill. YAWN . My knee felt ok on the Sunday but it was a challenging run because of all the ice and snow on the road.
Week 7 (6 Feb - 12 Feb)
07/02 Intervals on treadmill
08/02 9 miles on treadmill. That felt LONG
09/02 6 miles on treadmill
10/02 spinning
11/02 rest (2 hours of tap dancing but that doesn't count)
12/02 Meon Valley Plod - 21 miles off road - taking in Butser Hill. This is the most DIFFICULT thing I've ever done.
This week was most notable for being absolutely FREEZING so I did most of my running on the treadmill. My knee is still feeling a little bit dodgy but definitely starting to improve. I find it really mind numbing running on a treadmill - its more of a MENTAL challenge to survive the boredom. Not really much to look at my gym!
I took part in the Meon Valley Plod on Sunday which was a crazy 21 mile off road race. As it had been so cold this week there was still snow and ice on the top of Butser Hill so it made for difficult terrain. The buster hill climb was at 17 miles so it was HARD to get to the top, especially as 6foot men were losing their footing and almost falling on me! This was a massive challenge for me as the longest I'd ever run before this was 15 miles and I've never done an off road race like this. I did actually enjoy it and I discovered that JELLY BABIES are going to be my fuel of choice. I was seriously downing them by 15 miles. They're easy to eat as you go along, delicious and I got an instant sugar hit. One bad thing about them though is they make you all white and dusty.
An annoying thing about the race was that I spent mile 10 to 17 looking for appropriate place to go for a wee! It was mostly blokes doing the race and they were just going in all the bushes by the side of the course but it took me ages to find a little lane that was discreet enough for no one to see me! I think they should make special little hedge loos for the ladies along the course.
Was so happy when I finished - I did it in 3hours40minutes so 10min30 min miles which I am pleased with as I had no idea how long it would take me to complete. I came 11 lady in my category which is pretty cool too. Well chuffed with my medal and t shirt too, I felt well hard when I finished! Some really embarrassing photos of me during the race below!
Just giving myself a Hi 5 at the top of Butser
Still just about smiling at the top of another hill!
You can sponsor me for running the Brighotn Marathon here -
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=annawemyss
