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Great North Run 2014 - Up's, Down's and everything in between, before and after!

Hello!

Welcome back everyone

I’ve been reflecting a lot over the run since Sunday; there have been reminders everywhere from on the TV watching it back yesterday to driving over the Tyne Bridge on the way to work this morning and still seeing the banner and Million sign on the side.

 

My last #bridgeselfie the day before the big day

I am also getting reminders every time I move!

We went along to the pasta party on Saturday afternoon after quickly nipping into town for a few last minute bits and pieces. We walked over the Millennium Bridge up to the car park where it was being held next to the Sage; where just a few days earlier my face was projected during the opening ceremony (more on that later!).

Waiting for pasta!

We waited in the queue for about 30 mins and wandered round the stalls; was mainly charities this year. We joined the queue for pasta; luckily this year as we were both running we got two bowls each! We then had a look at the other stalls and I got my photo taken with the Just Giving text code #sprintfinish frame. 

We wanted to go back in and have a wander round the stalls again but by this time the queue was so long it wouldn't have been worth it. By now the nerves were kicking in and I really just wanted to get home and get my kit ready!

Kit all ready to go!

We had a relaxed evening after getting everything together and tweeting it of course; we had yet more pasta and watched X Factor and got an early night. At this point I'm really trying not to over think it. I loved the fact that my parents had come to stay to see me finish but I was jealous they'd gone for a curry with my sister that evening! haha!

I woke up before my alarm on Sunday, I got up and put my make up on, went to the bathroom what felt like a million times; forced down a 9bar (which took me 4 times longer to eat than normal!), I plastered up my feet, got dressed sorted out what I was taking and putting in the rucksack my parents were taking. We eventually left at about 9:30am after getting our photos taken (something I didn’t do last year!). 

Ready to rock and run!

It was really only once we left the house I realised how hot it was! My parents dropped us off in town and we walked up to the start. It was here I realised I needed to loo again! I thought I'd just go in a bush once I got to the start pen as I remember how long I was waiting last year. 

So many people!!

I left Ant at pen C and we wished each other luck, met up with Sarah and Nicola; we left Nicola at the green pens I think. Made our way to pen J, it was so so so busy it wasn’t until 10:25 we got there; I just didn't think there was going to be enough time to go to the loo and the queue for the portaloo was huge! In hindsight I wish I'd just gone!

Selfie with Sarah!

As we started to move forwards I was getting my confidence up; Sarah and I had met a girl called Molly who was up from Lincoln I think and she was about the same pace as me so we decided to run together though I did say I didn't mind if she wanted to go ahead; it was nice to have some company at the start.

Then we went over the start line; we started at a steady 13mpm pace and I felt pretty good. The tunnels were amazing; the ‘Ogy ogy ogy's’ were really strong and loud and I joined in with every single one!! I was getting more and more excited that the Tyne Bridge was coming up I knew that I wanted to soak it in this year – it’s the iconic part of the Great North Run that I wanted to experience and remember. 

Getting goosebumps!!

Last year I was so preoccupied with how busy it was and being on the right side of the road to pass my sister and a wheelchair being behind me I didn’t really take it in the way I wanted to. So this year I made sure I looked up and took it in; I even took a selfie and a photo of the bridge with the sun in the back ground. 

Lost for words!

Selfie!!!

I’m so glad I did! I managed to keep a good pace up until about 4 miles then my knee started to hurt. I’d had a physio appointment on Wednesday and recommended that if I felt pain to walk. At this point I knew that it would be unlikely I’d get my PB and I wanted to enjoy it; so I made the decision to take a step back and do exactly that. I stopped caring about who was passing me, I started to look for a loo with no queue and I actually started to have chats with people along the way. I totally loved it!

Just passed half way!!

By mile 9 I was getting tired but just kept going; along the route when they handed out water I took it and didn’t let go of the bottle until I got a new one. I’d finished my lucozade and was ready for my next one and so far my Sports Beans had been very handy. For some reason John Reed Rd although still felt like it went on for far too long I knew exactly where I was thanks to my Garmin! I have never been so pleased to see the sea!!!! I knew I still had a mile but I kept going looking for my Parents, Ant and my sister. There they were shouting for me to keep running!! 

My Mum and Sister egging me on!

After I passed over the finish I was elated! I’d done it! For the second time! It was my second half marathon!!!! 

Hope to get my digital photos for Christmas so I replace this with the official one.

I quickly checked to see if the millionth runner had passed and they had; then I asked if Mo won, and he did. I collected my finishers pack and found Ant waiting for me by the finisher’s photo area. We had our photo taken together then a photo each and made our way down to meet the others at the Hearing Dogs tent. I met Ollie the Hearing Dog who is amazing!

I needed help getting up after this! haha

I’m so proud to have done it and to have raised £224 for Hearing Dogs who are an amazing charity.

I do want to run next year and I plan to continue to run weekly with Sweatshop Metro Centre. I’ll be taking two weeks off to allow my knee to recover then I’ll go back to running about twice a week to perfect my 5k time. I’m getting my knee looked at by a physio in a couple of months and I plan on entering a good few 5k runs next year as well as the Bupa Great North 10k then in September the Great North Run 2015.

Mission accomplished

I think it’s safe to say that I doubt I’ll run anything more than a half marathon; but I’ve well and truly caught the running bug.

Thank you so much to everyone who has shown me any kind of support....

To my amazing boyfriend and family for their full on support and encouragement during the highs low points of training. 
To my amazing friends who sent me cheer-squad texts, cards and video massages when I was doubting myself. 
To colleagues who might have said a was crackers for running but said they admired me for just doing it. 
To the friends along the route who shouted and waved and gave hugs (thanks Charlene, Andrea & Bernie). 
To everyone on Twitter who favorited and retweeted my many ramblings.
To Dawn at Physio Plus who tortured my calves to be able to train properly.
To the crowds and the kids on the way who don't know me but shouted my name anyway!!

I am inspired and encouraged by each and everyone of you!!

Jeez you'd think i'd won sodding Oscar!!!

Much love, (and tears now...)

Chrissy
xx

Great North Run - 9 days to go!

Hello! Welcome back!

I know it's been a while since posting an update; but I've still been training hard.

In my last blog I wrote about recovering from a cold and getting back into training. Well it's not been easy since either. I've been trying my best up increase my mileage at the same pace as my 5 k but losing those two weeks hasn't made it an easy task at all.

After running a very quick 1.66 miles on the 11th with an average pace of 12:41 mpm, I was feeling very confident; my legs were feeling light and I managed it really well. I wanted more runs like this; where I run short but quick then long but steady.

I set off for 8 miles the following Wednesday, two days later; I really struggled. I though when I was out there that I was going very very slow, my legs were heavy, my shins were hurting, and I really didn't feel like I had anything in me to push any faster! I wasn't very warm when I set off but when the sun came out when I reached mile 3/4 it made it very warm and very uncomfortable. I'm so glad there are so many water stations on the main event day!

I finished my 8 miles with an average pace of 14:39 mpm which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I have been aiming for under 14:30 mpm average for my long runs so it wasn't far off.

The following week I did the Quayside route and finished a 5k with an average of 14:06, this was hard work but I was pleased as I did manage a few short sprints in there to push myself.

It wasn't until bank holiday Monday that I was really disheartened by my progress. I set out to do 10 miles from Seaton Sluice to Tynemouth and back again. My first mile I felt OK; I was wearing a t-shirt under my vest as I hadn't realised how warm it was. This meant at mile 2 I started doing a weird contortionist-escapee-type-thing and wriggled out of the t-shirt under my vest. I didn't care what I looked like though I was far too hot to care!

I made the big mistake of not taking any water with me; it was sunny and very very warm! by time I got 4 miles in I had to stop at a cafe to get a glass of water. I was so glad they obliged! I took a few sips even though I wanted to down the lot and plodded on. I even discovered afterwards that I got a little sunburn!

Tynemouth was so busy and it was hard to keep any kind of pace with people walking right in front of me... I might not have been going very fast but you would have thought that the trainers and vest might have given them a clue that I was trying to run!

I decided not to run back along the coast way back and carried on along the road that runs parallel as it was a bit more in the shade and wasn't nearly half as busy. At mile 7.5 I was passing another cafe so I stopped and asked if it was OK for a glass of tap water. Thankfully he went straight to his fridge and gave me a bottle of water! I was so grateful at this moment you have no idea!! It really helped me get through the last two miles.

By this point I was getting a blister on my left foot and I was practically limping. When I finished I had only managed 9.55 miles and my average pace was 15:43 mpm well over a minute slower per mile than my goal pace.

It's so disheartening after training since February and after feeling so strong in July. I know that I'll enjoy it no matter what; I know the time doesn't matter to other people but I so wanted to show an improvement since last year. I know I can do a 5k quicker than ever before but I really wanted to prove it to myself with my pb.

So that brings me to my last run which was only last night, I went to Sweatshop running club and covered 2.77 miles with an average pace of 14:34 mpm. I started of quite slow but I managed to pick it up and just keep pushing.

I'm going back on Monday for the last run before the big one. I'm going to take it as easy as possible s I don't want to push too hard. then it's just a question of fueling, hydrating and resting.

I have my last appointment with Physio on Wednesday next week for a half hour treatment on the calves. I'm going to ask if she can tape up my left shin - just for my own peace of mind more than anything.

I'm looking forward to the Great North Run but I'm apprehensive - I've just got to get my confidence back up.

My mantra - "I've trained; I can do this"

I hope to write a new blog before the big run but if not I will be back with an update on how it went.

Please donate whatever you can - no amount too small!

Thank you for reading!

Take care!

Chrissy 

Twitter@79bobbin

Half Marathon training & getting a cold don't mix!

Hello!

Welcome back!

This Weeks Training update...

Quite a bit has happened over the last week, a friend of mine gave birth 6 weeks early to a gorgeous little girl and I've not been able to visit due to being loaded with a cold!!

Needless to say my training has slowed down somewhat too!

So last week I wrote that I'd had my best ever pace for a 5k, I was so pleased and confident that I could get my miles up that weekend to 8 on that Friday. On Thursday I started to feel that dreaded scratch in my throat, it wasn't looking good.

On Friday, I came home from work and all I wanted to do was sleep, I even thought at the time that if i could just do some running then it would be ok. It was not meant to be; I lay down on the sofa and slept.

Saturday was none eventful too, I stayed on the sofa all day, the only movement I made was to walk the dog and even then I took the throwing ball for her and she did all the work!

I was feeling gutted, my 8 miler was out the window. I felt weak; I couldn't breath; I wasn't sleeping... I could almost see my average pace drift away from me.

Monday I felt slightly better so I went to SweatShop club that evening; I probably shouldn't have done, but once I'd done it I did feel better. It was short and slow but at least I did it.

Short and slow with the SRC

I ventured out on Wednesday for a bit of a longer run; definitely a bad idea, I should have just done a 5k. It was quite possibly the worst run ever. Slow, hilly... I despise hills!!! I had a stitch for pretty much 75% of it!

Wednesday nights awful run!

Last night however I forced myself out on a later run; it was totally worth it... I actually enjoyed it!! the first mile was slow and up hill but after that I got into my stride. I felt strong, I didn't get a stitch and ran for the majority of the entire thing! I was focused on the end goal... to get back to my average pace.

Saturday night run!

For the Great North Run this year I'm aiming to keep to a 14 min mile to get my desired time of between 3 hrs to 3 hrs 15 mins. The way training has gone so far I should be able to do that; I just need to try harder on my longer runs, make the most of downhill and declines and focus on keeping the walking pace up to a fast march on those up hills. I really feel that I'm better prepared for it this year, so I'm  quite confident I'll beat last years time at least.

My charity

This year I'm running to raise money for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, they are absolutely amazing animals who not only alert their owners to possible dangers and general household sounds and alerts; they keep them company too.

"Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a national charity and centre of excellence in training dogs to alert deaf people to important sounds and danger signals in the home, work place and public buildings." hearingdogs.org.uk

Please support in any way you can - my link to sponsor me will be at the bottom of the page.

In other news....

So, two weeks ago the Bupa Great North Run Facebook page has been running a competition to take a 'selfie' in front of the bridge and uploading with #bridgeselfie and #GNRMillion - of course I have been doing this as I do a selfie after every run anyway! 

I found out after arriving home from work on Monday that I was the first winner of the trainers! I was over the moon!! 

The moment I found out I was a winner

I have now received them and they're great! I'll not be able to run in them unfortunately as my gait analysis recommended that I get stability trainers and these are neutral. I will however wear them all the time I'm not running which will save my Brookes Vapors for all my runs.

The winning Puma Faas trainers

Coming up...

So this week the plan of action...

5k Monday evening
8 mile on Wednesday afternoon
5k on Friday evening

Stay tuned to see how they go!


If you want to sponsor me you can do here:

See you next time,

Chrissy

Well overdue update!!

Welcome back!

Wow, I hadn't realised how long it's been since I wrote my first blog! I get into the situation where I just think I'll do it tomorrow; then by the time tomorrow comes there's something else I've got to do...

Anyway.. it's better late than never!

So where do I start - the last few weeks have been eventful that's for sure!

Bupa Great North 10K 

So much better than last year, I felt more confident before I left than I did last year for a start.
I got up quite early considering I din't get to bed very early, got dressed; made sure my Garmin was charged the night before; pinned my number to my t-shirt the night before too.
My breakfast was two Power Bars one on the way into town the other on the way into the stadium.
I wisely didn't drink too much that morning, but I did drink plenty the day before. I ran in my SweatShop SRC Yellow t-shirt, and I had my ipod and phone in my running belt. Checked I had everything else! I was ready to go! My friend Sarah picked me up and we made our way there together, and although it was a while we had to wait it did actually seem like time flew over.

I knew that after the start I'd be overtaken quite quickly so I just let it happen and tried not to trip anyone up when I slowed down to a fast march; I wanted to save some energy for the flatter parts so I was letting the hill carry me down and not push. At one point I was so distracted by the elites coming in the opposite direction I forgot I was actually running!! I kept a steady pace and was on target for a 1:20 finish... then that hill happened! I tried little steps but then my toes went numb!! I just kept pushing and pushing.. eventually I saw the stadium in sight.. I really wanted to run the entire lap to the finish; so I picked myself up and just kept going! 

In the end I got a PB of 1:30:09 - that's 3 minutes quicker than last year!!

Just over the moon! I wouldn't have minded it being a bit quicker but there's always next year! 

Very Proud in my t-shirt - which funnily enough I'm wearing as I type!

Training

Training for the Great North Run has been going pretty well too, not 5 days after finishing the 10k I went out and did another one....

Then a few 5k's under the belt.....

And the best PB on a 5k ever!! 

Have been feeling really good out there on my runs until.... I got a cold!!!!!! It couldn't have come at a worse time! It sucks!! I wanted to go out for my long run on Friday - I was due to do 8 miles... but no, I ended up having a bath and going to bed. I slept most of the day on Saturday and Sunday and today I made it out for what felt like the shortest but longest run ever...

This was only this evening; and I must say I do feel better for it!!

In other news....

So over the last few weeks I've been doing odd bits and pieces in preparation for the Great North Run, I've had my vest printed...

The Great North Run Facebook page have been running a competition, to take a selfie in front of the bridge with the sign on it.. so of course I've been going a little nuts, and this has been the result....

And no I can't believe it!!

I'm over the moon!!

I really hope to write more very soon; so sorry I've cheated a little bit but I hope I told the story well with my photos!

If you'd like to sponsor me you can do so by clicking right here....



Hope to see you very soon!!

Chrissy xx

Running the Great North Run for 

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People

5 Miles Long Run & Juicing

Hello, welcome back!

I'm sure you'd like to know how my run went on Thursday evening, well it didn't happen on Thursday; the main reason why? The weather! 

After I drove home from work I called into Asda to pick a few bits up and as I was walking back to the car it hit me just how hot and humid it was. I decided to give it an hour and see if was going to cool. I checked the forecast I found that that for Friday we were due to have a drizzle of rain and a few degrees cooler. After putting out a few feelers on Facebook my decision was made. 

Instead of running 4 miles in hot, sweaty, humid conditions and not get a lot out of it, I ran 5 miles on Friday in cooler, rainy slightly windy conditions up at the coast.

The result? A much more comfortable, confident run!! 

So here you can see my progress; my first mile was clearly my strongest where I was working more on my endurance, and for the first time I managed to run consistently for longer managing 7 'lamposts' without walking it it off. As the inclines started getting stronger I started to slow down, especially in the middle mile where I was really struggling. Not so much with my legs, more so my lungs and breathing. 

Hayfever has effected me a great deal more this year than it did last year and my breathing is taking a hit when I run. I had my inhaler with me this time so that helped a great deal. It took a lot but I picked my heels up and I just started to push!!

I was happy with my overall pace but I'd like it to be quicker, so I'm going to definitely work on that over the next 2 months.

I've been looking at my diet this week to see what I can do to improve it, I picked up some protein bars from Holland & Barratt; 2 for a pre-run boost and 2 recovery bars which I'm going to save for after the 10k which I'm doing next Sunday. It will also be the first race I can proudly wear my Sweat Shop Running Community t-shirt so I'm really looking forward to it. I received my number and chip last week; I'm starting in the green wave this year, although I can't remember what time I estimated I don't know why I've been put here. 

I'm also going to experiment with beetroot which has reported benefits for your endurance and I'm also going to look into juicing after reading an article in Runner's World and the benefits against shop bought sports drinks. I hope to get a juice machine in the next few weeks to try a few of these bad boys out...

If you'd like to check these out they're in this months issue of Runner's World, they include fruit and vegetables. I've read that just using a blender doesn't have the same health benefits as a the juicer but I'm no scientist and the jury is still out on this one. 

Once I get my juicer I'll share with you my favorites out of the above and if I create any new ones.

I've also been looking into making my own protein bars, so if any of you have any good recipes I'd love to give them a try.

Please sponsor me anything you can for a very worth cause; I'll be including much more about the work they do very soon!

Thanks for reading!

Until next time!

Chrissy 

https://www.justgiving.com/chrissyruns

Follow me on twitter @79bobbin 

Well all blogs have to start somewhere!

Hello!!

If any of you are return readers who read my blog last year welcome back!!

In brief - I started running last year, I ran the Gateshead 10k and the Great North Run and I raised £404 for Mind. I started writing my blog last year to voice the ups and downs of my first year running but I haven't updated it in so long I thought I'd start from scratch!

This year I'm running the same two races and my charity of choice is Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, you can visit their website at www.hearing dogs.org.uk

They do some fantastic work and their dogs are amazing!!

Some of you may wonder why I chose Hearing Dogs; well to start off I adore dogs, I have a border collie/whippet/terrier cross called Jodie.

Here she is! You'll definitely read more about her later!

Second reason; and the most important one is that while I was watching Children in Need last year, there was a little boy who is deaf and had not slept for two years, his quality of life wasn't great as he was constantly worried about missing or not knowing of emergencies or hazards around him. After he got his hearing dog he slept soundly for the first time. Needless to say by the end of the video I was balling my eyes out!

It wasn't long after I found out that I had successfully got through the ballot so I was looking at the charities I could run for; I had considered running for Mind again but then I came across the Hearing Dogs link and took a look at the website and saw how amazing these dogs are! My decision was made!

I received my running vest and fundraising kit shortly after and 're-branded' my twitter page @79bobbin with a brand new picture!

I do plan on trying to run with the ears on but I'm not sure how long I'll last!! lol

I've started taking a selfie at the end of every run too with my Garmin result so what I will also start to do is up load my photo's on every blog... here's my last few!

I do feel like I'm starting to plateau but I'm off out tomorrow for a long run, hopefully 4-5 miles so we'll see how I go!

So that's it for this evening, hope to see you back very soon!

Woof!!

Chrissy

Sponsor me by ...

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