 I was lucky enough to received a ballot place for the London Marathon which took place on Sunday 22 April 2018 and the Follow my Trainers Challenge raised over £1,800 for the new Glasgow Hospice which is being built in Bellahouston Park near my home. I actually enjoyed the race and the warm weather. I was also quite amazed at my fitness and when I came in at the end was tired however not shattered like I have been when I run other marathons. I managed to complete the race in 5:34:34. However I have decided I won't be doing another one. 
0 Comments
 Saturday 14 April 2018
There is actually warmth in the air and for the first time this year I have run without my jacket on. My PRP and I even managed to set personal bests for the Park Run and decided it must have been the heat that did it!  Friday 13 April 2018
This morning my PRP, Mrs Cricket Wife and I set off to run in the freezing pouring rain. I explained we were on an adventure to find the SWG3 gallery in Albion Street. All because I had walked past a notice board advertising an exhibition taking place about street photography and I wanted to see it. I let them know I had checked google maps it was 2:5 miles away and wouldn’t take us too long to locate. I was also excited about this run because it's the second last one I will do before the Marathon.  Wednesday 11 April 2018
Last night I had to set my iPhone alarm for 6:45 because my PRP had to run early if she was going to run at all. We met at 7:20 at the entrance to Maxwell Park and ran one loop of the hill route. We even passed two ducks out for a walk on Albert drive. I was finished and ready to start the day at 8:30 the time I usually start running. Then I headed into town to Jessops the camera shop and booked a lesson with a professional who will help me get the best out of my new camera.  Monday 9 April 2018
I can definitely feel warmth in the air and this morning running with the Speedy Strider I had to take my jacket off. We ran five miles and I am just so glad to be now doing whats called tapering. This means this week I run a total of 20 miles and next week I run zero miles. All in readiness for the London marathon in 12 days time! I have a feeling it’s going to be warm in London and it would be wise to pack my shorts!  Saturday 7 March 2018
My new PRP and I managed to run round the Pollok Park route in 33 mins. One minuet slower than last week however the route had to be changed due to a huge puddle so we were both very pleased with our results. We also had a chat with a couple of girls from London who were running in the park for the first time so we made them very welcome and hoped they enjoy their stay in the city. I also let them know I had an instagram account and in the need of some new followers! By the time I got home I had 6 miles on the clock.  As I ran to meet my Park run Pall I bumped into the Street Athletes and was thrilled they were happy to stop for a photoshoot with me in the line up. I’ve been trying to achieve this for ages because they run routinely with their trainer. I know this because the last time I saw them we had a quick chat and I let them know I was running the London Marathon. This morning they remembered and asked how my training was going so, I told them very well as the paparazzi took the photo!
 I have been looking at Instagram posts from others running the London Marathon and the general thought from them all is that, this week is the last week for a long run, so with this in mind I set off this morning in the freezing sleet hoping to achieve about 17 miles. However before I reached the top of my street I had decided I was doing the hill route on my door step, meaning I could get home quickly if I developed frost bite!.
I managed to go round the route seven times which is a record for me. The most I have ever managed is four times. I even passed the minister out and about in his car as I ran up the hill near his house and I was still running when he drove back home again. All in all I completed 13 miles up and down the hills and because of the effort I put in I feel as if I really did achieve seventeen. Anyhow its too late in the day to think have I done enough training. I can telly you my legs do feel as if they have a marathon in them! I spent the rest of the day recovering in front of the telly and really pleased with myself that I had a prepared dinner in the freezer. I was in bed early!  Monday 2 April 2018
Its simple freezing again and we have snow forecast for this afternoon, which means I’m still wearing my running winter kit. At 8:30 I met my new park run pal [PRP] in the park and we stared HIT training. This is 20 mins of doing one minute short sharp fast blasts of exercise with a rest after each minuet. During the star jumps I managed to get my heart rate up to 138 and my PRP was well pleased hers reaching much the same. She also reminded me to straighten my back when I was doing the squats and said our session reminded her of her days as a Captain in the army! We parted company after our 20 mins. My PRP headed off to work from home and I headed off to run 8 miles. We are planning to meet in the park on Wednesday at 7:00 to do it all over again. As we parted company I had that song in my head - I’m in the army now! |
