On getting my mojo back...

Well after a difficult Great North Run which I have stowed away in the back of my mind, it took a while to get my running mojo back. The recovery started, however, three weeks ago at the, once again, wet and windy Great South Run. Despite the elements I had an awesome run, mainly due to the fact that it was reminder of THAT feeling of crossing the line on your first race. I ran with my colleague and friend Adam - it was his first race and he loved it. Getting him round in 1.23 even if it was 8 mins slower than my time last year gave me such a high. The look on his face as he crossed the line was definitaly enough to get me happy about running again!

And..the motivation has increased following the discovery of the wonders of Nike+. I don't know whether it's the music or the fact my runs are being tracked somewhere that's doing it (probably both!) but I have this new-found sense of purpose and drive to hit the streets. So all i can say is watch out Team Lucozade Sport - I have entered our TLS challenge on Nike+ and am swallowing up the miles as of this week! Beware, the Mustang is back!

The Big Day

Where do I start? Well I guess it has to be the GNR expo (or Health and Fitness Show) because that's where I got to on my last blog and it's where our GNR journey really kicked off. Thursday was set up day and Phoebe and Kay led the troops. I am surprised I am not yet muscle woman after the amount of LS product we lugged.

I always struggle to tell how things are going to look from the plans so it was awesome to see our stand finally come together for real. It looked great - especially the diary room where we captured loads of insights from runners over the following two days. My favourite diary room moments had to be meeting Blind Dave and hearing his phemonenal story and an 86 year old runner who was about to embark on his 21st GNR. His story was like Forrest Gump - he just 'kept on running!'

The Friday was quiet but it allowed us all the time to warm up for a manic Saturday. The day before the race, people started flooding in the moment the show opened and we were swamped with nervous and excited runners after all the support they could get. From pace bands to product, we didn't stop.

John Brewer pulled in the crowds for his pasta party speech where he gave last minute tips and advice to some very receptive runners including Team Lucozade Sport! And by the end of the day we were all absolutely shattered. I couldn't believe I still had the race to run...

After an early(ish) night I woke up on race day feeling pretty good. We headed to the start at about 8:30 which gave us plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere and check out the Lucozade Sport Performance Zone. It was absolutely heaving with people picking up products and asking our sports scientists for very last minute advice. I was unusually nervous and I couldn't work out why but I think it was probably down to the fact that I knew my training hadn't been good enough because of my shin splints and the fact that JB and I got to start right up at the front next to the elites which is daunting in itself!


After a couple of the usual toilet stops I made my way to the start and we were underway pretty quickly. I've never been so close to the line when the gun went off and it made me jump. The first part of the race is a gentle downhill and this coupled with the elite start made me run faster than we should have. When I passed the first mile marker at 6mins 30 i knew I was going too fast and slowed down just ahead of my 1.40 pace band.

Things felt ok for the first 3 mile but by mile 4 I started to get into trouble. My legs felt unusually happy and my tummy was NOT happy. Without going into too many gory details I was in a portaloo by mile 6. The 5 min stop meant that I lost my 2 min lead on my pace band and from hereon I never got back to a comfortable place. I felt the body i was running in just wasn't mine. It wouldn't give me anything more. I found myself in the loo again at 11 miles and for the first time I thought i might not make it round. The last two miles were a bit of a blur. i was in a lot of pain and even the view of the sea and the cheering crowds from mile 12 didn't lift me.

I crossed the finish line in 1.45 and struggled to muster a smile. I felt broken (and I must have looked it because one of the paramedics asked if I needed help!)

But once I got over the initial pain (helped by a nice warm meal in hospitality and seeing more smiling faces crossing the line including some of our TLS crew) the colour started to return to my cheeks and I was able to be a bit more philosophical about things. It just wasn't my day and I also didn't deserve to run a PB because i hadn't been able to put in the hours of training required. And it also wasn't just about me. Seeing so many of our runners cross the line for the first time, achieving their individual goals and getting hooked by the running bug was fantastic. Celebratory drinks in the Pitcher and Piano with TLS that night was a great way of reminding myself just how many battles had been fought (and won) out on the streets of Newcastle that day. And I felt inspired even though my race wasn't so good.

Another high from the day had to be when one of the elites crossed the line and put his PB down to our pace bands. Awesome.

So with an aching body (and a bit of a sore head from some PB celebrations the night before) I headed back from Newcastle with Abi, Phoebe, Kay and Harriette. Needlesstosay, I was in bed by 9pm and slept like a baby. I am now relearning how to walk after finding muscles I didn't know I had. Scarily, we have a work 'sports day' this afternoon and last i heard i was down for 400m and the egg and spoon. I don't fancy my chances...

Buzzing Newcastle and Runny Noses

So we're now up in Newcastle and it's all going smoothly thanks to months of meticulous planning by the team at Fast Track. The World Medical Conference is in it's second day - looking forward to John Brewer's talk on nutrition and injury this afternoon and it's been a great opportunity to talk one-on-one with delegates about our products and sports nutrition in general. There's also a growing buzz around Newcastle about Sunday's race. It feels like the whole city is in some way involved - including the guy in JD sports yesterday who noticed our Lucozade Sport branded gear and launched into 20 questions about why we were here and what we're doing. So we, and the rest of Newcastle are getting ready for the biggest event of the year (that's if you discount the Newcastle Bangkok ladyboy weekend that is happening simultaneously! Could make for some interesting fancy dress costumes on Sunday...

The 'going smoothly' comment has to be caveated by things not being quite so great on the personal front. I woke up yesterday morning with a bit of a sore throat and a tickly nose which (touch wood) doesn't seem any worse today, but is not filling me with confidence. I am hoping a few early nights and vitamin c will sort me out in time for race day. I am keeping everything crossed which looks a bit stupid but I am happy to forgoe my street cred if it means I get to run on Sunday!

Thank you to everyone for your words of encouragement and support over the last few days. It's awesome to visit your blog and see a handful of comments waiting for you. Makes all the difference. Hope everyone's final week of training is going strong and see you soon!

7 miles and 7 days

Never has 7 miles felt so hard! A crazy week at work and stuff generally just catching up with me had clearly taken it's toll yesterday as i embarked on my last long run before the big day. It felt like someone had unscrewed my legs and given me someone else's - and that someone had obviously done zero training and sat on their butt eating pies all year! So, not so good, but I am hoping it was just a blip because I was flying on Monday. It's so funny how some days it just feels like you don't have anything in the tank. In my experience it's also pretty common to feel this towards the end of your training - a bit sluggish and slow when you feel like you should be at your best. Hopefully my best is saving itself for next Sunday!

Today is a rest day but I'll be busy packing to head up to Newcastle tomorrow morning. We're going to be at the World medical Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday and then the GNR expo on Friday and Saturday so my race experience actually starts tomorrow! I'm not sure how much time I'll have to put in a few runs but I can guarantee i'll have plenty of time on my feet so hopefully this counts for a bit of mileage...Gulp.

Goodbye Shin Splints

Sunday was a massive high. I took to the tarmac with 20,000 other women at the Hydro Active Women's Challenge in Hyde Park and not only did my shin splints do an amazing disappearing act (no doubt helped by the magic my physio performed last week), but I also got round in a decent time which gives me confidence that the Great North Run won't be the monster I thought it might be! So it's looking good for Newcastle. Nice.

And the Hydro Active Women's Challenge also helped to remind me what all of this running lark is all about. From scooping a PB to getting round in one piece, goals were being achieved left right and centre and the atmosphere was awesome. It was great to see Liz Yelling get a PB but equally great to see one of our Team Hydro Active runners knock 11 minutes off their last time to finish in 38 mins. It's days like Sunday that remind me how lucky I am to do the job I do and why I keep running even, and especially when the going gets tough.

So tonight, filled with a new found confidence I managed a fairly quick 5 miles and I'm going to get myself out for a long run before the week is out so my body doesn't get too much of a shock to the system when I ask it to do 13.1 miles next Sunday!

Frustration!

I have shin splints which a) makes running very difficult at the moment and b) is putting my sanity into question! Since about 6 weeks ago my GNR target has been slipping away as I've been forced to tone down my training (including a 3 week complete rest!) and try and get the issues with my left calf sorted out. So far, not so good.

However, i am trying to stay positive which is helped by a great physio who has been giving me acupuncture and massage that makes me cry (so I know it's good for me!), and the fact that running the world's biggest half marathon (however slowly) is going to be an awesome experience whatever.

I managed half an interval session with the GSK running club on Tuesday (it was on grass which I thought might help but my leg is telling me it's still not ready) and a 30 minute steady run with my housemate Gem today. As long as I keep my pace down I seem to be getting away with it but anything more and my calf gets angry with me! I have some physio booked for tomorrow night and have been massaging, stretching and icing to help things along.

Patience is, unfortunately, a virtue i don't have so this has been a testing time. But over the years I have learnt that running has a way of teaching you things - about yourself, your limits (and how to surpass them), your strengths, your weaknesses and the way you handle stuff that is thrown at you. I get the feeling that I am on another learning curve!

So I'm going to reset my target over the next week so that I run a realistic race on 30th Sept. There's no point going for a PB when I know I am injured and haven't done enough training. I'm aiming to take it steady round the Hydro Active Women's Challenge (5k) next Sunday and see how I feel, but if I could get round GNR in 1.45 now I'd be happy.

As for that elusive 1.30 half marathon...I haven't forgotten it.

Great North Run

Sal caught the running bug 4 years ago at her first 10k race and has been pounding the streets and competing (mostly with herself!) ever since. She's clocked up two London Marathons and a healthy dose of half marathons, 16 milers, and 5 and 10ks. She runs with Hercules Wimbledon AC

Everyone has their nemesis and Sal's is the 1.30 half marathon. She keeps running 1.33 so the Great North Run is where she aims to conquer her time and shave off those pesky 3 minutes that have been haunting her!