New stuff

I have been absolutely shocking at blogging since I vowed to keep doing it! And, I have really missed it, I felt really homesick just now when I logged back in! So, let that be a lesson to me....

So, since my last whinging blog about everything being over, and the end, and everything was sad and awful, I am feeling back to normal again.

I have tried having a bit of an easy couple of weeks running wise, but I haven't really enjoyed it, so have decided just to keep going. Not going to do any more races this year, but keep up the training and miles....and New Year bring it on!

I have signed up to my first ultra marathon race in April 2014. It's a 50 mile race, on the 12/13th April the weekend before my 30th birthday, so it's at a good time to do something significant I felt! I had a slight panic attack when I got the confirmation of my entry, but that is now under control, and I have convinced myself to look forward to starting training at the beginning of January, when it's all lovely and warm and sunny and dry weather, and I wake up each morning and jump out of bed and into my trainers with a grin. Woop! Seriously, I AM looking forward to it as it's all new for me, have started doing a bit of research into how to train for ultras, and it all looks like quite a lot, and a bit daunting and exciting.

I also did a 10 km race last weekend, the Abby Dash in Leeds, with my new running club Chapel Allerton Runners!!!!

All CARs did amazingly and must have set some kind of record for the number of people setting PBs in a race. I finished in 44.16 which is within 2 minutes of my PB so I am soooo happy too! I thought that with all the marathon training this year I would have lost a lot of speed, indeed some people poo-poo marathon running for making you a slow runner and say it is a waste of time So, now I can say to those people, that is not true! Ha!

I have also started cycling a bit more and doing spinning, in preparation for perhaps doing a triathlon next year. Check out the local terrain (I would like to draw your attention to the hills):

Yorkshire is pretty nice!

Other than that, I've been fully making use of the excuse to eat a lot, under the pretense of 'building myself up'.

Running must continue, to match cake intake....

The end...?

It's been more than a week now since the last marathon.

I haven't felt at all like I thought I would since then. When I stood at the first start line, with to be honest only a vague wisp of a dream that I might make it to the last finishing line, I thought that if I did make it, I would be ecstatic, and probably to tired to feel anything else.

But the year went well, the races were brilliant, and the experiences great. I felt I was improving, and I felt like I was doing something positive, and it sounds silly but I felt my Auntie was still here because I talked about this and about her so much.

So actually, now it's over, I haven't been feeling good about that!

So, to remember all of the good times of the year I collected my medals together....

...and when I look at them I am very proud to have run for my Auntie, and to have raised over £1000 for the Scleroderma Society and the Raynaud's and Scleroderma Association! THANK YOU so much to everyone for your generosity! I never thought we would raise this much money, and it's truly fantastic for these charities who do such great work.

And I have been so touched by everyone's support and interest in my challenge! It was completely unexpected and, wow, it's meant so much :-)

So, I guess I can spend a little more time reflecting on the last year. But then, even though it is over, I hope that it is going to be the opening chapter...... I have started thinking about next year now!

....I will keep you posted. I also think I will keep up with my blog. I'm not really sure it's that interesting to people anymore, but I feel quite attached to it now, a bit like keeping a diary and then stopping, although I guess, maybe that's the point, I should just switch to a diary a this point. But then, I also feel like I should have a blog, what with it being in the 21st century and all, and I don't know what else to write about apart from running! So I'll keep it!

Marathon Number 13....spooky!

The Spooky Halloween Challenge...

was a great way to round off 13 in 2013! :-)

It was totally different to anything I've done before, and it ticked a lot of boxes:

1. Muddiest

2. Darkest

3. Latest

4. Spookiest

5. Smallest

6. Best refreshment tent (EVER!!! seriously)

7. Best dressed participants

8. Most laps (31)...

9. And most hills (31)

10. Best decorated...pumpkins, glowsticks, people...

Mildly stressful morning...my head torch broke, and then we got stuck in THREE traffic jams on the M6! Arggggh, I can't miss the last race!

It felt a little surreal at the start, we parked up on a little lane near Telford and walked up a path into the woods in the middle of nowhere to the house where the start was...I admit it, I'm a little unsure of my situation here. Slightly out of my comfort zone. Glad my Dad is here!

Changed into a cat...

and off to the start line...

How good does everyone look!? Both costume wise and athletically wise..there were two marathons today, and lots of people had already done the one this morning. Respect :-) Feeling a bit nervous about coming last as there are only about 30 of us and everyone looks really good! Eek. Turns out everyone is really nice though (as always) so who cares if I do come last.

The start...

...of an amazing race!

Set off at 4 pm, and the course was run on a lap around little country lanes which was just less than a mile, so 31 laps altogether. I hadn't fully appreciated the word 'mud' before this race. I wish I had not worn brand new trainers! Ruined!!! Also lots of pot holes which added an extra level of surprise in the dark. I'd have thought after a few laps I would have remembered where they all were, but no, apparently I'm not that smart.

Did about  8 laps before needed head torch. Fancy dress is a really great way to distract yourself from running, I should totally have tried this before. I spent the first half an hour of darkness trying to figure out the best way to wear head torch plus cat mask at once. Another 3 laps done without realizing!

Very different experience to run in the dark (real dark!) really have to concentrate on where you're putting your feet, I found that the miles went past faster than usual I think because I was focusing so hard on something else.

Because there weren't many of us, sometimes they'd be no one in front or behind, and no one watching. Found it quite a calming feeling to have some time to reflect on the year, watching the rain sparkle through the light from my torch, and following the little glow sticks on the floor of the route, then all of a sudden I'd see a big arc of light in the trees ahead from the next persons head torch. It was a cold, miserable night, but within my little circle of light and thoughts, it felt warm.

Also, my Dad started walking around the course at about half time, so that was great, we kept passing each other for a few laps then! He is 65 in January and has been walking 650 miles in the last year to celebrate, so he blasted out another 5 miles tonight!

Was a bit (very) nervous about all the laps, and running past the start/finish so many times, what if I want to stop?! But turned out to be fun, we had elastic bands to wear on our wrists and take off after each lap. Its pretty therapeutic pinging an elastic band into a bucket every mile. AND it meant we ran past the refreshment tent 31 TIMES!!! Amazing. Seriously I have never seen refreshments like it, and I consider myself experienced in the sampling of all refreshments on offer at races. Sweets, quality street, chocolates, Halloween cakes, crisps, 9-bars, coke, red bull, juice....... turns out the hardest part of the laps was not stopping to eat something else every time.

As I got down to the last few bands I started to have the opposite feeling to what I'd had for the rest of the laps....I didn't want to take them off because I knew I was getting so close to the end of my 13 this year and I didn't want it to be over...

....but, I met some more nice people who have given me more ideas for the future now 13 is done.... these were serious people here today! Who really really run marathons, like, lots of them! The guy who won had just run 37 in 37 days (and had also won the race in the morning!). And I ran with Brian for a while, who was doing his 7th in 7 days, whilst on holiday. What a holiday! And I also met Kate who had done something similar to me last year, 12 in 2012, and who's hooked and had done the two races today, and she said to me when I told her how I felt about finishing, that I mustn't finish, this is the beginning!  

Well, after I chucked elastic band 31 into the bucket, it was back around the course for a few hundred meters, to the 'finishing pumpkin' then back around to the finish. Coolest medal, and a pint glass! All it needs is some beer. 

Brilliant race, big thanks to the organizers and my Dad for coming to cheer me on in the rain :-) 

13. Done!

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=13in2013

3...2...1....ONE MORE DAY TILL NUMBER 13!!!!!!

My outfit is ready...
I have Glow Sticks...
A glow in the dark top...
And a tail.

I went for the cat in the end. I was all for a witch and have even got a broom and black tutu, but several people pointed out that a big pointed hat and a full size broom might not seem so great after 20 miles. On reflection, I think they are right. So, cat it is. But with addition of the tutu from the £1 shop. Cats can wear tutus, right. 

I'm hoping other people are dressing up. But then it'll be dark, so I guess I might get away with it. 

We don't have to leave till lunch time tomorrow because the start isn't until 4pm, which is weird as we usually get up at the crack of dawn on a marathon day. I'm not sure what to eat! Or When! Should I have a big breakfast still? Or lunch? Or both? I might go for both, to be on the safe side. And tonight too, just to be doubly safe.  

Right, off for noodles! 

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