Hi All

Sorry for not posting sooner. After my last race, well the day after, I had surgery on my left shoulder, which has been more painful than I imagined. They had to do more scraping of bone and removal of things than they expected. It is slowly getting better, even managed to run this week which was good.

Am due to race on Sunday, am going to take it very slowly, just need to get round.

On another note, did end up in A&E on Saturday with severe stomach cramps, which I think they decided was just knock on affect of my polyp op, but not sure about that. Will be keeping an eye on that I think. I sat there in the very hard chairs, looking down at my stomach and I seriously looked pregnant, which I am definitely not.

Seems to have sorted itself out, though will be asking the consultant.

Will let you know how I get on sunday, and then its off to Center Parcs with the Adam, girls, sister and her family next week which will be cool.

thanks

I survived

Hi All,

Well I made it round, despite it starting at 8:30 in the morning and it being quite warm. I decided on a gentle plod and maintained a steady 9 minute mile pace, coming in at 1:58 so not bad really. Didn't have any problems and was very pleased.

The best part was as I turned the corner for the home straight, Adam and the girls had turned up to surprise me, complete with banners. It was lovely to see them there and its the first time any of them had seen me finish on of my challenge races. So it makes this race very special indeed and one I will remember.

Am in today for my shoulder op, so will be taking it easy for a couple of days at least, can't wait to get back to a time when I don't have any thing going on and I can just run. Also keeping fingers crossed this sorts out the problem and my shoulder stops hurting so much.

thanks

So far so good

Hi,

Another run this morning, 4 miles, 33:30 so not a bad time, and I was trying to go slow :-) I realise I am not doing any great distance but am pleased to be doing any running at the moment and am sure that Sunday's race in Richmond is going to be OK. Its a flat course (they even start at the top of the hill and finish at the bottom :-) ) though it starts at 8:30 in the morning which is not much fun at all. I suppose at least it will be over quickly and it won't be hot at that time of the morning.

Got my op for my shoulder on the Monday, am really hoping that a) it sorts everything out and I can start living a pain free life, and b) doesn't stop me from running for too long. The consultant said that I should have no problem running my race on the 24th May so fingers crossed.

Will post after Sunday's race let you know how I got on.

thanks

Yippee

Well yesterday saw me running again, and it did feel good. It never ceases to amaze me how much I enjoy running, and so after not being able to it is lovely to come back to. It wasn;t a long run, just over 3 miles in 30 minutes, but it did feel good. Am hoping to get out tomorrow to do about an hour and keep everything crossed (obviously not while running, wonder if anyone has ever tried that in the London marathon :-) ) that it goes well.

I know lots of people have injuries and illnesses that affect their running, and it can be so hard to take it easier or rest completely. I have had my fair share of that over the last 2 years when I started my challenge, but the amazing sense of relief when I get back out on the road is just lovely and I know others share that feeling,

thanks

Don't like walking

Hi,

Have been restraining myself to simply going for long walks, but am starting to get bored of that now. Want to run :-)

Hoping to do some this week, but very slowly to see how I get on. I am sure it will be fine, but you never know. Am racing next weekend, in the Richmond half-marathon, which starts at 8:30 in the morning which I am not looking forward to. Don;t like early starts at the best of times. At least it shouldn;t be hot at that time of the morning, though knowing my luck at the moment anything can happen.

Starting to get a little confidence back, now my body has stopped hurting, it really knocked me sideways and dented my confidence in my ability. Really don;t want to go through that again.

Am running again on Tuesday so will let you know how I get on,

thanks

Sunny Saturday

Hi All,

Well definitely feel like I am on the mend, and may even attempt a gentle jog this weekend. The walk on Thursday was lovely and it was good to use my legs again and it wasn't too painful. I am giving up on my shoulder and just bearing the pain till the surgery, only a week away.

Have the Richmond half-marathon next Sunday, am sure it will be fine, but you always have at the back of your mind that something is going to go wrong. Need to get that one under my belt to give me back a little confidence. It was severely bashed on Sunday. My op is the next day, at 7 in the morning :-( at least it will give me a chance to rest.

Its lovely and sunny here today, so after the auto-italia festival in Brooklands this morning and think an opportunity to do a little tanning is in order :-)

thanks

Manic Thursday

Well four days on and things seem to be settling down. Stomach has been fine and bleeding has stopped. Saw my phsyio yesterday to get my legs checked out and apart from tightness and soreness due to Sunday they are fine. Going to go for a gentle walk today to try and loosen things up but only a short distance and very gentle.

Think the thing that is giving me the most jip is my shoulder, it has become so painful and I can;t use my arm very much at all. Its a good job I am having the surgery to sort it out.

Mentally I am at a point that I am struggling slightly, need to pull my finger out and start raising some money, as well as getting myself into a frame of mind to get through the last 9 races. Did have fun yesterday trying to register for the Osterund marathon in Sweden, as the wedsite was in Swedish, thanks to Alan at Adam's work for helping to translate. I think I am now registered, so that will be my penultimate race before the 40th race on the 2nd August in Sturminster-Newton.

thanks

Feeling Better

Thank god the painful Tuesday is over. It is always two days after a race that the real pain kicks in, then it eases after that to dull thud and then fades. So today I don;t feel too bad, stomach seems to have settled down too. So rest for the rest of the week and then see if I can get running again next week.

Went to see consultant yesterday about my shoulder, and I now have to have surgery on that too. Not been in hospital since having children and here I am on my second operation in as many months. Its just key hole surgery to remove some of the bone from my shoulder to open the gap so my tendon doesn;t get squashed, but still not looking forward to it. And no driving for a whole week, going to have to sort something out for picking up the girls.

Anyway I am waffling again, seems I am recovering slowly, just need to get my TMA finished and sent today and then everything will be OK, till the next one is due :-)

thanks

The recovery

Hi All,
Well into second day after the marathon and as expected I am feeling even worse today than I did yesterday. Legs are in a lot of pain in the calf area, though thighs aren't too bad. It is always the way second day is always the worst, at least I can look forward to feeling a bit better tomorrow.

Rested yesterday and will do so today too, though have lots of study to do with a TMA due in tomorrow. For those that don't know TMA is a course work for an OU course I am doing.

Off to see consultant today about my shoulder which has been giving me a lot of trouble, though doesn't affect my running thankfully. Hoping that he'll be able to do something about it,

thanks

Well I finished

Apologies for not posting yesterday but it was a bit of a traumatic day.

I started well and thought that everything was going to be OK, until I got to the half way mark. I had a minor operation 2.5 weeks ago and thought that I would be OK for the race. However at the 12/13 mile mark I started getting cramps in my stomach and back, which I couldn't shift. Thinking I might need the toilet and I decided to stop. Its here I discovered that I was bleeding, and that was causing the pain. I decided I had to finish the race and so ended up walking/running the second half. The combination of walking and slow pace then caused my calve muscles to seize up and I got pains in my knee too.

So after a good start, I ended up walking a lot of the next 7 miles to get me 20 miles and then started running the last 6 miles to finish in 5:18, not my best time, but it turned out to be the hardest race of my life and at times I didn't think I would finish at all. Only the thought of Adam and the girls at the beginning of Birdcage walk spurred me on, and being able to give them a hug and kiss before being told by my youngest to hurry up, start running and finish the race was the best thing ever, though could have done without the pain :-)

My consultant has now told me I need to let my body rest and recover, so will keep you posted on how I get on.

thanks

ONLY 10 to go

Hi All,
Well now I am in the home straight, I thought I should start making an effort to keep you updated. So here goes to updating my blog daily to let you know.

Race number 31 tomorrow with the London Marathon, not very confident at all with this race. I know it will be fine and I just have to get round, but am feeling the least confident I have ever felt. Two weeks ago I suffered a tear in the bit between my two muscles in my calf (don;t know technical name). It seems fine now, but have done very little running in the last 4 weeks since the Reading Half marathon.

After Reading, I was on holiday and so decided to not run, then I had a minor operation, which physically was fine, but emotionally a roller coaster, then this injury, on top of that I have severe pain in my left shoulder which is causing sleepless nights and lots of pain. So you can see why I am going to be stepping up to the line with lots of trepidation.

On a plus note, at least I have managed to get this far, and even after my stress fracture in the Summer of 2007, I do still seem to be running. So here is hoping and I'll let you know how I get on tomorrow.

thanks