Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:41:14 +0700WeeblyMon, 14 Apr 2008 23:54:55 +0700http://linsblake.weebly.com/1/post/2008/04/the-big-day.htmlOh wow - that was one of the most amazing experiences of my life!

Very excited in the  morning - managed to meet up with friends  and it was lovely to have some people to talk to before hand - the whole atmosphere was absolutely wonderful.

Took about 12 mins to get over the start line and it was very crowded and the average pace of the people I started with was much slower than mine so lots of dipping in and out and racing round corners.

Saw a couple of Evelina shirts along the way but no Mandy my Evelina running buddy en route.

Mile 12 was fantastic when I saw the Weight Loss Resources crowd - almost ran straight past but this was not long after the first rain storm and the thought of seeing them had kept me going strong at that point.

Boring and slow bits through docklands - practically missed my charity cheer point and was getting quite cross as the pace kept dipping below 11 mins and the route was so crowded.

But getting out of there from mile 18 onwards was just amazing - the crowds all shouting my name, the live music and the whole amazing atmosphere.

At mile 22 the Fetchpoint cheerpoint made my day - my sister was there and then Tigger from Weight Loss Resources! So fantastic to bump into her and it was just as I was getting all emotional so seeing her made me much calmer.  We ran along together for a while but then she told me to go away basically - so I did.

The last few miles were some of the most memorable in my life and I am filling up now just thinking about them. I was very tired - my legs were killing but you know you can always keep going just for a little while longer at that point.  Number of walkers by this bit were huge which again meant lots of weaving in and out.

The crowd were so fantastic that at mile 24 I decided to get rid of the ipod completely and as I took my earphones out I heard Mr B shouting my name and he and Danny were there waving! This was just as the huge hailstorm started so was very welcome I can tell you.

Last two miles were just a dream - I cannot begin to tell you how amazing they made me feel and then I was at Buckingham Palace and turning the corner and the big sign said 385 yds to go and you could see the finish line.  I threw my arms into the air at the end and whooped with joy.

Then I realised just how tired I was, the volunteers at the end were so good, taking my chip off, wrapping me in a blanket - I was sobbing away because I was so happy.

Found Mr B and small boy and went to charity reception but was basically so tired that I only stayed to see Mandy and whoop with her (and Adee) and then a quick Burger King which perked me up no end and home.

4.18 and something and one of the most memorable and wonderful experiences in my life - I am on cloud 9!

Now to find another smaller marathon and beat that time!

Well done all you FLMers and thanks to everyone for their amazing support - I love ya all!

]]>Sat, 12 Apr 2008 07:10:03 +0700http://linsblake.weebly.com/1/post/2008/04/its-tomorrow.htmlWell its here already!  One more sleep until I go off to do the London Marathon!  I am more than excited today and on the verge of tears most of the time - anything can set me off.

Just sorted out my kit bag, number, timing chip etc.  Been swimming with the kids and off to Pizza Express for lunch, bought Sports Jelly beans and basically all is set.  Just realised that I have run out of porridge oats so might have to sweet talk Mr B into going and getting me some more whilst I go to sleep for a while.

I am quite liking the fact that I have to eat lots of carbs - so far today have snuck in a flapjack and some malt loaf to help - I think that must be my Yorkshire roots coming through.

So this is my last post before the big day - next time I write I will have run/walked/crawled the whole 26.2 miles and will be proud wearer of a FLM medal and t-shirt which I will be wearing to go to work, go shopping, go to the gym etc for the next few weeks.

Its been fun!

]]>Tue, 08 Apr 2008 05:49:08 +0700http://linsblake.weebly.com/1/post/2008/04/5-more-sleeps.htmlI have been remiss in keeping up my blog but quite frankly after 22 miles it all got a bit boring!  A 12 miler the week after was hard work and then the last 8 miler was great fun - legs feel great and I am ready!

Terribly over excited by it all - day off work today and doing nothing but think about it, got to go into London tomorrow to register at the Expo and pick up my number, got my gels by post this morning so am posting them out to my supporters to hand over as I fly by, fundraising is done bar the shouting and I am a happy bunny.

I simply cannot wait for the big day now - I have heard such great things about it and just want it to be here - its a bit like waiting for my wedding day!  I will probably enjoy it more!

To take my mind off the marathon I have started me new job (going very well) and put the house on the market (lots of decorating been done) which means that I have lost quite a bit of weight in the last couple of weeks.  My task for this week is to put that weight back on by carb loading for Eng-er-land!

5 more sleeps!

]]>Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:32:40 +0700http://linsblake.weebly.com/1/post/2008/03/longest-run-ever-22-milestick.htmlWell I did it!  It wasn't easy but then neither was it particularily hard - its just a case of plodding on actually trying not to go too fast.  The biggest problem that I have is that I haven't run these kind of distances before and so I have no idea how my body is going to react - you read so much about runners crashing and burning in the last few miles of a mara that it scares the willies out of you - if nothing else just think how embarassing it would be to be staggering around the streets of London at 24 miles.

I am still convinced that much of it is just mind over matter - I know I can run the distance now and even though it is going to hurt I just need to keep plodding along and see what the day brings.  I have a secret hope of getting in under 4 hours (not so secret now although I think only my mum reads this - hello mum!) but am torn between going for that and taking the chance of hitting the wall or just enjoying my first mara and going more slowly.  I expect that the competative instinct will step in and make that decision for me on the day.

So a windy and cold run - I found it easier in that I have run 20 miles before so pretty confident on the mileage but the conditions were much much harder - changed me route halfway through as the wind was so strong and cold by Virginia Water lake that I couldn't face running round it twice.

Taper starts now and I am looking forward to shorter runs (although when exactly 12 miles became a short run in my twisted little mind I am not sure) and relaxing!

]]>Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:07:16 +0700http://linsblake.weebly.com/1/post/2008/03/22-miles-tomorrow.htmlI have carb loaded, drunk lots of water, bought the gels, the vaseline, the bodyglide, the detrose sweeties and planned my route on Google Earth - 22 miles tomorrow!  Pretty nervous but its just a case of plodding on through it and after 3 and a half hours I will be home again with 2200 cals to eat.

Am now fully recovered from the 80's night - I was totally wired for about 12 hours afterwards and then went slowly downhill before falling asleep during Lewis on Sunday night.  It was such a success and I am so happy that it went well and made so much money!  I feel slightly lost now the pressure is off - not that I want it back but it filled my life for the last few weeks. 

Tomorrow is my last LONG run - its "only" 12 miles next week and then steadily downwards from then on.  I am so close now and the fundraising is done bar the shouting - I hopefully will top £3,000 which is more than I initially thought possible.  Its probably a good job that I am starting work soon otherwise I would be bored to tears.

]]>Fri, 14 Mar 2008 06:07:05 +0700http://linsblake.weebly.com/1/post/2008/03/16-mile-plod.htmlA dull 16 miler this morning - same lovely route as last week - Windsor Great Park, Smiths Lawn, Valley Gardens, Virginia Water Lake, Obelisk Pond, Rhoddedrun Ride and back down the Long Walk - I am so luck that I live here and can do runs like this.  It turns out my run was a decent pace but it felt like I was plodding - maybe its just where my head is at the moment! 

One more long run before the taper! 

The cake sale went brilliantly yesterda with lots of people bringing cakes to donate and we made £85.50 plus another donation of £10.  Added that to my total and it brings me to 94% of my target.

Hopefully after the 80's night tomorrow I will be there.  Going to spend this afternoon sorting out the pizza dough recipe but boy I am tired this week - at the moment I am physically tired from the run too so a sniff of red wine tonight should see me tucked up in bed by 8pm.

]]>Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:11:27 +0700http://linsblake.weebly.com/1/post/2008/03/excited.htmlWell the 80's night has really taken off and I seem to have around 80 people coming now - wonderful fundraising news but now I am panicking about food and booze etc!  Seems I will always find something to worry about.

Cake sale today - this week I have done nothing but sort out stuff for fundraising - I am mentally tired - I think my brain is full!  I am so looking forward to Sunday when the fundraisers are over and I can just concentrate on the running.

The weather forecast has perked up and tomorrows 16 miler will take place in drizzle but only 3 mph winds - after the gales of this week that is a huge relief.  Just been to buy my gels to keep me going and I have a milkshake for afters - its no wonder I used to be a fat lass is it?

]]>Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:52:08 +0700http://linsblake.weebly.com/1/post/2008/03/the-mid-training-blues.htmlVery tired this week - did a slow race with two newbie runners on Sunday which was fine but woke up yesterday with back ache and feeling very out of it.  This afternoon I did a 7 mile run on the treddie but it was hard work - that might have been because it was on the treddie but I had roving pains - firstly my ankle, then my knee then my hamstring and finally a sharper pain in my back - I stopped at that point and feel fine now, just tired.  Got a 16 miler this week too but trying to work out when the weather is going to be least bad!

Fundraising is going very well and just broken £2,200!  This week I have the cake sale which should be around £100 plus the chance to get more people from school to sponsor me.  Then it is just the 80's night on Saturday - currently have sold around 65 tickets and interest has perked up this week - hopefully with the bar and raffle I will be able to make around £300 so am very hopeful that by Sunday I will be at my new target and then some!

So getting there - my new job still hasn't started which is probably for the best as not sure how I would fit anything else into my life - this seems to be all I think about!

Oh and booked my sports massages up to the date and after the marathon now, got my registration pack from FLM and and pleased with my number 49708!

]]>Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:49:27 +0700http://linsblake.weebly.com/1/post/2008/03/20-miles-of-running.htmlI did my first ever 20 mile run yesterday and lived to tell the tale.  It wasn't actually that bad, definately better than the 18 miler but mainly a fight won in my head I think. 

Once I accepted that after 15 miles my muscles would be tired and that although they hurt they do still work - the whole thing became much easier. 

The food and drink was just about right yesterday - finally found a gel that I can eat without heaving, and I think basically I just took too much with me - pockets stuffed full of jelly snakes and sports beans, an odd concoction called sports food which was like a lumpy wallpaper paste but oddly quite tasty.  You start to worry about yourself as a person when the idea of eating lumpy wallpaper paste becomes attractive!  Also a Lucozade Sports drink in each hand - the calories I consumed probably matched those expended by the end.

But the runners high was huge - even someone else saying they couldn't come to the fundraiser didn't dim it.  I love running but sometimes the real pleasure comes from the afterglow.  Still grinning today  - my run time calculator gives me a mara time of 4.11 based on yesterdays run - I would love that but not getting my hopes up, I will see what the day brings.

]]>Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:12:35 +0700http://linsblake.weebly.com/1/post/2008/02/the-highs-and-lows-of-fundraising.htmlWell I reached my target of £2,000 yesterday after my email out and my mum bullying her old ladies at lunch club to sponsor me!  Of course this meant that I immediately had to increase my target to £2,500 because there is still 6 weeks to go and I have to look like I am doing something!

Downside - the 80's night I am organising was going from bad to worse with people who I thought were not only coming but selling tickets to all their friends telling me they could no longer make it.  I have sent out numerous begging emails and approached people face to face but every knock back just feels like a personal "I can't be bothered because I don't like you enough to make the effort".  Its probably an unfair feeling because the marathon and the fundraising has become such an important part of my life - other people are not going to place the same importance on it. 

So after more bad news on the ticket front I went to bed depressed made worse when my husband suggested that I should cancel it rather than face a church hall with 10 people in it!  Thanks love - anymore supportive advice?

But this morning I got another email from a friend who is coming and bringing all her mates so the night is back on and I just need to sit down and work out who is actually coming and then get on with it!

I will never fundraise again!

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