The Great North Run 2012

September 16

After a very restless night, I was up at 6:30am. I was terribly nervous. I had a really light breakfast of muesli and and coffee before getting ready for the race.

I was meeting my friend at 9am so I got down to the baggage buses and put all my stuff away, however it was pretty cold so my friend gave me her t-shirt while I waited.

I made my way to the pen and just kept moving and a shakin' as I waited for the start. I couldn't see anything and then we started walking. As I'm so short I still couldn't see what was going on when all of a sudden everything opened up in front of me and I was running!

I kept saying to myself to keep to my pace, don't go out too fast. It was pretty amazing. I can't remember much but I do remember a point, probably about the 8/9/10km mark where all of a sudden everything started to be easy. My breathing, my posture, my arms all working so efficiently. It was amazing.

So at the end I completed the race in 1:54:19. I am absolutely delighted with my time. I had no injuries or anything, but at the end when I finally stopped running my ITB had flared up but I didn't care. I had finished!!!

Waiting at before the race

Waiting before the race

Waiting in the holding pen. Can't see a bloomin' thing ahead of me.

Ah, race completed

Completed in 1:54:19

Medal

Two weeks to go!

September 15th

So I have been crazy nervous this week about the race which is happening tomorrow! It has been a long week of forcing myself to take it easy, eat well and drink lots. All these thoughts go through y mind like what if I don't perform how I want, will my knee be okay, what's the weather going to be like? Anyway, there isn't anything else I can do so wish me luck. Gulp! 

September 13

5:21 km / 29:01

September 11

6:95 km / 36:54

September 10

9:54 km / 52:47

September 8

15:92 km / 1:45:23

Lots of stopping again as I could feel tightness in my knee. As long as I do some ITB stretches it seems to ease up and I can carry on again. Stretch, stretch, stretch! 

September 3

9:77 km / 55:27

September 2

I tried to go for a run in the morning and it wasn't happening. I could feel the tightness around my knee again and had to give up :-(

By late afternoon, the unsuccessful run in the morning was playing on my mind and I knew I had to make another attempt. So I went out again and this time hardly any tightness  and I did: 

7:42km / 42:54

So now I know that my body seems okay after I stretch and loosen up. Anyway, I'm happy. 

September 1

I bought a foam massager and ended up doing lots of massaging and yoga stretched for the ITB. It hurt lots, but I had to do it so...

Anyway, I managed a really long run today. 

15:70km / 1:42:07 (hurrah!)

I had to stop loads though to stretch my leg. But At least I managed to run. Yes it was slightly irritating in a tight way (I wouldn't say it was painful). Anyway I'm happy.

Getting closer

August 29
I went to see the physiotherapist where he checked me out. Lots of cracking and checking rotation and stuff. He then said he could feel the muscles in my right left was very tight. He thought I had something called Iliotibial band Syndrome, more commonly known as Runners Knee.
The Iliotibial band is a thick tendon that inserts on the outside of your knee.  The function of the Iliotibial band is to help slow movement and torque at your knee during impact.  Iliotibial band syndrome is a common cause of knee pain in runners.  The cause is repetitive trauma to the Iliotibial band insertion on the outside of the knee resulting in tendonitis and severe lateral knee pain while running.
Many things can trigger it off, but in my case I think I upped my mileage too quickly and I haven't been stretching down properly so the band had gotten too tight and was hindering my movement.

Anyway he ended up doing a seriously deep massage on the band and it was so painful. He then told me I needed to buy a foam massager so I could massage my leg myself.

August 27 - 28
I ended up in the Notting Hill carnival where I danced for 9 hours solid. I don't know how good that was for my knee. The next day I knew I had to see someone about this knee thing. So I made an appointment to see a physiotherapist.

August 23 - 26
Rested myself as much as I could. I thought I was better but then I attempted to do another run, but the knee issue keeps coming back. I don't know what is wrong. I can hardly bend my knee and going down stairs is neigh on impossible. It is really painful.

August 22
I started my regular routine of running home this evening after work and everything was fine when all of a sudden a pain shot through my right knee. It came on so suddenly and became so painful that I had to catch a bus home. My walk from the bus stop to my house was so painful. I could hardly bend my knee. What is wrong?

August 21
4:60 km time unknown

August 19
6:40 km time unknown

August 18
12.93 km 1:13:24

My Bupa pack finally arrived!

August 9
5.07 km 27:12

August 8
4.79 km 26:28

August 7
4.82 km 26:45

August 3
4.75 km 26:10

August 2
4.85 km 26:35

Big break

July 31
3.24 / 5.22 km  27:47

July 30
2.96 miles    27:08

July 25
4.56 miles / 7.33km   38:18

July 16
3.42 miles / 5.5 km  29:41

Tried to do a tempo run. 15 mins out. 14:41 return. Not much of an improvement, but at least I returned faster.

July 15th
6.04miles / 9.73 km  56:17

July 14th

Been a while since my last run with personal things and holidays, but I'm now back and trying so hard to get on form...

4.39miles/7.06km 39:45

Not improving :(

13 June
6.13 miles/ 9.87 km
52.49 min

12 June
4.41 miles/  7.10km
36.44 min

Pretty good run considering I have been so lazy of late. Shame I didn't go further.

06 June
2.31 miles/ 3.72km  18.11

Been pretty lax of late with the training. Must get back on it before I go away for over 2 weeks holiday. Oh I feel tired just thinking about it :( 

I really need to stop drinking!

May 28th
6.22 miles / 10.02 km 53:15
Much better than the run on the 26th!

May 26th
The worst run ever. I managed to run the the park and had to walk around it. I just couldn't carry on. I think I did more walking than running.

May 23rd
Canary Wharf BHF fun run 10km

Was so hot and crowded and was running with a friend. At the 5km mark she picked up an injury so we had to stop and pull out of the event.

May 20th
6.06 miles/ 9.76 km in 51.44. My fastest time yet!

May 17th
Beat The Banana 5km Fun Run Time: 23.36

So my first Fun Run of the season and I am very happy with my time. It was good to run with other people and the sensation of passing people is pretty good, although many more passed me than people I passed myself.

At the end of the race

Obligatory final photo

Finally caught the banana

May 16th
2.2 miles / 3.55km in 18.28.

It's been a while since my last run. A little too much partying I think!

May 8th
6.10 miles in 53:11 getting slower!

May 6th
4.37 miles in 38.06

May 5th
6.07 miles in 52:56

Been partying a little too much lately and laid off the training. Need to get clean and focussed again. 

Little Yap Yap has big feet

26th April

On a whim I signed up for 2 fun runs:

Beat The Banana fun run, May 17th, 5km

BHF, Canary Wharf after work run, May 23rd, 10km

25th April
Decided I needed to throw some more core strengthening exercises into my work out regime so I decided to sign up to a Bootcamp Pilates Class. Bootcamp and Pilates should NEVER be in the same sentence EVER. Anyway I went along. It’s Pilates on some slide-y bench contraption with a bunch of straps and you use your own body resistance to work yourself out. I was okay at it considering it was my first time but boy do I need to improve on my strength. I am however, impressed by my flexibility. I was more flexible than I thought, which must mean the stretching I’m doing after my workouts is doing something.


24th April
3.98 miles in 33.39 mins - Good time but worse training run ever. Cramping half way round the park, stomach ache. Very bad form. Have just introduced Brown rice into my diet to try to be healthier.
Brown rice & JY = BAD

21st April
6.09 miles in 52.59

15th April
5.96 miles / 9.58km in 52.03

14th April
5.89 miles/ 9.48km in 50:30

11th April
It's been a while since my last run. I wanted to ease myself in and also try out my shoes for the first time outdoors. Also, it was pretty grey outside so I ended up going for short run in case it started to rain.

2.06 miles in 17.56

2nd April
So my Daffodil Team pack has arrived. This is very official.

Tried out my new trainers at the gym today. They feel so different to my old trainers, that I think I need to get used to them and perhaps try running outdoors with them.

1st April
4.26 miles in 36:17

So lately I have noticed my lower back has begun to hurt and my ankles are sore. I knew it had to do with my trainers. Afterall, the only reason I bought them was because they were a cool pink colour. So I went to a proper running specialist where I was told I had really wide feet and she couldn't believe that I was wearing UK3.5 trainers to run. It turns out I am actually a UK4.5 so I've been wearing a whole size smaller that what I should be.

To test which trainer is best for you they put you on a treadmill and film your running style and then they analyse it in slow motion. It's pretty cool to see my running style in slow motion.

So now I have a pair of brand new trainers. Fair enough they aren't as pretty as my old pair but never the less I can't wait to try them out. Geeze, I'm easily pleased!!

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11