9 Towards Nice

I am behind on my blogging for a variety of reasons so I'm going to try to do some retro posting! March 17 and 24 were BIG training runs for the half marathon which is now at the end of THIS month! Both days clocked 9 mile runs and were challenging and beautiful. Fortunately the weather cooperated for both and we had sunny skies and moderate temperatures. I have come to fully embrace the beginning runner's mantra: Start slow, finish strong! Pace is everything and it really is.
The first of the 9 mile runs was a gorgeous run that took us through Hyde Park, across the beautiful Chelsea bridge that spans the Thames, through Battersea Park, back across the Thames via the Albert Bridge, along the river, up to Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey,finishing up in Green Park. What a thrill to come up that last bit in Green Park to be met by the faster group who were there waiting for us, cheering us on. While it looks like I'm doing jazz hands in this photo, I'm really holding up 9 fingers! This group of women has inspired me so much. I am so thankful.
The next week was the much talked about run to Canary Wharf. Canary Wharf is a large banking district that is a relatively new development in London. The day before the big run there, Doug and I took the tube to meet someone for lunch down there. When we got off the tube ride, which took about 40 minutes, I looked at Doug and said, "I am running here tomorrow." He replied, "You are insane." I kind of felt the same way!

But I knew I could do it given the success of the previous week so I settled into my pace group and chugged along. We ran along the canal for most of the run, which is OK but crowded with other runners and cyclists. We had an incident with one cyclist who felt she owned the route and instead of slowing down when the path narrowed she kept up her speed, clipped one of the runners and almost ran straight into me. Fortunately I was able to get my hands out in front of me and give her a good push and some stern words before carrying on. The pathway clearly states that pedestrians have the right of way. You do not want to mess with the women's running crowd!
Again, it was the most incredible feeling when the large high rise banking buildings came into sight. We're going to make it! And on the last leg, the faster runners were there, cheering us on, giving us the last boost of energy we needed to complete the run.
One of the women had a birthday that day so we celebrated. There's a good place to get breakfast burritos at the end point, so we ate those! All in all, it was a good celebratory run. Everyone says that once you've completed 9, 13.1 is not much harder. We'll see. I have two more long training runs before the half. The last one is in two weeks. 11 miles to Kew Gardens.
In the mean time, I finally saw a physio-therapist who confirmed what I suspected. I do have an issue with my sciatic nerve which is causing the numbness/burning sensation in my right foot. He worked me over pretty good and I was sore but I can also see that ultimately his torture techniques will help to loosen me up so that I will run with greater ease. I did fall into bed at 8.45 that night.

Still smiling after the 9 mile run.

I really can't believe that 3 weeks from today I will be running a half marathon! I'm actually pretty excited about it now even though every run is still hard and makes me wonder if I can really do it. The encouragement from my peeps however is really what keeps me going. There's joy in the pack for sure. 

Road to the Nice Half Marthon

I suppose it occurs to me that it is somewhat ironic that the half marthon I've set my sights upon is in Nice (pronounced neece) because the training is not exactly nice (pronounced nighce). So the title of this blog indicates not that it's a nice half, but rather that it in Nice. But I digress.
Yesterday I hit another milestone, a 6 mile stone as a matter of fact! The run was through many of London's iconic places which helped spur me along. Here's the description we received in preparation for the run. 

You really need running buddies in order to accomplish these goals!

"We head to Hyde Park via the usual route. Start heading west on Circus Road and turn left on Grove End and follow south as it becomes Lisson Grove.  Cross over Marylebone Road and continue on Seymour Place until the end.  Turn right and cross over Edgware Road and then left to enter Hyde Park at the intersection with Stanhope Place.   

Run along the eastern edge of the park to Hyde Park Corner, under Wellington Arch and down Constitution Hill.  Run past the Victoria Memorial down the mall and enter St. James Park.  Run over the pond and out of the park, turning left onto Birdcage Walk and down into Parliament Square to Big Ben.  Continue past Big Ben and cross Westminster Bridge. After the bridge turn left to run along the Thames until the river path ends after Southwark Bridge. Borough Market is under the railway bridge near the London Bridge station." Whew! It was fun to get to Big Ben and just keep on running. I remember how nervous we all were last autumn when that run came up on the schedule. The parks look great right now, with daffodils even popping up. 

I knew that Borough Market was across the river from St. Paul's so once St. Paul's came into view, I felt like I might make it! Actually, the only really tough part of the run yesterday was the fiery burning sensation in my right foot. I have had some foot issues and have orthotics that were specially made for me in Sweden, but the longer the runs, the more intense this seeming nerve pain seems to get. I have begun to process of trying to figure out how to see a Dr. here in England so perhaps I can get some answers. I do not want an injury to thwart my progress at this point!

Anyway, Borough market is a super fun place filled to brim with awesome food! A delicious cup of Colombian coffee and a tasty bread stick filled with cheese and olives provided much needed sustenance after the run. All in all, it took 80 minutes and the last 15 were pretty painful. 

I need to get in a 30 minute run over the weekend so will test the foot then. Next week it's 45 minutes on Tuesday and anothr 80 minute run on Thursday. Then we take some rest days.

Now that I've made up my mind to do the half, I'm pretty focused on keeping it together. I'm figuring out my pace pretty well and all in all, feeling good about being able to accomplish the training runs leading up to the end of April. Now, I just gotta get this foot pain to subside! (All photos taken while on the run, so quality not great, but I think you get the picture!)

Milestones and Goals

It is mid-January, 2016. I am still running which represents a minor miracle in and of itself! Yesterday I ran for 60 minutes straight, almost 5 miles! I never thought I'd ever be able to accomplish this so I'm pretty thrilled. My pace is quite slow, about 12.5 minute miles but I am finding the stamina to complete the runs and have actually gotten to a place where I don't want to miss it. 

The view from where I head to catch my bus to the start point every Tuesday and Thursday mornings. 

I still don't really love doing it, but I do enjoy getting it done! And I am very happy for the exercise and I continue to enjoy seeing London whilst running around. Clearly, there is joy in the pack! The only way that any of this is possible is because of the group of women who I have met and who journey with me, an amazing group called Women Running the World! Running alone is still AWFUL. Even a short 35 minute run alone is torture compared to the longer runs with companions. (There's a sermon in there somewhere!). The coaches are these amazing experienced runners who cheer us on, give us advice, and encourage us to keep on keeping on. It's really been quite the highlight of our time here in London and I'm thankful for the 2 women from church who encouraged (pushed, cajoled, etc.) me to start doing it.
(Thanks Tracey and Stefhanie!) 
So, with our timeline for remaining in London finally set, I have been able to set my sights on a bigger goal. (Our last Sunday will be June 5 and we fly to CA on June 7, fyi). 
When I first announced back in September that I was joining a running group, several of you cheered me on. One friend in particular wrote this, "Let us know how this goes. Especially interested to hear if your competitive nature comes out and we begin to read of you running a 5K? 10K? 1/2 marathon? Full marathon?" 
Well, he was right about my competitive nature. I've always done better when there is a prize to keep an eye on and now I've set a significant goal for myself. All credit goes to my running group as the leaders arrange and plan everything necessary for us to be able to complete....drum roll....a half marathon! 
Yup, all 13.1 miles will be run by yours truly on April 24. The best part of the whole goal is that the half will take place in...another drum roll please....NICE, FRANCE! Nothing like going straight for the sweet spot in this girl's heart by asking her to run along the seaside!
So, I'm equal parts excited and terrified. I still have not run more than 60 minutes straight and I know the half will take close to 2.5-3 hours to complete so there is still a lot of training to take place. The schedule is pretty rigorous from here on out but I am committed to getting it done and excited to see how a race of this length will feel. 
I am also excited because the training runs continue to take us all over London. In the coming weeks we'll be running to Borough Market, Canary Wharf, Battersea, Wembley, and Kew Gardens. These places sound so far from our start point and the longest training run is 135 minutes so it's really hard to imagine what that will look like, but the leaders have promised that if I stay with the program, then I will be able to complete the half!
So far the weather has been quite cooperative. It's gotten cold this past week but I have learned to dress well. Mostly I'm relieved that we are not contending with icy streets. Even the rain hasn't been a huge factor most days. And we're catching the sun coming up over the horizon and enjoying the beauty of Regents Park and Primrose Hill as well as the diverse architecture that dots the neighborhoods we run through.

Rugby fields, frosty morning, Regents Park

It has been awesome for me to stay with this! It has been great for me to be able to set this goal and strive toward fulfilling it. I still can't really call myself a runner but I can say that I run and I never really thought I'd even get that far. I'll keep ya posted as the journey continues. 

Another Running (5) Milestone

When the email arrived inviting us to a 6.00 a.m. (gasp) London Holiday Lights run on Thursday morning that involved two 25 minute running segments separated by a 5 minute walk, I think I hit the proverbial mental running wall. I had only run for 12 minutes straight before stopping for a 2 minute walking break so this felt overwhelming to me. Even so the thought of running through central London whilst viewing the holiday street lights appealed to me so I decided I was in and actually started looking forward to it...sort of. 
Well, it was quite the morning. Getting up at 4.45 wasn't all that fun but Tanner had been restless around 4.00 so I wasn't actually in a very deep sleep. Once up and dressed, I was ready to go so caught my bus at 5.30 and got to the start point just in time. Fortunately, it wasn't too cold outside.
I have to say that I'm pretty chuffed by the whole experience. If you had told me 4 months ago that I would get up in the wee hours of the morning to go for a 50 minute run I would've laughed in your face. And yet, here I was...going for it! And of course, the run did not disappoint. The lights were spectacular and it was such a treat to be there when no one else was! I'm half tempted to drag Doug out of bed some morning and go back just so we can enjoy the lights without the masses that inhabit these regions during the days and evenings. We hit all of the big streets, Oxford, Regents, Piccadilly Circus, Old Bond street which turns into New Bond Street. All were elegantly dressed in holiday light and it really was great fun!
My quads tied up a bit near the end and I was admittedly a bit tired throughout the day but I'm just so thankful for the wonderful group of women who encourage me to keep on keepin' on!The extra bonus was seeing daybreak over London as I wandered back to our house. All in all, it was about a 5 mile fun! What a great morning!