9 days and counting...

With only 9 days to go before Brighton, I'm feeling rather apprehensive.
The training has been done, I've got my fitness up, I'm carb loading (I think this is the same as my normal eating though...) and I feel ready. Sort of.

I have to say that my final long training run of 20 miles wasn't a wholly pleasant experience. Feeling rather despondent at the prospect of running by myself, I enlisted the help of a friend (thank you Fiona of Rayleigh Road Runners!) and we trecked across the Essex sea front. We kept a steady pace, tackled the mild hills and ran around the big ones, and we did it.
After hobbling back to my parents' place I had a bath, checked myself for injuries (surprisingly intact toenails! Hurrah!) but was appalled to see that my fingers had swollen up. They looked like sausages! I decided to wait 30 minutes then check them again. Still huge. Googling 'swollen fingers after running' on my iPhone was tricky, as my digits were so unwieldy, but it turns out this is a normal phenomenon after holding your arms up for such a long time. Phew.

Fat fingers aside, training for the marathon has been an immensely positive experience. It has been a unique opportunity to test myself physically and emotionally. I've learned about how delicately balanced the body is, and how interconnected the body and mind are (thanks to the brilliant osteopath Lucy). I've eaten many many cakes with absolutely no guilt.

I'm so happy that come 6th April, I'll not only be able to achieve something hugely positive for me, but I'll be able to say that I've helped Burgh House. It is such a unique and wonderful place, and deserves to be cared for and enjoyed by many generations to come.
Including mydonate donations and cheques, the total we've raised in sponsorship is almost £1000 -  thank you so much to everyone who has donated!

I'd like to boost this in the next week or so.
Not only will sponsorship help us keep Burgh House open and free, it will help us maintain our unique collections, develop our permanent exhibitions to include more about the history of this building and its inhabitants, and help people to continue to enjoy it to the full.

I look forward to seeing you there soon!

Becky x

Foodie Friday and only 65 days to go!

As my training runs are increasing in length, so too is my appetite! Whilst I’m attempting to keep my diet healthy, I am craving carbs and craving cakes, to be more specific! Fortunately the Burgh House Buttery is in plentiful supply. YUM

 

My longest run to date has been 12.2 miles, which was a hard slog! I split the run into two 6.5 mile loops, stopping for 5 minutes in the middle to eat an energy gel and drink some water. I have only just started using gels, as I haven’t really run long enough distances to warrant taking them before now. Fuelling during runs is completely new to me, and I’m also only just appreciating how much healthy eating impacts the way I feel and how well I run too.

I recently purchased EasyNutrition for Runners, which I’m looking forward to devouring (pun intended hehe). Interestingly, ultra marathoner  Scott Jurek advocates eating ‘real’ food during long runs, and has also adopted a completely plant based diet which he credits for his amazing endurance and running ability. I have just ordered Scott Jurek’s book Eat and Run, so am looking forward to absorbing that for some tips and inspiration.

The marathon is just 65 days away! Eek. To prepare, I will be running the Hampton Court half marathon  on Sunday 23^rd February, which I’m really looking forward to! I’m going to run it as part of my training rather than as a race, so will just aim to get round comfortably and pain free. I’m still having some knee issues but have been seeing a brilliant London based osteopath  who has pinpointed the problem and has been working towards correcting it.

If you’d like to come and cheer me on at the Hampton Court half please do! And please do consider sponsoring me for the Brighton Marathon in April! I’m running to raise money for Burgh House, a brilliant, free to enter historic house and museum in the heart of beautiful Hampstead. To donate click here.  Every pound makes a huge difference!