Over 8 hrs on a bike. Ouch!

The week following a marathon aught to be a rest week. Well that wasn't gonna happen. I walked and swam on Monday .Tuesday was the usual mad rush of walk the dog, work, walk the dog, Junior running club, adult running club, home about 8/8:30. Eat sleep.
This week was even more tiring as it wa the adult running club Chase Your Mates championship. This is a handicap race for club members, its a set route approx 6 miles and no one is allowed to wear any timing/pacing events. When it was my turn to set off, there was no one in site, I ran comfortably for the first time in a long time, it felt good. About half way I saw another runner, I could also hear chatting behind, so I ha someone to chase and some one to run from, I was caught by my chasers at the corner on the hill, we're nor racing Ian and Alan told me and ran ahead, I tried to keep up a bit and they held the gate, soon I caught the person in front and as I left the field the guys held the gate and I spotted a pink shirt ahead and began to wind her in, keeping as close to the guys a I could. I was impressed with myself as I ran down Whitcliffe lane, a marathon 2days ago and now here I was racing again, my ankle was hardly any bother, the toughest part of the race was over, there was about a third left to run and I was regaling the next runner in. The guys were pulling away, there's another gate, I laughingly called. As I approached the gate the guys held it and I ran through and overtook my opponent. As the guys passed again they informed me there was someone coming up fast behind. I was tired but couldn't give in to it, I focused on another runner ahead. Just over a mile to go and I was overtaken and as. Glanced behind I saw someone else coming fast. I really pushed myself but about half a mile from the finish I was overtaken again. I kept pushing and finished strong. I was really pleased with my effort.
Wednesday was a rest day, so dog walk, work, dog walk. It was also sports massage day. Time to rub out some aches and pains from the last few days.
Thursday was the usual walking as well running club training. An interval session. Tough. I always find any speed work tough but I know it's necessary so I go and try my hardest.
Friday, rest again, walking mainly as Saturday was going to be a bit tough
Saturday was Pocklington Pedal. I'd entered Billy and I for the Mega (100 miles) months ago when I thought we'd have had loads of training, but we have hardly been on the bikes. The weather was cloudy nod windy. We got to Pocklington
and registered, sorted the bikes and lined up with the others. I was a bit panicky, I'd never ridden in a pack and was scared Id do something wrong an upset someone. Not to worry, after the town cryer had set us off I was soon no in the pack, Billy dropped back to join me, and as I settled down, we soon were back with the pack, just as w turned a corner and started to climb, and climb and climb, near the top, red faced and breathless I was confronted by photographers, I tried to smile, hmmm! Not seen the pics ye but it'll probably look like a grimace. Billy waited at the top and we set off after the pack. Soon we came to a village, there was a left arrow ahead of a corner, we bore left and followed the road. The group behind shouted us and told us we'd gone wrong. We went back, we'd missed a turning. We got on the right track again. At 20 miles billy had a puncture. We were half way up yet another incline. Billy made short work of changing the tube and off we went again. Billy had not been able to get full pressure into the tyre, but we thought there would be a pump at the feed station at 30 odd miles. The wind was relentless fighting against it on the inclines and the flats but the most frustrating was the fact that even the descents were slowed by the wind. We were very relieved to reach the feed station at 6 miles. There was no pump but Billy ha a go at getting more air in his rear tyre. We had coffee, banana Jaffa cakes and nutrigrain bars, refilled our water and set off again. The route was due to split pretty soon and did as we approached yet another hill,we turned off, our hill seemed gentler. As we approached a junction, a cyclist was coming towards us. It's flatter from here he said, that means its blooming hilly I thought. We came out of a junction half way up a hill, that was not funny. Billy pulled ahead. My throat started to itch, I coughed but the itch became a prickle. I was fighting to get up a hill and coughing, Billy pulled further ahead. Every breath made my throat prickle triggering a cough, my shirt felt as if it was strangling me, I undid it a bit. I was starting to panic. Billy was getting further ahead, I couldn't shout, a car and horse box overtook me as I cycled through a flood caused by a burst water main, soaking me. I felt so dejected. Soon, Billy started to slow and stopped. I thought he was waiting for me. Oh no! Another puncture. He was not amused as he removed his wheel and flung it across the verge. I welcomed the stop. It allowed me to get my inhaler out of my saddlebag. We were all alone in the middle of nowhere. Billy grumpily changed the tube, a lone rider passed us and asked if we were ok, we said we were (lie, Billy was very dispirited ). We eventually got going again an for a mile or two the wind was in our favour and the terrain kinder. We've bitten off more than we can chew with this he said, its gonna take about 10 1/2 hours at this rate. Finally my throat had settled. We were only about 45 miles in and w just dug deep to get it done. I felt guilty at Billy having to keep waiting for me. We soon were heading back upwards, I could see someone ahead of Billy and we were gaining, up and down the hills we went. Soon we came down a steep hill and turned to go up, I had a twinge in my left quad and thought I would cramp, so I got halfway and as I stood on the pedals the cramp started. I got off and walked. Billy never though, so again had to wait. As I got going again a bloke we had passed mentioned that we ha to be back at the finish by 17:30. Billy started doing the maths as I was forced off the bike to stretch my cramp as I chewed a dextrose tablet. We have to get our average up to 12.5 mph he said. We peddled on passing another cyclist. The next 20 miles were much smother though still windy. We finally arrived at Stamford Bridge 75 miles done. We thought the feed station may have closed, we'd not seen a cyclist for miles, but were relieved to see it open and there were still cyclists there. We wasted no time, more water banana and fig rolls and back on the bikes, gentle at first and soon the other cyclists passed us in a pack, we couldn't keep with them, we just plodded (peddled) onwards counting down the miles as we started to climb again, and again and again, we were tired now but Billy kept telling me that I'd have to be quicker if we were to get back in time. Finally a downhill as we approached Pocklington and as we rode down the road absolutely shattered I noticed the college, ooh! I said there's the finish and pedalled harder and turned into the collage and road over the timing mat. I turned to Billy, he was behind me. Oops! Billy had waited for me and encouraged me around the whole course and I had shot off at the end and left him behind. Relieved as I was to finish I felt so guilty.
8hours 26 minutes after the start, we had completed the hardest ride of our lives.


Sunday was recovery. Surprisingly we were not too sore, but we were sore so 2nice long dog walks were the order of the day.
So, how I did this week affect the challenge?
I only ran 14.4 miles this week leaving me at 634 miles, that's a little behind target, 61 miles to be exact. So I now need to up my weekly run target to 42 miles. Now that will be a challenge.

Light a the end of the tunnel

Followers of this blog will know that I have been struggling with a blooming uncomfortable and annoying ankle injury caused by the wonderful state of Ripon's roads. The initial injury was on the 23 rd of January, I carried on with the challenge and as it was improving I turned it again. It has hampered my running, cycling and swimming at points. I never gave in. After the Blackpool Marathon on April 7 I cut my run mileage back to less than 20 miles a week. I found a way of rolling my compression socks down to protect my ankle and absorb some of the shock. By last week I was bouncing with energy getting the urge to run, Tuesday was a better run than Id had in a long time I did not feel that I was running with a limp, and Thursday I ran a quick ( for me) hilly 5 km. it was good to feel like a runner again. My ankle and shin were stingy, but not too painful. The only issue was that my trainers rubbed my bad ankle. Friday came and it still felt like it was improving and the lack of exercise was building up in me. I got dressed for work ( knee length skirt and tights) shoved my feet into my union flag trainers and set out to walk the dog.


I could not resist running, not fast, just jogging, not enough to break a sweat. Must have looked odd. These trainers put no pressure on my ankle, so, although these trainers have done lots of miles, particularly long runs and marathons, these were the trainers to wear on Sunday for the Greater Manchester Marathon.
Saturday came and we packed. I packed and re packed as is my habit, we took Jed to the kennels and set off for Manchester, we started eating in the car, pies from Appletons. the weather was horrific, we hoped it would blow over. in the car I sewed together blue and yellow ribbons in support of the victims of the Boston bombings.

When we arrived in Manchester we stopped at the Trafford centre for a mooch around the shops and lunch. Then we went to the Old Trafford Inn at the cricket ground. We chose this hotel because we stopped there last year and we could leave the car free of charge till after the race, and its only about half a mile from the start line, by Old Trafford Football ground. We laid out our gear and went to book somewhere for tea. Most restaurants could only offer 16:30 or 21:30 neither were any good to us then I managed to book us into Frankie and Bennies at Salford Keys at 6:30. I wasn't really hungry but we wandered down anyway. We arrived early but they seated us and we proceeded to eat a second big meal. I was still quite full from lunch but I forced myself pasta carbonara followed with Eton mess sundae. When we set off I felt I needed rolling out the door. We wandered back to the hotel to rest.

Race day dawned, we didn't get up to early as we were so close to the start. It was overcast but shorts and vest was the plan as I had overheated at Blackpool.
Last year the weather was horrific and I was very wet and cold before the start so I hat bought us plastic macs to keep the chill off this year. At 8:10 after a breakfast of banana, malt loaf and granola bars washed down with coffee, we packed our bags and left the hotel. We put the bags in the car and put the key in an envelope behind reception, for the first one back (Billy, he did 3:46 at Blackpool)
We joined the stream of athletes heading for Old Trafford footy ground and we were joined by another athlete, he told us he had recently run Mumbai marathon.

There were loads of people about, way more than last year, it was a very different atmosphere. I Spotted Martin as Billy was sorting hi trainers. Bless him, he was having a nightmare morning, everything was being difficult for him, his feet had swollen so he'd worn his second set of trainers and they were still not right.

When he was sorted we went into the main area to find Martin who was in the loo queue. We were still chatting when it came over the tannoy to move to the start which was a short walk away. We wished Martin luck and set off for the start. The closeness of the hotel meant we had not have the panic of being in a queue at the call for the start.
Walking to the start areas Billy mentioned that his heart rate was a bit high, oops, that was my heart rate. Last week we had tried to pair Billy's gamin with a different monitor, as the one it came with was cutting his skin, but it had picked mine up and we'd forgot ton to re pair it with his own monitor. Billy then had to try to re pair his watch and monitor. We then wished each other luck and separated to our separate start areas.
The athletes gathered and we had 26 seconds of silence followed by 26 seconds of applause for the victims of the Boston Bombings. It was very moving.
Soon after the gun went and we started moving towards the start, walking, jogging switch garmin on, over the start line and run run run run, not too quick it was to be a long day. I set my watch for 10 min mile pace and aimed to try to run at that. I set off between the 4:15 and 4:30 markers. It felt comfortable and I soon passed the 4:15 marker, I started to think I could get a PB of quicker than 4:16 from last year, A time Air have been nowhere near since. I ran comfortably when at 9 and a bit miles a bloke crossing to the loos, caught my ankle and I tripped, I floundered but did not fall, but it was a fright, I had been in my zone running along, now my heart was trying to escape my chest, my breathing was erratic an my legs sore, I kept on running and soon I started to settle down again, at 13 miles the 4:15ers caught up with me, I picked my pace up a bit but they passed me at 15 miles. I wasn't dispirited though, I looked at my watch and was still ahead of the little man on the scream, by 20 miles I was aware that the miles were feeling further apart and by 22 I was forcing myself onwards, my legs were tired and had had enough but I wasn't giving in, I could feel myself slowing, I had 2 options, keep on getting gradually slower or walk a bit and reset my step in the hope that when I ran again it would be at a better pace. I just kept running, too scared to stop in case I couldn't get going. The crowds of supporters pulled me on as the miles gradually passed and finally there was the 26 mile marker, nearly there, the crowds ahead were roaring and drawing me in, there was Matt from Ripon Runners, a bit further was Billy, wrapped in a silver foil blanket. I ran around the corner to the finish line 4:32 on the clock. I stopped my watch. Happy with that. I moved though after having the chance to thank the crowds over the microphone, picked up my t shirt medal and goody bag. I phoned Billy, we had not been very organised about meeting points. I milled around a bit then set off back towards where I last saw him in the crowd. My phone rang and he told me he'd done 3:43 whoo who a new PB, I looked at my watch it said 4:28 whoo who my second fastest time ever. Happy with that and my leg hardly hurt. Billy had gone to the car, so I headed that way. My medal wearing my tired body down. It's the biggest medal that I've ever had.

So that's it, tired and hungry, back to the car to start eating again on the journey home to pick Jed up from kennels and take him for a walk to re stretch tired legs.
I would do this marathon again, the crowds were great last year in such awful conditions, but this year they were awesome, cheering and providing sweets and drinks and buoying up tired runners. The course is fairly flat and there were plenty of aid stations and loos on the course.
Well done to the organisers and a massive thank-you to the people of Manchester who turned out on a chilly windy day to support.
Today I have the ache of victory in my limbs but my spirits are raised. I am still a runner and hopefully no longer broken.
And as for the challenge, well 620 miles covered including 5 marathons. I hope to catch up the missing miles during May.

Week 16 Still moving forward

Week 16, gosh the year is passing quickly.
Once again it hasn't been a great running week, only 18.85 miles, but I swam twice and cycled twice. I've also upped my walking as that seems ok, I've been trying to walk quicker in case that's what I end up doing at Manchester marathon on Sunday.
My ankle is starting to improve, finally, I know deep down that I should have stopped way back in January when I first ran into that pothole. We can't go back and change things though, so I have to live with my decision to continue 12 weeks ago. Reducing my run mileage now seems to be helping.
On a more positive note though, I feel as if my swimming and cycling is progressing. I'm not quick, wish I was, but I seem to have the knack of keeping going at a reasonably stable pace.
Ast week I bumped my long swim up to 3.4 miles, 240 lengths of the 25yd pool, don't think I'll be doing it again in a hurry, but at the end I was still swimming 10 length in 5 minutes. On Sunday this week hubby and I did a 72 mile bike ride, on reasonably flat course. It was very windy though. A good practice or Outlaw triathlon, last year it was very windy. I had hoped for an average pace of 15 mph but managed 14.4 mph. At the end of the ride we were still riding strong, though tired and we even managed to brick a mile run onto the end.
After Sunday's marathon, I will seriously consider not running for a while. I am sure that a soon as Outlaw is over I will be able to ramp my running miles back up.
This weeks totals are;
Walking 23.6 miles
Swimming 1.59 miles
Cycling 96.08 miles
Running 18.85 miles

That was 140.16 miles in 17.36 hours, (16workouts) an burning 11111 calories in a week
Miles to Moscow, I have virtually passed Duisburg and Essen in Germany and am heading towards Hanover.

Week 15 the figures

15 weeks into challenges
Total mileage 1313 miles in 239 hours of exercise. 2,496 hours have passed in 2013 that is almost 10% of my life spent doing exercise.



This weeks totals
17.4 miles walked
15.15 miles run
92.38 miles biked
4.49 miles swum

561 miles run this year
21.5 miles swum
501.4 miles biked
229 miles walked
4 months gone, 4 marathons completed



Still moving forward

Never,ever give up

Week 14 was a challenging week. First week of school holidays, so I was all set to cycle loads. Tuesday I set off to explore the new cycle path from Ripley to Bilton Road, Harrogate. The tough bit was getting to Ripley and back. It's a while since I've been out on the road bike so the first four miles were spent dreading Howe Hill. The road was appalling with potholes and crumbling a surface. The hill was not too bad actually but a later hill was tough and the road surface was appalling, I dreaded coming back down it. The cycle path was nicely tarmaced and well used by dog walkers this made things difficult because people with hoods up and earphones in cant hear you coming behind and dogs can be unpredictable, but it was an enjoyable cycle.

Views from the old viaduct over the Nidd gorge.

On the way home a rode through Markington to avoid that badly surfaced hill, approaching Howe Hill again I started to look forwards to the downhill sweep from Aldfield. Unfortunately that downhill sweep was a battle against strong head winds.
Later Tuesday I struggled at running club and my ankle was sore. I think the shims in my cycle shoe are part of the problem. I have now removed them.
Wednesday was a dogjog, Thursday's club training was at Studley. I chose to run the 2 miles there to warm my leg, and it helped. It was hills though, tough tough tough, especially the section where we went up a steep embankment and being a big wus about steep hills and heights, I had to fight panic, I couldn't look down or Id have frozen to the spot. I was relieved to reach the top. Afterwards I ran home.
Friday was rest day, then Saturday I did a short Dogjog to warm my legs before we took Jed to the kennels and we set off for Blackpool.
We arrived in Blackpool at lunchtime and were lucky enough to find a parking space for the car, we booked in the B&B, The Glenroy Hotel, and went to collect our marathon numbers. Billy still did not know if he would run, he's been struggling with his breathing since Trollers Trot, a month ago and has barely done any running. He would decide in the morning.
We then walked wandered along the promenade as we headed into town for lunch. We went to Bella Italia near the Winter Gardens. We booked in for tea too. After lunch we looked around the shops and went back to our room for a couple of hours before tea.




Race day arrived and Billy decided to run. We went for breakfast, toast an coffee, Pat the owner said that we could come back after the race to shower and change and he would give us sausage and bacon sandwiches, We then walked 2 streets to the football ground for the race. We didn't take bags because the digs were so close. The sun was shining but it was cold so we wore bin liner for warmth. We had a little jog around to warm up and then joined the runners waiting to start. Billy started near the front but I don't like being too close to the front, (I don't like being jostled by faster runners pushing through)so we wished each other luck and I headed nearer the back of the crowd. We were a little late setting off, just after 9:35. The race was started by Dr Ron Hill,he was going to run the first 8 miles, he was still at the start as I crossed the mat. He passed me at 3 miles comfortably moving through the pack. There were quite a few runners as there was a half and a full marathon.


The course was 2 laps, starting at the football ground and heading south for 2 1/2 miles before a turn in the road and heading north for 6 and a bit miles up the sea front before turning and running back, just over 12 miles the half marathoners split off leaving the marathoners to start the 2nd lap. The turn in the road had move a bit further ant the field was now very spread out as out of the 1700 runners just over 600 were doing the marathon. This meant for a lonely 2nd lap.
Fortunately I had seen Billy running well at each of the turning points so that was a relief, he was well ahead of me, a couple of miles at the 14/15 mile point. I never saw him at the last turn, I just hope that he was ok. For most of the race I was running with an older gentleman, we were never far from each other but never spoke. Spectators were sparse, particularly on the long northerly stretch, where again the turn point had moved further away. My legs were tired and. Had needed a wee since about 10 miles, but there were no loos except at tram stops if you had 20p (I didn't) the wind was in our faces the whole way up the promenade so I was struggling to keep my breathing under control, my belly hurt with needing a wee and my calves were trying to cramp. In reality my body was crying STOP, but that want happening. I should have taken my inhaler, but I was determined not to give in. Just after 24 miles I walked the last water stop to try and get as much fluid on board as possible, and my asthma won, I took my inhaler but the rhythm had gone from my legs and I had to run/walk the last mile or so as my silent running parter kept his pace an disappeared into the distance. Even though the Blackpool streets were crowded they were not there for the marathon supporters were few and far between, but those that were supporting were great, finally the Manchester pub came into view and I turned towards the Football ground, I was relieved to see the finish line and Billy sitting nearby with his finishers bag. "And here's ....' The commentator checked the start list "...Helena (Sunday name)from Ripon" as I crossed the line. "Wait a minute" he said " What's does it say on your shirt?" He caught my arm. I was worried he thought Id run on someone else's number because my shirt says Lena on the front."Running 2013 miles in 2013 for the British Lung Foundation, you are amazing" he then let me go and collect my medal and goody bag.
I then saw my silent partner, we walked out together and passed the time of day and discussed the race, the we separated, him to his wife and me to Billy.
I can't believe he had not been back to the digs for warm clothing, he'd waited an hour for me. He got a pb of 3:46:11 and I got 4:44:06. We made our way back to our digs, where Pat the owner gave us bacon and sausages and told us there was no rush.


We went up to shower and change, then I got the shakes and had to lie down a while. But after a coffee and some food I perked up, had a shower and we set off home.
We'd had a good weekend, we both agreed that we would go back to The Glenroy Hotel, Pat was a great host, but we weren't to sure about doing the marathon again, it was tough. If you would like to stay there the address is 10 Trafalgar Road Blackpool 01253 344607

As far as the challenge goes, I ran 42 miles this week including my April marathon. Bringing my run total to 546 miles this year.

Quarterly update

I got back to running on Tuesday, after my 6 days of run rest. Running with the juniors was easier than last week, running with the adults was tough as usual. The bonus came when I went out Wednesday morning with the dog. This week I managed a 3 mile Dogjog, my leg, though sore, was no where near as sore as last week.
Thursday was training on Land rover Hill, I found this hard as my ankle was painful on inclines and declines. Was fine on the way there and back though.
Friday was the Moon-joggers Full Worm 10km virtual race. I planned my route, Home to Studley church and back. I set out early, it was sunny but cold. I ran as fast As my ankle would let me, I was lucky not to need to stop for traffic, crossing roads, the off road stretch along the track through the fields was muddy and knocked my pace slightly, but soon I was in Studley Village heading for the deer park, I crossed the 3 cattle grids and attacked the hill as best I could, all the way to the gate, turned and ran back down, by now my ankle was warmed up and a lot less niggly. A mile downhill, back over the cattlegrids and back to the muddy track through the fields back through town, pushing myself the whole way stopping my watch at 6.2 miles. I was pleased with an hour. I found it hard to race with no fellow competitors.



Yesterday I never ran but did lots of walking at Robin Hoods Bay.


This morning it was bitterly cold as I set off to Studley to run a few church and backs. I needed to do 13 miles to ensure that I made 500 miles for the year, it's 2 miles to Studley and then just over a mile to the gate by the church. So I figured that 4 church and backs would make my 500 miles for the Year, but if I could manage 5 the add a bit on, on the way home, then I could make 503.25 miles for the year. A quarter of the challenge.
I set off steady to allow my self to warm up, i stashed my drinks bottle and headed up the drive and made 4 church and backs quite easily, with a break at the bottom each time for a drink and a stretch. I decided to go for the fifth. That was tough, on the way back down I met Vicky and Annette, they were on their way up, they were doing the 7 bridges. We stopped for a chat. I then continued to the bottom, collected my drink from where I'd stashed it, ran up to SAMs seat, admired the view and set off on the 2 1/2 miles home.
16.29 miles done :-)
My ankle is not painless to run on, but its a lot less painful than it was and its not as painful after running. I'm as ready as I'll ever be for Blackpool marathon next week.

So here are the quarterly stats.
In 2013 so far I have;
Swum 17 miles
Cycled 375.2 miles
Run 503.3 miles
Walked 186.7 miles
Total 1084.1 miles

Challenges still live;
My own run 2013 miles in 2013 including a marathon a month for The British Lung Foundation= 503.3 including 3 marathons
Ripon to Moscow, currently at Molenbos in The Netherlands


Moonjoggers run and walk 2013 miles = 692 miles

Outlaw Ironmorph for Poppyfields challenge to do some exercise everyday in 2013, still going.

DailyMile and RunSaturday #2013milesin2013 all mileage counts.
Oddly I never added all my walking in January and February on DailyMile, but I logged everything on RunSaturday, will have to catch DailyMile up total mileage 1084.1 miles

Raise £1000 for The British Lung Foundation £67.00 so far.

http://www.justgiving.com/Lena-Conlin-Dad

Take a break

For regular readers of this blog you will know that I have been struggling with a sore foot and leg since turning my ankle way back in the middle of week 4.
After a good race at Lightwater Valley and running home last weekend, my leg was still sore on Tuesday for the Junior running club. This meant that I struggled running with the youngsters, mind you they are quick, as their session went on the pain eased and towards the end I was running ok again so I went with my usual adult group and had a great run, the pace was fast and the breaks few and short. The 2 runs together gave me a total of 11.82 miles. I was really buoyant and all set for a dogjog Wednesday morning, but unfortunately it was too painfulI couldn't get my foot off the ground.
Time to rest,
I have fought so long but ultimately the whole challenge is at risk if I continue to run, even though a rest now means a commitment to more miles once I start again. Initially I have decided to not run until next weeks Junior session, 6 days rest.
I cant do nothing so I am using the run rest to increase my time on the turbo trainer, and working hard at that.
So, today is Sunday, I haven't run for 5 days, I also have not taken any painkillers or used Ibuprofen cream for that length of time. I still have pain, but not as bad and now I can pinpoint the main pain area, around the ankle bone on inside of my left foot, but not a pain I can poke. Hopefully it will continue to improve over the next couple of days and I can soon get back to running.
Total running this year 465 miles 1548 miles to go.
15 miles behind target at the moment but I'm sure that when I'm fit I will be able to make that up.

I wish I'd been brave enough to rest earlier before I was forced to.