#Janathon day 20 taper

One other thing that I find difficult about Janathon is racing. Taper is particularly dificult. Part of me wants to run miles and miles to get up the leader board. But my sensible head is saying rest. The happy medium is run a little on the days before to save some energy whilst still fullfilling Janathon commitments. Hence another short run today and significantly less mileage than last week Sunday is the Brass Monkey half marathon at York.

#Janathon day 19 sleep needed

Felt dreadful all day. Slept less than 2 hours last niggt. I expected to do badly at training. But I did well. It was 6 min efforts with 2.5 rest. It was tough but It was a good session. Afterwards was dance practice. I need more of that. I dont think Im quite as slick as the others yet. Anyway 5.77 miles in the bag

#Janathon day 18. another day over

Still going. I think I have blogged this before. Tje hardest bit of Janathon is not running everyday, its not normally logging. (I've had trouble getting on the site today) or even reading and commenting on other peoples blogs,its the blogging. Trying to think what to write, trying to find the time. I run and think of clever things to write then get home and my brain goes blank. Today was another busy day. Work swim drama group. Im not long in and bed is calling. School running club is coming alobg. 10 members now, and they say they love it. Bonus.

#janathon day 17. get it in when you can

To start the day I did a short sharp turbo followed by a dogjog. Then it was just the same old, same old. Work and then dash in get changed and get Jed walked ( wish we had a garden)dash back home, feed Jed , pick up training stuff and dash off to running club juniors. After Juniors it was running club, then home, phone hubby (working away) and bath. Its now gone 9 and soon it will be bedtime. Ive jogged (twice) logged and blogged. "yawn" soon be all tucked up in bed. Janathon 17 done.

#Janathon day 16, Ooh! EXCITING

We are more than halfway through Janathon now and I'm still going strong. I'm in the top ten for running distance, so I'm happy with that. Todays effort was not massive, another DogJog but it all adds up. Now thats not very interesting you say, you always run but here is why I am all excited today. Yesterday evening I had a phone call from someone from Lloyds TSB she said they now had a place for me on the Olympic Torch bearing relay team and would send the details in an email today. I was itching to scream it from the rooftops but thought Id best double check the email. I was so excited when it arrived, they are holding a relay position for me somewhere on 19 June when the torch travels from Hull to York and passes through Ripon. I hope it is for Ripon but I will be proud to carry it wherever. I have to complete a series of paperwork (which I am currently scanning to email back to them) and undergo some background checks. Then the final list will come out in March with where everyone will run. Soo Excited :-)

#Janathon day 15 almost failed

Today was busy and I nearly ran our of time to run. Original plan was go for a bike ride and follow it with a run. Hubby however wanted to go sofa shopping. So no bike ride. Got to Harrogate at 10:00 to find the shop we wanted was not open till 12:00. Ended up wandering around the few shops that were open. At midday we went to the sofa shop. Found the sofa we liked but when we measured it it was too big for our livibg room. So we came home. I had dance practice at 2:00 so no time for a run. Dance practice ran over so Hubby was grumpy cos he held tea off waiting for me. So I waited for tea to settle and just went for a quickie. 2.2 miles. Today is now my unplanned rest day.

#Janathon day 14, Chubby rub :-(

Got up early because I wanted to do at least 15 miles. I knew it was cold and was worried about slippy surfaces. Fortunately it was very dry so no ice. The sky was clear and there was salt in the air as gritters passed.it had the makings of a good run. I had a varied route of hills and flat, town and country. Keeping the pace down was not an issue today, I kept my heart rate in zone 2, the only time my Garmin buzzed for high heartrate was going up hill so I ignored it then. I am a hot runner. I like winter running because I overheat in summer but today I was cold through to the bone for the whole run. Wish Id put gloves and a thermal on. When I got home it took ages to warm up enough befote I could get in the bath. And even when I did get in, the water cooled quick when I put my cold body in it. It was very stingy getting in the bath because wearing running tights that are now too large meant they had chaffed my inner thighs otherwise known as Chubby Rub. Anyone who has had this issue will appreciate how painful getting in a bath can be. Best thing for chubby rub is germaline. Sorts it in no time. Need to chuck those running tights out. Managed 16.62 miles in 3 hr 14 min. Very happy. That is 5:14 marathon pace.

#Janathon 13. A good day

Today is the day that many are afraid of. To me 13 is just a nimbe that follows 12 and precedes 14. I do have superstitions nut not that, Friday 13 th is normally a good day. Its Friay after all. So today started well. I awoke before the alarm and took Jed for a DogJog. 3.61 miles. Not fast but it was nice on a cold crisp morning. When I got home there was a text from my sister saying mum hsd had a comfortable night and had slept well. This afternoon I got a phonecall whilst at work. It was my sister. My heart raced and I was reluctant to answer the phone, she normally texts updates on Mum. Last time she was in HDU she got an infection and went downhill fast. I answered the call and my sister told me that Mum was to be moved onto a normal ward and that they are thinking of removing the trachiostomy. That is such good news. Another step on the right direction. After work was the swim training. Tough but I love it. I can feel it improving my stroke and speed. So today Friday 13th was a good day for me. Hope everyone else had a good day too x :-)

#Janathon day 12 Happy with that

This morning was an early start windy weather disturbed my sleep again so got up and did a quick 30 min turbo. Thought I might as well as I was up. Thenit was the usual routine of the day. Running club was training night. Hills, was way easier than Saturday. I felt strong the whole session and no annoying niggles. At last I felt good running again. Gotta be happy with that :-)

#Janathon day 11 rest day!

Today is rest day. It is also running club day at school. Club has been slow to get going but I now have 6-8 runners. Tonight there were 6. 4 boys and 2 girls. The other adult and I decided to take them out on the streets. I cannot run as fast as the fastest bous but I instructed them to wait or run back at busy road junctions. Which they did. Their behaviour was exemplary. They were incredibly mature. All had a good time. When I got home I took Jed for a dogjog. Just a couple of miles to tire him a bit. Mum update: No real change but that in itself is good. Janathon miles today 4.5 Janathon is going well and I am enjoying reading peoples blogs.