#Janathon day 23, the runstreak continues

Working hard at running last night meant that my sciatica was literally a pain in the butt this morning when I set off on my run, but it gradually eased and I managed 2.8 mikes and than a jog with Jed. It was nice not to contend with ice, it was cold but just wet.

So that's how my rest day started. 

I have walked as well today, giving me lots of time to plan tomorrow's run.

The rest of today has been as restful as my days ever are. 

#Janathon 22, this Janathon is flying by

Normally at this point of Janathon, I am already counting down the days, but this year, I can't believe how quick it is going.

I have passed 100 miles of running so I am happy with that, I never made that many last year due to having a couple of weeks of minimal after my 2013 miles in 2013. The other Janathons though I ran well over 100 miles, I even made 200 once.

 Never had to do it with my new companion, sciatica before though. Way back on November 25 when Sciatica came to visit I thought I may never run again, but mind over matter got me through a 34 mile trail race in December, it did take 9 hours though. I rested, I carried on as normal but nothing would sort it out. Libby my sports masseur has released it enough to get me back to running, and I have run every day this year at least a mile a day. Every mile I run is precious to me.

Tonight's training was efforts of mixed distance and I found them tough but I got them done.

#Janathon day 21, wicked Wednesday

I was very pleased with myself yesterday and my performance with Ripon Runners, 10 miles run between juniors and adults. My Piriformis wasn't, nor were my legs. This morning's runstreak was a real effort, my legs were tired and I certainly knew where my Piriformis was, But I managed a slow mile and a Dogjog too, but that wax definitely enough running for me today.

After work I went swimming and reached my target of 50 lengths in under half an hour before going to Ripon Cycle Studio for watt bikes. I didn't push the swim as I was feeling a little tired. Watt bikes was 6 x 6 minute efforts at above 200 watts with 2 minutes active recovery, this was a really tough session, my legs were on strike and it was a real effort as the lactic burned in my legs. I fought through though and reached my target. That was a wicked (evil) workout.

Tired now

#Janathon day 20, terrific Tuesday

A gentle start to the day, lots of stretching and roller work, before breakfast and walking the dog. It was nice not having icy paths to deal with.

After work it was running club juniors, I jogged down to warm my muscles, then after warming the juniors up it was a swift 5 km with regroups.

With the adults, I ran with my old group again, I dud a bit better this week, I managed to stay mid group for about 5 miles then quickly worked myself to the back of the group, but I did manage 7 mikes tonight, even after 3 with the kids I'm very happy with that. 

I do have a stiff calf and Achilles but nothing a good stretch won't sort.

#Janathon day 19. Another manic Monday

I woke early so decided to head out for my run, I looked out of the window and saw the snow, so put on my YakTrax. I was just going to do my runstreak mile, but I set off and just auto piloted onto an old favourite winter route, I never looked at my watch, I just ran, it was great, I felt so free. When I got home I had run 3.95 miles, if I'd looked at my watch I would have run to 4 miles.

After breakfast I took Jed out, I jogged with him since I had my running gear on, 

I walked to and from work. 

I made it to the pool when the lane was in, there were 4 of us in tonight, it was good, I had people to chase and swim away from, when they took the lane out at 6 pm I had done 92 lengths so I did another 8 before getting out.

Watt bikes tonight was 5 lots of 7 minute efforts with 2 mins recovery. My target was to stay above 192      Watts. It was tough, but I managed it. Sometimes I am too competitive with myself.

#Janathon day 18. Chrissie Wellington trained me today

I had a lie in before going for my runstreak mile today, I didn't go out until 7 am and had to come back for my YakTrax, otherwise I would not have been able to run or could have hurt myself, the pavements were so icy.    <a href="https://www.yaktrax.co.uk"></a>       The YakTrax I have are the Pro variety. I have had them for about 5 years now and as we do not get a lot of snow in Ripon I use them on icy pavements. I don't need them often but when I do, they are invaluable.

Whilst walking the dog, Billy and I discussed routes for cycling today. I felt the Vale of York would be the best bet as it would thaw first. By 10:30 it was obvious that the thaw would not be quick enough so we set up the indoor trainers. I decided to do a Chrissie Wellington workout                 <a href="http://audiofuel.co.uk/chrissie-wellington/"></a>      These Audio fuel workouts are great, the beat keeps you on track. I chose Ride harder 3, a pyramid session, it was a beast. It is a 90 min session and apparently equates to around a 2 hour session outdoors.

As I opened the bedroom window for some cooler air I could see it was snowing, so turbo was the right choice. The session did not disappoint, it was tough and afterwards, dripping in sweat I knew that I had had a good work out.

This afternoon was another dog walk in the chilly afternoon on ground still hard from the frost as the snow stated to fall again. It has not as yet settled though.

Recommended Items to ensure the weather does not hinder your training.

YakTrax snow and ice grips

Audio fuel cycling workouts 

#Janathon day 17, not gonna let it slip away now

This week my training plan was to do Parkrun to create a benchmark of where my running is at, then again every 6 weeks, do it again to measure progress. The weather had different plans. As forcast last night it rained loads on frozen ground and this morning that froze. The parkrun organisers made the decision to cancel for safety reasons. I thought they would. The dog walk this morning was a bit tricky in places.

http://www.parkrun.org.uk/fountainsabbey/  is great, it's 5km like all the others, but it is in the grounds of a World Heritage site. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey/ The 2 lap course takes you around the Abbey twice and the beautiful water gardens. Afterwards lots of runners meet at the visitor centre for coffee.  So it is a shame that the weather caused it to be cancelled today. I think I might do it next week. (Weather permitting)

I still had a timed 5 km to do, so this afternoon I set off for Studley Royal, with the intention of running to the church as a warm up, then running home as the timed 5 km.  I set off and everything was going to plan, well for the first mile anyway, as I headed off road onto the public footpath every step was hard, sticky, slippy mud and puddles made going forwards difficult. I stated to formulates new plan, run up to the church as the original plan, then run down the drive to the cattle grid, then back to the church and back down to the cattle grid, that should be about 5 km. 

as I was running up to the church the first time, the cars coming towards me had their lights on and I realised how much the light was fading. The deer were by the road and cars were stopping to look, I had to run around the cars. I got to the gate by the church and waited for my heartrate to drop a bit before running as hard as I could the mile down to the cattle grid before turning and heading back up the deer started crossing and I worried they d stampede but the split whilst I ran past and I heard the rest of them crossing behind me, multiple hooves pattering on the tarmac. 

I pushed hard to the gate before running hard back down, the deer were now all across the road, it was getting dark and I was racing the light. I reached the cattle grid and my watch hadn't buzzed to mark 5 km so I turned and ran 100 m or so up the drive and back, it didn't buzz so I thought it wasn't working and set off over the cattle grids towards home, then it buzzed. I then walked a bit, it was properly dark now, I was glad I had a fantastic head torch, in a drawer at home, but because there was little or no light pollution my night vision was quite good. I set off down the muddy footpath through the fields and was surprised that I was still managing to run at a reasonable pace except where it was really slippery, it was sleeting now, but I was soon back at the road and heading for town and the lights. 

Running in the dark off road works as good training for Equinox24 in September.

I'm really happy to have run my 5km in under 30 minutes, it's the best that I have run since my back went in November. 

17 runs, streaked.

#Janathon day 16, over half way

Gosh this month is going fast, can't believe it's Friday again. Friday is 'rest' day, so I got my run in early to ensure 24 hr of not running swimming or biking. Can't do that with walking, I walk all the time, it's my mode of transport. Often when I am walking somewhere, I race people. They don't know they're in a race but I spot people ahead and challenge myself to catch and overtake them just by speedwalking.

This afternoon was another session with Libby for a not her sports massage to work out the knots in my left hand side caused by the sciatica. She has given me more stretches to try whilst I await my physio appointment. 

So now I'm all done for the day. Exercise done, work done, sports massage done, Jog, Log and Blog done. Feet up now before a busy weekend.

#Janathon day 15,

Today I say the "This girl can" video. It's great, well I like it anyway. It is a Sport England  video  to encourage more women to exercise. I have posted a link to the full advert if you haven't seen it yet, on my Paintedrunner FB page.  https://www.facebook.com/paintedrunnerIUPO?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Here is the behind the scenes http://youtu.be/5OeQjEGM12M .

I like the way it shows real women in sport, not slim, leggy youngsters.

As most of you know, I was 40 when I took up running and as a pear shaped, 5 ft 10 in 12 and a half stone athlete, I am aware that I do not look like a stereotypical athlete but look at what I have achieved over the past 9 years and continue to achieve. 

When I was younger I would have been more self conscious of my Lycra clad cellulite, but I just accept it now, I must admit, the first time I went out in public in my tri suit was a bit nerve wracking. But the best thing I wear is my smile. I love what I do and hope I inspire a few people too.

So I think this ad campaign is great.

Any how, today I gave walked and been to running club training, I jogged down, the weather was horrific, rain and gales, but glad I went, I soon warmed up. Then I jogged home. So my runstreak continues too.

#Janathon day 14 Workout Wednesday

Today started with a slip slide run, the pavements had frozen overnight and a flurry of snow had laid on top of it, so today's runstreak mile was pretty slow, but I did run a mile in tough conditions. 

I went home, had breakfast and did a few chores, in the meantime the outside temperature had risen and it had started to snow. So an hour later Jed's Dogjog was easier going than the runstreak mile. Most the ice had gone and the fresh snow was easy to jog on. Jed just wanted to stay out and play in it. 

After work it was dog walk and swim and Watt bikes. The swim was tough as the pool was busy. I was quite tired by the time I got to the cycle studio. I was given my session, 4 lots of 8 minute efforts with 2 minute recovery. The target was 185 watts or more. Gosh that's a tough one, on Monday I struggled to stay over 184 watts on the 3x9 minute efforts. The first effort was 186 av, then I managed a 192 av, then I fought hard to achieve 2 lots of 190 watts average. I was well chuffed. I didn't think I could do that.

Tomorrow is lie in day as Running club training tomorrow evening will tick the runstreak box.