Seasons Greetings

Hi all,

Just a very a very quick blog to wish you all a belated

very merry Christmas and all good wishes for the new year.

I know that Christmas can be a difficult time for many people for various reasons. This year our festive season has been really good but I know that some of my friends have not been so fortunate. The horrendous wet, stormy weather that arrived as predicted on Christmas Eve caused flooding, road chaos and, even worse, a string of power cuts. Godalming, and Elstead in particular, seem for have suffered the worst from Mother Nature's powers. As I type this, I have just heard that Elstead now has power...for the first time in 3 days.
Also, as I type, the sky outside my window is a beautiful blue, not a cloud to be seen, and it's looking stunning. However, the forecast for tonight and tomorrow is not good. More heavy rain and gale force winds are predicted. I hope everyone will be safe and warm and not in any danger.

Future blogs should hopefully be more exercise and fitness themed. That is my plan. However, for the next few days I intend to relax and enjoy the rest of the yuletide season.

I wish you all a very happy new year. May 2014 bring you health and happiness. Just think, in 9 weeks time the half marathon will be over and you won't have to put up with these blogs!!!

Take care and be happy,

A xxx

I know I'm not in this photo - I was in charge of the camera - but it's a lovely family pic from this Christmas that I wanted to share with anyone who hasn't seen it already on FB!!! xx

Whatever You Want

Hi everyone,

This is going to be a very brief blog because I have very little to report on the exercise front. I am ashamed to say that I have not been to yoga, I have not been swimming, I have not been to the gym and I have not walked Harvey as often as I should.
There is no real reason for the drop off in activity except for the fact that I have been working more than usual and I have been really tired. That sounds really pathetic but I am afraid it's true. This 53 year old 'lady' is starting to feel her years it seems.

Apart from work, I have had the chance to catch up with old friends over the past week which is always lovely. After a long weekend of work, I made several visits to my father in law, met up with very good friends and their mums (after I forgot about my yoga session!) and had lunch with them all, went to see ex clients who have remained friends for many years and had coffee with them (spent soooo much time chatting!), been to a carol evening, been to Oxford and been to the O2 to see Status Quo who were supported rather brilliantly by 10.cc. No wonder I'm tired!

Today saw me attend a first aid course at the school where I work and then on to a local electrical retailer in search of elusive Christmas gifts. The gifts remain elusive!

I have given myself a stern talking to regarding my exercise. I know, absolutely, that I will get back in the routine easily. However, I do think that I won't be able to commit to it fully again now until after the festive season. I think that, if I was able to run, then I would know that I would have to keep up my training. I will give myself the luxury of a couple of weeks of self indulgence and pick up again in the New Year.

I think I will continue to do the weekly blog even if I have little to report...mainly because I enjoy writing it but also because it keeps me focused on my goal.

So, apologies for the lack of news once again and I hope you are not disappointed with my lack of effort over the past week. Stay safe and take care.

A x

The Wanderer

Hi everyone,

I hope all is well and you're not all super-stressed with Christmas planning and organisation. I am actually much more organised for the festive season than I have ever been at the moment but I think that will change. It's the calm before the storm! Actually, so many previous Christmases have been hijacked by sad events and family dramas that I have forgotten what 'normal' Decembers are like. I hope I haven't jinxed it by stating it so categorically.

So, back to what this blog is supposed to be about....exercise. This week there isn't a lot to report after last weekend's 10k. My knee has not been terrible but I have been aware that it's not happy with me for making it work so hard ;-)  My hamstrings have been oh, so sore. It has taken the best part of a week for the aching to fade. However, I am still elated with the fact that I actually completed the 10 k at all.

On Tuesday I got to half way through the day when it suddenly struck me that I was supposed to have gone to yoga. I have no idea how I managed to forget about it but forget about it I did. It may have been for the best as so many bits of me were still stiff after the 10k but I did feel guilty for a while. I intend to go tomorrow morning instead. Lets hope I remember!

I have done lots of walking over the past week and making sure that Harvey and I walk 3 miles every other day is proving beneficial to us both. He gets lots of exercise and sniffing time and I get to clear my head and walk as fast as I like safe in the knowledge that he's not going to wander too far away from me, especially if there happen to be treats about. I aim to gradually increase my mileage over the coming weeks and I do have a training plan which is printed out and has pride of place among the magnets and photographs that are on my fridge. I am well aware that the festive season is likely to knock the plan out of sync for a while but I hope that the hard work that I have done up to now will stand me in good stead for a little time down time without too much damage being done.

We haven't signed up for any more runs/walks/events at the moment. There was a local Santa Dash that took place at the weekend but I was working and couldn't take part. Even more of a shame when you realise that the gorgeous Roger Black was also taking part! The Santa Dash really appeals to me so maybe next year I will be able to enter although with will be a Santa Stroll rather than a Dash in my case.

All of the poignant anniversaries that I mentioned in my last blog have been and gone. I took flowers to the crematorium for Mum and met Charlotte for coffee where we raised a cup to Jonathan and Nick before going on the the cemetery to put some flowers down for both boys. I cannot believe that a year has passed so quickly.

Of course, this week saw the passing of one of the icons of our time, the great Nelson Mandela. He was an inspirational figure to many and the tributes to him have been very moving. To me, in my usual basic way of thinking, he seemed like a lovely man, a man who did so much good. Whenever I saw images of him in his latter years he looked so gentle and serene and I always thought that he'd be a lovely grandad. The fact that he had such an impact on the world seems less important than the fact that he seemed lovely. Typical me!!

Finally, I thought I would leave you with a few photos (with Charlotte's permission) of Jonathan and Nick as a gentle reminder to everyone of the reason we are doing this. We hope you boys are having fun up there!

Have a good week.

A x

Walk On By

Good afternoon from a weary but elated Mrs. Fish/ Nanny Fish/ Mum etc etc.

Yes, today was the day that Jack and I upped our game and took on the challenge of The Jigsaw 10k run. We both stayed in last night...not unusual for me but a rare event for Jack on a Saturday night, especially just after pay day....and woke refreshed and ready for the event. Well, I woke countless times in the night, worried that I was going to take too long to finish, as I had to be back to work for 2pm. Pressure indeed. Jack nonchalantly wandered downstairs later than we had agreed, didn't have any breakfast, put on his new trainers (courtesy of Grandad Fisher) and we set off for Dunsfold.

                                                                 New trainers!

The race was taking place at Dunsfold aerodrome where the BBC film Top Gear. As usual, we got there early and spent a lot of time sitting about but soon it was time to gather at the start. There was a problem with the speaker system so no-one had a clue what the starter was trying to tell us but we did all hear the '3-2-1   Go!' instruction and that was the last I saw of Jack until after the race.

My plans to walk the whole event were scuppered when I realised that I was going to be the only entrant who was walking. I was very soon at the back of the group and I found that I really, really didn't like it. I thought about it for a moment and then, of course, I broke into a very slow trot. Nothing more, nothing less. I felt like a naughty girl. I was going against everything I knew that was sensible and against everything I had been told but it felt good!

We had to complete two circuits of the track to reach 10 k and it was quite fun. It made a change to trot/walk on a flat surface and the weather was good. No rain, no frost, no sun.

Once the runners had all passed me by, I settled in with a couple of other ladies who were running at a very gentle pace and who were running the race as training for bigger events in the New Year. I walked a bit then trotted to catch them up and then walked again. That strategy seemed to work for me and the first circuit was completed in about 35 minutes I think which I was very impressed with. Obviously, the second lap was more of a challenge and it's always disheartening to be lapped by people about to finish the race! However, eventually the finish line was in sight and I managed to haul myself over it! My time, according to my trusty Nike app, was 1 hour 14 minutes. Go me!!

I got my medal but no goody bag. It had taken me so long to finish that all of the bags had long gone but the medal was what was important.

Back in the car, Jack was waiting patiently for me. He had managed to finish in about 48 minutes. He DID get a goody bag but it seems that I didn't miss out on much apart from a chocolate bar. He thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of running further. He said that his shoulders and upper arms ached which is probably down to his running style but otherwise he was fine. My knee held up pretty well. My right hip hurt....a lot! When we got home I took painkillers, had a cuppa and a bath and then went to work.

                                                       Mum, son and dog!

Now, this weeks sees several poignant anniversaries. Dec 2nd is the anniversary of my Mum's death, Dec 5th is the first anniversary of Grandma's passing and Dec 6th is the first anniversary for Jonathan too. Dec 6th would have been Mum's 74th birthday. Many memories will be stirred this week, some happy and some sad. On my trip around Dunsfold this morning I saw a white feather. My sister always says that a white feather is a sure sign that Mum is watching over us. I had a smile when I saw it. I thought of Mum, I thought of Grandma and I thought of Jonathan.......and I ran just a little bit faster....for them.

Byesy bye (as Dad used to say).

Have a great week everyone.

A xxx

Let's Get Physical

 Greetings one and all and welcome to yet another blog update. I shall have to dig deep to find anything interesting to blog about but lets start with this....

14 weeks!

Yes, in 14 weeks time we shall be in the midst of our challenge to complete the Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon 2014 and, hopefully, raise some funds for  www.whitelodgecentre.co.uk.

Now,14 weeks = 3 and a bit months or 98 days which may sound like a long time but, by the time Christmas
and New Year have been celebrated along with various birthdays and anniversaries, I know the time is going
to fly by and I will be in panic mode but until that time arrives I intend to keep plodding on with my various
exercises and to keep focused on my goal.

Exercise has been fairly basic this week. I returned to my yoga class on Tuesday, survived my 2nd lesson 
and lived to tell the tale. While I am still  finding  the poses difficult, even in the space of a week I can feel a 
difference how my body is responding to each position and stretch. I felt invigorated when the lesson was
over and I am really looking forward to returning this week.

I have also been to the gym and incorporated my yoga stretches in my general warm up routine. I then did a
leisurely 5 km on the elliptical trainer and similar on the bike. I felt it was a good workout and I have not had
any ill effects to my knee or anywhere else which is great!

I have also continued with the dog walking which doesn't really seem like exercise but which definitely counts
in my book. I intend to walk further and further with the dog as I implement a walking regime in a couple of 
weeks so we will hopefully have a fitter me and a fitter doggy too.

Hubby and I have had a week of  trying to only eat three times a day. This is really to try to stop me from
snacking at any given time of the day whether I'm hungry or not. I've found it quite a struggle if I'm honest!
I don't think biscuits have ever lasted so long in our house! I haven't had a baking session at all this week
which is deliberate because I always lick the bowls and spoons after I've finished with them and I also eat
the majority of what I bake. I hope to see a result the next time I step on the scales. Fingers crossed!

The 'no snacking' theme was blown apart last night as we were invited to a 50th birthday party where there 
was a lot of fabulous food and drink provided. Although we stood as far away from the buffet table as we
could, we were enticed by the beef in Yorkshire pud with horseradish sauce and the ham and cheese in
particular. We did avoid the pizza but we did have cake. It would have been rude not to! The party was to 
celebrate the birthday of one of the nicest men I know. Happy birthday for Tuesday Peter.

The evening before had seen another birthday celebration....the 84th birthday of my dear old father in law
David. Various family members joined us for a lovely meal in an Italian eatery in West Byfleet. David's 
sister and brother in law were down for the night and we spent a very pleasant evening talking about
allsorts. Father in law ate really well which is always nice to see and we were all safely back to our 
various abodes by 11pm. We are gettting old!!!

Last night was also the big night for the BBC and their Doctor Who 50th birthday celebrations. There was
a special programme featuring all 12 Doctors and I'm looking forward to seeing it. When I do, I shall be
reminded of two people. My Dad was a big Tom Baker fan and I'm always reminded of Dad
whenever I see Mr. Baker as The Doctor. The other person, the main man as far as all things Doctor Who
is concerned, was Thomas. I worked with Thomas for several years and, during my time with him I learned
an awful lot about The Doctor in his various guises. I now know that TARDIS stands for Time And 
Relative Dimension In Space and that Torchwood is an anagram of Doctor Who. I learned so, so much
more from Thomas and his family about so many things and therefore Doctor Who has a very special
place in my heart and always will have.

Looking ahead to this week, apart from work, I have little planned apart from preparing for The Jigsaw 10k 
which takes place a week today at Dunsfold where they film Top Gear. I'm looking forward to it already!

I hope you all have a fabulous week and I shall update the blog after the 10k next Sunday if possible.

A xx

Take It Easy

Good day folks,

This will be a short and sweet update mainly because I have been very lazy and done next to no proper exercise this week! This was not for any particular reason, it's just how things panned out. I haven't been particularly busy, I have no terrible injuries to stop me. In fact, I have no excuse at all.

The dog has had some good walks though including a trip to Winkworth Arboretum on a stunning Friday morning. The colours of the autumnal leaves on the trees there are quite spectacular. Unfortunately, although dogs are welcome there, they have to be kept on a lead at all times which did make negotiating the slippery steps quite an adventure.

 I also took the doggy down to our newly acquired beach hut. I've been to it 4 times now and every time that I have been the weather has been good. This time was no exception. It was windy but wonderfully invigorating. I envisage many happy memories being made there over the coming years. We enjoyed chips and hot chocolate...daughter and I, not dog and I!

 So you will see that walking...on pebbles, on sand, on trails...has been the exercise of choice this week and it has been very enjoyable but not at all taxing which makes me feel a bit of a fraud to be honest. However, I DID finally get to yoga. I have been to several yoga groups over the years and have always enjoyed it but it has always been one off classes here and there and nothing consistent. Tuesday's yoga class was a real eye opener. I found it really difficult! There were obviously poses that I couldn't do because of my knee but I found even the basic holds hard. It really made me realise how unfit I really am. I think I have been kidding myself that because I have been basically fairly physically robust and strong throughout my life that that equates to fitness. Couldn't be more wrong! I worked muscles that I haven't worked in years, if ever. By the end of the hour long class I was exhausted and shocked at how much I struggled. The following morning I had very sore shoulders and upper arms but I actually felt pretty good. In fact I felt that my ongoing shoulder problem felt improved and has continued to feel that way throughout the week. So, I am looking forward to returning to the class next Tuesday and see how I get on. I know that yoga and I are meant to be together!

Another exciting step on the road to Silverstone was receiving the official email from the organisers which contained lots of information and tips for training and so on. It also gave suggestions for fund raising including setting up a blog!! Jack received his email as well so we both have official confirmation of our places. Exciting/challenging/scary/etc etc etc.

Of course, Friday was Children In Need day. As usual, I made Pudsey cakes. I only made a dozen as I wasn't going to sell them. In previous years I have organised cake sales and raised lots of pennies for Pudsey's piggy bank. This year I ate about half of what I baked and gave the rest to family who made donations which was great. Jack and I had already made individual donations after watching DIYSOS and being moved to tears by the bravery and inspiration of the children and their families.

That's about it for this week. I hope that you all have a wonderful week and I promise I will attempt to make next week's entry a little more interesting. No promises though!!

A xx

I Walk The Line

Hello people,

As I type this I am in the same room as the three males in my life...hubby, son and dog. Hubby and son are watching the Man Utd v Arsenal game and dog is desperately seeking attention by dropping a very smelly, wet mini tennis ball onto various laps in the hope that someone might just throw it for him. He will give up eventually. It is quite likely, therefore, that I am going to be continually distracted and annoyed by any one of them! I will attempt to stay focused but I can't promise anything.

After last Sunday's walk/run at Loseley, my knee, which was fine at the time, became a bit stiff and uncomfortable so I have been taking it easy and being a good girl. I have not been to the gym at all but I did go for a swim with eldest daughter and have been walking the dog fairly regularly.

We swam at The Surrey Sports Park which is a fantastic facility about 2 minutes from our house. The water felt a bit on the chilly side to me but it was fine once I got moving. Unfortunately for me, the only stroke I have ever been able to do in the pool is breaststroke which is notoriously bad for someone with knee problems. I attempted my usual swim and found that it was, indeed, bad for my knee. It was also painful for my shoulder. In the end I decided that swimming on my back was the way forward (!) so that's what I did. I mixed up the swimming with some water exercise such as jogging and stretching and I felt that I had done myself some good by the time I climbed out of the pool.

I find it increasingly difficult to work out what I should be doing exercise-wise to benefit me. Am I supposed to be painfree before I start, in which case I wouldn't do any exercise at all, or do I give things a go and stop if the pain gets worse? The latter of the two options is what I have decided on. It will be interesting to see how I get on.

Hold on......just going to eat my roast dinner. BRB as they say!

You can't beat a good roast and that was a good roast.

Anyway, some good news on the old knee front was received via a letter from the consultant. In the letter he confirmed that I have a lot of arthritis in all parts of my knee but not grade 4. The most badly affected part of my knee is grade 3 which is under my patella. That is good news to me. In the letter he also referred to me as 'a very nice lady' (hooray) and wrote that for me to attempt any kind of jogging 'is completely and utterly wrong' (boo).

So, walking it will be from now on.

The other piece of good news  is that I contacted the organisers of The Silverstone Half Marathon and asked if I would be able to take part in the event if I could not run and could only walk and they said yes!! That is a big relief to me and it means that I can, knee permitting, put a training plan into place and gradually build up my distance. I am still waiting to hear from the organisers of the upcoming 10k which takes place at the beginning of December. I really hope to be able to take part but I won't if I can't walk it. I hope to hear from them soon.

Jack at The Loseley...note shoes and carrying his t shirt and sweatshirt. He finished 4th! I still think that's not fair.

Today is Remembrance Sunday which is always a poignant occasion. The sun has been shining all day and it has been a bit chilly. My Dad was born on November 11th and poppies and Remembrance Sunday always remind me of him so I popped over to the cemetery and placed a poppy on his headstone and then went over to the crematorium to place a poppy for my Mum as she always supported the buying and wearing of poppies. 

Tomorrow would have been Dad's birthday. He would have been 78. I cannot imagine that he would have been much different at 78 than he was and 62!

So, this week I shall be mostly working and trying to do some suitable exercise. I have booked a few yoga classes and I hope to get in another swim with my daughter. It's good for both of us. I also need to get down to the gym and get my act together there.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Have a happy and safe week everyone.

A x

Walking On Sunshine

Hi again everyone.

I hope you've all had a good week and that this blog update finds you well. 

My week has involved a 2nd week off as school is still on holiday, a long overdue trip to see my daughter and my grandchildren (with  Halloween goodies in tow), a couple of trips to Hayling Island, the delight of actually becoming the owners of a beach hut, a planned trip to London with another daughter that I had to cancel as I was feeling poorly, the scattering of mother in laws ashes and the challenge of a 4km fun run that took place today. Crikey, I feel exhausted just reading that!

I had booked for Jack and I to take part in The Loseley a couple of months ago and, as it was a fun run, I decided that I would try and take part in it. My thinking was that 4km is a reasonable distance but not too far and the event was advertised as being suitable for families so there were bound to be people walking and jogging and just being happy to take part.

Now, on the Friday evening I had been working with Sam and had started to feel decidedly queasy shortly after I had settled him for the night. By the time I got home I felt rough. I felt sick, shaky and ached all over. I was also feeling hot one minute and cold the next. I fell into bed and had a sleepless night and, as a consequence, spent all of yesterday (Saturday) in bed. I decided that I would have to wait and see how I felt this morning (Sunday) before making any decisions about taking part in The Loseley today.

When I woke up I felt back to normal, the sun was shining and the sky was blue. I think that if it had been pouring with rain I may have made a different choice but I decided that it would be foolish to not at least turn up to the event and give it a go. I attempted to wake Jack up....never an easy thing to do at the best of times and certainly not any easier when he is nursing a hangover. When he finally rolled out of bed we got our things together and set off to Loseley House where the event was being staged.

The Loseley is arranged as a fundraiser for Chase Children's Hospice which is situated between Guildford and Godalming. The hospice is a wonderful place and I have been fortunate to work there. I have seen at first hand the tremendous job that the staff do and I have seen how much the children and their families benefit from the care and attention that they receive. My short spell of working at Chase made me realise how very lucky I am to have never had to use its services.

Anyway, Jack and I arrived at the venue, parked up and made our way to the reception area where we collected our numbers, our t-shirts and our timing devices. We went back to the car to sort ourselves out because it was chilly in the wind and we were feeling the cold. Pathetic really!! Then it was off to the start and we dutifully took part in the warm up which I quite enjoy but Jack doesn't. He's way too cool for warm ups obviously.

As we were both taking part in the same distance this time we set off together but that is as far as our joint running venture went. I know I am not advised to run anymore and Jack is a competitive person so we were 

soon separated and in our own musical headspace thanks to our playlists and our trusty i phones.

Despite my best efforts I found it impossible to not run. I promise I did try to walk but I just couldn't! However, I mixed up my light jogging with good spells of walking and I managed quite well. I took on all of the obstacles which included a cargo net, hay bales, muddy puddles, tree trunks and rubber tyres. I was overtaken many times by children and their parents but I just kept going. I'm sure the fact that it was sunny helped immensely and the atmosphere throughout was one of fun. Having said that, I was very relieved to see the finish signs.

I completed the course in a very average time of  33.34 and finished 152nd out of  223 so I didn't disgrace myself. Jack, of course, did really well. I don't know how he does it with his rubbish diet and his 'hectic' social life but he finished 4th in a time of 19.28. Just think how well he would do if he did some training or, at least, didn't run when he's hungover!

I met Jack back at the car and we set of for home, via Godalming, and got ready to go to Normandy cricket club where we had arranged to scatter Grandma's ashes alongside a bench that we have erected in her memory. It seemed very apt that the sun continued to shine while we carried out the proceedings. I like to think that Grandma would have been smiling if she had been able to see me trotting along earlier in the day and she would have been very proud that Jack did so well. I know that she would have been really  happy that all of her family were able to get together for a little while to remember her for the lovely wife, Mum and Grandma that she was.

Now, a few hours later, all is back to normal. Rosie is on her way back to Oxford with Harry, Jack is recovering, Russ is relaxing and I have a dog that needs a walk. My knee is feeling okay which is a fantastic

relief. Let's hope it still feels alright in the morning.

Until we meet again...

A xx

Walk This Way

Hi all,

Welcome to your weekly update charting the highs and lows of my challenge to run the Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon 2014.

I feel that I should change the title of this blog from 'Running For Jonathan And Nick' to 'Walking/Crawling For Jonathan And Nick' but it doesn't have the same ring to it really, does it?

This week has seen confirmation of what I had dreaded for a couple of weeks. I had a meeting with my orthopaedic surgeon who told me in no uncertain terms that I should absolutely not run at all anymore as the osteoarthritis in my left knee is grade 4 at the front of my knee (almost bone on bone apparently) and grade 1 and 2 throughout the rest of it. He did a few routine tests, tried to get my knee into a couple of painful positions, saw me grimace and then shook his head. He asked me my age, tutted and then told me that I am facing a probable knee replacement within 5 years. I'm only 53!!! I will not let that happen. Anyway, I got tearful in the consulting room which was very embarrassing. The poor doctor had no idea why I was so upset. All he had done was confirm the obvious to me but my feelings of disappointment were quite overwhelming. I headed home form the hospital trying very hard not to cry, got indoors, saw Russ and then cried like a baby. What a numpty!!

After my feelings of self pity subsided (and after a cup of tea and a cuddle) I tried to understand why I felt so upset. I came up with two main reasons:

1) I am letting Jonathan and his family down

2) There is nothing I can do to put right what is wrong with my knee

Whether or not these reasons are justifiable is not for me to decide but it is how I feel.

Of course, the next day I was much more levelheaded about things and I decided to investigate my options. The doctor had said that exercise is crucial for people with my knee issue but is has to be the right exercise. So, I have rejoined the gym, signed up for some yoga classes and investigated water exercise classes as the local pool. I have been to the gym once, was very careful, and suffered no ill effects so that was positive.Weight loss is another issue that effects the pressure on the knees (obvious, I know) so that is something else I need to address..... not so easy when I have been eating the cakes I have been baking!

Jack and I are signed up to The Loseley next Sunday morning which is a 4k fun event with obstacles such as cargo nets and haystacks to overcome. I am going to attempt that because I don't have to run and it sounds like a hoot. Then we are signed up to a 10k run in December which I will not run, obviously, but I may walk if I am allowed to. After that we will see how the walking goes and how the exercise regime affects my knees. There may still be a chance that I can take part in the half marathon but walk it!!

On a sadder note, today would have been Jonathan's 30th birthday. When I woke up this morning that was the first thing I thought of. I'm sure he's having a party up there with Nick. Happy birthday Jonathan Jo.xx

I hope you all have a lovely weekend. Russ and I are off to see 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' on Saturday. Looking forward to that very much.

A xx

When The Going Gets Tough (The Tough Get Going)

Hello folks,

I hope this update finds you all well and looking forward to the weekend. My weekend is going to involve a trip to Windsor Castle and an overnight stay in a lovely hotel which was the prize I won a few weeks back. I am very much looking forward to it. My weekend will not involve any running.

Staying true to my word, I have not run a single step for nearly 2 weeks. Frustrating in the extreme I have to say. The swelling of my knee has finally subsided and the pain has dulled to the occasional twinge but I will not be tempted to trot until I have been to 'the knee man' next Tuesday.

Charlotte has given me the details of a natural remedy that has got rave reviews. Her Dad has been using it and it has helped him. Being the hippy chick that I am, I am always happy to try the alternative treatments and remedies so I have ordered some of said remedy and I will give it a go. Watch this space!

Talking of Charlotte, it's her birthday today. Happy Birthday, Charlotte. I feel sure you will be celebrating in style! Have a great day/weekend/year!!

Now, for anyone who doesn't already know and with apologies for those who have already been bored with this news, Jack and I did take part in the Disability Challengers River Run last Sunday. I had delayed my decision about taking part until the morning of the event and I decided to take on the 5k walk. Jack took part in the 5k run.

The weather was abysmal. What started off as light drizzle soon turned to heavy, persistent rain that continued throughout the walk and the race.
Jack and I arrived nice and early and so picked up his race number and our shoe tags that would record our times.We returned to the car to prepare ourselves for the challenge ahead which included making a 'running' playlist for Jack's phone.

 The walk set off an hour before the race so I left Jack in the relative warmth and dryness of the car and made my way to the start of the walk. There were quite a few walkers, some doing the 5k and some doing 7k. There was a quick welcome speech from one of the organisers and then a really moving tribute to the organisation by a Mum of a disabled boy who had benefited hugely from the work of Challengers. The positive impact of the organisation on the whole family was told by this mum and I think everyone was moved by her passionate words. She spoke from under the shelter of a huge umbrella as the rain was now pouring down.

The walk then started. I had decided that, if I couldn't run, I was going to really push myself and step it out. I set off at a very brisk pace and kept that pace up all the way around. I was so determined to get a reasonable time that I eventually finished a full 9 minutes ahead of the 2nd person to finish. I was amazed to be honest and I took the organisers by surprise as they hadn't expected anyone to finish so quickly! I was  delighted of course. Delighted and very wet. The 'showerproof'' running jacket that was having it's first outing was completely useless. So much so that I returned it to the shop the next day and got a refund.

Then there was a bit of hanging around, getting progressively wetter and colder, and then the call came for the runners to go to the start line. Jack being Jack, wandered over wearing his Superdry casual shoes as he doesn't own a pair of trainers at the moment, and then he took part in the warm up before strategically placing himself at the front for the off.

Russ and I saw him off and thought we'd see him in about 30 minutes. Incredibly,  22 minutes later Jack appeared in the distance. We couldn't believe it to be honest. We both cheered him on to the finish line where his time of 23 minutes had given him 2nd place and a bottle of prosecco for his efforts. He was exhausted but really pleased with himself. It was a fantastic effort and who knows how much faster he would have run if he had had a pair of trainers!!

Between Jack and I we raised just under £100 for Disability Challengers which we are both very happy about. Thank you to those very generous people who sponsored us and encouraged us to do our best.

The next event is a 4k adventure 'run' incorporating obstacles and so on and then a 10k at the beginning of December. Oh, I do hope I'll be able to take part.

White Lodge have confirmed that I don't need to worry about Silverstone just yet. I am under no pressure from them at all to make a decision about taking part in the run which is great because it gives me loads of time to work on my knee and fitness and see how things go.

Wishing you all a happy weekend.

A x

Don't Give Up

Hi everyone,

I will attempt to make this blog readable and not too self-pitying but I can't promise anything.

This has been a very frustrating week for me. After the relative success of last week and my consecutive 5k's, the weekend saw me with my left knee feeling 'different' but not painful. I carried on my weekend as usual and drove down to the planned family get together on Saturday, had a lovely time seeing everyone and worked as per usual. On Monday my knee was the same, no worse, so I decided to run and see how things would be. The run was good...4,5k....but at the end of the run, as I walked back to the car, my left knee became painful. I went home, slightly concerned, so put ice on the offending knee and sat about with my leg raised until I went back to work. As each day has gone by, the swelling has not subsided. If anything, it's getting worse if I stand for any length of time. I can't bend my knee properly and I'm walking with a limp. My knee feels as though it's going to explode at any moment.

I have trawled the internet, visited a sports therapist and had advice from my physio sister. R(est), I(ce), C(ompression) and E(levation) has been the overall consensus.....and don't run anymore. I even visited the GP today who feels that the arthroscopy that I had on the same knee back in January for a meniscal tear may have tweaked some cartilage and that is causing the swelling. Again, her advice was the same, R.I.C.E. and stop running. I can hardly walk at the moment so running is out of the question but, crikey, it's damned frustrating.

Anyway, I have an appointment with my consultant at the end of the month and I'll see what the prognosis is from him. I feel another MRI may be necessary just to see the true extent of the damage to my knee because anything else is really guesswork isn't it?

So, I haven't run, or done any other exercise for that matter, for 5 days and it's driving me crazy. I have never been one for sitting around for any length of time but neither have I been an avid exercise freak so to be missing the joy of exercise is an eyeopener for me. Unfortunately, all the time that my knee is swollen, I can't do any exercise, not even swimming, without possibly causing more damage so patience is what is required and patience is not one of my strong points. I have made bread, cakes, stews and a tagine in an effort to keep busy over the last few days and I've eaten a lot of the mentioned foods and plenty more besides which is making me feel guilty and fat!

This Sunday Jack and I are signed up to run a 5k for Disability Challengers down by the river near Stoke Park. I have changed my application to the 5k walk but I'm not even sure I'm going to be able to do that at the moment but I'll make my decision on Sunday morning. There is also a 4k and a 10k with our names on that will have to be addressed nearer the time.

All of this begs the question.... will I be able to take part in the Silverstone Half Marathon 2014 next March? To be completely honest ,my gut feeling is no, not without wrecking my knees completely. However, there are ways around every problem and if there is any possible way of me completing my challenge then I will find it. The very thought that I won't be able to do it makes me want to cry. I am so determined to do this...for Jonathan, for Nick, for their family, for White Lodge and for me. I made a silent promise to Jonathan in December when I was sitting with him one evening and I intend to keep that promise if I possibly can. I know people will call me stupid, bloody minded, stubborn etc etc. Believe me,I've heard it all and more, but this is so important to me. I have also promised my husband that if I am told not to run by my consultant then I must do as I'm told so we will have to wait and see.

London Marathon....Mrs. Fish!

This photograph was taken as I approached the end of The London Marathon in 2005 or 2006 (I can't remember which year!!) Without a doubt, completing that marathon was one of the hardest, most challenging, best things I have ever done in my life. I was so proud when I collected my medal and I still have the t-shirt. If I don't have the chance to do anything similar again, at least I can say that I ticked off one of the things on my bucket list and raised a lot of money in the process.

I wish you all a lovely weekend. Enjoy what you do. Take care of each other.

A xxx

Run For Home

Hello again my lovelies,

I hope you've all had a good week and that all is well with everyone who reads this.

It's been an interesting week what with one thing and another but I feel I have achieved a lot. On Monday I went to visit two dear friends who I don't see as often as I'd like. I got to know Heather and Michael many years ago when I first started doing care work and we have stayed in touch ever since. Whenever we meet, I spend an awful lot of time chatting and the time goes so quickly. Whenever I leave them I always feel guilty for talking too much! But they are a wonderful couple and it is always a joy to see them.

Tuesday saw me with Sam in the evening. Last week he was under the weather. This week he was on very fine form and back to his usual cheeky self.

Thursday was an early trip to the physio as I have suprastinatus tendonitis ( I think that's how it's spelled) in my right shoulder which has been causing me grief for a number of years. I am on session 2 out of 5 and already there is an improvement which is fabulous. I no longer wake up with pain in my shoulder and I have more painfree movement in it. Hopefully this will mean that I won't need to have cortisone injections. I worked a night duty last night and I am working this weekend.

Exciting news of the week....I won a prize!! I have a voucher for a dinner, evening meal and breakfast for 2 in a hotel in Windsor with full access to the spa and all it's facilities. No time was wasted and you will be pleased to hear that our night away is already booked and I can't wait!

Back to the business of this blog though and the my latest running experiences. Last Sunday saw me run 5km. I had been swimming the day before and my knee was a bit tender so I stopped running at exactly 5 km so as not to do any unnecessary damage.

 Then, to give my knee a rest, I didn't run until Wednesday when I set of with Harvey in tow to the Hogs Back. I jogged 5.16km but I had to pause the running several times to go off in search of my stupid dog. He went off for a good 5 minutes and I have to admit to being a bit worried when there was no response to my constant calling of his name. Eventually he appeared through the undergrowth, face covered in mud and looking delighted to see me. I have no idea where he had been or what he had been doing but he was looking decidedly pleased with himself. I finished the run with Harv on the lead running along beside me.

Today I  ran again at the Hogs Back and again with Harvey. My left knee is feeling a bit strange these days (I had surgery on it back in January this year) and I am trying to be sensible. Whilst being aware of any symptoms, I am determined not to stop running....which I am adamant that I won't do and I don't think will happen. I have an appointment at the local hospital next week and I will see what the consultant says. My knee isn't painful and isn't made worse by running but it feels swollen inside and occasionally twinges.Anyway, with my dog dawdling behind me, I set off on my run. I had to keep a close eye on my running buddy so my time wasn't great but I managed another 5.25km which I am delighted about. Out of my last 6 runs, 4 have been 5km plus. That is a great improvement for me and proves that my stubborn streak and my determination are getting me the results that I am looking for.

I may not run again until Monday but if I wake up full of beans on Sunday with a need to go for a run then I will. However, tomorrow sees me working until 2pm and then a family get together in West Sussex which I'm really looking forward to. Sunday is our wedding anniversary...24 years which I find unbelieveable...and we are both working so we will celebrate it another time. AND Glastonbury tickets go on sale on Sunday and I am desperate to get my hands on them. Last year I spent all morning trying to get tickets and was not successful. I really hope that this year will be different. Fingers, and everything else, crossed.

By the way, for anyone who is concerned about my lack of name checks for Charlotte, she had to take it easy for a while because of shin splints. She is a hardworking mum of two and I have no idea when she finds the time to run but she does. She is back and running 5kms this week too which is fabulous.

Wishing you all a peaceful and relaxing weekend.

A xx

Baby, We Were Born To Run!

It's Friday morning, the sun is shining and it looks like it's going to be a beautiful day.

 When I was younger I always thought that summer was my favourite season. Blue skies, sunshine, beaches, holidays, ice cream, sunburn...you get the picture. These days I think that autumn has overtaken summer as my season of choice. I really love the colours of the leaves as they change, the cobwebs that are more obvious because they are heavy with overnight dew, the freshness of the air, putting the summer clothes away and finding clothes from last autumn that I forgot that I had and, even better, they still fit!!!

Perhaps my observations of this season seem more vibrant to me because I am noticing changes as I am trotting around. Anyone that sees the photos that I put on Instagram will tell you that I am prone to taking pictures of nature that I see, usually when I am strolling around with Harvey, our dog. Since I have taken on this challenge I don't dare stop to take photographs once I've started my jog just in case I lose momentum. Hopefully this will change as I get fitter.

Anyway, it's been a good week for me and my running. After the challenge of The Devil Run last Sunday it has taken the best past of a week for my muscles to stop aching, especially my thighs. On Tuesday I found going down stairs extremely trying! However, aching muscles aside, I felt pretty good and very motivated so I have run twice since. I ran 4.25k on Tuesday and 4k yesterday. Both runs were at The Hogs Back and both were with Harvey.

 The Hogs Back is quite hilly but I ran across the top of it so there was a very slight incline to deal with but nothing too bad. Running with the dog isn't really a pleasure but it does kill two birds with one stone. He gets a good walk and I get to run at the same time. However, Harvey is very much his own dog and won't be rushed for anything or anyone. If there is a smell that intrigues him then he's going to sniff that smell for as long as he likes. I seemed to spend most of my Hogs Back runs running on ahead of him, turning to see where he was, not being able to see him and then running back to find him. I guess it's a good way to add a few extra steps to my route.

This week I purchased some new trainers and part of the reason that I ran yesterday was that I was desperate to try them out. I have big, wide feet (size 8) so I opted for a pair of Nike mens trainers and I love them! They are extremely comfortable and they are very light. I also brought a pair of Nike running tights and they are the most comfortable things I think I have ever worn. I may have to get another pair.

The other exciting thing that has happened is that my son Jack has decided to join the team and has been accepted by White Lodge to run the Silverstone Half Marathon with us. I'm really happy that he has decided to take part. He has always been a natural runner and I think he will relish the challenge of this event because he will have to do some training regularly. Surely not even Jack would be able to do a half marathon with no training!!!

Finally, here is a pic of me taken yesterday ( a selfie???) showing off my new trainers and my new tights. You will notice Harvey at my feet waiting very patiently just in case I should decide to take him with me. Bless him.

I'm not quite sure whether I need to keep posting this blog to everyone each time that I do it but I think I'm going to keep posting it wherever I can just so people can be aware of what I'm doing. My thinking is that the more places I post it the more people will see it and the more awareness we will raise.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that my placing in the Devil Run 5k last Sunday was 23rd out of 43 runners so I am delighted with that.

I'm off for coffee with Kirsty's mother in law in a bit so I'd better go.

A xx

http://www.justgiving.com/nannyfish

http://www.justgiving.com/teams/runjojo

The Devil Run......harsh!

Last night I couldn't sleep, woke up early this morning and felt nervous from then on. Yes, dear reader, this morning saw me attempt a 5k cross country run.

 When I signed up for the race I don't think I actually took on board the 'cross country'part because, if I had, I know I would have given it more thought!

The Devil's Punchbowl, where the run was held, is a National Trust area and a place that I have been going to since I was a child. It's beautiful and scenic and great for walks but running????
 I naively assumed that the 5k would not be too much of a challenge and not too hilly. I couldn't have been more wrong. It was great on the way down the hills, skipping over stones, puddles, mud etc. It was a whole different story on the way back up. When I got to the water stop at 3k I really doubted I could get the whole way around to the finish line as the only way was uphill from there for a kilometre. Needless to say, I did complete the course but in a pretty disappointing time of 45m 22s. My stamina was fine but my breathing was not and the hills were a step too far. However, the sight of the finish line is always an adrenalin moment and I did get cheered as I dragged my weary legs towards the end of the run.

I hung around at the end to get my medal (which shows that I completed 10k...if only!) and I had a chat with the father of the lad that the race was in memory of. Richard Overall had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which is a condition that I have knowledge of as several of the students I have worked with over the years had the condition. His Dad told me that his son had a real love of sport of any kind and the fact that he wasn't able to take part himself because of his degenerating condition did not put him off travelling all over Europe for various sporting events as a spectator. I realised then, not for the first time, that the fact that I was hot, sweaty, tired and aching was a privilege and something that I take for granted all the time. I'm sure Richard would have given anything to have been able to run today.

So then it was home, bath, and out for lunch with Jack and Russ at The Mill at Elstead which was very pleasant and then home and a quick visit to Fran's house down the road where she was hosting a neighbourhood get together. I arrived as everyone was leaving! Fran had very kindly popped some sponsorship through my letterbox and I wanted to thank her personally and ask her whether she minded where the money went...White Lodge or Richard Overall's charity. Fran said she didn't mind so I am going to share it between the two. Thank you Fran!

It's 7pm now and I have a night duty looming so I need a cup of tea, get my bag together and set off to work at 7.30pm. What a busy weekend, what a challenging run, what a sense of achievement!!!

A xx

First organised 5k this weekend

I am taking this running lark very seriously....more seriously than I expected to be honest. This week has seen me clearing a drawer so that I have a dedicated place for my running gear, perusing gorgeous running attire in the local Sweaty Betty store, running after a migraine from hell and signing up for a 5k and a 10k to keep me focused. On top of all that excitement, I ran my furthest ever distance so far (6.03km without stopping) on Monday and then ran 4 k on Wednesday and a rather more pitiful 3.29k today. My beloved app tells me that this month I have already completed 8 runs and run 31.5 k which is a vast improvement from August when I managed 6 runs and 19.1k. Progress is being made and I am delighted!

The 5k that I have signed up for is taking place at The Devil's Punchbowl, Hindhead this Sunday. It's The Devil Run and people can run various distances. I have opted for the 5k which I feel sure I can manage. It's cross country so that will be interesting. I'm looking forward to it...a touch apprehensive but excited too.

There have been several side effects of the increase in exercise for me already. My body (blobby!) shape has changed slightly already and I have more of a waist than I have for a while.I have lost a couple of pounds. I'd like to be able to say that I'm sleeping better but that would be a miracle!
I have also had to admit defeat on the wine front. Over the past couple of years it has been blindingly obvious that I cannot really tolerate wine in any form without disastrous effects. Charlotte will be able to testify to my last outing where I sank vast amounts of wine and spent all of the following day in bed. The migraines that I have been suffering, post wine, have been getting worse and worse with less and less wine involved. I've tried cutting out white wine, only drinking prosecco, not mixing drinks, anything really but all to no avail. There is no doubt about it. Wine and I are no longer friends. We may make up at some point in the future but not for the foreseeable . This is not to say that I won't be having the odd gin and tonic which, conveniently, doesn't seem to have any lasting aftereffects!

The two photos I have added are of the lovely Jonathan aka Jojo, Jonathan-Joe and Fonnies. The first one was taken at Salcombe where the family holidayed every year. Jonathan loved Salcombe and especially loved going on the boat. The second one was taken on a beautiful sunny day last year at Stoke Park in Guildford. He looks so happy :) I don't have many photos of any of the people that I have worked with over the years which is surprising when I think of the amount of time I have spent with them all but I do have many, many memories of them all.

So, this weekend sees me working on Saturday until 2 pm, then visiting  neighbours who have invited all the local residents to their house to celebrate International Peace Day in the afternoon, a trip to the Yvonne Arnaud theatre on Saturday evening with the hubby to see Tom Conti in Rough Justice, the Devil Run on Sunday morning, another open house by another neighbour on Sunday afternoon and then a nightshift on Sunday night. Sounds great!!

A x

The Hazards of Autumn Running

Not a bad effort on a different route this morning (14/9) - I shall call it the 'Send Marsh Loop' - Boughton Hall Ave - Portsmouth Road - Send Marsh Road - Send Barns Lane - BHA - encompassing a few hills as Silverstone isn't that flat either. Circa 2.5 miles (okay a warm up for most).... but getting there. A fastest mile this morning as well but need to focus on distance against speed.

The hazards of Autumn running are appearing - leaves to slip on, acorns to roll on, crab apples, and rose hips to slide on.... Not to mention the puddles and eternal dog poo.

The main perk of running from BHA - on returning I pop in just in time to catch Dad having his 'second breakfast' and get garden tomatoes on toast with HP!

I managed to pick up a few more pics as well.....

Here's JoJo aged about 6 years on the White Lodge promo flyer.... at the time Mum walked into Sainsburys to see his little face plastered all over a huge display in the Foyer!

And here are the Nick and JoJo on the boat outside Salcombe....

That's enough for now. Too many chores beckon - oh and a trip to get some dayglo waterproofs. Cx

It's Unbelievable Jeff!

Good morning one and all.
I am a very happy, if somewhat surprised, bunny this morning. I was determined to run 4km today and I didn't care how long it took. I worked a night last night so I was up and about bright and early, had a light breakfast of a bowl of Shreddies (!) and a cup of tea. I was home by 8.20 am so I decided to get changed and go.
I put on my new sports bra ( a bit tight but wearable), my new Nike running top (which I love by the way....so comfortable and nice long sleeves), my eBay purchase of a pair of running leggings (so tight I was scared they were going to tear as I put them on), my new running socks and my old trainers and I was ready for the off.
As usual, these things never go quite to plan and I had a request from both husband and son to drop Jack in to work before I ran and, being the kind mummy that I am, I obliged.
Jack safely dropped off, I parked up at Bowers Lane car park, set up my iPhone, did a few quite pathetic stretches and off I went.
As previously mentioned, I was determined to run 4km without stopping, really just to prove to myself that I am improving, so I had set my phone on a distance run. I love the Nike running app. It's so easy to use. As I was running along it would tell me after each km that I was doing ok, what my time was and how much further to go etc. I trotted along at my own pace, listening to some music, and quite enjoyed myself. When the voice told me that I had completed 4km I was delighted. I slowed to a walking pace for 30 seconds and then I felt that I would run a little bit more so I did! When I got back to the car and looked at my 'stats' I saw that I had run 5.5km. I was so excited that I rang Russ up to tell him.
It was a hot drive home. My face was puce and I'm sure any fellow drivers that looked my way would have considered the fact that I might be having a heart attack. I got in, threw my clothes in the washing machine, had a shower and here I am.
I am delighted with my progress thus far and I hope I can maintain my fitness and my enthusiasm. Anyone that knows me will tell you that I do enjoy a challenge and I feel sure I'm going to enjoy this one too.
My running attire is growing. Along with my new top, bra, socks and leggings have been added a short sleeved Nike top from eBay, a water bottle which I am sure I will use at some point, a luminous bumbag and a pair of luminous gloves for those cold mornings that lie ahead. All I think I need to add to this collection is a waterproof jacket and a good pair of trainers and I'm done.
In all of this I must say that, at some point on every single run that I attempt, I get an image in my head of Jonathan. He is the reason that I am doing this. When I ran the London Marathon years ago I was running to raise money for Treloar school but really I was running it for Sam. It was the images of Sam in my mind that kept me going. Sam is still at Treloar and doing brilliantly by the way.So, whatever happens with this adventure it will be the thoughts and memories I have of Jonathan that will keep me going. I will be raising funds for White Lodge (www.whitelodgecentre.co.uk) but running for him.
Until next time...
A xx

173 Days to Go.... and we are flying Mrs Fish!

08:45, Bowers Lane - RV with Angela.

Sunny today and not hot which makes such a difference! I think I am going to quite enjoy the running in the autumn and must consider in purchasing a lurid Day-Glo waterproof number which JoJo would DEFINITELY approved of - I think I may go orange (his fave colour) to clash with my pink (I shall look like a traffic womble). Check out these babies....

Didn't think that I would put in a particularly good performance but our times are getting consistently faster. A pretty good effort today. My new technique of picking up the feet seems to be improving the stride and despite hurting my knees at the moment, due to the use of a previously completely unknown muscle group, it's working. Not bad bearing in mind about 6 weeks ago I was on crutches. But the ground is starting to get quite soft and I think before long we are going to be road running.

That's it for now... MUST do some work!! Cx

177 Days to Go - How Hard Can It Be??

Never blogged about anything in my life! In fact, scared myself half to death when I set up a Twitter account a few weeks ago, and haven't looked at it since!

I blame my bruises, aching knees and sore backside on Angela and her mad cap ideas, but it's all for a good cause - in fact I can't think of anything better. The only time I have ever run is for last orders, or possibly on a very rare occasion, a last train, so when Angela texted me and said, 'I'm going to do a half marathon in memory of JoJo and to raise funds for White Lodge' I couldn't really let her do it without me!

I lost my brothers Nick (aged 28 in March 2000) and Jonathan (aged 29 in December 2012) to a rare genetic syndrome called Marinesco Sjorgren, and it has been the hardest thing I have ever had to witness in my life. I miss them terribly and not a day goes past when my two girls and I don't talk about them both. The least I can do is don my horribly vibrant pink trainers, clad myself in lycra and pound the streets of the Woking Massive, terrorise the towpaths of Surrey and raise some much needed funds for the White Lodge Centre in Chertsey, the school and adult education centre that both the boys attended and which was a lifeline for my parents.

So Angela (one of Jonathan's (JoJo, aka Fonzo) carers) and I will be running the Silverstone Half Marathon on 2nd March 2014, with my cousin Chas Savin for this extremely worthwhile cause. In the meantime, Angela and I will keep you fully informed of our progress and I shall bore you senseless too, in the hope that you will go to our Just Giving page (links to follow in due course) and sponsor us lots and lots of cash just to keep us quiet!!

In the meantime, I shall just think of JoJo sitting in his wheelchair, hooting with laughter at Angela and I plodding along! Cx

Start as we mean to go on

I do hope that I get the hang of this blogging business. I am very happy to write it but I am not at all sure about the technical side of it...as in, will this entry start a whole new blog or will it, as I hope, be shown as a new entry on the original? We shall soon see.
Anyway, like a lot of people, I have decided that September is a good time to start a new regime. The summer is almost over, Christmas is not too far away and all of the bbq's, celebrations and general partying lifestyle of the holidays have taken their toll. 'From now on it's healthy living' is a favourite saying in our house, usually used tongue in cheek, and a reference to one of the children's favourite stories from when they were little.  I don't suppose there will be any dramatic changes but there will be changes.
In that spirit, I set off on a spontaneous short run the other day and simply jogged to the end of a local street and back. It was just 15 minutes, just 2.25 km but it was more than I have been doing. Simply by doing that little run I managed to run my fastest mile and my fastest km. That has really spurred me on and so, today, Charlotte and I met at the usual place and set off on our usual route by the river. The weather has changed dramatically and we ran in the rain which was nice! We ran 3.5 km and knocked 9 seconds off of our usual time. Charlotte took a tumble last time we ran together and she decided to make sure she lifted her feet when she ran today. What a difference! She was much quicker than usual and I struggled to keep up with her. I think Charlotte's new running style is the reason why our time was that much quicker today so I hope we can continue to make progress.
I have a running app on my phone which records everything for me each time I run and it's great. As I was looking back over the history of our runs thus far I was really surprised to find that in July we only ran 8 times and in August it was only 6!! I was sure we had run more than that. Anyway, suffice to say, that is something else which will have to change if we are going to do this properly and do justice to the memories of both Jonathan and Nick.
I have been re-reading a book called 'Running Like A Girl' which is a book I first read on a flight out to Turkey earlier this summer. It's a great book which gives loads of practical, sensible advice. It's also funny and emotional in parts and I think I will be referring to this regularly over the next 6 months or so.
I've also been looking on good old eBay for bargains in the way of running clothing. I've already managed to buy a top and some trousers which I hope will be suitable. I do really need some new trainers but they will have to wait until next pay day. I hear they can be a bit pricey!!!
Well, enough for this entry. I hope to update this blog once a week but may do more as we get deeper into the training.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.

A xxx