the day after the GSR

• bit sore
• bit achey
• bit tired

good job i took the day off.
have booked an appointment with a physio to get knee/foot checked out - see if they just need rest or if they need specific exercises or what...

been slapping on the arnica gel and icing the knee/foot/ankle/calf/thigh. oh and i've bought a new fridge freezer from john lewis.

will have another lovely hot bath and then veg in front of the telly for a few hours. loving my recovery day!

The Great South Run!!

Well... it's been six months but the day has finally arrived. today dear readers i ran the GSR in 2hours 10mins and 38secs. my knee went at 8.5miles so wasnt able to crack the 2hour mark but hey... i will next time!

so... i hear you all say... how was the day?
OMG - TOTALLY BRILLIANT (except the hour and a half it took to leave the city after the run - herumph)

this morning was an early start - THANK GAWD for the end of british summer time and an extra hour in bed. both bernie and i had a good breakfast then we all piled into the van to head off along the M27 to portsmouth.

we had given ourselves plenty of time so arrived at southsea common by 9.45am - so we had a good 90mins to soak up the atmosphere, go to the little girls room a couple of times (thinking i may have over done the whole keeping hydrated - apparently you sip not glug from your water bottle... who knew?) and just stroll about.

with time on our hands we headed to the start to see who we could see... the atmosphere is fab.

here are the elite women - the winner ran the GSR in 52mins and 55seconds. thats pretty darn fast!

and here's me and bernie in the green wave enclosure about to start. well... walk to the starting line which we crossed at 11.16am. can't really describe how i was feeling - but if i had to try... i'd say bordering on hysteria!

running for No Limits whre i work - already raised over £400 and there's still a month to go... brilliant!

and here we are at i think mile 3...

what an athlete!
only got seven more miles to run...
thank goodness for our support team of Rosie, Jackie & Sarah. and hoorah for Pam, Karen & Karyn who i spotted just after mile 3 - really picked up my spirits. what fab friends xx

DID IT!!!!!
the last 1.5miles i was hobbling, walking, running. in quite abit of pain as my knee just gave up the ghost. sigh... it did mean that i had plenty of time to really take in the whole atmosphere of the GSR - everyone was super encouraging "you can do it liz" " keep going liz" " nearly finished liz". soooo lovely.
and then i turn the corner at 200meters and i'm in the home straight, running down the centre of the finishing funnel towards the finishing line with the HUGEST smile on my face.
i hobbled over the finish line and all i could think was "I'VE DONE IT!"

bernie was there to cheer (she did the 10miles in 2hours, 5mins and 55secs) and of course our support team of Rosie, Jackie and Sarah were there cheering at the fence. yes i was in abit of pain. but boy oh boy - i felt fantastic!

so what's next for lizzie???

1. i've decided to continue with OF&H
2. i'm going to sign up for a 5 or 10k in jan 12 (bernie's up for it too)
3. i've signed up for a 10mile in march 12
4. and i will be signing up for another 10m - @ denbies wine, dorking, surrey in may 12

and of course there is still plenty of time to donate to No Limits...

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

The GSR is TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!

okay, it's 9.15pm the night before the race. i've had my supper of salmon and pasta (carb loading) and am drinking a pint or two of water - suddenly panicking that i havn't drunk enough...

am now just chilling with chums, eating chocolates and reading up about the route and meeting points etc...

oh and fyi - i am going with my running tights - i am afterall an athlete now so who cares about how i look... decided to go with my fav top - the red/black one.
outfit sorted.

not much else to do now. maybe a few stretches, an early night and keep drinking plenty of water.

basically dear readers i just can't quite believe that i'm running 10miles tomorrow!!!!
hoorah for me x


http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

2 days to the GSR

oh boy... no turning back now... getting really quite excited.
got my lift sorted, got my number, got my timing chip, knee doesnt hurt, have started to carb load, been to the gym and have done lots of gentle stretching.

in fact i'm feeling pretty darn tip-toppertie...

will check the weather tomorrow and decide my outfit. i'm not thinking of the running tights... have chosen my socks, pants and which sports bra i'll be wearing. i'm leaning towards my fav black/red top although mabes i should wear my bright orange top that i wore when cycling in mpls?

this is me in mpls down by the missisippi (oh ffs - how is this river spelt?)
anyways - check out the top - its bright, my lovely chums can spot me in the crowd (24,000 of us), but what if its cold?
oh i can't decide.
will take both with me to hamble, plus my long sleeve one and choose a winner sunday morning.

this is all sooooooo exciting!
oh and fyi - i'm up to £383.76 in sponsorship. how fab is that.
but more would be wonderful... xx

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

3 days to the GSR

ok...
i had planned on popping in to pete jarvis's private view at solent uni then john lewis to buy a new fridge freezer then the gym.

what i did though was pop into solent for the private view and drank a glass of white wine. then went to the cricketers and i had a glass of red then panda's on bedford place for chinease to celebrate margaret's bday.

has been a lovely evening but i'm thinking probs not the best 3 days before the GSR prep... sigh...

4 days to the GSR

last session with dan this morning - we took it gently.

• cycled for 15mins
• walked on treadmill for 10
• jogged for 20
• cool down walk for 5
• stretches for 10
• yoga breathing for 2

then off to work.

got home this evening to dan's email detailing what to do for the next few days with regards to exercise and carb loading... ending with these words of encouragement:

Other than that Liz, good luck for Sunday! Have confidence in your ability, and just think about how far you've come in the last 12 weeks. The hard works been done, and now you've just got to go out there and enjoy the whole experience! You've done fantastically well throughout your sessions, and it's been such great fun training you. I have the up-most confidence your going to do great on Sunday, and I hope you have a wicked day!

Cheers,

 

Dan

 

http://www.facebook.com/greatsouthrun

 

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

 

 

5 days to the GSR

rest day today.
cycled to shirley this eve to k&s's for food and red wine
lovely.

dan tomorrow 8am

need to sort out:-

• training plan to take me to sunday
• food intake so i'm at peak condition for race
• plus need to decide what to wear.
• and finally - how i'm getting to southsea and meeting up with my running buddy bernie.

6 days to the GSR

my day off has been spent shopping so lots of walking round town and k made me take the stairs not lifts or escalators if at all possible.

watched a great afternoon made for tv movie on five usa then got into all my running gear - wore my running tights - sooo comfortable but leave absolutly NOTHING to the imagination. ran round the parks then ocean village. took it gently, had a slight twinge so thought better safe than sorry so headed home. 3.8miles, 45mins (at least 5mins walking) and i felt fine. not at all tired.

stretches, lovely hot shower, now waiting for a mate to finish work to go for a drink. what a great day.

will rest tomorrow, dan wed 8am then i'm on race build up of gentle runs and the gym.
so exciting!

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

7 days to the GSR

quite alot of walking today culminating with a lovely evening 3mile stroll round the parks with kaz. intending to go for a run tomorrow, early evening, then rest on tuesday with maybe something wednesday... will need to discuss with dan.

8 days till the GSR

decided to have a day of rest today - don't want to jepodise (sp?) my recovery by over doing it 8 days before THE BIG RACE. went into the running shop in ashtead - should have taken my trainers with me too...
anyways - i ran on their treadmill and alan (owner) filmed my running. he reckons i need to increase my core strength as well as specifically srengthen my knee as when i run my knee does wiggle out abit. so that's good to know.

i stocked up on energy bars and bought another sports bra - reduced from £35.99 to £10

9 days till the GSR

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek.

well... i had a session with dan this morning - it went okay. i managed 30mins on the treadmill - knee didnt twinge at all - the key seems to be to NOT get over excited and try to do too much. did some stregthening of the knee weights and lots of stretches. then off to work

think the red wine last night was abit of an error as VERY tired today but i also think that as i'm an athlete now, i'm also tired from all my training... i'm just sayin.

i've got my PE kit with me so am hopeful about a little run tomorrow with my big sis and i also want to check out ashtead's running shop to see what they say about knee supports (just in case)

http://www.runtolive.co.uk/how-to-find-us

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

10 days to the GSR

my GSR info pack arrived today. got my timing chip and number. i'm 18486. soooo excited.

seeing dan tomorrow 8am, then spending the day at city and up to surrey fri eve. will take my running gear with me for a sat run.

rest is good. still very tired. the half a bottle of red that i've drunk this eve may prove to be an error.

hmmmm... i guess we'll find out tomorrow at work x

12 days till the GSR

slept right through to my alarm at 7.30am today. obviously those couple of glasses of red wine last night really helped!

full day at work today but all at city centre no limits so as soon as i got home this evening i headed off to the gym. stretches, treadmill (incline at 6) for 15mins, weights then back onto the treadmill for a 20min run. kanckered. so then cycled for 10mins. warm down stretches and then home.

have been reading about eating for endurance and what to eat just before a 10mile race - sat eve i will NOT be going out celebrating k's bday - instead i will be having some lean chicken and pasta and an early night.

also looking up what to do training wise these last few weeks - seems to be alot of rest. will do a 40min run thurs and out for 90mins saturday. then rest for a couple of days. then out for 5miles on wed then rest rest rest.

now i need to figure out how i'm getting to southsea and who'll be looking after my stuff.

13 days to the GSR

not too achey after gym yesterday.

i've done a fair amount of cycling today for work and to get to fun things - just over 9 miles. also was out running/walking on the common for 30mins. omg. i'd managed about 15mins and then nothing. nada. my legs felt like they were made of concrete and i was running on fumes. talk about grinding to a shuddering halt.

i suppose on the plus side my knee wasn't too bad.

yikes.
i'm running 10miles/17kms in less than 2 weeks and i could barely muster the energy or have the endurance to manage mabes one paltry mile or so.

aaah well, i'm sure i'll be fine on the 30th...

*hyperventilating, breathing into paper bag, nervous laughter*

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

14 days to the GSR

gosh busy day...

watched nz beat the aussies - great game (want nz now to win, gutted for wales).
off to the gym for over an hour

• treadmill walking 20mins
• stretches, weights
• knee strengthening machines
• then treadmill - all fine and dandy for 20 or so mins and nearly 3kms and then ouch - twinge. so stopped and did walking and more stretches.
• bit worried... but dan reckons it'll be fine - said to keep icing my knee and he'll talk through different knee supports at our next session.

home & tidied my front balcony
iced knee
ate lunch.

then cycled up to katherine's for tea (6mile round trip), helped tidy their spare room and had chicken for supper. yum.

i'm now listening to radio5live sports extra - packers have already played and won (SIX and O), saints/bucs playing at the moment. lovely end to a fabulous w/e.

will go for a run tomorrow.

15 days till the GSR

this time in just 2 weeks...
still taking it gently & will be at the gym tomorrow.

knee is okay but need to increase my endurance. also prob need to stop drinking quite so much red wine.

17 days till the GSR

gym this morning - knee okay - didnt do anything majorlie strenuous - walking, bit of jogging, stretches, some weights to strengthen knee etc... worked out for just under an hour then work.
was going to cycle to thornhill but

1. too much to do and
2. lets not rush my recovery - 8 mile round trip... mabes abit too far right now.

chilled day tomorrow - some of which will be spent in winchester at an anti bullying conference. i'll be there to chit chat about breakout. fab dvd i whole heartedly recommend:-
http://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_school/education_for_all/quick_links/education_resources/fit/default.asp - it's brilliant!

18 days till the GSR

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek
18 days isnt long at all...

bit of cycling today - sholing and back so mabes 5.5/6miles...
then stitch n'bitch - http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/71052307628/ at the art house, above bar

meeting dan at the gym just after 8am tomorrow morning - will see how the knee is and then i'm hoping to ease back into my training.

19 days till the GSR

still nursing my sports injury! (sorry, can't help myself - me with a sports injury - how hilarious is that?!)
am doing ice and elevation while watching telly, drinking tea and snacking - to be honest i'm rather liking this phase of my training...

i've decided to ease back into OF&H tomorrow evening after work:- will go to the gym and do treadmill walking, stretches and some weights. then i'm thinking probs gym thursday morning with muts, mabes friday and sometime over the w/e.
i do need to decide when to try running - i'm thinking not till sunday at the very earliest and even then maybe only round the parks. i have def learnt my lesson.

• will NOT be over doing it again.
• plus its just too close to the GSR to pick up another injury.

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

21 days to the GSR

in fact, this time in 3 weeks i'll have done it!

dan this morning.
20mins walking on the treadmill then i had 40mins of stretches, conditioning exercises, endurance and weight training.

plus ice packs twice a day and no running for a few more days.
just got carried away. need to gently build back up to running.

22 days to the GSR

http://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_1553230.html - my route today. 8.27miles which i ran/walked/walked in 2hours 10mins (was out for two and a half hours but had a 20min comfort break up at p&k's after an hour and 4.4miles)

dodgy right knee.
doesnt feel right at all.

OMG - i have a sports injury! i'm an athlete. how cool is that?

anyways - bit tired now, have had a nice hot bath, will go and spend some money in west quays and then seeing tinker tailor soldier spy with the girls this eve. lovely.

http://www.everyclick.com/lizcarter

GSR countdown...23 days

yikes.
went to the gym this morning - weights, stretches.
then work
then home and watched tv

hmmmmm... i may have to relook at my training plan!

Month 6, day 6

can't believe its only been 4 days since my last run - feels like an eternity ago...
done some cycling though.

• 7mile round trip tuesday for work
• 6mile round trip yesterday for work
• 6mile round trip for work & a 14mile round trip for pleasure today

today i checked out the running shop in eastleigh after nipping into work to do itchen college.

http://www.just-run.com/

i got abit carried away... spent £150 - eeeeek.

then drank tea round alison's.
lovely day.

my break though is now over... gym tomorrow morning and have a dan session 11am sunday.

Month 6, day 4

i'm having a rest/break.
i've over done it a bit and am absolutly (sp?) and utterly knackered.
*oooops*
also getting a bit grumpy - which is NO fun for anyone!

so i've taken thursday off work, will go and get some new running shoes and then gently wear them in thurs/fri/sat with mabes a bit of a longer run on sunday.

will keep you all posted.

i hadn't really realised that my recovery and rest time is actually just as important as all the physical exercise i've been doing. my poor little body has started whimpering. i really do need to listen.
*****sigh*****

Month 6, day 3

ummm... not much happening on the of&h front today - cycled 3 miles and sorted out a day off on thursday so i can go and buy some new running shoes.

Month 6, day 2 - 28 days to the GSR

OMG - GSR is 28 days away...
had a fabulous w/e in london, didn't really do anything of note for of&h (saw ragtime at the landor theatre and the new grayson perry exhibition at the british museum) so decided i needed to go for a run when i got home this evening.

was out for just under 80mins, had a 3-4min break chatting to the lovely ally k by harbour lights and because it'd got dark i didnt do my usual run that pops me out by swac under the itchen bridge (bit dark and scary), instead i ran over the itchen bridge and back.

5.4miles

nice one!