Best breakfast ever :)

The moonboot and I having the best breakfast ever in Brighton.

And I think we can all agree that this breakfast spread is pretty darn awesome and screams health health health.

Hoorah for Sarah x

Ruptured ligament = Bummer. 2016 plans = Very excited.

I got a copy of the letter my consultant sent my GP.

"The MRI scan showed a rupture of the anterior talofibular ligament "

Eeeeeek.

"My suggestion would be a moon boot for six weeks then to resume physiotherapy and rehabilitation.  If her ankle performs well, no surgery will be needed. If not, we can repair or reconstruct the ligament"

That's good to know :)

So... Rocking the moon boot till mid Jan 2016 then back to consultant end of Feb 2016.
It'd be fabulous if I don't need surgery.

Events I'm definitely NOT doing next year :-
Stubbington 10k in Jan
Worthing half marathon in Feb
Brighton half marathon in Feb
Running sisters running weekend in March

Events I might be able to do :-
100 Acre Woods half marathon in April (might be a bit soon)
The second race in the Portsmouth duathlon series (again might be a bit soon)
Southampton half marathon in April - (would have to defer again but this time I'd marshal as opposed to run the London marathon :)

If rehabilitation going well...
Winchester sprint triathlon in May
The third race in the Portsmouth duathlon series in May
Hmmmm... Swashbuckler half ironman in May - even if rehab going well it might be a bit too much continuous exercise for my ankle.

And then we can just hope I'm okay by :-
Polsedon Lacey 10k in June
Denbies half marathon in July
Ashtead 10k in Sept
New Forest half marathon in Sept

And then, drum roll please..
The Amsterdam marathon in Oct.

I wonder how much I'll actually get to do?????

But 2016 will also be the year of skinny minnie Lizzie Lou as I go back to fat club and lose 1.5stone to start but hopefully 2.5stone or even 3stone by the end. I'd love to get back down to ten and a half stone.

Plus 2016 is going to be the year of bendy stretchy core-tastic Lizzie Lou as I finally get to grips with properly stretching and sorting out my core.  I'm as stiff as a board, utterly incapable of touching my toes and have a pathetically weak core with little upper body strength. It's stretching, planking and press ups ahoy for 2016 x

So, that's the plan.
Let's see how it shapes up :)

I will of course keep you all posted x

Keeping moon boot positive...

Obviously inside I'm weepingly frustrated with the whole haven't run now for six months :(

But out of the Ashes of my Thunder Run 'root in the dark' incident, my phoenix of something will arise :)

I just don't know what that'll be yet.

I'm sure it'll be good though as pretty much everyone who's ever been injury sidelined for an extended period of time all wax lyrical about how in the long run it was actually a good thing.

Obviously I'm yet to be convinced but then I am boot deep in my injury saga and have yet to get through to the other side a stronger wiser elite triathlete.

Next year.
It'll sort itself out next year.

1. It'll be fine
2. It won't be fine.

Fingers crossed it's option one xx

Eeeeeeeeeeek - feeling well chunky :(

Hmmmmmm.

I've said this a few times but when training for a marathon you can get away with inhaling a luxury chocolatie chocolate fudge cake. However, inhaling the same cake when not training for a marathon, you end up getting away with nothing.
I'm back up to my 2012 pre fat club weight of thirteen and a half stone and most of my wardrobe now seems to hold only outfits for children. All very unsatisfactory.

I'm throwing down the gauntlet. By the weekend and a visit from Coach Bernie - (Villa must be playing The Saints)  who helped me through the GSR back in Oct 2012, Lizzie Athlete Carter will not only have a training plan for what to do at the gym but also as clear plan on how to discard the flab.

Trying to turn my frown upside down :)

Well... It's day five of rocking the boot, only got another five and a bit weeks to go. Yay.

Ankle is now sore but I reckon that's because it's having to spend most of each day encased and immobilized. Fingers crossed those right ankle ligaments have their healing hats firmly on!

Needless to say I am a tad sad about all this even though I do now have some fab stickers that are absolutely rocking the boot :)

I need to lose weight as I'm back up to my pre fat club weight from way back in April 2012. Not exercising and eating shed loads of chocolate (a quarter of a chocolate cake today) is causing lizzie lou to expand expand expand :(

I absolutely need to sit down and write myself a five week boot training plan that includes the crucial fourth discipline for all triathletes - nutrition.

Watch this space...

Lizzie moon boot Carter :(

Hmmmm... I saw my consultant today at the foot and ankle treatment centre. The MRI shows that not all my damaged ligaments from thunder run have healed.
Bummer :(

So I've got a moon boot for six weeks then I need to phone physio Sam and gently start my rehab. I'll then see the consultant again at the end of Feb 2016 and hopefully he'll say that my ligaments due to immobilization and rehab have finally decided to heal themselves and I'll be able to run again.

But if that doesn't happen?
Maybe surgery :(

But that's three months away so let's cross that operating table bridge when we get to it and not get all stressed about it yet.

What I can do now:-
Swim - front crawl - not with boot on
Cycle with my boot on
Gym with my boot on
Lose 30lbs - boot on and / or off.

All of the above will aid my running as and when I can start again.

So it's absolutely not at all doom and gloom.
Operation fit and healthy is back in business. I've got three months to get back down to optimum feeling fabulous weight and hopefully sharing my experiences on here will help to keep me on track :)

Judgement day...

Impressive intro music...

Today's the day I find out if I can start running again. Fingers crossed everyone for good news xx

Will the Spirit of Triathlon be given the all clear Tuesday????

I gave the trophy back a few weeks ago at the tri club committee mtg as it'll be awarded to our club's next spirit of triathlon next Saturday evening.
And fyi - I've absolutely loved having the trophy, and loved being Southampton Tri club's Spirit of Triathlon 2014 :)

Although the spirit of triathlon had been somewhat deflated these last few months dues to right ankle ligament damage :(
However, it's MRI results day on Tuesday with my consultant Dr.Flood. Fingers crossed for good news...

I'm hoping for "Ms.Carter, get thee to the running track and get back into your training".

So I'm feeling quietly optimistic. Haven't run since the end of July - although we did run for the train last Saturday in Winchester after a fab night Bandeoke-ing for Parkinson's with Daisy and the Wedding Toasters. Plus ankle feels okay and I've been doing my exercises from physio Sam when I remember.

Will of course keep you all posted. Really hope it's good news. I've got a lot of running and events next year starting  with the brighton half marathon on Sunday 28/2/16.
I really do need to start training.

The NHS physio, she says "yes"

Wahoooooooo

Ankle ligament you have healed yourself :)
Or pretty much sorted yourself out enough for me to start gently fast walking, slow jogging on very even ground. I'm very very happy.

Will still go to my apt at the foot and ankle treatment centre on 26/10 but it's looking so much better than August when I knew I had to kiss goodbye to the Ryde and New Forest half marathons, the Ashtead and Stockholm 10ks and the Twin Cities marathon. Utterly gutted.

But now not so much.

Have had an amazing holiday in USA,  got to hang out with do many dear chums and do loads of stuff. Plus went to the marathon expo and cheered on the runners at the actual marathon. Maybe next year? Or 2017 if I don't do the Wisconsin ironman :)

Sad face :(

Saw a fantastic GP at my surgery yesterday and she pretty much confirmed what physio Steve had said...

Very sad face.

She's pretty certain I've torn a ligament in my right ankle. Gutted. Season is absolutely over and who knows when I'll be able to run and cycle train again - might be November, might be next year. Boo.

Got an appointment at the foot and ankle treatment centre 26/10, at least it'll get scanned so we know for definite exactly what's going on. Might sort itself out with physio. Might need surgery.

Darn you polite Britishness and your looking up to apologise while being overtaken in the dark woods on your third thunder run lap so didn't see where you were putting your right foot.

Aaah well. C'est la vie...

Plenty of time now to focus on my swimming, my core strength, lots of stretching, my upper body strength and of course my old nemesis - nutrition and not eating shed loads of yummy sugary crapness.

And of course to keep positive.

Brighton half marathon 28/2/16 through to the  swashbuckler middle distance triathlon on 15/5/16.

My ankle will play ball.
My ankle will get better.
My ligament will heal itself.

Sad face lizzie torn ligament carter signing off now.

Will blog about all the fab things I've done since my last post 20/8 as I have done loads of amazing things as well as cheered and whooped and clapped friends as they've done amazing things. So it's really not all gloom and doom :)

But I am sad right now because I love running, I love cycling, I love participating and I absolutely love getting all excited when signing up for new events and new races.

Not feeling any of that at the moment. Instead just feeling sad and a bit anxious. Siiiigh.

I've entered a few 2016 events :)

Question

What do you do when you can't run but have signed up for a marathon that's in seven weeks??

Answer

You sign up for shed loads of events in 2016!


January 2016:

• Nothing much yet except CELEBRATING MY FORTY SEVENTH BIRTHDAY ON THE 25th - wahoooooooooooooo

February 2016:

• Sunday 28th - Brighton half marathon 

March 2016:

• Rather hoping to do the Solent Running Sisters running weekend on the 19th & 20th 

April 2016:

• Sunday 17th - Portsmouth duathlon #2 = 7.5k run / 18.5k cycle / 5k run
• Sunday 24th - Southampton half marathon 

May 2016:

• Monday 2nd - Winchester Mayday triathlon = 400m swim / 24k cycle / 5k run
• Sunday 8th - Portsmouth duathlon #3 = 10k or 5k run / 24k cycle / 5k run
• Sunday 15th - Swashbuckler half = 1.9k swim / 80k cycle / 22k run

June 2016:

• Sunday 12th - Polsdon Lacey 10k (event not open yet)
• Sunday 26th - Gladiator full distance = 3.8k swim / 180k cycle / 42k run (still deciding whether or not to enter!)

July on-wards - nothing yet :) 

Seeing physio Steve next Wednesday to get the lo-down on my damaged right ankle ligaments - fingers crossed that 1. he won't hurt me too much (not much chance of that - sad face) and 2. he deems me fit enough to start running again (please please please - hoping for beaming smiley happy face)

Because then gentle readers it's operation "eeek i really need to get fit and healthy asap without re-injuring myself". 

Which means I may or may not be able to do some or all of these upcoming events...

• Sunday 13th Sept - the New Forest half marathon
• Sunday 20th Sept - the Ashtead 10k
• Sunday 4th Oct - the Twin Cities marathon (Minneapolis St.Paul, Minnesota, USA)

oh and then some 10k winter run in Stockholm on the morning of Saturday 7th Nov before getting wasted with the boys Matt & Luc :) Note to self - i really need to actually enter this and then book my flights!

So plenty to look forward to for when my ankle finally decides to play ball and mends itself.

7 weeks till it's the day before the twin cities marathon!

I haven't run for three weeks.
Next marathon is in seven weeks.
Ankle fine to walk on but still bit puffy round the ankle and still sore where physio Steve worked his magic. I think there's still some healing to be done.

Apart from that I'm having a fabulous holiday on the IOW. Been bit rainy last few days but the sun's shining now and we're off to the garlic festival as soon as we all actually get up.

13 days since I last ran. Trying to stay positive...

OMG!!!! How on earth do people do it???? Get on with everything when they know they haven't run for donkey's years and probs won't be running again any time sooooooooooooooon???? NIGHTMARE :(

*desperately trying to remain perky and positive*

Oh bollocking buggering blinking bloody tree root / uneven surface with my headtorch POINTING UP!!!!

Luckily I know that this is just something we endurance athletes (hahahaha I love describing myself as this - cracks me up every time) just have to go through / get through and nine times out of ten you do pop out the other side as a better runner / cyclist / swimmer.

I'm sure I'll be a better runner because of this. Will have so much more respect for core work, for strength and conditioning, for good nutrition and for keeping my bloody eyes on the path ahead!!!!

Eight weeks two days.
Still plenty of recovery time.

And let's face it - I'll have an awesome time in the states regardless of whether I do the twin cities marathon or not.

If I don't I'll have more drinking and partying time (what's not to love about that?) and I'll still be spending $$££ at the expo (can't wait - I do love an expo).

If I can run - then Hoorah and I guess we'll just see how far I get round the course before  I decide to call it a day.

If I finish = amazing.
If I don't = I'll just have to go back to the twin cities next year and run it again :)

Win / Win.

Although there is a huge part of me that's not being at all philosophical and is just screaming "but I want to run!!!".

I have though this week managed to get to the gym to do some strength and conditioning work / core work. Plus swam at Hilsea Lido and marshalled the LRR RR10. So that's something.

Off to the IOW tomorrow for a much less energetic nine days with sis, bro in law, dear college mate and three gorgeous girls of 9,10 and 11 years.

No Ryde half marathon :(
But plenty of laughter, wine and cuddles from those gorgeous girls. I literally cannot wait :)

The pic is me marshalling last night x

Ankle prognosis from physio Steve.

Not great :(
Tendons should heal pretty quickly
Steve worked on them, releasing fluid and kneading them. Really painful but Steve's feeling positive for a speedy recovery.

Ligaments however, not so good :(

Def got torn ligaments but would.need to have a scan to see exactly how bad thre damage is.

Steve's thumb got well into ligaments and caused me extreme excruciating pain. It was as if he was tattooing my ankle / piercing it with a white hot poker. Pain.on so.many different levels. But it's def loads better than it was and I have some strengthening exercises to do.

Won't be doibg the Ryde half marathon 16/8. Prob won't be doing the duathlon Leanne's doing 23/8. Not sure about the new forest half but hopefully I'll be back by then.

Won't be taking bike on holiday to iow week after next. Won't be taking my running gear either.

It's stength and conditioning fortnight here we come. I'm gonna be rocking the core-fantatstic!!!

Aaah well. It's the lot of the endurance athlete... = injuries. I'm just going to have to look on this as an excellent opportunity to really focus on my core and upper body strength which'll be brilliant for when I start running again.

Which'll either be the end of this month or early September xx

Thunder Run - great fun :) sprained ankle not so much :(

It's nearly 8am on Wednesday 29th July, and I'm sat in my arm chair in my living room with my right foot stuck in a bucket of iced water while catching up on some TiVo recordings. Good times.

We had a hoot at Thunder Run, two runcamp teams, eleven of us camping, enough snacks to sink a battleship, twenty four hours of running and a 10k route to do over and over again. Luckily it was very beautiful. Unluckily for me it was also quite treacherous when dark with tree roots and other obstacles.

I managed three laps but had to call it a day when I lost concentration for a nano second while people passed me in the woods at night. I looked up to see who'd passed me and being British probably apologised. My head torch was then shining UP. ***Error***. As I then put my right foot DOWN without seeing where it was being placed :(

Needless to say my right foot didn't find solid ground, it found instead a tree root or a dip in the path. My ankle got turned. I may have sworn as I hugged the tree.

I then hobbled the rest of the 3-4k left of the course. Aaah well. Sad face. My thunder run was now over :(

Spent 11pm - 4:15am sat in a camping chair with my foot up, ice pack on and blanket over me. Totally surreal night of Runcampers coming and going. Great fun.

My three laps were
1:18
1:16
1:25

My runcamp team did 21 laps = 210km, the others did 230km. Not a bad haul in 24hours, especially if you add Sarah's 20km done for one of the LRR teams that was a person down.

460km done in 24hours!!!!

Premier Inn overnight Sunday for rest and recovery and a lovely bath.

Physio booked with Runcamp Coach Steve for Friday so should have a better idea of recovery time and what running I'll be able to do and when. I think the Ryde half marathon maybe knocked on tbe head though :(

Siiiigh.

As a runner, injuries are always a possibility. I guess how you handle them is the key.

Let's find out how I do!!!!

Excited for Thunder Run!

I absolutely can't wait!!!

24 hours from noon Saturday to noon Sunday, five in my Runcamp team, 10km  laps - how many can we do??? I reckon I'll take anything from 70-80mins per 10k.

I reckon I'll manage four maybe five laps; then depending on how many my team mates do I reckon we'll be able to churn out maybe 18-20 laps in the 24hours. It's going to be such a laugh!

I've got my new head torch for my late night laps :)

Brilliant marathonliz training.
I've also signed up.for the Ryde half marathon seeing as I'm on the IOW when it's being run.

Absolutely loving 2015 so far x

New Forest Marathon running seminar

It's official. I am a total running geek. Went to Highcliffe sailing club this eve with mate Leanne for a 5k run then a running seminar. Loved it.

Physio Andy did a presentation about running injuries then Ant and Steve from Runcamp spoke about how to become a better runner. I took notes. I asked questions. I participated in the group activity. I chatted to the other people at the seminar who I'd never met before about running and said see you at the start line at the New Forest Half (on 13/9/15)

Such a great way to spend a Wednesday eve. 5k muggy run, chatting to Leanne pretty much non stop for the entire run - although did have a burst of speed at the end :)
34.24

Pleased with that.

Love the Marwell RR10

My local running clubs all organise a Wednesday evening 4-5mile cross country run during the summer. It was Eastleigh's turn last night and they host their run at Marwell Zoo.  It's fab. You can see some of the animals from the course which is a beautifully hilly route.

4.2miles, 48.39 mins, non stop, felt fabulous

I also cycled from Southampton out to the zoo, so yesterday I cycled about 37km in 2hours 4mins. My average speed was 17.9km/hr. That included some commuter cycling and I did ease off by the last few kms heading home last night. But really pleased that my average is slowly going up. I'd love it if my normal cycling averaged at 20knm/hr.

Left my flat at 6:05pm, got home by 9:45pm. A wonderful three and a half hours or so of exercise, seeing chums and enjoying the beautiful summer evening. Then I watched some of the TdeF before shower and bed.

Such a super way to end a Wednesday :)

What a fab weekend! 5k, tri club, 10k.

An unexpected weekend in Southampton so decided to make the most of it!

Friday daytime was spent mostly sunning myself on my balcony while chums popped round for tea. The evening however was alot more of&h. It was Runcamp's night of the 5k PBs up at the track. Hot and humid but brilliant fun. I set off first then every minute for about 22mins in descending order of their best 5k times we all ended up running 12.5 laps of the track.

Really enjoyed it l, lots of waving at LRR chum Louise who was in the stands and chatting to anybody who was around. According to my watch I may have done an extra lap. Either way loved it. 35.03.81mins or 32:38.07 for 5k. Delighted with both :) then bbq.

Saturday - tri club swimming - haven't done a Saturday morning session for weeks. At 9:05am I just wanted to get out. At 10am when I did get out all I could think was what an ace session. Then Tudor House Cafe for tea/scones/pannini etc... Rest of the day spent in front of the telly - F1 qualifying, TdeF, Wimbledon...

Sunday was the Race for Life 10k on the common which I did with chums Vik and Ana (pic taken just before the start). 1:10.37,  I cheered at each km marker and whooped at all my fellow runners. Such a wonderful atmosphere. Loved it. Then absolute bonus, had tea and a slice of pizza in the Hawthorns Cafe with Rose and then we realised it was barely 10mins till the start of the 5k so we strolled over to the Tauntons/Bellmoor entrance of the common to whoop and cheer the 5k runners. It took 15mins for them all to run/jog/walk past. Amazing.

Yacht pub in Woolston (see pic) for a spritzer latr afternoon then an evening of tv and pottering. 

Great weekend.

Best quote ever!

So I'm marshalling my running club's 10k last Sunday (portaloos, baggage, shed 8-10am then timing chip removal from 10:30am) and I'm happily taking off one chaps timing chip...

Then he says - aren't you the club member who's the triathlete whose just run the London marathon?

Omg, how fabulous is that?? And yes I am a member of Lordshill Road Runners, and I am a  triathlete who has just run the London marathon but even so, hearing it said out loud by someone I didn't know made it sound just so much cooler :)

Ran Monday 2.5miles, 30mins and Runcamp this eve was fabulous as per usual.

Marathonliz part 2... So far so good (except my 20lbs 5months is now 20lbs 14 weeks)

An awesome 48hours in the life of marathonliz

Omg, the best 48hours ever!!!

Tuesday runcamp was super - instead of the track we went up to one of the top cricket pitches. The evening was one of those perfect summers evening and we all got to be out in it - topped off with cake From Kirsty :)

Wednesday started with 20lengths of Hilsea Lido - 16 of them being non stop in 30.01mins

London Wednesday evening mtg cousin Ruth and big sis Debs for wine, food, catch up and alot of laughter and love :) We then walked Debs to Waterloo and I crashed at Cousin Ruth's hotel. This meant that this morning I had the most beautiful walk through Hyde Park. Totally wished I'd packed my swimming costume as the Serpentine looked so inviting.

Then this evening Vik and I had the most beautifully leisurely run, jog, some walking and alot of talking along Western Shore (I did 6.5miles total in 1:28.30 then 10mins when got home on the stationary bike). I think that has got to be one of my favourite running routes. The Solent just looked so fab.

And now I'm tucked up in bed knowing I don't have to get up till gone 7:30am.

Happiness is????

LIZZIE LOU RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW!

Sixteen weeks to go

Yesterday my sixteen week Twin Cities marathon plan started with a rest day. I was working till 9:30pm so figured I'd have Mondays as my rest day. Also I had just done the Polesdon Lacey 10k on Sunday 14/6 so probs a good idea to have a rest.

Polesdon Lacey was brilliant fun. I'd forgotten just how horribly relentless the hills are on this 10k :(

Aaah well...
Plus it was quite muggy.
1:16.03 = about 6 mins slower than last year. I am though consciously trying to start slowly so I can finish strong. I finished strong so Hoorah, just got to work on my fitness so.my slow start is actually quicker than my current slow start.

Didn't go to Runcamp as eating Chinese at Pandas instead for A's bday. Yum. Then Lidls as haven't managed to shop for yonks and was down to my last square of toiled paper (eeeek)

So my Twin Cities training plan is off to an astounding slow start! One can but hope that it really does "only get better".

Oh and in case anyone's wondering... It's now:-
20lbs / 4months.

Gently easing into marathonliz part two

Such a lovely weekend in Hove.

Ran 7k in 50mins with Sarah. We chatted non stop as we ran up and down the sea front. With a fab afternoon of looking at flowers with Clare and Elizabeth (attached pic taken from a bench at the Garden House in Brighton while drinking tea and eating chocolate cake).

Sunday when I got home, instead of immediately having a cup of tea I got changed into my running gear then went for a gentle run. 5k 39mins then 15mins on the stationary bike 8.6k

I've still got a week before my training plan starts so feel great that I'm already laying down good foundations around consistency of running. My goal for the Twin Cities is to stick to the training plan  regardless. Until you actually run, running is all mental and I'm extremely adept at convincing myself to reset the alarm clock, roll over and get 30mins more snoozing in :)

My plan for this week...
Runcamp this eve
Hilsea lido before work, RR10 after work
Tri club swimming at Oaklands Thursday
Not sure about Friday
Maybe parkrun Saturday or tri club
Polsdon Lacey 10k Sunday

Then it's 16 weeks to until my second marathon!!!!!!! Wahoooooooo - soooooo excited.

Decided to give myself a rest.

Okay, I'm easing into marathonliz part 2 and realising that I'm going to have to be pretty disciplined once I start to properly follow my training plan.

With this in mind I've decided to give myself a rest and start marathonliz on Monday 1st June. Hopefully I'll be all focused and raring to go as opposed to faffing about with a run here and a swim there. The only way I'm going to knock at least 75mins off my marathon time is consistency. It took me too long to get into my training for London. I don't want to make that mistake with the Twin Cities. I want to be loving my training not feeling all grumpy about having to run.

Let's see what happens.

And now it's nearly June!

What an amazing month. This time four weeks ago I'd just run my first marathon, then I did the Winchester MayDay sprint triathlon and went on holiday to Holland with Katherine and Suzanne where we cycled approx 350km in four days. I then ran the 5k run for Suzanne at the Shaftsbury sprint triathlon last Sunday and then got ill.  Boo.

Today I was support crew /head cheerleader at Eton Dorney for Stu's 5k wetsuit and Katherine's 5k non wetsuit swim and Tamsyn's 3k wetsuit swim. Amazing fun. And this evening I've watched tv and eaten a bar of Cadbury's dairy milk chocolate.

I've finally done my Twin Cities marathon plan for the 4th October, so  I guess it's nearly time to start actioning it.

With my mantra of 20lbs 5months and armed with my six A4 sheets of paper that contain my marathon plan, Operation Fit and Healthy is about to re-swing into action.

Wahoooooooo!!!!!

And now it's bedtime.
Absolutely cream crackered. Been up since 5:30am and now it's nearly 10pm.

Runcamp tomorrow,  maybe Lordshill Road Runners training Wednesday and perhaps checking out the 8:30pm tri club swim at Oaklands Pool Thursday evening.

And so gentle blog readers of mine... Lizzie Lou Carter gently eases into *drum roll please*

MARATHONLIZ - part two :)

Resting after Holland...

Well, it's now Friday and I'm slowly easing back into operation fit and healthy.

Arrived back in blighty Monday early afternoon, spent rest of the day catching up on my TiVo recording. Had a wonderful Miche massage Tuesday and then runcamp in the evening.

And that's about it for this week so far :)

However I have started planning my twin cities marathon training plan so that's good.

Attached is Sunday's cycle.

350km of cycling, 9mins of open water swimming and no running. Great cycling holiday.

So far - 300km of cycling in three days.

Loving my Holland cycling holiday.  It's the morning of day four - our last day of the holiday. My legs are tired. But then I have done nearly 300km of peddling :)

Still recovering. So tired!

Apparently running a marathon uses up about 2500 calories so it's hardly surprising I am so hungry. Plus my body has been through a major trauma so is having to do alot of healing hence suddenly feeling so tired, especially these last few days.

I'm still on cloud nine about my achieverment.

My medal is pride of place (alongside my other medal for this year - the Winchester duathlon) and I'm loving my marathon adidas trackie (remember I got a tad carried away at the Expo last Friday)

Left foot still sore due to laces being too tight but didn't get any blisters so I can't really complain too much. And that's about it really for any residual soreness. Hoorah and phew.

Winchester Mayday tri on Monday then we're off to the Netherlands on Wednesday evening for our cycling holiday. Should be brilliant fun. Must go to Decathlon and get some more inner tubes and the Library for a selection of  guide books. Ooh and Marks for some Euros and must get insurance sorted. Eeeeeeeeeeep, still got quite a few bits and bobs to sort out.

It's also the NFL Draft so plenty to watch over the weekend. 2015 is shaping up to being one toptastic year :)

Recovering nicely

And we're at Thursday morning...
My calves are still abit sore and the top of my left foot is abit painful and my ankles are a tad tender, but that pretty much it :)

I reckon the top of my foot is sore because my trainers were too tightly tied. Aaah well.

I swam for thirty mins Monday at tri club but stopped when my right foot started to cramp.

I managed about 45mins of leg work at Runcamp before I felt a slight twinge at the back of my left knee.

Bike guy returned my bike Tuesday evening so I've done lovely fast commuter cycling.

I am though really really hungry and still quite tired. I'm also totally still buzzing from the London marathon,  wearing my medal whenever I can, decked out in my new London marathon jacket bought at the expo :)

Wahoooooooo xxxxx

I've run the London Marathon!

I'm writing this Monday evening, I can walk, I'm tired and a bit sore and managed 30mins of tri club swimming. Not bad for the day after my first ever marathon :)

6:41.05 - and I blinking loved pretty much every minute even when my feet really hurt and my calves were on fire and the sides of my knees hurt. The crowds, the atmosphere,  the history of the event, support teams Liz x2, friends running it as well, the amazing support of family, friends and colleagues following my race and sending good luck messages = the most awesome day out ever!!!

My plan of a 26.2mile sightseeing jaunt round London with 37,000 other tourists while 700,000+ people cheered absolutely happened to perfection.

Even when I hurt I was whooping and cheering and smiling and yelling out at each mile.marker from about five miles that I'd done it :) By the end I was yelling out 800m to go then 600m then screamed 26miles done and then I pretty much had my arms aloft from the top of the Mall right through the finish line. Awesome fun.

Travelled up with my running club Lordshill Road Runners and then found chums from the Solent Running Sisters and Eastleigh Running Club. Enroute I had my amazing support team of Karyn, Sharon (mile 8, 18 & 25) and Vik plus sister Debs, brother in law Mark and the girls Katie and Emily (miles 18 & 25) plus tri club buddy Suzanne and her chums at mile 15 and Pam from tri club at the finish handing out medals.

I felt extremely loved and supported by not only those that I knew but also by everyone in the crowds and it made such a huge difference.

Then pizza on the South Bank and a bottle.of red on the train back to Southampton. Such a fab day.

Food and drink - got through 6 gels, 2 jaffa cakes, half a dozen mini cheddars, a cocktail sausage, maybe half a dozen jelly beans, a biscuit, a handful of trail mix, water at about 10stops, lucazade sports drink at three stops. I may have drunk a tad too much as I must have used the portaloos at least six times!

What do I need to do for the Twin Cities Marathon on the 4th October??

1. Lose 20lbs - that should shave off 17mins from my finish time without having to do any extra training  just because I'd be lugging around nearly a  stone and a half less of me.

2. Get quicker - the cutoff time for the Twin Cities Marathon is six and a quarter hours so I need to get about 90mins faster. I reckon I'll prob spend at least 15mins chatting to mates while.on the.course.

3. Be stronger - my tummy muscles hurt so I.need to really strengthen my core and work on my overall strength and conditioning.  Luckily I've signed up.for the next Runcamp Level 2 course that starts tomorrow eve.

4. Keep running.

5. Work on my nutrition and hydration as I must have spent about 15mins of the 6:41.05 in a queue for the loo :)

Would I do London again?
Well probably not as I've done it now and there are loads of perfect city break / marathon running combination destinations out there not only in the UK but in Europe and further afield... However, let's see how I do in the Minneapolis / St Paul Marathon in October before I start thinking about any future membership of the one hundred club x

I think it's starting to fully sink in just what I've done. I've run the London Marathon. I'm a London Marathon finisher of which there are less than one million of us on the entire planet. I'm just so blinking proud of myself :)

Such an awesome day. Absolutely loved it. Brilliant brilliant fun. Honestly if you ever get the chance / opportunity to do London then grab it with both hands and don't let go till you cross the finish line.

www.everyclick.com/marathonliz

On the coach!

About to leave southampton sports centre carpark. To say I'm nervous and excited is an understatement :)

I've got everything I need, bags all packed. London here I come x

The night before the big event

It's 7:51pm, just over fourteen hours to go before I run my first marathon. I'm getting a bit nervous now.

Bag is packed, kit all sorted, nutrition in bum bag, race number pinned on vest, taxi booked. Think I'll have a shower and then maybe try and get an early night.

Gutted that I'm missing our first Southampton half marathon so London had better be fab :)

Expo purchases...

Loved the expo.

Just got back, unpacked bag, laid everything out, tried stuff on, put race number paperwork in my "I'm taking this to London" pile and then either put stuff away or popped on the floor so I can read / explore more about those purchases over the weekend.

Great fun. Now quite tired so time for bed.

Luncheon before tackling the Expo.

I've collected my race number etc... and am now having my packed lunch out in the forecourt of the ExCel centre.

Decided I needed to eat before tackling the expo. It's absolutely vast and I won't enjoy it if I'm rapidly losing years due to hunger. No-one wants to be shopping with a five year old trapped in the body of a forty six year old menopausal woman :)

I'm feeling fabulous. Calm yet practically popping with excitement. It's a totally different feel to the half ironman back in September 2014. I was very excited then too of course but also absolutely terrified and doing lots of silent weeping and whimpering inside myself.

I don't feel any of that with the London Marathon. Just total and utter excitement, joy and pride with myself and with all the other 37,000 odd of us who'll be running Sunday. It's a wonderful feeling.

Now it's time to finish my sandwich and get shopping x

Runner #8510 = last Virgin London Marathon training run is done :)

Training runs for London are in the bag. Last one this evening 5miles 1:01.01 and it felt great. Def still.a.few.twinges but having a Miche massage tomorrow morning so hopefully her healing hands will sort out any of my still sulking muscles so they're all smiles on Sunday.

Will swim Saturday and then my next bit of exercise will be a 26.2 mile jaunt round London!!! Omg it's really happening. Eeeeeeeeeeep :)

www.everyclick.com/marathonliz

Oh and I love the fact that I wore my twin cities marathon training tshirt on my last London marathon training run.

Taper time

Due to bike malfunction I didn't go to runcamp this evening which means my tapering is going great :)

Will run tomorrow though and swim Saturday but that's it.

Instead I drank red wine and ate malteasers with K&S who will be up in London and fingers crossed I'll see them at mile 3,8,17 and then horse guards parade under L for lizzie.

I'm number 8510.

Attached is a pic of my bike - and gang it could have been alot worse as I wasn't going at speed when it broke so I didn't fall off, I'm not injured and I can still run the London marathon on Sunday. Plus bike guy tobie will fix it so it's as good as new, which is fab cos I'll need the bike for the May day tri plus the cycling holiday to the Netherlands with tri buddies Katherine and Suzanne.

Eeeeeeeeeeep - one week to go!!!!

A tale of two days...
Saturday, lovely morning - decided to do parkrun instead of swimming. Met chums, lovely run, route D, felt great, good pace, bit of a sprint right at the end - official time 34.04

Sunday, again lovely day, did quite alot of cycling to chums, around Hampshire, beautiful countryside, picnicking and feeling fabulous.

And then I had a moment of eeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!

Today, Sunday, I cycled approximately 25 maybe 26 miles - my bike computer is busted hence approximation.

I'm running the distance I cycled today next Sunday in London. I was quite tired after cycling. How on earth am I gonna run it!!!??????

*hyperventilates into paper bag*

Hence why I'm now even more happy with my race strategy of... It's a 26.2 mile sightseeing jaunt round London with 37,000 other tourists while being cheered on by 700,000+ spectators :)

Seven sleeps to go x

www.everyclick.com/marathonliz

Booked flights to mpls/st paul :)

12 days out from London and I've just sorted flights to the twin cities so I can run their marathon on the 4th October. I'm so excited. I'll see as many chums as possible, run a top ten usa urban marathon then chill in the states for a week of hanging out with mates, shopping and pottering about. It's going to be amazing.

Oh, tapering going okay... Great tri club yesterday - loads of work on the strong push down of the stroke. I finally know why this stroke is the choice of triathletes as it's all arm strength and I'm not strong enough :( Great workout though.

Runcamp drop in this evening - six of us up at the track. Loved it. Yes I feel tired and def know I've worked out, but it's a fab feeling and I'm so glad I went.

Feeling much more positive about London. Think I've sorted my nutrition - five gels, ten trail mix pouches, jelly babies, apricots. Will drink the lucazade sport and water. This is a huge weight off my mind.

Absolutely delighted.

www.everyclick.com/marathonliz

Now it's all mental :)

Eeeeeeeeeeep - two weeks today I will have finished my first marathon!

I'm nervous :(
I'm four weeks behind on my training due to injury and illness which is a real bummer.

I've had a quick look at my training log. 47 runs, 17 swim sessions, 8 bike rides/stationary bike plus of course all my commuter biking and i'll get a few more runs in between now and race day. Mate Suzanne is right, it is now all in the head. It'll be fine :)

And bravo to old school chum Anna and her blinding brighton marathon run 4:41:41 - NB I will be at least an hour slower.

So I'm in the final fortnight, 13 sleeps to go...

Time for supper and a cup of tea.

I'm at T minus 19 days!

Ran this evening, paused after 2k to call an ambulance for a chap in his 50s who'd taken a tumble, hurt his knee and couldn't get up. Did lots of stretches while waited the just under 20mins for the paramedics to arrive. So many people stopped to see if they could help. Lots of good samaritans here in sunny southampton :)

5.5miles, 74mins.
Want to try and get out most days now for the next couple of weeks.

Hmmmmm... Well I'm not as fit as I wanted to be and def not as slim and obviously I've had more than the mini creme egg that's in the photo to eat this easter! But having said all that, I am really enjoying being a runner and I know that I will be alot fitter and slimmer for the twin cities marathon in about 5 months time :)

So basically, things really can only get better.

www.everyclick.com/marathonliz

First and last long run done.

16miles in four hours. Lizzie marathon plodder Carter isn't going to be winning any races in the foreseeable future!!  In fact I'm rather hoping I'll make it to the Mall within seven hours so I can say I did the whole race on closed roads :)

I'm now risking injury cos running so slowly (eeek) so will now just do 10milers then 8milers till the marathon.

Also I need to figure out what to eat. After four hours I just wanted to get home and have supper, plus it started to spit and my legs hurt. I'm SURE I'll be able to find another ten miles on the day...

Although I know it's going to hurt I'm still really excited.

Wahoooooooo. I'm running a marathon in 25days.

*whimpers* while slapping on more deep heat.

www.everyclick.com/marathonliz

Run a mile, eat chocolate cake. Excellent.

Magic mile this evening on the common. I managed 1 mile in 9.42.59. Felt okay, def got stronger as I went which is to be expected as I got warmed up!

Could I have done it over and over again 25 more times? I guess we'll find out in just under four weeks. Eeeeeeeeeeep.

Finishing shoot - there's Lou with a slice of double chocolate fudge cake on a plate with a fork. How bloody brilliant :)

This marathon training can be really tough x

Need to do at least 18 miles...

Okay, I reckon I need to get do an 18-21miles run this week. I'm just under 4 weeks away from.marathon and I think I need to do a major long run.

This time though I won't stop for a comfort break and end up chatting with colleagues for over half an hour. Think that ceased me up and made the end of the long run last Thursday really really hard!!

Also need to nail.down my nutrition otherwise I'll start getting major snack anxiety. The food at the half ironman was amazing. So much food. I was in heaven. No such picnics in London though :( I've got to take all my snacks plus make sure all chums who I might see have snacks on them.

Tri club - easy swim 400m 9:44.67 - just loving how amazing my swimming is, especially if you remember just how crap I was.

Magic mile tomorrow then at least 18 on Wednesday.  Will keep you all posted.

www.everyclick.com/marathonliz

13.4miles in 180mins - just gotta do that twice when I'm up in London 26/3/15!

Well... I can certainly do 13miles but can I do 26??? This evening I couldn't have but fingers crossed in just over 4 weeks I can :)

However I had such a fabulous run this evening. I had two bathroom breaks - white swan pub so had a full fat coke as well, and then popped into Sholing no limits as colleagues were still there.

So much traffic due to the horrific M27 accident earlier today. I don't think I've ever seen such gridlock. Botley road was bumper to bumper along it's entire length. Really glad I didn't have to drive in it. Felt rather smug jogging past everyone.

I've slapped on a lot of deep heat on both legs, it'll be interesting to see how I feel tomorrow morning as speed of recovery is I think a good indication of how ready you are. I'm hoping I'll be fine.

Yes I'm tired. Yes my legs ache. Yes my feet are a bit tender. But wow, great run! I just kept going. Didn't know where I was exactly during big chunks of the run but I thourally enjoyed exploring the city.

Running really is brilliant fun.

I'm number 8510

Marathon magazine arrived today with info on everything to do with race day!!!

I'm getting very excited.

I am though still a bit nervous about my calf. It's okay but I can def feel it's not 100%, but even so I'm still confident for a 6/6.5 hour finish.
Apparently the roads get reopened after 7 hours and you've got 8 hours to complete it otherwise you don't get a medal. Bummer.

Race info - the start is now 10am for the masses and I'm in the blue pen that starts in Blackheath.

I'll be out running tomorrow evening - hoping to be out for two hours, which will be my longest run since Feb.  Operation finish London within 6 hours is back on in earnest...

http://www.everyclick.com/marathonliz

Winchester duathlon in 2:34.43, open water sea swim 1.44mins. Fab Sunday

I changed from the standard distance (10/42/5k run/cycle/run) to sprint (5/20.5/5) as decided it would just take me too long to do the event. I'd be finishing to no spectators and some very bored marshals!

Sprint though was excellent as although I was one of the last to finish the sprint  there were still plenty of athletes out on the course finishing the standard.

Bonkers hills, cross country run. Beautiful beautiful cycle, back to those bonkers hills for the last 5k.

Much whooping at the finish then tea and a twix bar or two.

Unofficial time...
5k = 38.18.96
T1 = 2.34.21
20.5k = 1:05.35
T2 = 3.35.30
5k = 44.39.60 (included quick portaloo stop)
Grand total = 2:34.43

Then off to Bournemouth for some open water swimming. I lasted 1.44mins - so cold although I didn't stay in long enough to be able to describe it! Katherine managed 10.44.24 - she's an epic open water swimmer :)

Fab Sunday.

Love my new running vest

Parkrun was great fun 34.40, lots of familiar faces then hawthorns for a cup of tea.

Then a run jog along Weston Shore stopping for ice creams at the halfway point.

Great Saturday - I even cleaned my bike all ready for tomorrow's duathlon :)

You tube video of the course.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WmabgZ_0SbU

This is a time lapse video of the London marathon.

It's a really long way!!!!!

I'm now gutted I've missed four weeks of training mid Feb to mid March due to illness and injury. Eeeeeeeeeeep.

I'm also now wondering if I need to take my A-Z so I can see on the map where we're running. I love being able to visualise where I am :)

Oh and check out my new running vest all badged up for No Limits.

I'm thinking I may take the vest to a sign shop and get my name printed on the front. I'm going to need as many people as possible yelling out "dig in Liz" or "turn that frown upside down Liz" or maybe even just one of the classics such as "go  Liz go" "Liz!!!!!!" "well done Liz".

Thinking parkrun tomorrow.

400m swim PB = totally over the moon with happiness.

Post from 16/7/2012 and I'm all excited because I can now swim 12 lengths / 300m in fourteen minutes!!! In fact I'm so excited I'm thinking of doing a triathlon!!!!!

And now two and a half years later?

At tri club on Monday I swam 16 lengths / 400m in 9.16.36 - fasted 400m for me e.v.e.r.

I'm delighted :)
Wahooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Runcamp this evening - as always brilliant fun. Can't believe it's the last session next week. I'm def signing up for the next level 2 course that starts at the end of April.

Calf? 
Still bit tender but I'm running on it which is great news. Oh and I've pretty much decided 100% that I'm gonna do the south downs marathon 20/6/15 :)

Solent Running Sisters running weekend!!

Was a total blast :)
Friday afternoon through to Sunday afternoon with 25 or so women runners. Loads to eat and drink. Plenty of running plus yoga, speed and agility, self defence, hula hooping, snoozing, chatting, laughing, talking all things running. Absolutely bloody marvellous.

Friday eve - 3 mile run
Saturday morning - 4 mile run
Sunday morning - 6 mile run.

Calf held out. Very pleased.

Also plenty of top tips for the upcoming London marathon - the major one being sort out the logistics of the day asap :)

Top top weekend.

Has run!!!!

Tuesday evening I finally ran :)

Was okay. Not 100% but good enough to take it easy and run. I must admit though that I am slightly concerned about how tired I was after ONE lap!!! That's 400m - and the London marathon is about 42,000m. Oh.my.gaaaaawd. And - eeeeeeeeeeep!!!!!!!!!!

Didn't run Wednesday and today I didn't finish work till 9:15pm so haven't run today either.

However I'm not concerned because this weekend I'm off to the new forest and the Southampton Running Sisters running weekend. Should be a hoot with plenty of opportunities for running.

I'm very excited and really looking forward to it.

Right calf still not right. Not getting stressed about it though.

Three weeks since my last long run of 12 miles along the worthing seafront.

Fab run then succumbed to this virus that's going around and then managed to do something to my right calf two weeks ago while running round the track. Massage last Thursday - lovely, but still not right so didn't take trainers to London so have done nothing this weekend except tri club Saturday morning and 25km cycling before catching train to London. Walked about 2 hours today but that's it. Not what you'd be hoping to be doing seven weeks  out from first ever marathon.

The only thing we've got going though is that the marathon is London. Like I'm not gonna finish if I can at least walk!!!!

So feeling remarkably chipper about it all even if I haven't done much running :)

Twin Cities Marathon - technical shirt

Yay, look what the postie delivered to my door today - it's my Twin Cities Marathon Technical Tee. Just need my No Limits running vest and then I'm all kitted out for www.everyclick.com/marathonliz

I am so excited.

Plus, I had a Miche massage this morning so am confident I'll be running again soon. Monday I managed a whole 0.06km before I thought 'ouch my calf's still not right' :(

But until then I've been the stationary bike queen this week while catching up on TiVo taped tv.