Southampton half marathon - my race report 🤗

What a day.
Loved it.
By 14k I was shattered so the race ended up being a lot more run/walk/walk. I also nipped into Tescos on burgess road for an ice cold ribena and then into work for a cuppa and a sit down. I absolutely loved that I saw so many chums all over the course, so of course had to stop for hugs and a quick catch up 🤣

But I'm mainly delighted that my pelvis felt okay. It was my lower legs that were shot - my poor calves. Although not quite as bad as the last few miles of Weymouth70.3 back in 2017 xx

The finish was very special. Turning right onto London Road knowing that my body had managed the half marathon. Every fibre of my being was screaming with joy as I ran to the finish line.

I am now feeling super confident that Lizzie will indeed be going long in 2026 🥳 (Outlaw)

And then roast dinner at Debbie's before the Brewhouse, Highfield for Southampton Tri Club's AGM.

I'll sleep well tonight!!!

Eastleigh 10k 1:21.58

10k bike ride to Eastleigh

Ran The Eastleigh 10k with Sue. 

We ran constantly. I only walked twice. Once through the water station and then when stopped to hug Fiona at the bottom of her road 

I then cycled home 10k

Shower, lunch then cycled to work 2-8pm

Cycled home 

Pizza and TV

What a day 

So how am I feeling?

The run was great

No issues at all.

My feet were abit sore but I have a feeling that could be from the cold open water swimming last Sunday 

When we finished the race my left hip sort of seized up and I did limping for 15mins or so. Was very disconcerting. 

I think the bike ride home helped loosen it up and now I'm tired, my left hip is okay but my groin is sore. 

Needless to say I'm still excited about the Southampton half but there maybe a fair amount of of walking 🤗

 

BikeRunBike - last CC6 of the season

It's 23:30 and I'm at mums 

How am I feeling after approx 20k cycling and 7k running this morning? 

I'm tired

My groin is slightly sore

I'm a bit stiff

But that's pretty much it so far.

The Winchester 10k, Tuesday I did have some  DOMs so it'll be interesting to see how I feel in a couple of days

Overall though, I am feeling very positive about my recovery 

My diabetic nurse has suggested a weekly injection to help get my blood sugars down as ideally I'd like to be back (at a minimum) to pre diabetic numbers within 6months 

It'll be August then

I'll have done at least one 10k, a half marathon, a sprint tri and a standard tri by then. It'll also be when the Outlaw2026 registration opens. 

#FeelingPositive 

#LizzieGoesLong2026

Winchester 10k 1:26.20

So much fun 

Talked the entire way round, pace was very easy, loved seeing so many work, tri, running buddies. 

Maybe by 8km I was starting to feel abit tired and maybe by the time we got to the rec at 9.25km my legs were starting to get sore 

Groin fine the entire 10k

Left glute fine

No accident related pain. So happy

Did have a weird moment at mums this evening when my left hip seized up and I started limping. Very odd experience. No idea why it happened. But okay now. 

Starting to get sore as id expect from running 10k

Be fun to see how the DOMS are tomorrow 

But overall utterly delighted 

Recovery update 🥰

Hmmmmm

I'd say it's going really well

At CLS I did loads of running, racket sports, swimming, fitness classes

Loads of walking 

X3 treatments 

Yep, it felt great

But… my groin was sore when I did intense activities such as the 5-8k runs 

My left glute / left lower back was sore 

So, what can we take away from this?

As I up the intensity I'm going to be sore as my body adjusts to the extra strain / impact. This is to be expected. This is okay. 

If I'm still experiencing this soreness after I've done the Southampton half at the end of April then that will not be okay. As I keep saying I'm excited to find out xx

Day 11 - some tips

Running school - look up more

Myofascial release massage - breathe deeper  - it's causing my chest to be very tight. Hips are an issue but then you'd expect that. Keep having massages

Rest day

Swam 400m in the lagoon before breakfast and then decided to join karyn and sharon with vik to do some sightseeing 

We checked out Cesar Manrique's bonkers house 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Manrique

https://fcmanrique.org/en/inicio/

Then off to Arrecife for lunch and a look around the town

Def needed today to regroup and rest 

Day9 - groin is sore - very active today

Today has been very active

Alot of running about the squash court and squatting down to pick up the ball. The trampoline fitness was a lot of jumping and the 5k road race was great but also hard 

So the groin / pelvis was well used today 🤔

Aqua jogging was great but I did really focus on my form so a lot of high knees in the water 

Plus as mentioned earlier, alot of high knees on the trampoline 🤣

And I guess the running motion does massively impact the groin. Luckily I've booked a super duper massage for 12:30pm Monday 🤗

Now week2 at CLS

I am super excited for 2025 as this holiday is absolutely showing me that I'm a lot stronger than I thought I was. 

I'm also delighted how quickly my anorak dries - I'll def be using it again as a dryrobe 🤣

I played squash!!!!

After 18 months I finally hit a squash ball and ran around the squash court. 

I played by myself as I wanted to see how I felt / how my body would cope. It coped fine. I didn't run after everything and was careful about sudden stopping and changing directions but overall I think for my first trip back on court - I was bloody marvellous xx

I was however very very pink by the end of the 30mins 🤣

I will def be playing again while I'm here at Club La Santa and when I'm back home at Jubilee - so excited 

DOMS on top of DOMS

Day6 at CLS

My body is holding up well plus I am ensuring I'm getting plenty of rest. 

Am loving the track and I have done x3 sessions plus a 5k run in 6 days which may well account for the DOMS 🤔

Blood glucose result from 23/1/25 blood test = 69

So up from 60 in August (pre park run wipe out). I was starting to do so much more and then wiped  = bruised ribs = 6weeks to heal then Christmas / New Year. 

CLS feels like my getting back at it training camp

However I do need to figure out my diet as that's probably only 50% type2 diabetes friendly 

Sports nutrition talk was good. Basically pre work out / race and during work out / race I can eat as if I didn't have type2 diabetes as I'm using the sugar as soon as I've consumed it. However, any other time I need to be a lot more mindful of what I'm eating / drinking. 

Day5 - training fatigued

Excellent value for money - training while fatigued. 

I'm also delighted that I'm making sure I'm getting plenty of rest

CLS day 4 - track, walking & massage

Needed the massage

Vik had a migraine so we swopped massage sessions - she's got mine tomorrow at 12pm

The timing was perfect for me

Yep hard track sessions this morning, lynch then the wellness massage. Felt so floppy afterwards

Cancelled all my other activites and just chilled and then went for a 5k walk looking at the waves - amazing 

I'm loving this holiday 

Day3 - so tired!!

Did a lot of snoozing today but am delighted with how much I've managed to do so far 

CLS day 2 - smashed out a 5k xx

What a day 

I'm tired

My groin is sore but look at what I've done today!!!!

Plus it's my birthday 🎂 

Will be really good to see how I'm feeling tomorrow 

DOMS can take a couple of days to properly kick in. Let's see how I feel tomorrow. 

Club La Santa day 1

So far so good

I did cancel the open water swim Sunday morning after swimming 1000m in the pool late this afternoon

Was fine but decided not really strong enough yet to be able to comfortably swim 1200/1500m in the lagoon. Will pool swim everyday. Will OWS next Sunday xx

So easing myself in

Groin still bit sore and I'm curious to see how my body holds up to the doing quite alot of activities every day 

Body check after my epic Sunday

For me it's am I regular tired and sore or are those aches left overs from my accident?

Legs feel tired 

Left foot sore - outside of top of foot

Right foot okay

Thighs feel achey

Groin is sore

Left glute sore

Left lower back near glute sore

Arms are achey

So I reckon a mixture

Groin being sore is accident 

Left glute area maybe 

But I am excited 

Outlaw26 does feel possible. Hilarious though to think that I was seriously considering first Outlaw24 - idiotic and then Outlaw25 - that got crushed by the medical exam dr who said excellent recovery - should be fine within 18-24months of the accident

It's 18months since my accident and yes I'm starting to ramp my training up but yee gods, as if I could go from where I am right now to IM ready in 6months!! 

However, IM ready in 18 months from now. That's very doable. Bugger that I'm having to start again though #TwoWeeksFromMyFirstIM #WipedOut xx

BikeRunBike

What a day 

For the first time in 18 months I felt like I was back to normal. Cycling out to an event, doing the event, cycling home then shower and off out again - this time Trego lounge for lunch with Emily before work and then pudding with Xobie after work. 

Loved it 

Groin is sore though 

And my left side is also sore 

But I'm starting to believe that I'm back 

So happy 

Back squatting 😬

Yep, I've nipped any little bug in the bud 

Have just done 100 rather strong squats in a day of 16,000 steps xx

Phew 

Squat streak ends today

Didn't go into work today 

Woke up with a splitting headache feeling nauseous. Called in sick and slept for another 5 hours 

Just realised I haven't done my squats 

Will restart tomorrow 

I read the report from the endocrinologist regarding my blood sugar huge spike.

He believes the accident in July 23 had a direct impact on my diabetes management but he doesn't think it'll have a long term detrimental effect on me which is a relief 🥰

100 squats and Jan2024

How cool is this!!!

I've been doing 100 squats a day since 1st Jan and this time last year I'm celebrating walking 3.5km in 48mins, no stick and one little break. 

I need to appreciate how far I've come in the last 12months 

Spoiler, I was then off for half of my mini break and all of my next rotation with a cold. 

I may have done too much 🤔

This time in 2 weeks…

I'll be 56 in Lanzerote 🎉

Panic not - 100 squats ✅

4 minutes 

That's all it takes to do 100 squats 

Exercise takes no time at all. I'm excited for when I finally get my mojo back

Squats ✅ day 1/4 back at work

It's weird how busy I am when not working. I guess if you're working for 12 hours it doesn't give you much time to do anything else other than sleep, travel and watch a bit of tv 

Good that I did the squats 

Less than 5 mins to do the 100 squats.

Bonkers how little time you need for exercise compared to the amount of time you take procrastinating. 

100 squats ✅ mini break day 4/4

Figured out how to fold the folding bike

Shopping trolly to Lidls for some bulk buying of heavy stuff

Finished Masters of the Air - sad the exhibition of being in a bomber at the twin cities historical museum as that would have been a fascinating experience 

Carpasses at the Quays - too cold to swim though, didn't want to get wet.

How do I get in the pool???

100 squats ✅ Xobies adoption day

Just done the squats with 8mins to spare 🥰

Xobies adoption days - today 21 years ago .

Walked home from A's as havnt been mobile enough today 

As discussed yesterday - I need to re-engage and find my training mojo

The walk and squats - left side top of thigh near groin is sore. Is this because I'm doing squats / power walking or is it residual accident?

This is the year we will find out 🤗

100 squats ✅ Nessie lunch & evening pub

Another fab day in Ashtead 

It's not helping my training but I'm loving seeing so many friends 

Today Nessie came for lunch then met Clairee and Amanda in the Brewery - Debs joined us later.

Was so much fun 

But I need to get focused on my training 

I need to know if my body can take 3 months of hard training. As per last year, CLS will really come into its own as I learn how my body reacts to upping the intensity. 

A lot of work to do in 2025

Blood sugars 10-16 should be 6

Just stood on mum's scales 11:12

Haven't swum this year

Only cycled to work

Haven't run

Haven't been to the gym

Rarely get to sleep before midnight

Eating after 10pm

Struggling to chop vegetables / do much cooking

Lost my training mojo

Hopefully CLS will help xx

100 squats ✅

Plus got a folding bike from  Karyn and Sharon

Lift back to Ashtead with Debs from Emily's at Wessex Lane

Huge roast at the Brewery with Debs, Katie and Mum

Then Nic over for a catch up, first with mum and then we went up the Leg.

Fabulous day

Really want to get my training mojo back 

100 squats ✅

So pleased I'm doing the full 100 each day 

Saw Pandi this evening

Love him so much 

Day 3 100 squats

So pleased I'm keeping with this

One of my biggest 'faults' is my inability to keep at something. Yes, I'm able to finish some stuff but overall I have great ideas but the fizzle out.

It could have been so easy to have spaced it on the squats this evening. Luckily I didn't. Let's see how I managed as the month progresses

My blood sugars are ridiculously high

I have to get back to managing my type2 diabetes through exercise as currently it's dangerously ridiculous. 

Day 2 - 100 squats ✅

So far so good 

I havnt quite got back into the training habit. Hopefully I'll rediscover my mojo this month 

Accident stuff… body so far happy with the squats

Psychologist report sorted 

Need to update expenses 

Then need to decide if ready to settle - my worry is the whole one and done, you can't go back in 10 years and say can I have some more ££

Physio is expensive

Regular sports massages are expensive

A good coach is expensive 

All extra expenses that I wasn't thinking about 18 months ago.

100 squats a day for a month

Let's keep the target SMART

We want it to be achievable 

It can always be rolled over into Feb if I can manage 31 days of 100 squats 🥰🥳

I'm so excited for 2025!!

Let's see how my body is recovering / has recovered? from the 'fractured in 3 places' pelvis xxx