68 days to go - lovely run

Cycled to the leisure centre

Locked up my bike and headed off for a run - within 5mins I’m in the countryside! Just glorious 

(7km, 55mins) 

Nipped to Phil’s for tea & homemade flapjack / shortbread plus admired the garden. 

Ran back to the leisure centre then cycled back to mum’s via debs to drop a happy surgery day card for her for tomorrow 🥰

Now back in Southampton getting sorted for my next 4 days at work 

 

69 days to go.

The clock juat keeps on ticking!

9 weeks of training then a week of tapering. 

I will be done in 10 weeks 

This time in 10 weeks I think I’ll be quite broken but will feel epic x

S&C 

Stretching

Taking everything gently after yesterdays 109k bike ride

Will run & HB tomorrow before back to work on Wednesday 

Tired yet also feeling a mixture of terror, excitement and determination. 

I now need to sort out my just giving page for Sibs and buy some new bike shoes - my feet were sore on Sunday. 

Plus today Debs checked out Mum’s new toy 🤣

109km Hampshire Hilly Hundred

So much fun!

Sue got a puncture, decided 100km was plenty so we spent ages at the aid station eating 🤣 plus it meant no cycling in the rain xx

Sue eats / drinks every 15min when on a big ride

It worked so well 

I will be replicating this from now on.

The bike course for the Outlaw is flat.

My km per hour will be way higher than 18.8km & it has to be otherwise I won’t make the cutoff 🤔😬

In fact 23km per hour will make the cutoff 

I reckon it’ll be at least 25km per hour 🥳

71 days to go - stc swim & wedding party

Fabulous to make a Saturday morning STC swim session at the Quays. 1600m approx 57mins 

Then tea.

Tried to have a nap as off to Winchester in the evening for Linda & Louise’s wedding party. It was fabulous 

72 days to go

I’m loving the extra bike ride either before or after work - feels like a moving Hurtbox session 🥰

Work has been ridiculous 

Utterly shattered 

Very excited for my 4 day mini break 

73 days to go - need more sleep

Oaklands tomorrow cancelled and alarm set for 6:45am. Which is nearly 2 hours extra sleep. I’m going to swimming Saturday and I swam on Monday. I do need to up it to x3 a week which I’ll be doing soon.

Bedtime 

Work is tiring 

Staff sickness, staff dealing with personal issues, staff left via voluntary severance. We just need to keep going till w/c Monday 6th July when we’re all together, Mon-Fri 8am-8pm 

To do :

1. Sibs just giving page

2. Order new bike shoes for the bike fit with dave hooper 

3. Get used to High5 nutrition 

4. Learn how to make flapjack 

74 days to go

Rest day 

Closed up the allotment this evening 

Starting to get nervous about the Outlaw

Need to focus on the HHH and then fact Sue and I could be cyclibg 100miles on Sunday xx

75 days to go

OMG swam 1900m and cycled 50mins all before 9:30am 🥳

Am quite tired!

This month and next are my two huge, key training months. 

The Outlaw is getting closer and closer 

Monday 11th May - long run

I so very nearly didn’t go for a run

Had been raining, WIngs that evening, Deb’s and I had done lots of mum admin, it would have been so easy to just not go running.

But then I thought.

The long run is vital

76 days to go

When I make the swim / bike cutoff I’ll have at least 7 hours to do the marathon. That’s doable as long as I’m able to keep going quicker than a painful slow walk 🤣 Hence the importance of the long run.

So I did it.

Delighted xxx

77 days to go - beast from the east

68km today

So many hills.

So many amazing views 

The Outlaw bike course is not lumpy 

Today’s course was lumpy 

I could not have done another 110km today!!!

Sue and I are doing the Hampshire Hilly Hundred next Sunday. 

I wonder how long that will take and if I’m broken at the end. 

Still plenty of time till I go long. 

I am nervous though.

78 days to go

I need to nail some more long bike ride but today has been fun

79 days to the Outlaw

Today started strong 

Off to Jenny’s the Oaklands for STC 6-7am swim session 1850m

Breakfast at Jenny's then home 

Lidls before the allotment to meet Jenny & Sue

Loved showing to off

Ate a radish - so hot.

We had lunch in Mettricks

Art gallery juat about to close - 3pm so we did hugging and I went home

Hair cut

Tidied

Didn’t go for a 5 hour bike ride

I am very tired. 

Off to shower then bed 

80 days to go

S&C at home before work

Voted

Cycled to work the scenic route so past the allotment and along the boardwalk

Work

Then the Cowherds with Vik, A, K&S

Cycled home

Had some pasta 

Bedtime 

End of another 4 days at work

Start of my latest 5 day mini break (have taken Tuesday off) 

Alarm set for 4:55am as swimming at Oaklands 6-7am. 

82 days to go

Recovery from Sundays half marathon going well

Approx 20k / 75mins of cycling to and from work and the allotment today so def feel like I had a couple of HB outside sessions 🤗

Starting to focus some attention on what I’m eating which is good. I must sort out what I’ll be eating on the bike and then practice it 

Still tired but liking that I’m able to continue training 

Rest day 🥰

So tired!!!

Loved the half marathon though xx

Southampton half marathon 3/4/26 = 2:49.36

Loved it

Ran with Anabel the whole way

Felt strong, felt great

So many friends cheering & bumped into quite a few who were also running.

Did a few intervals - ran ahead to get pics of me, A & Chrissy running through the stadium, caught up with the girls when i had a quick comfort break at Bitterne Station - caught them by Riverside park. 

I didn't pop into work for a cuppa and a biscuit this year! But i did see the gang outside #37 which was wonderful 

Loved the finishing chute

Felt quite emotional - nearly an hour quicker than last year

Walked A to bottom of London Road then decided to head home

OMG my calves were in agony, i could barely stretch!!

Said hi to Zoe at UoS tent, grabbed my event tshirt then headed home

So hungry - made the mistake of ordering Thrive which was delicious but 40min wait. By the time i'd eaten i was done for the day, I had a nap, but no going to the allotment and was in bed by 10pm

I did think to myself, there is no way i could run a marathon but then realised i don't have to run one for another 12 weeks. 

Plenty of time to get stronger. 

I just have to trust the process. 

86 days to go - 1600m swim at L’head Leisure Centre

Felt more positive about today’s training 

Up and out of the house by 8am to swim at the leisure centre 

1600m done

Nice and smooth

2:20 per 100m average = approx 1:40 for 3.8k 

Currently I’m thinking 1:45 for the swim so any quicker will be a bonus 

Cycled back to mums for breakfast 🤗

Coffee and shopping in the village

Big lunch 

Chilled afternoon 

6:13pm train to Soton, home by 8:30pm

Douche for the last 11 weeks has to be the long bike rides, runs and swimming plus I must figure out my fuelling.

Fun!!!!!

Very excited for Sunday’s half marathon

Tomorrow is parkrun then Matt&Tom’s 50th bday celebrations part one up in London. I won’t be doing anymore as I need to get back so I’m not knackered for the half x

Didn’t manage the long run

I had it all planned

And then got side tracked with mum scooter stuff 

St Giles looking beautiful this morning 

88 days to go - 2850m swim in 1:17

Alarm set for 4:30am

Oaklands community pool for STC swim 🤗

Breakfast at Jenny’s

Cycled to work 

12 hours at work

Cycled home

Drove to Ashtead 

Knackered

Still up - 19 hours and counting.  

#GettingItDone xx

89 days to go - getting it done

6k run 48mins before work 

Gosport after work to collect mum’s ‘new to her’ scooter from Ben 

I am quite tired yet I’ve set my alarm for 4:30am so I can swim at Oaklands 5:30-7am 🤣

Bedtime 

90 day / 12 weeks to go

I’ve got to trust in the process 

I have to do the long rides 

I am loving the 50-60min bike rides pre work. 

Work changes 7th July 

It’ll be interesting to see how my life changes going back to Mon-Fri

Rest day

So tired 

Mainly due to the three day NFL draft 

Loved athlete tracking the London marathon today.

Can’t wait for the Southampton half next Sunday -  my goal is to finish feeling fresh 🤗

I need to be kind to myself so I may just go to London for Matt & Tom’s 50th from Ashtead on Saturday and then back to Soton that evening from Waterloo. I’ll need to check luggage / logistics regarding training but that might be kinder on my body / sleep 🤔 

Parkrun surrounded by bluebells

Just fabulous xx

Lunch with Nana & hills

I am shattered 

It’s the draft so I haven't really slept very much 

Mum’s x2 armchairs have been taken by the council - ready for her scooter 

Lunch with nana - Katie over by noon

Digested food, went to the dump then off for a run 5ish. Hills. It’s so gorgeous in Ashtead. 

Now more NFL - draft day 2 

Still haven’t got into the habit of S&C 🤔

94 days to go

HB with Sue, 60mins on the stationary bike

Covid booster 

90mins 19km on the knock off Brompton off to check out the Ashtead allotments, up by the old Goblin works, over to Langley Vale and the Downs then back to mums.

Was fabulous 

I cannot cycle on sand - was on the bridal path 

And now?

It’s day1 of the 2026 draft so it’s been wall to wall NFL since 7pm xx

95 days to go - RHS Wisley

10k of walking, 4 hours. My feet were killing me! 

Very happy with that time on my feet. 

Very tired though. 

96 days to go

Started with 13k 58min extra bike ride to work 

Finished with a pub quiz at the Bellmoor 

Another top day

Rest day - 13 weeks to go

So tired!!

Just as well it’s a rest day today 

Very busy at work 

Watered in the greenhouse after work 

Fast twitch sprint triathlon

OMG

It was glorious 

Plus I was 6mins faster than last year 

I had absolutely no urgency. 

Loved it

Swim felt so smooth, I could have kept that pace up for hours 

I felt so strong on the bike and was on the tri bars loads

The run was just fun. I did 9mins run / 1 min walk. I felt so fresh at the end of the race. 

Sooooo happy 🤗

Then recovered at the allotment

Then last STC AGM as membership sec (these last 11 years as STC’s membership sec have been  a joy and a privilege)

Plus Andy had a huge tub of high5 carb drink powder - I grabbed it as that’s what’ll be at the Outlaw.

All in all, a top top day x

99 days to go - sprint tri tomorrow morning

Rest day today

My sleep isn’t great - I’m wondering if I was over stimulated from the 95k bike ride then seeing Louise and Linda in Winchester last night? 

Anyways, rest day today - nice and chilled 

Bonus big sis Debs Hub visit which was fabulous 

Then supper at the Ali’s

Home to prep for tomorrow 

Very excited xx

100 days to go!!!

Today has been rather awesome

Needless to say if I didn’t have Suzanne I’d of bailed way before 95km

Kelly joined us for the Lepe loop as she’s doing 90k ride at the end of May

Love her action shots of us cycling 

Suzanne dragged me along 

I used the tri bars loads 

Was easily doing 25-33km per hour which I’ll need to be doing by the Outlaw so I make the swim/bike cutoff of 10hours with time to spare.

Ate well and my tummy is def getting used to digesting more on the go. I do though need to make my trail mix into flapjack for easier eating. 

I am tired

I will sleep well tonight

I had a lovely evening in Winchester eating chicken chow mein with Louise & Linda 

No swimming costume at mums!!!

Blast

I could have sworn I had a swimming costume at mums. This morning as I was packing my bag for swimming - no costume 😕

So cancelled my swim and went back to bed for an hour then S&C while chatting to Sue & Jenny.

However, once I get a cossie sorted at mums - early morning swimming at the leisure centre will be so easy.

Claire & Phil for lunch 

Back to Soton by 8:45pm

Snacks for bike ride tomorrow sorted 

102 days to go!

The Outlaw is creeping ever closer

Today has been fun

Started with HB chatting to Suzanne 

Lunch with Nana

Cycled to Letterhead Leisure Centre - bike session to get there then a gym class 

I’m really enjoying feeling myself getting stronger 

Swim & Bike have to be the focus 

If I make the cutoffs I’ll be fine with the Run. 

Start of next 4 day mini break

Swam at Jubilee

Popped into work to say hi to Chidi, Jordan and Tony

Met Vik at the allotment 

Picked up my prescription 

Train to Ashtead

Drinks and food with the girls at the Woodman

Fabulous fun x

104 days to go

I really like the pre work run / bike / swim.

This morning was 35mins 4.75km around the parks and then shower and off to work. 

105 days to go

54min bike ride before work 

This was the bike 4-6mons then 30sec of hard effort x10. It’s a good one.

I feel like I’m doing HB outside 🥳💪

Left work early for a takeaway and the Amy & Andy’s wedding pics. Great fun.

Off to work the long way round

No S&C when I got home but my kitchen floor and lounge carpet are sparking 🤗

I’m really enjoying the extra long cycle to work in the morning. Sneaking in an extra 30-35mins each time 

107 days to go - swam after work

So pleased

I just got on with it 

Had my H2O headphones on listening to some trance music. It helped. Swimming is not yet a moving meditation. 

But I did it 🥳🤗