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.