Keeping with the program!

I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. This week I have done a 4 mile run and 2 x 3 mile runs, and am due to run 6 miles on Sunday.

It is a good feeling to be where I am supposed to be at this stage, but I am finding it hard not to look ahead and panic. Because I have diaried all my runs in, when I write things into my diary I will see something like 16 MILE RUN . . . and I just can't imagine ever being in a place where that is possible.

On the other hand, running for 10 minutes used to be a struggle, and I can now comfortably run for over half an hour.

My run yesterday was hard though. I did just under 3 miles, and it felt harder than my 4.5 mile run the other day. Just didn't feel right. My right leg felt like lead and my left achilles was sore. I also ran at the end of the day instead of the beginning, and it was dark, which didn't seem to help.

Hopefully Sunday's run will go well and I will be filled with renewed optimism.

Another success!

I think I really am going to run the marathon!

I'm getting in to this running thing now. This morning I had the usual fight with myself about getting out there but it was a bit more half-hearted than usual.

4 miles this morning, and it didn't feel too hard. I can definitely feel my fitness increasing, so at least the satisfaction is there.

I can't wait for the mornings to become lighter though. I'm sure it will be more enjoyable running in the spring time.

Another Plug

Another plug for my sponsorship page!!

www.justgiving.com/ellabullingham

GO ON,YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!!

People are being so generous, and I am really grateful for this. I want to raise as much money as possible for the Mental Health Foundation, as they do excellent work AND mental health funding does not tend to be very glamourous or popular.

However, since one in four of us will experience mental distress at some point in our lives it is something that affects us all. I imagine the real figure is higher than one in four, as stigma causes many people to stay quiet about their experiences.

I am one of these one in four, and I will write more about my own personal reasons for supporting this cause some time soon. In the meantime, dig deep and sign up on my page. If you don't like the internet way of doing things, let me know and I will put you on my paper form.

Thank you to everyone who is giving me support. You know who you are!!

Sense of Achievement

The great thing about this running is that I do get a real sense of achievement. Although I do still have to fight myself to make it out of bed and into the cold, I know that I can do it, and that I will feel better if I do.

And in some ways it isn't hard. It is just putting one foot in front of the other. Not like writing an essay or something. I went to week one of a writing course last night, and was completely bombarded by my inner critic, by all the stuff I used to feel at school. Surely I should have grown out of this by the age of 32?!:
Everyone else is better than me
My ideas are rubbish
I'm just going to sit here quietly
And so on.

The people who write this marathon book say that running the marathon and overcoming obstacles such as low motivation, weather, sore legs and so on can help you overcome other obstacles in life. You learn that you can do anything you set your mind to.

I hope so.

Oh yes, I ran 3 and a half miles this morning. 4 miles tomorrow.
The long run this week is 6 miles, so I'm building up to that one!

Triathlon

Hmm. Usually I am able to choose font size and colour and so on, but no such option today.

Anyway, on to more important matters. This afternoon I:
* Cycled home from work (6 miles)
* Went on a run (4 miles)
* Had a bath (O miles)
So, my question is, does that count as a triathlon?

The run was nasty because of the weather but it was all worth it because of the sense of achievement. I was so proud of myself for making it and for running 4 miles. I am noticing my fitness increasing. Running 6 miles next week no longer feels like an impossibility.

RAINING

It is raining today. And freezing cold. BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER. I won't let anything like a bit of weather stop me! I will overcome!