Where are all my fans?

Well, it would appear that the world has lost interest in my training progress. No comments for several posts now. I will have to try and think of more jokes or something! I fear I am a bit less witty these days. All this running is taking it out of me!

I'm still on track with the program. Ran nearly 3 miles yesterday. It was freezing. And tomorrow is my first 8 miler. I'm planning to run on the heath. Hoping that the attractive surroundings and Sunday morning walkers will distract me from the pain.

Despite improving my warm up and stretching routine, my achilles seems to be getting worse. My book suggests ice treatment, but I'm not sure about that in this weather! My heating broke down yesterday, so being in my flat was ice treatment in itself!

5 miles today

The morning runs are changing now, with one longer run during the week as well as the long one at weekends. I am finding that I enjoy the longer runs more and find them easier than the short ones, and I don't really get it. The only thing I can think of is that the sense of achievement isn't the same with the 3 mile runs.

I feel quite smug this morning, having successfully run 5 miles before cycling to work. I really enjoyed the run until I came across a dead cat on the pavement. The poor thing looked like it had been knocked over by a car, and was only recently dead. No tag, so I couldn't inform the owners. It will be horrible for them to find her like that.

Now I am doing more exercise I am finding it hard to drink enough water to keep myself hydrated. Had better go and get some now. It is hard enough drinking 1.5 litres a day . . .

Fundraising

I'VE RAISED £630, which takes me about HALFWAY to my target. So, that is good news.

The bad news is, I've just found out that the gift aid part doesn't count, so I need to increase my fundraising target to about £1500 on the website.

Hopefully, people will continue being generous. I raised about £200 at my birthday drinks by taking my sponsorship form out when people had had a few!!

PLEASE sponsor me and ask all your friends to do so too!!
Go to www.justgiving.com/ellabullingham
or e-mail me at ella.jane@btopenworld.com and I will add you to my paper form.

THANK YOU!

Cold, dark mornings

It is SO hard to get up. It doesn't help that the heating doesn't work in my bedroom. If it wasn't for my cats I don't know if I would get up at all!

I am looking forward to the spring, but at the moment it feels a long way away. I was SO cold for the first half of the run, and felt stiff and slow. I warmed up after this, but my ears never quite made it, despite my hat.

Still, I ran 3 and a half miles so I am still on track and proud! It is weird, I often find the 3 mile runs harder than the long one.

Beside the Seaside

My long run this week (7 miles now) was lovely. I went to visit my parents in Boscombe (nr. Bournemouth) and ran along the front. The sun was shining. There were lots of people around. The sea was beautiful. And I had company. My mum ran with me for a bit, and later my sister cycled alongside with me. It was nice to have people to chat to while running. And generally lovely to be by the sea and in the sunshine. It was hazardous at points - Children careering about on bicycles and rollerblades, a man walking backwards, dogs tripping me up - but it all adds to the fun and relieves the boredom!!

I was surprised how easy I found it. It was very flat, which helped. I actually ran at a faster pace than normal despite running further. I think this might have been because my sister was cycling next to me, I'm not sure.

I had a lovely stretch afterwards too (over-use of the word 'lovely' I think!). I used to find stretching a pain, but now it is one of my favourite parts.

Next week is 2 x 3 mile runs, 1 x 5 mile run and 1 x 8 mile run! I'm feeling really good about this steady progress I'm making at the moment. And it is not like me to be optimistic! Maybe that is an effect of the running too - all that serotonin buzzing about my system!!

Running with a hangover

Friday night I went out for my birthday and had a few too many cocktails. The thing with cocktails is that they taste so yummy and don't get boring, so it is easy to over-indulge.

Needless to say, I paid for it Saturday morning. I went out for breakfast with Hermione, which helped a little, but I certainly didn't feel up to running.

Nevertheless, I was determined to go. I took it very easy and did a little under 3 miles at quite a slow speed, making sure I drank loads of water. It felt HARD but I'm pleased I did it, because it means I am still on track and have done everything I should have done this week.