Ouch, my ankles. Ouch, my knees. Ouch, my thigh! Tough few weeks but I am still bimbling along. The weather is cold, the dark mornings are really dark but to be honest I really like the quick runs in the morning. I do struggle to drag myself out of bed but once up, trainers on and Garmin at the ready I really quite like it. I like the peace and quiet, the friendliness of the odd few up at that time of the morning.  I did a nice 5 miler last Sunday; my timings are getting better and better, I think this is due to the quick short runs in the week.  I realise that ‘proper’ training for London will have to start in the New Year so I am working on stamina at the moment, quick and fast short runs are really helping with my breathing and strength. These runs are also having a positive effect on my waistline!
I have asked for some barefoot running ‘trainers’ for Christmas, you know the sort, the ones with the toes like fingers. So excited, it may be that I will even go for a quick run on Christmas morning! Last time I did the London Marathon the MD from Vibram did the marathon wearing them. Apparently it takes time to get used to them so not sure I would be able to do the actual marathon in them but I will certainly give the training a go!
I think December is a tough month for running training, all the Christmas parties, rich food and worst/best of all alcohol! The morning after a few glasses of wine is not ideal for going for a run, having said that I think if you have a woolly head then a quick run in the fresh air is a brilliant hangover cure. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with 3 – 4 runs a week this month ready to really up the training in the New Year.

I have signed up for Silverstone half marathon in March. This is a good training run for the Marathon, it is quite a dull run because there are no crowds to cheer you on but it certainly gives you an idea of how it is likely to go in April. I would encourage anyone who is a first timer to sign up for a half marathon late February/early March to get into the feel of how it all works in particular running in a large group of people.
Have a great Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

I will write again in the New Year with an update on my training and news on fundraising.   You can also follow me and my training on twitter – @LJB41
http://www.justgiving.com/ellislejog
Text MRSB99 £1 to 70070 to sponsor me today

Read on FSID site here http://fsid.org.uk/page.aspx?pid=973

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The Foundation for Study into Infant Death have asked me to write up a blog for them each month on my training etc as I head towards my 2nd London Marathon.  My first post was published last month, you can read it here:

Hello, my name is Louise Barrett and I shall be bimbling the London Marathon as part of the FSID Team in April 2012.  I completed the London Marathon for FSID in 2010, I say completed because I certainly didn’t run all of it!  The first 14 miles were ok but I really struggled in the second half, this was mainly down to lack of training (I blame the weather!) and I had a few injuries in the month before.  My time was 7 hours 38 mins, so there is certainly room for improvement there. I did however beat Scooby Doo which is something I suppose!  I would love to get a time beginning with 6hrs at least this time.

After the marathon I thought I would never run again and to be honest I didn’t for 6 months, I put a bit of weight back on which prompted me to dust off the trainers and get back out there.  My friend, Baz, ran London this year so to help him with his training I suggested we did Silverstone half marathon together, this was the impetus I needed to get back into the running. I am really glad I did as I have thoroughly enjoyed it since.  I did Silverstone half marathon in 3hrs 15mins which I was pretty pleased with. I have continued with a few 10ks over the summer, the last one being Great Yarmouth Road Race in October where I completed it in 1 hour 18mins which was a personal best for me. The irony is I came last in the race!

I also did the Great North Run, which is a mega challenge, the hills are certainly unforgiving! I did that one in 3hrs 14mins. I knocked a minute off my half marathon time but the difference between GNR and Silverstone courses means I really did well at the GNR.

I am really looking forward to the marathon next year; I know I can do it so there is less pressure this time.  My reason for running are my boys, Ellis was 4 days old when he died almost 9 years ago and Alex who is a lively 7 year old now.  We have been involved with FSID fundraising each year for this charity that has supported our family immensely.  Losing Ellis was the worst experience of my life, I have worked hard raising awareness of cot death in our area, working with the local PCT were there have been no cot deaths as a result of co-sleeping in the last 2 years.

Last marathon I trained to the 16 week training plan, I am fairly sure that is not long enough to dedicate to training for a marathon so my training started 1^st November in earnest.  I have new trainers and my #teambimble t-shirt so am ready to charge around the streets of East Yorkshire. This fit fat bird is ready to knock ‘em dead with a brilliant personal best next year!

I will write again in a few weeks with an update on my training, news on fundraising although we will start the fundraising properly in the New Year.

You can also follow me and my training on twitter – @LJB41

http://www.justgiving.com/ellislejog

Text MRSB99 £1 to 70070 to sponsor me today

See this post on the FSID site here http://fsid.org.uk/page.aspx?pid=973

 

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