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 1st 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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