R is for Rock Solid Race

Blimey - that was the toughest thing I've ever done.  Not physically, you'd have to go a long way to top childbirth, but mental tough. Really mental tough.

How someone who has never been into their loft space would ever think that they could climb a 15ft (?) horizontal scramble net, nonchalantly throw their leg over the top and scale back down again is beyond me - then about another 30 obstacles to test your mental and physical capacity.  Needless to say, I had a few "Princess Moments" and a lot of tears completing this challenge, my thanks to Sam, Vicky and Claire for getting me around - ladies you are fearless!  But the event provided some real highs as well, especially the hydroslide which was awesome!

I dont think that words can explain the event.  Much better to share a link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjjBoO261q0&sns=fb

And a 'before' photo of me and the real rock solid crew

The event organisers are arranging another event in Plymouth during August.  If you are someone brave enough to climb a ladder and go into your loft space, I'd recommend it.

Actually, A is for Agony

I feel amazing!  I made it.  OK, so there's a bit of pain now - I sure as hell won't be doing cartwheels for a few days, but every step was worth it - and most steps were enjoyable! 

And the icing on the cake (mmm cake) was that I beat my previous time at Brighton by 9 minutes.  OK, so at my next event I won't be giving Nell McAndrew a head start, but I'm pretty pleased with my official time of 4:55.39.   The best achievement for me was not doing my usual trick and passing out at the finish. 

The race was really well organised, with runners kept occupied with music points, water stations and  the local sights.  The start was a bit tricky, with the slower runners being released from their pens before all of the faster runners had passed; not an issue for slower runners like me, but those pushing for a particularly speedy time might have been affected.   Spectators were able to move around the course fairly well to cheer on their loved ones at various points (I think Superfan managed to see me 5 times during the race itself - with gels, biofreeze and additional water available - you gotta love the Superfan!).   Distance was well marked in km and there were readers at every 5km so splits were readily available for eager analysis at the end of the race.  

I ran near enough on pace for the first 10 miles, then goodness knows what happened!  I spent most of mile 11-20 giving myself a stern talking to (and my sister phoned me to see how I was getting on), but refocused from mile 20 onwards and my tired legs gave it all they could.  At this point I realised the benefit of the dreaded tempo run.  I may never enjoy this part of the training plan, but at least now I recognise how vital tempo runs are to training.  I do feel that I could have driven it harder in the middle section of the race, but - hey!  There's always the next one!  And I'd definitely run this race again. 

Amsterdam was fantastic!  The city is beautiful, and the people are incredibly friendly.  We were lucky enough to be upgraded at our hotel, the NH Grand, and were given a goody bag containing a tin of stroopwafels, a bicycle bell, some delicious chocs and the offer of a free drink at the bar for being their 'Guests of the Day'.  (Naturally this was post race, and I will admit, that G&T tasted wonderful and went straight to my head.  Numbed the muscle pain a bit, though I did look a sight attempting to get off a bar stool with malfunctioning legs whilst trying to look a tad glam in the victory LBD! )

The weekend resulted in smiles all round, as both Sam and Emma both all managed significant PBs.  Sam by 12 mins (I think that's right?), and Emma by a massive 30 mins.  Ladies, you are amazing! 

So now I'm resting, well my body is.... my mind is working on new ideas for the Alphabet Challenge!  Training for B is for Brighton starts in a few weeks time, but I'm hoping I may be able to squeeze another letter in before then!   

A is for ..... Amsterdam Marathon

My bag is packed.  

To include:
Trainers (check)
Painkillers (check)
Safety pins (check)
Nasty tasting gels (check)
Bin liner (thanks Emma for reminding me) (check)
Glamorous LDB for victory drinks on Sunday night (check) 
Unglamorous flat shoes to accompany said LBD (sadly, check)
More painkillers to provide hangover relief following victory drinks (check)

My anxiety levels are sky high.   

It's been a rough week at work; we've moved offices.  Lots of organising, sorting, carrying and panicking.  But it's been a marvellous distraction.   So, when asked yesterday whether I was looking forward to the weekend, there was a pause from me; it was like being hit by a bus.  The realisation that finally it's here.  The culmination of months of training, good runs, bad runs, tears and tantrums, happiness and hills.  Masked by project managing the office move.  Now a reality. 

My fitness levels are questionable.

I've had a cold.  But I'm feeling better now.  Mostly.  I've been spending most of the last week living in a mist of menthol.   And I managed to rescue a printer during the office move by inadvertently volunteering my knee cap as a crash mat. Ouch.  

My friends are full of support.

How amazing is it to have such good friends?  And how lucky am I?  I've had loads of messages of support from colleagues at work, from family and friends.  And masses of help from the supremely brilliant marathon guru Sam and sports masseuse Julie. 

My husband is the best.

He deserves the finishers medal, not me.  What that man puts up with is beyond reasonable.  He truly is a Superfan, and takes his role very seriously....  
duties include: getting me to the start safely, providing additional water/fuel stops, popping up and offering concerned looks at regular intervals throughout the race, verbal punchbag when it goes wrong, scraping me off the floor at the end - oh, and carrying my bags at the airport.  He really is a diamond!

So yes, A is for ...... absolutely terrified.  Wish me luck, and see you all on the other side! 

Welcome to the Challenge!

The thought of turning 40 has absolutely haunted me.  I have visions of waking up on my 40th birthday with a host of new wrinkles and grey hairs to welcome me to a new decade of life; not to mention creaking joints, slowing metabolism and all those promised new fat cells to look forward to.  

So, I've declared war on my 40's.  And I never start a battle I can't win. 

I have spent a princely sum on serums and moisturisers to keep the wrinkles at bay and my hair is regularly 'coloured in' to mask the dreaded greys, but the rest of me?  

How do I beat science at the ageing process?  

I'm fortunate to know some amazing people.  Some really inspiring individuals who accomplish fantastic things.  Folk who run ultras because 26.2 miles isn't enough.  Mums who juggle family life, work and golfing husbands with competing in triathlons.  Friends who get out at weekends and complete super hero activities; climbing, zip wiring, sailing.  Pensioners who run marathons. 

So I'm going to try and join them.  I've done a number of half marathons and just about dragged myself over the finish line at this years Brighton Marathon, so I'm used to setting myself a challenge.  But I don't just want to be a runner, there's loads of other things I want to accomplish. This challenge aims to help achieve just that.

The Challenge

My husband and I were having lunch in Exeter last weekend and we were talking about our up and coming trip to Amsterdam.  I shall be running in the marathon, he will be performing his duty as 'Super Fan'.

After Amsterdam, I have secured myself a place in the Brighton Marathon 2013.  I won't say I enjoyed it so much last year I wanted to do it again.  More a case of me knowing that I could have done better and needing to get a time to be proud of.  We discussed, 'What comes ater Brighton?' And to be honest I didn't have an answer straightaway (most unlike me).  So a couple of quiet moments passed, and then I said that I wanted to do an A-Z of sporty achievements before turning 50.  We tried working our way through the alphabet with marathons, when I said that I didn't just want to do marathons, I wanted to mix in a few other things as well. 

So, the challenge has been born.  The rules are clear:

1.  I have to complete a complete A-Z of challenges (some letters may be difficult to achieve, limited artistic licence should be allowed!)
2. Challenges all need to be physical, but don't all need to involve running. 
3. I don't need to complete the A-Z in order, but I do need to finish them as soon as possible.

You are invited to join me, inspire me or offer words of support.  Whatever, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy reading my trials and tribulations as I set out to fulfil my aim.