When I started racing, training mostly consisted of pounding the pavements, trails or treadmill for long periods of time. As I started to get fitter, I’d notice the distance I could run without feeling like I wanted to die had significantly increased and I was getting slightly faster, but that was what bothered me. It was only slightly faster. I used to do quite a bit of weight training and go to classes, but since I became a swimming teacher and don’t get out of the pool until 6pm every night, by the time I’m home and fed most of the classes at my local gym have finished. I used to LOVE going to spin classes and before my wedding I became a total spin addict. Now the majority of the spin classes are starting just as I’m climbing out the pool, dripping wet, freezing and in desperate need of my dinner. So I got into a cycle of getting home, having some dinner, going out for a run then coming home to watch some TV, catch up with Craig and go to bed. Another day over.

A few months ago my friend told me about a circuits class that was being run for woman at the local MMA gym. It consisted of pad work, weights, cardio and pain. But good pain she assured me! I thought why not, I needed something else to try and I really wanted to improve my strength so one Tuesday I tagged along with her and her sister. The good thing about the class is they let you work at your own pace and ability. If you are struggling with a move they let you miss a few out then join in again and don’t scream at you for doing so, as I’ve seen countless times in the past. But as I’m quite competitive, especially with myself, I wasn’t going to give up. One of the most painful sets to date was at the class last Tuesday and I think my butt has only just forgiven me. We started with 2 minutes of squats and then went straight into 30 seconds of straight punching with hand weights. After 10 seconds rest we then went into 1 minute 30 seconds of squats and and minute of straight punching. And so on until we had come down the pyramid and went right back up it again. Ouch. On Wednesday morning I waddled up to work with my bum and thighs feeling a bit tight but nothing could prepare me for the DOMS I suffered on Thursday. Oh.my.god. I struggled to get out of bed, I struggled to walk the dog and every second word out my word had to be censored (I work with kids!). Usually a bit of doms doesn’t bother me, but this was something else.

On Friday I decided I needed to stretch my legs out so I planned a little jog along the old railway line from Tillicoultry to Dollar. “It’s nice and flat and I’ll only a do a few slow miles” I told myself. But once I was out and running, I got a little carried away. 7 miles averaging 8 and a half minute miles. Ooops…. I was trying to save my running legs for Saturdays long run with Jemma! But I was feeling good, so on I plodded…

Saturday morning I was up and over to Jemma’s by 9am. We hopped in the car and drove over to Mugdock country park and set out on our planned 17 mile adventure. About 4 miles in I started to feel a tad queasy. At 7 miles I was struggling to pick my feet up and at 9 miles we looked at each other knowing what the other was thinking. I just wasn’t feeling it, which was a total shame as the weather and surroundings were beautiful. I just knew I didn’t have another 8 miles in me. So we plodded back to the car and finished our run at just under 11 miles. Not too bad, but we were both disappointed we didn’t make our target.

However, I must add that even though I have only been doing it for a couple of months, I’m pretty sure the circuit training is doing something. Since the beginning of the year I have shaved nearly 2 minutes off my 10k time and a whole 5 minutes off my half marathon time. So maybe the pain is worth it after all?

I’m off work for a week from Wednesday so in that time I plan to run long distances, take amazing photos and eat some left over Easter crap (seeing as I didn’t get an egg… grumble, grumble…). I think I deserve it!

Just out of interest, what do you take with you on a long run? I take a few gels and a couple of jaffa cakes, but what other treats do you fuel yourself with? I need ideas!

I have been thinking about writing a blog for a long time now. I often tell people I have an inner monologue when I’m running and for so long I have been meaning to write this all down… so here I am!

I have been running for about 2 years now. I’m still a long way off becoming as fit, strong and fast as I could be, but I’m getting there. I first started running at school and was one of the insane people who longed for the cold months as we got to do cross country in P.E. It got to the point where I was so far ahead of the girls I was told to go and run with the boys. And with boys being the competitive creatures they are, along with the thoughts of “we can’t be beaten by a girl!” I pushed myself even harder. After school I ventured off to University and running (or sport of any kind really!) took a back seat for a while as I found my social side taking over. So it’s only recently I have taken up running properly. I say properly as in more than just a jog to the other side of the field and back. I now pay to get muddy and be in pain for the few days after a race, but I love it.

My first proper race was the Alloa half marathon in 2011. I had been running for a while before this and even though I hadn’t raced a 10k before I thought I needed more of a challenge. I had been training for a good few months leading up to it, I was feeling pretty good and I just kept telling myself was all I had to do was finish, In one piece. And in under 2 hours would be nice…

Race day came and I walked up to the local leisure centre where the race started from. I wasn’t running with anyone and most of my friends and family were working so I did feel a bit lonely waiting about for the race to begin! But along came 10am and we were off. Having never raced properly before I didn’t have anything to monitor my mile splits. Come to think of it, I wasn’t even wearing a watch! I just trundled along, walking every now and again and just trying to shake of the ever increasing ache in my knees. By mile 11 I had had enough and really just wanted it to be over, and then appeared a hill. Not just any hill but a long, gradually increasing, no end in sight hill. I started off thinking it wasn’t too bad but no, it was. I walked most of it! The last 2 miles were pretty flat so I managed to power on down to the finish line and just as I came around the last corner I saw the timing clock at 1:58:40 and I threw everything I had left into finishing in under 2 hours with 1:58:57. I nearly cried. Mostly through happiness but the pain in my knees was excruciating. I hobbled home, had a bath and climbed into bed and fell asleep almost instantly. In pain, but first half done.

After that I put racing to one side for a while. Mainly because I didn’t like doing it on my own and very few of my friends were into running.I would happily run for hours on my own when training, but racing was something different. I eventually convinced my friend Becky to start running with me and we started training nearly every week together. Our next race was the Balmoral 10k 2012 and what a run it was. I finished with 55:45 and Becky in 1:09:37. We were both high with adrenaline all the way home and were already planning our next race.

Since then I have started running with my little brothers girlfriend Jemma and we have completed many more races. Some together, some separately but it’s just so nice to have someone to race with and to share the post race buzz we get. A list of all my completed races and times are in the link above.

Next up is the Edinburgh Rock n Roll half on the 14th April. My training is going really well and as Jemma is running the Strathearn marathon in June, my training run mileage has significantly increased as well. Who knows, you might even get a marathon out of me by the end of the year…