I'm a reject!!!!

Didn't get in the London Marathon ballot - actually not too fussed as its only 3 weeks after I return from the Mds (hopefully in one piece). The London Marathon on top of that probably would be a tad ambitious.

I did 10.45 miles on Friday which was actually quite enjoyable. Trouble is when I returned home my bottom lip was a bit blue (eek!) and I felt quite ropey for the rest of the day. Felt a bit sick and not very hungry. I don't know whether I just didn't eat/drink enough. I haven't used gels for ages and maybe that was the problem (because I haven't actually run that sort of distance for so long). I'll be throwing a Nuun in the water tomorrow and see if that helps.

Once Dublin is over I will try and build upper body strength as well as get in the miles. I don't think my back could cope at the moment with carrying 12kg+ of weight every day. So much to do and frighteningly little time to do it in!

I'm going for 13 miles tomorrow. Fingers crossed it'll go well!

more miles

I was quite pleased with last week's efforts considering I've been slacking!! I did 9.4 miles yesterday (Monday) and want to do more tomorrow (Wed). I'm going to up the mileage over the next two weeks and then give myself 2 weeks before Dublin to slow down a bit. Can't do much more now.

Just trying to sort out the Beacons Ultra, getting to Cardiff, then to Brecon courtesy of some kind soul with a car. Really looking forward to this one although it's scarily close and I need to buy stuff for that too. Be good to meet everybody properly (and have a drink with them on Sunday).

5 weeks to go....

So Dublin is looming and as usual I'm not really prepared. I'm crap at following training plans and feel really guilty about it. Life just ruins training plans! Anyway, I'm trying to make amends. I did 4.4 miles on Sunday morning. I needed to blow the cobwebs away because I'd been drinking all day (and night) on saturday. Felt good tho. My usual steady 10 min miles (yep, I'm that quick). I went out again this morning (Monday) and did 9.4 miles. The .4 bit is very important! Anyway, I feel good and I know I'll be okay for Dublin, I just won't get a decent time, but then I'm used to that.

Still really not sure what to do about my footwear. It's not something I want to get wrong too many times because it costs a fortune. Brooks Adrenalines were recommended to me and they do actually do those in a trail shoe (probably said this already but my memory's crap).

Am going to force myself to do marathon circuits tomorrow and then I'll run again on Wednesday morning. The reality is that there's only really 6 months to go now and I think the denial should end! I need to start thinking about fundraising too.

I'm in, I'm in!!!!!

So Thursday was the day I've been waiting for since March 2007. I got a phone call from Sarah at BOM asking me if I wanted my place on the Mds!! Er.... Yeah!!! I pretty much knew I had a place because I was so high up on the waitlist. But, hearing it after all this time is something I can't really describe. I can't imagine actually being there, but this means that the next 7 months of my life are going to be pretty hectic. I'm going to give this every ounce of energy I have. My dad's put his faith (and cash) in me and I won't let him down, as well as wanting to raise money for my two charities. I keep watching various Mds dvds that I have - looking at them, thinking that'll be me... I'll be suffering like all the other people that have been before me. My feet will be rotten, I'll ache like I've never ached before and I'll probably feel like giving up every 2 or 3 hours. Who cares?!!! The experience will be unlike anything I've ever done (or am ever likely to do) so whatever it throws at me I'll deal with.

Plus it means I get to meet all the people I've been getting to know over the last few months. Such a great bunch and I'm sure we'll have a blast. At least we have the opportunity to meet up in December thanks to Likeys and the Beacons Ultra. I have a feeling that event will become pretty big over the coming years!

Anyway, I ran 6.5 miles on Friday morning and this morning (Sunday). A drop in the ocean, but it all helps. Marathon circuits at some point this week as I need to improve my stamina if I'm going to last the distance!!

Looking forward to Tuesday, but more of that later.

A nice plod

Actually went out for a run. Managed to do 6.5 miles which I'm quite chuffed with as I haven't been for so long. Much as I love having the kids at home it'll be good when they go back to school because at least training can resume as normal (or not normal depending which way you look at it).

My feet are okay (still don't look great!!). Once the skin has stopped peeling I will endeavour to get my heels nice and smooth. It'll take some doing I think!

So a week off now and then marathon training. Only about 8 weeks until Dublin!!!

Shedding skin

My feet are a lot better but I'm still losing skin (to be honest, I keep peeling it off). My heels are quiet raw (ouch!) and a couple of toes too.

I am putting cream/vaseline on them with socks when I can (lovely) to try and get rid of the rough bits.

On Monday I ran on the treadmill. It was bliss to actually run (something I don't think I've actually done since Easter!). I did 3 miles and, much as I hate the treadmill, I was quite pleased with myself. I really need to get back on the roads though.

Once the girls go back to school I need to get stuck into my marathon training programme and I want to get to the gym and strengthen muscles in my legs and core. I won't be doing any more massive walks until the feet are 100% and I've got new trainers!

And I was right.....!

It was bloody torture! Not all of it, but most!

Saturday I met Carol, Steph and Rose at the Travelodge we were staying in (thanks Carol) and after general chat and looking at all the kit Carol has got so far (OMG!!!), we set off to register and hit the pub. It was good to actually meet three fellow mds-ers (tho I've met Steph briefly before). Good to talk about the Mds without feeling like you're boring the pants of everybody!!

The Kent 50 (actually just over 52 miles) is organised by a guy called Mike who has completed the Mds twice himself (and the Gobi and various other things). Quite a few of the people taking part and some of the chaps manning the checkpoints have also done it. Such a friendly bunch of people too. We had something to eat at the pub which Mike very kindly said was on him....

We got up at about 4.45am and had breakfast (again, courtesy of Carol - this lady (sorry Carol :laughing:) does not travel lightly. She came with a small fridge in tow!!!!

We were a tiny bit late to the start but Carol managed to get us there just after 6am (killing a poor defenceless pigeon on the way :laughing:).

We all set off together but Rose was soon off into the distance. We did see her a couple of times throughout at the pub. Well done Rose - hope you felt okay after I saw you...!

For the first couple of laps I felt reasonably okay. I had taped my feet pretty well (I thought). Heels were padded and taped and most of my toes. However my feet felt sore and I knew I was going to end up with blisters. We were on a pretty tight schedule to complete it before the cut off (15 hours) so our pitstops were pretty short which I think suited us fine. At the first opportunity I sorted out my feet, more tape, popped a blister etc etc, new socks but they were very uncomfortable. Once I got going each time I could handle it (probably because I'm so bloody used to it!!) but it's not pleasant to walk like that! Carol started to have knee problems too and every so often that gave her grief... hope it's okay today Carol! Steph seems to plough on with no problems - always chirpy too. I really admire you Steph!!

We started lap 6 (out of 8) and had slowed up a bit. About half way through (I think we had just passed mile 3) my heel popped. It bloody hurt and I couldn't put it down on the floor. Steph and Carol were a bit ahead of me because I was hobbling. I looked up to see them waiting but waved them on. I really didn't want to hold them up because if they were to finish they couldn't have walked at my pace now - bloody ridiculously slow!! They soon disappeared into the distance and I just wanted to get to the end of the lap. One of the guys at the 5 mile checkpoint (also saw him just after mile 1 I think) was lovely. The girls had told him I was having problems and he was so sweet. He gave me a drink and told me to take it easy. I carried on going and then heard a runner behind me. I moved over and he asked if I was okay. He'd been taking part with his daughter who had to pull out at 40 miles with calf problems. He said he'd walk the rest of the lap with me which I was very chuffed about! I probably would have been a hell of a lot longer had he not chatted to me all the way. Thanks Tony!

So the Kent 50 turned into the Kent 40 for me. My feet are well and truly buggered and I'm seriously wondering how the hell I'm going to get through the Mds if I can't find the right solution to the f*cking blister problems. The fact is that I won't get through more than 2 days if they're like this. My feet were okay before I started but I had lost a lot of skin on my heels from the Trailwalker (3 weeks previously) and I suppose I was asking for trouble. I've seen some New Balance trail shoes that on paper sound like they have everything I need. It means forking out more cash for yet another pair of trainers but I'm willing to do that if I eventually find the right combination!

I'm not disappointed because I know I can cover the distance and I know mentally I could keep myself going - just not with a big hole in my heel!!

I saw Rose who had finished at this point - fantastic job by her. I let Carol and Steph know that I had got back and was calling it a day (which I'm sure they knew!!!).

A pleasure to walk with them and have a natter about the Mds and other things too.

This wasn't my first ultra distance but I know I still have a hell of a lot to learn. I watched the Jack Osborne dvd last night (kindly lent to me by Steph) and it really made me think...

I am sitting here now with about 10 bits of cotton threaded through various blisters to drain them. I'm not doing any more ultras for the time being as will be training for Dublin now. I'm going to get my feet back to tip top condition, get the New Balance shoes and go from there.

I have a sneaking suspicion tho that I will get blisters whatever I do. If I can just thin them out a bit it would help!!

I had my camera with me the whole time and didn't take one bloody photo!! I can't believe it! Steph took a few I think so look forward to seeing those.

Still, another 'ultra' distance done and a bit more experience under my belt. Just need a whole lot more....!