Phew! I don’t know where to start so much has been going on in the last few weeks. Apologies if this is a long blog – but I’m one excited bunny at the moment!
Don’t you just love the London Marathon?
It is probably the most spectacular marathon on the planet. I took the kids up to watch and support long suffering hubby who was running dressed as a pink fairy in aid of the Cardiomyopathy Association (www.cardiomyopathy.org).
He has never run in fancy dress before, but had the most amazing time, soaked up the crowd support, finished in a time of 3:33 and was the fastest fairy in the race. We were all rather proud of him – well done my Hairy Fairy!
I really do love the London Marathon though – right from when you pick up your race number at the expo when they play ‘that’ music, through to the emotions, the excitement, the overwhelming sense of achievement of all the runners - it’s all just amazing and you can’t help but be inspired and want to take part – shown by the fact that the ballot has already sold out for the 2011 race.
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Read more from Ironmum:
Ironmum blog- The vital importance of braking
Ironmum Blog – Back to my best
IronMum takes on Challenge Copenhagen
Blog: IronMum is inspired by Dame Kelly but struggles through half term
Ironmum blog – I’ve finally got my mojo back!
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Personally, I’ve avoided it for the last few years despite having a good for age place. My dad died a week before the 2005 marathon when I ran, and the whole thing was a bit too painful to repeat in a hurry.
But watching it this year, I felt stronger and inspired to get my good for age entry in for 2011. I’ve never come anywhere near to my potential in the marathon – so once this Ironman is over, I think I’ll refocus and give it proper shot and see how far under 3:30 I can get.
Launching GirlzRun
At the London Marathon Expo we also launched GirlzRun – a brand new series of Women’s Running Workshops with Olympic marathon runner, Liz Yelling www.girlzrun.co.uk .
We did a photoshoot with the incredibly talented Helen Turton www.helenturton.co.uk outside the Expo building which was such a laugh. Check out the photos - it was a great girlie giggle!
16 weeks to go until the Ironman!
With only 16 weeks to go until Challenge Copenhagen - Ironman training is going really well. I don’t feel like I’m doing anywhere near enough (who does?) – but I think that will be a recurring theme. I don’t follow a programme either – I tend to train more instinctively and listen to my body, pushing hard when I feel good and backing off if really tired.
This means I’m probably a little undertrained, but I’m not ill or injured and to be honest, consistency is far more important than bagging huge mileage then missing a few weeks through illness or injury.
Two weeks ago I had a fab 100 mile ride with the boys from Tri Grand Prix checking out the bike course for the new ‘Tri Grand Prix’ Half Ironman taking place on 30th May in Larkfield, Kent. www.teamoutrageous.co.uk.
I rode the 56 mile route from home and then back again – upon arriving at my driveway I’d clocked 97 miles…There was only one thing for it…I carried on past my house and rode up the road to round it up to 100 miles…was very pleased with myself for that one!
The route for the race was undulating with a couple of tricky technical bits and a steep decent, but all in all, a fast course which I am looking forward to in 3 weeks.
Wet, wet wet
The bank holiday weekend of course meant pouring rain and as you’ll remember from my last blog – my planned 125 mile Tour de Weald bike ride.
I was riding with my mates Oliver and Richard from the club and put it this way, we really did have good intentions of finishing the whole thing…despite the weather, but after 40 miles of complete and utter wet misery, we took the ‘sensible’ option and bailed out.
Oliver was a bit grumpy to start with (he likes to achieve his goals no matter what) but frankly, by then I was too wet and cold to care.
We did the 65 mile route in 4 hours 44 and achieved a silver standard, missing out on the gold by 4 minutes. The best bit (there was only one best bit) of the whole thing was the hot bath afterwards.
Next up is Canterbury Half Marathon on the 23rd of May, followed swiftly by the Tri Grand Prix Half Ironman on the 30th. Ironman training feels a bit slow and monotonous at the moment, so will be good to spice things up a bit! I’ll be testing out a new Shock Absorber triathlon top then too…so watch this space for a review on both races.
Happy training
Sarah Russell, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
