Marathon

So it's officially happening.. I'm doing the Liverpool Rock and Roll Full Marathon in 7 weeks! Sunday 20th May 2018 I will be able to say I've done a half and a full marathon in the space of 5 months! 

I think we are mad but me, Jo and Jonny are doing it. It's going to be a very hard 7 weeks but I'm ready for it. I've been saying for years I've wanted to do it and now I've got people who are willing to do it with me I might as well just go for it!

Training began today I went for a 15 mile run with Jo. The weather was horrible it just didn't stop raining for a good 2 hours. We ran for about half an hour without rain. We just had to go for it though to get them miles in. We did start with Laura who ran 10 miles with us from the gym in Belle Vale all the way down to Speke retail park, Garston, Allerton then we dropped her off at the gym and we went down to Huyton then back to the gym. It was hard as my legs still haven't recovered from Sunday's run. We just took it really slow just to get the miles in and not for time. I struggled and could feel blisters forming on the bottom of my toes! My legs are going to be sore for the next 7 weeks now but no pain no gain! 

We've got a plan set out on how many miles we need to run each week up until race day with 22 miles being the max we're going to do! We'll be doing little 3 miles throughout the weeks as well to train with the others who are doing the half and to just get all the miles we can in! I probably won't be doing any other training now just running. 

I'm out tonight first time drinking in actual months so I don't know how well that is going to go! It's going to be the last bit of alcohol I'm drinking until after the full marathon now. Marathon training is on ! 

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Creams Cafe

 

Went to Creams Cafe for waffles after work with Callum as poor Callum was hanging from drinking last night and managed to make it in for 7am to do overtime. Still can't believe he managed that, no way I could!

He got the sweet shop bubble waffle - soft serve ice cream, bubble gum ice cream, 100s and 1000s and strawberry sauce. Which looked so good but quite sickly. I've decided I don't like bubble gum flavoured ice cream.

I got the hot berries a la mode - but got the fruit cold with soft serve ice cream instead of whipped cream which was ice cream over load. There was way too much choice and it took me ages to finally settle on this. It was nice but I could've done without the scoop of ice cream on the top. The ice cream on the side was enough. I managed to eat all mine and ended up eating half of Callum's cos he couldn't eat it.

Well carbed up for the 15 mile run in the morning! Marathon training is on tomorrow morning - 7 week countdown has begun! First run since Sunday which my legs still haven't recovered from so we'll see how well that goes!

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Tokyo Noodle Bar

Long Easter weekend which means obviously everyone goes out after work. 

We went out to the pub after work yesterday - I wasn't drinking though as I had my car and was in this morning doing overtime at 7am. Everyone else was drinking though whether they were in work or not. I was only planning on staying out for like an hour then go to the gym. I had my bag packed and everything to go for 6pm. Well that didn't happen..

Jacq wasn't really drinking and some idiot spat on the back of his coat as we were walking from the pub to somewhere else - like what idiot does something like that. So wasn't in a great mood but stayed out. If it was me I would've just left there and then. As it was getting later we were starving so just left the others and went for a cute little dinner date at Tokyo Noodle Bar on Berry Street.

This was at 9pm - ideally we both would've like to have been getting ready for bed as we were in work for 7am. My alarm was set for 5:30am! Also at this point I'd kinda gone past the point of hunger as I hadn't eaten since 12:30pm.

The food took ages to come as they had loads of deliveries. Surely the customers you've got in your actual restaurant are more important that deliveries as we're actually sat there waiting and paying as soon as?

We got meat dumplings - sure these used to be pan fried

I got Udon noodles in a bone broth with mixed seafood

Jacq got Vermicelli, with curry sauce special

My noodles were really nice as I was so hungry. I love Tokyo even though it's not as cheap as it used to be it's still half the price of Wagamamas and the portions are bigger. I'd much rather go to an independent than go to a chain I say this all the time!

I went from only meant to be staying out for an hour and going to the gym to not getting home till 11:15pm and not being able to sleep. In work today I felt and smelt like I'd been drinking even though I never. But it wasn't actually too bad it went quick which was good!

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Portland Street 358

The day after the big race.. We were suppose to be going for a cuppa in Woolton Village but we ended up going to Allerton. We walked into Coast but they were full, then there wasn't anywhere else in the Village to go to so we ended up going to Allerton Road. We were gonna go to Maddie's waffle bar - closed. 109 Allerton - Full. Maray - Full. Mrays - Full. So we drove down to the other end - Smithdown Road and went to Portland Street 358 which was empty. The breakfast menu had just finished. 

Jonny got a white chocolate Kinda Bueno milkshake

I got the Mu Shu noodles with Cantonese Belly Pork - wok friend Chinese mushrooms, carrots, spring onions, garlic and hoi sin, tossed with egg noodles, served in a fresh omelette. 

Jonny got the chicken Katsu 

Jo got the same as me but with crispy chilli beef and a side of spring onion fried rice.

The menu wasn't great there was nothing I wanted on there and took ages before I settled on what I ended up getting. I didn't even like it - it was too salty and too much sauce. I ended up losing my appetite as well and just didn't want to eat so only had a couple of mouthfuls. Jonny lost his as well and couldn't even finish his curry and he usually eats everyone else's! Jo went all out and got noodles and rice! Sarah just had a coffee. Strange how this half marathon has made our stomachs shrink. Probably won't be going back again but the breakfast menu would've probably been better would've found something on there!

I'm so glad I booked the day off work today my legs are sore! So achy and was walking around like a penguin. What I get for sprinting the last mile but it was worth it! Capital Liverpool woke me up and rang me at 7am this morning to see how I did yesterday. Gave everyone a shout out but forgot to give Jonny one sorry I was half asleep and still in bed!

If you want to listen back download the Capital FM radio app > location Liverpool > Schedule and listen back > breakfast show > 1hr 09. It's so much better than the one I did on Friday! Back to reality of work tomorrow and back to the gym!

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Liverpool Half Marathon

I'VE DONE IT!!! I CAN FINALLY SAY I'VE DONE A HALF MARATHON 13 MILES AND TICK IT OFF MY BUCKET LIST!!! 

I am so happy right now couldn't be more relieved and proud of myself for completing it without stopping in a time of 1:45:20!!!

I was so nervous last night and this morning and kept waking up in the night! 

 It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be though. There was no point in the race where I wanted to stop, I just kept going running my own race. I think it did just click when I needed to! 

Rich managed to pass me on the prom but I couldn't let him beat me so I was chasing him down and towards the last mile I took the longest strides ever to make sure I covered enough ground so he couldn't catch me. The people watching were definitely like what the hell is she doing she's not even near the finish line yet! I did manage to have it in me to sprint the finish line to get the time I wanted!

Thanks Rich for chasing me cos otherwise I wouldn't have made the 1:45 time that I desperately wanted!!

The weather was perfect! Couldn't have asked for a better day! Angie's boyfriend Jonny lives on Mann Island and sent us this photo this morning at 7am. We left our stuff in his hence the lift selfie!

Last group photo before the race!

Thanks Jo for the support throughout my training and coming to support today too!

My dad come out to see me and I didn't even spot him was too in the zone clearly!

Dreading my photos cos my face will be so bad!  

Last group photo to my photo diary!!

They were doing free sports massages after the race so of course I made the most of it! I didn't pay £38 to do the race for nothing! 

Thank you Callum for coming to see my after it!! And Holly and Joe but we forgot to take a photo!! :(

We went to pizza hut afterwards. I wasn't hungry but needed to eat. I only managed to have 2 slices of the Hawaiian pizza me and Sarah shared! 

Everyone did amazing with boss times! Proud of yous all!

These crazy people finishing it that quick no chance!

So sad I didn't get a photo from the very first run we did the day after Boxing Day!

That's it 27 runs, 221.5 km/130 miles, 3 months of training, running in the rain, wind, snow, hail, sun - every weather my worst nightmare done for 1 hour 45 minutes of pain! I am so proud of all of us for doing it. Couldn't have asked for a better group to help me through this without them all I definitely wouldn't have been able to do the race and do it in a time I wanted and happy with! Well done Jo, Rich, Sarah, Jonny, Angie and Jack! We smashed it!! 

I've had a nice bath with bath salts and have a really bad blister on the bottom of my foot but no pain no gain! I will be wearing that medal until the next race! Jonny is saying the Liverpool Rock and Roll full marathon in May..8 weeks today... We shall see - watch this space I was thinking May 2019 but it looks like it could be a lot sooner! Going from never ran outdoors or done a race to my first half marathon in 3 months to doing a full marathon also in the space of 5 months!

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East Avenue Bakehouse

Went out for lunch with Holly to East Avenue Bakehouse on Bold Street.

Carbing up for the big race tomorrow by getting the Bold Street Brunch platter.

Granola with natural yogurt, toast, poached egg, bacon, avocado & mini pastries - half a croissant and half a cinnamon roll. A glass of orange juice.

I changed the sausage to avocado instead as I don't eat sausages! 

Holly's been before and got it and I've been wanting to try it every since but I was disappointed. The orange juice tasted weird and the platter definitely isn't as big as what Holly got when she went. She got a big bowl of granola not a tiny ash tray! When she went think it had just opened but still the price hasn't changed so the portion size shouldn't have either!

Holly did a make your own with scrambled egg, avocado, mushrooms and home made baked beans. The beans were nice - it was like baked beans in a thick tomato sauce. 

Love that ET is in the basket of the bike!

I was disappointed by my platter but I'm glad to say I've been. It was really busy in there we had to wait to be seated and was full so people like it. The food does look nice but I doubt I'll be going again sadly!

Tomorrow is the big race day! I've got fresh braids in, carbed up had plenty of pesto pasta with chicken and veg for my dinner. Drank plenty of water, did my last little 10 minute run (run 27) just to keep my legs going and to test out my new earphones. 

There's nothing else I can do to prepare for it now apart from getting a good night's sleep and having a good breakfast in the morning! I've been going on about it for ages that the clocks go forward but actually completely forgot till Sarah reminded me this morning! So I'll be technically getting up at 6am rather than 7am. 

I was on Capital Liverpool breakfast show yesterday morning! They tweeted me after seeing my last post about doing the half marathon then rang me yesterday morning at 7am while I was just about to leave for work! I was sat at the bottom of the stairs. They asked me about preparing for it and they gave me some extra motivation for it. If you download the Capital radio app - location Liverpool > go on schedule and listen again > breakfast show >1:08:30 you'll hear me being super scouse!

If you download the TDL app and put my name in Julie Wing, race number 4098 you'll be able to stalk me to see how well I do. 

The next blog post will be me with my medal finally! 3 months of training for less than 2 hours running on a Sunday morning!

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Fickle Friends

Fickle Friends- O2 Academy 2 Liverpool

Wednesday 21st March 2018

Last night I went to see Fickle Friends at the O2 Academy 2 in Liverpool. I went with Kelly from work, I was suppose to be going with Holly but she was out of the city working so couldn't go with me. We went after work after a drink and some food at Wagamamas.

I've never been in Academy 2 it's small and cosy! We were right on the barrier touching distance from Natti!

Doors were late 7pm. We turned up at 7 but there was hardly anyone there. I know they're new but thought there'd be a bit of a queue.

The first support act came on at 8pm. They were called Haarm and they're from Liverpool! They were really good, I really like them and will definitely be listening to them.

The second support came on at 9pm they were called Valeras. Not really a fan of these, they were good though.

Fickle Friends were doing an album signing at HMV Manchester Arndale at 6pm so they had to make their way back to Liverpool after it. They didn't come on till 10:05pm. We're definitely getting old cos our backs were killing from standing up.

  

  

They played a 12 song setlist which we didn't think was gonna be possible as they come on stage so late and the curfew was 11pm.

They opened with You Are Someone Else which was the perfect song to start the set then went into Brooklyn. They ended the set with Glue, encore with Hello Hello and Swim. They were so good and the setlist couldn't have been better! They're so much better live. Natti's voice is amazing I love her! 

It's been a long time coming but their debut album You Are Someone Else finally came out last Friday. Full of catchy hits. I thought they'd released all the hits like Glue and Swim but then there's Bite on the album that needs to be released. If you like Alphabeat and Paramore's new stuff like Hard Times you'll definitely love Fickle Friends! If you get the chance to see them live you should go see them. They're going on tour again in October but sadly aren't coming back to Liverpool. 

I wish I stayed after the gig to meet them but I'd been in work since 7am & was in at 7am the next morning so just had to get home.
Hopefully next time come back to Liverpool soon!!

It was suppose to be sold out last night but it definitely wasn't but it should have been. Tickets were only £15 and worth it, amazing band who are going to do really well with their debut album looking like they'll make the top 10 tomorrow. Go buy & listen to the album they deserve it.

You can see more photos here from last night.

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