17 Miles

17 miles this morning and it was a killer! It was the furthest I got to last year before injury got the better of me and the furthest Jo did before she did the full marathon.

I went out last minute to meet Kelly and Josh in Woolton Village as she was home for the weekend. Was suppose to be going to brunch this morning but I had to run so felt like I had to see her last night even though I was in bed when she messaged me to meet her. Her brother John and his mates were out too. I wasn't drinking as I drove up and I'm not drinking until after the marathon. 

It was nice to have a catch up, I haven't seen Kelly since Christmas and not seen Josh since last year I think when I was down in London staying with them.

 I wasn't actually tired this morning but did wake up like I can't be bothered running 17 miles which wasn't the best attitude to have when I knew it was going to be hard.

It started off alright and we decided we were going to run up to the point of 8.5 miles then turn back around as we couldn't plan a route which was a bit annoying as it meant we were running the exact same route twice. I'd rather go round in a loop and not have to go back on myself. It was also really annoying running past my house on the way back knowing I wasn't finishing as we were meeting Jonny at the gym as he was running with us but only ended up running 20 minutes and wasn't running the full distance so we should have just left him!

At no point did I feel tired it was just my legs on the last I'd say 4/5 miles when they started to get tired and didn't want to work for me. I really felt it on the last mile as my calves were so tight. It was sunny today which made it a bit harder with the sun on you but it was so much nicer running along the prom without being battered by 40+ mph winds! Dreading 18 miles next week already, you'd think building it up gradually 1 mile a week wouldn't be too bad but you really do feel it.

Did a short mid week run with Angie.

I might not have been tired earlier but it has definitely caught up with me now and I am so ready for bed ! Running is hard! :(

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16 miles

Yep the sweat is real - no filter post almost 16 mile run this morning.

We were doing 15 miles again with Sarah but we kinda left Sarah and she ran her own run... Sorry! You did say go... Did amazing though no way I could run 15 miles on my own. Even though me and Jo don't run side by side even just following her keeps me going. 

It was hot today and we did end up running against the wind a bit. It was a year ago when we did our first half and if it was today this year the weather would have been perfect -wouldn't have got wet! 

Jo's Starva on her Apple watch doesn't seem to clock the same. When we got back to the gym it said 14.8 miles so I said just run around the car park till it says 15. People must have thought what the hell are them two weirdos doing. But when we got back and I checked my phone it said 15.68 so I'm taking that as 16 miles!

So my plan was to do 3 runs a week but as we're upping the miles anyway, 3 runs a week is a bit too much so we've decided to do a circuit on a Friday night instead of a run to get my fitness up. Mix it up with cardio and weights.

Did 3 miles with Angie on Wednesday for our short mid week run.

17 miles next week - which was the most miles I did last year before I ended up dropping out due to injury. But it was also the highest Jo got to before she ran the marathon. 

I'm definitely fitter and training is going better than last year even though I still wish I did it last year to get it done and out the way. All this training is going to pay off - I've not trained for nothing! 9 weeks and counting and it will all be worth it and over.

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15 miles

Ran 15 miles this morning with Jo and it was tiring! When I got up it was dry and patches of blue sky. Jo actually wanted to run earlier as she'd been up for a couple of hours but I had a lie in so needed to let my breakfast digest otherwise I would have been sick. Luckily we didn't go early as it rained and then there was a random really heavy hail and sleet shower. We waited for that to pass and went for it. It didn't rain at all when we ran luckily so the coat wasn't needed but I can't run with it tied around my waist so just kept it on.

I might as well have ran on my own as Jo was flying ahead and towards the end I couldn't even see her so good job I knew the route and where I was going otherwise I wouldn't have had a clue. 

Just had a look back at my Strava and it turns out this time last year the weekend after doing the half marathon we did a 15 mile run and the exact same route but today was a lot quicker. I don't actually remember doing the run but here's the blogpost to prove it! (Same coat and everything) Just reading it over now - I was pretty confident in doing the full but sadly injury got the better of me and the run went better this morning - no blisters but again sore and tired legs which is my life story for the near future!

Ran 3.5 miles on my own on Friday night

First run since the half on Wednesday night - 3.3 miles

Doing the same route as this morning next weekend with Sarah dreading it but hopefully it'll be a bit easier since I've done it twice already?

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Carbing Up

The night before the half marathon... On Saturday night we went out for food to carb up for the race even though at this point it was 50/50 on whether I was going to run it or not.

We went to Elif on Bold Street. We did actually go to Amalia first but we didn't book and they said they were fully booked but then did't say we could wait or anything so we just left. 

It was super busy in here too and waited ages for a table. Saturday night - Comic Con and George Ezra was playing at the arena we didn't even think of booking a table!

I got the sea bass which was so much better than when we went last Christmas when I got salmon which was painfully dry in the 5 ways restaurant.

Jo got chicken thighs

Sarah and Rich got the same chicken kebab

Think Billy got lamb 

The food was so much better than last time - the sea bass was really nice. 

Rich and Billy were off to watch some fights. Me, Jo and Sarah went to have some dessert as I was craving waffles. Not had them in ages!

We went to Heavenly Desserts on the strand.

Jo got a sundae

I got the white chocolate sauce with white chocolate shavings and pistachio ice cream

Sarah got 2 scoops of ice cream with Nutella sauce

I was so so full after this! Felt like I needed to go for a walk or run straight after it! After eating all this meant I definitely had to run the half marathon just to burn it all off otherwise I was carbing up to get fat! The food was good though and my love for waffles continues...

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13.1 Miles

Ran the half marathon this morning. It was hit and miss on whether I was doing it due to the weather. There was a yellow warning of 40+ mph winds and hail. When I got up it was just wet but then when I got picked up and on the way to town it started to rain. We put our stuff and got ready in Angie's Johnny's flat on Mann Island and I was tempted to just stay there and not run it but I was there and all dressed ready for it so just said I'll do it.

Our little group consisted of Jo, Sarah, Angie, Jonny and Ness. I was fully prepared for the weather with Rich's cap and coat on. I couldn't even see for most of the run as I had my hood up over my cap and it was pushing my cap down my face but it kept my face and hair dry!

It rained for the start of the race for a good hour until we got about half way round Sefton Park before it stopped. Me and Jo were there to push Angie and Sarah through it. I was doing it just to get the miles in for the full and wasn't bothered about my time, I was happy with my time I got last year and didn't want to risk getting injured for the full by pushing for a quicker time. I don't think I was going to do better with the weather anyway as when we got down to the prom I felt like I wasn't even getting anywhere it was that windy. It was taking your breathe away and badly struggled along there it was hard! So glad it wasn't raining otherwise I probably would have just gave up there and then.

Me and Jo stayed with Angie - Sarah told us to go and we thought she was going to catch up with us but just ended up running her own race. Considering she's not been doing many runs with us or been able to train she did really well to get through it! I got Jo from work round it too as I found her near the end just before we got onto the prom and crossed the line with her. Jo finished with Angie behind us. Jonny stayed with Ness and got her round her first half marathon.

Well done - yous all smashed it in horrible conditions!

We all got a shower in Johnny's and freshened up before getting some food

We went downstairs to Dockside Dining Club for some food...

Rich got quesadillas 

Duck gyoza

Pizza - flat bread

Jo got a rice bowl with duck and pak choi

I got sushi - no salmon though 

Dockside Dining Club - is like the Baltic Market different little restaurants but instead of it changing like the Baltic it just has the same ones all the time. It was dead in there it was just us and one other group of people. Most of the places were shut and when we were ordering food they didn't have what we wanted as they said they couldn't get a delivery because of the half marathon the roads being closed off. I need to go back when it's got more of an atmosphere as the food places are better than the Baltic more my food.

It's been a long day and week I am drained from it but the miles are in for the half. 11 weeks to go!

Running that today has made me even more scared and stressed about the full as I need to be running faster than today if I want to go within 4 hours..

Training steps up a notch from next week but for now I am ready for bed...

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