Sunny Easter

Fantastic view of Machrihanish Bay

Kintyre is a special place to stay, particularly when the we are blessed with the fantastic sunny weather that we've had over the Easter holidays.  During the last few days of the holiday we did some great walks in the countryside, Easter egg hunting, painting, rolling (and eating) with family and friends.

Housework and gardening kept us busy in the holidays - the view from our newly painted decking wasn't bad!

Mairi, Jen and I took a hike up the hill at Machrihanish to find the mysterious Killypole Loch.  Turns out we took the wrong path and ended up at a dead end.  But we did get some amazing views across Machrihanish Bay.

My beautiful neices at their Easter Egg Hunt

Coffee table transformed to paint station

The best dressed Easter Egg rollers in toon!!  We raced our eggs to the bottom of the hill.  Emma won, of course.  #BigKids

After a few days of rest after the marathon, I threw myself back into training (I've got a few races coming up!) and feeling not too bad.  However, I'm ashamed at how much chocolate and treats I've had AND had a cheeky wee night on the town with my besties.  Oh well, I've enjoyed it - you've got to let your hair down once in a while :-)

18/04/2014	Breakfast	Snack	Lunch	Snack	Dinner
Sat	Slice of toast & pbutter & jam. Blueberry protein shake.	Green tea.  Vit water.	Fresh tomato soup & egg mayo sandwich.	Green tea	Red thai chicken curry with green peppers, sticky rice and 1/2 pitta bread.  Eton mess*.  Wine and vodka & cranberries (???)
Exercise	12 miles easy		Beautiful morning for a run in the countryside.  Enjoyed run and blether but sore tummy.  Catriona and I had a psychic reading… some truths but still cynical!  Great sunny day for working in the garden and had drinks with my besties at night before burnside and whiskys for a dance.
Sun	I'm sure there was pizza and chocolate before bed…. (shame!)	Oatbake.  Water	Scrambled eggs and toast.  Mini teacake.	Water	Roast capon dinner with all trimmings.  Mini egg cheesecake.  AND Easter eggs.
Exercise	21 mile cycle.  1/2 mile swim.  Walk		Another beautiful sunny day and despite little sleep and sore head, I got up and went a cycle.  So glad I did, great day for it and great ride.  Went a quick blast in pool after.  Starving for rest of day.  Ate way too much.  Great fun with neices easter egg hunting in the garden!
Mon	1/2 banana.  Vit water.	2 slices toast and 1/2 banana.	1/2 egg sandwich & fresh tomato soup.	Water.  Dairy milk.	Haggis, neeps and tatties with whisky gravy.  Mini rasberry cheesecake (no cream, butter or sugar).  Easter egg chocolate - last day of 'bad'!
Exercise	5 mile run bengullion.  Spin.  Core.  Walk in Machrihanish.		Lovely day, feeling tired but run up Bengullion made me feel much better.  Great catch up with Jen.  Spin was good but felt weird finished all exercise by 11am!  Went a walk up past Machrihanish to Killypole loch but never found it lol, will go back next time ;-)
Tue	Slice toast. LF greek yoghurt with chia seeds & blueberries.	Alpen bar & green tea	Oatcakes and lf houmous. Tangerine.	2 ricecakes with banana.	Baked 1/2 chicken breast with spinach, couscous & bread.  Tea & 2 1/2 oatcakes.
Exercise	7.5 miles inc 5 x compound sets (800m 10k pace 400m 5k)		Back to work and enjoying being back in routine to be honest.  Loved training tonight!
Wed	Slice toast.  2 weetabix with skim milk.	Alpen bar & green tea	Oatcakes and lf houmous. Banana.	Mixed fruit & nuts.  Beetroot juice.	Chilli con carne & rice.  Protein mug cake (no egg lol!)  2 1/2 oatcakes and chai tea.
Exercise	1 mile swim.  6.5 miles inc 10k time trial with maz.  Combat & piloxing.  Some circuits.		Promised Mairi I'd take her round the 10k route on a time trial and she did fab!  If she does that on 10k day she will get a PB no probs :-)  Enjoyed combat and circuits but starving by time I got home!  Grateful to my husband who had a lovely dinner ready :-)
Thu	Slice toast.  LF greek yoghurt with blueberries.	Alpen bar & green tea	Ryvita and lf huumous.	1 1/2 rice cakes chutney, 1 rice cake pbutter & jam.  Green tea.	Choc fairy cake with pbutter icing - yum!  Then, pork stir fry with noodles.  Tea.  Oatcakes.
Exercise	3.2 miles round bengullion.  7 miles easy (flat).		Sunny day in Kintyre -an round Bengullion with x country club at lunch - fun but actually quite hot.  Did an easy 7 miles to sheep fanks instead of parlauf and ran straight to school dance.  Hungry and was too tempted by James' baking!  Late dinner :-(
Fri
Exercise	Spin.  50 lengths.  Piloxing.		Mairi's new piloxing class has started - woo hoo!
Mileage	41

My 'healthy' eton mess - 1 crushed meringue (50 cals), muller light yoghurt mixed with fresh rasberries and blueberries - yum!

Third Time Lucky in London

Proud as punch at the finish line!

What an amazing weekend!  Book launch, catching up with best friends, sightseeing, hinthunt, parkruns, exhibitions and marathons as well as lots of great food and drink, but best of all - spending it with fantastic company.

Trafalgar Square Piloxing!

My sis Mairi and I after our lovely meal Sat

Despite the nerves, the book launch was successful - my speech, signings, readings and fantastic Indian cuisine at the Koh-I-Noor restaurant made it a nice, informal evening.  

Signing the first copies of my book School Daze

It was all a bit surreal and was the first time I'd seen my novel in print - weird!  The best thing was just getting to catch up with some of my closest family and friends mid-week - I am hugely grateful for them attending to give me morale support and overwhelmed by their positivity and encouragement, thank you so much.  

I got the fright of my life when my best friend Catriona surprised me (in my hotel bathroom no-less!) by coming to the launch unannounced - it made my day!  I wasn't even tempted by a glass of wine at the launch as I had a small matter of a marathon to do....

After months and months of training, I finally completed the London Marathon AND in a Personal Best time of 3:43:29!  I can honestly say that I loved every minute of it and super chuffed to get a Good For Age qualifying time for next year too.  The crowds were simply amazing, 10 deep at some points, cheering and shouting, providing much needed motivation for the 26.2 mile course (although I clocked up 26.8 on my watch).  I'm not going to lie, and from the last few week's blogs, you'll have realised I was thinking about the marathon  A LOT!  

Hugs from husband at the finish :-)

I had been panicking about the weather and the forecasters got it spot on and the sun was splitting the sky on Sunday.  However, I have tried to learn from my past experiences and have listened to all the advice from the experts, family and friends - I just wanted to enjoy it, with no pressure on time.  That, I did! 

I have been haunted by my first London Marathon attempt.  There's not been a day gone by since that memorable day in April 2011 that I have not thought about it.  It scared me, it was the worst experience of my life.  I thought my 6 months of training had went well and felt fit.  But as the sun came out and temperature soared, I didn't re-adjust my race strategy.  I took on little gels or water and think I actually only had a banana for breakfast.  At the time, this was the normal for me - most of my long runs are completed without a pre-run meal.  I thought the run was going well, feeling strong and keeping a steady pace.  I remember looking at my watch at mile 22, about 3 hours 20 and thinking I was nearly there.  But my next memory was waking up in a St John's Ambulance tent on a drip, with Drs and volunteers around me where they packed ice all around me and tried to force me to drink saline solution while they took my temperature from you know where.  I had collapsed with heatstroke mid-race and was unconscious for nearly 5 minutes.  My core temperature was just over 41 degrees, dangerously high.  I couldn't speak.  I tried, but words wouldn't come out.  I couldn't move.  It felt like an intense migraine.  It took me over an hour before I could attempt to move.  A nurse had to 'teach' me how to walk again in baby steps.  I still couldn't speak despite my bumbling attempts.  Embarrassingly I took a seizure and lashed out at the helpers and hated the feeling of being out of control of my limbs, my body.  For days, I vomited vile black liquid and couldn't even hold down water.  It was simply horrible and I was absolutely devastated.  I had gained the first club place so was representing them as well as raising funds for the Help for Heroes Charity.  I felt like such a failure.  I was crushed.  But I was lucky to be alive and although at the time I didn't believe it, I would run again and I would be stronger.  Of course, I have done marathons again, even London but the ghost of this experience had never left me.

I carefully prepared my running gear the evening before

Scared/nervous selfie the night before

This time, the sun was back.  This time I adapted my race plan, I ran through every 'shower', I took on water at every second water stop after 5 miles and took on gels and lucozade.  And it felt great!  What a buzz to run in the same race as some of the best athletes in the world, celebrities and some of my best friends.  The London Marathon is special.  It's emotional, so many people running for so many different reasons, the marathon raises millions for charity every year.  Including myself (all these events in the build up to China for the Beatson Cancer Fund) and best buddy Jamie G who ran his first marathon in aid of Prostate Cancer UK, raising approximately £7,000 - wow.  The camaraderie between runners is amazing, sharing stories and smiles all the way.  I was teary before I even got to the start line!  The crowd's roar is like nothing else.  Seeing my husband, sister and friends cheering me on at the famous landmarks such as Tower Bridge was exhilarating and spurred me on to sprint down the Mall in front of Betty's wee house to get my medal with a big smile on my face.  It was one of the best feelings in the world, simply AMAZING.  The ghost of that first marathon, now dead and buried.  The celebration of all who completed the marathon about to begin!  

Johnny, me, Joc and Jamie displaying our medals and smiles

Johnny pops the question

After downing my protein recovery shake and 500ml of water I was reunited with my husband, sister and friends at Horse Guards Parade where we sat in the sunshine excitedly awaiting our other friends to cross the line.  Charlie, Jennifer, Johnny, Jocelyn and Jamie all completed the race and did us proud.  Unfortunately our CRC star athlete, 'Big Kenny', had to pull out due to a hamstring injury at mile 14 - speedy recovery big man!  The excitement didn't stop there - Johnny not only completed his first marathon but decided to get on bended knee at the finish to propose to girlfriend, Eilidh.... and she said YES, of course!  More tears but even more champagne!  The news just topped off an amazing weekend so the only thing for it was to get back to our hotel to polish off some cocktails and beers before heading out for a slap up celebratory meal at Browns Restaurant, along by the Thames walkway overlooking Tower Bridge.   

Joc and I with our well earned and dreamed about drinks

Me, my mojito and 'I' at the SkyLounge Bar

Coconut daiquiri

My food diary might have taken up too much space in this week's blog - we did nothing but eat out - indian food and 3 course meals galore (simply delicious).  Although I did avoid all fried and fatty foods I did allow myself some treats such as small slice of carrot cake, toffee ice cream and cheesecake (over 4 days - honest!)  The night before the race I opted for chicken pesto pasta at Pizza Express washed down with lots of water and beetroot juice.  Race morning I had porridge, beetroot juice, banana, toast with green tea about 3 hours before race and with 1.5 hours to go I had a coffee and slice of soreen with some sips of lucozade sport.  Afterwards, well I dined on chicken pate, roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings followed by chocolate brownie and ice cream - YUM!  It was the perfect meal that I was craving.  Of course I had to sample the pinot grigio, daiquiris and baileys too.  Ach well, I'm going to allow myself some treats and some rest days over the next week - why not?!  Back to training and good nutrition next week...

My parents had left me some chocolate and champagne in my kitchen for my return - which I will devour - thank you!!

 Anyone can run a marathon.  It takes months of dedicated training and is definitely not easy but it's worth it, you will reap the benefits and could raise lots for charity - go on, give it a go, you know you want to!

Some of the gang made us 'mini mes to support us in the crowd.  Our mini mes decided they had such a good weekend that they wanted to wait in London :-)

Eat Rest Run Panic Repeat

The final week of training.  Tapering and relaxing should be key but I've had my odd panic attack!  I had all my last runs planned out this week but then I changed it.  Then I changed it again.  I checked out some schedules and spoke to some other marathoners, including my CRC friend Sarah who smashed her first marathon in an incredible 3.31 on Sunday, and I changed my plans again.  I was the instructor on the rota for spin both on Sunday and Monday, although I tried to keep my resistance low(ish) but also ran before and after each session.  I also realised I had ran or at least exercised every single day for weeks.  Panic.  Have I done too much?  Should I be doing less mileage?!  I decided to take a rest from running on Wednesday (although I did swim and take combat) and do my last 3 miles on Thursday.  But then some plans say to do 2-3 miles in race kit the day before.  Panic.  Should I do that?!  Answers on a postcard please.   

My reading this week of VLM magazine along with antibacterial handwash that has been applied every hour!

From the weather forecast London was set to be hot at 22 degrees for Sunday!  PANIC!  Although that seems to have calmed down to 17, still at least 10 degrees more than what we're used to so and with my history enough to make me panic! Vest or tshirt?  What should I pack?  Panic.  The bug and the cold is rife in my family and around town with a few relatives having projectile vomit episodes in the last few days.  Panic.  So my daily dose of vitamins has been upped again - not taking any chances!  Few wee niggles and pains in my legs, paranoia?  Panic.

I'm also extremely nervous about the book launch which just so happens to be the night before we travel to London - I've never been to one so not really sure what to expect, what to wear or what to say.  More panic.

Baked healthy oatbakes to keep occupied - oats, skimmed milk, dried fruit, sunflower seeds & mashed banana - yum.

However, all that panicking aside I am extremly excited.  Not just for the run itself but for the whole weekend.  I've got some of my closest family and friends coming to support me at the launch and the marathon so it will be a blast no matter what happens.  And I'm not actually as nervous or pressured as I was that very first time I attempted the marathon 3 years ago. Yes, I'll put it out there, I would LOVE to get a sub-4.  It would be my dream.  But hey, I understand that London may not be where it happens.  The heat, the congestion etc But I'm positive that I will do that one day, I will do another marathon (I hope).  

I am going to be sensible (honestly!) and re-evaluate my race strategy on the day - if I feel ill, sore, tired or it's hot then I'll go slower, take on more water and/or gels.  Getting a good time is a bonus, getting to the finish line is more important.  And even if that doesn't happen, it's not the end of the world - there will be other marathons, other races, other weekends away, that's what it's about.

05/04/2014	Breakfast	Snack	Lunch	Snack	Dinner
Sat	Pre - soreen.  Beetroot juice	Toast with pbutter + jam and tea (protein shake with blueberries)	Carrot & coriander hmade soup with bread.	Green tea.	Lovely meal at royal with besties - chicken tenders (grilled this time!) and pasta prima vera with chicken.  Eton mess.  Ate far too much but totes amazeballs
Exercise	12 miles easy		Horrible wet and windy day but enjoyed run with Joc and Katie.  Kept it completely flat and fought temptation to do more or hilly.
Sun	Green tea and yoghurt with raspberries		Toast & scrambled eggs.  Slice toast with pbutter and jam	Green tea.	Hmade tomato based chicken curry with rice & pitta.  Dessert pot - oats, manuka honey, raspberries, lf yoghurt & hazelnuts.  Tea and oatcakes
Exercise	Spin.  3 miles easy.  Core/kbells.  20 lengths swim		Horrible wet and windy morning but cleared up in pm.  Took it easy in spin and run.  Met up with the gang to plan London - woo hoo!  Went a lovely walk with Maz in evening as beautiful and needed to clear my head - getting stressed with launch and london anxiety!
Mon	Toast and activia yoghurt.  Vit water.	Green tea	Carrot & coriander hmade soup with bread.	2 ricecakes with nutella & banana. Green tea.	Baked salmon with lightest philli & basil.  Boiled potatoes, brocolli & beetroot.  Chia tea & special k biscuit.
Exercise	5.7 mile run inc 3 mile tempo at 8 m/m. 5 mins core. Spin.		It's taper but last speed session and lower mileage than usual - thanks Jen for keeping my pace up for tempo!  Took spin, hot and sweaty but I toned down the resistance and sprints.  Getting nervous - not sure what other runs I should do this week?!
Tue	Toast and activia yoghurt.  Vit water.	Oatcakes & green tea	Carrot & coriander hmade soup with bread.	Green tea & homemade oatbake (oats, banana, dried fruit, apple sauce & pumpkin seeds).	Thai chicken stir fry with mixed veg & egg noodles.  LF greek yoghurt.  Chai tea & special k biscuit.
Exercise	5 miles easy (45 mins)		After much deliberation I went out with club but just did 5 miles easy on my own.  Legs felt tight so actually happy to keep short.  Good rest day :-)
Wed	Toast and activia yoghurt with raspberries & chia seeds.  Vit water.	Green tea	Fresh tomato soup & tuna sandwich.  Tangerine.	Green tea & hmade oat bake.	Hmade shepherds pie with carrots & beetroot.  Chai tea & special k biscuit.
Exercise	32 lengths swim.  Combat/piloxing.		Nice day, wanted to run but resisted!  Productive day organising mokrun.  Slept in until after 8 - first time in ages! Swim was horrible - it was 34 degrees, felt like a hot bath :-(
Thu	Toast and activia yoghurt with raspberries & chia seeds.  Vit water.	Green tea	Fresh tomato soup & wmeal bread.	Green tea & hmade oat bake.	Plan - curry at book launch!
Exercise	Easy 3 miles		Last run before the marathon!  Travelling up to Glasgow for book launch tonight then heading down to London Friday am…. Nervous.  Excited.  Anxious.  Excited!!
Fri	?	?	?	?	?
Exercise	0!
Mileage	29