The Lliswerry 8 Road Race Blog... Finally!

I'm ever so slightly (very) late posting this blog about the Lliswerry 8 road race which was on Sunday 29th January. The truth is that I was injured before the race so just wanted to test out the injury as I'd been struggling with it since New Year. Basically it hurt like a mofo for the whole race and I haven't been allowed to run since. Bring on the sulking!

Until this morning! I did a slow and steady 2 mile run and had no pain for the first time in ages so I'm a happy bunny again. I need to be sensible and slowly increase my mileage for the next few weeks then hopefully I'll be injury free and able to take on my half marathon sub 2 hour goal.

Ok, enough about that - here's the Lliswerry 8 blog (finally!!)

The race is organised by the Lliswerry running club and based in Newport, it has a limited number of participants so sold out very quickly. I'd never done this race before but there's always a lot of buzz about it so I thought I'd give it a go. I didn't manage to get a place but luckily for me Sarah from Pegs got a place but couldn't go so transferred it to me.

We all arrived at the Newport stadium on a very wet Sunday morning and were eager to start the race. We came well prepared with the latest hi-tech running kit to ensure we stayed as dry as possible until the last few minutes.

Pegs sporting the latest in bin bag fashion

It's never too cold to whip out our Pegs vests

Everyone discarded their bin bags hi-tech running kit and the (very soggy) race began. Luckily we have quite a few Pegs who are a dab hand with a camera. 

And we're off...

I really enjoyed starting the race with these ladies, it's not often I get to run with them as they're speedier than me so this was fun.

Not loving the rain!

It wasn't raining as hard as the forecast predicated but it was still very soggy and cold. I also forgot my gloves which didn't help.

All smiles for the camera!

Rear view Pegs *wolf whistles*

After the first half a mile I could feel my hip starting to twinge a bit but was hoping it would settle down as the race went on and I warmed up. I decided to just take it easy and try to last the 8 miles. Usually I can distract myself in a race or run with the scenery or I'll just let my imagination run riot but the discomfort in my hip kept me in the moment and it was all I could think about. I threw a big pity party to keep me company throughout the race.

The race is 8 miles of flat road except for the one "hill". Luckily it was downhill and basically a small bridge.

This Peg loves a downhill!

I watched the miles tick by and couldn't wait for it to be over. I was cold, wet and in pain but I knew there was cake at the finish line!

The finish line is in sight. Lead me to the cake!

The amazing thing about being in a running club and the fantastic running community is that there is always someone to cheer you through the finish as well as waiting for you after the race to tell you that you did well, even when you don't feel like it.

We all walked back to the stadium to get warm, grab a cuppa and scoff some cake. 

A warm Peg is a happy Peg

Usually after a race I come home and take a photo of Winston wearing my medal but the Lliswerry 8 race doesn't give you a medal. Instead you get a long sleeve technical t-shirt and this is a big reason why a lot of runners love this race. Every year the colour of it is kept a secret so there was much chit chat about what colour people thought it would be. Luckily for me it was white, I had been shopping the previous day to buy a white long sleeve t-shirt to wear under my Pegs vest but couldn't find one.

Back to Winston. I tried to get him in the t-shirt but I lost the wrestling match, it would have made a great photo but I decided it was much better to keep the t-shirt in one piece. I took a photo of my cupcake instead. 

It tasted great by the way

I now understand the hype about this race, it's a lovely nice and flat route so you can really give it your all. I'm hoping that next year the weather is kinder and I can see the sights a bit more, it was wet and grey so the view wasn't the best this time.

Next up for me is the Newport half marathon on Sunday 5th March and I'm hoping that I'll be injury free. I know I haven't got time to get my mileage up so am relying on my fitness to get me through it. I'll take it nice and steady and just listen to my body on the day. Wish me luck!!

A Soggy Caerphilly 10K!

Last weekend I ran the Caerphilly 10k road race with my Pegs. It was my first race since the Manchester Marathon (did I mention I ran a marathon??) and since my IT band injury decided to feature in my life so I was a bit nervous but my nerves were soon quashed when I met up with my running buddies.

Best looking club ever!

The weather did what it loves to do in Wales, it started raining! That didn't dampen our spirits though as we all started the race together which was great, usually we're split up in our pens depending on what our estimated finish time is. 

There were about 2000 runners so it took over 3 minutes to get from our place in the pack to crossing the start line but then we were off! We all shouted 'good luck' 'have a good run' to each other and started our own races.

Tracy and I lovin' the soggy run

I knew that Caerphilly wasn't flat and was prepared for the hills but the first one was about a minute from the start line... not fun! I put my head down, paced myself and got up that hill without killing my race. As we all know what goes up must come down and I love a good downhill.

The rain was actually quite refreshing and helped to keep me cool during the tough sections, well that's what I kept telling myself anyway.

No filter, just rain

My goal for this race was purely to finish it without my knee giving in. I'd been going to physio and doing all the exercises and stretches that she told me to do so I was quite confident that me and my IT band could pull this off. I just wanted to finish without walking and without pain.

At about 4km (ish) we were running up a steady climb and I started talking to a fellow runner. Claire was doing her first ever race so we chatted for a while and discovered that we had the same race goal - just to get it done! We were matching each other's pace really well so stuck together and kept each other going.

I hadn't run further than 5 miles since the marathon and had only just been running regularly again for a couple of weeks so my fitness level felt dreadful. I honestly wasn't sure if I could run 6 miles without having to walk and know that I probably would've given in if it wasn't for Claire.

My new running buddy - we're running in sync!

After a lot of running and a lot of nattering we approached the finish line and my Pegs were there to cheer me on. 

Wooooooooo hoooooooooooo!!

We crossed the finish line and I had completed my goal. I had finish the 10k without walking and without pain. NO PAIN!! I also completed my secret goal which was to finish in under 1 hour and 10 minutes - I did it in 1 hour 9 minutes and 36 seconds!

I picked up my medal, t-shirt, goodie bag and quite possibly the smallest banana I've ever seen.

The organisers of the Caerphilly 10k had put a stage up so that posers like us could have our team photo taken.

Team Pegs

Team Pegs with Jazz hands!

The Caerphilly 10k restored my confidence in my body and my running. It reminded me that I can do anything when I put my mind to it, I forget this on a regular basis and have a tendency to doubt my abilities.

Bling!

So the next step for me is to continue running (obviously) but the hard work has to continue. I need to slowly increase my mileage again as well as focus on my speed, I want to get faster so I have to run faster even when it's uncomfortable and my body is screaming for me to slow down. I need to keep up the cross training and the strength training too. I also need to do more hill work with Caroline and her posse of pain lovers so will join them on their Monday night session of misery very soon.

Apparently this is a regular sight but with more tears and shouting!

I've signed up for 3 more races this year, the first is the Severn Bridge half marathon at the end of August and will give me a good indication on how much I need to improve for the Cardiff half marathon in October where I'm still planning to smash my PB. I'm also doing the Cardiff 10K in September and want to beat last year's time. I'll probably enter a few other races along the way but these are the 3 I want to focus on.

Wish me luck!

I'm Back! In Your Face Injury!

After 2 & 1/2 weeks of no running and 3 sessions with my amazing physio Carolin at DTR Clinic in Cardiff I am back running again. In your face injury!

Physio session number 2 included more of the zappy machine and ultrasound.

Carolin then massaged my calf. I say massaged as that's what she called it but I would probably refer to it more like inflicting punishment as though my calf had hugely offended her. It hurt like **** but all I could do is laugh. I laughed through the pain and willed it to be over.

Apparently my calf is very tight so I have to heat it and then stretch it every day. I was then taped up and sent home.

Session 3 was more of the zappy machine and then my foot was wrapped up in a hot blanket, it was like a day at the spa.

Until Carolin decided to "massage" my calf again. Hello pain! Hello uncontrollable laughter! I think I might be a bit weird.

Carolin then scared the pants off me by saying that she wanted me to do a short run (no more than 20 mins) at the weekend to see how my foot goes. She warned me that it would flare up again but to just rest and ice it afterwards.

You want me to do what??

I got up and put my running kit on then set out for my first run. My foot felt ok, I had a bit of discomfort but then OMG my lungs! They felt like they were on fire!

Am I dying? I think I'm dying!

My run was a total of 1.45 miles and I had to walk twice. TWICE! My foot felt pretty good but my fitness must've upped and moved out.

First post injury run

Carolin had said that if my first run was successful then I was to get back on with my marathon training. My next run was supposed to be a Pegasus club run on Wednesday night but it was chucking it down with rain so I wussed out and hit the treadmill instead.

The dreadmill... how I loath you!

I did a very easy 5k run and had no pain in my foot! My next run was planned for the weekend but first I needed to go running shoe shopping!

My new bad boys!

Winston was clearly impressed!

On Saturday some of my Pegs had planned a 12 mile run and I decided to join them for the first 4 miles. They altered their planned route so that we could do a 4 miles ish loop for me and then they would drop me off and carry on with the rest of their run.

I was pretty scared about doing the run as I wasn't sure how my foot would hold up so was relieved to be doing it with friends. We did a total of 5.5 miles and apart from a few twinges my foot held up nicely. My fitness was better but still not great and the 5.5 miles felt like 15. I know I'll get it back quickly enough though so I'm not too worried.

Pre-run selfie!

Being part of a running club has been the best thing to happen to me and my running. I get to spend time with a group of people who all love running and who also love to support each other. They are awesome!

They kept in contact when I was injured and helped me get back to running when I was scared. I honestly don't think I could've got through this and still feel confident for my marathon without them.

It's only 81 days until the Manchester marathon so now my life is back to running and trying to raise some money for Friends of the Dogs Wales, the work they doing is amazing and saves so many dogs lives. If you can spare some pennies then please click here to help the puppies!

Injury Strikes!

I'm injured! I can't run and I feel as though I'm losing my mind! Ok so that's probably a bit dramatic but running keeps me sane and I can't do it so feel as though I'm going insane.

Maybe I should start at the beginning. The Wednesday before Christmas I went for my usual club run with Pegasus and from the start I had a bit of pain along the side of my right foot. I told myself to man up and get on with it, that it was nothing and I could just run it off. We did 6 miles and I was in pain the whole time but I just kept going. I'm an idiot but an idiot that has learnt a hard lesson.

Yep, that's pretty much how I feel!

I spent from Christmas Eve to a couple of days ago not being able to walk, I just had to limp along. It felt better when I was on tiptoes but still hurt like hell. To say I was terrified about what damage I had done is an understatement, I obviously imagined the worst and let my mind go wild.

Today I went to physio at DTR in Cathays, Cardiff. They were highly recommended by a running buddy who suffered from the dreaded plantar fasciitis earlier this year and was fixed in time for the London Marathon. I was sat in the waiting room on the verge of tears. I have been training so hard for my marathon and the thought of not being fit enough to run it was all I could think about. Add on the days of frustration from not running and there I was, a near blubbering mess! This is my first running injury and I have no idea what to expect.

Ok so I wasn't this bad... jeez get a grip love!

Carolin took me into one of the bays and asked me what the problem was. I don't know how I didn't cry my eyes out but I kept my crazy together and explained what had happened. She poked and prodded my foot while I grimaced with the pain then said she suspected tendinitis and that we can get me all fixed up ready for my marathon! Yay! I could've kissed her! The relief was incredible.

She started the treatment by hooking me up to a machine that I will refer to as zappy as I can't remember it's actual name.

Here's zappy!!

Zappy made my foot feel warm and tingly, I was given some magazines and told to relax. After about 10-15 minutes (no idea really, I'm totally guessing!) Carolin came back and detached me then brought out this bad boy...

Will my foot get a tan?

I had 9 minutes of ultrasound on the tendons then Carolin poked and prodded some more. I'd taken my runners with me just in case and I'm glad I did. She examined them and noticed that part of the shoe along the side of my foot was ridged and had no give.

As soon as I put it back on, a really sharp pain shot through my foot. My runners and how they fit my feet have caused the damage so I can't wear them again, it's time to go runner shopping again!!

Ooooooooooooo runners!

Carolin taped me up and wants to see me again on Monday, I'm not allowed to exercise until she gives me the ok. I have to rest, ice and elevate it as much as possible.

Best colour tape ever!

So I am hugely relieved that this is fixable but still hugely frustrated that I can't run yet. I didn't realise just how much I rely on going for a run to clear my head and keep me grounded. Running is how I control my weight, I run so that I can eat what I want without the worry of piling on the pounds. It's Christmas and I have hardly indulged, in fact I've been told by a few different people that I've lost weight. The stress of not knowing what was wrong and my paranoia at my weight ballooning because I can't burn the calories off has left me with no appetite.

Running and training for my marathon is a massive part of me and my life. I plan everything around my running. I'm a runner and I can't run. I know I will heal and I'll be back out there with my running buddies soon so just need to keep myself busy and stay patient. Yeah, let's see how well that goes shall we?!