Janathon day 7: A little tea and a week of running

Today I completed my seventh day of Janathon and this time round, I have managed to run every day. I have also improved my speed as the week has gone on which I’m really pleased about. After a rubbish night’s sleep dreaming about all sorts of weird horrors, I woke up to a throat that felt like I’d been swallowing a cocktail of razor blades and broken glass and a blocked up nose. Running wasn’t an option.

 I took it easy and had a lovely day just mooching around Richmond instead. I walked along the river and to a cute little tea room called the Hollyhock cafe, hidden away in Terrace Gardens overlooking the river. I've never been here before and it is quite a little find. It is a fairtrade cafe, the sister cafe to the Tide Tables cafe under Richmond Bridge which I love. It's a fantastic place to come in the summer. Both places are vegetarian and even though I'm not I absolutely love the food. Tide Tables was closed today but I saw a sign on the door directing me to Terrace Gardens so I went to explore.

The location is just gorgeous, in a beautiful garden overlooking the river. It was cold but I still sat outside and they even offer hot water bottles to keep you toasty while you enjoy your tea. After half an hour or so I was cold so I carried on walking along the river and headed for the town centre.

I went on to another favourite place of mine, The Tea Box on Paradise road. I actually blogged about it last year at about the same time funnily enough. I felt tired and I really felt like my body needed to relax so I spent the day taking it easy and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I love The Tea Box. It is a speciality tea house on Paradise Road and it is just delightful. A vintage styled interior that doesn't try to be 'cool' or pretentious, it's the perfect little hideaway to relax and sip tea whilst reading a favourite book or catching up on precious time with friends. They have a fantastic selection of tea available and if you want something a little naughty you can even have an alcoholic tea. I had one before Christmas that had Baileys in and it was absolutely delicious!

I love the way there is such attention to detail. A timer to brew your tea to perfection, gorgeous tea cups and spoons with a little teapot on the end, and sugar grabbers with little hands on them. The bill is normally delivered in a mini treasure chest which I love but I was a bit disappointed today to just be handed the bill, especially as I had been a super kind customer and let three other groups of people be seated before me because I didn't want to be selfish and take up a large table.  I will let them off though because I love it there and they were super busy. They provide a great menu and even hold events there such as comedy evenings, jazz events, tea tastings and storytelling for children.

The staff are knowledgeable and they are more than happy to share their expertise with you about the range of teas they have on offer. Not only can you enjoy the delicious tea on the premises but you can purchase loose tea to take home, along with some of the cute teaware, cups, spoons and teapots. If you are ever in Richmond I would highly recommend visiting though do expect a little wait as it does get busy at weekends. You can only pre-book tables if you are planning to have the set afternoon tea menu but it's worth the wait as it is a special little place. I was pleased to see that they are now on twitter too. You can find them on @theteabox.

I got home and I knew that I had to complete my daily run. I enjoyed lots of tea today but not a lot of water. I hadn’t prepared and I was nervous. I reluctantly pulled my kit on after lingering around and giving my boyfriend three goodbye kisses, just so that I could stay in the warm a little longer. As soon as I stepped out of my gate I focused and I just ran, completing my first lap faster than I’ve done this week. I kept going, concentrating on positive thoughts and putting one foot in front of the other. A few people got in my way tonight. I nearly got tripped by a dog and a family thought I looked like the most appropriate person to stop and ask for directions. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very friendly and normally very helpful but was it really a good idea to pull up and ask the girl that was red faced, concentrating on not being sick with her head down? There were other people around and I felt bad that I had to apologise for not helping, carry on running and point at my arm whilst shouting something about having a time to beat.  

I knew that I was capable of finishing in less than half an hour so I didn’t want to give up. I arrived home 1 minute 26 seconds faster than when I ran my 5k on Thursday night, bringing my total improvement to 5 minutes and 8 seconds from the 5k on Tuesday. I think I’ve done ok in week one to complete 37.5kilometres and improve my 5k time by over 5 minutes. Janathon week one is complete and I will kick off week two with a lovely long run tomorrow morning. Now I have the confidence that I am still able run, I need to concentrate on strengthening my body, especially my core strength. Planks here I come!

Janathon day 6: Practice what I preach.

This morning I had no fuel in the tank. All I wanted to do was stay in bed but I had to do my run as I have plans tonight. Time was ticking and I still laid in bed looking at twitter. @sarahs_scribble had been out and done nearly six miles! In my post two days I go I harped on about just doing it so inspired by Sarah I pulled my kit on and off I went.

I know how important it is to eat and drink before a run but it was the breakfast or the run today and the run had to win. Beating times wasn’t an option, I just wanted to tick the run off the list. My run was short as is my post. I did 3.5k and despite the cold weather I really enjoyed it and left for work with a spring in my step. #Janathon day 6 complete. It was a short run but it was a run all the same!

Things I re-learnt after today’s run:

·         Staying in bed and repeatedly pressing snooze helps nobody. It makes you more tired and means you just have less time to fit everything in

·         Fuel is important before a run. I know this and I know how much better I am when I respect and look after my body. It’s not rocket science!

·         I actually really like running in the morning when I finally move my butt and get out there

Janathon day 5: Tiredness, teeth gritting and talking… to myself.

Twenty five minutes on a freezing cold platform did not prepare me well for my run tonight. I was tired and really didn’t want to go but a banana scoffed, I was out the door before I had a chance to bail. I’d decided I was just going to get round tonight, no pushing too hard and no worrying about time. I was tired when I started and I know that I hadn’t been drinking enough throughout the day. I was already talking to myself before I’d even completed 1k muttering ‘Why am I doing this to myself?’ but I kept going and when the little voice piped up on my phone to tell me I had completed the first kilometre fifteen seconds  quicker than my fastest kilometre last night, I had to keep going.

There was a lot of teeth gritting and a lot of talking to myself but it got me round without stopping. My fastest kilometre was 20 seconds faster than my quickest lap last night and my total run was 1 minute 16 seconds quicker. On Tuesday the route took me 34 minutes 29 seconds to complete and tonight I finished in 30 minutes 26 seconds. It’s not fast but it’s a definite improvement and that is one of the things I love about running. You can see yourself improve on a constant basis and the improvement is quicker than you think it may be. I’m not saying that there aren’t going to be bad days because there most definitely are. You just need to pick yourself up and keep going in order to achieve your goals. A bit like life really! I want to be able to run the Berlin half marathon on 1^st April in less than 2 hours and I am confident that if I work hard and keep my end goal in sight, I am more than capable.

I know that my running updates and posts are probably boring some people on Twitter and a few people may choose to unfollow me but the posts are helping me to keep going. I really want that time so badly so I’m sorry if I’m boring anybody along the way. Thinking about what I’m going to blog about is a great distraction when I’m running. What is there to say when you are running the same 5k route 3 days in a row? During that half an hour that I’m out running, all sorts of things fly in and out of my head. Tonight I thought about my run, why I was doing this to myself, is there any way I am ever actually going to be able to run a marathon and then I pushed the negative thoughts aside.  The Endomondo voice interrupted me after every kilometre to tell me each lap was speedier than last night and when I knew an improved time was in sight, I just kept pounding the pavement until I got home to tuck into my dinner with a big smile on my face.

Janathon day 5 is complete and I have to say I’m feeling a little sleepy. I need to run tomorrow morning as I have plans tomorrow evening. This scares me a little to be honest so I’m going to head to bed with my hot water bottle and dream nice thoughts while ignoring the howling wind.

What I learned tonight

·         If I keep working hard, I will improve

·         There does seem to be some kind of recession going on, even in Barnes. This time last year I remember seeing loads of huge, national lampoon style Christmas trees outside the big houses waiting for the bin men. This year the sorry looking trees are bonsai in comparison

·         Drinking water is essential. I know that I hadn’t hydrated enough today and I really felt it on the run

·         Talking to yourself is good. Yes, you do look a little mad but you can’t stop running and give up if you’ve just given yourself a good talking to out loud in public. It’s much less embarrassing to keep running, firstly so that people don’t recognise you and secondly to avoid the mocking

·         I really like the Endomondo voice when it tells me I’ve improved my lap time. However, I can imagine there will be days I’ll hate that voice, much like the Sat nav voice when it recalculates and increases your journey time, barking at you that there are no faster routes available

Janathon day 4: A drowned rat, a wolf whistle and a two and a half minute improvement.

The weather was disgusting tonight and my after work run filled me with dread. I go home via Clapham Junction, normally just needing to hop off one train and on to another. However tonight I adopted some delaying tactics by mooching around the shops, buying a few random sale purchases and lots of green, healthy looking food. My shopping basket looked very January and the shop assistant in Sainsbury’s agreed with me.

I got home and carried on with the delaying tactics, hanging around in the kitchen and eating as many of the healthy green things that I could fit in washed down with a coffee. Jon noticed I was loitering and I kept putting off changing into my lycra and heading out in to the rain. After a bit more mindless chatter, I finally pulled myself together and headed out of the door into the rain and howling wind.

I decided I would try and pace myself tonight and pick up my speed a little. I ran the same route as last night which is a total of 5k and I managed to run at a really steady pace throughout. It was disgusting outside and before I’d even completed the first kilometre, I looked like a sweaty, drowned rat that had been feasting a little more than it should have been. You can imagine my shock when I was wolf whistled at. Yes, you read that right, an actual wolf whistle. To be fair, he did only see me from the back where he would have seen my blonde ponytail bobbing up and down and we all know the dark makes you look thinner. The red sweaty face and general bedraggled appearance wouldn’t have been visible as he whistled from his car as he headed closer to me. My boyfriend was actually impressed he had a car and not a van.

Joking aside though, it’s probably not that appropriate to be wolf whistling from a car when a female is running alone in the dark and you are alone in your car, it’s just a little creepy. Just to make this clear, I am not the kind of girl that hates compliments from men but there is a time and a place and I would think a certain level of grooming that should be adhered to by the female party being whistled at. I certainly wasn’t wearing attire to make myself look nice, far from it but I do accept the fact that the driver may have also been a pi** taking moron who was just trying to heckle me. There are a few of these about and as well as wolf whistling, these creatures tend to shout helpful comments like ‘Lift your knees up’, ‘ go on girl, keep going’ and occasionally they’ll run alongside for 3 metres, pint and fag in hand, before they stop and then return to their mates laughing.  Whatever the motives , thank you Mr car man, at least your whistle made me giggle and momentarily stopped me focusing on my heavy breathing and huffing and puffing that is normally drowned out by my loud music.

As I loitered round the kitchen wasting time before my run, I rammed a number of different things down my throat before I left to delay the inevitable day four run. I knew all about every morsel I’d munched during the run and in fact, I came very close to seeing all the healthy snacks for a second time. I wouldn’t recommend stuffing your face before heading out. Despite feeling pretty ropey, I kept going and managed to improve my time by two minutes 30 seconds from last night, which I’m pretty chuffed with. Although I was running in the rain and straight into the cold wind, I really enjoyed it once I got out there and I was thrilled that I improved my speed and steadied my pace.

Things I learned after tonight’s run:

·         In the words of Nike, Just do it! It really doesn’t make things better or easier by delaying what you know you need to do. Once you actually get going, you know you’ll feel good.

·         If you really put your mind to it, you will improve.

·         Do not stuff your face with whatever you can find before you go for a run! It makes you feel sick and you taste everything again mid-run which is pretty gross.

·         Running in the rain can be fun and makes you feel that little more smug when you’re finished. I find going out in bad weather somehow validates your effort and is like an extra little pat on the back

·         Even if you look like a chubby drowned rat, some men will still pay attention though there may not be romantic intentions. I don’t really understand this if I’m being honest.

Janathon day 3: A little totter or two

Today was my first day back to work after rather long festive break and I was actually looking forward to it. To start my working week, I planned to do my run this morning so I could head to work with a smug spring in my step but the weather had other plans. All night the wind howled and the rain pounded against the windows. It just wouldn’t have been a good move, so instead of my trainers and running tights I pulled on my dress and heels and headed into the gale.

I got to Clapham junction and the trains were in a mess. Just what everybody wants on their first day back to work! As I arrived on platform two I could see the overground train, doors about to close. Not knowing how long the next one would be and seeing lots of signs for cancelled trains, I had no other option. Heeled up and laden with bags, I tottered along the platform and leaped on just in time. I started a new job the week before Christmas and I’d decided to go to work a new way today. I’m not familiar with this particular route so as I stepped on I looked back at the screen to make sure I’d stepped on the right one. I looked up to be greeted by a blank screen with no information. I just wasn’t sure so I stepped off to ask the member of staff standing on the platform. By the time he had bothered to acknowledge me to tell me it was the right train, it was long gone. Very helpful!

The next train was due on platform 17 in three minutes so yet again I only had one option. I tottered up the stairs and along the bridge to the furthest platform away. It was not a pretty sight and after yesterday’s run my legs and feet absolutely hated me running in heels. I charged along, huffing and puffing with all of my bags. I lost a lot of my running cred but I made it just in time. Well, just in time to see my train pull in on platform 16. I tottered up the bridge again and leaped on the train as the doors were about to close. I hate feeling hot and bothered and running in clothes and shoes that are clearly not designed to be run in. I’m not sure how long I ran for but I felt more uncomfortable than after yesterday’s run and I certainly didn’t enjoy it. I’m sure I could have got away with logging my tottering as my effort for Janathon day 3 but I want to do my best.

When I got home this evening I got dressed into my kit and ran my regular short route.  I thought it was just under 4.5k but I found out through my endomondo app that it is actually just shy of 5k, so I’ve been selling myself short for a whole year! I ran the whole route without stopping and I’m pleased I decided to go out for a run tonight.  Just like yesterday’s run, I struggled between 2.6k and 3.1k. I’m not sure why but between these two distances, I would very happily throw the towel in and go home. I’m pleased to say I didn't, it’s Janathon day three and I’m still very much in.  

Janathon day 2: Rekindling the love affair

Every relationship needs work and it’s time for me to reignite the spark back into this one. When I really get in the running zone I absolutely love it but I can fall out of love with it just as easily. Today’s run was about falling back in love with running and it is the perfect day for it. Blue skies, bright sunshine and a gentle nip in the air, just the way I like it.

I headed out as my boyfriend called out whilst still snuggled up in bed, “Go on babe, you can do it!” For once I wasn’t jealous to leave him in the warm and cosy duvet.  I was excited to get out in the fresh air. I didn’t plan my route but instead I just ran wherever I felt like running. I took my phone to keep track of my route. I’m using an app called Endomondo which so far I’m quite impressed with. It keeps track of your route and logs your data. I love a bit of technology but when it comes to my running I’ve been pretty old school and have stuck to mapmyrun. I thought it was time to upgrade, especially if improving my time is one of my goals this year. I need to be on top of what I am achieving and have a clear understanding of where I need to up my game. However, I decided that today wasn’t about stressing myself out with time; it was about learning to love running again.

 If I’m going to achieve sub two hours in Berlin I need to learn to love hills and running tracks too so I made sure there were a couple of upwards sections on my run. I was struggling uphill at about 3k and stopped for a little drink break. I could have happily stopped and headed back home at that point but I ploughed on through and I knew it would be worth it. I ran past the hospital that I was born in 30 years ago and thought it was quite a fitting landmark to signal the start of my happy 30’s challenge.

I made sure that I ran past some of my favourite spots to remind me what it is that I love. I ran round Barnes pond and through Barnes Common, then on to Richmond Park. If you haven’t visited Richmond Park, you need to go. I am really lucky to live so close and on days like today it is just out of this world. You wouldn’t believe that you are in London when you wander through the beautiful grounds and see the amazing wildlife. On days like today it glistens and the contrast of colours in the park against the bright blue sky is fantastic.

I love the freedom that running gives you. The first couple of kilometres are always tough but after about half an hour I get that little goose bumpy rush and I start to enjoy myself. Today was no different. I love the feeling of the wind through your hair and it’s great to just make it up as you go along sometimes and not be so regimented. Sometimes you need to be more exact and precise to stick to a training plan but today wasn’t one of those days. It’s really liberating to just get out and run wherever you want your feet to take you and nothing beats the sense of achievement when you get home. I know it’s less than other people will run today but I’m pleased with my 10.6km on day 2 of Janathon and I think I can feel the flutter of butterflies in my tummy returning.

Janathon Day 1: Out with the old and in with the new

So this time a year ago I started Janathon and the training for my first half marathon. I didn’t really know what to expect. The longest distance I had run was 10k and that was with several stops, several years ago. The thought of the half marathon terrified me and excited me in equal measures but I was absolutely determined to succeed and Janathon was the perfect way to kick start my training and 2011. I had also started this blog only a day before so it was a great way to chuck myself in at the deep end of the pool of blogging.

 I was so determined to succeed and I made it to day 25 before I was struck down with the flu.  Not a cold that made me feel a bit achey but proper flu where I was unable to move for over a week. You can read about it here. I was gutted to have to drop out as I’m not the kind of girl to give up but after a sickness blip, I’m pleased that I completed my first half marathon in Paris just over two months after the start of Janathon in 2 hours 11 minutes. Support from my online friends was a really vital part of my training. It motivated me and helped me to succeed.  I then went on to do my second half marathon in September with some of the girls that I ran Paris with.

I turned 30 on Christmas day and I have set myself some goals in my happy 30's challenge to make sure that I live this year to the full. 2012 will (hopefully) see me run in the Berlin half in April, take part in my first triathlon in June and then finally a marathon in August. I am thinking about either Helsinki or Reykjavik so do feel free to share any experiences of either of these races with me. My absolute dream would be to run the New York marathon but the race fee is huge and I just cannot justify it. My running has taken a bit of a back seat the last two months with not only one new job but two, so Janathon is the perfect way to get me started and rekindle my love affair with the pavement.

I came close to bailing on day one after a little bit too much celebrating saying goodbye to last year.  I’ve had a bit of a love hate relationship with 2011 so I wanted to say goodbye in style and what a good job I did! So much so, that the sofa and duvet was way more appealing to me than the road and my neglected running shoes. After an afternoon nap to recharge my dehydrated roast filled batteries, I pulled myself together, slipped on my trainers and jacket and headed out into the rain. I ran 3.5k which isn’t far but it’s further than I ran yesterday or the day before. In fact it’s further than I’ve run on any day during the last six weeks. It felt really good to be back pounding the pavements and I felt surprisingly good although considerably heavier that I was the last time I ran. My little 3.5k run was my pass into the Janathon 2012 challenge and this time I’m going to try my very best to reach the end in one piece.


A glimpse of the new year fun