Don't stop me now...

On Monday morning my sister arrived for a 2 day visit.  After the usual catch-up I told her I had running group that evening....and would she like to come.  She sort of looked at me in a puzzled way, then hesitantly agreed.

So off we went. I wasn't expecting miracles, I know my last 2 runs haven't been great.  As usual I quickly fell behind, but that's ok, right?
We were both told to run the smaller loop in the park, and we did 5...yes 5...loops.  Quite amazing.  I ended up walking much less than last time, but I wont even pretend it wasn't hard.
We lost the leader, as she went running with the faster group, but found us eventually on the way back.  We didn't dare go the way we knew they had incase we got lost.  It involves running through a golf course.  Surely that needs some sort of risk assessment? I can just imagine myself lying on the ground with a golf ball shaped dent in my head.
My sister had a faster pace and ran on ahead slightly, so I was left running with the leader.  She revealed quite a few suprising things about herself.  Like when she was at Uni she went up to a size 18-20.  Looking at her you'd never even dream it.  She's a mean lean running machine.  She also told me she has to work so hard to run the way she does, and that it doesn't come natural.  In other words...there's hope for me yet!
We got to maybe a few minutes away from base, and I said to her 'OK I'm going to have to walk at this next corner' - and to my surprise, instead of encouraging me to walk, get my breath back, then run again, she said 'No you're not, you're running all the way, because then you've ran your first mile non-stop'.  Part of me was slightly offended, part of me was spurred on, and part of me didn't know what to think.  I really didn't think I'd make it.  I kept looking at her with puppy dog eyes, but it didn't work.  She didn't let me stop.  She took pity on me though, and told me to count my breaths to 10, then start again.  And it actually worked.  I was back before I knew it, as she shouted to the rest of the girls 'THEY'VE JUST RAN THEIR FIRST MILE!' - we got clapped and cheered.  I felt so proud.  That group is such a fantastic thing to be a part of, and even though I'm not a fantastic runner and there's no way I can keep up with the rest of them, they make me feel so welcome, and that's such a great motivator.

Tomorrow would be run day.  But my boy has been given the day off work, and I don't have any work to do (I work from home at the moment....meaning I just drink tea and watch This Morning till I feel like doing something) and so we're going out for the day and may not be back in time.  I thought about going on Friday morning and doing the same route, but I know it wont be the same on my own.
There's no escaping it though....today I got my 10k race pack in the post.  It's official.  It's also pretty scary.

I'd recommend to anyone starting out to find a small running group (found mine on Run England), and hopefully there's plenty more friendly, motivating groups like mine floating around the country world!

Run hard or go home....

OK, I know this post is a little late.  I've been so busy, and the weather has been so nice that I've neglected my duties both at work and home...
Anyway, onto more pressing matters!

My Thursday run was HARD. SO HARD! The heat was unbearable.  I started off at a good pace, then quickly fell behind.  I started walking way before I had on Monday, and I was really struggling.  I got into a pace though and I managed to actually run further than I thought I could of.  We went a different way this time though, and I can't for the life of me figure out the route on MapMyRun.  Too many trees to see the paths! At a guess I'd say we did 3 miles.  I maybe ran half or three-quarters of that. Maybe. Maybe.  10k in September? Hmmm....

Saturday I went adventuring.  Like...literally.  My other (probably better) half took me on a surprise date.  The good thing about living in the north is the amount of reservoirs around, and therefore the amount of adventuring you can do in the country parks around them (do I sound like a 5 year old?).  I was told to pack a picnic (it's my favourite thing about getting ready to go somewhere...), and he just directed me while I drove. First we went to a park to see the animals (not really improving my image here), then went to a country park near Blackburn.  It was honestly so beautiful.  We went off the path to have the picnic, and I was assured...assured....that he knew where we were.  We ate, napped (oops, my bad!), and just laid there in the middle of the woods.  I don't think I've ever experienced such peacefulness.  Apparently he had somewhere else planned too, but by the time we actually went back to the car it was already after 5.  And you know why?
Well.  You know that tale that men don't admit to being lost, and therefore wont ask directions? Turns out, for my boy at least, it is not just a tale.  We ended up walking around in the woods trying to find a path for ages.  (he also once got us lost on the streets of Salford once after a gig, at midnight, on a Saturday night....but I don't remind him about it at every single opportunity or anything).  I ruined my shoes, got mud up my legs, had to cross streams on logs and/or precarious looking stones, climb up embankments, and back down again.  But you know what? I had so much fun.  I was absolutely exhausted by the time I got home, and it kind of beat a run anyday!

So today I had to work. I didn't.  I had a mass of Uni work to do.  I didn't do anything.  I had to go on a run.....I.....tried my best.  Made a stupid decision and took the dog with me.  And you know what?  Ended up getting accosted by a runaway....my dog was NOT happy he was getting molested (don't make me say what he was doing), and a fight was brewing.  I could feel the tension.  I, in 'cool people's terms DID ONE.  The dog kept following us, so I made a detour.  I got lost.  I had no phone.  I was properly lost.  We walked and walked and walked, and eventually made it onto the main road.  Dog was knackered, I was knackered.  And we just walked home.  Run points = NIL!! A fail of epic proportions.

What can I say? 

10k? I must be mad

Yesterday I decided to do the Cheshire Race for Life. 10k.  That's 10 whole Kilometres. 6.2 miles. 32808.3 feet. When is it? 2nd September.  How long have I got to turn into some super human amazingly fantastical runner? 14 weeks.  Can it be done? I'm not sure.

I should probably introduce myself.  I'm Katie.  I'm 24.  I've lost 4stone 10.5lbs so far on Slimming World in just under a year.  I'm so near target that I can taste the victory, although it's got bloody hard now.  However now that I'm nearly there, I've decided to start a blog about my journey to get fit.  I've silently read so many weight-loss/fitness blogs as I trundled along losing weight, and they inspired me so much.  I'd love to be able to do that.  Even just one person.

I'm a runner.  Not a good one, not a fast one, just a runner.  I've always done it now and again when I felt like it, but never dedicated myself to it completely.  The time has come, my friends. The time has come. I've got the healthy food down, now I need to add regular exercise. Oh I love running, I do.

Yesterday I went to a local running group for the first time.  I found it on Run England, and it told me it was for beginners....running for 2 mins walking for 2 mins until you can run 2 miles.  Did it turn out like that? No. The two minutes didn't end until I just couldn't run any longer and had to walk.  But in a good way. I ran for miles! OK that's obviously a complete and utter ridiculous lie.  But seriously I ran for so much longer than I thought I could.  I didn't walk for long, and when I did the woman who organises the group showed me how I should be walking to keep the level going.  There was so much encouragement, and I got to go onto the beautiful country park which is so close to my house yet we never visit.  I'll be getting pictures soon. Promise.

I must of easily ran 1.5miles, albeit some of that walking (but no, not much).  The ladies seemed (genuinely) impressed, considering I was technically a 'beginner'.  And I have to admit I was rather impressed too.  When we got back to base I was absolutely exhausted. Face like a beetroot.  But I did it. Proper running with a proper group. GO ME!  There may have been some slight 'whoop whoop'ing when I got back into the car, but I can't possibly comment on that.

When I woke up this morning I fully expected to be unable to walk, and therefore get breakfast, dinner and tea brought to be in bed while I whimpered and whined and rang a bell for service.  But I bounded out of bed (maybe not 'bounded'..), got myself a brew and suddenly remembered my legs should be hurting. They weren't.  Is this a good thing or a bad thing? I'm not entirely sure.

So off I went to the doctors as planned for a new patient check up, closed my eyes as I got on the scales so it didn't ruin the fantastic surprise for weigh-in on Thursday (not that I understand KG's anyway), whimpered as she measured my height (153cm by the way), then laughed as she told me my BMI was 29 and I could do with losing some weight.  Seriously? Awww come on, lady, I've just lost 4stone 10.5lbs, what more do you want? Oh...more it seems.

Then a trip into town, getting tortured by the smell of hotdogs...mmm.... then a trip into Warrington for some new running....pants? Leggings? Capri's? you get the idea.  All set for Thursday. No excuses. Cant possibly fail when I'll look so good....PAH :)

The countdown begins.  102 days. Tick tock.