Issue 8
Training diary August 17th to August 23rd
Four runs this week. The weather has cooled down and I've been really enjoying my runs. I ran a personal best for my 4.5 mile route - and I also managed some speed work later in the week.
On the Saturday I finally went out for a longer run of 9 miles which took me 1 hour and 26 minutes, so don't expect me to break any records on the 28th September! I felt pretty exhausted after the long run, and again had a stiff neck. I think I hunch my shoulders as I run - so I'll have to try not to!
Although I'm absolutely determined to run the 13 miles, it's all getting frighteningly close. I just hope I've done enough training to manage it.   Total 19.5 miles.

Training diary August 24th to August 30th
I don't know if it's a reaction to a harder week of training last week, but I've really struggled this week.
I've done three runs and they have all been very slow and lethargic. I feel as if I must keep on with the training, but I'm bored with running...
I've had bad weeks before and got over them, so I'll stick with it, and try and fit another couple of long runs in before the real thing. The children go back to school next week, so that should make it easier.   Total 10.5 miles

Targets from last time
Long runs - to try for a run of 9 miles and then 10 miles over the next two weeks. Yes, I've done one of these and plan to do 10 miles next weekend.
Speed work - I haven't done any of this for a while, and whilst I don't enjoy it, I think it helps. Managed this as well!!

Targets for next two weeks.
Long runs.
Start making plans for the day itself.

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Issue 7
Training diary August 1st to August 9th
Two runs this week. The first was a quick race round my 3.5 mile route, before packing to go on holiday. Although I felt tired and sluggish, I actually ran my best time for this route. It amazes me that what sometimes feels like an awful run turns out to be quite good.
I had hoped to fit in more running whilst on holiday in Cornwall, but it just didn't happen. We were staying on the Camel Trail (an off road cycle track) and I did manage one run of about 4 miles; it was great scenery and beautifully shaded. The rest of the week I was quite active, cycling, swimming and walking, but no more training. I hope this week off will prepare me for the last few weeks before the big race!   Total 8 miles.

Training diary August 10th to August 16th
I returned from Cornwall to find temperatures in Surrey about 10 degrees hotter. Also my WINDSOR HALF MARATHON tee shirt has arrived! It's all getting worryingly close.
For most of this week it has been in the 90s, which is not my ideal temperature for running. Despite this I've been out 4 times. I even ran before breakfast one morning to avoid the intense heat.
At the end of the week I finally managed a longer run of 7.5 miles. Apart from a slightly stiff neck at the end, this went well. I tried to stride out a little more and keep the pace up, as I all too easily slip into a slow jog……. I need to take some water with me next time; on my shorter runs (up to 5 miles) I can manage without a drink, but I was desperately thirsty by the end of 7.5 miles. Time to find a bottle I can carry round with me.   Total 18.5 miles

Targets from last time
Enjoy running whilst on holiday. I only went out once, but I DID enjoy it.
Find the time for some longer runs. Have done one longer run.

Targets for next two weeks.
Long runs - to try for a run of 9 miles and then 10 miles over the next two weeks.
Speed work - I haven't done any of this for a while, and whilst I don't enjoy it, I think it helps.

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Issue 6
Training diary July 18th to July 24th
Four runs this week, one of them rather too literally when I had to dash into a pub I was passing and use their loo!!
Generally I've been feeling quite tired and although I'm still running I do feel like I'm dragging myself around. I'm hoping that the school holidays will see me full of energy and a bit more enthusiasm.   Total 14.5 miles.

Training diary July 26th to July 31st
Three runs this week. I struggled with the first, and was feeling very stiff the whole way around. On the Monday I decided to run my 2.5 mile route and aim for a fast time. I managed to break through 28 mins (yes, I know that sounds slow, but I actually get faster if I run 4 or 5 miles) AND I did my stretching before and after.
On Wednesday I tackled the Gatton 10K - which is all off road and VERY hilly. I've never run this before, although my husband has. Never again!! The course is a 2 lap circuit, with what can only be described as bastard hills. The worst is that once you've got to the top you know there is a second lap to go. I also found the stile half way around to be a cruel touch! Agony aside, it was lovely to run through the woods, and I did feel a tremendous achievement for running all the way around. My children came to watch, and their cries of "Go, Mummy, go!!" were very encouraging. My time was 1 hour and 4 mins, 7 mins slower than my 10K two weeks ago, but everyone there had a similarly slow time relative to their road races - so who cares - I got around.   Total 13.3 miles (but with the hills, more like 20!)

Targets from last time
Increase my weekly mileage. Haven't really managed this. Now the Summer Holiday is here I must make an effort.
Plan for some longer runs. (ie put them in my diary so that they happen!) Same again really! It's only 8 weeks until the big day, so I MUST get on with all of this. Is it possible to run a half marathon off 15 miles a week? I might be going to find out!!

Targets for next two weeks.
Enjoy running whilst on holiday.
Find the time for some longer runs.

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Issue 5
Training diary June 26th to July 3rd
Three runs this week. Two of my standard runs and a 5 mile route across some National Trust land. This is a route I'd like to run more often, but it is a little isolated, and I when I've run this way on my own I feel slightly vulnerable. (Not least because if I fell over nobody would find me for hours!!). Anyway, this week I ran this route with my husband, late on Sunday evening; we actually saw some deer, which was great. The run was fantastic; usually I struggle to keep up with my husband, or I'm very aware that he is running slowly, but we were racing along together. I think he was even impressed at the improvement!!  Total 12.8 miles.

Training diary July 4th to July 10th
Three runs this week - none of them inspiring. I had a weekend away, which involved more alcohol than I would normally drink (although still not that much!!) and I really suffered all week. My legs felt heavy and my enthusiasm was non existent. The weather has really warmed up which didn't really help. I think once I get to September I will give up drinking altogether!!  Total 13.5 miles

Training diary July 11th to July 17th
Much better this week! It's good to know that you do get over the bad weeks and that it is worth keeping going. Two fairly short runs and a 10K race this week. I managed the 10K in 57 mins; until the last hill I was heading for 55 minutes, but a very steep incline for the last 1.5 K finished me off! I didn't finish last, (which I felt there was a real danger of as it was the local athletics club 10K) and I felt pretty good most of the way around. I still can't imagine running twice this distance, though, and the September is getting closer and closer……..   Total 13.3 miles

Targets from last time
Long run. 10K, but still need to go further than this.
More variety - not just the same 4.5 mile route. I've run a few different routes, but I worry about getting lost (I've no sense of direction!) and I do like to know how far it is to home.

Targets for next two weeks.
Increase my weekly mileage.
Plan for some longer runs. (ie put them in my diary so that they happen!)

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Issue 4
Training diary June 6th to June 11th
Three runs of about 4 miles this week. The first one was sluggish, as I had been drinking the night before! Not much but enough to really feel a difference as I ran.
The second run I did the first 20 minutes with my husband. I like having some company, but he's quite a bit taller than me and his stride length is much longer. It makes it hard to get into a steady rhythm.
My last run was an absolute triumph. It was my regular 4.5 mile route, and I ran as fast as I could for the last mile and broke through the 40 minute barrier! Great to feel that the training is paying off.  Total 13.2 miles.

Training diary June 12th to June 18th
Four runs this week. The weather has really warmed up, so I'm mostly running in the evening (also we have builders in the bathroom at the moment, which makes having a shower during the day difficult!).
I ran twice this week with other people - which I really enjoyed. Not sure that I can do that on a regular basis, but when I can manage it, it does allow for more varied and off-road routes.  Total 17 miles

Training diary June 19th to June 25th
The same run, three times over this week. I've been very busy at work, but running has been an excellent release. Any kind of tension is usually gone by the end of the run. I have several routes that I run quite regularly, and it's great to see the plants in other people's gardens flowering. There's one particularly beautiful shrub (a smoke tree) that I've been enjoying.
Feel like my legs are getting much stronger.  Total 13.5 miles

Targets from last time
Buy a new running watch - yes, done that!
Fit in a long run - never had the time or energy - also too hot.
Increase time running fast in speed sessions. I haven't managed ANY speed sessions!

Targets for next two weeks.
Long run.
More variety - not just the same 4.5 mile route.

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Issue 3
Training diary April 16 May to 22 May
Managed to fit in a long run (just over 6.5 miles) at the beginning of this week. It felt pretty good - although at 1hour and 4 minutes I'm not breaking any records! I felt fine afterwards - except for a slightly stiff neck - perhaps I hunch up my shoulders when I run! Two other runs this week - a fairly standard 4.5 miler and then a very rushed 2.5 mile run in the rain which left me thinking "why the hell am I doing all this running?  Total 13.5 miles.

Training diary May 23rd to May29th
Still struggling with running fast on shorter distances; I ran my 2.5 mile route, hoping for a fast time, but still plodding round at just under 12 minute miles. I know I'm faster on the longer runs, but just a glimmer of a sprint would be nice!
Disaster struck on Saturday of this week. I managed to fall over on the patio (no drink or drugs involved, honest!) and split my top lip. Casualty sorted me out with some medical glue but I was quite bruised and shaken up. No running for a couple of days in a week when I had hoped to put in some miles.
Later in the week I managed 4.5 miles at 9.30 am (it was a shock to my system to run this early I felt very tight in my legs), and 3.5 miles.
On Thursday evening I completed some speed work which is actually beginning to feel worthwhile.  Total 13.8 miles.

Training diary May 30th to June 5th.
An excellent week. I ran my 4.5 mile route on two different days; once at midday when it was very warm - which felt good for my legs - even if the rest of me was over heating! Suncream and sweat is not the best combination. The second time I ran it was light drizzle - which was very pleasant. Both times I ran at just over a 9 minute mile pace - so perhaps I am making progress. I also managed some more speed work 6X(1min fast,2 mins jog). Next time I might try a longer "fast" session - we'll see!!
Fourth run of the week was a standard 3.5 miles.  Total 15.8 miles

Targets from last time
Stretching - still not good here. I'm not convinced it makes any difference to how I feel the next day whether I stretch or not. My theory is that I'm on my feet for so much of my day I'm permanently stretching!! Longish run - 6 miles. Only managed one.

Targets for next two weeks.
Buy a new running watch (have lost old one)
Fit in a long run
Increase time running fast in speed sessions.

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Issue 2
Training diary April 25 to May 1
A fairly gentle week after the whole family succumbed to a sickness bug…….

I managed one speed session 4 X (4 mins jog, 3 mins fast) but I found it incredibly hard; I could run fast for about 10 strides and then I felt like I was running through treacle.
My two other sessions were 2.5 and 3 miles, fairly steady pace. Total 8 miles.

May 2nd to May 8th A real triumph this week - I took part in the local YMCA 5 mile fun run. I've previously (two years ago) done this in 49 minutes. The course is quite flat to start with but then has a killer hill in the last mile and a half. I finished in 47 minutes; some way off the winning time of 26:44 but for me it was a PB!! I can't quite believe I will ever be able to run 13 miles, though. My other run this week was 3.5 miles, and I felt tired and rushed (I'd been working all day but I needed to get back to pick the children up). Total 8.5 miles.

May 9th to May 15th.
Quite pleased as I've managed 4 runs this week. One of these was a speed session of 5X (1min fast, 3mins jog). This was much better than two weeks ago, and I actually felt I was running at a different speed. I'm beginning to appreciate that it's not just the miles you need to put in.
One of my other runs was a route I haven't done before; although it was very scenic, I have found that I much prefer to know where I'm going and I seem to be able to run faster when I have done the route several times. I'm not obsessed with my times but I do like to record the speeds I do. Hopefully they will start improving! Total 4.5 miles

Targets from last time
New trainers - yes - wearing in well
Speed work - two sessions
Stretching - still don't do enough

Targets for next two weeks
Stretching
Longish run - 6 miles

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Issue 1
In January this year I decided I needed an ambitious goal to motivate my return to running (I have previously run two 10K races but had not run for about 8 months). A half marathon seemed an achievable target. When I searched for half marathons in the South of England I was delighted to find the Windsor half marathon - a convenient location and date (September - not too hot). I put my name forward to write the training diary but I never imagined I would actually be chosen; shocked, I realised I really would have to stick to my running.

Since then I have started training. A key purchase was a new sports bra. For me the Champion Jogbra Action Shape is the best sportsbra I've used and I found www.her-sportswear.co.uk very fast and efficient for buying it. I am managing 3 or 4 runs a week, usually of 4 miles. I keep a running log (on a spreadsheet downloaded from the Serpentine Running club site www.serpentine.org.uk ) and I am now up to 15 miles per week. At first I was counting every step until I got back home but now I am actually enjoying the running and using the time to think.I now need to incorporate some speed work which I am expecting to find difficult. I only seem to run at one pace (a fairly slow 9.5 minutes per mile) and when I try to run faster nothing happens!!

Finding the time to run is sometimes a struggle but my husband is very supportive and encouraging. Throughout the winter he plays hockey every Saturday so now it's my turn! My work should ease off slightly for the next 6 weeks so I am hoping to really build on the training I have already done. I very much feel I need to get ahead while the going is good.

Injuries - none so far, although I do have a slight stiffness in my left knee after longer runs.

Targets for the next few weeks:
Speed work
Stretching - remembering to do some!
To buy some new running shoes.

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