December 2011 was as hectic as Decembers usually are. My business had its best year ever, I managed to make sure everyone was fed, had clean clothes etc and I even managed to get out for a few runs. The school bus driver is now used to the sight of me in skin tight lycra at 8.30am, but I still startle a few drivers, especially in my fluorescent hi-viz gilet.
Being away for Christmas with no room to squeeze my running gear into the car meant by the time we were home again it was over 2 weeks since I’d run. That first run was hard work I can tell you! Last run of the year on New Year’s Eve was a great way to end the year, and brought my yearly mileage total to 529.47 Miles. Wonder what my 2012 total will be?
I’m sat at my desk, with slightly achy legs, happy to have ticked off this morning’s run in my schedule. Schedule? Yes, my marathon training schedule for Virgin London Marathon on 22nd April 2012.
Those who know me will appreciate I’m a mid-40s mother of 2 who has never been sporty. Any sporting ambitions I might have harboured were shattered when I couldn’t undo the skipping rope in the Obstacle Race at school sports day, aged 10. Having led the race, I fumbled with the knot as every other child happily skipped past me. I finished in last place, tears tripping me, trailing my still knotted rope behind me. Hardly ‘Chariots of Fire’!
Fast forward to 2009, on returning from visiting dear friends in Canada I felt so fit I had to try and keep that level of fitness up. Pulled on old trainers and jeans (great running gear, designed to not look like I was running!) and set off. Much puffing and panting and walking breaks and made it back home – inspired!
Chippenham Half Marathon 2010
Over the following months my children kindly entered me into the school 10k race which was in a few months time. Serious training followed, including buying ‘proper’ trainers and even seeing me encased in lycra for possibly the first time ever. I was delighted to run the 10k race and as my son said at the time “you did really well Mum – even if you did come last”.
Since then, I’ve run further, entered more races (and have never been last in a race again – so far!). 2011 saw me run 2 half marathons in 2 weeks raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support, and also in a fit of foolishness enter the ballot for a place to run the London Marathon in 2012. After all, it takes years to win a place in London, doesn’t it? Ah – apparently not. I was gob smacked to learn I’d won place on my first time of entering.
