Ultra Running Ali

Onwards and upwards...

2012-01-21T15:19:00.001Z

After a bad week of feeling dizzy and having bad fatigue, I finally felt better yesterday, which was (coincidentally) after having hopi ear candling therapy for my sinus infection. It either was very effective or was just a part of turning the corner back to some sort of normality! I slept well too for the first time in over a month so woke feeling able to do parkrun today.

I was slow again but ran/walked it, I was pleased with the amount I could run after only having the energy to walk all week. Doing the Brighton marathon this year is now not achievable for me so I'm deferring it to next year. As a consolation I will be doing the Leamington 10k instead that day which I am pretty pleased about as I did it last year and loved it.

My next race is the Belvoir 16 Challenge in five weeks which luckily is one that people walk too so I shouldn't be last if I run/walk it! That will be the furthest I have gone since my twenties so here's hoping that I stay reasonably well before then. I'd be gutted to miss it......

30th parkrun happy!

2012-01-14T12:21:00.003Z

Have had the week from hell as I've had a sinus infection that I'm on antibiotics for. Horribly dizzy and constant pain so no training again this week. Chiropractor's on Wednesday was my only trip out and much needed for ongoing neck pain. It has all knocked my energy levels with the CFS so I was well miserable! Yesterday my dearly beloved brought me a big bunch of flowers to cheer me up and it worked :)

Even last night I thought there would be no parkrun for me and that REALLY made me grumpy! However this morning I felt a bit better and convinced myself that a 'bit of fresh air' would do me good......and it did. I was very slow but didn't suffer too much and enjoyed the tea and cake with Maggie and Carl afterwards. I am much more cheery now, thanks 100th parkrun!

New Year, new challenges...

2012-01-06T19:51:00.002Z

2012 has not got off to a great start 'athletically' as I have had a cold/chest infection since coming back from Lanzarote mid December. Ran and swam 5 days whilst there and felt great, it's all been downhill since! Did two slow parkrun's before Christmas then have only ran/walked twice since NY. Just starting to feel a bit better, parkrunning tomorrow as I need my fix! Hoping to be OK by next weekend for the 'not the Roman 9' at Stratford. On Monday I am going to meet Chrissie Wellington at an event in London - well me and 99 others! She is one amazing lady and I have as much admiration for her charity work and support of others as her sporting achievements. I have entered the Bristol Triathlon in July as I've missed cycling (not so much swimming!)and the challenge of doing three sports in one event over the last year. Better get back to trying to master the front crawl then.....

Marathon/Ultra Training Begins......

2011-11-11T11:58:00.001Z

Some might wonder why my blog is called 'Ultra Running Ali' when in fact a half marathon is my furthest distance to date. It's because, in 2012, I am aiming to complete an ultra race, not just because it will be something that not everyone (of sound mind!) attempts and a mega challenge for me, but I like the idea of being able to run/walk in some of the most beautiful parts of the country and not be looked upon as a slowbie as it's about completing the distance....in your own time! An ultra is more than just the distance, it's also about mangaging your pace so that you make it to then end, managing your nutrition and hydration, and your feet! Yes, if you don't look after them properly you won't make the end so I have bought a really good book (yes, really!) called 'Fixing Your Feet'. Now it's not something to settle down with for a good long read but it's full of good information on the various foot problems that may occur. Anyway, back to training, my (nicely printed out) plan for the Brighton Marathon and beyond atarted on the 1st November, but it didn't go too well as fatigue hit me like a brick for 5 days, the result of a combination of things - stress, doing too much and being very upset at being portrayed as someone who couldn't possibly have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome AND run. This week has been a better one, having done a very fast (for me!) two mile run as a test to see if I was recovered then training with my running club. Tomorrow I will do Coventry parkrun then next week back to the plan and longer distances again. All of my long runs will be on a run/walk basis as this helps me manage my fatigue and will help with training for the ultra. First focus is of course Brighton which I would hope to do at a much faster average pace than the proposed ultra - I haven't decided which one to do yet as i will wait until nearer brighton and see how things are going and whether I will be up for one sooner.......or later in 2012!

Yorkshire Coast 10k......and other stuff

2011-11-01T07:11:00.001Z

Just back from a lovely weekend in Scarborough staying with my wonderful family and taking part in the Yorkshire Coast 10k, a great race along the seafront and back on a beautifully sunny day. I was still quite fatigued from the Brum half so had to walk quite a bit but I was still pleased with my time of 1:08:18.Got home yesterday to discover that the article that went in the newspaper has upset a few people who don't believe I can have CFS and run. I invite them to come and spend a week with me and see me on the bad days. I may be super active compared to those people who have unrelenting symptoms and are confined to bed or the settee day after day but it doesn't mean I don't HAVE the condition, I just have it to a lesser extent. My heart goes out to them.I was very upset by the comments, particularly by a Doctor who is well known in this area. He was rather vindictive which ironically upset me so much that I had a flare up that today has caused a relapse! I would have thought that he should know better as to how stress and conflict can affect a sufferer. I could go on and on and I did think about putting a reply on the newspapers' site but I don't NEED or WANT further conflict. I really wanted to invite him to re-diagnose me if he thinks I can't possibly have it but I just want to put it behind me and .........calm down......and recover.Onwards and upwards, lesson learned to not 'put myself out there' in future.

Great Run Birmingham

2011-10-25T16:08:00.000+01:00

What a brilliant day! I'd had a bit of a rough week so had no expectations of what I would be able to do but I was hoping to stick to 12 minutes per mile which I knew would give me a time of 2:37:30, meaning I would be 5 minutes quicker than at Bristol. I started well, reached 2 miles in 21 minutes which meant I was going a little fast for me but I felt good. As is usual, by mile 8 my energy levels had gone way down and I slowed up a bit, losing the advantage I had gained. Who would have thought there would be hills in Birmingham, but mile 10 to 11.5 were tough! From there I pushed like I never had before and finished in a time of 2:36:59, which I was ecstatic with! So that's my three halves completed in six weeks for the Alzheimer's Society in memory of my lovely Dad, who came from Brum which made it all rather emotional. Hope you enjoyed it Dad, I know I did :) x

Coventry Half Marathon

2011-10-04T13:27:00.001+01:00

It was a hot one! By 9.30 when the race started it was already very warm and coupled with a mostly uphill course to six miles made it a bit difficult. I (as usual) felt lucky to be well and make the start line, especially as I had not been sleeping well the previous few days. I was more nervous for this one than Bristol as the heat worried me a lot - I have no temperature control! If it's a little warm, I'm at boiling point before my temperature starts to come down. At around mile 5 Scooby Doo (yes, really!) who I am friends with came back to run with me as it was a bit warm for him in the costume so he was happy to plod at my pace. Was good to have company and made the race seem much easier. At mile nine we caught up with another friend who was suffering as he hadn't been well the previous two days so we stayed with him and walked a fair bit from there. We finished around the 2:55 mark which yes, was slow but I always said it was a question of survival in the heat!Three weeks to the Birmingham Half now which I had ideas of trying to break my 2:42 at Bristol, but having seen the elevation for the course it's not going to happen! I'm hoping to do another long run next week (after recovering his week!), I've been for a bike ride today to exercise my legs without putting any strain on them, plus I just didn't have the energy to run. Hopefully I can run on Thursday and do parkrun on Saturday. Feeling good about running and trying to Chi run on my long runs so that I can do long distances in my Nike Free's. I'm up to 10km in them so far and as long as I concentrate on my form, I have no joint problems. Life is good!

Women's Windsor 8k

2011-09-26T08:56:00.001+01:00

Well that was an exciting adventure! Left Coventry in plenty of time but a major road closure for the whole weekend (well done council, on the weekend of the Windsor Half Marathon too!) meant going through Maidenhead at snails pace and arriving 20 minutes after the race had started. Luckily, as it didn't involve road closures we could still start so after a mad dash across the field which left me breathless before the start line we set off! We did our own thing which meant that I was last placed person 'on the road' but I passed some walkers on the way round so I wasn't too lonely and finished in 55:11 which was a bit slower than I hoped for but at least I got to take part! It was very warm and the course had some hills - there is a long mile uphill from the start which is a bit of a killer. It was a nice course though and I'll be back next year to experience the atmosphere more which we missed!

Now this next week is all about resting and a couple of short runs to help keep me 'M.E. clear' for the Coventry Half Marathon on Sunday. Fingers crossed......

Bristol Half Marathon

2011-09-16T19:25:00.000+01:00

I was very lucky to start feeling well again last Friday and Saturday and be able to take part at Bristol. The week before was very tense as I thought it wasn't going to happen. Having got to Bristol on Saturday I was a little worried about the 'savage' weather forecast but on the day it couldn't have been better, sunny with a cool breeze. I felt great to around 7-8 miles then got a bit fatigued, but despite that really enjoyed it. Finished in 2:42 which I was happy with, nice medal and t-shirt too! Thought it was very well organised and friendly.Had two days rest then did 7k on Wednesday with some intervals, but I think I overdid it as today I have been rather crappy! Hoping to feel better in the morning and be able to do Coventry parkrun. Always think positive!

2011-09-05T10:15:00.005+01:00

Have had a bad week with the M.E., last week I wanted to do my last long run before the Bristol Half Marathon this Sunday but I couldn't manage it - well, I maybe could have but would have knocked myself out even more which wouldn't serve any purpose. I did two 8km runs which went well, but the following days I was almost bed-bound by the effort. I did parkrun on Saturday and really struggled with it then yesterday had a mega bad day! I rested all day (well I couldn't have done anything else!) and although I feel slightly better today, will do the same. If I feel OK tomorrow I will do a gentle 5km just to keep my system clear.I am getting increasingly frustrated with people who don't even attempt to understand M.E. or really just don't want to know. Either they don't care or (as I suspect) don't believe in the condition. They see me running and think that there can not possibly be anything wrong with me but they don't see me on the dark days of being in bed. I understand that they can't comprehend it, somedays neither can I but believe me folks, it's real! I am also frustrated that I can not improve my running times much, if effort and determination = fast times I'd be an elite by now! Onwards and upwards :)

Six months on...

2011-08-25T13:29:00.000+01:00

I've been prompted to blog again, I can't believe it's so long since I did last time. I had a big downer March/April time and had to concede that trying to train for three sports to take part in triathlon was just crazy so now i am just run(walking) and am really enjoying it. I have three half marathons coming up over six weeks, Bristol 11th September, Coventry 2nd October and Birmingham 23rd October, all i aid of theAlzheimers Society in memory of my lovely Dad. This may not seem like ultra running to some, but for someone with CFS/M.E. it is! I have also entered the Brighton Marathon next April and hope to do an ultra sometime after that, M.E. permitting. I tend to get better over summer and suffer in winter so we'll see how it goes. This week has been good, I did half marathon distance on Monday in 2:35 and 8km yesterday in 56 minutes so I am pleased with that. Today I am paying the price and am laid on the settee, which is how I am messing about on the laptop today! A cuople of years ago I decided to do somethng to keep my brain active and did a part-time course in web design. I am working on two at the moment, www.cfsrecoveryguide.co.uk and www.ultrarunningali.com. they aren't live yet but check back soon! I have my own hosting for as many sites as I want so I have already done a few so far, just for fun. I like to have something to focus on when my body says 'no way are you running today'!!

........and it's getting better........

2011-01-31T09:16:00.002Z

Chiropractor has done wonders and my ankle is good, not completely healed but I am able to run again. I'm back to doing 2 of ean of swim, bike and run each week, though I over did it last week by run/swim Monday, bike/swim Tuesday, Wednesday rest day then Thursday the M.E. bit me back and I felt terrible! Friday was OK again and did a 2 hour bike ride, swam Saturday so finished the week well!

Front crawl is coming along slowly, Tuesday night is training with the tri club so hopefully that will improve gradually over the next few months. Frustrated that the running is back to the beginning again but I've got 10 weeks until my first event of the year (duathlon) so hope I'll be back to my usual slow and steady speed by then!!

Must go, the sun is out, it may be a little frosty but my bike is calling me...... :)

New Year, Sidelined!

2011-01-10T08:36:00.000Z

I’m doing a lot of reading at present as I can’t do much else, I am sidelined for a couple of weeks with a recuring ankle injury. I was recommended to a chiropractor (who I saw on Thursday) by a fellow runner. After getting the whole picture it turns out that I have a neck and back issue too that goes way back in time to when I fell off a horse. After some bone cracking (ow!) she assures me that I’ll be back running in a couple of weeks. At least I can still swim!

I’ve just finished reading ‘Can’t Swim, Ride, Run’ by Andy Holgate which is great, about his journey into triathlon, very amusing and inspirational. I’m reading the ‘Total Immersion’ swim book as my swimming is rubbish and I’ve ordered Liz Yelling’s running book. I’ll be well read if nothing else! I've also set up an online girls only tri club 'Triathlon Chicks' to encourage more women into triathlon that may not want to join a traditional club, or don't have a club near them. It is affiliated to the British Triathlon Federation. Triathlon has given me so much confidence in myself and my (sometimes limited!) abilities that I want to share the benefits!

Hope everyone’s training is going to plan :)

End of the year thoughts.......

2010-12-30T09:00:00.002Z

I know I've come a long way this year recovering from M.E., losing weight and getting fitter though I'm still suffering from a sore ankle some days which set me back a long way. If I hadn't stupidly fallen off a step I would be in a much better position now going into 2011 and I feel I've got quite a bit of catching up to do.I was getting out on my bike again twice a week until the snow came two weeks ago but it's gone again now so I'll be back on it tomorrow! I did Coventry Park Run on Christmas Day which waa brilliant, a big thanks to the volunteers that run it week in, week out. I have volunteered a few times (and will be on New Year's Day) and enjoy doing that nearly as much as taking part!I may be slow but I can keep going for a long time and I will, as usual, hang on to the memory of Jane Tomlinson completing an Ironman whilst terminally ill. You are my inspiration Jane.So not a bad year, I discovered triathlon, did a nutrition course to help me understand and implement a diet that works for me and met some great people. Thank you triathlon! :)

Where has the summer gone?

2010-11-03T10:47:00.000Z

It's been an up and down year, two steps forwards one back with the M.E. Over the summer I did the Race For Life 10k at Coombe Abbey which went well, I was quicker than I'd ever been before, despite a thunderstorm and torrential rain! In August I did the Rugby Sprint Triathlon which I completed Ok but wasn't really that well. As I'm a member of the club I also helped out, which was good fun.

In September I did my first Park Run at Coventry which I really enjoyed, I've also volunteered twice since. And so to the worst time......travelled up to Durham the night before the Great North Run, I was feeling pretty well with the M.E. so rather happy with myself. Checked into accommodation, looking for my room fell off a step and did my ankle in. No GNR for me, so I was rather upset....inconsolable in fact. I am still recovering from it (mentally and physically( so feel I've lost the fitness level I've worked so hard to gain. Ah well, there's worse things to have.....

Looking to next year, I have a few races planned starting with the Silverstone Half Marathon on the 6th March which should keep me motivated and training over winter. Also a few triathlons I'm considering, the jury is out on which just yet!

Onwards and upwards :)

Ali Virgo is fundraising for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association - JustGiving

2010-05-20T13:41:00.001+01:00

Ali Virgo is fundraising for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association - JustGiving

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I love my bike!

2010-05-10T14:44:00.000+01:00

Well I'm not sure where the last month has gone since my last blog. I've not had a great month with family problems and it's impacted on my training but the delivery of my lovely new Felt bike has made me feel much better!

Swimming - no improvement as I still have bad shoulders and can only manage breaststroke. I seem to be swimming further but not any quicker.

Cycling - has up to now been on my trusty mountain bike but my first trip today on the Felt made me realise how much easier it is riding a road bike rathr than a mountain bike......on the road!

Running - (actually jogging/walking) is still slow and steady but I managed two 5 milers last week two days apart so things are looking up.

Only four weeks now until Blenheim so I just hope I keep getting better healthwise, if thats OK, I'll manage it OK!

Onwards and upwards..... :)

Not a bad start to the month....

2010-04-08T21:50:00.001+01:00

After the duathlon I was pretty tired so I had 2 days rest then did a swim and run on the Tuesday, a 14k bike ride Thursday, a swim and short run Friday, a 16.5k bike ride Saturday.....things are looking up! Had two days away then a run yesterday and another 14k bike ride today.

OK, so I'm not quick and never will be, but I feel good (most of the time), and since I took StuWeb's advice about refuelling (thanks Stu!) I have felt much better after exercising. I refuel straight after I get back, then hourly for 2-3 hours. Normal people wouldn't need to doing the amount of exercise I do, but I've long since learned that I have to do things differently!

Still haven't got myself a road bike yet but I'm working on it.... :)

Tri Live Duathlon

2010-03-28T13:08:00.003+01:00

Well it was a last minute decision to go, due to having no vehicle for my bike and not feeling so great last week. My gorgeous other half Tim borrowed an estate car at the last minute so I thought, why not?

Nerves were in play Saturday morning but once there I felt better, though I have developed a habit of waking at 5am and it was no different! (Another M.E. symptom, poor sleep patterns). It was just a fun duathlon so low key, but the first time I'd experienced transition, I wanted to do this event so I could practice them - minus the swim and getting a wetsuit off!

The bike was OK despite the windy conditions but I was tired on the run sections, walked a little on the second one and kept a very nice injured man company for a while! It's good to talk....

Thoroughly enjoyed it and met some very nice people, I live a fairly solitary life in the week when Tim is at work which is centred around how I'm feeling and when (or if) I can exercise. I'm sociable by nature so this can be tough at times!!!

Roll on Blenheim.... :)

Up and down.....

2010-03-25T14:23:00.003Z

Since my last post I've had a few ups and downs with the M.E. so not so much exercise. I thought my cold had gone and felt great so did a swim/bike/run Tuesday the 9th(10k on the bike but short distance swim and run) and felt good afterwards.

Thursday that week a 1.25k run/10k bike/2.5k run at the gym to see how I got on, as I was aiming for the Tri Live Duathlon at the NEC this weekend. It was all too much for my poor old body, had a huge downer afterwards! The following week managed one swim and a short run then this week a 10k mountain bike ride followed by a quick run as a test again. Felt good after but the next day flat again. Arrrgghhh, it's so frustrating!!!

I shall just have to wait and see on Saturday if I'm up to it or not. If it's 'not' then I shall just go along to the show instead! :)

Cold, be gone!!!

2010-03-07T15:20:00.002Z

Have struggled a bit this week as my cold just won't go! The sensible me said 'wait until your cold has gone before exercising again' but the impatient me said 'just do it'! So Monday I swam 600m, did 8k on the bike and a litle 2.5kjog home. Ha, take that cold! Of course on Tuesday I was rather worse for wear but pleased that I could do something even with a cold. For me, that's progress from where I was a few months ago.

Wednesday I did a gentle 3k jog, then Friday another 3k jog in the morning and an 800m swim in the afternoon. My cold was bad again yesterday, all stuck in my head but today being such a beautiful day I decided to go around a country water park near my home whch is 5 miles right round. I walked/ran it as I'm stlll terribly tired but was pleased that I did it 2 minutes quicker than the last time in October.

Waahay, onwards and upwards! :)

Barcelona here I come....

2010-02-27T08:36:00.004Z

Well the sore throat became a cold so I spent three days going stir crazy at home unable to go out - to be fair the weather was (and still is, is this a long winter or is it just me?!) so dark and dismal I wasn't too bothered.

I spent my time laid in bed on the laptop (no, not literally!) looking for a Sprint race for later in the year, but not too close to the Great North Run on the 19th September and an open water seaswim triathlon (I'm a bit worried about lake swims - bugs and all that, as I have low immunity with the M.E.)

I came across the Garmin Barcelona Tri on the 17th October. That's for me! A bit of late autumn sun, a flat course, surely he can't resist after he gets over me being mad to want to do one all the way down there?!!

Yesterday I needed to get out and exercise as although I still had the cold, I feel that my body starts to get 'choked up' M.E. wise (the only way I can describe it) when I haven't done anything for a few days and I wanted to clear it. I know, I should have waited until it had gone but I'm stubborn beyond belief! Decided to go for a gentle swim but then went on the bike too and did 10km quicker that I've done it before followed by a little jog on the treadmill. Result! Today the cold has bitten back but I'm OK with that, it was a good day yesteday. :)

Up and down.....

2010-02-23T18:36:00.002Z

Last week I was away staying with a member of my family who always causes me a great deal of stress and this time was no exception, though it did lead me to have two fantastic runs by the sea (a 6k and a 5k) as a means of escape! On returning home last Friday I was very M.E. ill and stayed in bed most of the day, slowly recovering over the weekend, though I started with a sore throat on Sunday, probably because my immunity was knocked for six.

Yesterday I felt a bit better, so I swam 600m, gym-biked 10k (I didn't mean to do that much!) and a short jog home. This left me in a great frame of mind as it usually takes me much longer to recover when I am ill. Today though, I have the mother of sore throats so am paying for overdoing it! Never mind, I am pleased that I can go and do that much after a 'knock-out'.

Anyone know of a trainee triathlon coach (can be distance based by email) who would take me on as a project?!! I can't join a club and train as a) I'd never keep up and b) I have to exercise on my good days which wouldn't necessarily coincide. With not working I can't afford to pay much either, but I feel I need some expert advice so that I do not over or under do it. Just a thought......

Onwards and upwards.....

Some days are good...

2010-02-12T20:26:00.005Z

Had a good day today! Yesterday I was really knocked by the M.E. (family problems....) and this morning woke still not feeling great but decided to walk to the gym then decide if I was up to doing anything. I was! I did 2 x 4km on the bike with a spell on the treadmill inbetween plus a few weights, then jogged home. Where did that come from?!! :)

This afternoon (when I very often have to have a lie down or a sleep) I went food shopping so that my other half (can't cook, won't cook!) can feed himself while I am away at rellies next week. Came home, unpacked, thought 'what shall I do next' so I went swimming. Sure I'll pay for it tomorrow, but great day!

Next week I will be in Bournemouth so looking forward to a couple of coastal runs, which living in the middle of England I miss terribly after living by the sea in New Zealand!

Onwards & upwards...

Good start to the week....

2010-02-10T15:12:00.002Z

Monday I went to the Spa with my new membership and swam 800m (slowly, sore shoulders) then did 3km on the bike and the fastest 1km I have EVER run on the treadmill, a few weights as well as a 2.5km jog home. I felt soooo good! Then yesterday I paid for it, being laid low all day and wondering what the hell I was thinking when I thought I could do a triathlon! I guess it's still early days though so will increase what I do very gradually over the coming months.

Today I still didn't feel great but the weather was bright (if a little cold) and too nice to resist going for a run. Did a couple of miles OK so feeling better about the whole thing today. I'll do another swim/gym session Friday then really looking forward to the TCR show at Sandown Racecourse on Saturday, all that lovely gear to buy.....and no money to spend! :)

Wayhaay, A Good Week!

2010-02-06T08:50:00.003Z

This week has been a good one, I did two 2.5km runs on Monday and Wednesday as that is the distance for the Blenheim Supersprint, so I am trying to get quicker at it. Yesterday I had my induction for the local Spa & Gym, which has brilliant equipment and a nice, albeit small pool. It is only 1km from my house so I can jog there and back, rather than trailing all the way into Coventry every time I want to swim. I worked out that a membership was actually cheaper than the cost of the pool and bus, and it's so much nicer!

I'll be able to swim, use the gym bike and either the treadmill or run home from there. I did 10 minutes each on the bike/treadmill/some other thing that I don't know the name of (you can tell I've never been a gym bunny!) and a few weights for my week arms. After that I did a 2.5km run home and this morning am not suffering, things are looking up!

I have been working out a training plan this week to suit me and my 'deficiences'! Up to now I could never stick to one as when I exercised was governed by how well I was with the M.E., but now I think I can loosely stick to one, possibly only moving the days about to suit each week. I have to take into account both the supersprint (and I'm hoping to do a sprint later in the year) and the Great North Run in September, so its taken some thinking about. I think I'm finlly there, but I'm sure there will be a few tweeks along the way. I like to have a plan intead of faffing about each week thinking 'what shall I do today'!

Onwards and upwards......

Where does the time go?!

2010-02-01T16:50:00.003Z

A few more sessions since my last update, went to Scarborough to stay with my (fantastic!) children and future son-in-law the 23rd/24th Jan and had a go on their treadmill (They do the Great North Run every year and other events). It's great to be able to use it in winter and on dark nights but I find it so hard not to keep looking at the time and distance, and thinking 'is that all I've done'?!! It saved my poor little knees a bit though as they have been complaining a bit.

26th Jan did a 5km and found it easy (for me - yeh, easy for 'normal' people!) which gave my confidence a bit of a boost. 27th I did a 10k on my bike which I haven't been out on for ages so it was hard going. At present I have a Claud Butler 'hybrid' which I love but it isn't great for triathlon! I keep drooling over a new road/triathlon bike on the internet and leaving the page open for Tim to take a hint from, but so far it hasn't worked. I think he wants to see that I am committed to triathlon long term - he should know me better than that, once I set my my mind to something NOTHING will stand in my way!

I've got now that I can run all the way, at one time the M.E. meant that I would lose energy quickly and get out of breath then have to walk, but last Thursday I did 3km and on Saturday a 4km run which again isn't far but being able to run it all was fantastic!

Onwards and upwards...... :)

And it's getting better.......

2010-01-22T08:19:00.002Z

Had a good run yesterday, I had slept badly so was very (M.E.) tired which leaves me with sore joints and muscles, but as I have discovered since I started exercising to help recover from it, I often go out and think I'll just have a little walk/jog to get a little exercise/fresh air/clear my head, and those are often my best days!

Yesterday was no exception, I ran further than before and seem to be getting my breathing under control to allow me to run more. I have struggled with it constantly, getting out of breath and having to walk for a minute to recover, again a symptom of M.E. that has been very frustrating. It is the same if I run up hills, my body shuts down and says no, I don't think so! It's like I have suddenly been stripped of any energy I may have had - ever. Luckily for me, living near Coventry means it is fairly flat and there aren't too many hills I encounter.

Am going to Scarborough today to stay with my children for a long weekend, taking my running gear just in case the weather is good to go out and if not, my daughter has a treadmill so no excuses!

Onwards and upwards.......

Two runs and a swim.......

2010-01-19T19:45:00.003Z

My joints were sore on Sunday so I just did a 2.5km run and though the snow had gone it was frosty with black ice, I nearly went down! Took it very steady and got home in one piece.

Yesterday I went swimming for the first time since before Christmas, as my shoulders were sore I did a length crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, a few times you understand! Forgot my googles, still haven't tried them yet.

Today I did a 2 mile run, tired as not sleeping well but felt better afterwards, it sure does help to overcome the 'CFS fatigue'!

My website www.triathletestravelguide.com is coming on and I have a few more companies on board offering discounts to our members, so all is progressing well. I'm also setting up a running group in Coventry for women beginner runners, through the Womens Running Network. Looking forward to starting that!

Much Snow = Less Training....

2010-01-13T14:15:00.003Z

Well the snow is still here and seems to have been for some time now. I have done four short run/walks since my first outing this year, 2 x 2.5k, 1 x 3k and 1 x 4k. I daren't go too far as a) its too slippy & dangerous and b) my knee has been playing me up a bit so I don't want to push it. Haven't been out on my bike - obviously! I'm not THAT stupid....

As for swimming, none for a while, so planning to go the end of this week, I got the 'Total Immersion' swimming book for Christmas, along with some goggles and a new cycle helmet - not to wear together you understand! It takes you back to basic drills and learning 'fishlike swimming' so will be following that to try and improve a bit. Miracles do take a little longer.....

I got a bargain Orca tri suit half price just before Christmas, it's in what I call 'Kiwi colours' of black & silver. It was one I really wanted, having lived in New Zealand for four years I wanted to support an NZ company AND I love the brand! My partner Tim seems quite impressed by it too, but for quite different reasons......! :)

New Year First Outing!

2010-01-04T19:06:00.003Z

First exercise of any type since Christmas Eve, thought I'd never get rid of this cold! Felt really good to go for a run, just did 2 miles as I didn't want to overdo it. Was sunny but sooo cold! Have got a place in the Great North Run as I did it last year and got a guaranteed place by paying a £40 membership fee for three years worth - rather expensive but I really wanted to get in this year as it is the 30th anniversary, it should be mega!

Am entering the great North Swim at Windemere in September, I've decided to try a variety of challenges in my 50th year so that I will always remember it and celebrate life!

Had Christmas off from developing the new website www.triathletestravelguide.com, there is so much to do that I have a long list of jobs to get through! Hoping to get companies to come on board and offer discounts to triathletes, however small.

Onwards and upwards!

Christmas Indulgence!

2009-12-26T13:17:00.002Z

Went for another (short) run Christmas Eve a) to de-stress (family staying, nuff said!) and b) hoping to boost my metabolism in anticipation of what I was going to consume the next day! M.E. has a little known side effect of suppressing your metabolism, hence you have to survive on less calories than a 'normal' person in order to not put on weight. After promising myself I wouldn't overeat of course I did! Itching to go do some exercise today but I've picked up a cold and am exhausted (from stress!) so it will have to wait a few days. Just hoping it doesn't knock me for six and take me back a level. Here's to the New Year and looking forward to training for Blenheim!

Slow walk/run in the snow!

2009-12-23T13:37:00.004Z

I hadn't exercised since last Thursday as the M.E. had bitten me in the bum a bit! Today I had to get out and do something before I went mad. Just did a 4km walk/jog as the snow was frozen and so slippy, a bit scared I was going to fall and injure myself. It was sunny though and quite beautiful so couldn't resist it. Felt better after too, having had a stressful few days due to family!

Cold Bike Ride!

2009-12-17T15:37:00.002Z

Had a late night out for a meal last night and really shouldn't have gone anywhere this morning as I was so tired, but a few things made me get off my backside and go. The first was reading about Jon Blais who completed Ironman Kona after being diagnosed with ALS - read about this terrible disease here http://www.waronals.com/. Secondly, a bit of sun on a winter's day made me glad to be alive and to throw caution to the wind (plus the reported impending snow) and go out to do 10km. It was freezing out there! Also, why is the wind always in your face, whatever direction you are going in? Anyway, it was a struggle but I felt pretty good about it when I got home.....after I had sat in a hot bath for a while!

Swimming Lesson

2009-12-16T16:19:00.003Z

Haven't had a swimming lesson since I was at school! As I am mostly stuck doing breaststroke because of my slowly-getting-better frozen ahoulder, I really needed help as I seem to do this weird kick that I have been doing for years! Had to practice it on my back with floats so I could see what I SHOULD be doing the try and replicate on my front, which I found difficult to say the least. Managed to do a bit of front crawl and backstroke so that she could assess them, they are OK, or will be with a little training! I have a fear of having my face in the water so that is something to work on, especially now my new Zoggs Odyssey goggles have arrived! Onwards and upwards......

Why Triathlon?

2009-12-10T14:04:00.004Z

I just walked/jogged/ran until recently, but decided that triathlon was for me as I love swimming and biking too. Having watched Chrissy Wellington win Ironman Kona for the third time I was hooked! She is amazing, as I'm sure others are but watching her congratulate others who were finishing long after she had made me think what an amazing, friendly sport triathlon must be. OK, I'm never going to be able to complete an Ironman but I'll be happy completing shorter distances and being part of something great!

So far I've been swimming breaststroke slowly as I am recovering from having a frozen shoulder and the furthest was 800m until this week when I managed 1200 metres, a big achievement for me! I'm swimming twice a week but am terrribly slow as my technique is not good, I'm going to do swimming lessons from next week to try and improve. If I find I can only ever do breaststroke I want to do it well!

Newbie Triathlete

2009-12-09T14:29:00.000Z

I'm new to triathlon, just started training but already entered the Blenheim Super Sprint next year. I started running, no, thats jogging/walking a year ago, I have had M.E./CFS for 5 years but am slowly recovering. Doing nothing and resting didn't help so I decided to go the other way and exercise to see if that helped. It must have done as I did the Great North Run this year, it may have been a tad slow! at 3 hrs 20 but it was the getting round that was important for me.