RISE 8km- I did it!!! :)

So, just over two weeks ago now (where the hec did all that time go?!) I completed the RISE 8km run! It was a great morning. My mum and sister picked me, Baz and my friend Joe up and off we went to Saltdean. I have to admit I was getting quite nervous on the way there. But luckily I was also feeling excited and determined. The weather was great- it was a clear day, with hardly any wind, no rain, and not too warm or cold. There was a good atmosphere when we arrived, with runners getting ready and assembling for the warm-up...

There was a Zumba-type warm-up, which was fun (as I love Zumba). Although I did feel a little silly doing some of the moves with everyone watching! The woman leading it was awesome, she had so much energy and enthusiasm, it was great. And then we took our places for the start of the run, 

I felt pretty good on the run, I actually felt pretty strong and positive (something I struggle with), trying hard to remember all the things I'd been learning about good running form. "If nothing else, just focus on your breathing". So that's what I did mostly. I tried really hard to keep my upper-body static and keep my core engaged, but judging by a few of the pics of me running, I still have a lot of work to do on that front! 

I was aiming for a time of between 40 and 45 minutes. My actual finish time was 39:29, which I was SO happy about! I couldn't believe I had got under 40 minutes, and even Baz was surprised too. It was lovely seeing my friends and family as I got to the finishing line, it meant a lot that they had come to watch me run. My friend Joe went to a couple of different places to watch me which was lovely, especially near the end when he was cheering me on. The guys from Jo's Thing (who I had done some training with) also cheered me on lots when I went past them, and that was really special too.

I love this picture!

I had been told to run the first 4km within my comfort zone, and then push it for the second 4km, I tried to do this, but was struggling in the last few kms to speed up. Still, at 5km, I was at around 24:30, which is the second quickest I have ever run 5km! So that was a real boost. 

All in all, I feel like it was a great run. I finished in the top 25 or so runners (out of around 300) and managed to beat my target time. Thankfully I didn't have any pain during or after the run. And perhaps most important of all I managed to raise £347 ( thanks to all my generous friends and family) for a really important charity, RISE, who support people affected by domestic abuse.

Me and my friend Joe 

Oh I nearly forgot, it was my first time wearing my new Vegan Runners top! I had someone pass me on the run, at around 6km, who said "It's great to see another vegan runner!!" which was lovely and made me feel glad I was wearing it. As most runners were wearing their turquoise RISE t-shirt, I think my top stood out, and hopefully it got a few people thinking!  

Now I have to get my bum in gear and train for the Brooks Brighton 10km! Which is in three weeks time....

See ya -x-

RISE run tomorrow!

It's been just over a week since I posted. I've always been prone to getting quite bad headaches, and unfortunately I was suffering a bit with it this week. This meant I couldn't go out training with Jo's Thing on Tuesday- I was gutted- and I haven't done as many runs as I would have liked. But nevermind... I have made it out three times- twice on my own and once with Jo's Thing.

Wednesday I ran about 4km, along the seafront, I just wanted to take it easy because of not feeling 100%. It went ok. Was just glad really that I made it out. Thursday was the training session, my last free RISE one. It was great. It was at Preston Park, I sped along the streets on my bike to get there from Aldrington (Hove) for 930am. There were about eight or so people again. We ran for 30 minutes, broken down into three runs: 15mins, 10mins and 5mins, trying to increase our pace each time. I managed to do the last 5mins at 4.38, so was really pleased with that. I am so glad I got the opportunity to do these training sessions, even though I only managed to attend three of them, I have learnt lots of really useful things! I might try to drop-in every now and then as I have found them really motivational and supportive.

Last night, after feeling pretty stressed out about some things, I decided to go for a slow and easy 3-4km run (on the advice of the trainers). Well, it had been raining on and off all day and for a couple of hours there had been intermittent thunderstorms. I had the idea that it would be exciting to go out running with lightning breaking out over-head, and it would help me to try and forget about all my anxiety. For some unknown reason I didn't take my waterproof jacket, and so I got soaked after about three minutes when it started to tip down!! And I am kinda scared of thunder and lightning, even though I try really hard not to be. So I was basically freaking out when along with the rain came lots of lightning and thunder, which as I had weirdly hoped for, was right over-head. It was kind of funny, exhilarating, enjoyable and distracting all at the same time. I ran for 3km, but probably a little faster than I was supposed to because of all the being scared, haha.

(me after my crazy thunderstorm run!)

So, my 8km run is tomorrow... I guess I am feeling fairly positive about it, I kept worrying all week about how I would manage 8km because of not doing any long runs recently, but I am hoping it will be fine. My general fitness is ok at the moment, and I have done some running, so fingers crossed... I don't really know what time to aim for as I haven't done many 8km runs before, I just know I can run 10km in about 55mins and at my quickest, 5km in 24:22. I'll just be glad to finish it to be honest!!

I was so happy to finally get a Vegan Runners top yesterday...

  

I think this is what I'll wear tomorrow as my RISE t-shirt is a little big unfortunately.... 

Wish me luck.....

-x-

ps. if you want to sponsor me you can do so here! 

Great training session!

I went to my first Jo's Thing training session yesterday and it was great! Even though it really pushed me to my limits and I kinda felt like I was dying at certain points. Not really, but I think I am just a little out of shape and so it sort of hurt. In a good way though. The session was for an hour in Hove Park. We did the equivalent of the Hove Parkrun, split into three, so two full laps of the park and finishing with a half lap, which is normally the first part of Parkrun. 

There were about 8 or 9 of us altogether, and I think most of those were running the RISE 8km. Everyone was really friendly and encouraging. It was great because I have never had any running coaching, so to get lots of tips and pointers, most of it 1:1 as I was running around, was amazing. There are lots of things to think about now, from my breathing, to lifting my knees on ascents, to needing to strengthen my core to stop my upper body moving around so much.

I am going to another one tomorrow, which I am really looking forward to! This time it'll be in Preston Park and I think there will be more runners at my speed.

Got no pics from yesterday so I will simply post this pic from a few weeks back at Hove Parkrun which I really like.....

See ya-x-

Two weeks to go, eek!!

Illness keeps getting in the way of my training, it's so annoying!!

First I had the injury in my calf/ankle from running, then it was sinusitis and really bad toothache, then I had chronic dizziness from a problem with my ears, and just when I was ready to start running again, now I've come down with a cold! Not happy. But I did run Parkrun Hove (5km) yesterday, so I'm happy about that.

Here is me post-Parkrun...

I ran it in 25:14, which although isn't a pb, I was still happy with. Especially as I felt all cold-y and hadn't run for over a week because of my ear problem.

Bit of a cheesy picture...

Below is my post-running snack of toast with three-nut butter, Cheezly (vegan 'cheese') and alfalfa sprouts...yum...

 

...closely followed with a less healthy meal of more toast, waffles, Cheatin' ham (vegan fake ham), roasted tomatoes, onion and courgettes, and more alfalfa!

So I am going to try and continue to run this coming week, despite the cold,  apparently when you are ill, if it's 'above the chest' then you can carry on running. So I will. 'Cos I feel if I don't I'll struggle to get a good 8km time at the RISE event.

I am *really* chuffed that I have already reached my sponsorship target of £150 for RISE! I have so far raised £198. If you want to sponsor me that would be really awesome. Here is the link/info- https://www.justgiving.com/stephimusgrave

Happy running and happy Sunday everyone :)

-x-

4 weeks until RISE, 9 weeks until Brooks!

So, it's four weeks until I run the RISE 8km, and nine weeks until the Brooks 10km, which are both in Brighton.

Training is going ok, but I need to ramp it up a bit. One bit of good news is that I got another pb at Parkrun (Hove) on Saturday. It was strange and unexpected cos I hadn't been doing much running, so it must have been down to cross-training and the fact that the fitness you gain from intensive training actually stays with you for a while even if you stop for a few weeks. I ran it in 24:22, which I was so happy about. I still feel I have a way to go with my 5km times. So that's good.

Last week I ran three times: a short 2.77km run at my mum's in Cuckfield, a 5km along the seafront in Brighton/Hove, and Parkrun (5km).

I was supposed to run yesterday but didn't, and I was hoping to make it to my first RISE training this morning, but I was ten or fifteen minutes late and I couldn't see anyone there. Boo. I will try and go out later but I am feeling so tired so we'll see! I keep thinking, 'tomorrow' I'll start properly.... Haha. I once read that sometimes the motivation for something only comes once you've started. And this definitely rings true with my running at times. But how do you push past the feelings of 'I can't be bothered'? It's hard, that's for sure.

I will definitely try to make the Thursday training, and perhaps run today or tomorrow as well. In trying to make the session today I cycled really hard into the wind for about twenty minutes, along the seafront, and then cycled for about 25 minutes back, so it wasn't a wasted trip.

Here are two pics I took after my seafront run last week....

See ya -x-

RISE 8km Undercliff Run

I'm running 8km for RISE on Sunday 12th October, which I'm excited about, not least because it's only the second ever organised event I've entered! The last one was when I was about 21. That's if you don't count Parkrun, which is actually an organised event, and something I try to do on average about once a month, but haven't really managed, I just go through phases of not going and going. That's a 5km volunteer-run event that happens every week all over the world, but mainly in the UK. I'll post separately on it at some point because it's amazing.

RISE is a charity which supports and helps people affected by domestic abuse. They are based in Brighton (UK) and help people in Brighton, Hove and West Sussex. I feel strongly about supporting them and am looking forward to raising lots of money for them. 

8km isn't too challenging for me as I've been running up to 17km recently, the only real challenge is whether or not I get this pain back in my leg. I was running up to six days a week and then I had this moderate pain at the bottom of my calf muscle, maybe even my achilles tendon (?), I'm not sure. Anyway so until today I haven't really run for about three weeks, so I am really hoping that it won't return.

If you want to sponsor me that would be really awesome, here is my Justgiving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/stephimusgrave

They have some free training sessions, which I'm looking forward to. The first one I can make is next Tuesday,

The run itself starts in Saltdean, on the outskirts of Brighton, and then goes into Brighton, and then back again. The Undercliff Walk itself which I'll be running along is lovely, I normally walk or cycle along it, so it'll be really nice to run it instead. 

Here's a pic of it on a recent run/bike ride with friends....

So, I guess I better get training.....

-x-

New blog!!

Hey,

So I feel bad that I haven't been keeping up with my allotment and food blogs for the last year or so. So what better way to resolve this than by starting a brand new blog?! Actually I thought that it might help to reboot my existing ones if I can get excited by this new one!

So. Running. I've been doing a lot lately, and I've also started to enter organised events. I've recently signed up for: Brighton Half Marathon '15, Brooks 10km in November '14 and RISE 8km Undercliff Run, which is in just under 5 weeks. Eek.

If you're in any way interested in running, reading and looking at running-related pictures, this might just be the blog you've been waiting your whole life for. Haha, not really, but maybe you'll enjoy joining me on my running journey.

Running can be difficult at times; things like lack of motivation, injury and low mental endurance can really set you back, even make you feel down (which happened to me recently when I couldn't run for three weeks because of an injury). But mostly running is great. I like running for lots of reasons, but mainly because I can do it for free, it keeps me fit, both physically and mentally, and I get to see the sights of Brighton, Hove and the surrounding areas whilst doing it. There's also a great feeling of community, especially at events like Parkrun and being part of groups/clubs like Vegan Runners. Even being part of a group on social media, sharing your recent runs and pics, can make you feel part of something really special.

Maybe see you out there.....

-x-

This is me after getting a pb at Clair Parkrun in Haywards Heath :)