Category Archives: Running

Consideration of Self

01 Wednesday Mar 2017

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As my health is an ongoing work in progress and I haven’t had any official diagnosis yet – regardless of it being nearly a year since I began to get unwell – I have had to evaluate my training regularly. I can’t follow snazzy training plans because if I’m knackered that’s me not getting out of bed tomorrow. This gets even trickier because I’m allergic to over the counter anti-inflammatory medicines so I have to rely on Paracetamol which doesn’t really impact it. So my training has been barely scraping the 10 miles a week barrel I’d half-heartedly set on Jan 1st and is more just ad hoc – doing what I can when I can.  Consideration of self capabilities is super important.

What else have I been doing?

Honestly, studying has been taking up much of my time. I’m finishing the last module of an Open University degree so my nights are spent researching Greek and Roman myth until past midnight in hopes of achieving a predicted 2:2. This means a lot less time to spend in the gym or working out.

Improvisation is key. I’ve been doing yoga daily either in the morning before work meaning a six am rise (thank heaven for SAD lamp!) or in the evening after I’ve put my daughter Holly to bed. This time last year I was running – or trying to – and doing yoga probably once a week if I remembered. I’ve found yoga such a gre20170301_130759at way to stay mobile with my spinal back problems and I’m really relishing my time on the mat. It’s so awesome when you get to see measurable progress. Things like being able to put the entire foot on the floor during a Downward Dog or indeed keeping stable on left leg balancing exercises. The left leg is where I get the pain from my back issues causing
some entertainingly shaky Tree poses! Hats off to Yoga With Adriene! Her videos are legendary. Alongside that I’ve been dancing with friends and the occasional social bouldering session. Bit of an ad hoc mix as I say but it appears to be working at keeping me fit and keeping off any weight increase from doing less than I’d like.

Running wise I’ve been slowly building using the 10% effort increase method over mileage and speed. I’m able to get away with doing 2-3 miles two times a week. I want to get confident in 3-4 miles so I can start club running again in spring and enjoy the lighter days in summer.

20170226_090020My highlight of February has been on training for Run Director as part of a team of Run Director trainees banked for a new Junior parkrun event at Eastville Park in Bristol. As part of the training we ran Little Stoke Junior parkrun as a group and attended an arkrun ethos and event running protocols. Last weekend we hosted our trial event with 11 runners and plan to launch on March 5th. It’s beginning to feel real now!
Happy running,

Eleanor

 

Switching Athletic Club

03 Sunday Apr 2016

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Back in December 2015 I decided to leave Bristol and West Athletics Club.  My main reason was that their St George location made it difficult for me to get the any of the training sessions.  So I only went to a countable number of training sessions over the course of three years.  I’d made many great running acquaintances but didn’t feel like I was making the most of the membership.

Therefore, I advised Bristol and West AC of my intentions and left in December 2015.  In January 2016 I signed up for Southville Running Club.  I work very centrally and the base is round the corner from my family so this works out better for me.  It’s easier to get to sessions.  I get to drop in on my family more as an added bonus.  The Southville Secretary was very helpful in keeping me in the loop.

I had to send off a Change of First Claim form to England Athletics with a cheque  for £10.00 in order to do so after signing up for official Southville Running Club membership and the EA affiliation.  For three months I was without a Club and only attached to EA.  The last communication from EA said that they had sent ‘my decision’ to the committee who would decide within 14 days.

I’m not sure what takes them three months and 14 days to decide upon?  II paid them £10.00 for the privilege of choosing which Club I run with.  It should not take that long.  I finally officially joined Southville RC on April 1st.  As a runner I should just get to choose who I run with without it going to an additional decision maker who will take that long with a cost to allow it.  I’m not overly fast or an Elite so I’m sure my results won’t make much of a difference to the Club.

It seems daft when England Athletics have far more serious decision to contemplate like the Doping Scandal.  Has anyone else had such problems switching Clubs?  It’d be interesting to know.

Happy Running,

Eleanor.

Why do you run a Marathon?

31 Sunday Jan 2016

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In “Why are you doing this?” Figuring out the motivation a blog from last Spring I touched on some of the reasons why I run.  Here I wrote, “It’s a good question for any of us runners to be able to answer.  The answer is a living being subjective and fluid to life’s changes and progression so the answer you once had could be a different answer the next time you’re questioned so it’s good to keep track.  I first ran in February 2013 when my motivation was simple.  I wanted to run so that I could chase happiness like Kilian Jornet and one day run the Olympus Marathon.  It gave me cause to start what KJ calls the search for happiness.”  So I run Marathon’s for happiness.

However, why a Marathon?  It could have easily been a mile-a-day challenge, a 5k Parkrun or a local 10k event but I specifically chose that February to run a Marathon in 10 months and did so with the completion of Portsmouth Marathon in December 2015.  A fair amount of runners will set their sites on the Marathon.  There must be a reason for this because as I’ve found out over the course of eight Marathons it’s not easy to run one and it doesn’t get any easier the more of them you do despite what they tell you.

If I tell myself “I want to run a Marathon in ten months” that’s an end goal.  Motivation will break that down into a training plan.  That training plan forms the basis of the manageable chunks that most people forget about when they set down a task or resolution.  Once that’s in place, after the initial shock of getting into the fitness levels and nutrition required, the momentum of excitement starts building.  Nothing can get in your way now.  After a few test races you’re nearly there.  Before you know it it’s the big day and you’ve become a small percentage of people that have run a Marathon.

If you tell anyone else “I want to run a Marathon in ten months” they don’t see all that.  They see a peppering of activities and photos on their time line as litter and glance by it throwing the occasional like your way unless they are runners themselves.  What Marathon running does is activate your will power muscle.  That muscle that gets you up at 6am to run which no one really is going to appreciate but you on the big day.  They’ll make helpful statements like, “you can’t quit smoking and run a Marathon,” or “why won’t you come out and get blasted tonight?” or “you’re just plain crazy”.  They just can’t fathom it and probably won’t until they attempt it themselves.  It’s a form of ultimate human challenge – you and your body are the only ways you’ll complete it.

So to many the Marathon is a display of what can be done and what cannot be done on the pure basis of human will power.  It puts two fingers up to anyone who ever told you you couldn’t or shouldn’t.  It allows a positive “can do” mind to take reign.  It provides all important self confidence that you just can’t get going for a casual lap of the block.  No one will ever be able to take that experience away from you.

That medal is a shield against anyone that ever put you down, told you couldn’t, your own self doubt, your own anxiety.  It is a symbol of fitness, health, dedication, an experience remembered to the end of your days.  You did that.  So for many the reason why is the adrenaline of the challenge when shorter races are the steps up to that challenge.

Happy running,

Eleanor

 

 

New Year’s Resolutions 2016

13 Wednesday Jan 2016

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  1. Drink more water
  2. Eat less sugar
  3. Be more green and renewable friendly
  4. Attend Parkrun once a month
  5. Remember to stretch after a work out/do more yoga
  6. Dig bike back out of the shed and become a confident cyclist.

On the list for 2016’s New Years Resolutions is to drink more water.  Due to IBS I’m now down to three cups of coffee or tea per day by instinct.  I’d like to make sure that what I’m drinking in between isn’t full of sugar which ties into my other resolution of cutting down on sugar.

Drinking more water and cutting down sugar aren’t really measurable resolutions unless you have an App for that but it seems an important thing to consider generally.  It’s about making the right choices.  I’m not going to commit to cutting out sugar entirely because I love Custard Creams so that’s just crazy talk.  Plus cutting things out entirely can be bad anyway.  But sugar isn’t great for the abs and I’m trying to give them a helping hand.

20151227_115625On Boxing Day I bought this nifty purple Water Infuser from Triton on Amazon.  Now our Office Assistant has one and my Team Leader has one on delivery.  They are trending as the idea has caught on.  They handily come in different colours so we know whose is whose.  At the price of £10 it seems a worthwhile investment.

Since I purchased it I’ve tried a different infusion each day keeping it varied with the flavours is good for you.  It means you’re getting in the goodness of different vitamins. So far I’ve tried; strawberry, lime and orange, plum, lemon and ginger, cucumber and ginger.   I aim to always use what is in my fridge so that way I’m being more green by avoiding food waste.  Odd fruits, hers, and spices combine to make tasty water.

Does it work?  Yes, I’ve found I’m less likely to seek out alternative drinks if I have the Infuser with me.  I’m buying and drinking less sugary or caffeinated drinks.  At the moment I’m downing two of them a day.  This is more than I would drink with just the odd glass of water to throughout the day because it’s readily available.

I’ve been in the habit of leaving it at work but it’s perfect for at home workouts, the gym or yoga.  It’s not so great for running with because it’s quite chunky.  Running with it would be a bit of a chore.

Happy New Year,

Eleanor

 

 

2015 Run Report and Carbon Footprint

31 Thursday Dec 2015

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RunReport2015

 

Count: 536.8 miles

Time: 95 hours 40 minutes running time

Elevation Gain: 27, 172 ft elevation

Interesting to see that I did these miles in far less running time than last year.  It might not have been more miles due to injury.  Last year I did 546 miles in 142 hours which is a great deal more running time.  Now, whether that’s due to the elevation of those miles, or the training time, I’m covering nearly the same amount of ground in quicker time.

This is a considerable improvement either way you look at it.

Kilian Jornet shared an interesting tool that calculates your carbon footprint on his Facebook page. My footprint is 6.62 metric tons per year.  Only 1.1 metric tons higher. The average footprint for people in the United Kingdom is 9.80 metric tons so at least I’m doing better than average – I hope that my run commuting helped towards that a lot in 2015.

You can check yours out here; http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx

Being more green is a resolution for 2015 and fitness lifestyle plays a huge part in that.  What’s your carbon footprint?  Do you plan to be greener in 2016 and how will you do it?  Working for an energy company has really made me think about my impact.

I hope everyone has had a fantastic running year!

xxx

Eleanor

 

Turning A New Leaf

27 Sunday Dec 2015

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The past 6-7 weeks have been pretty much hell.  Doctor ordered a ban after Athens Marathon.  I was suffering from either a stress fracture or planter fasciitis.  As it was more down the inner left side of my right foot with no ankle pain my doctor was convinced it was a stress fracture.  She prescribed anti inflammatory pain killers and a 6-7 week ban from running.  I was distraught.

I’d obviously been planning to run Portsmouth 50k Ultra last weekend.  That didn’t happen.  Although at the end of the ban I couldn’t risk getting back  into long distance running the day after the ban ended.  That would have been silly.

What did I do during those 6-7 weeks?

I busied myself with studying as I started my Advanced Creative Writing course at Open University which focused my mind indoors.  I switched energy suppliers so I now work for the start up Bristol Energy.  I have been finishing a cross stitch stocking for Holly for Christmas.

Fitness wise Steven has been dragging me swimming once a week.  It’s a totally different kind of workout.  Most of the time I’m just minding my own business finding different ways to not drown.  I’ve also thrown myself back into yoga.  The big deal that changed my sanity levels was starting INSANITY.  It gave me the cardio boost I needed whilst being a focus on strength and recovery rather than solely running.  I’ve been tracking my INSANITY progress so at some point I’ll do a post on that.

This break made me think about my running.  About how my determination perhaps got the better of me.  I’d always keep going if I got injured no matter what the cost.  This break has made me realize just how many injuries I fought through when I could have just taken a break until I was back to 100% and got back into it fresh and strong.

On Christmas Day I treated myself to my first run since my xray came back with no abnormalities.  A running friend had warned me that hers didn’t show up either so to still take it easy when starting back up.  I did two laps around my local lake equating to 1.7 miles.  It’s not a marathon but it’s a start!

Moving forward I plan to maintain my focus on stronger running that I had begun in late summer.  I don’t want to go back to my lazy running habits just because I’m excited to get back into it.  I’m turning over a new leaf of going into it with my yoga mind – one that pays attention to my body instead of ignoring the signs.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Eleanor.

Bath Running Festival 14.5 Very Long Half Marathon

01 Saturday Aug 2015

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After a week long taper and curry the following evening race day was here again. The day was wet and full of rain that announced itself against the windows that morning and didn’t look any better when I peered reluctantly through the curtains.

Steve provided me a breakfast of crumpets, the only warmth I would have for the best part of the day, and drove me to Bath University.  In the lower field Relish Running Races had set up their white tents just over the rise from the carpark.  I’d intended to do the Marathon but in this weather I thought I’d do the Very Long Half Marathon instead as I wasn’t feeling entirely motivated.

The haunting memories of last year (scorching heat) aside I figured just one lap of the course for the Very Long Half Marathon should be reasonable in this weather.  I’d done a ten mile run last week so I knew that I could cover the distance.  All in aid of trying to add in a weekly long run to build up my endurance base.  Just think of the positives, I tell myself, what great training!

BathSkyline

Overlooking Bath city

Advertised as 14.5 miles the Long Hilly Half in true Relish style was actually a huge 16.5 miles. Of pure mud. And inclines and descents of trails hazardous hell.  It sounds risky doesn’t it?   Well, yes it does, and I thought about this whilst doing the course.  Each run is a risk.  You risk a fall, an injury, an epiphany.  But that’s why we do it.  We run to relish the experience.  Because we know that running through rolling country in this weather isn’t exactly a smart idea but because it is exciting and exhilarating and it isn’t the same as another lap of that park back home.  So whilst there is a risk it is worth it.  It gives us the strength and courage to battle on through our race with gusto.  It gives us adventure.

Stoney Lane

Relish Running Races

I thought of risk because I did see people fly forward stumbling over the tree roots in the University woods.  I myself nearly fell in the canal not realising which bit was muddy puddle or waters edge at one close point out of tiredness.  I witnessed one elderly runner on an incline nearly do a classic Tom and Jerry style banana peel slip down a hill incline like that to the left which two runners behind had to steady but still on they went enjoying every moment.  Despite all that I don’t think health and safety has much of a place in races.  It shouldn’t either.  It’d ruin the fun.  This is what trails are for.

This is a photo from the Relish Running website page for the Bath Running Festival which really shows who tough some of these inclines were.  I finished the run in 3:56:03 (+1:39:53 for the extra distance).  Last year I did the marathon in 8 hours ish hung over after a night out.  I really don’t know how I survived the run at all last year considering how hard it was sober!

Survive I did though.  This year I finished soaked through and practically limping by the end due to sore cramped leg muscles that continued to seize all day even when I got warm.  I kept my legs up snoozing on the sofa for the rest of my Sunday.  My foam roller sorted the legs out eventually and I didn’t need physio although my doctor said I’d injured my IT band my legs are fine now if not a bit tired still.

If this was an XBOX Achievement this would be 100G for sure.  The medal was pretty fantastic.  Relish medals are great and I really hope they continue these styles.  Platters of chocolate bars, fresh fruit, Jaffa Cakes and the like awaited at the end.  Totally worth it.

BathMedal

xxx

Namaste

Eleanor

Women’s Running 10km Run Bristol

01 Wednesday Jul 2015

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Rain pattered against my window on the last Sunday of June.  It was not in the least bit motivating weather.  I nearly didn’t bother as I wasn’t sure I could be assed with a mud bath and running about in the rain for an hour.  Then I thought, “Well, you paid for it, and that Ultra won’t run itself.”  I sighed and got out of bed, dressed in my running gear and booked a taxi to Blaise Castle Estates.  It’s only roughly two mile journey from where I live but with Sunday buses being as infrequent as they are I didn’t want to risk it and avoid as much time as possible spent being damp on the field. I first ran this race in 2013 when I first started running.  I did it in 1:20:00 on a hot June day.  By hot I mean it was sweltering.  I had to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated.  Here is a little review that I wrote that they posted in the Women’s Running magazine marketing for the event.  Yes, they spelled my surname wrong.  Should be Duvivier. WomensRunning13Review

See this is me on the run in 2013.  Not very fit yet.  Drinking an awful lot.  Slugging through just trying to complete the thing.  I absolutely did not have a hangover from the all nighter I pulled the evening before.  I was 100% not potentially still a little tipsy at the time.  This had nothing to do with my slugging  *clearly*.  I was about two stone heavier than I am now.

WomensRunning2013

See this is me having finished Sunday’s run.  Having kicked myself out of bed to go run in the rain for an hour for Sunday fun. Completely sober this time having thought it sensible to decline invitations to a night out the previous evening.  I stayed in drinking Chai Latte and watching House season 8 instead.  Yep, my social life has declined a little.  But hey the below me looks pretty happy doesn’t she?  She is two stone lighter.

WomensRunning2014

This year I finished in 1:02:19 cutting 17 minutes off my previous time which is a massive gain and shows how much I have progressed in trail running in the past couple of years.  This is all by having actually done some.  The route was a 5k loop starting off near the carpark, following the fields right through an avenue of trees and up into the woods at about 2k with a rooted slope.  The woods then rise for 1km of woodland pathway a mix of rooted and gravel before coming back out into a grassy field that leads back into the woods briefly before coming through the start/finish arch for a second loop.  In the woods it was great to see the men of Bristol and West volunteering whilst a few of us girls ran and supporters down at the finish arch. It was also good to bump into running friend and fellow blogger Liam and his girlfriend Laura.

All in all I was glad I got up and ran.  The purple goody bag was full of nice treats too! Having a comprehensive goody bag along with your medal and tee shirt really makes it feel worth the cash.  The advertising claims the contents to be worth 30 quid.  I particularly liked the Popband hairband that claims to tie your hair up without leaving a kink in it.  Really cool as my hair so much looks at a hairband and kinks so I always leave it out.  Will have to test this product.

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Also Hello July! May and June were all about building a steady base of 13 mile weeks. Now it’s 25 weeks until the 50k Ultra so I will be slowly adding more miles each week and a little speedwork. Marathon number 7 coming up on the 26th of July at Bath Running Festival.  Time to crack on with the long runs… if I don’t melt in the heat.  The following photograph was taken at 6:30 am yesterday during my run to work and the hot weather is set to continue.  Stay hydrated folks!

 

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Namaste,

Happy running,

Eleanor

Training: Getting back into the habit.

15 Monday Jun 2015

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This year took a turning for the worst training wise due to illness in the first few months of 2015.  Apart from running the Alexander The Great Marathon I’ve only done one week of training a maximum 21.3 miles.  My goal for the year had been to beat last years weekly average of a poxy 9 miles and run 13 mile weeks.  Needless to say I’m a bit behind.  Apart from the marathon the longest training run I’ve done so far this year is a poxy 10 miles.

I’ve managed a few weeks at 13 ish miles but only a few.  However, it’s halfway through the year so there is still six months to turn it around.  It’s about getting back into the habit of running every other day like I used to when I first started.  Mixing it up with short speed training sessions and a long run.  So far I’ve been easing myself in to it, aware that too much of a sudden jump could cause injury, even if the amounts might seem small to other endurance runners.

Scheduling in short speed work sessions are easy.  All too often my training runs have been just over 5k (including the distance to work) so I’m surprised I managed the marathon at all.  It’s a pretty big jump from 5k to 42k.  I don’t want to keep repeating that leap.  I remember how hard those last five miles were.

It’s comforting to know that I’ve kept my marathon fitness throughout.  Now it’s about progressing it.  The long run to start with will be a minimum of 10k each week.  Once I get used to this I’ll start adding a hotch potch of speed of extra miles or speed work to keep up my pace.

Yoga has been helping keep my muscles feeling fresh throughout my new schedule.  I’ve promise myself I’ll do a 30 day yoga challenge.  I want to see if I can keep to a commitment of fitness just like with my schedule.  Especially when I know it benefits it.  Meaning I can go from one session to the next with the same intentions without tiredness from the intensity of the other.  This is important for enjoying the run and keeping fresh.

A phrase in the yoga flow I did on the weekend, “take a moment each day to pause and do nothing” something that resonated. I do so much. All the time. I need to allow myself a few moments of peace each day when I’m not focusing on what I have to do on my list and just appreciate being.

Namaste

Happy Running

xxx

Eleanor

Ready for a workout.

26 Sunday Apr 2015

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I find myself asking what next? I’ve trained from sofa to marathon in ten months.  To date I’ve run 6 marathons; Portsmouth Waterside Coastal marathon x3, Scafell Pike Mountain Marathon, Bath Running Festival Marathon, Athens Classic Marathon and the Alexander The Great Marathon.  My personal best marathon time is 5 hours 13 minutes as clocked at Portsmouth in 2014.  I’m by no means done running yet.  I just find myself acknowledging that running has made me the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.  It’s taken me to new heights, new places, I’ve made new friends.  I’ve experienced. That doesn’t just stop at running, surely?  I want to start with a new challenge.  I just need to figure out what.  Something that I’ll spend most of May brainstorming.  There’s more out there, I just know it!

I’ve been incredibly busy setting up the Ovo Running Club for the business I work for – Ovo Energy.   We have every other club that could be thought of accept a running one.  I’ve dedicated myself to lead one session a week and have been busy promoting and getting an idea of interest.  So far we have six members and a club session on Tuesday for 5K at lunch time I have to figure out a route for.  I’m glad to be giving something back to the running world.   1

As well as that I’ve signed up for the gym that we have in the basement.  £10 a month for unlimited use and free classes run by Nuffield Health personal trainers.  They set me up with a strength plan as I want to focus on muscle strength all round as I feel at the moment it’s all just in the legs.  I want to balance out a bit.

Nutrition wise I’m well into my second month of being a vegetarian.  I’m loving that vegetables now seem to have more flavor than before.  I tried a slice of bacon the other day and it didn’t agree with me like it once did so I think it’s cemented now.  This is what Eat and Run by Scott Jurek will do to you.  I doubt I’ll have the will to ever go vegan again as I love cheese too much.  Things change though so we’ll see!

xxx

Eleanor