I’ve been running the Bristol 10k every year since 2013.  I woke up feeling awful, either a cold or hayfever.  I nearly caved.  Ten minutes to go before the bus would be due I changed my mind.  I donned my gear and ran for the bus.

It was a brilliantly bright day.  I had my heart set on that elusive sub 55 minutes that I’d been aiming for since I started running 10ks.  I’d talked myself out of it in early morning mental gloom thinking why bother if I cannot reach it due to this illness?  The answer was simple.  It’d at least be a nice long run with a medal at the end.

Each Bristol 10k story is different.  That first year I raised over £200 for Wallace and Gromit, finishing a Couch to 10k program, starting out in my training to run my first marathon at Porstmouth that December.  This year the goal was just to enjoy it and have some fun.  Bristol 10k 2018 wasn’t part of a larger training plan because I’d already done the Frenchay 10k in April.  I’ll be trying to run Athens again in November so this years goal is simply getting back into racing more.

I finished in 1:06:15, 1 minute slower than Frenchay (not a PB, boo!). I had a great r

ace and enjoyed it despite feeling rough.  So I sensibly didn’t push speed and just got into a comfortable zone. Enjoyed victory PieMinister with friends and a free pint at the Hatchet in the sun with partner afterwards.  I’m glad I got up and did it – I’ve not missed one since I started running!

Next up – running leg of a family triathon on June 2.

Happy running,

xxx

Eleanor

After having recently finished a big marketing communications campaign in events project management for the Forestry Commission I am now available again for wordsmith jobs.  Please have a quick check of my rates and bio in the link below.  References and portfolio are both available on request.

via Eleanor’s Endeavour Freelance Wordsmith

xxx

Eleanor

I’d hoped to finish 2017 with Portsmouth Marathon.  However, due to being let go the week before Christmas I had to shelve the idea of a weekend away which was emotionally battering for me.  I’d spent so much time planning Portsmouth even down to the trial race day and I knew that if I spent 26.2 miles worrying about whether I would get paid the following week that my head would not be in the game.  Being in a positive mindset is so important for a marathon.  The decision did not come easily as I’ve ran a marathon every year since I started running.

2017 was a year of fair weather running.  Running when it suited my pain levels.  The big benefit was getting Acupuncture in November which has removed the pain from my slipped disc allowing my long runs this half of the year to progress from 6 miles to 11 miles.  I just know I could go marathon distance in the right mindset.  I spent the lighter parts of the year on 6 mile runs creating a good endurance base. With more long runs than any other year despite the pain.

The only race I did, the Bristol 10k, was sadly not a Personal Best but I did finish it.  There were also more parkrun’s than any other year.  Another parkrun highlight was helping set up Eastville junior parkrun.

2017 has been a bit of a mixed bag.  Yet the base I kept up will hopefully help me reach for better efforts in 2018 with a pain free body to work with again.

https://2017.strava.com/en-us/videos/6a7bc24f28535c744f68c4a989d1ad0fb78d70f5/

The Strava year in sport feature is lovely and includes all the stats I’d usually type up.

Lots to build on in the next year!

Happy running

Eleanor

xxx

This website has been on such a journey with me since it started one Christmas Eve as a side project.  It’s now also my Freelance writing landing page as well as a place to document and share my running adventures/race reviews.  I decided to celebrate reaching 1000 + hits with a Domain name.

I’m still surprised every time someone I don’t know likes or shares this page. It’s easy to forget there is an audience out there when speaking about your own experience.  Thank you to those who have enjoyed my blogging.  To those who’ve liked, shared, Tweeted and even returned for more because you’re all the reason I kept this going even through stages I’ve not run as much.

It goes to show how great a community running is whether that’s online or on the street we are all passionate about running together.

Happy running,

Eleanor

My first pair of running shoes that I bought in 2013 are, alas, on their last legs.  They’re uncomfortable for me to run in and give me ankle twinges.  I don’t want to get rid of them as they’re sentimental to me now but I’d rather not have a pair of shoes hanging about that someone else could get some joy from.

I’m researching some ways to get them recycled or donated.

Have you ever recycled or donated a pair of running shoes?  If so what would you recommend?  I’d love to hear from you and would be happy to include your thoughts on my next blog post after donating them.

Happy running,

Eleanor

xxx

I’ve been quite busy, honestly.  Despite the strange weather that is making it seem like April in near-August with it’s sunny spells and unannounced downpours playing havoc with hay fever.  Finding the right weather window has been tricky.

I got round to actually registering for the Bristol Half Marathon as I’d only popped it in the calendar before.  I did a long run of 10k on Tuesday.  I timed it awfully and gave myself only half an hour to get ready for a family trip to the Zoo so I need to remember to schedule better now its summer holiday.

I got round to renewing my membership at Southville Running Club.  Last Tuesday I went for a four miler with the club’s beginners group in the humid head.  Following it with a nice cold pint afterwards back at base felt truly wonderful.  I’m putting regular club appearances on the agenda along with last blogs promise of regular parkrun’s.  I can’t do every week but i’ll at least make an effort to give them more time.

Last on the to-do list of running I got round to signing up for the Portsmouth Marathon 2017.  Not having a marathon on my calendar was starting to make me feel uncomfortable.  I don’t want to break a currently four year streak by not doing a marathon.  Because Portsmouth is mid-December it gives me time to recover from the Half Marathon before I ramp the training back up in Autumn.  It’s UK based so should be sensible health wise relieving any out of the country travel stress.  After the two previous visits to the event I’m familiar with the course.  I’ll be aiming to beat my previous best time set on the course of 5 hours and 15 mins.

Additionally I’ll be trying to get the most rum, Mulled Wine and brandy out of the race entry that I can physically muster without feeling unwell … something has to make up for the fact that the Portsmouth Coast will be in my shoes for 26.2 winter coast miles ….

You can register here – http://www.fitprorob.biz/portsmouth-coastal-waterside-marathon-2015/

Happy running,

Eleanor

xxx

Recently I put the Bristol Half Marathon on my calendar.  It feels good to see it scheduled in there.  I couldn’t run it last year due to my slipped disc.  Since I’m now seeing specialist physiotherapy up at Southmead Hospital I feel confident I have the right help to do it safely.  They are aware of my  running habit.

My Personal Best currently sits at 2 hours 17 minutes and I’m aiming for 2 hours.  I dusted off a running book from Runner’s World with running plans in the back.  I chose an Intermediate plan to avoid going over my 10 miles a week too rapidly – I don’t want to over do it with excitement!  I started the plan a bit late as it should have required 10 weeks and I’m giving it 8 weeks. I won’t be able to stick to it even by about 80%.  The plan is useful to know what to do in the sessions I do do so that I make the most of them.

The first 3 weeks have been a case of slowly building up the distance of each run. Two mile runs in week one,  three mile runs in week two, four mile runs in week three.  I’m now under 9 stone which seems to be helping speed. I’m back to averaging 9.30 minute miles in shorter runs and 10-11 minute miles for longer ones.  Average weekly mileage is slowly starting to creep past the 10 miles a week as a result which is fantastic – I hope it continues.

I finished last week with volunteering a Eastville Park Junior parkrun event #17 as a Funnel Manager.  I’ve had to step away from being an RD  for a bit as I’m relocating back to Bristol for autumn  but will keep up with general volunteering.  It’s lovely seeing this group grow.

Happy running,

Eleanor.

Xxx

Back in May I ran the Bristol 10k – yeah, I know this blog is super late.  I did it in 58.34 mins which is 2.92 mins slower than last year, I feel this is an acceptable margin since I’ve not been able to train much past 10 miles a week yet.  I kept an even pace of (according to Strava) 9.22-40 throughout with a random 8.29 min mile at the start for good measure.

I had a good mix of music to run with and it was inspiring seeing so many running friends out on the course.  Southville group on the bridge cheering people on! I think one of the best signs was ‘run like winter is coming’.  Afterwards I went for a victory lunch with friends at a cafe on the harbor.

I reflected on those 2.92 minutes.  What could I have done differently?

• Mileage.  Even though my weekly mileage may seem small there are plenty of articles out there that say training on 10 miles a week is doable.  It still keeps up fitness (I break it down into hill runs, faster runs, etc) and keeps off the odd pound.
• Don’t run with a post-holiday hangover.  Ever.  Just don’t do it.  Sure, run with a hangover in your holiday.  You won’t be quite as travel worn.  You’ll still have the determination.  Once you’re home, though, that’s when tiredness starts to catch up.  I’d gotten home Saturday afternoon and raced Sunday morning.  I don’t think it was wise.
• Sleep.  I hadn’t had much of it the week leading up to the race.  I was knackered come race day morning.  Waking up bright eyed and bushy tailed is much better than waking up thinking, ‘should I really be running this?’ I’ve run races with a hangover before but being travel tired is a different kind of exhaustion that you can’t fix with good hydration. 
• Carbo-loading.  In Spain I ate mostly fresh fish and red meat.  Absolutely delicious food but mostly proteins and good fats.  Carbohydrate options were scarce past veg or fruit with meals and bread sides.  I did my best.  I took one for a team at breakfast times in the hotel.  Since there were tables upon tables of breads, fruits, and pastries here I used this as the daily Carbo-loading opportunity but it still didn’t feel like enough with all the tourist walking.  It was a newbie error, I admit. 
• Race Day Magic.  It’s entirely circumstantial.  Don’t rely on it to get you through.

So, it looks like I skipped a few of the basic fundamentals we learn as newbie runners right at the start of our racing lives.  Each of those bullet points probably accounted for seconds of that 2.92 minute fail.  It’s important to remember these and get back into the habit of good racing practice. I hope to sign up for more races over the latter half of 2017.

The best thing this race did was remind me how fun it is to be out in the crowds again … adding a well-earned update to my medal hanger was rather satisfying!

Happy running,

Eleanor