• Story
  • 2013 The Adventure Begins
  • 2014 Journey On
  • Running Race Schedule
  • Eleanor’s Endeavour Freelance Wordsmith

Eleanor's Endeavour

Eleanor's Endeavour

Tag Archives: Bristol

Helios Sphere: A novel of Magic and Marathons, Myths and Legends has been published!

06 Thursday Jun 2019

Posted by elladuv in Running

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Athens, Bristol, marathon, Novel, running, Writing

I’m excited to share some news with my blog readers.

This has been a dream for me since I was very small. I think I can finally call myself an Author! Lots of processing is currently happening. I am excited to announce that my debut novel Helios Sphere: A novel of Magic and Marathons, Myths and Legends has been published independently. It is Internationally available on Amazon.

The main character Ben is a Bristol based marathon runner who travels to Athens to run the Authentic Athens Marathon.  In the process he meets his pen-pal Dina, is haunted by an ancient malicious relic (a relic not yet written about in fiction) and finds himself on the quest to discover his powers and true heritage.  It is A Novel of Magic and Marathons, Myths and Legends.  I believe it’s one of the first modern books in which the runner is the hero in a fictional format.

I will be hosting a book launch party and signing on the Solstice week at the Gryphon.  Please check out the Facebook event page link below.

61118367_2188448557891649_2611065319665434624_n.jpg

If you would like to attend the event please take a look at the Facebook event page: Book Launch: Helios Sphere

In the meantime you can follow me on Facebook @EleanorMDuvivier and Twitter @EllaDuv to keep up with updates.

I ran 1.5 miles the other day, so I’m pleased to say that I’m back on the tracks too.  I had a bit of a break and it’s good to be able to return to running 🙂

Many thanks,

Eleanor

Race Report: Frenchay 10k – A Return To Racing

22 Sunday Apr 2018

Posted by elladuv in Running

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Bristol, comeback race, event reports, Frenchay 10k, racing, running

After a year out of racing I planned to do the Frenchay 10k on Sunday 15th of April. It was spur of the moment as I registered last Sunday.  I spent the first half of the weekend exploring humid and sunny Nottingham doing six miles of walking each day.  Then travelled back down to Bristol for the race.  I woke up to a typical cloudy (and later on, drizzly) Bristolian weather Sunday feeling rather groggy.  Two days of six mile walks had indeed caught up.  Yet that night my mantra had been, ‘I will not find an excuse to cop out today. I will not.  I will not.’  I couldn’t let another race pass me by due to my own nerves and horrendous levels of self-doubt.

FrenchayStartline.jpg

I made the decision that if I could manage a few runs per week perhaps I could switch up those runs into a race on the weekend.  I’d run what felt good training wise during the week, most of my runs ended up on weekends recently anyway due to having more time to get out.  I’d try not to obsess over plans that would see me exhausted and beat before I got to the start line.  With CFS and a slipped disc I need to be very aware of my body when doing fitness.  I only had one new medal to hang up last year.  I needed a comeback race.

Since I was 7lbs over my old race weight I tried to carboload by not necessarily adding in any extra food.  I just changed the proportion of carbs in my snacks and meals.  For weekday lunches I made a ridiculously hot veggie chilli as I find rice less stodgy than pasta and left Italian type meals to the evening.  I ordered a new set of Gaze boxes in bulk to try out to keep snacking controlled.

It was a great choice.  A race ran by a local club for charity.  The registration, start and finish were in the Glenside Campus, only about a mile from home.  This meant that travelling was no reason to cause any anxiety.  Inside race HQ it was completely packed out.  It was quick and easy to get my race number. I’d forgotten how long the queues for toilets get at racing!  I’d forgotten to bring spare pins and had to run with two pins due to a lack of them.  Next time I’ll remember to bring my own pins, something I used to always do when running races was a frequent habit.  I even have a small decorative pot of them somewhere at home just for races.

Despite not being at events for so long I could still recognise a lot of faces from local running clubs past and present.  This was a nice feeling.  Things hadn’t moved on so far in my absence that the field was completely unrecognisable.  I wore my Southville colours to shouts of ‘Go on Southville!’. There were wonderful pockets of support.  The race looped the Glenside campus, went down to Oldbury Court (where I’d done a lot of my winter training long runs) through the fields to Frenchay and back down to then finish with Blackberry hill in the last mile, a beast of a finish.  I only stopped to fix my race number in the field after it got too hot in my waterproof jacket.  Throughout I kept a steady pace with no walking to manage 10-12 minute miles.

Frenchay10kcup.jpg

Incredibly I even managed a sprint finish to lots of cheers at the end.  The race gift was a red Frenchay 10k mug.  It’s not always about the medal. I’ve had all sorts of things other than medals in the past like coasters, bottles of signature beer, ice creams.  Those moments will always be in your head regardless of what you get given afterwards.

Perhaps, I needed this time out to give myself a year’s rest.  After battering my body with a schedule in three years that included nine marathons, multiple halfs and 10ks with no prior fitness base. 1 hour 5 mins. 7.19 mins over my last 2017 flat Bristol 10k race and only 10 minutes over my 2016 10k PB, I think if I try hard on the day for the Bristol 10k in May I might be able to beat my PB set in 2016.

Afterwards I ached but only in that I needed to take breaks to walk around and have the odd paracetamol.  It didn’t completely destroy me.  I walked in the drizzle which promptly turned into torrential rain to Grounded for a lovely lunch of Spanish Potatoes.  Then I slept for a solid two hours.

SpanishPotaoesGrounded.jpg

I’m looking forward to putting more races on the calendar across the distances.

PS: Remember to stretch and foam roll!

PSS: Try not to go off too fast in the first mile!

Happy running,

Xxx

Eleanor

Less is more because the mind will see you to the finish

26 Sunday Nov 2017

Posted by elladuv in Running, yoga

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Bristol, mindfulness, parkrun, running, yoga

In a slump of only running very minimally for most of 2017 I felt like a fair weather runner.  Some weeks would only be a 5k run or a 10k run.  I realise that still counts as running.  It still counts as being a runner.  It might not be fast, it might be a once a week visit to Southville Running Club, a few laps around the park and a parkrun but it’s still running.

Runners get so used to seeing elites with high weekly mileage.  Strava feeds full of Sunday long runs, breakfast runs, lunch sprints, distance challenges.  It’s cool to be seen to be busy on the roads and trails.  It can be inspirational at times.  However, it can also feel a bit daunting.  It can also be a tool to evaluate your own running.

Realistically when juggling family and careers or other hobbies there is only so much time the regular person without a sponsorship can put in to running.  We still need sleep.  We still need to eat.  We still need to put our kids to bed.  We still need to commit to other commitments and that to do list will still need to be done by the end of the week.

So, sure carve out that hour or two for your run.  But also don’t feel bad or guilty or less like a runner if you haven’t got out the door this week.  It’s never, ‘only a few miles,’ as a few miles is better than no miles.

When running a race training will only get you so far.  If you’re stressed out from your life balance because you haven’t got that permission slip to the school yet or paid that phone bill on your to do list you may not finish strong.  A race is part a mental battle.  Marathon runners understand this.  26.2 is a long time to spend with yourself and if you’re not happy with things demons will crop up to make that stop at mile 18 really tempting.  Prepare yourself by preparing your mind.

Mindfulness, yoga, priority mind mapping, bullet journal your to do list for extra colour.  Carve out an hour a day just for you.  Don’t let running take that time too.  This is your creative time.  Fill it with joy and make it worthwhile.  During mine I like to write or cross stitch.  I really notice it when I don’t have this hour.  Remember you are your own first priority.

Happy running,

Eleanor

Bristol 10k 58:30

04 Thursday Jun 2015

Posted by elladuv in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Bristol, Bristol10k, Nutella, Preggo

The night before the Bristol 10k my housemate Anna, Matt and I went to Preggo a local Italian restaurant to carb up the proper way.    Preggo

I woke up and dressed at 7;30 am and had a breakfast of Nutella on toast and a banana.  My housemate Anna drove us to town and parked close by so that it was just a small walk to @Bristol which was the Runner’s Village for the Bristol 10k.  After around half an hour Red numbers started filing out and the Yellow warm up began on the big screen.  I saw plenty of Ovo Energy Runners in their white and green shirts. I sported my Bristol and West AC one of course.

Because I woke up with flu I didn’t push for a PB in the end and decided to enjoy the run.  As I broke my PB at the Bath Two Tunnels run two weeks ago I felt I didn’t need to push myself too hard and focused on keeping a steady pace and enjoying it.  I listened to Rammstein, Eisenfunk and Combichrist to motivate me along the way to keep the energy going.  That being said weaving through the slower runners was a problem and I think that kept my pace from hitting maximum more than anything else so I will ask to transfer back over to the Red group next year.  I was having to use the pathways instead of the roads to overtake because I couldn’t get through.

As usual the support from friends, family and the sea of faces in the crowd was overwhelming.  The drummers at the bridge at just before 5 miles was a real pace kicker just towards the end.  I saw Dad with the dog Lilly just before turning into the center.

Faolan and my daughter Holly met me at the Finish line where I collected my medal, shirt and bag.  This years SolarPowergoodies were Fudge bars, Freddos, and Bourbon bisccuits.  Also that really gross coconut water.  I finished in 58:30:00 so not a PB but considering how horrible I was feeling I’m surprised I did that well.  Still a sub 60 Liam reminded me helpfully.    Anna finished in 1:10 minutes.  It’s all about personal achievements and limits and I think we both felt pretty victorious to have got through it!

Afterwards we wBristol10k2015ent back home to change and then I took the family out for a recovery lunch at Giraffe were I promptly downed a Mango Mama smoothie and a devoured half Piri Piri Chicken with skin on Fries.  Holly was given a half dozen Giraffe’s in different colours by the waitress so as far as she was concerned it was a successful day.  For desert we ventured to Krispy Kreme for doughnuts.

Once home I fell asleep to rest and the flu followed me through until Wednesday.   My Art Culture exam was Tuesday which meant I was that person that sneezes and coughs all the way through it.  I get my results out mid July but for now summer has begun!

My next race is the Westonbirt 10k on Monday 8th.  These people help make sure specimens of trees don’t die out so you can hug them and share the love! Also Westonbirt is gorgeous and mostly supported by this charities donations so it needs your help!  Please donate using this fundraising page if you can.  Thank you!

xxx

Eleanor

Achievement Unlocked 5K A Day

08 Sunday Feb 2015

Posted by elladuv in Nutrition, Running

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

5k per day, Bristol, Canford Park, Kilian Jornet, Nomu, Scott Jurek, strava, Tofu, vegan, vegetarian, Winter running

downsWednesday morning I ran my first 5k of the week in actual daylight.  Not just daylight.  Despite the frosty temperatures that caused ice to gather like dew on the grass covering the park in a dusting of glitter it was perfectly sunny. Not warm but bright.  I performed more evenly in this 5k with two 9:55 minute miles and 9:13.  Monday and Tuesday’s runs had pesky 10 minute miles in them which upped their times.

I thought that people who hide in gyms all winter waiting for the warmth of summer to run are truly missing out.  Granted my fingers were freezing but my feet were pounding over earth hardened by frost.  Birds sat on a frozen lake looking confused but still getting on with it.  Air plumed out visibly before me reminding me to monitor my breathing.  My knees reminded themselves to lift up and avoid the ache from the cold.  My arms reminded themselves to reach forward in their air.  I’d spent the week working on my press up form and getting to ten press ups per set to work on upper body strength.

My inner monologue shouted things like, “Go hard or go home”, “Grab the air with your arms”, “Knees up”, “Remember your core” small mantras to help me focus and try to maintain that focus.

The most challenging day was Thursday when I had to get up at 6:15 to get the run in before the school run and then go to work the late shift at Ovo.  Maybe it was the full moon energy helping my determination but I woke myself up and pushed out of bed with, “That sub 5 hour at Alexander The Great Marathon won’t run itself!”  I nearly gave in on this run because the cold and lack of air caused my asthma to play up but it was too beautiful to not continue.  The full moon with rainbow rings around it shining through the scattered clouds was setting in the sky hanging low waiting for the dawn to give way to sunrise before letting the sun take over the day shift.

Thursday evening was the night that I also decided that I would work towards a plant based diet.  Steve and I had a date night at Nomu in Bristol and I ordered deep fried vegetables, with a side of sliced fried aubergines and Black Pepper Tofu with rice for a main.  It tasted gorgeous and I was so full afterwards it was incredible!  All those flavors made me decide that just maybe I could give up the bacon and enjoy long distance running until a late grande old age.  I’d already, last month given up dairy due to allergies, so I figured I might as well go the whole hog and cut out the hog.  canford

After a week of running 5k A Day I thought I would start to feel drained.  Last year (2014) I averaged a tiny 10.5 miles per week.  Scott Jurek runs 100 mile weeks, 10 miles a day, 25 miles on weekends.  Kilian Jornet reportedly runs 3-4 hours per day during his training seasons.  I’m no Scott Jurek or Kilian Jornet (my ultrarunning idol) but I’d like to build up my weekly mileage to help progress in my times in general.  I came across new miles to run in my local area.  I became a user of Strava due to the insistence of running friend and blogger Matt.

Instead of feeling drained I feel full of energy. I feel calmer and happier.  This morning I broke the mold of a week of 9-10 minute mile average pace with an 8 minute mile so it looks like I’ve hit a point where I can work on getting faster.  Not one single bit of my body aches or hints at injury like I was concerned it would if I ran each day.  I don’t feel the need for a rest day like I assumed I needed after each run because that’s what training plans teach. As an extra awesome bonus I’ve lost 3lbs since Monday.

I think all those vegetarian and vegan based distance runners are onto something!

xxx

Eleanor

Memory Lane 9 Miles

20 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by elladuv in Running

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Birdcage, Bristol, Cake, Chocolate, Memory Lane, Peanut Butter, running, training, yoga

Distance: 9 miles

Time: 01:32:00

Elevation: Gain 163 ft Loss 396 ft

Weather: 3 Degrees Centigrade

Why walk down Memory Lane when you can run it?

Yesterday was my 27th birthday.  I  chose to run 9 miles of significant life locations up until I was about eighteen; schools, places of work, homes etc.  I didn’t manage to cover everything but it was a great feeling remembering where things are that I’ve not seen for years.

For example this is the Birdcage up by my first nursery in Clifton.

BirdcageOne of my presents was a yoga mat.  I intend to try to build yoga back into my daily routine. For years it was a staple.  Then I found running and forgot about it but stretching is equally important to avoid tight muscles.  I’m looking forward to getting used to it again!

It’s safe to say after 9 chilly miles I deserved this Gluten Free chocolate and peanut butter cake made by my friend Brendan and burgers and a few drinks with good family and friends.  So yummy and we all know chocolate is good for recovery.  Peanut butter is a good source of protein which each spoon containing about 8 grams of the stuff.

27Cake

Lovely day all round!

xxx

Eleanor

Blog Stats

  • 3,408 hits
Follow Eleanor's Endeavour on WordPress.com
10th International Alexander The Great MarathonApril 5, 2015
26.2 From Palla To Thessaloniki

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Eleanor's Endeavour
    • Join 32 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Eleanor's Endeavour
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...