An Unwanted Interruption

Normal service is now resumed. I woke up two Fridays ago with a horrible sore throat, which developed into chills, sweats and aches. I was pretty much better again by last Thursday, but decided to call the running week a write-off and start fresh at the weekend. I'm no stranger to over-training, so I thought it'd be best to rest properly before picking up the pace again. This all means I'm a week behind my schedule, but it was pretty flexible anyway so no great loss.

I switched the long run to Saturday this week, to accommodate other commitments, so I was out as dawn broke for a five miler - no link to that run, since both Nike+ and Runkeeper failed me (Nike+ stopped recording my time after I stopped at traffic lights, and Runkeeper thought I was doing 6 minute miles - chance would be a fine thing!). I quite liked the Saturday early run. It meat Izzy and her dad got a wee lie in, I got my run out of the way right at the start of the weekend, and it meant I still had the whole of Saturday ahead of me. I think I might switch my long run to Saturdays, or at least be flexible with it.

Today was another 2-miler, to and from the post-natal exercise class. It felt very quick and easy. Thursday is a 5 miler though, and I'm a bit apprehensive about having Izzy out in the Beast that long. I'm sure it'll be d
fine though - she certainly seemed to be happy to be going out today!

Rebel Yell

Izzy has discovered that screaming is fun! Sometimes she shrieks like she's being murdered. Sometimes she yelps like a dog. Sometimes she gargles at the top of her voice. Apparently these are all fine and acceptable methods of self expression. It's very, very funny, but I do feel for the neighbours.

She's generally quiet on our runs though, taking in her surroundings at speed, occasionally babbling up to me, but mainly giving her poor vocal cords a wee rest. Today we went on an adventure run, exploring streets we'd never been down and seeing where we'd end up. It was a nice run, and when I was flagging near the end I was cheered up and cheered on by the lady standing at her window watching us and giving us a round of applause! Perhaps a small taste of the supporters en route of the marathon? Just over 5 months to go...

Pram Envy

I have to confess - I suffer terribly from pram envy. I was aghast, when pregnant, to find out that the 'cool' travel systems, your Bugaboos and your iCandies, cost more than I'd be prepared to pay for four (or possibly three) wheels and a baby-holder-bit. They're lovely, they really are - sleekly designed, light as a feather and smooth as silk on the pavement, but £500 for a buggy? Nope, couldn't do it.

So we bought a decent Graco travel system - the pram, the carseat that clips into the chassis, the cosytoes and the rain cover - for about half what one of the fancy prams cost and it's good. It's fine. No, really, it is.

But still, the pram envy. For months after Izzy was born every time I saw one of those matt silver bodied, lushly upholstered beauties, all stylish curves and chunky tyres, I felt the green-eyed monster rise from the pit of my stomach. Buggyfit was particularly bad for it - every buggy but mine, it seemed, was a designer dream. I bet they didn't have to WD40 their wheels every time it rained.

Then, though, I bought the Beast. The Baby Jogger Performance. What a machine! I bought it for purely practical reasons, needing to get out running, but boy, it's a smasher (and a bargain, being an eBay purchase). Wheels nearly the size of my car's, it tackles all terrain with ease and handles like a well tuned bike. I wheeled it into the exercise studio today for the post-natal class and heads turned. Other mums commented on it, asking how it handled and what it was like to run with. They crowded round, not to ooh and aah at poor Izzy (who was still strapped in) but to get a good look at the tyres, comment on the hand brake, and ask about its value for money. So, this was what it's like to be on the other end of the pram envy. You know what? It felt good! Now when I'm out with the regular pram, I don't feel quite so envious of the fancy-dan-prams - not when I know there's the Beast in the garage, just waiting for our next run.

Oh yes, and here's today's run. Just a short 2 miles, and a nice day for it.

Grumpy Sunday

Izzy, not me. She's a bit out of sorts, and has been for a few days. It's probably a combination of a wee cold and teething, and the poor wee thing just isn't happy. She spent most of her time at our friends' fireworks party yesterday grumbling, girning, and refusing to nap, and she spent the duration of my four mile run today driving her poor dad to distraction.

It was strange yesterday - I kept wanting to insist "she's usually not like this, really!", as if her discomfort were an indictment of my parenting ability. Luckily most of the people there had young children of their own, so they probably knew exactly how I was feeling (unless I actually am a terrible parent /paranoia).

She's currently asleep on me. She continued to yell at her dad while I had my bath, negating any hoped-for relaxation on my part. I tried feeding her as soon as I got out of the bath, and after putting up a bit of a fight she settled down to eat and fell asleep on my lap. She's still there. I'm wearing a towel, I'm cold, and I need to get ready to visit my parents-in-law in an hour, but for now I'll sit here with a peaceful baby while I can

As for the run, it was lovely. The longest so far in this training plan, but I felt I could have kept going. Jennifer and I had a lovely chat again, and the cold, bright weather was ideal. At least something's going well...

Sleep? What's that?

I woke up feeling refreshed this morning. I had actually had four hours in a row of sleep. I believe that's the first time since July that I've slept that long. (In July there was one blissful night when I had five and a half hours, but before that I hadn't slept through the night since I was about eight weeks pregnant.)

It was a bit sad really. I was feeling refreshed and happy because I'd had four hours sleep. Oh dear, this is what life has come to, when four hours feels like a victory.

Sleep or no sleep, today was a run day. So, after Izzy's morning nap, we got the Beast out of the garage, and went on a three mile run.

It was tough going. I was tired, and my legs were still aching from Buggyfit yesterday. I think I'll need to stop going to Buggyfit on a Wednesday, because I really, really need that rest day.

After a grumpy teething day yesterday, Izzy was in a fabulous mood all day today and had a lovely nap in the buggy when we were out for our run. We had a wee trip out to Silverburn this afternoon and Aunty Jen came over for a visit this evening.

The only problem is, Izzy went to bed an hour and a half ago, and she's still wriggling, giggling and making monkey noises in the cot. I think we're in for another long night - who needs sleep anyway?

Getting Sleepy

Having a Giraffe

Week three of the pre-training training, and all's well. Tuesday's are a 2 mile easy run until after Christmas, so Izzy and I ran to the sports centre for my post-natal exercise class and back - that's dedication! Definitely felt like an easier run than last week, and I didn't walk up the hills like I did last week either.

There was an added bonus today. We were at the centre for the baby swimming class yesterday, and somewhere between the car and the pool I dropped Sophie the Giraffe. Now Sophie is one of those ubiquitous, slightly pretentious and very middle class toys that everyone (and I mean everyone) seems to have, but she's popular for a good reason. Despite resembling a very expensive dog toy, she's the best teething toy out there, and considering that Izzy has just in the past two days cut her first two teeth, this was not the best time for the giraffe to go walkabout. I asked if she had been handed in as we left, but no joy.

Imagine, then, how delighted I was to walk into the centre today to see Sophie in pride of place on a shelf behind the desk. I waited in the queue, and when the lady asked how she could help I told her I was there to rescue the giraffe. Izzy seemed unfazed by the reunion at the time, but she was having a good chew on poor Sophie when we got home, so I think she was happy to have her back.

Tomorrow we've got Buggyfit (if I can get out of bed this time) and then Thursday is a 3 mile run with Izzy. As long as we've got Sophie along with us I'm sure it'll be fine.

Sophie Safe at Home

Good Old GMT

The clocks went back last night. By all accounts this is a nightmare for parents of young children whose body clocks aren't as obliging as their parents'. Izzy's still too wee to have much of a set wake-up time yet though, so when she woke up at 8 (new money) that was ok by me.

I messaged Jen while Izzy was having her milk and we arranged to meet for our run once we'd had a cup of tea to wake us up a bit. Today was just a wee three miler, and it had to be early as we were going to a Hallowe'en party in the afternoon, so we hit the road at 9AM, leaving Izzy to play with daddy until our return.

We were a bit slow and steady today, probably because we were still half asleep, but it was a cool, dry morning with a refreshing breeze, perfect for a quick jaunt, and the time passed quickly, mainly because Jen and I hadn't seen each other for a week so we chatted the whole way and caught up with all our news.

I'm knackered now, right enough. It's 8 o'clock, and I can't see me being up much longer.

Let me leave you with a picture of Batbaby at her party...Gotham City is in safe hands tonight!

A Rest Day

This morning I was supposed to get up early to go to our Buggyfit class (think hordes of women with small babies and prams haring around a park and scaring the ducks and small children).

However, Isabella was awake every two hours last night and consequently this morning I was shattered. I brought her into bed with me at 6:30 and had a glorious three hour sleep . I woke up without enough time to get ready for the class, so I declared today a rest day - after all, that's what my training plan says today is.

So, we've been to Asda (exciting!) bought some bits and pieces for Hallowe'en (thrilling!) and I'm going to attempt to make scones, baby-willing (enthralling!). My next run isn't until Sunday, a whole 2 days away, so 'm going to enjoy my rest and recharge a bit - surprisingly, disturbed sleep and a heavy-duty exercise programme don't really mix!

Here's yesterday's run for anyone interested. It was a jaunt to the Co-op for a bag of salad with Baby and the Beast ;-)

You get some funny looks when you're out running with the baby. Some people look at you as if they're not quite sure what they're seeing, but I suppose it is understandable - it is a strange thing to do. I do get a few disapproving looks from ladies of a certain age. I did get an encouraging comment from wee old man yesterday though, which is refreshing, considering some of the comments I had when running solo. The best/worst one ever was "the chip shop's that way hen." Not exactly motivational, but certainly memorable. I wonder what Gems I have to look forward to in the next six months.

UPDATE: operation scone a success!

On the road again

So, in August 2010 I found out I was pregnant - I was due to run the Glasgow Half Marathon in a few weeks, and had just reached the 12 mile stage of my training. I decided it probably wasn't a good idea to run the race, and hung up my running shoes....

...fast forward to August 2012. I have a wonderful 3 month old daughter, and I'm ready to start running again. I really want to take Izzy with me on my runs, so I scour eBay for a running buggy, and end up bidding more than I probably should have for a Baby Jogger Performance, now known as the Beast due to its fearsome aspect! Izzy's too wee at this point to go out in it, but I know it's there, waiting for when we're both ready.

I plod along, running a few miles here and there when I can, and then October arrives, and with it the London Marathon ballot results. I'd half forgotten that, in a moment of optimism back in April, I'd once again entered the lottery for a place. The long-awaited magazine drops onto my hall floor. I hesitate - will it be the 'Accepted' or the 'Rejected' magazine?

I pick up the chunky package. Thank God! That means I've been rejected and I've got a lovely red fleece as a consolation prize, for donating my entry free. I exhale in relief, suddenly realising I'd been holding my breath, knowing that I probably wouldn't have been ready to run the London Marathon in April.

However, there's a niggle in the back of my mind. My best friend Jennifer and I have had a pact for years.  Each year we enter the marathon on the understanding that if one of us got in, the other would get a charity place and run alongside them. 'She won't have got in' I think to myself. What's the chances?

Well as it turns out the chances are very, very good indeed. She's in, which means so am I. Next step - find a charity place. Our charity of choice is Barnardos, because Jennifer has been volunteering for them in Glasgow for years, so I contact Barnardo's for an application form, fill in the details about how we'll raise the necessary £1600 in order to take part, and send it back. All we can do is wait and see.

And a few days later the waiting is over. I'm wandering in Hamleys with the pram, about to go to baby yoga with Izzy, when the phone rings. It's a London number. Oh bum.

'Hello, is that Katie' asks the perky Scottish voice on the other end (we get everywhere we do!).  'Yes' I say, awaiting what I fear is coming.
'Hi, I'm calling from Barnardo's London Marathon team - we'd like to offer you a place!'

I say nothing, momentarily dumbstruck. 'Hello, Katie, are you there?'

I come back to myself. 'Yes, sorry, wow. That's amazing! I'm really happy'. And it's true. After all the worry, it turns out I'm really excited at the prospect of running one of the most iconic races in the world. The caller spells out various details, but I'm barely listening, I'm so excited! And scared, and nervous, and happy and terrified - a bit like when I found out I was expecting Izzy!

So here we are, a few weeks later. I'm on week two of my pre-training training plan, looking to get up to 10 miles by Christmas, then starting the long slog to 26 miles in the new year. I've broken the Beast out of its dungeon and taken Izzy for a spin a few times (she seems to enjoy it, when she's not sleeping) and been on a few runs with Jennifer. We've booked our flights (still got to find a hotel though!) and we've started our fundraising attempts - in fact, you can find our sponsorship page here lovely people! We're also tweeting from @kandjrunlondon and I'll be using this blog to motivate me along the way.

Oh god, what have I got myself into?

The Beast!