It feels sooo long since I have run.

The operation went well, I think. I still have a lot of swelling but I guess that is to be expected. The scar itself seems to be healing well, but the doctor had to perform a mini abdominoplasty to get the full effect so it turned into a bigger operation than I expected. It means running is out for the next few weeks!

In a way, it is a bit of a mixed blessing. My knees had really been hurting for the past few weeks and getting worse. My right knee in particular had looked kinda puffy and on googling my symptoms it seems I have "housemaid's knee" - something that can affect runners! The good news is that rest seems to be a good cure - something I'm getting plenty of.

So, I'm hoping to get back to running by the end of January.....

I have been so tired and exhausted over the last few days since my run on Sunday that I really wasn't up for running on Thursday. I felt a bit of a cheat as the weather was so bad, very windy and rainy that I wondered if I was just kidding myself or was I really worn out?

On reflection, I probably should have given Tuesday night a miss and gone along on Thursday but hindsight is a wonderful thing!!!

Anyway, with a few days of rest in my legs I went along to our Frostbite league run today. It was at March which is a little village about 45 minutes away. I took Rhona and George with me and met all the other club runners there. We just got there in time to see the Juniors come in - I must admit it brought a tear to my eye - they were so little (ages ranging from 9 - 15) and giving it all they had got. It made me feel very humble and, later on, when I came into the finishing straight I had those little ones in mind and pushed as hard as I could in honour of them.

The run itself was more like cross country - across fields and tracks churned up and making it very hard going. I had intended to "take it easy" today and was wanting to finish in about 45 mins. George and I had had a pre-race decision not to push it too hard but enjoy it.

We were right at the back of the mob when the hooter went and I went off in what I thought was a moderate pace - everyone else went off much faster! After a few hundred yards I decided that I needed to catch them up so put on a spurt and eventually caught them about 1 mile out. They asked where I had been and I said that I thought we were taking it easy!

I tucked in behind George and tried to stick with him. A few of our comrades dropped behind and about mile 3 I just couldn't keep with George - we were going across a very open track with the wind blowing across, it was very, very muddy and really quite hard going.

I always had him in my sights but the mud was just too much for me to cope with (along with the wind). I managed to pick off a few runners in front of me and, all in all, I really enjoyed the run. It was a real change from a road run and perhaps the child in me actually enjoyed stomping through the mud!

Although I did manage to finish in just under 45 minutes it was not as easy as I had anticipated - 45 minutes on a nice flat road run would have been great but this course meant that we had to work extra hard. Just before starting it had also been mentioned to me that my time might be needed for the team event - ohhhh, just a bit of pressure to run harder than I had anticipated....

As I have said, it was a team event and the first 10 from the running club counted - 2 of which had to be lady runners. On this occasion I am proud to say that I was the 2nd lady runner of our club - hooray for the more mature lady runner!

On that note, I bid you a good evening!

Time: 44:53
Distance: a very muddy 5 miles!

Oh my golly gosh! Just had the hardest of runs!

Went along to the club with aching legs from the run on Sunday so had decided to just take it easy this evening - easier said than done! It was a nice steady pace but even that was hard work especially for the last mile or so, which had a hill tucked away in there.

Funnily enough, my knee didn't hurt one little bit on Sunday but since then it has ached quite a bit and I particularly felt it in my run this evening. I guess it's my body's way of saying "Take it Easy There Girl!"

Oh well, that's Tuesday's run done and dusted - the best thing I have done is join the Running Club - I know for a fact I would have given up running for the winter.

Time: 57 mins
Distance: 5-6

During the night I could hear the wind howling and the rain beating down - so much so I had to close the bedroom windows!

By the time I got up the weather was still looking dismal - I could see the trees swaying and hear the wind blowing. Not ideal running conditions!

Within an hour or so it seemed the wind was dying down and the rain had stopped. Not quite sure what to wear I put on my Hally Hansen underneath my club vest but decided within minutes that I would be too hot so I discarded the Hally Hansen but stuck with my running tights - I think after last week of running in my shorts and being a bit cold that it is definitely time they were put away.

Rhona and Lindsay were also entered for the run so the three of us travelled together. We were all a bit concerned about the weather conditions and whether we had the "right" clothing on. When we got to the start I also saw Alan and Laura from the running club.

We all lined up together. My plan for this run was to take it easy at the start, not go off too fast and try to maintain pace but, most of all, to enjoy it!

The hooter went and off shot Alan, Rhona and Lindsay. I decided to hold back a bit and warm myself into it. It paid off and just over a mile I caught Rhona up. At mile 3 I overtook Lindsay and just a bit further on from there I managed to catch Alan.

I ran my own race. I kept my eye on the clock and knew that 1:30 was probably within reach as long as I just kept it steady. It was a 2 lap event and I managed to remember where a lot of the second lap mile markers were so pretty much always knew whereabouts I was. There was a fair amount of wind but had a fair share of it behind me and a fair amount of feeling like I was running through a wind tunnel! The sun came out in parts but the rain stayed away. The course was pretty much flat with a couple of underpasses to go through (twice) which were a bit of a killer and there was a stretch of track that was very muddy which was quite hard going but all in all, quite a pretty route, certainly much nicer than the route for the half marathon.

Mile 1 - 9:06
Mile 2 - 8:39
Mile 3 - 8:35
Mile 4 - 8:54
Mile 5 - 8:33
Mile 6 - 8:55
Mile 7 - 9:06
Mile 8 - 8:54
Mile 9 - 9:14
Mile 10 - 8.52

Total: 1:29

I'm very pleased with my time - I was hoping for under 1:30 but had thought the weather conditions were against me. As it's only the start of winter, I guess there are going to be much worse than today to look forward to!

Even more importantly, I'm not feeling ill which was my main aim for today.

BTW: Lindsay, 1:32 Alan 1:33,Rhona 1:37 and Laura 1:42 - subject to confirmation.

LOL. These photo's make it look like it was a beautiful day!

Only one day to go.....

I'm a bit nervous - for many reasons:

1. My knee is still a bit sore...
2. I have a sore throat...
3. I'm out tonight socialising...
4. I may be weak and have too much to drink tonight!

Hopefully, I shall be strong and keep in mind tomorrow's race.

The weather forecast is gales and storms! Not too worried about that - at least I won't put undue pressure on myself to finish in a good time.