Happy New Year-5th January, 2012

Hi everyone, hopefully you all had a happy and healthy Christmas and unlike last year managed to leave the confines of your house and get out and about visiting friends and family. Well I guess I should talk about marathons-not Santa and mince pies:) -however good both may be! Kind of had a eureka moment on 30th January-well more like a panic attack thinking as we neared the end of 2011 that 22nd April was fast approaching. Got out my new toy-iPad and frantically started googling 16 week marathon training programmes-I had pretty much written off my earlier efforts in Sept, Oct as purely base training what with the little injury to my foot and chest infection setbacks-so starting afresh-clean slate and all that. Thankfully found a programme which I hope will do the business-that is if I adhere to it. However as I was transcribing it from screen to notebook-suddenly dawned on me that it started the very next day-New Year's Eve-how cruel is that-worse again it started with a ten mile run.....however I thought now or never and the chosen hydration methods over the festive season (not lucozade or water) would have to suffer sooner or later. So wrapped up I headed off on Saturday morning last-managed the ten miles in a respectable 90 minutes. Ankle etc all held up well. The programme consists of: Tuesday speed training, Thursday tempo run (short fastish one) and Saturday long run with a day or two of cross training in between so I'll do the gym one day and maybe bike or just give Thor, a very vigourous walk. Now people when did you last sprint?? For me it was at uni-not today or yesterday-I thought in my naivety that because the speed session is short it would be a breeze-well there was a breeze -more like a gale force wind this Tuesday and battering hailstones-400metres -sounds okay-but 8 of them-tough tough session. It changes each week and I don't even want to remind myself what next Tuesday's builds too. Today I have the short fast run of 3 miles only-should beo kay if the weather would just settle a bit-so that's what I'll be doing for my lunch break-at least there is light-I am realising now the Dublin Marathon might have been an easier race given that you are at least training in 'summer' months-well irish summer! Anyway no point dwelling on that. This Saturday's long run calls for 12 miles-tired at tht thought of it-but will do a wee drive around tomorrow to find pleasant flattish route and try and enjoy the peace and quiet-who am I fooling?? Thankfully spurred on my a few more donations -approximately €1200 at this stage and will be working on fundraising strategy in February to really try and boost the cause. For now wish me well for Saturday's run-today's should be okay-any words of encouragement-even the odd 'You're mad' will keep me smiling and if you have any training tips etc. would also be much appreciated. Until the next time....Debs