Week 3-Still hanging in there-January 19th, 2012

Hi everyone-weekly blog a wee bit late this week-it's been hectic at work-season plans, budgets, staff reviews-fun, fun, fun!  Running is actually proving a nice distraction from all that serious stuff. Where did I leave you last week-that's right it was last Tuesday -sprint day-surpisingly the longer sprint of 1200 m was better than the 400m-this one's a real mental challenge as you gear up in between each sprint...but the G3 pitch at Castlederg High School is fantastic-pity i couldn't run the whole marathon on this type of surface-it's how I imagine the Moon would feel-really airy and spongey-good for these aging limbs:) The dreaded Thursday tempo run -out the Lough Derg run -five miles was better than the 3 miler the previous week-think the road is better-less hilly and one I know only too well. As I recounted last week, Saturday's long run had to be postponed due to 'christmas' festivites for Lough Derg staff on friday night-good wee nite-but long run was never going to happen on Saturday-purely for reasons of tiredness! What do you mean you don't believe me??? Anyway Sunday's 13 miler-a half marathon was completed in 2hr 8 minutes-jeez that's a long time to be out on the road-Maureen who works with me had heard about my crash and burn the previous long run when my bdy just sagged after it-her sister Rosaleen does lots of running and so I got a lovely 'care' package in the post on Friday from Rosaleen-with all sorts of advice, and some gel packets. Tried one of these at the half way point of the run and it seemed to help-felt much more myself after the run and got some food in me as soon as I came home-all a learning curve to see what your old body needs. Monday gym followed by wee session with my physio-Saint Declan as I call him (no blasphemy intended but this guy really did miraculous work on an ankle that was totally wrecked) was glad to see me-just a wee precautionary session to keep legs limber. He reckons I should be aiming for 4hrs-I laughed and reiterated that the aim is to get around this thing-intact! Deb of Old with her very competitive nature would not have been content unless she was on Paula Radcliffe's tail:)  Now I am happy to finish healthy. The wisdom of age....boring eh? Tuesday's sprint session demanded 800m over and over again....strangely my last one the quickest of all...today I have the Thursday Tempo run-a short run of  7 miles at lunchtime-yes 7 miles-I really must double check the programme -that sounds way too long! And as weekend looms-I have a ten miler to do on Saturday morning but looking forward to wee weekend then in Westport! And the best blog news of all-I predicted an average of €1200 a week to make my €20,000 target-well I am up to €2800-brought in an extra €1200 this week. Thank you so much to all those pilgrims who have sent donations and kind words. Friends and family...watch out-I'll be chasing you soon-and all this sprint training means I WILL  catch you:) Have a great weekend..until next time; keep healthy