Running

Tomorrow…. 26.2 little miles are waiting….

So, turns out I’ve been rubbish at posting recently. I’ve had a completely nuts times staving off injury, illness and working in my opinion too damn hard. But the knuckling down, concentration, meditation, and contemplation is all worth it, tomorrow is marathon day!

I promise you get you all up to speed on my training and my injury woes very soon, but today, as my children go off to my parents for the night and my husband enjoys some football, I wanted to briefly share how I’m feeling right now. Trouble is, I don’t really know if it can be put into words…..

This is my 4th London Marathon, and my 4th race this year. Still doesn’t make the challenge any less daunting. On the one hand, I have the experience and knowledge to make tomorrow oh so familiar, and the anxieties of a first time runner  around what the start is like, what drinks stations are like, toilets etc are not really bothering me. But these feeling of  excitement, nervousness, and “oh dear god it’s a long way” are no easier to keep in check…… How do you process thinking about running 26.2 miles?

I think it all really sunk in on Thursday when we took ourselves to the expo to collect my number. My children were just excited that it wasn’t an ordinary Thursday after school activity. We took a boat down the silty river instead of a boring old tube train. As we sped down the Thames, to Greenwich, I felt like I was taking in the route on a different level, and in reverse! Every landmark we sped past triggered my brain to visualise how the race looked from the road when running, and memories of marathons past, mostly good but some uncomfortable memories!

Once in the expo I withdrew into quiet reflection, taking in the tension in the room. The buzz of excitement, the questions people were asking others, the wealth of good luck messages on various platforms and people posing with their numbers for a wealth of photos. Every person on their own journey and every person a hero in my eyes.


Yesterday was spent at work, and I was grateful for the distraction. My kind colleagues who have been on my journey with me this year have been super kind in wishing me luck and telling me I’ll be fine……

So for today I practice the art of distraction. I have a kit to prepare, hair roots to be banished (got to look good for the finishers photo, although it may all fall out before get there) and carbohydrate to load. My legs are full of energy from the taper and ready to run. I don’t know until I’m pounding the streets of London how my day is going to go, or if I’ll reach my goal of beating my PB (confidence lacking in recent days) but what I do know is that I WILL cross that finish line and collect my 4th medal this year, and my 4th marathon medal. For that, my friends, I am awesomely proud of myself…….


I’d love to know if any of my readers are running London tomorrow and if so, how are you feeling?!

If you would like to sponsor my 2016 efforts to collect 12 medals in 12 months for Muscular Dystrophy UK in memory of my brother Graham, then please click the link below 🙂 if it wasn’t for him I would never be embarking on this journey nor have the strength to run a marathon.

http://www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Phillips38

Running

It’s been 3 weeks now…..

My second go at writing this post! Wrote a really long post and lost it all! 😫😫😫😫

It’s been three weeks now since I last wrote on this blog, a serious case of life, work, sulking and injuries got the way. But after some quiet reflection and being on holidays I am finally back on top of things! I will update you on what has happened after the (three) weekly round up.

Weeks 11, 12, and 13

32.66 miles limped

Total 2016 miles = 187.42m

Donations received = £280.00

2016 total raised = £1110.00

Fundraising has gone really really well despite the lack of miles run. Thanks to all that have sponsored!

Following on from the Surrey Half Marathon which was just amazing, I carried on with my training plan, as scheduled, only to be bitten by a nasty little injury. All was going well until the day of my 16 mile run………

I woke on the morning of my planned 16 miler to feel a little discomfort in my heel, nothing major, didn’t need any painkillers, but just a niggle. My calves had been super tight previous to this and in all honesty I’m not the keenest of stretchers (naughty me!). I put it down to the tight calves and ummed and ahhed over what to do. After some gentle encouragement from husband I decided to go for it, knowing I could turn around if it felt bad.

Off I went, video documenting as I went, and I felt as grrrrreat as Tony, I even shaved off a MASSIVE 20 minutes from my 2013 16 mile time. I was on top of the world. But the next morning…… OWWWWWWWW!

I had the most tremendous pain in my heel, my Achilles to be precise and I could barely walk. Going in for two 12.5hr shifts at work also didn’t help. I had a choice, to train through it, albeit gently, or rest. I decided on the latter and didn’t do any running for 13 days…… Just huge amounts of stretching, foam rolling and massage.

By Saturday I had been pain free for 3 days and decided that was the day I needed to be brave and get back out there. Just 30 minutes, test the old Achilles out. I honestly thought it would be slow and painful, but I proved myself wrong by running a fast (for me) and bouncy run!

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Full of confidence I just had to decide what I was going to run on Sunday, traditionally long run day. Had all gone well I would have run 18 miles, and then begun the taper section of marathon training, but my team members over at Team Orange and my head said to scale it back and go easy. So I plumped for 10 miles, all of which I am pleased to report were comfortable and pain free, despite the hilly terrain around where my folks live.

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As long runs go it was also quick for me, quicker than I plan to run the marathon so I am again feeling more confident about marathon day. Dare I believe I may even get a PB??!!

More on my injury and recovery next week but for now I wanted to share a reflection with you.

Easter Sunday (Graham passed away on Easter Sunday 2012) has been and gone, and 8th April will soon be upon us, marking 4 years since Graham left for paradise. One of the reasons I have not written here is because I have been quietly reflecting, weeping and getting angry at times about our experience with DMD. This poem really helps my when I feel low and I would like to share it with you all….

The Lord saw you getting tired
, And a cure was not to be,
 So He put his arms around you
and whispered, “Come with me”

With tearful eyes, we watched you suffer
, And saw you fade away,
 Although we loved you dearly,
 We could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,
 A beautiful smile at rest,
 God broke our hearts to prove
 He only takes the best.

It’s lonesome here without you
, We miss you so each day,
 Our lives aren’t the same, 
Since you went away.

When days are sad and lonely,
 And everything goes wrong,
 We seem to hear you whisper,
 “Cheer up and carry on.”

Each time we see your picture,
 You seem to smile and say,
 “Don’t cry, I’m in God’s keeping,
 We’ll meet again someday

Graham, you were too much loved to ever be forgotten ❤️

If you would like to support us in our fight against muscle disease then please donate using the following link and endeavour to end pain and suffering for all affected.

http://www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Phillips38

Running

I often ask myself why…….

Dearest readers,

If you are a regular reader then thank you so so much for coming back and reading again, if you are new then welcome! It really feels like the challenge is well under way now with some new developments this week, but you can guess what comes first!

Week 8 Round Up

20.23 miles hobbled

2016 miles = 113.54m

Donations received = £110.00

2016 total raised = £715.00

  

  
This week has been what is known as an adaptation week, so although the long run run milage has increased there was no speed work involved and just two level one/easy runs to do mid week. You all know how I love speed work and so will know how GUTTED I was to read there were no hills or intervals this week 😂😂😂😂

Adaptation weeks are usually thrown in a couple of times during a 16 week marathon training plan to allow your muscles the necessary time to heal and repair and thus become strong and adapt to the additional mileage they are having to endure. For me this week has gone well, and came at the right time, it allowed me to revel in my joy of last week’s race a little longer without thinking about heavy training.
Just for fun, this is me at mile 11 last week 🙂 #teamorange vest worn proudly!


And with just 2 weeks until the next race I felt dizzy when my race number came through!


AND, just tonight, we have registered for race number 5 in May, just two weeks after the London Marathon, a nice little ten mile race in Alton, Hampshire, through the lovely countryside. The special part of this race, it starts and finishes at college Graham attended, Treloars College, before he became too unwell to attend.

Sometimes during training, when the runs are dark, cold and wet, my knees and hips are broken and my social life is non existent, it can be difficult to keep up momentum, and be motivated to train. I often say to myself “Sarah, what were you thinking? You just couldn’t leave it could you?” Of course the answer is no! I couldn’t! And then I remind myself of my primary driving force in this challenge, Graham. With this force I am able to use my muscles in a way that both Graham never could and many boys/men with Duchenne MD never will, without a cure. I can use the muscles that I have been blessed with to raise much needed funds for Muscular Dystrophy UK, and join the fight against muscle wasting conditions.

Tomorrow, 29th February, is rare diseases day, and I thought this week that it might be good, and hopefully interesting, to share with you the charity that is closest to my heart. I also hope to help everyone understand where their kind and generous donations are going!

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Muscular Dystrophy UK (previously known as the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign) was founded in 1959 it’s mission is to bring individuals, families and professionals together in the fight against muscle-conditions.

MDUK brings together more than 60 rare and very rare progressive muscle-weakening and wasting conditions, and together these conditions affect around 70,000 children and adults in the UK. They are leading in the campaign to get essential emerging treatment for families in the UK and tirelessly support high quality research to find effective treatments and cures. MDUK are without a doubt committed to finding a cure for all muscle wasting conditions.

MDUK ensure everyone has the correct specialist NHS care and support they need, when they need it, regardless of their postcode, which historically was once a challenge. Like many charities the provide a range of services and resources to help affected individuals live as independently as possible, and help their families to support their loved ones.

By sponsoring me you are helping not only to keep Graham’s memory alive, but also helping this amazing charity continues its essential work for other families affected by DMD. Ultimately, nothing is better than a cure, but as about a quarter of the charity’s income is raised by fundraisers like me I thought it might be of interest to demonstrate how much their vital work actually costs (it’s staggering) and why we are aiming big this year! Here is what our fundraising go towards should you decide to sponsor –

£35 – funds an hour of research that could lead to an effective treatment or cure to improve and lengthen people’s lives.

£50 – gives parents one hour with a specialist physiotherapist who can show them the valuable muscle stretching techniques that could keep their child walking for longer (I remember my mum doing many hours of physiology over the 16 years from diagnosis! Many many hours!)

£148 – funds the MDUK Freephone Information Line for one day so staff can provide vital support to families and healthcare professionals on a wide range of conditions and issues.

£500 – allows the nationwide network of young people with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions – known as Trailblazers – to get together in their local area, to discuss how best to get jobs, socialise and live independently (something most of us take for granted!)

£900 – allows the charity to make a grant towards the cost of a child’s powered wheelchair.

£2000 – covers the running cost of a Muscle Centre for a week, providing diagnosis and multi-disciplinary care.

£30,000 – funds a PhD studentship for a year.

£100,000 – supports a research student through their PhD, encouraging the brightest young scientists to stay in the field of neuromuscular research.

If you would like more information on this  amazing charity then please click the button at the top of my page. If you would like to donate then you know what to do with this link 😉

http://www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Phillips38

Feel free to press the all important follow button!

Over and out!

Running

2 medals down, 10 to go!

Good evening one and all!

It’s been a great day 😀 and I can wait to tell you all about my second race for 2016 tonight, but as always, let’s start with the weekly round up!

Week 7 Round Up

19.81 miles dashed

2016 miles = 93.31m

Donations received = £145.00

2016 total raised = £605.00

 

Really pleased with Tuesdays Threshold after work, the longest threshold I have ever managed!

 

Could only manage a staedy run on Thursday in my ever so hilly home city.

 

 

Todays half marathon, and a bit.

Training this week has gone well, as has fundraising, people are so amazingly generous and with any luck our end of year total will be through the roof!

So, onto today’s half marathon event…..

We chose to run the Hampton Court Half Marathon for our second medal of the year. Luckily for us this half marathon event is a short walk from home and takes in a good amount of our usual long run route! Perfect for the first half marathon of the year! I tried to think of it as a training run for the marathon in April but with a well deserved medal at the end!

I spent last night getting all my stuff ready, in my usual crazy way (see my last post for my silly running rituals!). By 9pm all my kit was laid out, my bag was packed and I started to relax (if you call lying awake thinking about the race relaxing!)


The morning came and I did my usual “force my porridge down my throat”  routine because I was so hyped/nervous/excited. It’s funny, for any other long run I can eat no problem, but on race day I do literally have to force feed myself!

The walk to the race was pleasant, the mornings are starting to get lighter and the mile and half stroll to the starting line was a good time to sort my thoughts outs. I was impressed to see the Marshalls out at such an early hour too, helping non locals reach the start line and making sure the route was ready to be run.

Arriving at race HQ was pretty awesome, there were far more runners there than I imagined there would be, nearly 4000 in total. HQ was impeccably organised and every thing was easy, plenty of loos, quick baggage drop and funnels for you to file into depending on your pace.  I decided to have a little stretch, toilet stop, stroll around and to keep warm.

Some time was spent deciding which funnel to go into. I’m not a fast runner and hate being with people who outrun me, it makes me feel slow and rubbish 😂 I was aiming for 2hrs 25mins, and so put myself in the 2hrs 30mins group. I’m usually quite a slow starter and don’t find my pace well until 3 miles into a long run so figured this was a safe option.


The start time was slightly delayed, mostly due to the popularity of the park and ride, a good few hundred runners had not arrived by the start time and so quite sensibly the organisers decided to wait for them to arrive, I think I would cry if I missed the start of a race!

The time came to run and and the pacing group were a terrifically friendly bunch but after two miles my legs felt good and so I broke away. The conditions were just perfect, a nice breeze, overcast but not raining, and mild but not hot. The route was largely flat and fast and I found my pace on the familiar route quickly.

The water stations as ever were run by the local scouts groups and volunteers, God bless those volunteers! I walked to take on water at mile 3 and then carried on at a good pace for me. There were more water stops at miles 5, 8 and 11. I walked through each station, partly because this is a technique I am aiming for this year in London, but also because I defy anyone who can drink from an open cup while running!

My favourite part of the route had to be miles 8 through 11. This is where you run along the ever scenic tow path from Kingston Upon Thames to Hampton Court Palace. It’s traffic free, and for today only was cycle free, and takes in much of the grounds of my favourite royal palace.  Also, who else would you expect to be cheering you on but Henry  VIII and Anne Boelyn?

Once past the palace you really are on the home straight and it wasn’t until this point I realised how fast I had run (for me anyway!). I began to realise my pace was much faster than planned and the I was going to comfortably beat 2hr 30mins. With half a mile to go I pushed myself to go  faster than was comfortable to be honest but I wanted to then beat 2hrs 20mins. Before today I didn’t even dream it was possible but………..


2 HOURS 19MINUTES 36 SECONDS – Sarah Phillips, position 3254 out of 3818 runners.

Once I’d sprinted over the finish line I joined in the obligatory hobble to the chip removing stand (confidently places foot on upturned bucket for attendant to remove *wobbles*)

Then of course comes the medal and the goody bag, which this one was welcomingly full of food!


Home, bath, food, drink, sleep, and Facebook updates for my ever supportive friends 🙂


Two down, ten to go! Next race in three week so! Not sure how long this pose will last before I have to use two hands!

As every, here is the kinky to donate if you so wish to 🙂

http://www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Phillips38

Running

Running rituals

Hey strangers, sorry this one has taken a little while to make an appearance, school holidays, mega work schedule and training have taken a front seat this week. I thought this week it might be interesting to share my little running rituals, and to hear more about yours. I think all runners have their own suspicions, routines, and warms ups and would love to hear more about what you do, but first, time for the weekly round up!

Week 6 Round Up

16.10 miles sauntered

2016 miles = 73.50m

Donations received £130.00

2016 total raised = £460.00

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Tuesday’s very wet and very cold hill training. Brrrrrr!
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Was delighted with my interval training after work on Thursday 🙂
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Sunday’s long run was the hilliest long run I have ever done but totally pleased with my pace 🙂

Was really chuffed with my long run this week! I was staying in Portsmouth with my mum and step dad, who kindly minded the girls for me while I ran. I managed to run to the top of a very big hill 🙂 and almost thought I would pass out, but the sun was glorious, the sea air fresh and the view was fab (photo doesn’t really do it much justice).

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While I was running/panting, I got to thinking about all the little things I do before a long run, rituals if you like. Most runners have things they do to make their runs feel just right and I would like to share mine with you! Rituals are good, they help you mentally gear up for a run, and be physically prepared for whatever distance you are going to do. I don’t adopt these rituals to my shorter runs, I seem to be able to go out and thrash those out without the big run up!

  1. I always eat the same thing at the same time before I run – always porridge with a smidge of sugar, and a banana, 1.5hrs before I leave.
  2. I always drink 2 big glasses of water – I think it is about 600mls altogether.
  3. I always lay out my kit ready the night before – and in the order I get dressed in!
  4. Which brings me onto always getting dressed in the same order 😂
  5. I always wear the same kit – unless I have new trainers of course, this kit includes a purple tee I got after taking part in a midnight 12 mile walk around Portsmouth, the summer after Graham passed.
  6. I always stretch in the same order, just to make sure I get everything – feet and ankles, calves, thighs, buttocks, waist and hips, back, shoulders, arms, neck, finished with ten deep breaths!
  7. I always pack my inhaler.
  8. I always get the same playlist ready on Spotify.
  9. I always say “For Graham” to myself before I leave
  10. And last but not least, I always take Graham with me – I have my lucky charm, my necklace with just a little of his ashes, close to my heart keeping me strong ❤️
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My lucky charm ❤️

And that’s it! These are my rituals! Feel free to share yours below in the comments box!

3 sleeps til medal two 🙂 if you would like to sponsor me then please do so here – http://www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Phillips38

Will see you when I have medal number 2!!!!!!!

Running

A week of highs, lows, and PB’s :)

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Week 5 was a funny old week….. Whilst being forever thankful that I had a week off on annual leave, at the beginning of the week I couldn’t help but think that I should have achieved so much more with the time I had. I had so many plans, but I think I realised by mid week that if I am going to complete this charity challenge of 12 medals in 12 months, I’ve got to cast aside some ‘non-essential’ plans and just get my head down, keep healthy and keep my legs moving.

Week 5 Round Up

15.44 miles galloped

2016 miles = 57.4m

Donations received £10.00

2016 total raied = £330.00

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My ‘running like the wind’ threshold run provided me with a PB this week!
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If only going out for a simple jog a few time a week were enough to improve performance! This is my favourite type of run, just going out, taking it easy and feeling fit!
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Finished the week with an amazing long run with Matt. It isn’t often we get to run together, and certainly not for long (unless it is race day) so this was a welcome part of our training this week!

It started off as a slow week and feeling like I was running through mud, not just in training but also in getting blog readership, support for the cause, donations, and no medal since the beginning of the year, but by mid week I kept getting some lovely little pokes to lift my spirits.

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3km in less than 20 minutes, felt like I was running like the wind!

First came a PB, a small PB, but a PB nonetheless. I had run my fastest 3km in as long as I can remember. I ran it in under 20 minutes, which is pretty fast for me at this time. Unsurprisingly it came right after a threshold run (which everybody knows I love right?!) but it was still good to know that when I have to I can put out a bit of speed! There is no way I could complete a marathon at this speed but as all runners know, it will knock a few minutes off my overall marathon finish time 🙂 after this I no longer felt like a use slow runner!

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Get out the fanfare! 50 likes!

Next came the medicine to my blog readership issue. So, I am not aiming for worldwide stardom or recognition here, but just knowing that some people like what I am writing and will click that all important like/follow button at the end of a post is a comfort to me. So when a little fanfare arrived in my WordPress inbox I literally did a little dance around my living room. A whole 50 likes on my blog, you really shouldn’t have guys………….

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Love my FB followers!

Next we hit 200 likes on our little Facebook page where we post regular updates on our training and progress. 200 people out there actually care about what we are trying to achieve and about the cause we are trying to raise awareness for. Thats pretty awesome! The posts are also starting to receive a few more likes and engagement from around the globe, thanks to all who participate 🙂 you can find the link to the page at the bottom of this blog.

Then I got a stomach bug. Enough said.

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Hampton Court Half here we come!

Towards the end of the week a little surprise came through the door (well not that big a surprise but a welcome one anyway) in the form of my racing number for the next race which is in just 12 sleeps (gulp!) Theres nothing like seeing that racing number and being able to almost touch that second medal! Can’t wait to wrap in around my neck and feel like a champ!

It feels like training is really stepping up a gear now and for the first time this week I have been beginning to really think about the marathon. I was hoping the two races in between might pose as a little of a distraction, maybe a little disillusioned there Sarah….. However, it will be amazing to complete two half marathons before we reach London, nothing like a few medals to give you bags of confidence!

So as you can probably tell, I’m a little emotional about the rest of the challenge ahead. Do not doubt for a second that I won’t do this, because I certainly will, I might just need the occasional pick me up along the way.

Fellow runners and marathoners, I salute you. I’m off to figure out how to raise more money!

How has your week been? Are you training for anything in particular? What have been your highs? Please comment below and I will be sure to answer everyone!

http://www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Phillips38

Running

From Sickness to Fitness

Hello loyal followers and new readers! Thanks for coming back for another instalment of my journey towards achieving 12 medals in 12 months. For those of you who are new to the blog, I am currently training, with my husband Matthew, to run 12 races over the duration of 2016. The aim is to complete one in each calendar month, the first already being achieved at the beginning of January, The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 10km. Our next race is in just 3 weeks and will be the Hampton Court Half Marathon on 21st February 2016. We have also just signed up for race 3 in March, The Surrey Half Marathon, and race 4 in April is the wonderful Virgin London Marathon. All of this effort is in memory of my younger brother Graham, who passed away in 2012 from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and we are raising money for The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

It’s been a funny couple of weeks. Sadly week three of training in 2016 did not go well, in fact training was non existent. Work was indescribable, I felt like death warmed up, and the kids were sick. Recipe for training disaster. Hence there was no training update last weekend!

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I’d like to focus this post on my strategies for recovering from illness and getting back into training after an unplanned break (if thats what you can call it!), but first, the weekly round up!

Weeks 3 and 4 Round Up

13.29 miles plodded

2016 miles = 41.96m

Donations received £120.00

2016 total raised = £320.00

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Monday saw me attempting to recover from the worst lurgy I’d had in a rather long time! But was super pleased I hadn’t lost my pace!
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Wednesdays fartlek run (my favourite, not) was super hard, 5 intervals and 5 hills! And the hills round this part really are hills!
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Todays long run was tough but only because I had missed last weeks run. But I did it and in super time for my little legs!

Getting back into training this week has been super tough. My legs have been fine but my poor chest….. I don’t get out of breath easily, what with being a slightly slower runner and all that, so it came as a bit of a shocker this week. I usually pride myself on my breathing technique, but not sure I actually had a technique this week other than to avoid collapsing into a breathless heap!

I have some unwritten rules when it comes to training when under the weather and when it comes to training with a slightly more severe bout of illness. This is by no means meant as professional advice, as I am far from a professional runner or coach, but just my personal beliefs and opinions, plus tips I have picked up over the last 9 years.

When it comes to coughs and colds I use the neck rule…….

By this I mean I take some time to assess where my cold has decided to settle itself within my body. We all know that feeling when the cold is bloody awful head cold (above the neck) and when it has travelled further down towards our chest (below the neck). I’m asthmatic so it is pretty easy for me to recognise when my chest has been affected, for starters I can barely breathe, I cough like mad, and it hurts, a lot. If my chest isn’t affected then I usually just keep up with my planned training sessions but at a slower pace, and to be honest it usually helps me to clear the cold quicker and relieves my symptoms temporarily.

If a cold has travelled below the neck, then rest!

As frustrating as this rule is for me (even if it is my own rule) I usually do listen to my body and take the opportunity to rest. I hate sitting at home (between long shifts that is) thinking that I could be out running. I also hate the way my bottom expands with the lack of running (which definitely happened last week).

If I’m ejecting anything from my body then I’m not running (sorry……)

Enough said (fellow medical workers and parents will know exactly what I mean, we do pick up these nasty bugs from time to time).

When I think I have recovered enough to run I take it slow

Last weekend I though I had recovered enough to perhaps do a half hour run on Saturday and attempt a longer run on Sunday, just so my whole week of training wasn’t written off. However a little walk around the town and some housework soon told me that I wasn’t. On top of that the kids got sick too, which meant I was approaching a week of very little sleep as I had already been sleeping terribly all week and now there were crying bambinos to comfort all night.

Eventually on Monday, although still exhausted, I dragged my sorry (and slightly bigger) bottom out of the door and pounded the local streets. I just did a little 30 minute jog, at effort 2, and actually surprised myself when I saw my pace was still as it was before getting sick!

I don’t try and make up for the runs I have missed

Now, I had had only been out of action for a couple of days I probably would have managed 3 out of the 4 runs planned for last week. However, missing a whole week? I could never make that up, not without killing myself anyway. Trying to make up that many runs is a sure fire way of making myself sick again!

I eat well but also afford myself the odd treat

I’ve made a real effort this week to eat some really nourishing foods, however, as my appetite was off and I hadn’t actually eaten much last week (I know you are wondering how my bottom got so big then, well, my body is somewhat of an enigma) I did allow myself to enjoy that afternoon tea with my mum, and a curry with the husband. I’m also pre sickness size again…….

Lastly, I have a good moan

Feel free to moan when you are feeling unwell and it is scuppering your plans, especially to those around you who are willing to listen. A bit of sympathy never hurt no-one!

I’d be really keen to know how you recover from illness when training, and what your unwritten rules are! Please comment below and share your tips!

If you would like to donate to our cause then please feel free to visit http://www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Phillips38

We also have a Facebook page you can follow found at the bottom of this page, and you can always follow our blog and our journey also by pressing all the right buttons.

Wishing you all a healthy week ahead!

Running

Against the odds

Just a quick post to update you all on last weeks training and to post a little good news story for when it all seems too much 🙂 I’ve had such a terribly busy week at work, plus have the lurgy, and so training has hit a bit of a brick wall this week, it’s stories like the one I’ll share that keeps me going! All hail annual leave this time tomorrow!!

Week 2 Round Up

11.93 miles cantered

2016 miles = 28.67m

Donations received £35.00

2016 total raised = £200.00

  

Tuesday’s hill run saw me shave over a minute off my minute/mile compared to week one!

  

My Fartlek run was actually rather bouncy and fast for me!

  
Can’t quite believe I did my long run in less than 12min/mile!

Sometimes training can feel incredibly tough when you are holding down a full time (not to mention stress inducing) job, caring for two wonderful children, and trying to keep a household together. Throw getting ill into the mix and the whole thing just comes crashing down. Last night I was wondering how the hell I will claw it all back again, but it got me to thinking about a time, when against all of the odds, Graham did claw it back.

He was 16 years old at the time and it was a Saturday just approaching Christmas. My mum, stepdad and Graham were all getting ready to come and visit us from Portsmouth for a pre-Christmas dinner, and we were all looking forward to it. Graham was particularly looking forward to my potatoes “cooked around the chicken”. However he had developed a bit of a cough and my mum just wanted to get him seen by the on call GP before coming, as we had all had it drilled into us that a cough can develop very quickly into a full blown chest infection and pnuemonia in boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

To cut a long story short it was a damn good job that Graham went to the doctor, as by the time he had got there he had deteriorated massively. The next thing I knew, while preparing the spuds for dinner, my mum is calling me to let me know they wouldn’t be coming after all and the Graham needed hospital treatment for a chest infection. I instantly told mum I would be there as soon as possible, and I was.

When I got there Graham hadn’t quite been admitted, so he was in a holding bay for want of a better description. When I say he looked unwell, I truly mean just that, in fact he looked dreadful. I don’t quite recall him being transferred to the paediatric ward but I do remember getting on the train home to Surbiton, and telling Matt all about it. I honestly thought he would be treated and would bounce back, as up until this point he had never needed hospital  treatment for a chest infection and had been in quite spiffin shape.

I had been home for no longer than half an hour and my mum called. She was clearly upset and I distinctly recall her saying “You need to come home……”

Naturally, I went hysterical. Those words could only mean one thing. I jumped straight back onto the train, feeling numb and confused. How could this happen so quickly and with such little warning?!

When I got back to the hospital there were some pretty serious conversations to be had. He was about as sick as they come, BUT, if he got any worse did we want (unlikely to be beneficial) intensive care input? Did we want to place a DNR instruction on his notes? So many difficult questions that no family , let alone my mother should ever have to answer…..

Graham spent the next few days, fighting with all he had, despite being told that the odds were against him. We watched on as he endured the most intense of chest physio, being covered in bruises from the sheer force used to try and clear the infection. We watched his first NG tube be sited, multiple IV lines, observations slipping into dangerous levels, and the looks on the visitors faces when they saw him.

But against the odds he did it, and god only knows how. He fought with every inch of his being and survived, giving us another wonderful 3 years with him.

Naturally he missed a shed load of school work, but here comes the most extraordinary thing. Not only did he survive, he went on to sit and achieve his GCSE Maths, the first pupil from his school to ever do that. He won an Oscar from the City Council and the won city’s heart on awards night. My brother the history maker!

A BIT OF DOUBLE PNEUMONIA ISN’T GOING TO PREVENT GRAHAM FROM TAKING EXAM

Curriculum achievement winner Graham Culpin made a bit of history at Mary Rose School in Milton when he became the first person from the special school to sit a GCSE exam.

The 16-year-old has a genetic muscle wastage disease called Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Graham can only move his head and fingers and has been confined to a wheelchair since he was seven years old.

But despite his physical limitations, Graham was determined to attend maths classes at nearby Miltoncross School three days a week so he could take his GCSE this summer.

And the bright lad is predicted to get a C grade, even though he had to miss lessons around Christmas because he caught pneumonia in both lungs.

Graham says: ‘I just wanted to prove that just because you’re in a wheelchair doesn’t mean you can’t do well in school.’

His dad, Bryan Rees-Jones, 55, of Springwood Avenue, Waterlooville, adds: ‘He did a lot of homework and mock exams. He was asking for work because he wanted to do well. We’re so proud of him.’

His mum, Michelle Rees-Jones, 51, says: ‘He’s put in so much effort. He’s such an amazing boy. There’s no words to fully express how proud we are of him.’

Read more: http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/every-single-one-is-a-real-star-at-school-1-1234192#ixzz3xuHwOPRB

  

My fundraising page http://www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Phillips38

Running

New Year, New Trainers!!!

Happy Sunday evening one and all. It’s been a busy weekend that started early on Friday with an inset day for the girls and an impromptu London trip, and the rest of the weekend was made up of building beds and clearing out old toys, all rather cleansing for the new year!!!!

Week 1 Round Up

10.53 miles sauntered

2016 miles = 16.74m

Donations received £10.00

2016 total raised = £165.00

Training has pretty much gone to plan this week, and was made better by NEW TRAINERS!!!!!!! More about those in a mo 🙂

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Tuesday’s run was a short but intense hill run, we all love hill training right??!
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Friday’s steady run, and my first run in my new trainers 🙂
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First ‘long’ training run of the year, they get much longer!

So this week was the week of new trainers….. I’d been putting it off for a while but now am pleased to say I own these lovely looking feet covers, already donned with the trademark Muscular Dystrophy Campaign orange laces.

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They were just meant for me!! so far it has been a good relationship for me and my new trainers, I feel altogether more bouncy, light on my feet, and more importantly I’m faster!!!!

Friends will often ask me advice about injuries and their running not progressing, and the first thing I ask them is whether or not they have checked what type of trainer they need for their running style.

But what is it you need to look for when choosing a new pair of trainers? Well, you can’t just go for a pair that look good, or that feel comfy when you are walking around the shop. Back in 2007 when I started running longer distances I learnt that the hard way. I suffered terribly with shin splints, sore knees, painful hips and sluggish running.

A good place to start is to have a foot scan and/gait analysis. This is how I discovere that, like about 70% of runners, I overpronate. In short, I roll my feet inwards when they roll off the ground during running, and overpronation is apparently the new normal…… Another small trick you can do is the wet foot test. This is by no means a fool proof analysis but may give you an idea.

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The ‘normal’ foot

Less than 30% of runners will have  normal foot print, which makes you wonder why the hell it is called normal at all! Anyway, runners with this so called normal foot, land on the outside of their heel and roll slightly inward to absorb shock. If you have a normal foot then congratulations! You are biomechanically efficient!

The flat foot

The flat foot has a low arch and this is the type of footprint you would expect if you overpronate, like me….. this is my foot! My arch has become a big higher over the years though with some retraining. Overpronators land on the outside of their heel and roll more inwards off their big toe than runners with normal feet, sometimes rolling excessively, which can cause all sorts of overuse injuries, and believe me, some of them are rather unpleasant and can halt your training at times. The best trainers for overpronators like me are usually marketed as stability or motion control trainers.

The high arched foot

People with an excessively high arch are the opposite of me, they underpronate, and barely roll inward, if at all. Runners who have this running style will not absorb shock through their legs and body particularly well, again, causing injury. Runners with this running style should aim for trainers that are flexible and encourage motion. A neutral trainer without stability is best.

Because I overpronate, I need trainers that have a bit of support under the arch of my foot, to support them and help them fall a bit straighter during my runs. I have always used Adidas, not because I particularly resonate with the brand but because my first ‘real’ pair were from Adidas and well, if it ain’t broke……..

This time around though I have gone for a lighter pair than normal and the support is slightly less than I am accustomed too, but should still be enough. Over the years my walking gait has improved due to my trainers and  my body has been reminded to be ‘normal’, and I am hoping I’ll get away with it. A risk, but at the moment it feels ok, and the lighter trainer is definitely easier to run in. It has brought my min/mile down by 30 seconds already!!

On Friday the girls and I went for a little trip up to the Sky Garden in Fenchurch Street. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who want a free morning out with kids, and great views of London. You may wonder what relevance this has to running, but you see, from here I could see many landmarks I will be passing in April during The London Marathon. While my girls ‘ahhhhhhhed and oooooooohed’ at the sights I couldn’t help but track the course like a map over the view and think ‘bloody hell, that’s a long long long way…..’

Fundraising has been a bit slow this week, only £10.00 received, but I haven’t upped the asking just yet, will wait until we are approaching the next race and the marathon also. However, if anyone would like to sponsor me then you can do so just here….

http://www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Phillips38

Next week I am hoping to feature a Muscular Dystrophy story from the point of view of someone living with it, either as a carer of sufferer, and over the 12 months would like to learn more myself about the different forms of MD as well as teaching others, as I have understandably become wrapped up in Duchenne Muscular dystrophy over the years.

For more information on Muscular Dystrophy please visit

http://www.musculardystrophyuk.org

Love to one and all and keeeeeep running!

Running

First Medal in the bag!!!!

As I’m sitting here on a Sunday night, kids back from their break away at the grandparents, uniform at the ready for back to school in the morning, and thinking about work, I have to pinch myself that we actually took part in our first race of the year yesterday.

You see, we didn’t want to admit it, but we were actually very scared of our run yesterday. Although we have a long running history, training hasn’t exactly taken off in the way it should have done in the couple of months before. Last year we ran on and off, and vowed to pick up the pace in November. November came and went as then who gets anything done in December???!! Between nights out, too much cake, beer and general eating, multiple children’s Christmas shows, a broken shower, being ill, work and a very poorly cat, there wasn’t much time left at all. And we didn’t do the best job of motivating each other….!

Friday night for me was pretty restless. I kept thinking not only about the race but also my upcoming project of redecorating the girls bedroom (I do love a good project and once I get thinking, well I can’t sleep! And poor Matt never hears the end of it either). Saturday morning came and I had my usual having to force my porridge down my throat routine.

The days we race seem to be the only days, except for when we go on holiday, that we actually get our butts in gear and out the door without having to rush, maybe it’s the nervous energy. We made our way to the train station and started heading towards the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. An hour later and we were walking towards the amazing Olympic Stadium for the first time since 2012.

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We chatted away nervously and reminisced over the fun we had there with our then toddlers and how amazing London 2012 was. Thinking about those Great British Athletes winning all those medals and welcoming the world to our stage helped me to focus more on the task in hand.

The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 10k is a relatively small race. It has an entry limit of 700 people but I would say there were maybe 500 of us there yesterday. It is also one of the cheaper races in London at only £17 per person. We picked up our race packs at the Podium Cafe, and made our way to get changed and drop off our bags. We didn’t have long to wait before we started heading to the warm up (which we never join in, party poopers, we have our own warm ups) and then onwards toward the start line, which was also the finish line. 3 little laps is all that stood between us and our first medal.

Then we were off. I felt a little self conscious to begin with, as I think I have already mentioned, I go for the slow and steady game, but soon after the start we were pretty much bringing up the rear. We looked on in awe at how fast some people can actually run, but kept encouraging each other that we were doing the right thing by taking our time and going at our own pace.

We have always enjoyed going at a steady pace, we like to chat and take in our surroundings. This race course is certainly one you want to take in, you are constantly surrounded by amazing sights, sporting history, and lovely landscape. The course is mostly flat with a few inclines here and there but they are very short. Perfect if you are a first timer or not as fit as you wanted to be when you cross the start line!

It wasn’t long before we started to catch up with some people that set off too fast, and we started to feel better about our game plan!!! The race was pretty much comfortable all of the way through, and once we were into our third lap we knew it would all be alright.

There were some lovely people cheering everybody on along the way, and they stayed there until every person had crossed the finish line. The supporters can never be underestimated in how much they help you get round.

We were feeling tired towards the end but it didn’t matter, the finish line was in sight and no amount of discomfort is comparable to what Graham had to endure during his time with us. If he could live with DMD then we could bloody finish this race!

We went for our trademark sprint finish, we have a rule that we must always finish strong and that’s what we did. 1hr 14mins and a big big smile on our faces…

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Off we went to pick up our medal and to take some photos in our amazing surroundings. First one in the bag, 11 more to go!!!!

Our next race is in 7 weeks time, I think, and is the Hampton Court Half Marathon, on 21 at February. It fits in well with our marathon training as we should be up to 13 miles by that point.

This week we had some incredibly generous donations to kickstart our fundraising, and we have raised in total £155 towards our £3000 target for the Muscualr Dystrophy Campaign. If you would like to donate then please click here –

http://www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Phillips38

Big love and thanks for all the support.

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