This day I love.......: update

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February seems to have flown past. Even though it is a shorter month I have still managed to run 145miles or 233km, which is quite a lot. Had I known this earlier I would have run an extra 5 miles to round it up!

This month has seen the long runs get even longer with my longest to date of 20 miles. I use the long runs to also go on my Motivational hunt which sees me trying to find a series of five different items as set out in the group Run Mummy Run [Yorkshire and Humber region]. It is great fun to break up the long runs, although I never want to go on a gnome hunt again!

The long runs have also meant lots of early starts, but with it has come some beautiful early morning sun rises. Which if I am honest makes everything worth it.

I have started running to heart rate now, which has taken quite a lot of getting used to. Watching my heart rate fluctuate and trying to bring it into the correct zone has been really hard work and at times frustrating. However I have noticed that with it my recovery times are shortening and I am not longer experiencing the abdominal pain I used to get on long runs. I guess it must be doing something. I might be getting slower at the moment but my endurance has increased.

One of the other changes this month is I have been trying to cross train more. I was given a months pass to try Your Pilates Physio which has really helped with cross training. The website is really easy to navigate and I can also access from my phone too, meaning I can access the workouts wherever I am.

The site has all the videos individual which you can search for certain things, like strengthening or stretches. You can even search for areas such as lower back. In addition the videos have been grouped into workouts so you can do a series of videos such as workout for runners or a workout for the upper back.

At the end of January my shoulder injury got too painful and it meant I have had to have a rest from other forms of cross training such as kettlebells or hoop. I have found with Your Pilates Physio that there are multiple workouts to help with my shoulder pain including a whole group of videos specifically for it. It has therefore been a real game changer this last month and I would love to continue my subscription.

Your Pilates Physio isn't just for runners, it is for anyone wanting to access Pilates workouts. The videos are easy to understand and follow, even for someone like me who is very uncoordinated. The duration of each video is clearly displayed before you begin, so you can tailor your workouts. For future I would love to see some shorter duration videos, for when I only have a quick 10 or 15 mins but other than that it has been amazing to have access to.

My daughter and I are still working through our parkrun alphabet challenge and have collected a few more this month, one of our parkrun days was cancelled due to the bad weather, which given the current weather seems hard to believe.

March sees my first two races of the year, they are both however training runs to the ultra in April and I am looking forward to finally earning a nice bit of bling at last!

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Running in August is always very tricky when you have small children. I tried to keep the children as busy as possible which meant lots of trips out to places and so often running during the day was not an option. I had a few times where I ran alongside the bikes or even rode my bike with them but most runs were confined to evenings and parkrun.

August had to be flexible in order to accommodate the school holidays and plans with the children. It meant I ran when I could and did not stick to a training plan. Possibly a bad idea given I have several marathons coming up, but really I had no choice. What was nice however was making the most of the early mornings with running friends and soaking in the warm weather.

In addition to birthdays and day trips we also took a family holiday to Canada. Whilst there we made the most of the outdoors with plenty of walks and bike rides. I even managed to squeeze in a few runs. One early morning run with my eldest daughter. She was worried about bears but we never saw any.

We found a local parkrun for our Saturday morning fix. A lovely flat course. My youngest stopped at 4km as she had had enough but my eldest ran the whole thing with me. Richmond Olympic parkrun is one worth visiting if you are in Canada.

There was an interesting off road experience in the mountains of Whistler. The group I was with basically left me and I got lost, I had brushed up on bear survival though so all was good in the end!

Canada was simply beautiful to run around. I always feel at home there and it really was my style of running too. I loved running through the trails and off road. More so when I had my daughter with me, it was just beautiful.

Returning to England though was a bit of a shock to the system. The cold weather had returned and it made a change running in the rain instead of the glorious sunshine. Full waterproofs were even required.

I can't say I covered the miles I needed to, or for that matter feel particularly prepared for the next marathon but I do feel I achieved a happy medium. No races in August either so no bling or race reports, just training runs. A total mileage just short of 80 miles run in August, and given it was the school holidays I am pleased with that.

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I have just switched the computer on to write my July running update, and realised I have not yet written May or June. No idea how that has happened so I must apologise. The past few months have gone from crazy busy to quiet on the running front. In fact I don't have a single race booked in August, and can honestly say I cannot remember the last time that happened.

May

May started with a milestone run for my daughter and I. She completed her 10th adult parkrun and I completed my 50th. It was amazing to run together and achieve the milestone on the same day. She makes me laugh with her running as she sprints then stops, then sprints then stops and repeats. I think her time will only get better as she runs more and stops less.

In a bid to keep up my fitness and in addition to running I have started cycling more with the kids. Some times I cycle with them and others I run alongside them. It is very stop start but it is better than doing nothing. I also love a weekly spin class, and have to say the instructors choice in music is spot on.

Windmill 6 had been postponed in March due to the snow. When I ran it last year it was heavy rain and wind and this year was the complete opposite, bright sunshine and hot weather! I am not sure what has happened at the minute but I have been struggling to run. I enjoyed the course again but just couldn't seem to get going. It did however result in one of my favourite ever running photographs, which was taken by Steve Frith who is raising money for Woodhead Mountain Rescue.

May saw club runs and training runs. The warm weather made running hard work but still a welcome change to the snow. Training began for the Barnsley Boundary and whenever possible I would run a recce run of my section to ensure I knew the route well.

One of the highlights of the month is Liverpool Rock n Roll. We make a weekend of it as a family and have fun exploring Liverpool as well as running! This year was no different with a weekend spent in the city.

I ran a 5km race on the Saturday and then spent the rest of the day relaxing and exploring Liverpool with the kids. Little Man had a sleep on the grass and the girls watched people take on the inflatable course. The day just seemed to pass us by. The 5km course had been different to the one I had run the year before. I had felt pleased with how it had gone and happy that I seemed to be able to run again, given how previous weeks had gone.

Day 2 of the weekend is the half marathon followed by the fun run mile with the kids. The half marathon loops around the city taking in the sights before making its way out to a country park and over to Penny Lane. The first 10 miles are great. There is plenty of support, plenty of regular music and a great atmosphere. Then you hit the waters edge and it all seems to disappear. Those last 3 miles are just horrible and they caught me again. I vowed there not to do this race again next year.

Luckily I made it back to do the fun run with the kids. Little Man had been crying whilst I had been running as he had missed me. I gave him a cuddle and he fell asleep. Just what you need before a run. Still we went out and we ran our mile. It is a shame to not be doing it again next year but I think I need a change.

I spent the rest of May running more boundary runs to ensure I fully knew the route. I will admit I did get lost on one of them.

I continued to help out at Nostell parkrun and run it occasionally. This is one of my favourite photos of Nostell. The best seat in the house!

The girls took part in a test run for a new junior parkrun and are now regulars at the event. As the weather was also improving I took to the fells and had a play off road. I must admit I love it a lot more, even if I get chased by sheep!

June

June began the same was as May, with parkrun. RD duties this time. Seemingly whenever I RD it rains, any other day there is sun. Whatever the weather it is still one of my favourite places.

I said my farewell to the Ramathon in June. It changed its name and ownership a few months ago, had I not already signed up I would not have gone even though it was my favourite race. I use was now, although the route has stayed the same the whole feeling around the race has changed completely. It was sad saying goodbye to somewhere that holds so many memories for me, but onwards and upwards.

Barnsley Boundary took place and I am pleased to say I didn't get lost. I really enjoy the route and still run it regularly.

Another run that I did last year was the school run. A run with spectacular views and I even managed a PB.

I managed some fun runs in June, even getting to run my favourite run Trunce.

After take part in the trial run of the new junior parkrun, the girls also took part in the first event. It was a great success and we try to run there whenever we can.

One of the most brutal but yet amazing races I have ever done took part in June. The Pennine Barrier 50. My full race report can be found here. I think I am still on a high from this run, although I am not sure my legs have forgiven me yet.

If one Ultra a month wasn't enough I decided to go for my second of the month at Endure 24. Things didn't go quite to plan and you can read more here

I must have done something right at Endure because I ended up in a gif! See if you can spot me!!

July

There was only one other way to start July, well after the Endure 24 festival and that was with a timed challenge! This challenge saw over 30km of running. The route took you round Doncaster and was split into stages. Meaning you ran the timed sections and then did whatever you liked in the none timed bits. The total time was taken into consideration for the winner and not who crossed the line first.

It was a really tough route. The walking between timed sections really got to me at times and made the restart in running harder. Not knowing the distance between timed points also played a part. Had I known it was 1km I would have pushed a lot harder. Some sections were short and others over 10km in length. I am still undecided if I would do it again.

Another beautiful run with scenic views is the Toss O'Coin race. Another PB for me on that route and another stunning view.

The girls broke up for summer and with that training has taken a slight twist. Running during the day is now alongside them on the bike, more often though running takes place at club or in the evening. We still get our weekly parkrun fix together.

Even on our weekend away in London we managed a parkrun and she did her first spot of tourism. She was the only junior there and I could not have been more proud of her!

Whilst there might not be any races planned for August, it is still pretty busy with the school holidays. We are hoping to do some more parkrun tourism and of course the countdown to Berlin and Chicago marathons has begun! If you would like to learn a little more about my running journey you can read my interview over on a Beautiful space

As the heat continues to rise I have also been experimenting with new ways to stay hydrated. On my long runs I am still using Active Root, as it helps to replace the lost electrolytes. I tried a protein water drink from Asda recently as a way to help increase my protein but it did not agree with me. Purdey’s is a multivitamin energy drink which I have been trying. It contains a combination of carbonated spring water, fruit juice, vitamins and natural plant extracts and offers a cleaner alternative to the established energy drinks brands. I cannot take the more established energy drinks so this has been a great option for me.

In a bid to keep the kids hydrated I have been carrying Squash’d in my bag. Then when we are out and about I buy a bottle of water and squeeze a small amount in. The kids prefer the taste of juice and will keep themselves hydrated when we are out. I have also noticed that their moods improve when they drink more. It is a simple way to keep the kids hydrated and takes up little room in a bag.

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March started as February left off, snow. Then more snow. Just for good measure more snow. Races were cancelled and it was simply cold. The thought of long runs made even less appealing but training continued. A 21.5 miles run on ice and snow, took longer than expected but was lots of fun too.

The majority of races in March were cancelled. One of the few that did go ahead was Retford Half. It was freezing cold, then at random points on course boiling hot. It made for difficult running. A rather undulating route, is perhaps the most polite way to put it, I wasn't a fan. I am not sure I was geared up to enjoy the race before it started and perhaps this contributed to the fact I didn't enjoy it. Who knows, either way I won't be entering again. On the positive side I did meet a rather lovely lady and we spent our last few miles together.

Training also meant I had to some times fit a run into an already busy day. Often this meant taking Little Man out in his pushchair. Incredibly hard work as he wants to stop to look at everything, but at the end of the day it is better than nothing.

I have also been trying to do more cross training in March. Spin classes and swimming. I really enjoy the spin class at my local gym, but it is often booked up so I haven't been as much as I wanted to.

You may also notice on the bike an orange bottle. March was an amazing month for me in that I became an ambassador for Active Root. The orange bottle is an active root bottle. I have been using active root on all my long distance training and will be also using on my marathon. You can read more in my review here

As March continued training got harder. Having to reshuffle days around snow days. Re organising cancelled races, and trying whenever and wherever possible to fit runs in. I struggled with my long runs and began to doubt the marathon.

My eldest daughter decided she wanted to start running adult parkrun again. She is such a strong girl and also very determined. Her running is fantastic, and when she wants to sprint I cannot keep up with her. It provides great speed training for me when she does. She has run 2 parkruns this month and on both has got herself a PB. I could not be more proud of her.

I also became an ambassador for Just Strong Clothing. I love the ethos of Just Strong clothing, as they want to empower women from all walks of life to be strong. I aim to do this for my daughters, to motivate them to be strong and so I am really pleased to be an ambassador for Just Strong Clothing. You can use my code LEYLABRO10 for a discount on any orders placed on their store.

March drew to an end with good social training runs with great friends and of course Easter. It also brings with it the realisation that in April I run two marathons. Nerves are now starting to kick in. Training has not gone according to plan that is for sure. Let's just hope I have done enough.

March Training Videos

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February was a rather strange month. February begin with me counting down the days to our holiday to the Caribbean. I knew I had to get through the first weeks of training before I could take a break and relax in the sun. First I had to tackle Mickleden straddle.

I had really tired legs from the Ultra and struggled with the race. There was a strict cut off at 10km and one I knew would be tight on a flat course and with fresh legs. I really struggled. The cold weather didn't help. I saw runners turning round and my friend was one of them. I stopped to try and help. After trying to comfort my friend I continued up the hill. Hitting the check point and then discovering I was 2 minutes over the cut off point. I was not going to stop and no amount of been told I couldn't continue was stopping me. Eventually I was given the go ahead to continue.

I made up time and passed other runners as I went. Slipping in the snow and ice. I lost feeling in my toes and hands. My legs and ankles were really hurting from the number of times I fell over. I might have been one of the last to finish, but I finished. I made up places and finished. I can tick the race off my list.

I was now into the final week before the holiday. It was the final push. My legs hurt, my body wanted to rest and I knew I only had a few days left to go.

The final run before I went on holiday was spot on the training plan and whilst I was feeling tired I was also feeling good about how training was progressing.

The plan over the holiday was to rest and relax. I couldn't resist a steady run around the ship. It is such a beautiful way to start the day and the watching the sun rise over the Caribbean is incredibly beautiful.

The girls and I managed another run around the ship later in the week. My youngest daughter speeding off and impressing everyone who she passed. Upon arrival at Disney Castaway Cay I disembarked the ship to take part in the Castaway Cay 5km.

The route is an out and back but the loop in the middle always confuses people and you have runners heading in all directions. The heat was intense and I struggled. Pleased I managed to complete the run but also concerned I struggled with the distance.

The week had gone far too fast and whilst I left feeling relaxed, I didn't want to leave the ship.

We landed on Sunday and it was straight back to training. Monday was club run and it was a very jet lagged run. My body wasn't sure what time it was. I was cold and tired. I found the run very difficult and I wished I had taken more time to get used to the time difference and temperature.

Tuesday I went out to try track and half way through I abandoned the run. I had no speed in my legs and was feeling tired and sick.

I made the decision not to go to club on Wednesday and instead focus on the long run on Thursday.

The run was a disaster and half way through I had to rung a friend to come and pick me up. My whole body was shaking and ached. I had a headache and I felt run down. The shaking continued into Friday and by the weekend I was full of cold.

Whatever virus I had took a few days to leave and to increase a force rest from running the snow came, causing a snow day. The end of February saw snow, and me wondering how I would fit training in and would I be able to complete the marathons?

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