I'm must be crazy...

So having not really run since the marathon (except a wee one to try and keep up with people on bikes...which amazingly I managed to get there before them though they did go to tescos to buy food) I have began to feel incredibly lazy and thus decided to join Jess in her Birmingham half marathon attempt.

I'm hoping this will be a tad easier since I was quite content for the first half of the marathon and therefore chop a bit off my PB...not that I actually know what my PB is but I guess I can find out. I've definitely come to the conclusion that the half marathon is my distance (well maybe that the full marathon is too long, well see in October if I still feel the same way!).

Anyway training begins next week and I've give random updates of how life/training is progressing as and when interesting things happen when I'm out there hitting the streets!

It's over! and we did it!

It's over and we did it! With no blood (I think), lots of sweat, and just a few tears! I finally made it across the finish line in 5 hours and 48 minutes...a tad longer than I would have hoped for but done and never to be repeated! The first half went well with me completing it in around 2 hours and a half hours but by that stage I was dead so I walked from about 13 miles to 18 miles. I did try running at one point but I was running at the same pace I was walking and so I gave up! Along this stretch I walked with a very nice man called Keith from London and we chatted for a bit. He went on though every time he saw he saw me after that point he said well done and keep going...I may never know who you are but you kept me going!

At the turning point (for those of you who don't know you run out along the beach and then back) I decided I would run a mile and walk a mile...which worked pretty successfully till I reached the wind at by the power station which was like hitting a brick wall. The gusts were so hard that it was actually forcing me backwards...no good after 23 miles already done. I did resolve to walk the next few miles but was determined to make it home sub 6 hours and decided I could run the last mile well mile and a bit. By this stage precious few were still running...25 miles and a massive headwind...but from somewhere I gathered my strength and ran the last wee bit and even managed to sprint to the finish...no idea where that last burst of energy came from I guess from knowing who was benefiting from me putting myself through the torture...the kids! At the end I meet a very nice guy from Southampton who had done it as a bet to some friends who didn't believe that he could do it...I think pride was at stake cause he defiantly felt the same way I did! . Lastly they ran out of full marathon T-shirt by the time I crawled across the finish...I was offered a half one but I was a tad put out by this having just run a full marathon...if I done half I would have been happy with a half but I ran 26.2 (well according to the GPS 26.35 that extra 0.15 makes a huge difference!) miles. Rant over!

I would just like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported me over the last few months and who have donated their well earned pennies to a great charity. If anyone would still like to here's the link http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Rachel_Morrison_CHV

I would also like to say a massive well done to Sam and Joe who also completed the marathon but I'll let them write about their adventures!

Dedicated to my Grandpa John Morrison RIP 15 May 2011...I hope I made you proud.

6 Days To Go...

As you may have guessed from the title, there are 6 days to go until we run the Edinburgh Marathon. Surprisingly, I'm actually feeling okay about it. Last weekend Sam and I embarked on an 18 mile run around Erdington and Sutton Coldfield, and we actually did it with only one stop (I needed the loo...), and without feeling too bad at the end of it. It looks like the training may have actually paid off! Don't let me mislead you, our legs were in agony, but generally we felt good afterwards, if a little spacey. So roll on next weekend and let's get this over with!

In terms of fundraising, all events have now happened and they have been very successful. Last month we had the gig in Birmingham which was a huge success. Everyone seemed to have a great time, despite it being a Monday night, and we raised over £180, which was much more than we were expecting. So I'll say a big thank you to Tiny Cinema, Couthe, Johnny Kowalski and the Sexy Weirdos, and As Well Continue To Run for playing, acts came from far and wide for no money to help, and it was very much appreciated.

Yesterday was our pre-marathon garden party. About an hour before it kicked off I realised that the marquees we had were missing vital elements, it was raining and we couldn't get the barbecue going. Needless to say I was stressing somewhat, but my housemates came to the rescue (as they always do), and we got new marquees, got the barbecue going and the weather cleared up. So Sam and I would like to say a public thanks to Gemma Stubbs, Stephen Reddan, and Michael Reilly for their enormous amount of help yesterday. Also a big thanks to everyone who came along, it was great to see some faces I hadn't spoke to in ages, and everyone seemed up for a good time. Food and drink were plentiful (the latter a little too plentiful), and once again we raised way more money than I thought we would. I'll post some pictures after I find my camera in the rubble...

This week is all about resting and eating, two of my favourite activities, so the next time I post will probably be after the event, so wish us luck!

Darn it ... I can't breathe!

Hello! Sorry for the lack of post of late. It reflects the shameful amount of training I've been doing over the past week...

After the gig at the Island bar (to which I doth my hat to all involved) I had been quite good - fitting in a few long runs and trips to the swimming baths. However, this tailed off somewhat at the start of the week with a fair few shifts at various workplaces getting in the way (the perils of having four zero hour contracts).

With three weeks to go before the big day, I'm getting rather nervous!
Whilst I type this post, I'm meant to be completing a 12 mile run.
It started off well, my legs feeling fine and energy levels up ... then ... half an hour in ... I realised I couldn't actually breathe!

Not a good sign. I stopped.

Once the wheezing and tight chest had dissipated, I tried again.

Sadly to no avail.

As there is a history of asthma in my family I'll be heading to the doctors next week to check it out.

Fingers crossed I'll be able to up my game next week (eeek)

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly...

I don't why she swallowed a fly-perhaps she'll die...well I hope not or its only old ladies who die from swallowing flies as I shallowed quite a few on my run yesterday! After a small coughing fit and a touch of lucozade later I think the extra protein probably did me some good (as an aside lucozade is currently 4 bottles for £2 in tescos...this was rather exciting to me especially at the rate I am going through the stuff). I managed a very respectable 13 miles yesterday and could have gone further if I didn't have wee visit to the police station in the middle.

Training sort of took a dip with being on holiday and then coming down with an awful cold which knocked me for six but all seems better now :) fingers crossed! After my mum suggesting that I should probably pull out me telling her that that was quiting and I was at least going to try to run the marathon I hit training on the head once I came back to the sunny South! Good Friday saw me run around 15miles (well about 10 miles running and 5 walking...it was hot!) and a couple of stops on benches! I also had to visit a corner shop to get more water as I was so dehydrated!

Easter Sunday saw me go for and early short run of 9 miles...when did 9 miles become a short run I will never know! It was however a lovely run along the banks of the Thames and Cherwell where I saw some interesting sights including a man swimming in the river (a tad gross I think) some very cut ducklings and baby geese (I don't know the term!) and was wished happy Easter and good luck by a homeless man. The run ended with me chatting to a plant scientist researcher, originally from Glasgow, which was really nice just to break up the boredom! He also mentioned there may be some money in biodiversity if anyone is interested!

This post is dedicated to Becca for telling me "your rubbish and you never update this"!

Fifty Thousand Beats

Just a quick post to let you know about a charity gig we have planned for Monday April 18th at the Tiki Bar in Birmingham.

The evening promises to be full of fun and frolics, and so far the acts confirmed are As Well Continue To Run and Couthe (drummer permitting). There are also some very exciting acts in the pipeline which we will update you about as soon as we know ourselves. We will also be having a raffle with some genuinely good prizes!

So please, if you're available on Monday April 18th come on down and support us! Entry is £3, we'll provide the entertainment.

More details available via FaceBook here.

And don't forget you can sponsor Sam and sponsor Joe at any time you like!

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Now playing: Big Star - Don't Lie To Me
via FoxyTunes

Failing at nephalism, temperance, abstinence, abstemiousness and restraint.

Training has been pretty good this week. I made the most of the last days of Birmingham's Be Active scheme, where it's free to go for a swim or to the gym (the scheme still exists but with greater time restrictions now it's April); partaking in a couple of fast, hilly on the spot runs. I also went on a few cross country runs around both Sutton Park and Erdington's Industrial Estates. The latter saw Joe and I running on empty; I felt so sugar low at the end of 9 miles that my stagger home (well, back to 530) resembled that of a drunken persons gait!

Which is slightly ironic as I have been spending the remainder of my training teetotal. Well ... OK ... I say teetotal ... yesterday saw me at a friends 25th birthday meal. I stuck to soft drinks (apple juice and water) up until midnight, then I caved! I couldn't resist a White Russian and blimey - was it tasty. Someone kindly pointed out that it was practically a protein shake laced with alcohol and thus not too shameful ... I think I'll agree!