In the run up to the Great North Run (GNR), we are determined to give you as much support as we can. But how can we, as mere office folk, give you training tips? So we’ve decided to reach out to you, our experienced community, to share some invaluable tips you’ve picked up along the way. Together, we’ll build a collective training diary for all our runners at every level. See the bottom of this post for details on how to contribute yours!
To start off, we asked Louise Barrett to tell us how she got into running, and how she is training for the GNR. We learned that a mammoth run is best tackled by starting small and signing up for shorter running events that lead up to the big one. We’ll let Louise share her story…
I am not much of a runner, but since taking it up 2 years ago I have really enjoyed the peacefulness of it, along with the added benefits of feeling fitter and healthier. The London Marathon was on my ‘To Do Before I Die’ list, and a charity I am quite heavily involved with, the Foundation for the Study into Infant Death (FSID), offered me a place, and there my story begins. I struggled with a training injury, which meant that the longest run I had completed before the marathon was 12 miles. I did complete the marathon though and have my medal to prove it! It was 7hrs and 38 mins but at least I finished. Afterwards I swore that was me and running finished, and for about 6 months after that was the case.
My friend got a place in the London Marathon for this year and we decided that as part of the training we would both do the Silverstone half marathon and here I am again running! I am enjoying it so much more now and I think that is because I know I can do it and don’t have the pressure of the marathon coming up. As a result I completed the Silverstone half in 3hrs 15mins. I was thoroughly chuffed with that result so have continued with the running. I am now doing 3 mile runs 3 times a week. I completed a 10k in May and am also doing the Park Runs in Hull when I can. My timing has really improved doing the park runs and I put this down to the park runs being organised and timed; I think I need this to crack on and beat the previous week. On the days I don’t run, I ride my bike to build up the strength in my legs and am also doing the 200 sit up challenge with some mates on Twitter!
My husband is cycling from Lands’ End to John O’Groats in the summer which means 3 weeks off work as I am providing support in the motorhome. During these 3 weeks I plan to run each day building up my distances so that when we get home I can do my 10-mile circuit of our town. With that done, I will continue with the shorter runs up to the Great North Run, which I am mega excited to do! I have put in to do the London Marathon again for FSID but am still waiting to see if I have a place. If I do the GNR that will be a great run in the training for that.
I am fit fat bird and am finding the shorter runs better for my weightloss, putting more effort into these seems to be key to toning up my body, along with getting some of the weight off.
I will again be raising money for FSID, I have piggybacked on the LEJOG page to get the total up. Our justgiving page is here http://www.justgiving.com/ellislejog.
If you’re proud of your training programme or have a tip you could share, just leave a comment below along with your fundraising page URL, or join the conversation in our 1,000-strong running page on Facebook, JustRunning.
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Tags: Great North Run, JustRunning, London Marathon, Marathon, running, silverston half marathon, training tips