The second Tapas Run and lots of progress :-)

Have made lots of progress since my last entry here. Since the Lasswade 10 (including it actually) I didn't feel I'd had one run that felt good - they were all a slog, even the shorter ones. However - I suddenly feel all the slogs have had an effect and I just had a great weekend. Sunday was the second "Tapas Run", an event dreamt up and organised by Sarah Cox and me last year when we couldn't find a 10km we wanted to enter over the winter. We designed a 10km route from the zoo to our favourite Tapas restaurant and in December the Tapas Run was born!
As part of my training programme Michelle has given me two long days back to back each month to build up my stamina. This weekend was the first of those and I had to complete 15 miles one day followed by 10 the next. To make the Tapas run count I ran to the start from home making a total (and new personal record!) of 13.5 miles. The next day I did a 10 mile walk / jog. The latter was to be in the hills as instructed but I had to retrace my steps to the road when I encountered the red flag flying on the firing range!
Feel really cheered by the fact I managed these 2 days - legs feel fine, though I am very weary.
Lots of encouragement this week in the form of donations - thanks to you all. Now up to £305. Knowing that people think I'm doing something worthwhile really does help me run.
Also very inspired by Eddie Izzard this week. He proves my suspicion that if you want to do something enough then you can.
Was only 1 mile short of my training target of 26 miles last week - very happy with that as 3 weeks ago I was only running 9!

Lasswade 10 mile

We did it! The notoriously hilly Lasswade 10 - many thanks to Sue who kept encouraging me. Can't say I enjoyed it, but the scenery was fantastic (the Pentlands look like the Alps today - and the sun is shining) and my legs are achy but fine.
This week has ended 8 miles short of the 23 mile target Michelle set me, but seeing as I missed 4 days because of my hamstring I think that's ok - and anyway, she's in Oz so doesn't know!!

Physio to the rescue - already!!!

Have been a bit miserable for last few days as developed hamstring pain on Monday and thought I’d already got myself an injury :-((
My physio friend, Dennis McGinley, kindly came to the rescue today by popping by to assess it and I’m delighted to say that my hamstrings are officially weak and unflexible but not injured:-))
This has been a timely warning that I really am trying to do something a
bit beyond my current capability and I have to take it seriously - especially with stretching.
It’s also made me realise why clients find it so hard to take the advice to rest when they are injured as the prospect of losing weeks of potential training is devastating. This has been a lucky escape and I’m committed to doing everything Dennis tells me too (well, in his role as physio as those that know him know not to always do everything he tells them!)

Can’t wait to run again tomorrow - all I’ve done this week is 2 mile walk.