On the run: Stuck on the same tune

Annie Hayes, HRZone.co.uk's very own contributing editor and self-confessed reluctant runner, is bravely taking part in the London Marathon this year and she is charting her training regime here in this blog. This week, she manages her longest run to date.

My iPod seems to know how I feel; stuck on an Anastacia tune, try as I might I can't get the thing to work and whilst the dulcet tones are easy on the ear, I, like my feet, have had enough of the same old track.

Liberated from the beat box for a while at least, the training has taken on a new edge. My rhythm might even be a little steadier now I'm not mirroring the pulse of my jogging tunes. So it's just me and the road. And it's a long one.

Sandra, the lovely sister-in-law and co-marathon running buddy, came over on Sunday to join me for a 'breakfast run' – well actually it extended into lunchtime as well so I guess we could call it a 'brunch' jog. We gleefully handed over the children to our weary looking husbands and set out on what was to be a glorious day.

Spring has come early this year, at the weekend in fact. And what a difference it has made. I no longer feel as though I'm being punched in the face at every turn, which is pretty much what it's like when you train in the wind and the rain; it was altogether a whole lot easier.

I'm praying that 13 April is not unexpectedly subject to a summer monsoon. Of course, with good weather comes the flock of 'occasional' runners - definitely a category for the Facebook groups – I'd just need to precede that with 'I hate'. With a lot of nattering along the way – yes it's possible to talk and run at the same time, we are true multi-tasking ladies - we made it round the course in a respectable two hours.

The extra loop I added, taking in the sights of Wandsworth, meant we'd notched up 11 miles before our stomachs and bladders gave way. My longest run to date, but I was sad that the minor triumph was short-lived - 11 miles isn't even half the marathon course – yikes.

I'd like to say I put my feet up whilst winding down, but the three children had other ideas and the worn out fathers who were keen to do the hand-over begged us never to go again. Tough!

On the fundraising front, all is well. A mere £12 stands between me and the target. I'm delighted. I managed to tot up £200 with some firm, yet pleasant texts to the 'should-do' sponsors, who in turn donated (although I think it was probably just to get me off their backs and keep me from filling up their inboxes).

With two months to go, I'll keep going, as it would be nice to raise more than the target goal. There's still the cake baking to be done, and I'm determined to do something respectable that warrants the term 'fundraising' rather than 'nag-fest'.

More news from me next week on how the training is going and how I got on with a weekend's running dodging the cows and Sunday walkers in the Cotswolds countryside.

Annie is running the Flora London Marathon on 13 April in aid of Heart UK. You can sponsor her at www.justgiving.com/annabellehayes

Marathon blog archive:

• Eight weeks to go

HR Zone, 18-Feb-2008
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