Why this Mum runs!

Week 3 of the marathon training plan of doom. So far so good - but still got an 80 minute run tomorrow hanging over me before I can claim week 3 victory. We seem to have returned to minus degree cold frosty mornings as well, dropping Arthur off at his drama class earlier it was  -3 temp on the car thermometer. Really not looking forward to getting out in that come the morning! 

So training is going ok - still need to work on trying to eat a bit better (she says as she chomps on some dairy milk whilst typing this). 

I think people might mistakenly think I am good at this running lark. However, that is not true. I am a slow ploddy runner. You can guarantee in a group that I am the one huffing and panting like an Alsatian towards the back of the pack. I’ve shifted some of my baby weight since our littlest Clem was born, however still carrying about a stone more than I would like. 

Thinking back to cross country running at school you’d always find me walking at the back chatting to my friends. 

In our life pre-kids Mr F and I would go for the (very) occasional saturday morning run at about 10am when we would congratulate ourselves for being up and dressed and out of the flat SO EARLY. Seriously sleeping in till 9 was not even thought of as a lie-in back then - that was considered an early start at the weekend. Sleeping in till 9 am only happens these days if the kids are sleeping over somewhere else which rarely happens, and our body clocks are so used to 6/7am wake ups we never manage to sleep in even if we have chance. Anyway those pre-kids saturday morning runs would always end up in a massive fry up at the Wetherspoons pub on the way back to the flat which is a habit I have certainly continued to this day. If I’m honest I do tell myself that the hour after a run is a magical hour when you can eat whatever you want. Probably a contributing factor to still having baby weight when my ‘baby’ is nearly 2!

So yeah - I’m trying to get better at running ….. but I wouldn’t class myself as someone who is speedy or finds running easy - so why do I run? One of the main things I like about getting out for a run is the chance to just ….. think. Time alone with my own thoughts and no one talking at me, wanting something, no squabbling to referee. The chance to listen to music without it being drowned out by the noise of day to day life. I find it hard to give myself time in the house - even if the kids aren’t milling around me there is always a dishwasher to load/unload, another load of washing to put on and there’s a never ending to-do list of stuff.

Don’t get me wrong I love love love my family and all the chaos it brings, wouldn’t change it for the world but it’s a hell of a lot of pandemonium and well……….this:

WHY did I leave them alone with the ink and stamps - WHHHHHHYYYYY! What a rookie mistake 😱

and this 

The sound of the lego box being tipped out - officially one of the worst sounds in the world! 😱

and this

Sudocrem - granted it's not as bad as that god awful yellow metanium cream - that stuff really is a bitch to clean up! 😱

and this:

Taking all 4 darlings to the supermarket - whaaaat was I thinking??!! Once again we became 'the travelling freak show', they scattered in different directions, they lobbed things into the trolley with joyful abandon and quite frankly a complete disregard for the shopping list - and it really all went to hell when they clocked the toy aisle. NEVER. AGAIN. 😱

THANKGOD for this:

Being out for a run I get the chance to think, to listen to music to have some ‘me’ time….  desperate times lead to….. running I guess!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/runningmummy17

Week 2 training plan review

2nd week of the training done. Chuffed to be able to report I managed to follow to the plan and get done what was needed. 

Alas I can’t say the same for attempts at dieting. Maybe next week will be better!

Appreciate a training plan review doesn't make for an interesting read but I need to get this down in writing as I think it's definitely helping motivate me to stick with it (thank you guilt, thank you shame, you excellent motivators you).

Week 2

Training runs: 4 (3 hours total running time) 3 midweek runs 30 minutes, 40 minutes, 40 minutes; 1 weekend run 70 minutes.

Number of takeaways: 1 curry -  this is a (very) good week for me.

Despite getting none of the snow which had been promised (boooo) it was still very cold out on the long weekend run, but there’s no way I could run for that long on a treadmill (not a treadmill fan really), so had to layer up and get out there. The treadmill is ok for 30/40 minute runs but anything longer, nah. Also my windmill arms don't do well with treadmill running - on more than one occasion I’ve thumped the emergency stop button by mistake (my running style is very much 'Phoebe from Friends') 

Have to admit I’m still a bit dubious that I’ll manage to run a whole marathon 14 weeks today, but I’m just going to trust the plan, stick to the goals one week at a time.

You’ve Got Your Hands Full

I’ve started this blog to help me achieve my goal of running, training and hopefully ultimately completing a marathon (in 100 days time!) I’m also hoping that this blog will help to boost sponsorship for my chosen charity : https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/FarrowRachel

However, as I am a proud mummy to Arthur (7) Walter (5) Nancy (3) and Clementine (2 in two weeks time) it seems only natural that the occasional post dip into observations from the day to day messiness of family life. So here we have my first non-running related post. Hope it’s ok!!

My boys are at school today and I’ve just come home from taking my girls to their happy-clappy-singing toddler group this morning. Once upon a time when I just had my two boys, I used to have a job, in an office with smart clothes and other grownups, unlimited tea and coffee which I was able to drink. Nowadays I find myself starting each working week, Monday morning stood in a swimming pool whilst Nancy pours water over my head from a watering can. 

Anyway, the subject of this post You’ve Got Your Hands Full (YGYHF - doesn’t really roll off the tongue with ease does it) is a phrase I hear A LOT. Even when out and about with just the two girls, someone says it to me and I think “this is literally just half the story”. I usually hear it at times when its all gone bat shit crazy, like when I’m trying to manhandle the two toddlers into a supermarket trolley and they have suddenly turned into little octopuses. People mean well enough - but over the wails and screams and hair pulling (the girls are real hair pullers!) what can you really say in response to YGYHF “er… yes, yes I bloody well have!”

It can be worse when out as a family with all 4 children. There have been times, mainly when eating out I think, that we can become akin to a freak show - people unashamedly gawking at the chaos that is us.

You do hear some really odd comments sometimes too. A favourite of mine was whilst I was in a cafe with my foursome  - a lady on the next table was watching us and leaned over “are they all yours?” “Er yes, yes they are” I braced myself for a “YGYHF” type comment, but what she said was “Well (pause) they don’t look neglected”. Now I like to think she was trying to be nice, but seriously wtf - what an odd thing to say!

It seems as though with a lot of things pregnancy and child related you find you are a open target for public scrutiny and comment.

It all starts when you announce your are pregnant, or your bump gives you away (which mine did in about week 7 - seriously in all 4 pregnancies I have been humungous!)

So there you are - the proud owner of a brand new bump which is clearly a baby bump rather than an ‘eaten too many pies belly’. You’ll often be asked “Is this your first?” With pregnancy #1 you reply “yes” and on the whole people are super delighted for you “oh how lovely! enjoy every moment!” all smiles and twinkly eyed warm wishes. When someone asks you if you are expecting your first the only answer they really want to hear is “yes”. With pregnancy #2 things shift slightly, when you respond to “is this your first?’ with “no it’s my 2nd baby” - you can guarantee that the person asking will look ever so mildly disappointed by this. This is usually followed up by an enquiry over whether you already have a girl or boy  - in which case the well wisher cheers up with a hopeful “it would be nice to have one of each!” type comment. In my experience, things take a more more …… interesting ….. turn when you announce it is actually your 3rd 4th pregnancy. My inner geek whist pondering this couldn’t resist the chance to sum this info up in the the following manner. Hopefully it will strike a chord with you too (if anyone has actually ready this far, and if you have thankyou!):

Week 1 training plan review

Midweek runs = total of 90 minutes ( not all in one go I should add - across 3 days!)

Weekend long run = 60 minutes

That’s 2.5 hours of running in total - now if I could just do that in one go ….. and double it ….. that would be a marathon :-)

So, Week one of the plan of doom went well. Thank god. If I fell at this hurdle I’d be in trouble. Still I’m pleased to be able to say even at this ridiculously early stage I’ve done what I needed to this week.

Being unable to run over christmas did send me into a spiral of panic, as my training to date hasn’t had any structure to it really, just getting out for a run when I got the chance to a few times a week. Finding a proper plan to follow has helped massively (@myelling 16 week improver plan - https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/trainingplans/), and reassures me that what I have done so far is enough - incorporating a regular run in 2016 has prepared me for January and setting my proper training routine! Now we are here at the final 3 months apparently the next four weeks are all about establishing that routine building up those steady miles.

Oh and this was my treat post todays run …… the 'orange' part is OK no?! (I need to hide the kids left over christmas chocolate it’s too tempting and there’s still bloody loads of it hanging around and calling to me!)

Diet of an Athlete

Will do a proper Week One review of my training plan of doom on Sunday if (er…I mean ‘when’ obvs!) I get a weekend long run under my belt. Just managed a 40 minute run. Still on the treadmill but chest is so much better now, will brave the outdoors on Sunday and just hope the dreaded lurgy cough has properly buggered off for good!

Anyhow, 40 minutes done today …… and tomorrow is rest day (no running huzzah!)…..I’ve just ordered a healthy green vegetable gloop smoothie to celebrate this mini milestone*


*that’s a lie, I’ve actually had a pizza for lunch - this pizza and (*whispers*) a side of chips+mayo:

and it was bloody good!

This right here is my downfall - fooooood. Bad food. And exercise makes me hungry. I wish I could be like the lovely gym ladies who swish about looking glowy rather than sweaty/beetrooty, with their lovely ponytails and fancy exercise gear, supping on smoothies. Whereas one of my finest gym moments was ordering a curry one evening whilst still in the gym to collect on the way home. 

I have to hold my hand up and admit “my name is Rachel and I am a takeaway addict”

Mr F and I are pretty bad for resorting to takeaways. Had planned to quit such meals in January, however on the 3rd (the 3rd! the shame!) Mr F went back to work in London, I put the kids to bed, planing to eat with hubby when he got home. He called me on the train “shall I bring chips home” I am never ever going to say ‘no’ to that offer. But seriously, 3rd January. We do have a problem! Friday night tonight - there’s already been discussions, musings if you will, about how it might be a Chinese night. 

I could really do with losing a stone before the marathon, I’ll work on that …. at some point. 

Basically, I do have the diet of an athlete, if the sport is question was pie eating.

Hello there 2017! So apparently I will be running a marathon in you

In just under 16 weeks to be precise. Illness the week before christmas left me unable to even walk out and about for long without being stopped in my tracks by the most attractive hacking cough, sometimes a dry doglike barking, sometimes producing greeny-phlegmy loveliness. Niiiiice. On holiday between christmas and new year, Mr F captured video footage of me on a beach in cornwall with the kids, coughing up a lung - it's a beautiful family moment. (Please delete it Mr F!)

Anyway, I’ve lost just under 3 weeks of training ….. but tentatively stepped back on the treadmill today. Result = 20 minutes and no coughing! Huzzah, and my legs still work!

Initial panic at losing much needed training time has subsided as I have A PLAN! 
A 16 week plan (handy that!) I’m going to have to publicly hold myself accountable to sticking to this plan - hence the blog. 

Guilt and shame = two excellent motivators. So here I am, Week One and committed to THE PLAN OF DOOM! 

16 weeks till race day - bring it on (but not too quickly!)

I will be running 4 times a week. My plan of doom comes from the MarathonNews official magazine of the virgin money london marathon, written my Martin Yelling. So you see it's proper like, not just me winging it! 

A Running Mummy

My name is Rachel. Mother of 4. Wife to Mr F. Friend to cheese and gin. I’m 39 years old and somehow have got myself into a right old pickle which means I have to run the London marathon this year. The age 39 thing is probably a factor in this. I think as I was approaching the start of my final thirty-something year in 2016 I must have had a mini midlife “oh-bollocks-there’s-a-shit-load-of-things-I-must-do-before-I-am-40” crisis. Now what I should have done was recognised it as being just a phase, and as one ought to do with such moments of madness I should have let it pass. But I didn’t.

After spending my 20s living in London, and usually pub crawling along the route on marathon day/watching it on TV, I’ve often been known to utter the phrase "I'll give that a go one year"....... then promptly forgotten the idea. Anyway, with my “oh crap I’m going to be 40” mindset in full control I only went and blooming well committed my trainers to running the 26.2 miles route. 

I am very scared! and it certainly feels like the most daunting challenge I've ever taken on, but I am determined to do it as I want to raise funds for Acorns Children's Hospice who provide care for babies, children and young people with life limiting or life threatening conditions. They have supported people we know, and as a mum of 4 it scares the crap out of me to think what it must be like for families who have to go through such experiences. I want to do the best I can.