The next challenge looms...

So....how do you train in a monsoon?

As of today there is less than one week to go before Becky and I take on the Clumber Park 5K. How's the training going I hear you ask?? Well, the training is going well, but it is all indoors. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a Yorkshire lass and I'm no stranger to bad weather. I have run in wind, rain, thunderstorms, snow and hail the size of golf balls but only ever for a few minutes at a time. That's the thing about British weather, if you don't like it hang around, there will be some more along in a minute. However at the moment its rain, rain, RAIN! Its all very well heading out into the rain for a run on your own, but dragging a pre-teen along with you is a different matter. Becky is a good girl, and would run in the rain if I asked her, but motherly love seems to preclude me asking. So we have been hitting the treadmills.  My fab husband Chris has brought my treadmill into the dining room so we can train whenever we like. Becky seems to be struggling with the distance a little, but that's mainly because of the sheer lack of outdoor runs. I myself seem to be getting along fine, I ran a 10k in 65 min 39 secs on last Thursday and my latest outdoor 5k was finished in 32min 12 seconds. I feel like i have tonnes more energy, which I am taking as a sign of improved fitness. I am a little worried about how Becky will cope with the 5k. She has done the distance before, at 8 years 1 month she ran a cross country 5k in 33mins, but that was a glorious spring and we were outdoors all the time. However, we have a few more days left and will hopefully squeeze in a few more sessions.

And how is the weight loss going? (my your full of questions today!). I lost 3lb in my first week and I am chuffed. The diet is making me eat lots of fruit and veg and I am sure that is why I have more energy. I am hoping that I may have lost another couple of pounds before the race, which should make the run a little easier. I must admit there are tough bits, the cake counter at Chatsworth today was an exercise in willpower but I did it.

Back to the training and surprise surprise its raining out, so onto the treadmill I go!

follow us as usual at

www.facebook.com/TeamLittleLegs

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RachelMarsden1

Remember..the camera adds ten pounds

Slimming world here I come

I loved every minute of last weeks run, and I put the pictures up on facebook and on this blog with pride, however, I was HORRIFIED to see how I looked in the pictures.

Now I know what you are going to say, I only gave birth in February, I am doing really well to be running like I am, only movie stars lose all their baby weight straight away and then its because they have personal trainers etc etc etc and your right, and yet I still feel unhappy with myself. This time last year I was vomiting in a bucket (the joy of pregnancy) but I was a size ten and two and a half stone lighter then I am now.  I naively thought that once I started training the weight would fall off, and initially I was right. I lost ten pounds almost straight away but in the last month I have lost nothing, this despite the fact that I am now running over twenty miles a week, plus two swimming sessions. I am a doctor, so I understand that weight loss is all about calories in versus calories out, and I need to take responsibility. If I am burning over three thousand calories a week running (one delight about being so heavy, those calories clock up fast on a run), then in order to not loose any weight I must be putting too much in, simple as. I am not going to be one of those people who makes up a long list of reasons/people to blame for being overweight and not being able to shift it (although I hasten to add that as a doctor I know that some people have legitimate medical reasons or family commitments that make that the case, I am just not one of them unfortunately).

Therefore on Thursday I plucked up my courage and walked the 100 yards to the church at the bottom of the road to join my local slimming club. I was given a very nice welcome, and get this, they reward you for exercise, so I should get some awards next week!!! I have all the books, the shopping has been done, meals planned and I am feeling inspired. I am a practical women, I am not expecting any big differences in the photos for the 5K challenge, but I would like to think that it will be noticeable by the 10k in September. I know it will be tough, but as you may have guessed, I like a challenge!

Wish me luck and once again don't forget you can follow us on facebook and on our fund raising page.

www.facebook.com/TeamLittleLegs

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RachelMarsden1

 Team Litte Legs First Challenge

Graves Park Run in the Park

1st July 2012

WE DID IT!!

Team Little Legs braved the cool July air on Sunday morning and did our first 3k challenge. It was a pretty but hilly course however loads of people and the party atmoshpere lifted the chill. We ran the first 250m together but then Becky decided that she wanted to stride ahead. Evie struggled on the hills, and when we passed the finish at the end of the first lap Evie was horrified at the prospect of another lap. However she was a trooper and kept going, and before we knew it the finish was in sight.

Becky was waiting for us at the finish line, a little tired after a blistering finish. She finished in a most impressive time of 18mins 39 seconds, was the 29th women over the line, and 89th finisher out of 416 runners overall. Very impressive for an eleven year old. Evie and I came over the line in 25mins 39 seconds and collected our medals with pride.

Our fundraising is still ongoing, this is a marathon, not a sprint afterall. The next challenge takes place in three weeks time and is a 5k in Clumber Park. Evie will sit this one out so Becky and I will fly the flag for team little legs.  If you want to contribute please visit our fundraising page, http://uk.virginmoneygiving/RachelMarsden1 and follow us on facebook, www.facebook.com/TeamLittleLegs