Two Days to Go

April 13, 2018April 13, 2018 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

My case is packed and sitting by the door, ready for the 10:20am train to Brighton tomorrow morning. When I arrive in Brighton, I'll be dropping my case at the hotel and going to the Race Village to pick up my number and a sack full of extortionately priced commemorative attire, hopefully catching up with … Continue reading Two Days to Go

Six Days To Go

April 9, 2018April 9, 2018 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

I'm getting a blister on my finger from clicking refresh on the weather forecast. It is a futile exercise; it changes by the hour. At one point it said 19c and sunny - everyone had kittens. It currently says 13c, sunny spells, with a shower in the afternoon. I'll take that. It's silly to obsess … Continue reading Six Days To Go

Nine Days To Go

April 6, 2018 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

My current mood is a mixture of the complete dread and anxiety that preceded all five of my driving tests (none of which I passed) and the uncontainable excitement of a small child on Christmas Eve. I have already started to pack some things and I have checked the weather forecast for Brighton at least … Continue reading Nine Days To Go

Runger

March 30, 2018March 30, 2018 ~ Suzi ~ 1 Comment

I re-followed the Brighton Marathon Virgins Facebook group the other day. I unfollowed it a couple of months ago, partly because of some annoying comments from self appointed experts (who have no right being in a beginner's group in the first place) but mainly because I was looking at other people's distances and times and … Continue reading Runger

Long Run – Walthamstow to Catford

March 29, 2018March 29, 2018 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

Yesterday was my last EVER long training run! I am officially on taper now, which will involve eating Easter Eggs, cajoling my mother around a parkrun, bothering my physio repeatedly and a shedload of Downward Dogs. Once again things did not go to plan as I woke with the onset of a cold and the … Continue reading Long Run – Walthamstow to Catford

Are You Ready?

March 25, 2018 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

Today Brighton Marathon Weekend posted a photo on their Facebook page of two suspiciously cheerful men named Sam and Rob approaching the Brighton Marathon finish line pushing a young girl in a wheelchair, with the caption "3 weeks to go! Are you ready?" Am I ready? Let's see. I suppose I am ready, a bit like … Continue reading Are You Ready?

Thames Path Long Run

March 21, 2018 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

Yesterday was my penultimate Long Run before the marathon (which is now just TWENTY FIVE days away). I couldn't decide whether to run along the Thames Estuary (from Shoeburyness to Leigh on Sea and back again) or the Thames Path (from Putney to Hampton Court) so I threw the question to a Facebook poll. The … Continue reading Thames Path Long Run

Central London Parks Long Run

March 14, 2018March 26, 2018 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

Apologies for the tantrum yesterday! I have resolved never to ask for advice on running forums again, at least when it comes to admitting any form of weakness. You are only a real runner if you easily can run 20 miles in simultaneous mud, rain, wind, snow and heatwave. No headphones or dogs, as you … Continue reading Central London Parks Long Run

One Day to Brighton Half

February 24, 2018 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

Other than the aforementioned swimming, 20 minutes on a cross trainer and a little bit of Pokémon Go related walking I have done absolutely no exercise since the incident on Monday. At first I felt absolutely great for it but it is starting to wear off now. I feel all my muscles have turned into … Continue reading One Day to Brighton Half

Oh Shit

February 19, 2018 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

Six days to go until the Brighton Half, and I was feeling pretty good all things considered. The fact that the Brighton Half has a sensible cut off (3.5 hours - you could walk half of it and still be well within the limit) and that I didn't need to worry about being followed through … Continue reading Oh Shit

How Not To Train For A Marathon

January 28, 2018January 28, 2018 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

There are many skills which you need to train for a marathon: bloody mindedness, a low pain threshold, map reading, a disregard for your social life, perhaps even being good at running. I have reached the conclusion, though, that time management and schedule juggling is the most important of them all. I used to think … Continue reading How Not To Train For A Marathon

New Track 10km PB!

January 26, 2018 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

Sir Mo Farah was said to be quaking in his trainers today, as veteran Walthamstow athlete Suzi Brent set a new 10,000 metre PB of 1:10:54 at the venue formerly known as Waltham Forest Pool and Track. Said Mo: "This is getting beyond a joke. This time last year I could run three 10ks in … Continue reading New Track 10km PB!

Long Run (13 weeks to go)

January 17, 2018 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

After nearly a month on the sick bench with The Never Ending Cough, I finally had both time and sufficient health for a long run today. It is quite interesting to see how resting heart rate (as measured by a Fitbit) goes up when you are ill and back down when you recover. Mine is … Continue reading Long Run (13 weeks to go)

Run Failure

January 3, 2018 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

I'm feeling like a Run Failure this week. First of all there was my disgrace at Highbury Fields. Then on New Year's Day I decided not go to Double Parkrun, or even Single Parkrun. Because I hardly ever go out drinking/partying these days, and spend a lot of time saying "I can't because I am … Continue reading Run Failure

2017 in Running

January 2, 2018January 2, 2018 ~ Suzi ~ 1 Comment

2017 started very badly with my withdrawal from the Barcelona Half with two weeks to go. Having missed so much training through injury, I knew there was no way I could run it within the time limit, and I decided to cut my losses and defer until 2018. I write this post with six weeks … Continue reading 2017 in Running

Last runs of the year!

December 29, 2017December 30, 2017 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

I have been ill and had nightshifts all week. I can just about cope with running when ill, or running between nightshifts, but I can't cope with running when ill and on nightshifts, so I didn't run for three days (or do anything much else). Today I was just ill and didn't have a nightshift … Continue reading Last runs of the year!

Long Run, Take 2

December 16, 2017December 16, 2017 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

A quick entry to record the fact that three days after my disasterous "long" run, the snow had thawed and the temperature had reached a balmy 5C, so I decided to give it another go. What a difference five degrees makes! This time, the run felt effortless and joyful. The sky was blue, the birds … Continue reading Long Run, Take 2

A Run of Misery

December 12, 2017December 12, 2017 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

I am not usually someone who struggles with motivation when it comes to running. I have spent so long being injured and unable to run that I count every run as a blessing. I count down the days to my long run, I wake up brimming with excitement as I get my running kit on. … Continue reading A Run of Misery

Viewtube Runners Track Session

December 6, 2017January 7, 2018 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

Last night I went to a proper track session for grown ups! The viewtube runners group have use of the Community Track in the Olympic Park every Tuesday, and my friend Mike suggested that I come along. As I have found solo track work has made a great improvement to my running in the … Continue reading Viewtube Runners Track Session

Latest Marathon Training (20 weeks to go)

November 29, 2017 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

I haven't done a long run (I class anything over 10km as long) since the Great South Run - instead I've been concentrating on increasing my speed (from "snail" to "tortoise") and feeling comfortable over short distances. Various injuries over the last year - in particular, a torn calf and a sewing needle stuck in … Continue reading Latest Marathon Training (20 weeks to go)

Marathon Training (21 weeks to go)

November 17, 2017 ~ Suzi ~ Leave a comment

Five twelve hour day shifts since I updated last, so training has consisted of: 2 x workout at Shit Gym Opposite Work (I might sack this place off soon, I only really went because I had a crush on one of the PTs) 1 x yoga at Shit Gym Opposite Work 1 x 17 minute … Continue reading Marathon Training (21 weeks to go)