Here comes the sun!

It's that time of year again. The sun comes out and us Brits just go crazee! I love this weather and have spent all weekend in my little shorts in the garden exposing my white legs.

Unlike 99.9% of the population I'm a little reluctant to bare the flesh in this country. You just feel kind of pasty and it doesn't feel right. Yet on a foreign beach - waheey! The bikini top comes off and I really don't care...

Anyway much as I love this weather I hate looking at my fellow countrymen in their summer attire. Bad tan lines on display. You know what I mean. Women in vest tops with a sun burnt square on their back. Or those awful t-shirt lines on your arms accompanied by free bingo wings. Women also tend to go bra less wearing tops such as cotton boob tubes (honestly the only 'good' boob tube is the sequined kind seen in 1970s discos). Then of course you have the ubiquitous muffin top......

Men don't escape criticism either. Why oh why do they insist on walking the streets topless occasionally sporting their t-shirt hanging out the back of their jeans with a can of beer clamped firmly in one hand? How scrotey is that? Now I did see a guy today dressed like this but he was extremely well defined so could get away with it. It's just when you see the fat jabbas with cavernous belly buttons or burnt like a lobster that it's not a good look.

Then you have the whole work summer wardrobe dilemma. Women can get away with t-shirts and knee length shorts whereas all men can do is dig out the short sleeved shirts which make them look like they're back in junior school. We're just not equipped to deal with this weather in any shape or form and will no doubt start moaning if the current temperature continues beyond next week.

With that in mind I'm off to iron some suitable summer clothes for work tomorrow and slap some aftersun on the red 'oval' on my chest!

I ride the short bus because I'm speshal!!

I've had to make use of public transport a bit lately. The mini went in the garage for a service and then again last week to get a leaking power steering pipe fixed. To get to and from the garage I had to ride the bus. I sometimes get the bus to Chelmsford station and always enjoy the experience. Everyone, regardless of age, politely thanks the driver when they get off. The only bit I don't like is the waiting around as you often have 'just missed one' especially the notorious 45! On my recent journeys to and from the garage I purchased a day rover - something I haven't made use of since my teens!

Whilst still on the subject of public transport I'm fed up of the ongoing engineering works on our local train service. Every weekend including bank holidays buses replace trains at some point. Take my journey to the O2 yesterday to see Girls Aloud. Train to Romford, bus to Newbury Park, tube to Stratford, bus to the 02. It wasn't as much of a 'mare as I thought nevertheless it was a hassle. So a little whinge about how if they are trying to encourage us to use more public transport and expect to host the Olympics in 2012 they should make it more reliable! Oh and they should also send staff on some customer relations training. At Chelmsford station when I asked for a travel card the sales assistant just pointed at the sign saying there was engineering work and was zero help when I asked what was the easiest way for me to get to the 02. I could quite easily have ceded defeat and turned round but instead, like a good old Brit, I coughed up £17 and thanked her for her trouble.

Hello! Hello! It's good to be back! It's good to be back!

Hello there! Well it's been some time hasn't it (as Papa Pixie and others keep reminding me)? Just over a month to be precise although it feels soooo much longer! Last time I posted it was the day before the London marathon. I think most, if not all, readers of this blog will have heard or seen evidence that I did actually complete this feat of endurance in 5 hours 15 minutes and 2 seconds (would've been quicker if I hadn't queued for a rather smelly portaloo at the 17 mile mark and just gone in a bush instead). It was an emotional and amazing day. I tried to remember every bit but it was difficult as I was so focused on just making it to the end. Support round the course was fantastic. The crowd do really keep you going. The noise in places was like being at a concert. I also was extremely fortunate to have 'Team Pixie' there who were ab fab! When the Mall came in sight I couldn't believe it and after crossing the line it all felt a bit surreal. Not the over-whelming sense of achievement I thought it would be. I think I was just plain knackered!

So lots has happened since the marathon including the obvious Katie and Peter news which I'll save for another time...I've only been running twice post-London. The advice is to rest for a week with others suggesting resting for 1 day for each mile run which takes me to Friday just gone so I shouldn't feel bad that I've not been training. However, my entire being is literally screaming that I do need to get back on it. This is what always happens to me after a big race. I just think "oh I've done that let's take it easy, I'll go running tomorrow" and then I lose all my hard earned fitness and have to start from scratch again. I've not put on any weight but am eating loads of rubbish. This has caused a rather floppy muffin top to form which must be blitzed! So I've pledged to myself that I will race once a month between now and October starting with the Horndon Feast and Fayre 10k at the end of June. Just need to get my entry in now and trainers on!

When you stand...

This was shared by a friend on the Runners World Forum. I shall be taking it to the start line with me tomorrow:

When you stand on the Start Line, you join the club. When you stand at the Starting Line you earn your membership. Millions dream of being where you are. You are no longer a dreamer. You are a doer. Thousands more started a training programme but never finished. They started with the same enthusiasm (or more than) you. They started with more or less the same physical gifts or disadvantages as you did. They had no more and no less reason to be successful than you. But somewhere along the way, they lost that enthusiasm. Somewhere on the road or on the track or treadmill, they decided that the rewards just weren't worth the effort. They decided that they could live without finding their limits, without challenging their expectations of themselves and without taking a hard look at their image of themselves. You didn't. If you’re standing at the Start Line, you've not only accepted the challenge, but you've also beaten back the demons. You've conquered your imagination and self-imposed limitations. You've gone further, got stronger and become tougher than you ever imagined.

Go Team Pixie!!

About to hit the sack and when I wake up there will only be one more sleep to go! I went to the Expo yesterday at Excel. As you walked through the entrance they played 'that' music (that accompanies the BBC footage) and it got me right 'there'. Never fails. The people on the registration desk couldn't have been more lovely. I almost burst into tears. They guessed I was a first timer - apparently it's something in the eyes. So I was issued with my number, kit bag and also a leaflet entitled 'Introducing the P-mate to the Flora London Marathon'. For the first time this year they are providing female urinals at the start. The leaflet had some handy diagrams and instructions about how to use said P-mate including 'straighten your knees and push your bottom backwards, relax and let nature do the rest - PEE!!' I seriously don't think I will attempt to use one of these. It's a disaster waiting to happen.

The Expo was quite good. Loads of stands advertising races around the world. I got a fab map of the world with races on it so I've stuck that up at home and am already planning what next (Disney in January 2010 with a Mickey Mouse medal sounds appealing). There were numerous clothes stands so I treated myself to an official Adidas blue and flouro yellow vest for a most reasonable £20. Guide Dogs for the Blind were doing a demo. That was a real 'pull at the heart strings' thing. Cute pups and even the old dogs (one of whom was meant to be a stud dog until they discovered he was infertile). I got asked if I'd sponsor a pup but managed to restrain myself.

I've had such amazing support from friends, family, work colleagues and my new found friends on the Runners World Forum - it really has been overwhelming. Tomorrow is a day of almost complete rest - just a few jobs to do first. So I'll be putting my feet up and trying to remain calm. I think I'm more worried about getting to the start (public transport a concern) than anything else. Anyway next time I post on here it will be my race report! I'll also have to think about the next focus for the blog. We've gone through Premier Inns/working away to running...what next?

p.s Team Pixie t-shirts (as modelled by the lovely Dan) are available from most good retail stores...

3 days and counting...

Ok so I'm still in pregnant lady mode. I've now got my little bum bag filled with sport beans, wet wipes, sunblock for my lips, factor 30 for my face, blister plasters, mini deodrant and vaseline. Oh yes I've decided to succomb to the petroleum jelly and have purchased a big vat to slather over my body parts to avoid any further chafing.

I'm riding a roller coaster of emotions at the moment. I just have to think about Sunday and could quite literally burst into tears. It's overwhelming. The whole occasion. The culmination of 4 months of training and 3 years of waiting. I'm also apprehensive, excited and full of fear! What I've got to remember though is that I have trained for this. That whatever happens I'm guaranteed a personal best because I've never run a marathon before. Also that the crowd will really help. I'm so overwhelmed by support from family, friends and complete strangers. I had an email today from an old running acquaintance from South Woodham who had spotted me on the forum, saw I was running this weekend and just mailed to wish me luck. It's the little things that mean so much...

The eating hasn't exactly gone to plan this week. Last night I carb loaded with a Dominos Pizza after 9 pm which wasn't sensible at all although I am keeping religiously hydrated. Tonight was a much more wholesome plate of pasta with tomato sauce.

Tomorrow I'm off to the marathon expo at the Excel centre in Docklands to pick up my race number and hopefully a host of freebies. I'm really looking forward to it!

The waiting game...

I feel like I'm pregnant although I clearly have no concept of what that feels like in reality. I just wanted to use it as an analogy in terms of the marathon because there are many similarities. I'm meant to be resting as much as possible. No stress. No over-exertion. Think sitting on the sofa with your feet up watching day time TV all day having someone on hand to ensure you remain fed and watered (apparently if you are even slightly dehydrated your performance will be affected). And like many pregnant women I'm not exactly following advice. Last week I began to feel quite energised and thought 'yeah bring it on'! Now I'm just exhausted, drained and the thought of the extreme physical and mental pressure I'm going to put myself though on Sunday 26th is scary. So basically I need to go to marathon rehab for a week. Just rest. Eat good foods - not exist on a diet of fat coke, black coffee and chocolate bars (although I have lost 3 pounds in weight!). Sleep. Lots. And prepare some mantras for when I no doubt hit some tough times along the 26.2 miles. An old fave is indeed 'bring it on' (that was from a chick flick cheerleader film staring Kirsten Dunst). I also frequently just say out loud when I'm running 'you can do it'. I've got to believe that. I know I will but I can also guarantee I'm going to shed many tears that day. At the start when they play that stupid music, when I see friends/family round the course and of course at the end. Must remember to add waterproof mascara to my kit bag checklist...