Spring is in the air...

..and I'm stretching my luck.
The longer days makes for better conditions for running..really?
Usually at 6pm, its cold and dark, and everyone's gone home.

Not last night.
It's been a while and I thought after all the icing, ball rolling, foam rollering, I was ready again.

With my heavier little backpack I headed west along the Mall like the days of old...but my former glory of feeling like you can go on and on...was gone. the sunlight, groups of youngsters, too many people about..made it harder.

Tried running on grass to lessen the impact, didnt quite help as it wasnt all flat!
Took a picture at Kensington Gardens....a bit worn., that's how i was feeling. 

Its probably the nth time in the last fortnight I have cut short a run. Took the tube home from Hammersmith. :(
Cold bath ( I sang the blues scales on entry...maybe time to return to playing jazz after the Marathon!), foam rollering, more ice, torture. No gain, no Pain. Pain, pain, pain!

Paid the physio a visit this afternoon...I was worked hard with all sorts of stretches, more shouting, breathe, breathe breathe....to arrive at Greenwich Park in top form, I need to work hard. Morning and Night.
He tells me he's seen patients (VLM runners) who are worse than me. I'm determined not to beat them!

Nutrition wise - it seems I have weaned off junk food. No crisps due to Lent, and mainly vegies and carbs for lunch. Too warm? Maybe its the jet lag still lingering? or not enough sleep due to earlier starts? I'll need to sleep to find out!

Advices galore, tapering? No, More (?!?!)

Back from a fortnight in mainly Hong Kong, with side trips to Bangkok and Macau. It has been very, very busy!

Keeping up with my training has proved impossible, with late nights, early mornings, flights and various appointments, this wasnt like february when training was priority.....and, I suspect, my plantar fasciitis is making its way back...oh no!


Guess one of these must've caused it ...arrgh. Hong Kong is far too hilly!

Map of the killer run

On a brighter note, glad to report that my fundraising is doing well! Thanks again to those that have shown their support!
In response to the training and fundraising updates I have sent to select few, I've had advices on whether I've tapered too early (sub-3 veterans)....or, doing too much (non-runner).
The one piece of advice I'm taking from my colleague who's also doing the VLM is to rest it, and apply ice massage.. hence, I've scaled back my running today to a token mile to the end of the road and back. But really, I shouldn't have (run at all). hmmm...but the longer days and milder weather in London after touching down is just too nice to ignore!

Only 3 weekends to go. Can't believe it. I'm almost there....must play it safe ....and not live life on the edge until April 17th! easier said than done for a wild child like me but it has to be done!

from the Thames to the Castle and Lakes...

from sea level to (almost) reaching the Peak, and down again via the gap...

A good summary of the last fortnight's run. Wouldve wanted to write a longer update but have really been far, far too busy. apologies.

The longest training run happened last weekend, 21.6miles from home, along the Thames and then through Windsor town centre, via the Castle, up the long walk of Windsor Great Park, and through quiet roads of Berkshire to Virginia Water Lake, ending at our friend's place for a lovely post-race feed. All of this with my hubby by my side, on the bike, as mobile hydration and motivation station. An almost 4 hour feat!

It was a cold morning, but sunny, and we both agreed we haven't seen enough of the lovely English countryside, the Thames heading upstream. The Windsor Great Park when I did a 4k fun run a few years ago (alongside my hubby's attempt at the Half Marathon) did not seem that steep. I must say this must have been an uphill climb that felt like it went on for ages - maybe 40 minutes? without gloves, my limbs were frozen. I had to stare at the bitumen because I had no hat and sunglasses.

Watching people out and about in Windsor, and so many of them around Virginia water lake on a sunny sunday, was amazing. and even so, thinking about how much one can eat (!) after this longest run is very, very rewarding.

With a fortnight's holiday ahead of me and unpredictable schedule..which turned out to be VERY unpredictable, I forced myself out, in the office at 7am, for a 10 miler before work on Wednesday. The sun was out earlier and it was easier, however, to make up that mileage in the Royal Parks wasnt easy. The reward of a breakfast at the desk and a day free of too many meetings away from the desk was as good as any...and then, I packed my bags, ready for Japan, all running routes mapped out, potential running 'dates' set up in Tokyo...gear to keep me warm all packed, and then..

"you're not going to Tokyo", was what my mum told me on the phone, on the way into Hong Kong station on friday afternoon.
"...."
Never had I imagined it to be a night of waiting, to get onto the news, seeing the continuous reportage of the devastating disaster...and the unexpected night, and then an extra few nights, in Hong Kong.

which meant, a chance to do my 3rd run here, via the hilly Bowen road track, and an adventurous unscheduled hill run to find Aberdeen via the tip of Wong Nei Chung gap, as I wanted to show my hubby the lovely hong kong countryside....followed instructions by a boy Scout, we went up and up and up...(need to research further, but last elevation said 260ft??) to Black's Link, and then down and down and down again through Wanchai gap road, where the road was grooved, and uphill hikers were walking backwards to lessen the impact.
the almost 2 hour effort was rewarded by a lovely HK style 'Cha Charn tang' breakfast of elbow macaroni in tomato soup, pineapple bun with butter, some french toast and a 'yin yeung' (coffee + tea combo mixed with evaporated milk).

off for a few days now to even warmer climes...unsure of any running yet, but will try! there will be more hills in hong kong when im back... :)

Any support towards my pledge to raise funds for Deafness Research will be appreciated! Please follow this link: http://www.justgiving.com/bonnie-wong