Steph Palmerone on the run

FINISHED...YIPPEE post exam bluesand i hate Northants !

2009-08-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

Well i have done it , cant quite believe it and feel curiously flat (hence the post exam blues). Actually they had good exam highs both A level and GSCE so that was fab.

Moulton was another Northants runners event...about 250 people all very fit and really really hilly, a ford and some off road just for good measure. Dont know, think my time was about 57 mins but dont care as i have finished !!!!!!!

Bit dissapointed with amount of money raised..hoping now i have finished might spur a few people on

a very brief introspection on what i have learnt :

- not sure i would have set off on this if i had realised the impact on the family eg kept having to think about in relation to holidays (flying and time away) and so many Sundays gone through almost all day travel...but maybe they have quite liked that

- people are fab and supportive as runners if you ask them to be

-i am stubborn and my back (less a disc) really wouldnt have gone on for much more...but want to do a marathon next year ...guess i knew that anyway

- i like time to think and running is a great way of making time to do that

- people read the email signature

- i enjoy people watching and this is a great way to do it

-i will have a proper go at stopping the naughty thing i do now as i wasnt going to while doing this as i enjoy the perversity

- there are lots of very well organised charities out there

i dont think i will stop now and am doing this flippin 10 miler next week (hilly) but then my bac will need a break

I have also quite enjoyed blogging into the cyberspace

if you have read any of this thanks...if not sod you !!!!

byeeeeeeeee

Jane Tomlinson 10k in York

2009-08-02T09:24:00.000-07:00

keeping this brief as starting to bore myself now ! 9 am start meant leaving at 6 30 (ouch), delayed by 30 minutes (ouch ouch), no staggered start even though 5000 runners apparantly so lots of boxing and pushing (ouch ouch ouch). Lots of fancy dress and fun (aaahh), lots of good causes (eee) loads of wobbly bottoms in Lycra (brave) and great course.
Started thinking about what i have learnt but will save that for the last one. Steve Cram (v well preserved !) at the start and text to tell you your finish time and position (almost made up for the bad organisation at the beginning) All in all great run, second best time (just 55 mins) and came 1378 which if there were really 5000 people running aint bad

Got to go an sign up for 10 miler the week after my last 10k to support a mate (how wierd is that !)

Back on Track First 'trail race'

2009-07-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

well, dont know if it was the rest from racing, the running up and down greek mountains in the heat or just the knowledge this was a 10k race...but really enjoyed the Mansfield/Sherwood Forest 10k today. First 'off road race' quite hilly but just felt better.

However, did resolve to try and cut down again on the naughty things as i have crept back up to 10 a day and also to try and stick to at least 3 nights a week without a drink, as seem to have lost that one as well. Which means i should be (possibly) able to think about a PB for one of the last 2 races as i managed 56/57 minutes today (results not up yet) and drank far too much last night.

Can't quite get my head round i have nearly done them all...will have to put something on the bottom of my email that encourages people to sponsor me if they havent already when i finish them all...which i am detirmined to do

One of my Woodall Spa buddies is looking for a challange..have suggested we do the lincs 10 miler together ...1 week after i am supposed to have stopped...think i am going slightly odd

Lots of lovely wobbly black lycra bottoms today...there is something about south yorkshire/north notts women....and great combination of fun runners and serious people ....listening into lots of converstations on my way round ..lots of which had 'swine' and flu' in them

unless my time is really different from what i think ..over all pleased as not done puddles/sand/rocks etc

i knew it was going to be hard when i started this blog thing not to just lapse into either race reports or introspective bu....it...and am now in danger of doing both, so will stop .

Next one York 2nd august

Fabulous Freckleton...but flippin awful race for me

2009-06-21T11:44:00.000-07:00

Right, Freckleton is a lovely friendly half marathon race (apparantly the oldest in the country) the guy who holds the course record, run in 1965 of 64 minutes was running it for the last time, over 900 runners...lost of very fit people. No one was wearing lime green lycra....last week in liverpool for very different reason, saw female jogger in lime green lycra who made Fergie of black eye pea fame look continent from the back. Not a lot of wobbly bottems..just lost of fit and friendly people

BUT something horrid happened for me. Dont know whether it was the 2 pm start and the 3 hour drive to get there ..up until 9 miles i was on course for pb...the people i was with were aiming for 1 55 ...then i hit some sort of wierd wall...ended up running and walking the last 4 miles which i never done ! usual preperation, but didnt eat anything (as usual) before the race, but maybe much later start had an impact, or maybe i am just running out of steam. Suddenly next years plan of running a marathon seems impossible. My half marathon times have got worse each race, 1 59, 2 hours for leeds and then this was 2 hours and 6 mintues !!! came in 413 of 900 and in the bottom half of my catagory...which hasnt happened either.
Ran the distance last sunday with no problems , had 2 small runs in the week and went to gym last night so ???????

Feeling bit fed up, but at least i finished, the temptation to stop was pretty strong about 11 miles..maybe just missing company as very different to woodhall

Anyway..have a break now (holiday) only 1 race in july and then 2 in August, then finished >>>my PB for 10k is getting better each race though AND thats not what its about..its doing them thats important

feeling stiff in bits i didnt know i had and fed up ....but sure a week in the sunshine will cure all

wonderful woodhall and good friends

2009-06-07T13:25:00.000-07:00

hi
seems like a long time since i have done this. Last year Woodhall was one of the only 2 10k races i had ever run and i did ok about 54 mins, which this year would be a pb. But last year it was sunny and it was calm and i wasnt trying to do this silly challange.
This year, wind and rain but...and what a wonderful boost...2 of my closest friends turned up to do it with me. one is a mega fit, mega supportive and a bit obbesive (but in a nice way) amazing woman who i have known for 11 years who 5 years ago would have laughed if you had said in this year she would be doing 2 marathons, inspiring others at her gym...and...for good.measure competing in a 24 hour endurance who can run the most miles in 24 hours race...so pootling round woodhall is just a jog. The other amazing woman i have known for nearly 20 years ...who if 2 years ago you would have said she was doing this she would have laughed, who got the last late entry place.. who is better than she thinks she is and starting to get bitten.and we all found each other on the start line.

we finished in very different places, but thats not the point...THANK YOU to both of you for being my sandwich and giving me a boost.

thanks also to the fireman who started off so fast and you just knew were going to collapse and to the weather for being a bit kind and only peeing it down for the first 5k and the woman who kept over taking me and annoyed me so much i fought the last k to keep up with her...and bad bad me for not realising how short the last k was and speeding up sooner...but hey
results not up yet, but we all think we did ok and great confidence boost for the freckletonhalf...my big worry there is the naughty thing i do i wont be able to do till after the race, and it doesnt start till 2 pm ....so could be a half marathon PB just to be able to do the naughty thing at the end

already thinking what will i do next year....despite hubby protestations due to back, knee etc think it has to be a marathon

but need to get the next 4 finished...cant believe that only 4 left...and i know that for the last one in moulton , another really good friend will be there to cheer me on and hopeful her duaghter will be running with me

next one in a fortnight, the oldest half marathon in the country

byeeeeeeeee

lovely leeds : but starting to get numb bum

2009-05-10T07:36:00.000-07:00

well, leeds half was lovely, over 3 500 people including the odd banana and just felt far more comfortable than Friskney half, even though my time was slightly slower (2 hours exactly)..the first half is all horrible hills and i felt bloody awful, no energy struggling to regain speed on the flat ( not that there is alot for the first 7 miles). But, just nice to be 'hidden again' and really funny listening to people talking about everything from exams to the stock market and apart from the 'elite' group although everyone was serious, there was a lot of support and warmth. I came in at 1850 ( so about half way) and 57th out of 142 (i think) i my glorious catagory...so ok.

Slight worry though as every time i run now, my bum and left leg go very painful at the end...which is the same side as my hand that has one finger that now turns white due to lack of circulation for most of the run...think there is a bit of an osteo problem there but so pleased as i am over half way and it gets better now. And anyway, watched the guy finally finish the London Marathon yesterday after being told he would never walk again...i have nothing to maon about

2 in june (including my last half), one in July and two in August....

bought proper running shorts that flap sexily in the breeze but do the job so set up for the summer runs now i think.

Some lovely ladies in lycra today including one woman who had her personal trainer with her..he was tough ! but sort of envious as he kept shouting encouragment ...left them at about 9 miles when she was looking absolutely done in...i hope she finished. Too many people at the side of the road on the way in being sick and looking really ill ( but you can sort of tell the folk that have just turned up, run flat out and you know they are goin to hit a wall.)

So wont be posting anything again until 7th June ...woodhall spa 10k and hopefully will have recovered feeling in my leg by then ! looking forward to that one as it is the other one i ran last year and i really enjoyed it

if anyone is reading this...please do let me know !
but am sort of enjoying doing this as well...oops lapsing into babble ...byeeee

to titchmarsh and back.....very tough

2009-05-03T07:56:00.000-07:00

What can i say, titchmarsh is a sleepy northants town, but beneath the cute exteria lies a mean and heartless 10k route ...all hills and wind, mostly together !

The equivilant of Friskney in terms of runners, not very many and all bloody fit....not quite sure about time (dont actually think it was too bad) but couldnt wear my timing maching as decided to run in shorts and realise the elastic was a bit suspect. Have bought shoes, socks and last week treated myself to new knee bandages (i know how to live) but think i will have to buy some proper shorts...shorts, not lycra clinging things as i will return to my sheffield routes if i wear them ( see earlier blog) have been running in tracky bottoms so far so not been an issue but as weather warms up think i will need them. Mind you the howling gales of northants meant i didnt really need them today

good training run for the leeds half though, as i know that has hills, its just the combination. Lovely people on the run though , sometimes wish i had people i know at the end just to say hi ....
Hubbie coming to leeds half which will be good

bit dissapointed with sponsership...reticent to nag people but will do as i come towards the end...good feeling to have got half way, only got the leeds half this month (oh yeh, and the running leg of triathlon i said i would do with a mate) and then 2 in june so lots easier and wondering if i could have done it in 4 months...even if my body held out, not sure i could have found enough races in the north

if i find the titchmarsh results will do a quick post

personal best !

2009-04-23T04:36:00.000-07:00

hey, the Derby run was closer to 54 minutes than 55 so PB ...dont know where i came in my 'catagory' by number, but was third of the way down the second page of five pages of veteran women...so thats ok

will probably go for a long run this weekend, cos i dont have to but need to stay fit !!

Derby done and a weeks rest

2009-04-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

lovely day, like hiding in big funs, although very funny as someone i havent seen for ages and met last week was lined up next to me.
cant get the results page to download, but think it was close to 54 minutes so very happy with that.
But legs starting to really feel it now so glad of a week off

next one is titchmarsh (where ever that is on 3rd May)

quick entry but will put more in when i can find result

byeeeeeee

First half at Friskney...and the mental note to self is

2009-04-12T09:42:00.000-07:00

.....make sure you are not entering a 'running club' race if you can! all the confidence of sheffield last week sort of left by the end of this. Finished in 1 hour 59, which in a lot of 'fun run' events wouldnt be too bad a time, but there were only 144 runners and i came in around 120th ...but i think 12th in my catagory...dont understand the results board and welcome anyone having a look and telling me what it means. Realise i should actually be quite chuffed just for completing as it was hard mentally...lots of times when no one else around, but couldnt get into that comfy place i can get into when running at home where actually i am thinking about lots of other things and almost forget i am running. Think Frecklton might be the same (but it is the oldest half marathon in the country) and i have Leeds in the middle to enjoy as it is much bigger event so i can hide.

Also this is 3rd week running when i have had a race and another one next week in Derby, think i need a rest after that, even though i need to run to keep fitness up it is different as dont fell the 'pressure.

No lovely wobbly bits this week, just fit, lean and confident groups of runners mostly from clubs who were just out for Sunday stroll...oh well, i havent been running for years and i havent stopped doing some of the things i do that probably dont make me the fittest person in the world so trying not to feel too low ( and i am putting on weight, how can that be????)

if you reading this and you havent sponsored me yet, dont wait till the end, give me a boost, i could do with one .

Getting obsessive about positions !

2009-04-08T03:20:00.000-07:00

Just had notification from Rother Valley of time and also apology for everyone involved about the time it took to get out.
time not great,55 seconds, but came 172 out of 573 women ( i think) and my class position (remember the veteran female over 40 and unattatched) was 32 out of 108 (i think). So by my basic maths that is about top 33 % of both groups...tell me i am wrong ! So maybe i should just concentrate on position rather than time
The half marathon on Sunday hasnt got chip timing (think it might be quite small so more scary) so time and position wont be important, just hoping i can drag myself around will.

Fustration and amazing wobbly bits : just done rother valley

2009-04-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

well, got it confirmed my Lincoln time was 54 minutes (better) and they sent some dubious photo's (see below). The Rother valley today was great, lovely venue, nice weather and lots of people. Think i did about the same time as Lincoln and have to accept built for comfort not speed. Sheffield woman have some amazing wobbly bits and no know fear about wearing very tight lycra as they run....have also worked out the psychological boost of starting where i should (55 mins finish) and overtaking lots of people in the first half of the race as it seems most people line up with a very optomistic view of their finish time.
Am also noticing a pattern linked to a very personal girlie thing, but need to check out wording with someone before i even think about posting on here....then again, i am assuming that someone is reading it...i wonder how i would know?
my evidence today is a t shirt rather than a medal

The fustrating thing about today was they clearly werent set up for the number of people, so started 30 minutes late and then sat in the car for over an hour (longer than it toook me to run) trying to get out of the Rother valley park, so day totally taken up with the run as i left at 9 to get there on time and didnt get home till 5

Next Sunday is my first half marathon, so need to get some miles in this week training and do at least 1 run over 10 miles (think that will have to be Easter Friday so i have Saturday to recover) starting to worry a wee bit about impact on back, knees and neck, but not as much as others seem to be worrying. Have one more 10k the sunday after that and then a week off (phew)
Please do sponser me

thanks

feeling a bit better, but training problems this week

2009-04-01T03:12:00.000-07:00

feeing a bit better...my chip time for Lincoln was 54 minutes, so a 4 minute improvement and i think (if i can read the results page ) i came 500 out of 1476 women who competed (all ages including verterans like me) My estimate of 10 000 runners was actually 4, 500...but hey it felt like loads

so thats good, but training bad this week due to all sorts of things , mostly one of my kids in hospital so worried, no time to run,and more of evel weed than usual. All getting ok now and i will run on Sunday but wont hope to beat 54 mins

2 down, but some awful truths

2009-03-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

well, just completed the Lincoln 10k and i almost enjoyed it ! Huge thanks to Nic and Phil at Fluid who between them created Tshirts with the logo and what its about on the front and the list of all the runs on th back. As it was a lovely day, stripped down to t shirt only before the start (well, was wearing tracky bottoms and shoes as well ) and got asked by people what the !!!! was i doing ? Gave me a great chance to talk about the foundation a bit and Barchester which is what this is about
But, the awful truths
Having looked on the Dronfield website discovered my time was actually 58 seconds and i am catagorised as veteran (over 40) and unattatched. Bit like the worst social network profile a girl could have ! the unattatched bit is cos i dont run run with club (my worst nightmare). The slightly better info was i worked out i came 43rd out of 97 similar 'catagory' women. Suspect my time today was about the same, even though i felt like i was running faster...over 10,000 people competed i think and my excuse is they kept getting in the way !
Having mused on this a bit, maybe the fact that i am a veteran with...knackered knees, disc operation on my back , cruceate ligaments tied up in one knee and a lifestyle that most wouldnt describe as truly healthy, maybe its not too bad.
Lincoln was the first of 4 races where i don't have a weekend off including the skegness (friskney) half marathon and another 10k around sheffield...oh well!
if you are reading this and havent sponsored me yet, please think about it, if not now then about half way through, thats what i am doing it for, even though it is great that people keep giving me their good wishes, its your dosh i want!

Well, one down eleven to go, Sheffield has too many hills !

2009-03-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

well, first one completed, have the 'medal' as evidence which i will take to Barchester foundation office this week for safe keeping.

mental note to self: if I ever do anything this silly again, check the first race doesnt include a lot of hills...should have known though, given Sheffield is my home town ! Had decided it might be good to follow someone around, preferably someone who had embarressing personal habits when running, but that went by the board as the people i started tracking set off far too fast and i probably had the most embarressing habits of anyone. (more of those over coming months). But, i did notice that i gradually pulled back a couple of the 'hares' and my uphill speed isnt too bad.
Finished in about 55 minutes which is a target now for the other 8 10k races. Lincoln is in a fortnight which is the one that got me started on all of this last year...it wont be as hilly so i have no excuse for matching if not beating that time

wot is really lovely is the people who have wished me luck for today ...hope i can keep up interest and encourage more people to sponser over the next few months.

I am going to try and find a few hillocks over the next couple of weeks to run up so i am not so daunted by hills, but thats not so easy where i live

anyway, stopping waffling now

hey first run on Sunday

2009-03-11T04:27:00.000-07:00

so, getting the hang of this blogging thing if not the running !
Have decided am going to just do one blog after each race, hopefully full of witty commentary on the race and the runners.....otherwsie will become tedious for all

suddenly concious of how public this all is, so hope will be ok, ran over the 10k distance this morning just to keep confidence up

help keep loosing blogs

2009-03-10T03:31:00.000-07:00

not sure what i have done but sometimes they appear and sometimes they dont, lucky they not of major literary content

just playing with this blog thingy

2009-03-02T02:09:00.000-08:00

well the last one i tried seems not have come up on the page, so this is second attempt, if this doesnt work, as with all things technical will find someone more talented to do it

Starting to panic as bits of me are creaking, sure thats only psychological and all will be fine once i start.

The BIG idea!

2009-02-18T02:26:00.000-08:00

This year I have decided to physically and mentally challenge myself whilst fundraising for the Barchester Healthcare Foundation, a fantastic charity that supports and makes a real difference to older people and other adults with a physical or mental health difficulty.

The challenge is to run the nine 10k races and three half marathons, listed below, between March and August 2009:

March
15th March Dronfield/ Derbyshire (10k)

29th March Lincoln/ Lincolnshire (10k)

April

5th April Rothervalley/ Sheffield (10k)

12th April Skegness Lincolnshire (half)

19th April Derby Derbyshire (10k)

May
3rd May Titchmarsh Northants (10k)

10th May Leeds N Yorkshire (half marathon)

June
7th June Woodall Spa Lincolnshire (10k)

21st June Freckleton Hall Lancashire (half marathon)

July
19th July Sherwood Pines /Notts

August
2nd August York

30th August Moulton Northants

You are more than welcome to come and see me sweat it out at any of the races dotted around the country, with the exception of the Freckleton half marathon (the oldest in the country) they are all in the Midlands or Yorkshire... but please come and see me at any one.

I would be delighted to receive your support and sponsorship per race or a sum for all twelve races but note when funds are committed they are non-refundable and debited immediately. In short if I should suffer injury, illness, flood or swarms of locusts that prevent me from completing you will not receive a refund. Please think about it and if you would rather wait till I have run the last one in August, that’s great, but please don’t forget!

You can donate online via my justgiving page: http://www.justgiving.com/stephaniepalmerone

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Barchester Healthcare Foundation gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Please dig deep and give whatever you can - every penny raised will generously be matched pound for pound by the Barchester Healthcare shareholders.

Steph x