Training video number 3 is out!

Hello All,   Well its that moment you have all been waiting for the release of training video number 3! Click on the link below, this will take you to my sponsorship website, bottom right hand corner is the you tube link, to watch it in full screen click the you tube label on the video.   http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DanJohnsonlondonmarathon   I hope you all enjoy it and if you feel like making a donation no matter how big it would all be gratefully received   To watch the original training videos the link for number one is here   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRmwkQ4WfUQ   And the link for number two is here   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJdFzR0BeKQ

And the the winner is.... Me horarraaa

Great little half marathon at Dorney lake yesterday. It was racing against yourself to increase your overall pace. They had the runners world magazine pace team there so I was attempting a 1:45 half marathon time. Bear in mind the fastest I have run one was windsor half in 2:03 it was a hell of a task to complete.  All started off well, I was on pace for the first 6 miles and feeling good. I then got an enormous pain in my chest, seeing that I am running for st George's Heart unit where my dad had triple bypass surgery, I thought it best to slow down! It was like the biggest stitch you have ever had but inside your ribcage. I was down 2 mins and considering pulling off to the side when I released the loudest belch known to mankind, it was so load infact that people around me wearing headphones were laughing. Pain gone. I started to make up the time but just couldn't catch up to the pacers. This was however the first race I have ever done that I lapped people. I was very proud and remembered how I was in their place only a few months back. The rest of the race went well, I finished in 1:51:00, 12 minutes shaved off my personal best. I was very chuffed at the end and kept thinking that I could do better if it were not for issue of gas. I am aiming for a below 4 hour marathon time so I now know the kind of pace I need at the beginning to get the breathing space if my legs give up at the end. Final clip finished on the final video, finally.... The winner of the james bond first edition book was Katie howard. Watch out for an even better competition in the near future

Competition time

BIG COMPETITION!! If you make a donation between now and saturday and guess correctly (to the nearest minute) what my time will be at the Dorney lake race your pace half marathon this Saturday morning you will win a first edition Hardback James bond book!!! You can donate any amount (every little helps), but every 'time' must be different. No duplicates allowed. Please go to the virgin giving page below, give whatever you can, then on the message write your time. If nobody gets the exact time the competition rolls onto the next race but I will find a smaller prize for the person with the time closest to the one achieved. Good luck to you all My page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DanJohnsonlondonmarathon

All aboard the crazy running train choo choo

Happy valentines day all, how many of you will be spending time with your loved ones or, like me, your loved one is a touring dancer so I will be running tonight! Marathon training going well, 3 six mile runs a week with an 18miler mixed in there somewhere. I now have a huge number of events coming up so I hope that me knees hold out.  I have an application in for the new York marathon and I've just been accepted in to the Amsterdam one. I'm hoping that everyone will have enjoyed so much of the local 'produce' that they will either forget to turn up or get a massive case of the munches halfway through the marathon....yay dans wins. As you are all really interested here is my full list this year. Not many holidays for me! Feb 18 Race your pace half marathon, Dorney lake March 04 duathlon, Dorney lake March 11 silverstone half marathon March 25th fleet half marathon April 22nd London marathon (the one and only) May 13th Staines 10k May 26th Triathlon dorney June 17 - 21 Nijmegen marches Sept 22nd London triathlon Oct 7th Windsor half Oct 21st Amsterdam marathon Nov 4th new York (unconfirmed) If no new York Athens marathon The good thing is all the half marathons are dead flat so they are perfect training runs for London. This Saturday I am going for a personal best, so far I've only done a 2:03 for a half marathon but my goal is 1:45. Tough but I hope I don't destroy my legs as I'm flying Saturday afternoon and need them to operate the rudder....and brakes!

Brrrrr it's cold!!!

I knew as soon as I signed up to run the marathon that one of the hardest challenges for me would be motivating myself to get out there to train during the winter months - unavoidable when the big day is in April!  And now I find myself needing to complete (at least) a 10 mile run this weekend in sub-zero temperatures, it's a good job I feel as motivated as I do by the cause or it would be far too tempting to stay inside wrapped up under a blanket!

Speaking of bad weather, I was really delighted to run the 4 Villages Half Marathon in Cheshire (the 'Helsby Half') a couple of weeks ago and beat my PB (now down to 2 hrs 10 mins) despite gale force winds (fine when they were behind you, not so great when head on or to the side, blowing you off course!).  Hoping to enter the Milton Keynes half which is at the start of March - partly just to get used to the 'race' environment to try and help my nerves for the Marathon day itself. 

Really enjoying reading this blog and seeing how my fellow St George's runners are getting on with their training.  Are any of you doing the Adidas training day for charity runners on 25th Feb?  Happy running :-)

Jenny x

Two blogs, two lots of work, half the time..... and the zombies

Having two blogs to do and no time is becoming rather frustrating as I have to use my comic wit twice during a day rather than just the once. Seeing my dad always used to call me a half wit I officially have to use four times as much brain power to be funny (hope everyone is keeping up). I read the previous blog post and thought I would put a few positives on your training. First you lose weight, through running I lost 3 and a half stone in around 4 months. Second is the immense satisfaction you feel after you hit a milestone. My first one was running 4 miles for the first time then 12 then 20. Third, I was the first person to ever run a half marathon then a full marathon in our family. Having their support when you cross the line after you first race is fantastic and a feeling you will never forget. The forth is being fit and everything that comes with it. I never get sick, I always eat well because I know it will affect my training otherwise and little things like being able to fit into a pair of 32 jeans when you had to squeeze into a pair of 38's really make you smile. What I love most is having my playlist, running 18 miles down by the river and watching the landscape change everyday. You can switch off from work and all the stress that surrounds it. You can forget about everyone and have a moment of self indulgence where all you are worrying about is yourself. You can work out your pace, work out your miles or even your bank balance it's up to you. I love thinking about the most diverse things like if we had a zombie attack which parts of the house would me most tactically advantageous to stay in and how many shells would I need for my shotgun. Can zombies run? How long would it take to wear one down? Is a snooker Que really an effective zombie disposal method?

I too, only have one knee....

So I found the "create post" button - a year of firsts - first marathon, first blog post, but not much encouragement - cold burns and pain all round are not reassuring me. I am following the muppet's guide called "how to run a marathon" and having started at 3 minutes some time last year when it seemed like a good idea to fill out the form, I am now at significantly more than that and realising why its called " no pain, no gain".  Anyone got anything positive to say?!

Has anyone seen my man parts?

Well it was my first morning run of the year and it was cooolllllldddddd!!! I was planning to do 18 miles around Virginia water lake and the surrounding Windsor park. Got there for 7:30 with the car showing -2 on the temperature. I had learnt my lesson from Thursday night, I went out in my normal winter running kit (sealskin unders and top with shorts and an Adidas running top). I was basically totally covered from head to toe. Had a half decent 6mile run, got home and took my top off to realise I had cold burns all over my body. First time I have ever had this in my life. Basically it looks like a mild burn but is freezing cold. I was covered in red blotches so straight in the warm bath and managed to catch it in time. Being a person who climbs mountains when it's extremely cold I am used to watching out for the warning signs, I had none at all, maybe because I was concentrating on my run. I digress, I was wearing the same as before with an additional pair of jiggers and a fleece. Run was going well, first mile hurt like hell because of the cold but quickly warmed up. I was testing a new water carrier I got for my birthday which is called a camel pack, perfect for long distance running. My first deep cold warning was when my water started to come out as a slush puppy. I got to 13 miles to look at my frozen gloves, I then realised I had a layer of ice all over me!!! I quickly checked my skin, all ok, my theory is that as all the outer items I was wearing were breathable the moisture seeped out and froze on the surface of the fleece and trousers. Very strange being mr crispy for a short period of time. I decided to go to pack it up then head to work and have a hot shower. Again you have to be careful with these things, I didn't feel cold at all. If I remember correctly the final stages of hypothermia is a cruel sense of feeling hot so you start taking layers of. The beginning of the end!

This is the first post in our St George's London Marathon 2012 blog!  We've set this up exclusively for your use.  Feel free to discuss all things marathon related including training, nutrition, injuries (hopefully far and few between) and of course... fundraising!

We want you to get the most out of your London Marathon experience and as there are nine of you in total taking part to raise funds for St George's this year, with first time marathon runners and veterans alike, we reckon there'll be lots to discuss....

Thanks again for choosing to run for St George's.  We really appreciate your amazing support and please feel free to ask us any questions.  I (Maribel) will be your main contact if you have any questions about the Marathon or simply need to ask a question.  Feel free to put your question on here or send me an email to: maribel.bennett@stgeorges.nhs.uk.  If I can't help then I'm sure I can find someone who can!

Stay tuned for lots of marathon related talk and above all, enjoy!