2016 - The Year I Became a Runner

 Good afternoon everyone,

I hope that you all have had a very good Christmas and are looking forward to the festivities this evening.

Here is my final post for 2016.....

A quick round up since last post:

Due to the change in weather, I have been using my new gym far more for running, I love the way I can program the treadmill from my PC at home, get to the gym log in and of it goes.  It works fantastic for my interval sessions.

I am still not back into full time training 100%, still a bit hit and miss due to Christmas, but have been doing far more, and came very close to beating my 5k PB recently on a training run so I guess that means I am back to where I was before the ear infections.  Having said that I am finding long runs harder to get back into.  I managed 60 minutes yesterday without walking once, but it was slow and it was hard.

All in all though, I am happy with where I am at, and looking forward to carrying on in 2017.

My New Haircut

Christmas Day

Started with a Christmas Day Park Run at Panshanger, and considering I was wearing a full on Santa suit and was being followed round by a man with a camera who kept asking me to stop so he could take my picture, I still managed it in 38:17 so was really pleased with that.

Came home bathed and then it was time to have a nice fry up with Bucks Fizz before opening presents.  I was very spoilt by both Rob and Chloe, new running clothes including a UKRunChat jumper, smellies, accessories for my bike, sweeties and chocolates, tickets to see Westham, and various meal and days out in London Vouchers. I had also received Theatre tickets to see Charlie and Chocolate Factory a few days before as it was that day we went to see it.

Rob's Dad came round for dinner, and so did my friend Chris which Rob prepared, Turkey, Beef and all the trimmings, it was delicious.  We finished it off with Scones, Clotted Cream and Strawberry jam... delicious!!

The evening hosted many glasses of wine and lots of Christmas editions of soaps.

We had a family Fun Day on Wednesday:

Had a really fun time at Mr Mulligans Golf in Stevenage followed by Games night at home.

I have also bought myself a new watch...a Garmin VivoActive HR, I got it a few days ago but so far I love it, it is a sports watch, a smart watch and a day to day activity/sleep/step tracker all in one.

I will review it fully in the new year once I have used it more and therefore can give a full review.

Taking a Look Back

So I had a quick look back over the 1st blog in this series FBB2VLM and the first post in this blog, and wanted to share a few thoughts before we start the new year.

I started 2016 having won the amazing experience to feature in Women's Running UK magazine as part of the WR Big Marathon Challenge.  I met some wonderful people through this challenge, Liz the editor, Richard my coach from Full Potential, Raphael from High 5 Nutrition Ellie from Pure Sports Medicine and Michael from ASICS.  Alongside all the help I received the support I had from the other members of the BMC was invaluable - the ladies, Alison, Sam and Jacqui and the lads, Jack, Marc, Adrian and Gary.

During the challenge I went from a non runner, to running a full 5k, and run/walking 10k, half marathon and then the ultimate experience of the year - London Marathon.  I cannot thank any of these people enough for the experience, help, advice and support, I know that without it I would never have made the starting line of VLM.

It was just the starting point for me, and I decided to keep working with Richard and working on my 5k and 10k which I have done, with some set backs managed to get my 5k PB to 34:27 and my 10k to 1:13:39.

Unfortunately the losing weight part was a no go... too much good food and wine!  However due to some recent family reconciliations Rob and I can finally start planning our wedding.  Due to financial matters (having to save from scratch) it is looking like summer 2018 and my goal is to drop from my size (stretched at mo) 16 to a size 12 wedding dress.

I am going to continue to work on my 5k and 10k hoping to reduce them to 30 minutes and 1 hour 10 respectively, with a few half marathons thrown in for variety rather than speed.  I have no desire to return to a marathon circuit, at present however will enter the VLM ballot each year as I would love to return there one year.

Happy New Year, and see you in 2017 where I hope you will all join me to follow my new progresses, ups and downs, and funny gym moments.

Much Love

FBB (with added xmas FBB)

xx