Kingston Breakfast Run

Today I ran the Kingston Breakfast Run which is organised by Human Race Events.  You could either run the 8.2miles course or the 16miles course. I took part in the 16 miles race which started at 8.35am!

It was an early start for me, as we all know the clocks went forward so we lost one hour sleep! I went to bed early last night, a little worried about whether I would have the lower abdomen pains this morning. Ever since the Reading half last week I have been suffering with lower abdomen pains, this morning I took two ibuprofens as a precaution and luckily I had no pains. However this was cramp week (I suffer from strange stomach cramps two weeks in a month, which occur within the first 10 mins of any run, leaving me doubled up and in a lot of pain.) To avoid this happening during the run, I did a little warm run and let the cramp happen before the start of the race! Have to say bodies are strange things.

The race began, it was staggered starts with the 8.2 mile runners starting off first, the sub 2 hours runners setting of next and the others with over sub 2 hours start going last. I was in this group at the end.

This felt completely different from last week where I was stressed, not focused, and worried about time. I didn’t worry about my time at all this run; this was a simple warm up run before the London marathon day. No PB’s to beat, no time in mind; it was just a case of getting around.

And get around I did, the run took my 2hrs and 24 minutes to complete. Apart from the sole of my feet hurting I found the run comfortable and enjoyable, I thought two laps of the same course would be a struggle! In fact I enjoyed running the first course and then looked forward to running the last 8 miles! It was nice to be among runners who were also pacing themselves and also my trainer ran beside me most of the course and it really helped the miles tick away quicker.

I was extremely happy to reach the end, it was a well organised event and I loved my Mug I got at the end! I’m now in a position where I feel comfortable for the marathon. It was good to run at a marathon pace today, although I don’t see myself running this pace on the day but it was a nice treat!

Thank you to Human Race events for the great event! I’m looking forward to the pictures, as I tried to smile at the smile zones.

Now I’m tapering off till Marathon day, it’s a nice feeling but also I’m not sure how I’ll fill my time if I’m reducing my training!

Good luck to all the runners and well done to all the runners at the Breakfast run today.

I'm running the Virgin London Marathon on behalf of the Miscarriage Association  http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PavanjeetKhaira

Reading Half Marathon 2011

The Sunday gone I ran my fourth Reading half Marathon! I would love to say my time was a new PB, however I was slower than previous years! Still finishing with a sub 2hr time, which is very respectable I think! J

I’m not sure what was going on with me during the run, I felt extremely weak and unfocused and suffered with some unusual lower abdominal pains. At one point I thought I may have to stop running all together, but I thought about the Marathon day and told myself come whatever I would have to complete the 26 mile course regardless of pain or anything.

So with this in mind, and a little defeated with the fact I would not make the time I wanted I carried on running, and I was over the moon when I reached the stadium!

Yay to me for completing it and getting through the mental and pain barrier that went up in the first 5k!

Thoughts are I will be back next year and I will be faster and fitter!

But the event itself like every year didn’t disappoint, the atmosphere and support was amazing and the finish never stops to amaze me. Finishing in that stadium with so many supporters and spectators is a unforgettable experience and one of the reasons I come back each year! Well done to all the thousands of runners taking part and completing!

Next stop is Kingston Breakfast run after which it will be countdown to Marathon day!

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PavanjeetKhaira
Running the Virgin London Marathon 2011 on Behalf of the Miscarriage Association

20 Mile club training run

Yesterday I ran 20 miles with the club and I was spot on with my target time of 3hr 15 mins.

I had a very restless sleep the night before; believe it or not I was extremely nervous!  I wasn’t sure what to expect, having never ran this distance before and also to be running with the club and other local clubs I was worried about my performance! That being said this wasn’t a race but a training run planned and marshalled by the Datchet Dashers.

Thoughts after the run were how well organised and planned it all was, and not forgetting how lovely and supportive all the marshals were! I really appreciated all the jelly babies’ water stations! This is something I would never have had a chance to join in with or take advantage of if I hadn’t joined the club.

I’m still shocked I managed to run the full 20miles, and this isn’t down to struggling with running but more so the hills! I wasn’t prepared for the hills as it was a route I had never ran, so I wasn’t aware of the hills that were ahead. The route route took us through old Windsor, up towards Savills Court hotel, past the Polo Guards and around Virginia Waters Lake and back home through Old Windsor! It’s amazing how on the way back the dips in the road you hadn’t noticed seemed hilly on the way back!

It’s definitely an event I will try to run again next year or come along to help as a Marshall.

I was greeted at the end by some of the Marshals and runners and they were extremely encouraging and also gave great advice about the actual Marathon and assured me that it is not hilly like the route the club had just ran!

So this takes me to 5 weeks of training left till the big day. Below is my plan for the next 5 weekend runs.

March 20^th – Reading Half Marathon

March 27^th – 16 Mile Kingston Breakfast run

3^rd April – 23 Miles

10^th April – 13-15 miles

17^th April – Marathon Day!

A little bit of fun while training

Oh my gosh, I’m sore! Legs, bum, thighs hurt! I would like to say it’s down to running, but thinking of this morning reminds me that it’s not the running but the little competition me and my trainer had!

This morning I had my weekly personal training. Workout was pretty much the same as previous few weeks, focused on drop sets and working all major muscle groups it was nothing different apart from me pushing myself a little bit more than last few weeks.

However my trainer and I got a little competitive at the end. We choose to do wall squats super set with hamstring curls. The competition became who can stay in the squat position for the longest. I was up first and lasted 2 mins, thought this was a very respectable time. I was then beaten with 2 mins and 30 sec; I followed this with 2 mins 35 secs. Although I thought I could see flames of my legs I feeling the burn that much! Unfortunately I was beaten with 3mins and 30secs! In total i did 6mins and 30secs of wall squats! This was on top on the leg press, lateral lunges and hamstring curls in the same session!

 But we have a re-match planned! I may just suggest adding in a few more competitions like push ups, plank and other body weight assisted exercises!

So far Trainer 1 Pav 0!

Let’s see if I can redeem myself over the next few weeks!

Give it a go with your friend / partner or trainer! It's amazing the lengths you will go to win!

Training Plans Week 11-12 2011

With the next two weekends filled with a run, training will be at its minimal allowing my legs to rest for the Reading Half marathon and the Kingston Breakfast run.

I have PB time aspirations for both, hoping to break my half marathon PB of 1hr 54 at the Reading half marathon and setting a respectable time at the Kingston 16mile Breakfast run ( 2hrs 25mins).

Here’s the Plan

Monday: Personal Training

Tuesday: Datchet Dashers

Wednesday: 10 mile run

Thursday – Saturday: Stretching / Resting

Sunday – Reading Half Marathon, Kingston Breakfast Run.

It will be hard to rest in-between, but after over training for the Grim challenge in earlier in the year i don’t want to let myself down because I’m over trained and under rested!

For those of you who are also running a race in the next few weeks what does your training plan in the week building up to the race look like? Advice / tips would be greatly appreciated.

For this week I have the 20 mile club run to look forward to! Having already ran 26 miles this week, Sunday will definitely be interesting if not a slight struggle>

Take Care all and hope you all have a lovely weekend! You’ll see my tweeting away on Sunday wishing all a good Sunday run x

Virgin London Marathon 2011

5 weeks and 2 days to go .... focus recently has been solely on training and fundraising. As the Marathon gets closer both training and fundraising pressures are increasing. I’m very fortunate however that the support I’ve received from my friends and family has been superb and I’ve been able to enjoy the fundraising aspect of the Marathon! With the aim to raise as much money as possible for the Miscarriage Association I will be working hard over the next few weeks to raise more as much money as possible. Currently I’m doing a free champagne prize draw at work, for a chance to win all my collegues need to do is sponsor me ! Other thoughts are to bribe them with cakes!

One of the memories I’m definitely taking away with me from this marathon is being part of the Marathon 2011 team for the Miscarriage Association. I have enjoyed the frequent communication and support from Ruth, Penny and the team members via face book and email. And it’s great to have that support and encouragement, to keep you going and focused with the training and also fundraising. I can’t wait to run past their support station at the 18 miles mark and I’m extremely proud of running for such a great association! I’m sure the rest of the team feel the same!

I can’t believe how quickly the weeks have ticked away since getting my place back in December. Over the next 5 weeks I will be running the Reading half marathon and the Kingston Breakfast run and the marathon! This gives me 2 weekends only to attempt a 20 mile run (this Sunday with the dashers) and 22-23 miles as I want to be prepared for the wall!

I’m sure other runners training for the marathon will agree that this is something quiet extraordinary and I don’t know if I speak for everyone but the Long Sunday runs are actually enjoyable!

Having only seen the London marathon on TV I have no idea of how amazing the atmosphere and the support will be! I can’t wait! I will definitely enjoy every moment, and take a lot of lasting memories with me!

In the mean time however I have the Club 20 miles this Sunday, Reading Half next weekend and the Kingston Breakfast run the weekend after! A lot to keep me busy and focused on the big day!

Happy marathon training x

Brief Update Week 8 - 10

I feel awful, it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything and it just been due to being extremely busy with work, training and the new man in my life!

But training is going extremely well! I didn’t manage to do a long run the weekend gone but the weekend before I ran 19.3 miles! It was hard and slow but I was able to keep going, although my knees were extremely sore!  Hopefully there is no lasting damage! It’s given me the confidence I needed.

In the last few weeks I have also joined the Datchet Dashers and since my last update went along to their 5k time trail and a 4 x 6 min interval session! Both were fast sessions and extremely intense compared to how hard I push myself on my own.

I am looking forward to running with and potentially as part of the Dashers in the near / far future. As a result of joining them another run has been updated to my events calendar and this is the clubs 10k Dorney Dash! It’s been a while (5 years) since I’ve attempted a 10k race and I’m already looking forward to it. Having ran 6 miles in 50mins this Monday gone my aim will definitely in the high 40 mins mark!