With bated breath I clicked ‘open’ on my next weeks training schedule. Oh….now that looks quite hard. Well to be honest very hard. To include threshold runs which have increased from 6 minutes to a mighty 10 minutes and my arch Nemesis HILLS!!! And not just any hills but running up and down continuously for 6 minutes at threshold pace.  And I have to do this not just onc, but 4 times

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4^TH 2012

Heading out for my 30 minute run today the sky looked ominously white. In fact as I’m sure the majority of you will be aware it was white for a good reason. It was in fact packed with snow. I prayed that the white stuff predicted to be dumped directly over Leicester would decide it didn’t like it here and would go and visit another poor city. Sadly it decided it quite liked the look of my home town thank you very much and it would not only come for a visit but a prolonged one at that.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 5^TH 2012

 There is so much of the white stuff outside that I am almost blinded by the sight that greets me as I pull back the curtains. Now normally I would be uttering such things as “Isn’t it pretty” and to be fair the garden did indeed look pretty. But the burning question remained. Could I actually run in it and for 2 hours at that? I made a decision to send hubby out on a trip to the local shop to test out conditions under foot. Not nice I know but someone has to sacrifice themselves. He returned to inform me that he struggled to stay upright walking and under no circumstances was I to venture out running. Humm..after an hour or so deliberating the situation I sneaked upstairs to change. Well I was never one for doing as I’m told. Much to his consternation I headed out the door into the arctic wilderness. Sadly after 40 minutes of impersonating a giant Bambi on ice hubbies words came back to haunt me (and he would be so smug) and I had to admit defeat and abandon the run and return home for my own safety. I would encourage everyone to continue walking but only if conditions are good. Wrap up warm and make sure you stay safe. 

The guilt I felt at abandoning my long run was compounded when my son texted to say he had won The Avalanche Adventure Race which included negotiating a) giant hay bales b) crawling under cargo nets and c) running 10k across snowy country fields and d) jumping into ice strewn streams. He seems to think it was worth all the pain inflicted and although I’m proud of him, I’m not so sure it was worth it. See what you think.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 7^TH 2012

Phoebe has decreed that today is the day I should be brave and attempt my 3 x 10 minute thresholds. Focus and determination I feel are going to be needed today. Outside it was still freezing but much of the snow had disappeared leaving just a few ice patches for me to skip around. Completed the run victoriously realising much to my delight that I had done (albeit with 3 minute jog recovery) sub 9 minute miles for 30 minutes. This is a giant step forward for me and I remain both amazed and delighted at what my body is still capable of. Progression is the name of the game.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 9^th 2012

This morning its dark, freezing cold and 5am and I’m up ready for my progression run of 15/15/15 which needs completing before I start my 10 hour shift in my other life as a Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse. Run completed without incident with me feeling fit, strong, positive and invigorated to start the day ahead. My only slightly concerning thought now is that the weather man has announced there is more of that dreaded white stuff due to visit Leicester again tomorrow. Why???. Someone please persuade it to go away and leave me alone. It’s just not welcome. Well actually if truth be told I wont mind missing my nemesis but I cannot miss my long run again on Sunday….to be continued.

Thank-you again for taking the time to read my ramblings and I hope it inspires some of you to get out there and get active. Please follow me on Twitter @lozenge13 and please be so kind as to check out my fund raising page at www.justgiving.com/Lorraine-Voisey0 and see just why I am raising money for the brilliant SCOPE. Happy running…..Lorraine x