Gutted!

So some of you  have been wondering where I had disappeared to for a while. Well I have  still be running but work [I’m an intensive care Nurse] and various other commitments had got in the way of me doing races in July, my last ‘run’ of the 14 in 14 was the race for live at Aintree, which was race 9.

How-ever. As things stand I can no longer run!

 

 [this run was just under 1 year ago, where this all started]

This time two weeks ago I would have said I was perfectly healthy, I had just done a 5k run in 29mins, my fastest yet and looking forward to the next races I had coming up, [was going to be Liverpool women’s 10k] however I had pulled my back a little in work with a large patient and thought I would take the week of rest and see how I felt.  

That Wednesday night I was doubled over in pain and taken to the local hospital, initially thinking appendix or something similar.   That Thursday post op, I was told I had a solid mass in my Abdo and they don’t know what it is.  And since then I’ve been living a horrendous nightmare.

I was transferred to the women’s hospital who placed me on the oncology ward without other explanation, and had a Ultra sound scan there which confirmed a solid mass, however due to being post op was sent home and plan to rescan in 3 weeks and await various other test results to determine what it is.  However due to my age and level of fitness it is rare to be the Big C, but all I can think of is they properly said that to Jade Goody as well.  But now it’s simply a waiting game.

Unfortunately it’s pressing against my right hip and can currently not walk very far, i cant bend over and I can’t lift anything, however I am now on a lot of analgesia and seem to be slowly improving.

   

 I’m hoping it’s going to be a quick fix and then I can return to the 14 in 14 challenge, as I really really really want this as an achieve and be able to raise vitalfunds for the amazing Childflight!   But at the minute, I can of feel like I’ve let everyone down, hopefully the amount I have raised will make a little difference.  

For the time being though I have to take it easy so endorsing in my other hobby on the other blog, of the wonderful crochet, which is quite nice,  but I’m missing the running already, so next time you go out, even if it’s for an ultra or a gentle plod, enjoy every seconds of it, as who knows when that run, might be your last! 

Tunnel run 2014

TUNNEL RUN 2014.

Hello everyone, so  I’ve just realised that I forgot to press post on the tunnel run report. Therefore here it is!!

Since the port sunlight run I had twisted/sprained / done something to m y leg so I had been unable to train fully. However as this was my dream race and one I had be working towards I decided to go for it anyway. Even if I did end up walking for periods of it!

It was a very hot and sunny day,  and with little sleep the night before due to the mother snoring, I set out, this was the first race I had done where the start and finish line were in different places so my mum left me at the start so she could then find me at the finish. But I think because of this the atmosphere was different at the start,  there also wasn’t a warm up, which in ‘real’ runs rather than fun runs there doesn’t seem to be, which I find quite interesting..

I managed to run almost to the end of the tunnel before I had to begin walking, with the steep emergency exit almost killing me. The heat was intense in the tunnel, which I wasn’t expecting, but I did manage to take a tunnel selfie, [maybe if I took less pictures I would have run faster… hmm]

 I got to the 5k marker in 34minutes. Just things went downhill from there and ended up with a running time of 1hour and 19mins, but you know, who cares at the end of the day. I had an amazing time and meet a couple of great people,  hopefully one day I will be at an hour but I’m happy being able to achieve what I can and in doing so, got something ticked off the bucket list.

I now plan to attempt to train properly for the next 10k, but in the meantime just enjoy myself.  After all, the only person I have to beat is myself.

port sunlight 5k 2014

Port sunlight 5k.

Well to be honest, I wasn’t feeling this race from the minute I woke up, those who know me we know I had a bit of a rough week so at that moment in time all I wanted to do was turn over and sleep! However I eventually got out of bed and cross a thing of my bucket list… to drive through the tunnel.. Random I know… but Yay all the same…. I might post the full bucket list at some point…

Anyway, the weather was downright awful  with heavy rain and strong winds. The surface was slippery in places with puddles and fallen petals/leaves.  The rain stopped briefly as we set off but ended up soaked despite my lovely ‘waterproof’ running coat.  Which was a mistake to wear as I ended up very very hot… will have to rethink before my next rainy run!

I also didn’t carry any water with me on this one and half way through regretted this decision. According to my nike app I did the first 2k at 5.3min /km pace… which probably knackered me and the rest of the run was at 6.3 – 7.3 pace.. admittently walking in places.. I really need some help with my pacing.. Running club here I come! overall i did this in 34:16, 16 seconds slower than PB but sometime its not all about the time!

Port sunlight it self seems a lovely place, and if it wasn’t for the weather I would have loved to have stayed and explore a little bit, but unfortunately it was a dash home for some dry clothes…  pre event there was lots of publicity about how bad the parking was.. I got their earily by the fact the car park was empty! Although walking back I bumped into every 10k’s who were running to the start as they had had difficulty!

Also bumped into a very nice lady (sorry I didn’t get your name, blue hoodie with pink top) and her mum who were lovely and took pre and post piccys with me and who I ran with for the first 1k or so.. until I found out I was a lot slower than her pace!  Anyway I was nice to meet you guys!

As usual it was all for Childflight so please continue to donate if you can,  every penny goes a long way in supporting this charity and making children’s dreams come true J http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/myscrambledlegs

oh and on a side note, isnt this yarn bombing cool!?, its like my to worlds combined!!

Liverpool spring 10k

Spring 10k

When I first took up running, jut over 12 months ago, this is one of the races I was aiming for, although at that point it was inconceivable that I would manage to get that far as I was week 1 into the couch to 5k training programme, however today, I did it! yay!!

So I was having a bad week, having nearly passed out at 1k on Monday, [post night shift yukness] and a very slow 7k on weds I wasn’t feeling in the best shape for this one, however I realized during said 7k that I had a tight issue.. ie they kept falling down and I had to keep stopping to pull up.. resulting in shopping trip (and a mandatory wagamma’s) to buy smaller clothes! Which is great as slowly getting a bit more fit! Just want to be fit and healthy more than anything else.. everything else is bonus!

So today! I found out I was in the slow group at the back due to co lour coding, however half way around found myself running with a elite runner [pink number] who had a cold but kept same pace as me… so maybe the colored numbers not as significant a its all down to what you do on the day..

Overall it was a fantastic race, I had a good steady run and seemed to not have to walk as much as per previous runs, pace was between 6 – 7.3 min/k, which is very good for me, and over all did it in a personal best time of 1hour and 11mins J very very very happy Helen.  I briefly stopped to offer help to a lady who had collapsed before running on for a Marshall.. which may have taken a few mins but at the same time probably speed me up to the Marshall as well!  But this is a personal best time, taking a massive 5mins and 30 odd seconds off! Aiming for under 1:10 for the tunnel run, which is my next 10k.  

down points? there seemed to be some good distance between marshalles and perhaps they could have been spread out a bit more.. otherwise an exellent and well organised race, good medal, good t-shirt, brill atmosphere. thinking of making this one a yearly event! 

As always I’m aiming to raise vital funds for Child-flight,  so any sponsorship will be greatly received! And would add an extra very t how happy I am! Just follow the link on your right! Every penny helps! 

p.s. thanks to the lovely val for your support at 4k and the finish! 

Llandudno 5k Easter Saturday!

Hello everyone…

So you may have noticed that ive been a little bit absent for the last few weeks, the reason? Well its been exam time and ive been busy away with that! all finished now though which is great! 

So whilst I have been gone! Me and my mother has completed the Llandudno 5k run in Animal onesies! My mum did it in a duck due to being called ‘Duck’ as her name being a cub leader! And I did it in a Nemo onesie to represent the orange team!

Over all it was a very nice little race! The sun was out meaning that it was very hot and my onsie got stripped on the way round! Bit slower than for me at 35mins but I did stop to talk to mum at around 3.5 k as she was going the other way! reckon if I hadn’t of done that I would have got pb!  Next run though I must remember sun cream as I badly burnt my face during the day!  

My mum did her 5K [or there abouts] in 45mins and 11sec. she did seem to walk a lot more than run, and the running seem to take place when she could see me…  but even so she did an amazing job and a well earned medal alike!  

This event was very well organised! And friendly marshals ect, a great run along the front [not sure what it would be like with bad weather though] and well worth doing it again next year! One things for sure I don’t want to do a run in a onsie in a hurry!

All of this was for all the amazing Child-flight and all donations would be very much appreciated to support us along the way! mum is going to be running further races later on in the year and I still have several races to go on my 14 in 1 challenge!  We are 40% at the target so far and a massive thankyou to those who have already supported me in this.  

our virgin giving page is linked to on the right 

virtual Running

Welcome to the launch of my crochet virtual running event! 

Background:-  I started running last year as part of my 24^th birthday bucket list, and for 2014 have taken up a scrambled legs challenged by doing 14 runs in 2014. I also am a keen crochet-er and often make items to sell for charity, therefore I thought I would combine the two and make crocheted running medal s and run a monthly virtual race, all to raise vital funds for the amazing child-flight.  

So how can you take part? The races are open to all, its £5 to enter [via PayPal] and you can do 1k, 5k, 10k or a half marathon! It’s purely up to you, but send me proof of your run, [in form of an app screen or official chip time] and your time and I’ll send you a medal out. Tops prize to the fastest runner in each group as well as spot prizes available.  [Free postage based in the UK. international runners please get in touch before buying as will be charged postage costs]

The April race will Run from now till 30th April 2014! so make sure you get your run in before then! 

there is 4 teams in child-flight, [red, blue green and orange] so pick which team you would like to join and this will be your ribbon color to wear  and display with pride .  Each medal is 100% unique as has been hand crocheted by myself and not to a set pattern but free style! Purple medals are Available for people who would like to sign up for the 10k distance.

There will be a prize for the fastest 5k's in each color team each month  but all distances completed will receive a medal.  All money raised [- running costs] will go towards child flight and will be added to my fundraising page at the end of each month.   So go out and get running [or skipping / jogging, just enjoy yourself's] then either email me or post me a picture via twitter (@ScrambledlegHB) or via facebook page at ( https://www.facebook.com/myscrambledlegs ) to register your time and be in chance of receiving a prize!


Good luck and happy running!

team colour

orange £5.00 GBP red £5.00 GBP blue £5.00 GBP green £5.00 GBP Purple £5.00 GBP

Bradford10k 2014.

Bradford 10k.

Today way another 10k run! Felt very tired this morning and had little sleep last night,  so wasn’t in great condition for this run at all!  But you know, if you never try you will never succeed! So I will start with a little lesson learnt for today to stop my self-moaning about the effort to much! Lesson. Follow a training plan and train properly!  Which is the plan to do between now and the next 10k!  

as Always i'm fundraiser for child-flight! all donations very welcome so please follow the just giving link on the right, 

So today was Run by epilepsy action, and once again I did it in my Childflight yellow hat and Tshirt! Was billed as a flat course which in the majority it was but was still hilly in areas and also had a high wind which at points we ran into.  I had chosen this race because Bradford is where I grew up and thought it would be nice on home turf!  Enjoyed the race but I feel it now! Around 4k I bumped into a lady called becky and we had roughly the same pace so we ended up running/walking together the rest of the way.  was nice to have someone to talk to and someone to help keep pace with!

According to my nike plus app I ran my fasted 1k at 6.53mins and my fastest mile at 11.5mins, so all is good in that area, once again, got to around 5k ok and then pace began to slowly slip. I normally run to music but unfortunately my Ipod died this morning so was weird to run without it, also the road the majority was run down [out and back] doesn’t have much points of interest on it so felt as though I couldn’t distract myself with it much and gave in to pain to easily at times I think.  

I did this race in 1hour and 16mins and 10seconds [chip time]  which is a 40seconds improvement on my previous time two weeks ago! And continues to be something to work on [has downloaded the ActionAid training plan, will let you guys know how I get on!] this time means that I came in at 1429^th position… out of 1442… paula Radcliffe I aint but going out and trying is better than quitting right? Right?

Run facts:-

distance :- 10k

time:- 1hour, 16mins 10 seconds. 

surface:- road, windy. 

equipment:- compression-socks. No music

memento:- white XL t-shirt [they had run out of smaller sizes!]

rating. 5/10 

repeat/recommend? No, [think I need some more interest on the route and no medal!]