I did it!!!!
The heat was ridiculous but I completed Edinburgh half marathon in 2h 17m 32s - my first so also a personal best! As well as that, my fantastic supporters have contributed more than £750 to Macmillan - I'm so proud!

The day was less than straightforward. The alarm didn't go off so we were a little late leaving home! The queue for the toilets before the race was almost as far as the race itself so I was still there when the race started! I wasn't the only one though and it made my start a whole lot easier. I didn't have to try to pace myself among a load of people running faster than me which was great.

My most embarrassing moment came within sight of the finishing line. I hit the 12 mile mark feeling pretty good so I upped the pace a wee bit. It was all going very well until I turned onto the plastic mats in the park. My feet went out from under me and I managed a spectacular forward roll ending up in a heap on the floor. At that point, my biggest worry was that someone might try to hang onto me until they made sure I was OK so I just got up as quickly as I could and ran the last 100m before anything else started to hurt! Instead of the high I'd been on at mile 12, I was an emotional wreck! Today, as well as the aching muscles, I have a bruised shoulder, scraped hip and a skinned knee - I wonder how many half marathon runners manage that!

Last week, all I wanted was for this to be over. After the race I was ready to sign up to do it again next year. This morning, all I want is to be able to walk without hurting!

What's next?

Watch this space!

Thanks for reading x

The end is in sight - well, the start anyway! I now have my number and my disposable plastic mac (fancy bin bag!) so all I have to do is turn up and run - easy!

Per the instructions, I've only been doing wee runs this week so I've had no major issues. I did overdo the dancing a bit on Saturday night though so the muscles probably haven't had as much rest as they should have done. At least I've got that excuse to fall back on if it all goes pear-shaped on Sunday!

I haven't quite managed my £50 per mile sponsorship target but I've broken the £600 so it's definitely been worth  all the effort.

See you on the other side!

X

Hello again!

Well, the knee support didn't manage 11 miles on Monday - I was a snivelling wreck by about 9.5 and had to walk the rest of the way! Not one to give up, I have now tried physio. I went to see Katie at MBody Perth and wish I had gone weeks ago! She worked her magic and I have run twelve miles today with no major knee issues. All of my other

If I ever say I'm going to run anything again, please stop me - this is turning into a complete saga!

I've been having a bit of knee trouble over the past few weeks but I set out for a ten miler (the furthest I've ever run) on Monday. My knee started to niggle after less than 2 miles but I figured I'd be OK as long as it didn't get any worse. By the time I turned to come home, the pain was so bad that I considered phoning for a lift but I didn't want to look like a wimp. By the time I was half a mile from home (still running) I was in such a state that I was hoping not to meet anyone I knew in case I cried. I hobbled home from there then sat on the stairs and cried for ten minutes!

Anyway, onwards and upwards. Since then I have purchased a knee support and more ibuprofen and today's run (3.5 miles) went very well. The pain has gone and now I think I'm invincible! Derek tells me the best way to help your muscles recover is to get into a cold bath as soon as possible so I've promised to try that after my next long run. I'm planning eleven miles on Monday so listen out for the screams around 11.30am as my bare bum hits the cold water!!!

I hate to say it but I think Mike Buchan might be right - this isn't nearly as easy as shaving my head was!

More soon

xx

I'M BACK!!!

Things have not gone well through March and into April - coughs and colds, sick children and dodgy trainers - but I think I'm finally getting on top of things again!

The trainers that had been wearing in well since January started to rub (both feet) so I went back to the old faithfuls which were fine for a while but weren't giving enough support on longer distances. I have now given in and spent more on new trainers than I've ever spent before! Thankfully, they seem to be doing the trick so fingers crossed that continues.

My furthest run to date is the 8 miles I did on Saturday. I ran the whole distance but wasn't in great shape by the time I finished! I have no idea how I would ever have run more than half that distance again but hopefully with another five and a bit weeks training I'll manage!

My joints seem to be taking turns to play up although I can handle that - it's what my children do! I'm swallowing cod liver oil capsules like Smarties but I'm not convinced that's helping either. I think I'm just going to have to accept I'm getting too old for this!

Anyway, there's a lot of money riding on it now thanks to my very generous sponsors so there's no going back!

More soon,

Jill xx

Sorry for the radio silence but over the last couple of weeks there's been no jogging so no need for blogging!

I finally managed 2.5 miles on Saturday and 3.2 miles this morning. I'd been expecting a bit of coughing but the old lungs coped very well! The old legs on the other hand were a nightmare! I'd forgotten how heavy they are and managed to stumble twice (nothing serious) - I'm sure I would have been quicker walking!

Anyway, onwards and upwards as they say - the training is still on track just not as far ahead as it was before. I have a ten week plan from Team Macmillan which I'm going to follow from 19th March and I think it'll be quite 'doable'.

Watch this space!

Jill xx

Eeeeeeuuuuuggggghhhhhh!!!!

That sums up how I'm feeling at the moment! I've been hit by the lurgy which has meant no running for the past week. I'm in danger of coughing up a lung just walking downstairs in the morning so thought I'd better not try to up the pace!! Training had been going really well though so it's not too disastrous as long as I'm back on my feet soon.

On the plus side, sponsorship is still rolling in - thank you again to all my generous family and friends.

Better go and have another Lemsip!

Jill xx

Greetings!

Didn't get round to this last night because our front door broke. Obviously that didn't stop me writing this but I had to spend too much time tracking down the appropriate part on the internet so we can get it fixed and open it again. It was only today I realised how much worse it would have been if we had been outside when it broke (and  how much more expensive!).

Last week had its ups and downs:-

• I completed my first marathon since training began! (UP)
• Two people commented on the pinkness of my running kit which is actually two UPs because (a) it is recognisable as running kit and (b) if I slip on the ice and land in a ditch there's a good chance someone will see me and come to my rescue!
• I have put on 2lb since I started training - I have no idea how that happened and it's a massive DOWN given I was already half a stone heavier than usual!

Anyway, onwards and upwards, had a very good (and absolutely freezing) run yesterday morning which, when I clocked it later, turned out to be further than I expected at 3.8 miles. That's my longest run this year - yippeee!!

More soon,

Jill xx

PS Do you think everyone who completes the race will get a tin foil coat or only the fastest finishers? I really want one!

Just back from a wee run and my legs feel very heavy today - must be all that muscle!!

I'm still enjoying my runs although I think I need to start mixing it up a bit. A friend (who knows about these things) thinks I need to get 'out of my comfort zone'. I'm not sure she fully appreciates just how uncomfortable it is to run around with an extra half stone wobbling round your middle! Maybe I'll try something new after the wobbling stops!!

Fundraising is going well too - over the halfway mark already. Thank you again to everyone who's sponsored me and please go to www.justgiving.com/jillsweehalf if you'd like to.

Til next time,

Jill xx

Hey Y'all,

Only four months to go until my half marathon challenge so I thought I'd keep you up to date with my progress.

Training's going well so far. I've run 8.5 miles this week - admittedly that was over 3 sessions but, hey, it sounds good! Fund-raising is also going well and I'm already halfway to my £500 target. A huge thank you to everyone who has sponsored me and the website for anyone who would like to is www.justgiving.com/jillsweehalf.

I've also sorted myself out with some proper kit - John reckons I look like a runner now so I guess that's a start!

More soon,

Jill xx