Frustration and a Fundraiser

This has been a week of frustration in terms of my training, but a week of joys in other ways!

I haven't been running since Sunday, which is 4 days and it's driving me crazy!
During my 8.5 miler on Sunday, I noticed a twinge in my right ankle, but it wasn't bad enough to make me stop. It felt more like a pin prick and was easily ignored (I will concede it probably wasn't the wisest of choices).

My ankles have been sore for a while, but at the end of the day, what did I expect, pounding pavements with such determination?! It was bound to happen! Whilst it might be the inevitable, it doesn't make it any easier to put up with!

This week I was planning on continuing with my recent routine,  running home from work on Tuesday, but I noticed that my right ankle was looking a bit puffy; so putting my sensible head on, I decided it was better to give it a miss and allow my ankle time to rest and heal. Come Wednesday, which is my Running Club day, my ankle was no better and ended up being strapped up by the lovely First Aid expert at school. An evening of elevation and ice seemed to bring the swelling down, but not completely.

I'm hoping to be back out running tomorrow or Saturday, just taking it steady. I don't know if I can handle resting any longer! Although, I am remembering my mantra: Rest days are important!! And my new one - Listen to your body!

It has felt very frustrating not being able to continue my training as I had planned, however I am slowly beginning to realise that it might have been for the best; not only for my sore and poorly ankle, but for myself generally. I've been attacking training with a lot of enthusiasm and I've been feeling particularly exhausted recently. The two things aren't necessarily related  (but let's face it - they probably are!) Although I have plenty of energy whilst actually running, it's all the other times that I find myself yawning and wanting to curl up under a duvet! The other possible cause for the general exhaustion is the crazy 8 week half term that we are just coming to the end of! I am definitely ready to spend some time recharging my batteries, getting the training back on track and beginning to experiment with some new meals and nutrition. 

So after an amazing weekend last week, smashing a Parkrun PB at Fountains Abbey, I somehow don't think that I will be getting that PB feeling this week!... If I even make it round a Parkrun this weekend!

I have however been cheered up by lots of new song selections for my Marathon Playlist! It's definitely a varied selection and I love it! I also have loved the enthusiasm of some of the Year 6 children at school who held a cake sale on Monday and raised £105 for The Trust! It was a real triumph and there were lots of tasty treats to be had!

If you're unsure why I am taking myself on this journey, allowing myself to become battered, bruised and exhausted, please take a look at my previous post about The Home Farm Trust and have a read of 'My Story' on my Just Giving page. Any donations and messages of support are very much appreciated as I get ready to pound the pavements some more (ankle dependent of course!)

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/fiona-kitchingman

The Home Farm Trust

As previously mentioned, one of the pleasures of my job is giving assemblies! And this week, I was able to give another! This time, I was introducing the charity I am running for to the children at school. 

This was a mix of exciting and nerve wracking, as The Home Farm Trust is something so close to my heart. I couldn't wait to share the Trust's vision and explain what we are going to be raising money for, whilst also sharing some family photos and personal experiences of what the Trust is able to do. 

Overall, the assembly went well and in researching additional information about the HFT, I found out things I never knew before, like how they began! I never knew that it was one small group of parents that started the Trust, wishing to ensure a safe, secure and independent life for their children with learning disabilities. This small beginning in 1962 has now grown into a national charity, supporting 2,500 adults with learning disabilities across the country. 

Caravan Holidays! 

For me, The Home Farm Trust has always been there. When I was younger, I never considered how they came to be, or how they functioned. They were the people who looked after Uncle Stu, and that's all there was to it! Now that I am older and I look back on the life that Stu has had, it is so clear to me how instrumental to that the Trust has been. 

My Uncle Stuart has Down's Syndrome, which is a learning disability that for Stu means that he needs people to help him do things that we can do by ourselves. Stu doesn't really use verbal language like we do; he understands what we say, but communicates with us through a type of sign language called Makaton. 

Stu & Mother Dearest

When Stu was young, my Gran and Grandad realised that if he was going to be able to lead a life that was as independent as possible and be safe and secure, then they were going to need help. This is when they found The Home Farm Trust. They were able to support Stu and my family and have been responsible for him ever since. With the support of the Trust's amazing staff, Stu is able to live in a house with others who the Trust support; people
 who are his life long friends. 

The money donated to The Home Farm Trust provides so much to the people they support. It means that a person who can't speak is able to communicate and make choices about their own lives. It provides training to staff who work with the people the Trust support. It means suitably adapted living spaces so a person with learning disabilities can live independently. 
It means the people with learning disabilities can live the lives they choose, achieving their own dreams and goals just like we do. The money donated to The Home Farm Trust really does change lives. 

Stu & His Friends!

Well that was a long one! But as I'm sure you can tell, this is a topic that means an awful lot to me and when I talk about it, I always want to make sure I do it justice. If you want to learn more about the work that The Home Farm Trust does, please visit their website and read some of the stories of the people they support and the difference that they have made to their lives; it is truly inspiring. 

Please don't forget to visit my Just Giving page and help me to say thank you to this wonderful charity that does so much for so many. 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/fiona-kitchingman 

Level Up!

What an amazing day! Officially on one of those 'Runner's Highs' that we all like to tell you exist! Today is the day that I have achieved goal number 1: Run ten miles before Christmas. 

Before setting out on today's run, I was not filled with so much excitement. In fact, knowing that I was planning on running 9 miles today, I woke up many times in the night and was even having stress dreams about it! However, despite my disturbed sleep and the fact that the forecast was predicting rain, rain and more rain, I put on my running shoes and psyched myself up for the onslaught. 

Ready to go!

On leaving the house, the rain wasn't so bad... A mere drizzle. Well that lasted for all of 5 minutes before the heavens officially opened! At this point, the voice was there in the back of my mind.. "You could just go home. Nobody would blame you in this weather!" "This is going to be really hard in this weather. Your shoes are already soaked!" "Just give up now."  

At this point, I did the only thing I could.. Turned my music up and got on with it! And do you want to know the really marvellous thing? It felt great! I was going steady on my pace, focusing on the distance and even whilst looking and feeling like a drowned rat, I loved it. By the time I had completed 7 miles, I had a choice of heading home by the most direct route, or going around the edge of the stray. It was such an easy decision! The stray was as gorgeous as ever and it was lovely to see people who had come out in the rain to support the footballers (although I did see one particularly aggressive tackle which should have been a red card in my opinion!). 

Running down Skipton road as I hit mile 9, I was having a great time. Yes, I couldn't feel my fingers and I was soaked through to the skin, but it was dawning on m that I could actually do this. I could actually run the London Marathon and run it well! 

At this point, there was a lot of self affirmation going on inside my head. The little voice had perked up by this point and she was much more positive! "You're amazing! "This feels great" "You're going to smash it!"  The wet feet and soggy clothes didn't matter anymore. I was smashing it and loving life! 

So now that I am home and have dried off, I can relax and eat lots of chocolate for the rest of my Sunday, guilt free! 

Soaking wet but feeling great! 

Please don't forget to visit my Just Giving page and have a read about the charity I am raising money for and maybe even leave me a donation and a message of support. It would be much appreciated as I know how important donations are to this charity and what a long way they can go. 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/fiona-kitchingman 

Fixed!

As many of you will know, I have been sharing the link to this blog on Facebook, but with little success as the link wouldn't work! Well thankfully, that problem is no more! 

After watching various YouTube videos and fiddling with settings, I am pleased to say we have cracked it! All the links from here on in will be 100% secure, so no more pesky warnings when you try and read my page! 

New Stuff!

Well, this week has been a very exciting week (for me, if not for my bank balance), as I have bought a few new running essentials! 

On Monday, I decided it was time for a new pair of running shoes. I have had my previous pair for a year now, and they have put in a fair few miles and were beginning to show the strain somewhat! I took them with me to Up&Running and the guys in the store were able to perform an interesting postmortem  on them. Turns out that I have an interesting and unique running style (or that's what I'm translating it as). My shoes weren't worn equally, as I heel strike on one foot but not on the other and I run in a way that has caused my shoes to become twisted! Weird! 

Unfortunately for me, I didn't get my new shoes on Monday - They didn't have my size in my trusty Brooks Ghosts. I did however get the Flipbelt I have been talking about for ages now and it's great! It fits my gigantic phone and my keys so no more achy shoulder! 

So after my initial disappointment, Saturday became the best day of a runner's year: New shoe day! And not a moment too soon either, as my Saturday morning 5K resulted with a nail right through the sole of my old pair. Luckily there was a clip attached to the nail which prevented it from actually reaching my foot. 

So here they are... The new shoes! Still looking clean even after their first 6 mile outing!  
And here is the other pair.. still in their box! Because yes. I bought two! 

Whilst this might seem a little extravagant, it is a well thought through investment, which means I can alternate shoes each run, giving them time to recover and preventing me from running in wet shoes! I just need to get my Sharpie out and label them 'Pair 1' and 'Pair 2'! 

Their first outing was definitely a positive one too! 6 miles with a pace of 8.46 minute miles! I'm still working up to that all important 10 miles by Christmas, but the weekly millage is steadily increasing. This week I have clocked up a grand total of 27.3 miles! Now I just need to all of that in one go and I'll be laughing! 😂

For now though, topping the table of the family competition will suffice! 

#FitFam

Please remember the reason I am going to all these lengths; to support the fantastic Home Farm Trust. 

Take a look at my Just Giving page and read my family's story and why the charity means so much to us. 

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Fiona-Kitchingman