Fantasia - The Dance of the Hippos!!!

So last week was the week I got real proper running shoes - trainers!!!!
My lovely friend from work Atlanta has been trying to get me out running and finally after much "but I don't have the right kit" excuses; she dragged me to the running shop on Thursday lunchtime to get the right kit!!!
So gold daps in bag - in case I needed flat shoes for the tests they do - off we popped to the running shop!
The very understanding and lovely man at Run Swindon asked me what running I had done before? Answer - none; actually whilst we're on it no exercise before this!! What was I running in at the moment? Answer - a combination of these, gold daps and some pink running shoes that I don't like? "Right" said the lovely man "lets try on some trainers and get you on the running machine" !!!!
Now at this point I'm looking around the very nice shop thinking there is nothing here I like and please dear lord don't make those trainers over there be the ones for me!!! To say this shop was a new experience for me was an understatement. And the tests on my feet for size and well shape I suppose take me back to the scary foot measuring machines at clarkes when I was a small person.
Neutral ugly trainers on – video camera ready to go, yes video!!! this whole experience is quite terrifying, I haven't been filmed willingly since I was about 13 in the school production of Joseph - and there I am standing on a running machine in black tights; a floral warehouse dress & giant black beads; oh and did I mention ugly trainers!! And I'm running; well waddling/mincing.
Horror of all horrors watching the film back all I'm thinking is that I look like one of the hippos from Fantasia, skippy and all TuTu'd up. At this point the lovely man is explaining runningy type things: gaits, toes, feet, angles etc etc.. and the next pair of trainers go on and we repeat the running. This time without the necklace. The giant beads are a bit bumpy whilst running. These trainers are better - they look much nicer on the video, the soles are pretty and they are a colour combination I can work with - luckily the lovely man also thinks they are good! but he wants to try one more pair to see..
Oh Dear Lord - Lovely man even if these are the best trainers in the world there is no way on hells earth I am wearing these ever, they are the ugliest things I have ever seen ever ever ever!!!!
Phew they are not the best! So to the till I go with the 'White with turquoise and silver detailing trainers'
£90!!!!! £90!!!!! And with the shock the words "I have never spent that much on ugly flat shoes before" fell out of my mouth. Poor lovely man, I don't think he knew what to do! So he threw in special socks! And I didn't have the heart to tell him they didn't match my trainers! Note to self go and find special socks that match your new running shoes.
So new running shoes purchased, what difference did they make?
Well this week unlike last week I managed three 4/5k runs in the gym and 4 miles outside!!!! toes a bit tingly but legs and feet don't hurt now so bodes well for the training.

This week I must run lots mid week as we have friends staying; I must try not to drink too much!! - and I must go and buy a sports bra - Why all running related products have to be so ugly I don't know - any tips on where I find a pretty sports bra let me know????

Stopped dead by Mick Hucknall....

This week has been a light week on the training front to say the least! I have however learnt some valuable lessons!

Lesson 1. Trainers a few times a week for running isn't enough flat shoe wearing when preparing for a marathon! In pilates this week I could have cried when we stretched out Achilles tendon! I don't have one - the ones I have are so short from all my Running in Heels over the years flat shoe wearing is painful painful painful!! so start slow - one day a week I will be wearing flat shoes to work from now on - This weekend I will be buying flat shoes!

Lesson 2. Get better with modern technology!! To say I'm technologically inept is an under statement - given time I can manage simple things, turning a computer on; blogging; facebook; shopping on-line! - but when it comes to gadgets I'm at a loss. Take for example the i-phone - other MP3 thingys are available I'm sure - I managed to make it work even got some songs on it. However was stopped dead in my tracks by the occurrence of Mick Hucknall singing 'Something got me started' halfway through my run! Downloaded as a soundtrack for my parents 25th wedding anniversary party last year I have no idea how to get it off again!! So as well as flat shoe wearing I will mostly be reading the manual...

Lesson 3. Drinking is not good for training - water is obviously fine but I'm not talking water here - Three bottles of Pink champagne on Saturday night with the clicky girls and my Sunday run was long gone! in fact Sunday was long gone by the time I had cured the hangover with a MacDonalds and mooched round the Supermarket with Sue, Whiz & Woo!! So this week I will mostly as well as flat shoe wearing and manual reading try to not drink alcohol!!!!!

Thank fully no horrid running photos this week!

Fingers crossed for a more successful week this week on the physical side of things.....

Road Runner.. meep meep!!!!!

Firstly Charcoal Grey is out for the running outfit; According to Jo the reason everyone wears Black is because it’s the only colour the sweat patches don't show up on!! So an outfit rethink is required...

Having been terrified by Jo & Robin telling marathon horror stories last night over dinner; I attempted a run with Jo this morning - the first ever outside experience for me! Oh Dear lord road running is so much harder than the gym; it’s not air conditioned; there is no music; and The Eastenders omnibus isn't being played on the TV screens. A walk in the park for Miss Chicago/New York & Paris Marathons under her belt!!! 3 miles ish in 45 mins lots of walking and this is what I looked like when I got home... Jo did come with me; even if it looks like she hasn't run an inch!!

A Big thank you to Jo for being so patient and going so many useful hints and tips for my training.
I think you'll all agree the dog looks far cuter in running clothes than I do!!!!

1st Running in Heels Fundraising Event

Keep the date free Sunday the 13th of December 11am - 4pm.

I'm holding a Christmas Gift Fair - come and pick up those last presents needed; have a cupcake and a coffee.

We'll be selling Beautiful new books - cookery; sports books; Children's books - and more. Plants and planters; handmade cards; Jewellery; Hats & Gloves; Home wears & Decorations.

With stalls by the Glamazons that are Urban Rustics http://urbanrustics.co.uk and the delicious offerings of Woolf & Bean http://www.woolfandbean.com so you'll be sure to find that perfect gift you still missing.

Please come along and join us and help raising money for such a worthy cause - Shopping has never been so virtuous!!!!!!

Shopping with a side of running.

So running shoes purchased and a little bit of quick walking under my belt my thoughts have turned to what I will wear on race day. The running shoes unfortunately have pink on them which wasn't what I had planned but the nice boys at the running shop didn't have any trainers in the colours I wanted that were right for my feet.

I didn't realise before I begun this process how important the right running shoes are; having run up the high street - like a Barbie apparently - I was shown the shoes that were right for my style of running. So £'s lighter and 1 pair of ugly shoes later my feet are sorted and ready for training.

According to the marathon preparation advice thing I've found cotton is not good to run in; so my TopShop 3/4 leggings are out and I need to find some nice running trousers and a top. I was thinking of Charcoal Grey with a highlight of Turquoise - everyone wears black and white - but the pink running shoes have flawed my plan. maybe the pink ones will be training running shoes and I can look for ones to match my outfit for race day....

Tomorrow I will make my first attempt at running outside - with a marathon runner!!!!! Lets hope the weather is simpathetic to my needs..

Running for Beginners

I am running the London Marathon - well I have a place! Running at this point is debatable!!

I wanted to do something I don't think I can do; and I wanted to raise as much money as possible for my chosen charity - breakthrough cancer UK.Cancer is touching all too many of us; and will continue to do so unless we support these amazing charities who battle everyday to find a cure and help those fighting cancer.

The decision to run the London marathon, in order to achieve these goals was perhaps one made in haste; I cannot run. None the less the place is confirmed and now I must get a plan in place to complete it! In my blog I will be bitterly honest about my training and experiences, in the hope that people may see what a challenge it is I'm undertaking and sponsor me.
Donations and Sponsorship can be made at http://www.justgiving.com/Emma-Burbidge and Thank you in advance for anything you give.

So Running for beginners.... and when I say beginner I mean beginner - so far in my life I barely run for a bus let alone have the ability to run 26.2 miles; I walked at least 3/4's of the race for life course and the only form of running shoe I own is a lovely pair of Emma Hope Gold snake skin daps bought for my wedding day - not to wear down the aisle - to have breakfast in -



so probably the best place to start trainers....