Advent Blog. Racing to the finish

It's already Christmas day, and I've hardly any time left to tell you all about the person who sparked the idea. I was playing one of my favourite Beach Boys songs to Fox and I realised why I love it so much.
At school, in what we now call year 5, I had a teacher named Sheelagh Williams. She was different from the other teachers, she wore short hair and casual clothes and she played the guitar. I thought she was great. She was a good teacher.
 At the end of the day, she would often gather the class to sit on the mat to sing a song about going home, which she accompanied on her guitar . It was the song "sloop John B" by the Beach Boys

The song makes me feel comforted and happy to this day. I recently learned that Sheelagh had died young. She brought such happiness to me and my classmates, I'm sure she did the same to those close to her, and is missed. Thinking about her, I realised that people had influenced me by their actions, and I thought writing a blog about some of them would be a good idea.
Merry Christmas one and all. May your ships always find safe harbours.

Stay tuned for a Boxing Day Bonus...

Advent Blog December 21st: Viv Slack

Viv has the dubious honour of being the first Twitter person I met in real life. I marched up to her at a race and said "hello you're Viv ". Thankfully,  she was.
I admired her clear sense of adventure,  and her running prowess (very very close to a 3 hour marathon!)  and her commitment to her running goals.
Since them she's gone from strength to strength,  working to help people in need using her many skills. She started a group which was called 'get out and give' where people could take part in outdoors fun and donate to charity. This group has now become "freedom runners". I've joined with them for a few adventures, my absolute favourite being the 3 day run along the West Highland Way last autumn.  she has recently been working hard on a project to help Manchesters homeless.
I think I've written about her before, she's a solemn and thoughtful presence melded into a fun loving,  energetic and strong person. She's made the decision to work mainly on things which really mean something to her, which is very brave,  and very laudable.  The world needs more like her.

Advent Blog 20 December: Sam Yates

I met Sam on the first day of my job at British Council.  I was employed to cover his leave as he went away to Africa.  He went there to spend time working on a project for a charity he had founded with a friend.  That charity is called LivLife.

Since getting to know Sam better, I have been impressed with what he has put into motion with LivLife,  and by the fact that he has managed to do this alongside having a career,  and lately being a father.  He's also completed some pretty gruelling fundraising challenges for LivLife.  He walks it like he talks it, he's been through plenty of ups and downs for his cause,  but he can be satisfied in knowing that what he has created is really changing people's lives for the better.

Footnote: how about this for "small world"after working together for some time, Sam and I discovered that we had a mutual friend. My brother's best school friend met Sam at Uni and is still great mates with him. 

Advent Blog 19 December : Jasmin Paris

I think a lot of people will own up to being inspired by Jasmin this year, given the fantastic set of achievements she has laid down. I am lucky to count her as a friend, and she inspires me for two reasons. First is that she does what she does for the pure joy of it, well we all know that challenges like the big Rounds are not joy joy joy the whole day, but you know. For fun, and because she wants to see what she can achieve, when she pushes herself. I hope I can be like that as I continue to have adventures in the outdoors.
Secondly because she is not just a runner, she is talented in her chosen career, she bakes fabulous cakes, and is pretty handy with a pen and brush. She's humble, supportive to others who run crazy stuff, and really funny.
I am excited to see what other runners will set out to do next year , now she has lit the touch paper, never mind to see what she'll do herself :) 

Advent Blog 18th December : Ollie Williams

Another person of recent years, from Twitter, who has expanded and enriched my enjoyment of sport. @OllieWilliams He also opened my eyes to the journalistic possibilities of social media.
Ollie is the man behind the sadly now defunct Frontier Sports. I used to look forward to reading the posts on that site on my morning commute.  The site covered all the Olympic sports. I didn't realise the sports I liked to hear about had such a handy classification til I started following Frontier Sports! It made a refreshing difference from the sports pages in the popular newspapers/sites, with their heavy bias toward men's football. I also liked the way it had a separate section for Doping news, which appealed to my nose for scandal but also proved how well researched and committed to covering everything warts and all they were.
Ollie moved onwards and upwards, and now resides in Yellowknife in Canada, still works as a sports reporter and a media services provider. I always give him a little virtual fist bump when I see him working for the BBC :)

Advent Blog catchups

In an effort to regain, I'll be super brief for a few days worth of inspirational people:

14th December: J.R.R. Tolkein, or the works of. These inspired my imagination particularly where it came to being outdoors in the landscapes of the UK as a kid. I was taken on walks by my parents and used to imagine (or maybe was encouraged to imagine) that I was a brave hobbit when things got damp/hilly/grim.

15th December : Sarah Chambers, my first boss at the British Council. She led by example by the way she worked flexibly around the demands of her family, and enabled others to do the same in our team. I learned from her that having responsibilities outside of work needn't hinder being a respected and effective colleague.

16th December: Laura Mitchell, one of my oldest schoolfriends. She never ceases to amaze me with her positive outlook and sense of humour, despite life throwing some rubbish circumstances at her. I wish I had more time to write about her but hopefully, as she's also a mum, she'll cut me some slack.

17th December: Martina Navratilova : Female sporting star, tough as anything, enough said.  

Advent Blog 13 December: Dan Ellingworth

still running behind...but like any dedicated person I will not leave the job unfinished!

Dan is the originator of the Glossop Parkrun. That is all I really need to write here. What he started will benefit so many people in my town, and for that we should all be thankful. He pulled together a group of people, he sought startup funding, and most Saturdays he can be seen wearing a fetching high visibility jacket, cracking jokes and directing the run in Manor Park in Glossop. He is a fabulously down to earth chap, a dedicated runner, and bringer together of people. I, like many, want to help out at parkrun not only because I know how much it means to the people taking part, but because I want to support Dan. Thanks Dan, and keep it up.

Advent Blog 12th December: Lynne Taylor

Lynne is another person who welcomed me into the world of fellrunning,  she's a friend and she's been my personal trainer during pregnancy and in postnatal recovery  but they're not the only reasons she inspires me. Lynne is always seeking to make herself a better person, she's always learning,  always doing new things and finding new challenges. For example,  she recently went and worked a night at a local bakery,  for the experience,  and she is learning the piano.
She's also a straight talker. I've always got time for straight talkers.
I wish I could be more like her, though for a time my new thing is my baby son, so it'll be a while til I can even try to be as well rounded.  

Advent Blog 10th December: Andy Ford

Sticking with the theme of fellrunning again for another late posting. I wouldn't have done a Bob Graham Round if it hadn't been for Andy.  I first met him at the Long Duddon race, I think actually  on the way up the terribly named 'Little Stand ' climb. He knew some of my other running friends and we chattered away during and after the race. I continued to see him at races and I learned he was preparing for a BGR.
In spring 2015 we met at the start of the Teenager With Altitude race.  He was well into his BG prep and looking for an easy day out, so I suggested he pootle round with me. I had come to the race a bit unprepared,  I'd been offered someone's spare number.  I also wanted to take advantage of Andy's route knowledge ;) We had a really enjoyable day out and despite a lot of complaining and cursing, i surprised myself by getting round the tough course without major incident.
Andy completed his Bob Graham Round on 9th May 2015.
We chatted on messenger  and at some point he started suggesting I should do my own Round.  I say suggesting, it was more like heavy persuading and cajoling. I'd had it in mind since the beginning of the year but had sort of decided to wait. After Andy's encouragement, I thought seriously again, given that I was uninjured and as fit as I could hope to be. He gave me confidence in my abilities and helped me to think about the logistics of the day. He was a constant source of encouragement whenever I expressed worries. On the day , Andy supported me on legs 3 and 4, which was where I knew I would need the most help. He didn't disappoint - keeping my spirits up when I knew I was behind my schedule and always looking out for me. He was so committed , he ran the final leg with me too.
Here's to you Andy; Bob Graham enthusiast, excellent supporter and a fine athlete. I'm looking forward to hearing what you get up to next. 

Advent Blog 11 December : James Rebanks, the Herdy Shepherd

Another character from Twitter. My favourite breed of sheep has always been the Herdwick, which is what first made me follow him @herdyshepherd1. I loved tweets about the working days, months and year of a shepherd in the Lakes, reading them usually on the train or at the start or end of another day on the hamster wheel of office life. He also spoke eloquently about the need for greater understanding of the contribution people like himself make to the landscape, history, economy and culture of the Lake District.

Follow him on Twitter if you want to learn fascinating details about sheep farming, see some lovely pictures and be charmed by his simple, self deprecating yet proud writing. If you , like me, are hooked, buy his book and learn the life story of the man behind the @.
He has made me stop and think more deeply about the landscape which is often my playground, and given me a greater understanding of the livelihoods and struggles which shape it.

Advent Blog 9th December: Matt Dawson

Matt is the reason I am a fellrunner. I met him when I lived in South Manchester, through his partner Lou who I knew through the WI. He invited me to come on a training run with him. When I met him to start our run on the roads round Glossop, he'd already been out for two or three hours on the hills; I was gobsmacked that he had such stamina. After a couple of runs on roads and trails together, he encouraged me to try a fell run. He went out of his way to arrange to meet me from the station at Edale, and off we went. I was hooked after this one run. Not just because I enjoyed the feeling of being out in the hills and moors I loved to hike in, but because I felt supported and encouraged by him. It was after this that I decided to begin running regularly on the fells with Glossopdale Harriers, with whom I now train and compete.

I knew Matt had been further pursuing his passion for the outdoors and gaining experience as a Mountain Leader and I was pleased to see him developing a small business providing his services to the public. It was on a trip to the Highlands of Scotland further developing his skills, that he had a terrible accident which left him facing a long rehabilitation in hospital. His recovery and return to the outdoors is an inspiration in itself, but I will always think of him as a proper funny bloke from Leek, the spark who lit the flame, spurring me onto my great adventures in the hills and fells. 

Advent Blog 8th December: Kathryn Bertine

I'm a big fan of pro cycling. I love to watch the Grand Tours on TV, and like nothing better than to dissect the tactics and the stories with friends. I'm ashamed to say it took me a while to question where the female events were, to wonder why they weren't being shown on TV. Kathryn Bertine's excellent film Half the Road opened my eyes to the world of the women's peloton and encouraged me to seek out coverage of the big events. Woefully, some of these are still not screened on TV and can only be followed on social media (see @_pigeons_) or via specialist cycling news sites. The film isn't as preachy as you'd think it might be - it has a snappy pace and is very witty. It features some excellent interviews with pro female cyclists as well as other sportswomen. What struck me is how humble the riders were, how they weren't boiling with anger (and when they were, how funny and polite they were with it)

I've always been forthcoming when standing up for equality for both genders and this film stoked my fire and made me more aware of how one of my favourite sports needed to get its act together. Since its release, some progress has been made though there is still some way to go.  La Course by le Tour, and the Womens Tour of Britain are examples which have been adopted by the mainstream media.

Thanks Kathryn for showing me the way :)

Advent Blog 7 December: Aleks Kashefi

I shivered a little before getting into bed, and then thought of Aleks. He's been sleeping outdoors in the European winter, for the majority of the time during the past few months, so I should count myself lucky.
Aleks is running the length of Europe. I shan't try to explain why, have a read of his blog if you are interested. If you are impressed, donate to his cause, or help in whatever way you can.

I spied a chap in a big woolly hat and no shoes at a fell race a while back, and stared a bit, and then stopped staring. I mean, why not? It wasn't that bad a hat. I followed his journey later that year , from Lands End to John o Groats ,via social media and his blog and realised I liked his style. I liked his honesty and his direct way of writing. Earlier this year, he mentioned he'd like to run hills near Glossop so I arranged to meet him. Along with a few club mates I enjoyed a few hours in his company running over familiar paths on Bleaklow. He's energetic, gregarious,  humble and all too human. I confirmed that I definitely like his style, and his amazing downhill running technique in sandals.

This blog post of his is one of my favourites, written as he finished his job as a teacher and prepared to set out on his greatest adventure yet. His will to inspire young minds is laudable.

Hope that you're reading this Aleks, may the wind be always at your back. 

Advent Blog 6th December: Dr Ben Goldacre

Another Guardian newspaper inspired post today. That publication has a lot to answer for.
Dr Ben Goldacre's Bad Science column was the last vestige of my scientific past to linger on into my cultural life as a twentysomething. I have a degree in Biochemistry, not that you'd believe it.
However, Dr Goldacre's writing has had an effect in me reaching much further than science. His book also titled 'Bad Science'  is a cracking, witty and thought-provoking read. His message and campaign for evidence based decision making stands as a lesson on how we should all think.
What I take from his approach is: Challenge what is put in front of you, don't be a sheep. Ask questions, find proof and you will end up better placed to argue, to believe, or to trust what you see, hear and read. In this day of fake news and social media, it's as important as ever to question and to be a critical thinker.

Footnote: His column once mentioned some research my Dad had commissioned for Boots, to investigate the No7 'Protect and Perfect' product which he was working on at the time. I was immeasurably proud. He didn't rip Dad and his team's work to shreds either.

Advent Blog 5th December: Gerda from the Snow Queen

I loved reading Hans Christian Andersen stories as a girl. I read from what I saw as an old-fashioned edition (it didn't have many pictures) of his tales. They appealed to me because they were different from other stories I read. They were,  well, dark. they weren't happy ever after and princesses with big eyes and twinkly dresses. They were visceral tales of mishap and misfortune, and people getting what they deserved.
Gerda in the Snow Queen struck me as a proper heroine. She endured any amount of peril and discomfort in a wintry world, so that she could rescue her friend Kay from the clutches of the evil Queen. I think my protective feelings for my baby brother drew me to the story.
She carried on, and she didn't give up. she did it for someone she cared about. she could be an example to us all.

Footnote : my baby brother grew up to be an actor and appeared as Kay in a lovely production of the Snow Queen in Leeds in 2008. I think I had something in my eye whilst watching, thankfully not enchanted glass.  

Advent Blog 4th December: Adharanand Finn

A few years back, I became a fan of a reasonably regular feature in the guardian weekend review. It described a man's experience in Kenya as he attempted to learn what made them such great distance runners by living amongst them and running with them. I was training for my second marathon, which was the London marathon, and had begun to think of myself as a serious runner. The articles fascinated me. His writing was unfussy and personal, without being too sentimental. His approach was novel and exciting and he clearly had an enthusiasm and journalistic passion to discover what he could about the great running culture in Kenya . I found Adharanand Finn on twitter and followed him.  @adharanand
I soon discovered a friend of mine knew him through her work at the Guardian. The book launch of Running with the Kenyans came around, and thanks to her, I received a signed copy wishing me luck in the London marathon.  The timing couldn't have been better.  I devoured the pages on the train from Manchester to London.  I found myself thinking more deeply about running,  and recognising things about myself in his writing. Reading it made me feel more of a runner, if that doesn't sound too odd.
Adharanand is another regular user of Twitter and every now and then we exchange comments, it's great to converse with such a well travelled and knowledgeable fellow runner. Because after all, that's what brings many people together, a shared interest.  

Advent Blog 3rd December: Judy Howells aka @fellrunninbrief

On becoming a fellrunner,  I stumbled upon a twitter feed describing race results and sharing witty tales of the personalities of the sport (and its sister sports, drinking and silliness). @fellrunninbrief became a regular read. It encouraged me to take part in races, it introduced me to some of the leading runners and clubs that I'd later befriend and become familiar with.
Imagine my glee when I discovered the author was a lady. like many sports, female participation in fellrunning is low, about 15 to 20 percent in most races by my reckoning so I was heartened to find its roving reporter and raconteur was Judy, and a bit excited to meet her at my club's race, Herod Farm. Like most fellrunners
she is a throughly decent and friendly person, and loves a bit of a muck about (a hilarious almost-fail vault over a gate if I recall rightly)

She's the one captured mid vault! :) 

She provides this real-time news service for fellrunning for no gain, she's not in it for freebies or to promote anything other than the sport she loves.  people like Judy keep the grassroots participation going and for that I'm very thankful.  

Advent Blog Takeover

For December, I'm going to write on each day until Christmas,  about someone who has inspired me.  I hope you find it interesting. Christmas for me is a time to reflect and be thankful for the great people I know, so this is where the idea for this came from.

1st December : Kay Andrews

Kay was the headteacher of my infant school in Cardiff.  She arrived, replacing the Trunchbullesque previous head, when I was about 6 or 7. She blew in like a breath of fresh spring air. She was fashionable ,  warm and enthusiastic and gave great assemblies.  I was in awe of her talents. I realised that a young woman could have a successful job and still do cool girl stuff too. 

December 2nd : Zola Budd 

Sticking in the schoolgirl era, I watched the 1984 Olympics fanatically. Zola Budd drew me to her because her name began with 'Z' like mine, and she was a slight brunette who was a bit different to the rest. She seemed more natural compared to the painted gazelles from the USA and other teams . I wasn't into running as a kid but I dreamed of being an Olympian.  Even as a child I could see that she had such great ability but was somehow sad and frightened . On the day she fell in that race with Mary Decker, my heart was in my mouth. I was transfixed and devastated. 

Rollercoaster

It's been a month or so of ups and downs. The ups: being able to run for more than 30 minutes, running (gently) up a couple of local hills. I started on roads and more recently went onto trails and this weekend, proper "fell" (well, the Nab). I feel more like my old self, I can tell by how my gait is when I run. It's a good feeling. My son is six months old now. I didn't think it would be this long but the wait has been worth it, and I haven't injured myself getting to this point, I'm really glad of Lynne at Global Therapies help with this. 

On the track up to Turf Pits

The downs: Winter brings colds and bugs, and babies get them all. It's an important part of growing a strong immune system but it knocks onto me, not just that I catch a cold too, but when ill, he sleeps less and consequently so do I. The last two weeks have been particularly bad with him returning to three or more wakings at night, plus struggles to get him to sleep in his cot. Sleep deprivation is no new thing to me but now he's older and more needing of entertaining during the day, it's wiping me out. 

I've had to get over myself on a few assumptions I rashly held about returning to fellrunning. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that you need to be firstly quite determined and secondly very flexible to fit in running, and strength training, around looking after a baby. 

The Baby Clock 

Club run on Thursday? Oh yes please. See you there. Oh. This Thursday the baby has decided to drop into a sound sleep at 6pm (which he never usually does) leaving a club runner with boobs like two unripe gala melons. This situation can at least be saved with that most useful of items, a breast pump.

Race on Sunday?  Oh yes please.  This Saturday night the baby has been waking at 00.24, 03.44 and then not sleeping til 06.20 and then awake again at 08.00 at which point this racers head is spinning and body feeling like rubber. No race. 
 
These two examples illustrate how it's  hard to plan and then execute training of any kind . I've been reading Jo Pavey's book and it's a lovely account of her career, of course I am particularity interested in her return to fitness after childbirth. She writes a little about having support from her husband, about fitting in breastfeeding, about running late in the evenings. I haven't made my mind up yet whether to take my metaphorical hat off to her or to be burning with envy that from what I can gather neither she nor her husband have jobs to worry about (someone please correct me if they know otherwise)

Maybe I should have a stern word with myself on those days and evenings where I just feel too drained to go and run, or swim, or even to follow the strengthening exercises which I know will benefit me but just can't. Unfortunately , I feel as if too many times in the choice between train or sleep, sleep has won..On the positive side I have begun to embrace the off-the-cuff run at times of day I wouldn't normally entertain the idea. I need to continue to evolve from the Planner to the Flexible type of runner! 

Physical stuff 

Whilst I have finally recovered from the c section (I can feel muscle!! yay!!), there's no denying that my body is still different from how it was before. Hormones are still kicking about and I am breastfeeding.

 I have to be super vigilant about staying hydrated.  I've got the habit of drinking plenty of water from training for long events, though I've really noticed that though I drink as much as I ever did, I am going to the loo a lot less. It's clearly going to the milk. So if I go for a run then I have to chuck even more water down me, and that's sometimes hard when the baby is wanting to be picked up a lot.

 I ache. With the best will in the world and all the strength training I've done, I still end up carrying him for long whiles in what are perhaps not the optimal positions, or sleeping all cramped because he needs a night in our bed when he is poorly. Other aches are a result of the hormone relaxin which makes your joints a bit more mobile.  I have definitely noticed my hip flexors hurting, and am doing my best to warm them up and stretch them gently. Having said that , sometimes I am so excited about going out to run I just dash out the door! 

Recovery days are so important . I wrote earlier about overdoing it a bit. There is no way I can run, or even go for a decent length walk, two days in a row. I feel as tired after a 40 minute run as I used to after a few hours out in the hills. I'm hoping this will improve as my fitness grows. 

Selfish mum vs sharing training

Being able to have the baby with me whilst I run is lovely for him and for me. It doesn't always work out but it's great to be able to do it, I've met with my running club mum mates and done 'baby hill reps' a few times, great way of sharing the baby-watching duties and getting some quality training in. At weekends Him Indoors can take Fox in the carrier and walk along the start of my route, so that I can meet them on my way back (only works with out and backs but who cares). 

My support team 

On the flipside, I need some time for Me! All runners know the feeling of leaving everything behind once you get out the door and your heart rate going. I always come back home very excited to see my son and tell him where I've been, and it makes me feel more like the person I was before he arrived. This is the person I want him to get to know, and learn good things from. I need to keep her going!

Parent outdoor gear hacks update

Sports bottle: jet wash for getting dog poo off buggy wheels
Towel from triathlon I did years back: changing mat liner
Buff: baby scarf on cold days
Nappy cream: Face cream to keep his face from getting chapped

In the next month or so , I'm hopeful I can do my first race since having Fox, and that I can take the buggy to a parkrun and see how that goes. I'd also like to beat my pregnancy parkrun (at Glossop) time of 23.30ish, I got close a few weeks back and keen to try again. 

Onwards and Upwards

Finally, it's happened to me. 

The pain is subsiding and I'm becoming more able. When I put effort in, or overdo it (rare occurence) the pain I get is a familiar, friendly pain; the ache of a hard session or a cold day's racing, rather than the weird disconnection and bitey twangs of the last few months. 

I've run, non-stop, for more than ten minutes. I've walked up three of my local hills (carrying the weight of an 18 week old child). These things please me. I have however been cautious when asked what my plans are for returning to racing. The burning desire I expected is not there. I miss my friends, my social runs and the weekend expeditions on recces of race routes. I've signed up for the Cross Country league and that will do as a tester. Then I'll see what I feel like doing over the winter months - I imagine it'll be local racing as I will still be breastfeeding, though there are a good few local ones I haven't done due to my enthusiasm for going off on adventures. I look forward to trying them out. 

Outdoors parent hacks

I don't usually use that word ... 'hack'.. to mean ' way of using something other than its intended purpose' . However that is what I've been doing since gaining a small human to bring with me, protect and carry in the outdoors (and indoors too of course!)

Various bits of kit have been pressed into service, and various ideas have been had about what kind of thing should be designed to support parents like myself. Happily, I have met some of those people - the off-road mums on maternity leave, ekeing out the last of the summer days in the hills and woods with our growing cargoes. 

Valerie, Rachel and myself on Cock Hill. Photo by Net Bell

Here's my current list of kit hacks for parents

Dry bag - nappy containment bag. (I use cloth nappies so it's particularly important to ferry the dirty ones home)

Windproof jacket - Windproof wrap for the baby carrier. See photo! Whilst the wee ones are still too young for back carriers, protecting them from the wind whilst in the front carrier is the big challenge whilst out and about. I reckon I've sorted it, sleeves tied around my waist, et voila!

Zoe demonstrates the baby wind shield. Jacket by Mountain Equipment

Sitting mat  - knee protector for changing nappies. This one I use in the house, as we don't use a changing table cos he'll only chuck himself off it one day. After the first few weeks changing him on the floor my knees were proper sore. Out came an old mat my Mum had given me, like a garden kneeling mat, I used to use for sitting on in the tent. No more battered knees, hooray!

Buff - mopping-up cloth/modesty hide for breastfeeding. Need I say more, there are not many things you can't use a Buff for. 

Hi-vis strips/armbands - Buggy visibility. I don't yet run with the buggy but when I do start, I need to be sure the cyclists on the trails don't plough into us, it'd get a bit impolite. 

Blokes waterproof coat : parent and baby dual waterproofing. It goes round me and the baby in the carrier. grand. 

Well that's it for tonight. onwards and upwards :) 

Parenting advice, from me to me

I'm having one of the days of clarity and peace. These are the days I live for. I helped out at the running club's race event, Him Indoors walked over to meet me with the baby so he could be fed, and then the babies and the parents in the room hung out and smiled at one another whilst I made teas and chatted. A balance of the old life and the new . Fox laughed, sang and rolled around on his mat when we got home.

I need to write myself this note, so that on the days where I feel like a groggy, imprisoned dairy heifer I can check myself and make good decisions

The cupboards

We all know about having frozen portion meals ready for baby homecoming day. As time passes and days and nights begin to become more manageable, I'm still getting caught out by a bonk in the afternoon (note, I am not caryring on with the postie..non-sporting folk must understand a bonk is a sugar deficiency symptom..a crash, if you will). Foods which can be quickly prepared and eaten, do not create undue crumbs to drop on the feeding/sleeping infants head and clothes, and are healthy. These foods could be yoghurts, bagels, peanut butter, hummus, olives, cheese (oh so much cheese), and good old stalwart bananas. Always have cake in the house. This is not optional, you never know when cake will be needed. 

Go with the Flow

He's my baby, not Gina Ford's baby or the NCT's baby or the health visitor's baby. I asked Him Indoors, when we were about 6 weeks in, are we doing this parent thing OK? Have we been doing it one of the Ways? And we said..hmm, a bit of everything , a lot of following our instinct and going with the flow.  Mostly I let our little chap show us the way, now that we can mostly understand what he's telling us. We don't have a Bedtime or a Nap Time. Nap Time is when he acts sleepy during the day and Bedtime is when he acts sleepy after 7pm. When we have Something On (a party, a journey to make, shopping to do) then we impose our will on him, whilst being ready to change the plans if he's got a mad craving for milk or has shat a mustard coloured Rorschach picture the size of a man's face. 

By the same standards I don't spend all day finding new toys or books for him to peruse, nor do I attend the mid-boggling calendar of baby-improving events in the locality. He is left to lie singing at his best friend (the light fitting in the lounge) or chewing his fist and a handful of muslin, when that pleases him. Or he's hugged, bounced and shown the mirror and the windows, and anything which stops him from whingeing, fist in drooly little mouth.

The housekeeping standards

You want to do something? Change a lightbulb? Put a shelf up in the nursery? Take out the bins? You will need approximately three times as much time to do it and you need to plan it the same way you'd usually plan a trip to your aunt's in Doncaster, or the transfer of a large piece of dangerous machinery across town. Understand this, and accept that the house is never going to look the same, even when guests come. Especially when guests come, because now your guests will include the little vandalisers of the house beautiful. 

Leaving the House

Parents go on about this at length 'we're late because Kids' . Going out needs even more planning than the domestic chores mentioned in the previous paragraph. I've even considered a burn-down chart, or a Gantt, if waterfall is your thing (sorry, Project Manager joke lolz). I actually enjoy the challenge of an escape, and even sometimes wing it without nappies or wipes (i KNOW! imagine it!) Otherwise the Change Kit is adhered to the same way I used to be able to pack a race bag at 4am, in a one-man tent, one-handed whilst vaselining my ankles. 

Embrace and Understand Risk

Danger is now real. Sharp corners, hot foodstuffs, yappy dogs, fumes from household cleaning products. A midwife said to me whilst we were in hospital 'that's it now, you're on the worry train for life' - thanks love. She was right, but as elsewhere blogged, it's the real risks you need to take care of, be sensible. For example , I suddenly checked myself when about to lift my little hand weights near to Fox's chair. He loves watching me move about in a dancelike way, but the pretty pink shapes he stared at could be his end. Every move I make at night whilst tired is with more care, feet placed squarely on the floor, eyes carefully scanning. A silly aside is that spiders are no longer tolerated in the house when the baby is nearby - I reckon humans are hardwired to be shocked by their weird machine-like scuttling, so our fly-eating friends are hoovered in to eternity escorted off the premises firmly.

Always be thankful

And smile, and know you're not alone. 

Slight return

The light is dim. It is a warm night and the baby's arms are thrown up above his head in repose. In the opposite corner of the room ,  a woman carries out a series of actions ; two small pink dumb bells are pressed into the air and down; she squats, she lunges.

It's been slow, and I'm still not there. Where is "there"? It's being able to run again. I knew there would be a break but I didn't guess it'd be this long. The healing of the c-section scar is dictating things, and it's going slowly. I started strength training again a month or so ago, and a couple of weeks ago started to try some jogging reps. I was rewarded with an aching midsection. 12 weeks after the birth. I thought by this point I'd be able to run for 15 or 20 minutes at an easy pace. No chance. I'm fighting the urge to be angry and tucking disappointment away . I've got a bonny, healthy kid, who's learning to sleep well at night and charm my friends and family with his smile. But he needs his mum to be a happy lady, and until I'm fit again there will be a bit missing. So I do my best to fit in exercises around the pattern of his needs, and I walk up hills carrying his ever increasing weight in a sling, and I tell myself this will help.

I know what you're thinking: come on, you have taken a course of action which requires sacrifice, the child's needs come before yours. Of course, don't get me wrong. I love being a parent, I love his giddy smiles and the happy dance he does when he sees something new, or a favourite toy within reach, or his reflection. I love watching him grow and change day on day, learning from his father and I. All I am asking is that for a few hours each week I'm able to partake in the simple pleasure of hill running whilst my son spends time with his Dad.

Today I jog/walked one lap of my local Parkrun. (about 13 minutes for one lap of approx 1 mile in case you are wondering) Parkrun was a saviour for me during pregnancy and is continuing to lift my spirits and make me feel part of the running world whilst I am on a break from 'proper' running and racing. Any agency who doesn't appreciate that Parkrun isn't just a load of people running in circles in their park on Saturday mornings needs to look further and think what volunteering and just being together with the community can do for so many people, not just the participants.

Being thankful

In this strange new state I live in, the state of motherhood,  specifically the mother of a newborn. I look for things from my old ways to make me feel comforted.

I'm thankful my body knows how to build muscle. My midsection was rudely torn apart so that Fox could live, and my body has worked to rebuild it. I've noticed a huge appetite and I've followed its demands, hopeful that it is all a part of my recovery. It's difficult being a new mum when you can't use your middle, never mind difficult thinking about running again.

I'm thankful I am a napper. Sleep now happens in snatched shifts of three or four hours. Five weeks in amd I've only had a couple of late night meltdowns (actually hallucinated)

 Thankful I own a warm sleeping bag and I'm used to hunkering down on the ground. Some nights Fox gets very noisy and we decamp to the spare room to avoid disturbing his dad. We camp out, he in his travel bed which is like a little tent, me beside him in my trusty lamina 20

I'm thankful I know the difference between an ache and a pain and I can tolerate discomfort.  Breast feeding, long periods carrying a grizzly Fox and trying to feed, tidy and read one handed all take a physical toll. I'm also thankful I know a bit about stretching and maintaining my tired body,  which is in no small part down to Lynne from Global Therapies help and advice

I'm thankful I live minutes from open fields and views of hills. Now I'm strong enough to walk with Fox in a sling we get to feel the breeze and hear birdsong,  and smell the summer. Best restorative after a muggy night feeding and pooing/dealing with poo.

I'm thankful for my friends and my family who understand that it's not plain sailing every day. Even a ten minute house call or phone chat make me feel more human again. Bigger favours like lifts and loans of equipment have immeasurable value.

The Disobedient Mum-to-Be

The inception of this post

I'm writing this post in the 7th month and I will publish when I am holding what I hope will be a healthy baby. It'd be foolish to publish now, because if there's one other thing I learned by reading and listening to others experiences, it's that the unexpected is called that for a good reason and can occur in pregnancy and birth.

Post natal update

It was a terrible birth experience, I won't lie. I won't do detail but here are the numbers:

Hours in labour: 34

Midwives : 4 Doctors:4

Types of opiate administered: 2

Emergency C sections under General : 1

Apgar score at birth: 2

Hours til mother and baby met: 10

Amazing fathers : 1

Apgar score 5 mins after birth was thankfully 7, and 9 after 10 minutes. Fox Paul Scholefield is a fighter. He removed his own breathing tube in anger and went straight for the food when I finally met him.

My take on Risk control in pregnancy

There is a lot of 'advice' knocking around as I am sure you will be aware. There are also many sensible people, both your friends and family, and in the media, who tell you to ignore the advice. What I found interesting is that the advice which comes from the care givers in the NHS would appear be taken as absolute fact by the majority of pregnant women. I love the NHS and I support and applaud the fact that they are doing their best to ensure that the outcomes of as many pregnancies as possible are successful for mother, baby and family. I am however a questioner, and I got some funny reactions from NHS people on asking questions, or on stating my preferred way of doing things. I call it the 'eyebrow'. Example: "are you taking supplements?"  "No, I have a good diet" ".. eyebrow". I started just nodding and yessing after a while, to avoid the disapproving eyebrow.

Books. Oh books. I have formed the opinion that pregnancy books have been written based on evidence collected mainly from people who reported negative experiences. Open any chapter on 'what will happen during this month/trimester' and you will be faced with a long list of uncomfortable or unpleasant things. I accept that morning sickness, aching joints, heartburn etc, can all occur due to perfectly understandable biological changes. They don't happen to every person though, and maybe it's just the books and websites I have looked at, but some more 'mights' , 'maybes' and 'some womens' would be handy to avoid panicking apprehensive first-timers. Pregnancy as a natural state of being rather than a series of symptoms, if you will.

'Bad' things I did during my pregnancy

Ate sushi

Yum, sushi. A healthy dish of rice, seaweed and fish. The advice is 'stay away from raw fish' on account of the (size of risk not mentioned) risk of catching a horrid wriggly parasite or a food bug which will harm both you and the foetus. I've been eating sushi for ten years or so and have to my knowledge never got sick from eating it, so my evidence suggests that it's a low risk activity where the risk is outweighed by the benefit of getting more fish into me. Eating sushi is also a big part of my relationship with some dear friends.

Didn't get a flu jab

I was warned about the dangers of not having a flu jab by a very well meaning midwife who quoted me the statistic that "2 pregnant women died of flu during the Swine Flu epidemic". I expect more died in car accidents during that period, and I haven't been advised not to sit in a motor vehicle. I also understand that the current flu vaccination is not a guarantee against catching the flu, and that catching the flu wouldn't harm my baby, rather it'd just be very horrible for me. It would be horrible, pregnancy or no pregnancy. 

Ran quite a bit, sometimes on the fells

No need to justify or explain this other than to repeat the advice midwives give, which is continue to exercise as you have been doing, and listen to your body. If you feel rough, slow down. If it hurts, seek advice and consider stopping. 

A small number of people asked me 'but is that safe' when I mentioned I was still fellrunning. I tried to politely educate them.

At the Auld Lang Syne race 31 Dec 2016, three months pregnant. Photo courtesy Woodentops. 

Didn't go to NCT classes

The National Childbirth Trust offer a course to prepare parents for birth and the early stages of a child's life. Antenatal classes are offered by your NHS team, and oddly, finding out about them did seem a little difficult to me - no info exists online, you are advised to call or email if you want to know about when and where they take place. 

The middle class way seems to be to go to NCT, I don't know why, perhaps their advice is seen as being better , and I do know they advocate breast-feeding, which to me is a bit of a no-brainer. A course costs somewhere in the region of £300. Yes,you read that right. People who have attended NCT classes say that it gives them a great network of other parents to share experiences and learn from and I don't doubt that if I knew no other new or recent parents in my local area, this would be a factor pushing me towards NCT classes. We decided we had better things to spend our money on. 

After asking a colleague at work, whose baby was born at the same hospital we are going to use, how their antenatal classes were, and learning that he didn't think they were worth going to, we also decided not to do those either. 

Ate some brie and some rare steak

This advice is given so that pregnant mothers are not at risk of exposure to Listeriosis or E Coli food illnesses. Listeriosis is a very rare kind of food poisoning and the list of foods which could harbour the microbe responsible is vast and includes cold cuts of meat and boxed salads - so basically your lunch. However the chance the bug will be there is infitessimally low, I don't know the cases per annum of listeria but this piece by Zoe Williams convinced me its super rare. So in the spirit of risk management I had a few bits of soft cheese when they were about. I'm not a big brie fan , blue cheese yep. 

E coli lives on the surface of beef meat. If you sear the surface well then the risk of that microbe making you ill is reduced greatly. If you eat a raw mice burger your risk is increased. I ate a couple of lovely rare steaks which had of course been well seared. I chose to eat them in well-run, trustworthy establishments whose food hygiene protocol was likely to be very high. Minimal risk. Yummy meat. 

Had a wine or a beer from time to time

MINEFIELD. The research on how alcohol use affects foetuses is also listed in Ms Williams article. A good friend had studied alcohol abuse a few years ago and concluded that a mother needs to be a full blown alcoholic to damage her baby. There is limited evidence that binge drinking in the first trimester may lead to damage, but we all know mums who didn't know they were pregnant and got hammered and mortal..and baby fine.I'm not a mad drinker so I had a few ales and a few wines and didn't get drunk . I never really do.

Didn't take supplements

We live in the first world and I am shocked that the first thing the GP told me when I presented as pregnant was 'get some Pregnacare' . I eat a varied and healthy diet and I believe I get what I need. I know that babies add a demand on your system. So I upped the greens, reds oranges, purples and nuts. I upped the meats and fishes. I upped the dairy for calcium and by heck i went outside for the Vit D. Healthy living is all you need IMHO. I bought some pills and took them on my proper off days, for the Vit Bs. I still have half the pack if anyone wants them. 

So , what did I learn?

I learned that the worst risks are the ones that you just can't control. I could do NOTHING about the predicament of my child during and after the birth. I am glad I enjoyed a little of what I fancied during his baking and I don't blame the birth experience on anything I have done. He's very healthy now, feeding well and gazing at the world with his wise eyes. They've seen some bad times and I feel I can see the strength behind his gaze , the determination to succeed and then go out and take risks of his own. 

Ticking a big box - supporting Jasmin's amazing Bob Graham Round

After completing my Bob Graham Round last summer, I was looking forward to offering support to those attempting one in 2016. Then I found I was pregnant and realised that this would be quite limited! I mentioned to a couple of friends who I knew would probably make an attempt, that I may be able to provide road support, baby in tow, if they were going later in the summer. My driving license and car, gained in January for adventuring purposes, would come in handy for that.

I heard via the Glossopdale grapevine that Jasmin Paris would be making a fast attempt one weekend in April. Jasmin hails from this area and is a good friend of the club. I'd met her and Konrad at races, social events and club away weekends , and we discovered we both loved openwater swimming and cake (and fellrunning of course!). I emailed her to offer road support, understanding that she may already have a full compliment, being such a well respected and liked runner. She explained her Mum would cover every road crossing, though I could come in handy to help ferry support runners to and from the start of the legs. I signed up immediately. I was dead chuffed to be able to get in a support of a BGR before the baby arrived! It also offered an opportunity for Alan and I to spend a weekend in the Lakes, like a mini break as a couple. Alan was also keen to get some photos, he loves getting landscapes and fellrunners.

We got the green light on Thursday 22nd, the weather was looking favourable. I was assigned a list of people to collect from Steve Birkinshaw's farmhouse, and deliver to Dunmail Raise on Saturday morning . Some names there I recognised as high achievers in the world of tough, long challenges; Jim Mann, Jon Gay, and some championship botherers like Rhys and Ben. Her support runners list made impressive reading, I knew that every one on the list would have gladly accepted the job, excited about helping Jasmin achieve what could be a new record time for the round, for a female.  I was proud to see some fast runners from my club amongst the legends - Julien, Andy O and Tim B.

Jasmin and Leg 1 supporters Spyke, Konrad and Wardy preparing for the off 

Saturday morning 0330, Alan and I threw on warm clothes and walked five minutes from our B and B to the centre of Keswick. The Moot Hall was being used as a pissoir by a gent on his way home from his revels. No-one to be seen, so we walked laps to keep warm and Alan figured that he couldn't get a shot of the Moot Hall, Jasmin and the impressive full Moon. We heard voices from the ginnel beside the pub, sure enough it was Jasmin, Konrad, Spyke and Wardy ready for the off, accompanied by Jasmin's Mum  Alena, Iain W and his dog Jess, and Tim and Lynne from Global Therapies, on cheerleading duties as we were. Not long passed and they were counting down, then off.

The previous night I'd started a conversation on email with the Leg 3 support runners, saying that we ought to plan to leave earlier than Jasmin's roughly 17-hour schedule dictated. I planned to arrive at the base at 0800 and leave for Dunmail at 0845, given that the journey time was about be an hour and a quarter this would ensure we were there 40 minutes or so before she would arrive. When I got up at 0700 on Saturday, a text from Lynne arrived saying she was already 30 minutes up on schedule and I'd be best to get to base ASAP. I was thankful we'd already agreed an early departure. I managed to miss the lane down to the farmhouse and get a wheel stuck in some mud - Lynne and Tim rescued the little Yaris and about fifteen minutes later we were on the way. I was quite apprehensive about the route from the Kirkstone Pass down to Ambleside where Ben Abdelnoor would be waiting to be picked up, and once I noticed the passengers checking their watches nervously I offered the driving seat to Iain who knows the roads well and also used to drive a Yaris. I had been driving cautiously due to my inexperience on Lakes roads, and I didn't want to risk us being late. Thanks for piloting us down the Struggle Iain!

Fast men looking quite scared at what lay ahead :) 

The first runner to appear on the horizon was a man in black- we all stood wondering whether it was one of Jasmin's crew. It was Neil Talbott.  He was pretty knackered out, having met her at Blencathra summit and carried on from there.

a broken Neil T and a perky Jess the dog 

He passed on her order for soup and Coke, which Alena set about preparing whilst the Leg 3 team picked up food bags from her car. It was a beautiful sunny morning, we could all imagine what a pleasure it would be to run the relatively easy leg across the Dodds and Helvellyn. They appeared on the descent, I checked Alena didn't need any assistance and went to the fence to hear cheerful chatter coming from Jasmin and Shane , as if they were out on a Sunday morning social run. Jasmin picked up her cups and a few words with her Mum then strode straight up Steel Fell. Supporters swapped bags and followed. Jess the dog led the group up and they were gone. 'was that 45 or 55 minutes up on schedule?' Two friends from Glossop arrived and we retreated to the warmth of their camper van for brews and a quick debrief . Alex remarked that the pace was such a clip, he'd not had a chance to take a sip of drink! All of them had thoroughly enjoyed their run in such glorious conditions. Shane hadn't been out for a long run for some time but was full of the joys of spring. It was lovely to hear them all so positive and so impressed with Jasmin's progress.

Alena's delicious roadside pastry stop at Dunmail

A less panicky drive back to Steve's and then I had a lunch break with Alan, Lynne and Tim in Keswick. We all knew we had to be at Honister for the Leg 4/5 changeover as early as possible. I had to bring 3 support runners and some bags, Lynne had Tim in the van. The car crawled up to Honister fully laden, making it there for about 16.20 giving us time to have tea and snacks whilst we waited - we guessed she would be there by perhaps 1700 or 1730. All the Leg 5 runners were hell bent on eating as much as possible, knowing that with the end, and an immense new record time in sight, Jasmin's pace would leave no time for refuelling! Alena was again in attendance with her tray of delicious pastries. The sky was darkening a little and the wind was fresh, we thought perhaps the conditions on the tops might have slowed the pace a little. I walked up the hill to Dalehead with Jo Z to keep us both warm and had the comical experience of trying to give downhill running tips to a Commonwealth Games athlete, whilst 8 months pregnant. She had been called up to provide pacing on the road section if needed, though is no stranger to off-road running.

Alan had gone up the fell to get photos of the group descending. They appeared at about 17.20

The changeover was made  - Movie here on Youtube -   (sorry the movie was deemed too big by Blogger!) and yet again Jasmin powered straight through via her Mum. I heard someone say 'yes she is tiring' and I did wonder whether her descending style had appeared a little less fluid than normal, but hey, she's human and had been through the toughest part of her challenge. Her smile was no less wide on hitting the road. The record was well and truly in the bag.

I collected the assorted down jackets, jeans, bags and a rusty old screwdriver Andy O had found hidden in his backpack, and headed back down the pass to Keswick once more. I needed a lie down and some chocolate but time for this was short, we needed to be back at the Moot Hall for 1900, we knew she was over 1hr30 ahead of her schedule and there was every chance she'd make more time. Alan jogged ahead so he could find a good spot for photos. I called Lynne to see where she was and found her a little confused/worried as the Market Square was filled with people! She quickly ascertained that they were assembling for a fundraising walk, but their presence there would both impede Jasmin's return and probably confuse her too! The organiser of the event was as excited as anyone to hear that a record was about to be broken, and made certain that his team knew that a path would need to be cleared. We had no information as to Jasmin's position on the road. A group of about six or eight of us were nervously stood near the Hall and Alan was further along the Market Square. We found Jon Gay who gave us her timing at Newlands and we surmised she was 10 or 15 minutes away. Lynne had got a prime spot up on the steps of the hall, good work Lynne, she had a GoPro and she had a clear view for the arrival. The event organiser made an announcement to his group and they obediently parted like a red sea of bobble hats and waterproof jackets. Some nervy minutes ticked by.. .Alan shouted 'I can see them!' A huge cheer went up from the walkers as Jasmin strode across the market square. I was grinning from ear to ear. There were so many people around, it was hard to see what would happen next. I hung back and after a little while we realised it'd be best to get into a warm pub. The Kings Arms had just enough room for the important people to sit down.

There followed a companionable evening and a growing realisation that history had been made, by a very humble lady who has a lovely supportive Mum and fiancee, and many many friends and admirers. The reaction in fellrunning social media circles took even dyed in the wool Twits like myself by surprise.

Alan's photos really give a flavour of the day I've described. 

Global Therapies blog also about supporting

Jasmin recounts her day on the Inov8 site
http://www.inov-8.com/blog/jasmin-paris-bob-graham-round-record/

I'm so very pleased that I could lend some help to a momentous day , at a time where I thought I'd be no use to anyone in BGR circles. Once baby has made its arrival then I'd be happy to road support again later this year.  The sooner our kid feels at home in the Lakes, the better!

Living Vicariously

So you're a fellrunner and you're off running. That much is apparent. What to do, to retain the contact with the ace community of runners I love so much? I signed up to help out at some events in this 'third trimester/really actually quite pregnant now' phase a while back, figuring that I'd not be racing and I would enjoy being part of events as a helper.

First up, the Stockport Trail Half Marathon on 28th February, a cracking race organised by local lad Tony Ward who goes by the name Crazylegs Events. You have to like a guy who gives out soap on a rope as a medal. I spent the best part of a chilly yet sunny Sunday pointing a few hundred runners up a small incline on a trail near the Macclesfield Canal. Oh and a stint being 'hello please park your car over there'. Enjoyed it thoroughly, shouting sarky comments at runners I know,telling folks I know at the sharp end what position they were running in and making friends with passing supporters. Always a bonus to be outdoors and walking about a bit too. 

Last weekend, I marshalled at Glossop Parkrun and then on a bit of a whim, accepted a lift over to Hayfield with two clubmates who were off to race the Chicken Run event , organised for the benefit of the school there. I wanted a walk that day, so planned to wander up part of the race route and see the race pass by me. It was a dry clear day and after checking the race map, I headed up via Park Hall opposite the Lantern Pike inn, along the path onto the moor. As I climbed steadily and happily, I noticed the grouse butts (usually I think I'd be going too quickly to see them!) and realised they'd make good sheltered spots from which to get pictures of the ascending runners, with Lantern Pike and the village of Hayfield in the background.

After a quick off-trail bash across the heather to startle the grouse, I settled in Butt 6, ate my excellent Eccles Cake from the bake sale at the school, then very soon the runners arrived. Once again I really enjoyed seeing familiar faces and shouting encouragement as they neared the top of a pacey climb. I trotted down and came across a race marshal, had a chat and then hung about helping her to spot numbers on the runners as they joined the return leg back to Hayfield. I can confirm it is very much more difficult to read a race number on a leg than on a torso. 

I had a great time doing that and will try to do so at another race again soon - it's my 'passive fellrunning' fix, and a walk in the hills is always a good thing. Especially with Eccles Cakes. My pictures didn't come out too badly either. 

The Bump is now getting pretty hefty and I can't say I regret stopping running at all. I'm suffering days where I'm not much use to man nor beast, and stumble round sleepily, looking at food and gobbling it up. The baby is confounding and entertaining me with its contortions, hiccups, kicks and headbutts (yes, headbutts). I've managed to control my bloatey indigestion a bit by eating small plates of less wheat-based stuff in the evenings, which makes for interesting evening meals. An example tonight being some polenta, some parma ham, a kiwi and some leftover roast veggies. Plus one Thornton's chocolate for pudding. 10 weeks or so, and the Bump should be here in person, then I can headbutt it back. 

Stop Sign

I knew I was having a good run of it (no pun intended ha!) , I knew I was lucky and it wouldn't last forever. It happened. I went out for a club pack run about three weeks ago and it felt quite uncomfortable. I soldiered on, with encouragement from the other runners and my partner Alan who'd decided to make a rare appearance at a club run. I was thankful he was there, as after about 40 minutes I'd had enough, and we broke off from the route and headed home. The next morning - pain. Lower bump achey pain and groin-ey area pain whilst walking. I was a bit worried. I have always said, if it hurt, I would stop, and this was a sure stop sign.
I called Lynne from Global Therapies who assured me that it was strain in my ligaments/groin, lay off running for a while, and sound advice to call the GP if the pain got worse. Thanks Lynne for picking up the phone when you were on a weekend off!

Since then I've tried a couple of short jog/walks up a hill and down wearing a 'bump support' which a recent-new-mum-runner friend kindly gave me. These outings went OK and resulted in only mild versions of the same pain. I've also been way more careful with my pacing and how I hold my pelvic area, as well as stretching. I've been very busy at work again and to be honest haven't missed running. The jog/walks keep my desire to be outdoors satisfied and my strength training sessions give me a bit of the 'exercise high'.

We went on holiday too, to Morocco, and the bump expanded at a rate of knots, fuelled by tagines and mint tea. With the increasing size and weight, even walking around the medinas of Marrakech and Essaouira necessitated careful pelvic positioning to avoid a sore back. There were some quite uncomfortable days where I swear I could feel my abdominal muscles coming slowly apart. Swimming was great, it got my heart beating and my muscles clicked into familiar action, it felt good. I now need to ensure I work swims into my weekly routine. My regular swimsuit definitely does not fit (as it did a month ago) and once more I've benefitted from a hand-me-down - a maternity swim top which goes with some 'regular' swim shorts nicely.

I'd like to stick with the easy paced run/walks though I need to think carefully about routes, I haven't got any in my repertoire short enough but will figure something out. I am going to head to parkrun tomorrow and have a stern word with myself about keeping very slow pace, and walking all the uphills. Glossop parkrun is a good safe bet for me, being three laps, so if I feel sore after two I can stop. I like the convivial atmosphere and it'll make me feel as though I'm 'still a runner' though in reality that has now changed - I am getting used to the idea that for the coming four months or so, I'm in a new category of athletes club called 'pregnant and post-birth'. One thing which definitely keeps me going is the constant changes to my body, and the new things I am learning about what it and the baby are doing as time continues on towards 'the big event', and how I can help increase the chances of that event running more smoothly. 

When are you going to stop?

Ever since I first told people about my pregnancy, there were plenty of comments to the effect of ‘well you’ll not be doing all the running now’ which have been met with a polite explanation as to how I would be, only less than before and only if I felt OK doing so. I’ve recently been asked the title question a few times, even by friends in the running club and my true hope is that I won’t have to stop at all. However slowly and gently I do it, I hope to be able to continue for a while yet.

Parkrun Perks 

My pace and mileage have fallen again since my last blog. I’m 25 weeks pregnant now (about six months) and pleasingly round about the belly. Despite swearing off racing, I decided to give my local Parkrun inGlossop a try a couple of weeks ago. Now, I know they are not races, but show me a person who doesn’t line up at a parkrun wondering how many of the other participants they’ll finish ahead of. My first attempt resulted in a time of 23.30 for the 5k course. Having never run this course before I can’t say how much slower that is compared to a ‘normal’ me, but I think somewhere about 3 minutes, a minute per mile slower. I was the third female finisher which made me feel good about my ability and put a smile on my face at the end of what had been an exhausting week of work and socialising. 

I've started to think about people's perception of how much running is a lot of running, and I realise that to many people who are not fanatical runners like me, what I do now is a quite challenging level of activity, for example running non-stop for 45 minutes. So I also take comfort from that. It does get hard when I read about the events my fellrunning buddies are posting about on social media - the ups, the downs, the bogs and clouds and pie and peas, I do get a pang of envy but then I remember that I am a lucky lady who's still able to enjoy her hobby whilst she bakes a whole new human person. 

Back into the fray at XC

At the parkrun, my club captain asked if I would be able to come to the next Cross Country fixture as they were short of ladies for our team. I ran in the Manchester Cross Country League last year for the very same reason – to support our ladies team who are led by some very rapid runners. She let me know that she understood that I wouldn’t be running fast and all that was required would be to complete the course and count towards the team, so that we wouldn’t slip too far down the league table. Naturally, I accepted. My club are like family, they’ve inspired and supported me in so many events and adventures and I really enjoy being able to support them back, however humble my role.

I woke on the morning feeling heavy, and worrying.  I’d run a few times in the week preceding, and I’d had a pretty rough time the week before on a club run where I just felt drained and unable to keep up on anything with a gradient. I even resorted to posting a picture of myself in my kit on our club Facebook page, to gain some confidence from the ‘like’s. I know - it’s a dirty, needy tactic, but it worked.  

Nervous face at home - first time with this kit on for a while! 

By the time we got changed and ready and I’d had a chat with some of the other female competitors who were impressed by the bump, I felt more springy and ready to run round the course.

The Glossopdale Ladies Team preparing for the off . Photo courtesy Duncan Johnson

It was a typical course taking in water and mud-logged park fields, a short twisty section through woods and some dirt paths. Thankfully no uphill to speak of, hooray! I can honestly say that the runner who called out ‘pregnant lady, you’re doing amazing’ as I passed her, made my entire week. I ran round steadily, sticking to my rule that if I began to feel at all breathless, it was time to ease off the gas for the sake of my passenger.

There is definitely a part of me who wanted to be there to send a message to the younger runners: ‘you can do it whilst pregnant’. It’s something I’d always wondered about since taking up running seriously, and the runners with families who I asked directly about running in pregnancy all said the same thing – you can do it. It’s not one of those topics everyone gets the chance to bring up and so I thought, bring the bump out and show them J

taking it steady with the bump. Photo courtesy Duncan Johnson