Reflections and motivations..

I was just reading the Fetch forum thread "reasons to be grateful" and thought that was just what I was thinking about on my run this morning. I am in marathon training again and have got to 13 miles for my long run. What I was thinking about was how the early part of the year and my Ultra training was really about remembering Alistair and raising money for Cancer Research. These were both huge motivators and got me around my 31 miles and contributed to Team Ali raising £4,100 (so far). So what was going to motivate me now? I am a fairly motivated person and my motivations come from making the people who know me proud of what I achieve and also ensuring I stay fit and healthy for my children, close friends and family. Life is for living and you know you are living when you are running, even though sometimes you might feel like you are on your last legs (if that makes sense!!!  ). I am into the tough part of the year after someone dies (according to all the stuff I have read and been told). It has been 8 months since Ali died. I am still very sad but I have a lot of reasons to be grateful. 

I completed the Ultra in April, raised loads of money with an amazing group of people, been on several breaks with my wonderful children including New York, have met loads of new and interesting people in the running world and outside of it, have developed deep friendships with people I didn't even know before Alistair died (it is amazing the people you meet and those who drift away after something like this isn't it), and I have recently been accepted onto a PHD program at Edinburgh University (this one is the biggest eeeek) and lovely Erin and Ryan are getting married on 1 August. So whilst my life isn't what it was a year ago, it is still pretty okay! I have a lot to be grateful for.

So onto this morning's run. Training for Kielder Marathon in October, loved the Ultra can't wait to get back to Kielder Forrest. This morning I was out for 13 miles. Weather was mixed really warm and sunny one minute and then cold and wet the next. Was also very quiet as it was early. I did manage to phone Scotty by mistake whilst I was running but had a wee mid run blether by text!! A blether to another friend at 7 miles, took some pictures of Roslin Castle in the rain and downed a horrible gel and I was on my way again. Bit of a slog on the way back as it is a long run up a boring road and it was in clammy rain still good to be running a longer distance again. I like 13 miles as it is a fairly satisfying distance. It is long enough to know you have worked but not so long you can't function for the rest of the day. Next weekend will see me ramp up the long run to 15 miles. I do like when I get over the half marathon distance, that's when I know I am training for a marathon. My toe nails are black and blue though, not really recovered from the Ultra, fairly certain one of them at least is going to fall off shortly. Lovely. Will need to buy new trainers though I can feel everything through the soles of them, they are well over their 500 miles rule now. Wee trip to Run4it required in the next week I feel. 

The rest of the day holds housework for me! Oh joy, and then out for a walk with Kobi (our very springy springer spaniel). 

don't worry, be happy