Half Marathon

5) Friday, 17 May 2007: 2 days to go...

I won't be able to run the marathon as my foot has still not healed. My heel started to hurt during the last bit of my run on Sunday and I've been limping ever since.

As you can imagine I am very disappointed, but I intend to do another half marathon as soon as my foot is healed. 

My brother and two of his friends are still running this weekend, so I will be going along to support them, but my sister Pauline is also now not coming up for the weekend due to her ankle injury - right pair that we are!

I'm looking for another half marathon nearby, hopefully in June and at the latest early July. So I'll be transferring the sponsor money I've raised for PACT and Chernobyl Children Life Line.

:: If anyone knows of any half marathons coming up, please let me know by emailing the website - south.yorkshire@bbc.co.uk

Thanks - Annemarie

4) Monday, 14 May 2007: 6 days to go...

Went out running Monday, Wednesday and Friday for about 40 to 50 minutes and I've been doing about eight minute miles. 

I've been collecting more sponsorship and have managed to get about £300 so far, which I'm really pleased about. 

Both PACT and Chernobyl Children Life Line know about this diary and are pleased with the extra publicity.

On Sunday I went and did six miles of the half marathon from the Arena to Furnival Gate and back. 

I've already done other parts of the route - from Bramall Lane and along Eccesall Road - it's helpful to know what the route is going to be like. 

However at the last bit of my run on Sunday my heel started to hurt and I've been limping ever since. 

Quite upset yesterday especially after all this effort if I can't run next Sunday. Going to see how it goes over the next few days and just hope for the best. 

My sister, Pauline, is now probably not running due to an ankle problem and my mate, Hannah has not been able to train properly due to a bad back - so much for us all getting fit!

3) Saturday, 5 May 2007: 15 days to go...

I went out running on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, doing what are now classed as small runs (!) - about 40 to 50 minutes - I can't believe these would be classed as long runs.

When I'm doing the mid-week runs I try to either do running up hills or short sprints on flat parts of the run to try and build up my strength for those parts of the race. I'm definitely not a sprinter and I find the sprints quite tiring.

On Saturday I did just over 12 miles in one hour 40 minutes, so I'm really pleased with that. 

I find that I struggle a bit for the first three miles or so and then I get into a flow with my running and can just keep going, although running up through Meersbrook Park at about 11 miles was a bit of a killer - must have been a moment of madness planning that one!

I use the Map My Run website to work out distance, timing etc., and I'm trying to keep to a pace of an eight minute mile. 

The running top I got last week is fantastic as it doesn't rub - I used to get chafing under the tops of my arms with my other top which is not the most attractive look! 

I feel that this is starting to take over my life and in some ways I'm looking forward to it being over in two weeks, not quite sure how people put in the effort for the full marathon or triathalons. 

However I do intend to keep up running on a regular basis after this but just not be so strict about the training and diet - not eating lots of cheese and chocolate is very hard!

2) Monday, 30 April 2007: 20 days to go...

Well I didn't manage the run with my sister this weekend due to a bridesmaid dress crisis. 

The wedding was fantastic and made up for the lack of running by dancing most of the night. 

Came back on the Sunday and did a 40 minute run but struggled due to the late nights and travelling - and of course, drinking.

Went out running on Tuesday and Thursday last week and did about 50 minutes. The runs got easier as the week went on. 

I've been using the internet site Map My Run to work out how far I've been going, what my speed was etc. It's alot easier that using some thread and an AtoZ! 

Did a 10 mile run yesterday (Saturday) which I did in an hour and a half so I was really pleased with that as I'm on target for about two hours for the half marathon. Another good sign was that I didn't ache too much for the rest of the day. 

Also went to Keep on Running on Saturday - fantastic shop and really helpful staff who obviously know what they talking about, so I ended up spending quite a bit of money there and will definitely be returning!

1) Tuesday, 17 April 2007: 33 days to go...

I've looked at training programs on the internet and have been following them in a vague pattern - it's not helped that one of my sisters is getting married in April, so it's involved a few weekends of consuming plenty of alcohol!

I've been running about two to three times mid-week, and I cycle to work most days and do a variety of exercise on the days that I don't run, so I'm keeping reasonably fit.

For the last few weekends I've been running about eight or nine miles for my long runs at the weekend and gradually aim to increase this over the next month.

I've been running once a week with a mate, Hannah, from work and my daughter has occasionally been coming out her bike shouting encouraging things like "going a bit slow aren't you?!" etc.

From where I live in Meersbrook it's quite easy to find some scenic routes, although there are always plenty of hills, especially at the end as I live on a hill!

The nights before I do my big run at the weekend I'm trying to eating a good diet and not drink alcohol, which is a bit hard at the weekends, but it does make a big difference and I'm really enjoying it.

I'm aiming for a time around two hours for the half marathon, although just completing it will be an achievement in itself.

My diary this week - did about 10 miles on Saturday which was hard, especially as there were three big hills - I did have to walk at one stage as my legs just couldn't cope anymore.

But I managed it in about one and half hours, which I was pleased about. Have had a mad few days at work so have only managed to go out tonight (Tuesday) and ran about five miles.

I'll do a run on Friday with my sister Pauline as we're in my home town for our sister's wedding. I think this is the first week for a while that I haven't been to Decathalon to buy something, although I do intend to go and try the running shop at Attercliffe to get some new trainers in the next few weeks - didn't realise running could be so accessorised!

Why I'm doing it

The mad idea of running the half marathon came in the form of an email from my sister, Pauline, saying that she was going to run it and would I also be interested. 

Now one of my brothers, Eamonn, is doing it too so it's turned into a bit of a Johnston family event. I've decided to use the half marathon as a way of raising money for two charities - PACT (Parents Association for Children with Leukaemia and Tumours) - as they supported us when my daughter had leukaemia when she was little, and Chernobyl Child Lifeline as we're being a host family for a child for four weeks this summer.