We are a small, happy family of four. My husband, a baby, a dog and me. My husband works on a yacht. A large, luxury megayacht which tends to be based in some fairly fabulous places. The thing is, where the boat goes, we go! When she was was just eight weeks old our daughter, Coco, boarded her first trans-Atlantic flight and since then we haven't stopped. This is a blog of our rather unusual yet adventurous life. No two days are the same.

Monday, September 20, 2010

I do run, run, run...

I mentioned a while back that I had started running again. I think at the same time I said that I would keep you updated on the progress of my return to fitness and promptly never mentioned it again. Well, this isn't because I haven't continued with my running regime but I have to confess, it hasn't gone quite as planned (not quite as rigorous as originally intended). But - these things rarely do, certainly in my case!

There were a couple of reasons I embarked on a new running programme. Those of you who have known me for a while may remember that I tend to agree to undertaking stupid challenges such as marathons, channel swims and mountain climbs. Although I used to be fairly sporty, I am not a natural runner - I'm just not built for it - which makes the challenge all that more interesting.

There is the vanity. If I'm not training for something- I will not run. I'm no gym bunny that's for sure. I need to run. I have thrown in the odd passing comment or two about the fact that I have been trying to loose weight over the summer. It's not a big thing, but I have worked pretty hard at it and lost a total of 35lbs since May. Now I've reached the weight that I am happy with, I need to get fit to help maintain all my hard work.

The most important reason for this latest is fitness drive is that I love pushing myself to extremes to raise money for charity. I give what I can to my chosen good causes throughout the year via direct debits, I pop the odd pound in collection cans, I donate my unwanted belongings to charity shops, but raising money by putting myself through a bit of pain and hard work feels like a good thing to do. I feel justified is asking people to support me because this isn't just for fun. Believe me - it definitely isn't just for fun.



This is the hardest it has ever been to get back into physical shape. It has been so long since I did any serious physical excersise that my muscles feel like jelly! Having a baby doesn't seem to been the best thing for my body when it comes to enhancing my chances of returning to peak physical condition. For a start my boobs are so heavy and droopy I am having to wear two sports bras to offer anything even close to adequate support. My hips are clicky - you'd have thought that a year on they would have fully recovered from that joyous stirrup experience but alas - no. Finally, the biggest confession, and I am only telling you this to prove that I am earning ever penny I am raising, my pelvic floor muscles leave a lot to be desired. I never, ever, EVER thought I would need a nappy to run at my young (!) age - it is mortifying! Now surely that confession deserves a pound or two?!

However, it is all worth it. Last summer my beloved father-in-law lost his brave battle against a brain tumour and it is for him that our family has decided to pull together and do something special. It's not just me going through this pain and discomfort - in October we are heading to the Eden Project to run in their annual marathon. My brother-in law will run a full marathon (what a hero), I will do the half marathon and Angus and his sister will be running the fun-run with all the children. Everything we raise will be donated to the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust, a fantastic organisation that is dedicated to child and adult tumour research in the UK.

I managed a comfortable five miles this evening with some whopping hills, the question is will I be able to manage 13 miles in just three weeks time? Wish me luck!

If you wish to donate - leave a comment and I will send you the link our justgiving page

3 comments:

  1. Louisa! I'm so proud of you. 35 lbs!!! You are amazing! I compete for charity for the same reasons you do. I push myself to extremes because I’m crazy and I donate my time as well as financially to charity where ever I can. It is so tough to do all this after having a baby. I completely agree with you and feel your pain. My running hasn't gone well at all this summer, but I am determined to do the same as you and compete for charity soon. My first race since February this year is a 10K on October 3rd for the Boys and Girls Club (Dunn’s Run) and the next the A1A half marathon mid November. I hope if you are in Fort Lauderdale you will join me in the half marathon. It sounds like you are in better shape than me right now… I ran a rough 5 miles this morning. It was tough and unfortunately, I will have to continue to run sporadically (if much at all) over the next 3 weeks due to some small surgeries I am undergoing. However, I plan to be ready for the half marathon in November… somehow. The way I did it last time in a short training time frame was by running 1 practice run so slow I felt like I could go forever. I ran this run on a gorgeous day when I felt strong about 2 weeks (maybe 1 and a half weeks) before the half marathon. I surprised myself by completing 12 miles on that training run! …A jump from just 6 miles as my furthest in all my training over the weeks before. Yes, my hips were sore and my knees were killing me after, but at least I knew I could do it. I’m telling you this, because I know you can do it. Just go slow at first… go for the distance, not the time. You are amazing and I am looking forward to running with you in the near future.

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  2. Good for you! That's great you have lost so much weight! I have always loved running, and certainly things are not what they used to be after having two babies. I still enjoy it though. Can't wait to hear how the half marathon goes!

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  3. Wow! If I had those views to run through I might be inspired to press on for more than the measly 5kms I manage from time to time. Yours' will be a fitness level I have never had and probably will never have. I admire you greatly. x

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