Fitness with Focus

I've been thinking about Sabastian Sawe running a race in 1:59:30.
Pah. Is that all he could manage?

I ran mine in 5:34:55

It's official. I can run for longer than he can! Lazy sod!

I cannot watch the London Marathon without screaming and cheering for the finishers. I cry with and for them; I recall the pain with them; I recall the relief of crossing the line. The months of training and sacrifice. The discipline (that I didn't really execute as well as I should've) required to get on with it. Today is the celebration of all of that.

I'm like a devout football fan, except for strangers. I was SCREAMING at the screen for Tigst Assefa. Hard going for Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei

Sebastian Sawe just broke the WORLD RECORD for finishing a marathon!!! Under 2 hours! I'm holding my own brain inside my head! 1:59:30 🤯
Faster than the man: the legend - Elliud Kipchoge!!!
I'm crying. There are no words to describe this. It's BEYOND incredible, astounding, defying all expectations.

The wheelchair race was phenomenal and RIDICULOUSLY fast. The strength in those athletes' arms and backs seems beyond measure.
The mental strength for anyone to take on a challenge like a marathon is not to be overlooked.

If this event doesn't inspire people to be active, I'm not sure what can.

I share my highs, and I will share my lows.
This one definitely felt like a low at the time, but it's a new part of my journey that to now, I'd not experienced. The first few pics are what I usually achieve all the way around races - I seek out photographers, and strike my pose. A few pics along, the reflection of how this one broke me shines through.

I took on the alone on Sunday. This is the first time in my running journey that I've done a half marathon without a friend alongside me. Honestly, I hated it. I hate running - genuinely hate it. I do however, LOVE race day euphoria and chaos - seriously LOVE it. I know this race wasn't going to provide that for me, but I'm training for a different event next month, and this race was part of that training.
I was extremely poorly the week leading up to Easter, and was in recovery from that illness for a fair few days afterwards. I didn't start eating properly until 3 days before the race - so my nutrition wasn't where it should've been, neither was my hydration. In all honesty, my training was a million miles off where it was when I've been preparing for half marathons in the past. I'm not new to these, I've done a fair share; but my 10mile training run last month went really well, and I was secure in my knowledge that I'd be able to pull out another three miles.

I'd sensibly decided to change my strategy for race day due to the nutrition, hydration and low energy elements I'd be working through, to a 4minute:1minute run:walk ratio with a target of 12min/mile (after I would've run the first 9mins in order to get through the initial congestion). This strategy worked until 10.3 miles, where suddenly, the wheels fell off. My legs felt like they'd been anchored. I could hardly lift them, and I began clock watching in desperation for the run interval to end so I could walk. My breathing was all over the place, I was sweating a lot (I don't usually sweat much at all), and after another half a mile or so, I started feeling dizzy, very hungry, and my legs had started to cramp. It was here I realised I had no option but to walk the remaining 2 and a bit miles. I was devastated. I felt like I'd failed what should've been an achievable task. However, I managed to walk at a very fast pace of 15:35min/mile.
I somehow managed to shuffle the final 200yrds to the finish. I left NOTHING behind that day. I gave everything I had (including sweat & tears), and for that, I won the race! 🎉
I also managed to pet 14 dogs on my way around, so I definitely win 🥹

Well, that was horrible. It was like a tornado on the way out 🌪️🥶

I want a lonnnnng bath now. Perhaps my body is telling me that 6 park runs (5k/3miles) and two 10k runs this year is not enough!

Still, it's done and only 18 days to go before I do the half marathon (13miles); and 7 weeks until the walking marathon.
Looks like I'd best get some more miles in!

Hello all. To those of you who don't know, I am challenging myself to an overnight marathon in May. I will be "warming up" with my first half marathon in over 2 years, in April. I am fundraising for two different charities.

£2 per square, half of the prize pot goes to the person with the winning square, the remainder of the pot will be split 50/50 between my two charities.
I wasn't going to take part, but there's a Queen song on here, and you know me, right? 🤷🏻‍♀️

I will be drawing the winner in one calendar month (11th April) - the day before my half marathon in London, where I'll be raising funds for the "Sussex Beacon" - who provide support for those living with HIV in Brighton and Sussex. The following month, I will be walking a marathon in the middle of the night (formerly known as the Moonwalk) for "Walk the Walk" charity - who raise funds for Breast Cancer research and treatment.

Please help me help both of my charities with raising over £250 for each of them. If you're not the gambling type, you can make a direct donation using the following links:
https://giving.give-star.com/microsite/walkthewalk/themoonwalklondon2026/fundraising-page/carlyvinesmoonwalk
and
https://www.justgiving.com/page/carly-vine-8?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=FR-heroes_FRPo_Event-near-badge_uk

Thank you so much 🩷

Hurley and I did it! We completed the in London, with the horrid weather and my non-existent training against us. I was so cold that my skeleton was hurting, and my lips had apparently turned blue! My hands weren't working properly for about 50-60 minutes - they'd literally frozen into the position they were in and I had to knock a can of water out of my grip with my other hand because I couldn't open my grip to let it go 😳.

Our pacing was PERFECT throughout, and didn't adjust once. We had planned 4mins run and 1 min walk, but we didn't take a single walk break, and completed in 1:10:15! 🎉
Hurley was an absolute sweetheart and ran the whole race with me, but he could've easily smashed it in under an hour.

Well done to my Hurley 👏🏻
It was a privilege to run alongside him 🥹

One of my absolute favourite parts about holding group sessions is the friendships that are built within them.

A few weeks ago, one of our group had a pretty intense operation, which will render them away from us for a few months. We decided as a group, that once the client is feeling up to it, we'd cancel our regular group session and go for a curry with them instead.

Tonight was that night. We had a lovely evening, talking about everything that could possibly be talked about in 3 hours. Not breaking from tradition, there was the regular chat about cheese, recommended TV shows, work and kids.

Thank you all. I'm sure we can do this again, WITHOUT the need for one of us to have an operation. xx

Today, Hurley and I went on a training run together ahead of our 10k race in two weeks. We did the and then added another 5k on the end. Comfy, chatty and consistent pace for us on both 5k legs of 35 mins each one.

Looking forward to running through central London with my Tiny Viney; before he starts speeding off ahead and having to wait for me at the end. Jokes on him: it means he has to get the post run coffees in 🤣