a little joglet

Morning all!

I know, it's been less than 24 hours since my last post, but I'm keen and ready for anything at the moment so thought I would share a few thoughts with you.
As you know, I'm a fitness Instructor and constantly trying to find ways to improve and motivate people. So now I turn to myself and improve and motivate little me for a change.

No big run planned, sometimes it's good to go back to one of your more run routes, a favourite one of old, not too long but not too easy. But still, the kind of old familiar run you used to love so much when you were not so good and it was a struggle.

I picked such route today to work on my stride, style and breathing, I wanted to push myself a little more up the inclines to see just what I'm made of. I guess all in all I am not too disappointed with how I did, although my shoulders were high today. Not because of my running style, but because of the epic amounts of punching I've put myself through this week already! haha

So, old faithful route, old faithful running leggins and a hi-viz! Won't leave home without one after the recent 'being hit by cars' incidents!
Off along the river Dart along the river path, muddy and flat.
Up Dartington Drive, a nice long incline, chatted to some ponies, waved to the cows and nodded at a passer by who looked a little grumpy.

Passed a really fat girl who took up the whole pavement at the top of the drive, had to run in the road to get past, I need advertising on the back of my hi-viz - 'Want an arse like this? Check out www.fightingfitdevon.co.uk' haha, is that allowed?!

Chucked myself into the last bit of incline, ran on my tippy toes to do this as light as a fairy. That's one of my running tips, think of yourself as a light little fairy and tiptoe up the inclines. It makes it so much easier. That, and the horse-riding one but you do look silly running up hill pretending to whip yourself!

And then 'don't waste the downs' although the paths were slippy with moss so I ran out into the road.
Lovely run down to the church, lengthened my stride, ran from the hip and relaxed my sore shoulders.
Got held up by an old lady in a car! I actually nearly overtook her!

Then up through Dartington, up Cott Hill, to the top of Barracks Hill, all very lovely and incliney!

And then I did another 'Rita' and shot down Baracks hill, arms waving all over the place like I didn't have a care in the world. Big smile, happy thoughts.

Running shouldn't be a chore, if I dont feel like it, I dont do it, if I'm on one, like today, I make the very best of it and enjoy every second.

The Old Faithful joglet was a success and I'm now feeling ready for anything! next stop - Ballet :)

her usual every day life and a 2nd swim!

Hi! *waves*
So, lots has happened, Mum came to stay, which always makes me happy again, no matter what is going on.
We watched the football - say no more!

Today I got up I did my Legs, Bums and Tums class with the 2 regulars!

Then I went and did hardcore gardening work in the garden that belongs to 2 lovely friends of mine, Rob and Kathy who own my local, The Bay Horse Inn, in Totnes.
I am scratched, chaffed but loved getting into the hardcore gardening again.

This time, in fact this week last year I was made redundant from my Contract Manager position and so have had to sort out my life and work since. (under statement alert!)
It's working, slowly, but working nonetheless!

Luckily my reputation as a trainer is winning! So, then shall I!

So, I took a Kickboxing session in Newton as usual, came back to Totnes to the gym.
I have it in my head sometimes, parts of my body are not beautiful and should be, so I have to train them! Tonight I sorted my niggles and then............
Da Da Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Swimtime!

Yep, I still hate it!

I did some work with a float tonight to get my front crawl legs working! How flipping hard is that?!

I got bored, I smelt of chlorine, my skin is now dry and I hate hate hate swimming pools!

I have decided, I will work extra hard, and once a week, go to Bigbury in the van with the boys, run along the coastpath (yay) and we all go swimming in the sea after! Beautiful scenery, fantastic adventure and no old ladies pissing in the pool next to me! ( I have a wetsuit too which is nice, I love neoprene!)

So, it will happen, and this Sunday will be the first adventure (lucky wetsuit!)

~I'm not quitting, just changing the dynamics!

So, my lovely readers, There 'tis!

xx

Father's Day run 2012

Hi Everyone!

This man here was my Dad! Not just any Dad either, although I'm sure most of us say that about our parents?
As you can see, my Dad loved a bit of a challenge too, particularly sporting challenges, and each one he took very seriously. Even this 1977 sack race!

When I was younger I started running with Dad, I then entered Cross Country and Athletics competitions and he was always there to support me.
I remember one Athletics competition in Crawley I was at and he turned up, I don't think I was expecting him.
He said to me, go out there, do your best and win! And if you can't win, make sure you don't lose!

Wise words I think, and I've never wanted to let him down since. Those words are still in my head, whenever I compete in anything.

This day last year I ran the Torbay Half Marathon with my Dad right beside me in mind the whole way round, so I thought it only fair that this year I have another run with him.

I've had a bit of a down week, not felt myself at all, low energy levels and messy hormone levels! I didn't want to push it, but I also wanted to go a little more than a 10k.

Set off, feeling tired, sluggish, heavy and fat. My feet weren't coming far off the ground, not like my usual running anyway, but I kept on, plodding away.

There aren't many places out of Totnes that you can run on a pavement so I was back in Forces March territory, back facing the traffic.
This morning was a particularly good example of bad driving from people. I faced a certain amount of near death experiences at the Forces March but today the drivers were special!

I crossed to the left of the road on a blind bend near the last Rattery turn off, running with the trafic coming behind me, glowing hi-viz on my back!
Bearing in mind I cannot see cars coming up behind me, then bang! A car went straight into me smashing into my arm! I pulled myself out of the hedge to catch the number plate but he was off, turned off and left me in the road! What a bloody dickhead!
Not only was I now in pain at this point, but I was also very very angry!

Funny how your mind and body work sometimes, the anger seemed to make my running better, I picked up my feet, picked up the pace and went into full on warrior mode wanting to take on any car driver that came near me!

Running with arm pain wasn't easy and I decided to cut short my run a little.

I ran to South Brent and turned off into a tiny back lane to Diptford, it was shady and pretty and smelt of damp summer. I remembered this lane from when I first moved to Devon and someone told me a lion had been found there one day! In my usual running state of mind I started thinking about the lion, and if it was suddenly going to leap out into the road and eat me! It didn't happen!

I cut back up to the Avonwick Road that lead back to Totnes. For some reason the drivers on this road were far more courteous than the other. I had a good pace back along in the sunshine, thinking of my lovely, inspirational Dad and how I will always do my best to make him proud of me.

If your Dad is still with you, then make the very best of every moment that you have. In fact, not just your Dad, because I realise how very important my Mum is to me, even more since dad has gone.
Go on, give your parents a massive hug and tell them how much you love them, they made you who who you are, you are a part of them, enjoy.

(see, a little more up beat than the last blog! haha)

a backwards step :(

Hi all
Just a short one for you, a few months ago I went on Radio Devon and spoke of an eating disorder I had form about the age of 11.
At the time I said I may blog it, but just that would be boring, but it's also been a part of my life for a very long time.
After The Forces March I came home and weighed myself and I had lost just over half a stone in weight.
I have to tell you honestly now that I was happy.
For 3 years solid I've been 9.5 stone.
No more.
Since The Forces March I've had eating issues, I am being honest now, that's what I always am! I will never change, but I am struggling!
Hence this blog.
I need my friends and a little support so I can become sane again.

When you have an eating disorder I dont believe it will ever go away, because I lost some weight I got into the old mindset.

Last night I lost the plot, luckily I was with a very understanding friend of mine who was very supportive, but I would like all of you to know, I'm very fragile, completely unconfident and a little scared!!
Please give me as much support as you can and get me to being a proper Debbie again?!

Odd blog, but this is my life! And at least I'm honest about it.

Thanks for reading :)

her first swim in years!

You know what I'm like by now?
I like a challenge, but within that, I like to challenge myself.
Speaking to Danny and Rob from The Veterans Charity recently I was discussing the fact that I don't raise much sponsorship anymore. I put it down to the fact that most people, when they see I am going for a run will know that I will do it easily. And also, I keep doing challenges and raping the pockets of friends and family!

So we discussed something new, a proper challenge!

I can't swim, I'm scared of water and I cannot stand anything to do with swimming. Of course, this is due to the fear, and also I hate not being able to do something.
This evening chatting to a guy Shane at the sports centre, he comes to some of my classes. He was struck dumb that I cannot swim, he had a little laugh about it, but this reaction is what I'm getting all the time.
No one ever sees me in the pool, because I never go in there!

So, I'm only 37! Plenty of life in the old tiger yet, so I have decided to do the following - firstly, properly learn to swim, but with that I need to gain confidence in the water, I am seriously lacking in this.
Secondly, take on a challenge that involves swimming! I'm sure there are plenty out there but it has to be right.
Thirdly, make swimming, a fantastic exercise a proper part of my life and embrace it in all it's glory!

So today, before going to kickboxing I popped into Newton Abbot with my 2 sidekicks Jo and Lauren, and we went swimming costume shopping! Oh yeah baby!
We went into Sports Direct, finally managed to find the adult swimming stuff amongst the chaos of the place! (anyone else think Sports Direct looks like a jumble sale?)
I found a suitable all in one jobbie and some goggles, we walked around a lot making squeaking noises on the floor a bit too, that was fun! haha and then I paid for it and had made a certain amount of commitment!
The girls joked that they would keep my receipt so I couldn't return it!

I had checked out the Totnes Pavilions swim timetable and spotted a ladies only swim at 8pm! That was where I would start!

Ensuring that Karly and Shaun (work at the centre) knew the score about my lack of swimmingness I donned my new fetish wear, wacked on my goggles and with extreme trepidation I finally got into the pool!

I had some lessons way back in my 20's and know a bit of breast stroke *giggles* so I had to just get on and do it!
It's the whole face in the water thing that gets me!
When I was about 7 I went to Brownie swimming. Mum and Dad didn't really swim much so therefore, I didn't. Lots of the other girls there could already swim, I, however couldn't.
To this day this memory gets me, which is why I don't swim.
All the girls were jumping in the pool, Mrs Willows our teacher was on the side, making sure everyone jumped in.
I had no idea what to do! If I jumped in, what would happen? I was absolutely bricking it. Then suddenly, without a word she pushed me in!
I panicked and sank!
I remember breathing in water, arms and legs flailing, seeing the blurry images above me but not being able to get up to the surface, I had no idea what to do, then suddenly I was grabbed and dragged out of the pool.
Needless to say, Brownie swimming was the worst thing in my life.

I pushed off from the side, gained my breath and went for it like a fat dog with 2 legs, the most ungraceful swimming attempt you will ever see!
My breathing was laboured, my feet were erratic, my arms were like jelly and my head was a spin of panic and fear.
And then I remembered that Cider-fuelled conversation with Danny and Rob, about challenge, I was not going to be beaten.
Plus, Shaun was about to walk onto poolside so I didn't want to look like a complete tit, so I tried to relax, focussed on my goal and tried to swim like I knew what I was doing.

I kept on, length after length, each one becoming more comfortable and less tiring, and each one even more boring than the first!

I did it though, swimming session #1 now done, 50 lengths in about 45 minutes.
Not bad for a starter I reckon?

Next step, get more confident and learn front crawl! This is going to be interesting.........

The Forces March 2012

Tuesday 22nd May 2012 - I left home, rucksack, tent and sleeping bag in the back of the van, it was late, around 9pm and I had a 2 hour drive ahead of me.
Round the misty North Devon lanes I found my destination, the car park by the swimming pool in Ilfracombe. It was now 11pm, people were tucked up in their tents, not a sound.
I hopped into the back of the van, got into my sleeping bag and slept nervously for a few hours.

Wednesday 23rd May 2012 - the day I had been waiting for, the start of the epic challenge that is The Forces March. You read what it is - 5 marathons in 5 days. For a marathon runner it sounds fairly simple. The problem is, marathon runners who run 'normal' organised events have pretty flat routes, closed roads, people with sweets and water on every corner. I had some idea that this was going to be pretty different, I had prepared myself enough mentally for it I thought.
As a runner, the hardest part is not the training, or the diet, but it's the mind. You can be the best runner in the world, but if your head fails, you fail! I wasn't going to let myself be beaten by my own head. This was it.

Around 7 am, I met Paul and then Kaja, Paul made me a cuppa and we all sat and had a good chat about the event. Already so early I had made new friends, this is something I love to do, meet new people, form new friendships, swap stories of challenges. I had a good feeling about the march now, real positive feelings.


More people arrived, the place was buzzing, I met Janine, aka The Rambling Duck! I've known Janine through twitter for a while so it was good to finally meet her in person. She is an awesome woman, to go through those 5 days dressed as a duck is amazing!

The walkers were released on to the route and then we were off!

My strategy was always going to be to plod it, walk the inclines and plod the rest. Day 1 though, I was on form. The inclines were begging me to jog them and I loved every minute of it.
Alice then came and ran by my side, we seemed to keep a good pace together and formed the first part of the the team.
Not sure what Alice first thought when I started talking to horses and cows, but by Day 5 she was fully accepting of it!

The countryside through North Devon is beautiful, it was an extremely hot, sunny day, hard work on the feet but the pain went with the stunning views. I was however starting to feel my mistake of hitting the hills so fast at the start, I had to plan better for the next 4 days.

The roads went on, and on, I knew some of this area from a previous holiday but Exford was further away than I ever imagined. We kept going on further and further, endless hills, endless straights, endless heat.
There were steps behind us, Rob Starbuck had caught up and ran with us into the campsite. This made the team to 3, and fantastic running buddies they turned out to be.

Straight into camp and straight into the cold paddling pool that was to be the saviour of the muscles for the rest of the week!

That night I was given a lift back to Ilfracombe to pick up my van. We drove back the route, it took us about 40 minutes, I then drove back along it again, remembering each and every step we had gone through that day. It was hard to comprehend at that point just what we had achieved that day, and what was in store for us for the rest of the week.

Thursday, Day 2 - my favourite running day of the 5.
Suffering a little from Camelbak chaffing, couple of toe blisters, but legs and lungs feeling good! I guess, the best thing about being a Fitness Instructor is that you are constantly training.
Someone asked me what I'd done to train for The Forces March, and I had to be honest and say, nothing! Unless you count, running with clients, Boxercise, Kickboxing, Ballet, cycling, spacehopper fitness, and the list goes on! I didn't however do any super amount of running, but when you're fit, you're fit for any challenge.

So, the new team were together, Debbie, Alice and Rob! We plodded together in the extreme heat, we hit the hot hard roads, the uneven camber, the fast cars, the wildlife, the stunning scenery and worked as a fantastic team.
When I set out that Tuesday night I could never have imagined just what this experience would bring, and the friendships that have formed.

I did lose the plot mentally for a lot of this day, but it was funny! I found dancing down hill was easier on the quads than running, and there was mention of a Steam Train at the end. What more could a geek like me want than that?!

We ran miles, miles, and more, and then hit a 1:8 downhill that turned into a 1:6! I ended up running sideways, it was hard, so hard. My toes constantly pushing into the road, blisters building.

On day 2 we were running with a guy, Lee a lot. He would pass us, we would pass him, this went on all day until we slowed at the end through the last little village. Lee was to become Team member number 4 of the Awesome Foursome!

We reached a Steam Railway Station and were given a really fantastic welcome. Then there was only a little jaunt left to get to the campsite - where the paddling pool awaited us!

Interesting camp site that night, it kept reminding me of the film, The Hills Have Eyes, the one with the inbred cannibals! That was the night of the Fox shagging! They were right outside my tent too!
I'm glad really that I knew what it was, the noise was like the sound of death, I huddled into my sleeping bag and prepared for Marathon 3.

Friday - Marathon 3 - nearly 30 miles to cover!
We had been warned about day 3, the epic hilly start from the village, and the longest in terms of mileage out of all of them.
The day started with a lovely little group of school kids singing little war songs - bless! Then we were released into the coutryside and the Quantocks.

To be fair, the much talked of hill at the start is a bugger! But I do like hills, we didn't have to rush, we just took it in our stride and faced it like a team.
How Rob made it up there in 9 mins on his 132 mile epic I have no idea. But Rob is an outstanding runner with a determination that is rare.

Again, the scenery was spectacular, beautiful rolling hills, the sun was beating down on us yet again. Another hot one.
The heat was one of the main problems for me. I used to get a lot of heat stroke when I was younger so I took extra precautions to ensure I was cool and hydrated whenever I had the chance.

Day 3 was the day I realised that by licking my own arms I got to replace a little of the lost salt! I did look like a little silly but it worked!

Rob had calf issues along the route, we took it slow and steady to ensure that it wouldn't get any worse.
The countryside in places from Bridgewater looked a little French to me. I think I was slightly obsessed by this for a time. That's the thing about long runs in the heat, you do go a little loopy! Or is it just me?

I think the heat and the fact that is was a Friday affected the drivers in the area. They were shooting round the bends into us, there was one car that came straight for me, I had to dive into the side, Rob was behind me and saw the whole thing. It was pretty scary to be honest.
Our destination that day was Somerton, a pretty bunting-filled village at the bottom of a very, very, very long hill. We made it though, straight into the paddling pool and onto the physio table for me.

The physio team were awesome, they looked after us with anything from blisters to muscle ache. After day 3 my glutes were in agony, knotty and painful. But the team sorted me out and made me better for the last 2 days.
I had to be driven back to the start again to collect my van so Lee came with me and we went for cider and a kebab in Bridgewater on the way back! And then to bed to prepare for day 4.

So, day 4, Saturday, and a run to Maiden Bradley in Wiltshire.
Day 4, officially the hardest one for me, and the one that made me realise that I can be hardcore if I want to be!
The start of the run was fine, really good, again, stunning scenery, pretty cottages and villages, more sunshine and heat.
The Team were good, Alice was strapped up and a little in pain, we took it gently. Rob had no further calf issues.
At about 9 or 10 miles I'm guessing I started to get a pain in my hip. Right on my hip bone. It niggled, it wasn't worth worrying about, until we got to about mile 14 ish.
The pain spread down my leg and around the base of my spine. It was nasty!

I moaned as little as I could about it, but it was getting me down and affecting the team as I had to go so slow. I was not happy.
I'm glad for running shades, it covered up the tears that were welling up from the pain I was in. I kept going, with support from the team I kept it together.
The Sarah drove past with ice lollies! Picked up the spirits slightly, and boosted my will to go on.

There was a lot more incline that day to do, Alice then got a second wind and she was off, unfortunately I couldn't go fast. But we kept it together.
Then not far from the end, I'd had it, I was in pain, real proper pain that I hadn't felt for a long time. But we saw the Rifles ahead.
Something in me snapped, I wanted the paddling pool first! Lee then said, shall we pick up the pace, we can get in before them! I picked up the pace and properly started to sprint. And I kept going, and we overtook them, and carried on running to the finish.
I guess we all have reserves when we want them, but the thought of that cold water (did I mention a pub) was enough to push me through that barrier and carry on.

Then, the fun started! So, you run 26 miles to a pub, what else would you do but have a pint?! Of course.
I had to see the physios though as a matter of urgency.
The problem with running on roads that aren't closed to traffic is that you run on the edge of the road where the camber is at it's worst. I was running right in the edge at times and your left foot could be as high as a few inches above your right.
My hips were knackered.
Adam (hero of the day) gave me a few little exercises, pushed my hip a bit and sent me on my way, what a genius. I knew then that I could finish the Forces March and do Marathon 5.
I was still limping about a bit but was so much better than before.


The night was fantastic, put a smile back on my face and really got me motivated for the 5th, and final marathon.

Sunday 27th May 2012 - Marathon 5 out of 5.
Guess what? Another bloody hot day! I think I'd become immune to it by then. You get used to it and also how to deal with it.
The Team set off super speedy, I was on form - I had about 8 pints on the Saturday night and I've always said I do my best running on a hangover, it's true. I could have ran the whole lot the way I was feeling.
Unfortunately one of our team wasn't on form, Rob was suffering from severe stomach pains and heat stroke. I was worried to be honest, really worried.
We plodded on, I had a poo in a field, which was nice!

Rob got steadily worse, we had to get him water, cool and something for his stomach.

There was a road closure on one of the sections and we ran down the middle of the road! No uneven camber!

This marathon did seem endless, the last 3 miles went on and on, the last mile felt so hard, but we saw the end in sight. We saw the flags, the people waiting to cheer us as we came into the finish line, Team - The Awesome Foursome. We did it! 132.5 miles in 5 days.

We didn't just run 5 marathons, we lived running, we lived the experience, everything we did contributed to that goal, our minds were tuned into hardcore and our dreams were fulfilled.

When everyone was in we had a fantastic BBQ, medals were given out and awards for those who excelled during the week.
I have a tear in my eye as I'm writing this now as I just didn't want the experience to end.
Those 5 days were not only the hardest I have ever had in my life, but they were the best. Nothing can beat that experience.
I pushed myself to the hardest challenge, I did it and proved to myself when you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. If you don't get off your backside and get out there and do things like this you will never know life in it's best form.
I made some extremely special friends, some more special than others! And I have made lasting relationships with other like minded people, people who raise money for those who really need support.
After meeting Dan and Matt on the march, it made me realise just why I do challenges like this, so I can help.
I stayed that night to complete the full Forces March experience, it was hilarious! And then I had to say goodbye :(

If you've read this, and realise that actually I did something amazing last week for some amazing people, then please, there is still a chance to donate to The Veterans Charity via my Just Giving page.
justgiving.com/Deborah-Miller-Wright0 or you can text DFMW69 to 70070 and donate as little as £1
Thanks
Debbie :)