After finally getting to a continuous 5k things are now moving along nicely and gradually increasing mileage, with the introduction of hill sprints coming up in the next week.

I have just had an amazing two weeks holiday near to St David’s in Pembrokeshire and my training runs along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path onto St David’s head were just awesome even if really hot. The best one was the five miler where the mist had drifted off the sea onto the path obscuring visibility on St David’s Head but the coolness was a really welcome break after the really hot weather we have been having.

I have completed my first run with a couple of hill sprints, which nearly killed me. Need to get used to them though, as there aren’t that many flat mountains around )

After having a bad four mile run the other day I was really not looking forward to my long run yesterday which was to be six miles. However, once I set off I had a wonderful time running over Cannock Chase. It was overcast so wasn’t too hot, even though by the time I had got back to the car the temperature had increased by ten degrees in just over an hour.

So considering I could only just about manage a minute run/minute walk for twenty minutes in April I am quite pleased with my progress, I just wish that I didn’t die on anything above a one degree incline. But hopefully with lots of work I will be running in the mountains and enjoying the scenery soon.

Training has been going well since my last blog. I am now running 15 min/walking 2 for three intervals which is covering around 5 miles. The best runs have been over Cannock Chase early evening when the light has been great and the woodland just beautiful.

However, the highlight of the last few weeks has to be the Introduction to Fell Running that I did on 10 June with Dave Taylor (Fell Running Guide) in the Peak District around Burbage Moor. As I have not yet done any hill work I found it rather difficult, but had a great day out and it was beautiful around Burbage Moor. We looked at micro navigation and pacing which was brilliant and will come in useful, and also did some uphill and downhill technique. Not quite sure how I am going to be able to throw myself down the side of a mountain with any amount of speed when I have trouble on a slope, but won’t be giving up any time soon. Will keep plugging at it until it becomes second nature.

The weight loss is also going well, I have gone from 12st 1lb to 10st 9lb. Only thing is that none of my clothes fit me now, so a shopping spree is on the cards.

The next goal on the cards is to run 5k continuously and this is currently scheduled for the end of the month, with a continuous 10k by the end of July. So fingers crossed things will go well enough to be able to stick to this schedule. I can’t wait until I can run in the mountains for hours.

I have ran up my first hill, granted it is only a very small hill but it was quite steep and I made it to the top without ending in a heap. So I was really pleased with myself on the drive back home. This tiny bit of elation was very short lived though, as the following week I came down with some germ that hung around for a week and put running off the agenda. I even lost my voice, which I must admit my Husband was probably really pleased about, but he was kind enough not to say so.

Anyway, apart from the occasional croak I seem to be back to normal, or as normal as I am ever going to be. So back to it…

I have rewritten my schedule and am planning to do a really easy run tonight just to get back into it, I can’t wait.

So, I am now up to a 7 minute run/1 minute walk for 40 minutes, and moving on to 9 minutes run/1 minute walk for 40 minutes tomorrow. The running is moving forward and I am now actually really enjoying it. Especially the trail runs across The Chase, which are absolutely wonderful. I can't believe that people run with earphones in, when the sound of nature is all around them. Can't wait until I am in the mountains.

I am also the proud owner a pair of off-road running shoes, a running pack, emergency bivvy and first aid kit. Talk about all the gear and no idea ;o)

However, this will start to change firstly with my Introduction to Fell Running in June. Then in August my Husband is treating me for my Birthday a day with Nav4 Adventures in the Lake District, where we will learn navigation and I understand that there are some ridges on Blencathra that will be a nice introduction to doing Crib Goch in Wales. What happened to jewellery and a nice meal???

Just kidding, it was my idea and I need to start somewhere. I don't think it will be my last session with Nav4 either, because I need to get up and down the mountains as quick as possible and not stand there crying because I am scared and can't get down.

And so it begins...

It has been 18 months since my last challenge, which was The Scotland Coast to Coast hosted by The Rat Race, and now I am ready for a new one. So at the end of March I started looking, and fell on the Mountain Marathon, generally a two day event running in the mountains, visiting control points along the way.

This was all very well, but I have a fear of bogs, heights and the dark, not to mention the fact that I haven’t run in those last 18 months so my fitness is not good to say the least. What a thought though, to be able to run confidently in the hills with the wind in your hair and the beautiful views spreading before you.

So the decision was made, I would run a Mountain Marathon. Next thing was to find one…and this is where the problem begins. Whilst looking for an event I came across The Dragon’s Back Race, which follows the mountainous spine of Wales in the UK from Conwy Castle to Carreg Cennen Castle. This incredible five day journey is approximately 300km long with 17,000 metres of ascent across trackless, remote and mountainous terrain. It is not a trail race. This description is taken from the official site at http://www.dragonsbackrace.com if you want to take a look.

The Dragons Back has only been run twice to date, once in 1992 and again in 2012 with the next one being in 2015. So I contacted the organisers to see if it would be possible to go from a beginner to compete in 2015. It was but I was advised that it would be risking injury as I would also need to get Mountain Marathon, fell running and ultra experience to help my acceptance into the race. So now we have an Event and a Date…2018. They also advised that I should look at the Welsh 3000′s, Bob Graham, Paddy Buckley and Charlie Ramsay Rounds as part of my training. So now I am the proud owner of the necessary maps for these nightmares, and am going to be booking some courses with to become confident in navigation and hill skills.

So to date…

I have an Introduction to Fell Running workshop booked on 10th June 2013 and I now have a training plan that if all goes well I should be running a marathon distance by mid January 2014. My first ultra is going to be The Wall hosted by The Rat Race in 2014, so I now have a goal to start increasing my mileage.

I started running 3 minutes and walking 1 minute for 3 miles a few weeks ago, and am now up to running 7 minutes and walking 1 minute for 40 minutes, and the other day I could have run loads more. By the end of June I should be running continuously for 3 miles. Once I get to this point I will be starting hill training as well as increasing my mileage. So that’s where I am now, right at the beginning of a very long journey that fills me with excitement of the unknown and a healthy amount of fear…and lots and lots of training and wonderful outings into the hills of the United Kingdom....

And as of today I am a proud owner of The Cool Impossible, and look forward to reading it and taking my training further.