Am almost at the end of my month of altitude training in Kenya so I thought I’d update you on everything that’s going on. First of all, I’m happy with the training I’ve done in Kenya, I managed to get consistent weeks mileage in and it has increased every week which is good with no problems whilst doing it. However last night I was feeling flu-y with hot/cold symptoms and shivers so I got an early night and woke up wondering what the whole thing was about as I felt normal. So I then got out of bed, did my washing and tidied up as Liz and I had already decided that I wasn’t going to do a morning run because there was obviously something lingering in my system so just best not to chance it. Although we did decide that I should try and run at least once as I was feeling better so I went out with the intention of doing 45minutes but whilst out on the run I felt a bit weak and my foot was really sore, so I stopped after 30minutes. When I got back I had a look at my foot as I knew I had a horrible blister and I thought that was the cause of the pain but when I looked and prodded it, it wasn’t the blister at all and I’ve bruised the pad (by the toes) so that put a stop to any thoughts of an evening run and possible a run tomorrow but we just going to have to see hopefully it magically clears up by tomorrow morning as Hannah gave me some inflammation gel to put on it with some cling film so it doesn’t rub off in my sleep. I think the bruise was caused by a stone that got lodged in my flats and then I’ve trodden on more stones and it’s been hitting my foot whilst out on a run/s. So once again, it’s my own fault and probably avoidable but damage done so just have to make sure it’s only a few runs I miss and it doesn’t turn into something bigger or I compensate and hurt something else. See am learning!! Hmm…I think the thought of being able to race on Friday is making me more determine to make it heal quickly; therefore I don’t mind missing a few runs so I can race.

Three days and I’ll be back in sunny England!! I actually can’t wait to get home and spend some time there as I’ve not done that for nearly 18months what with being in Scotland and now in Kenya. I’m not complaining and I don’t regret anything but it will be nice to be home. I’m one of these people that ‘miss mummy and daddy’ when I’m away but when I’m at home, I’m planning my next time away. I honestly believe if I didn’t run, I’d be travelling right now which is probably why I’m never in one place very long but am having fun which is the important thing. Although am planning on getting a full-time job so that should tie me down for a while, which could be a good thing.

I’ve had soooo many people tell me “getting a full time job will affect your running”… Will it balls!! Starting at 9 and finishing at 5… well I always run before 9 and I always run after 5. I can’t see what will change apart from the fact I won’t be sitting on my backside all day doing nothing and watching Jeremy Kyle. (Yes I watch that! Shhh!). So am going to do it, I might be a bit tired after working all day but it might get me into bed before 10 instead of wasting valuable sleep time on facebook.

My next race is on Friday (hopefully!) in Hyde Park. It’s a 5k road race. I’ve decided to do it purely as an experiment to see how I feel racing straight after getting back from Altitude. I just want to see what happens, if I feel good then great, if not then I’m not too bothered because it’s just a local 5k. However I will be racing another Runnerslife athlete and we have a little bet on and he has to beat me by over a minute (I think you should come up with some suggestions of forfeits for us both when one of us loses) , which if we both run how we should then he will do but as everyone knows that’s not always how it goes on race day, especially as were both taking a gamble and running within 36hours of landing back in Britain so hopefully no fatigue for me, but plenty for him :D . Fun times!

…x