Well this week Mum has been happily training again.  She has been most enthusiastic.  Mum has decided to forget about how fast she used to run, and just train as well as she can while shovelling in a fistful of frankly deliciously tempting looking little tablets which she doesn't even let me in the room with.  The tablets are making Mum feel better again, her blood pressure is going back up, her iron levels are going back up, her mood is also going back up. This week Mum's plan was to do just 22 miles, only 8 more than last week, but to run a lot harder.  "That's it, Mum", I said, while I dozed in front of the fire, "put a bit of effort in, and please go the horse poo route because I've not eaten any in days." Then it got icy.  I love the ice!  It's fabulous.  I have never seen ice like it.  The ground was actually totally white and it tasted and smelled different.  I re-sniffed everything I've sniffed before, barked at it all, and cha...

Mum is not good at resting.  I am good at resting. She should have lessons from me. This week is not a funny, its just an update from Mum. Last year Mum ran her first Marathon in 3 hours and 20 minutes (plus loose change).  Mum felt she should have been faster and believes if she hadn't lost training due to injury she would have been, but that's just the way running goes.  When she fell into doing another one this year Mum's goal was clear, run under 3 hours 15 minutes and secure championship entry for London Marathon next year or the year after.  Mum was running well at the time, her shorter distances were getting quicker again, she was frequently coming away with prize money for veteran and occasionally senior placings, and she'd just run a very slight half marathon PB of 1 hour 32 minutes (plus the loose change again) on a definitely undulating course.  She was already running around 35-40 miles a week and generally feeling fit.  Mum has admi...

This week Mum has started her new training plan.  The new plan starts from a much lower mileage - just 33 miles this week - and builds up gradually over the next six weeks.  It includes less "junk" miles and, Mum hopes, more good training sessions.  Mum says this plan should mean that she gets quicker again, but still gets enough mileage in to build some endurance for marathon running. Mum said this week was about something called "benchmarking".  This sounded right up my street.  I have left marks in a number of benches in my short life.  Also tables, chairs, and most recently skirting boards. Mum isn't normally into this sort of thing though, I've never even seen her chew so much as a lollipop stick. It turns out this wasn't quite what Mum meant.  Mum has got slow.  Mum understands this is relative but she still doesn't like it, and has told me in her "I am absolutely having none of this shit, little pup" tone of voice that ...

Last week Mum was so tired that even from my ever happy wuffle point of view, it's hard to make funnies about Mum's exploits.   Mum had a couple of days off running at the start of the week and expected to feel all bouncy by mid week.  Mum did not feel all bouncy.  I did some bouncing for her but that seemed to make her even more tired. On Boxing Day she had a steady run which was still hard work.  On Thursday Mum decided to do a race.  Mum didn't really feel racy but the race is part of her club's league and Mum was in the area and felt there may be "easy points" on offer.  Mum was absolutely knackered and had also forgotten how hilly it was. Mum says she is fully aware of how bad she is at running up hills but I've seen Mum run up hills, and I'm not sure she realises quite how bad she is.  I don't understand it.  I mean surely you just bound on up.  Not Mum.  Mum huffs, puffs and whines. Sorry Mum, I love you, but you do!...