GUEST POST FROM MR THOOSA - AN UNLIKELY LOVE AFFAIR

I have been injured for a while now – a stupid injury to my Achilles tendon (about which perhaps more on another occasion) meant that I swim and cycle but not run at all, let alone pound the city pavements. Eventually I got the green light from my physio to start doing some low-impact aerobic exercise that was as close as possible to running, but without the high impact that running can cause. What actually was that exercise? The elliptical cross-trainer in the gym. My heart sank.

However, six weeks later, I can honestly say that I have formed a new relationship with the cross-trainer – one that goes far beyond our previous interaction. I fully accept that running in the gym can be boring; personally I have always found it hard to do more than 30 minutes on any gym machine, even when I would happily(ish) run outside for up to two hours. Why the change of heart? I think that it’s a combination of things, but the first was a decision to ‘run’ on the cross-trainer without holding onto the arms. I figured that doing that would make it as close to running as I could get, I also hoped it would be good for my (long hidden, largely forgotten) stomach muscles.

What I hadn’t really anticipated was that it would also require me to spend more concentration on keeping on the machine, which meant that I spent less time darting glances at the gym clock to see how much time was left. But ultimately the cross-trainer has worked for me because I can feel that it’s working for my body. Even now that I am able to start incorporating running back into my training, I am going to keep a space for the cross-trainer, which has won me over. It’s a brilliant way to turn your legs over without causing even a fraction of the impact to your ankles, knees and thighs that a run can potentially do.

The other things which have helped me through the otherwise interminable gym hours (and scientists have proven that time runs more slowly once you get on an aerobic machine in the gym): podcasts, a heartrate monitor, a completely new library of tunes on my ipod. But more about those another time.

LIMITED EDITION BLACK

It's been a crazy few months with all hands on deck finalising our new Spring/ Summer 2011 collection which will be available in January. In the meantime, we have launched a limited range of our most popular tops in black which are proving to be a great success. We also have a mini Summer brochure available showing the best of our Summer gear.

On the running front, since the marathon things haven't been great for me. Despite lots of physiotherapy, my back problem hasn't improved a great deal. On physio's orders running is off the menu for the time being and so I'm making do with daily dog walking, stretching and even a bit of ballet! On a more positive note, I'm loving the great summer we're having which is more than making up for the coldest of winters.

CITY SKORT

Our new collection included a running skort (skirt with integral shorts) called the City skort. We introduced it to see whether the UK was ready to follow in the footsteps of our American sisters who consider the skirt a running wardrobe essential.

To be honest, I had my doubts and I have been proven completely wrong. They have flown off the shelves and after it was featured in the May issue of Runner's World, we sold out within a week!

In one sense this is fantastic news but I am also very sorry to disappoint so many of our customers. Our new stock is not due to arrive until the Autumn and although we are looking into whether we can bring this forward at the moment the signs are not good.

So to all our disappointed customers out there, you have my sincere apologies for being too conservative. We will make sure that it doesn't happen again.

LONDON MARATHON EXPO

Having got Paris under my belt my full attention has turned to the London Marathon which is on Sunday. We have a stand (166) at the Expo which I will be manning for all 4 days. This is our third time at the Expo and each year it gets better. It holds a special place for us as we launched the brand here in 2007 so technically this week marks our third birthday - any excuse for more champagne!

It's got a great atmostphere and I've enjoyed speaking to our customers and re-living my marathon experiences. Today a lady came on the stand who has run 180 marathons! I can't even begin to imagine why!

If you're coming to collect your race number, pop by and say hello. We're by the massage tables which I have had my eye on all day.

PARIS MARATHON 2010

Marathon day has come and gone in a whirlwind and I quite literally haven't found a minute to write about it until now. In fact the passage of time has dulled the senses a bit and so I'll be able to write a bit more positively about what was the most painful thing I have done since the London Marathon in 2007 when I vowed never again!

The whole weekend was great fun with the girls. Claire was in charge of our accommodation and she did a spectacular job of finding a wonderful hotel just minutes from the start. This proved a godsend as we were able to make the most of the facitities while the thousands queued for the what seemed to be very few portaloos.

In comparison to the London and New York marathons, the start in Paris was very slow. It was also a bit of an obstacle course as the ground was littered with discarded bin liners, water bottles, gel wrappers and other unidentifiable items. It took us just under 15 minutes to cross the start line and then the race was on.

Charlotte was off like a shot while Claire and I ran together for the first 7 miles. From the sidelines with her bagette, Lindsay also ran along for a little bit! I found it very difficult to get into my stride as it was extremely crowded with far more jostling than I have experienced before. The water stations were also fairly chaotic made all the more challenging by having to navigate the banana and orange skins on the ground.

I started to feel pretty tired by the half way point which wasn't a good sign. The jelly babies weren't giving me the energy I needed and my legs started to hurt. I was feeling very low by about mile 14 and a seed of doubt started to grow as to whether I could make the full distance.

But marathon running is full of highs and lows. After I saw Lindsay again at mile 15 and put on my ipod I started to feel a lot better. With Neil Diamond ringing loudly in my ears I found an unexpected turn of pace and powered through the next 6 miles with almost a spring in my step. Alas, it was not to last and at mile 23 I well and truly hit the wall. Michael Jackson couldn't help me and I slowed to a crawl. I was also extremely thirsty and the only aid station in sight was serving wine and cheese, but not water!

Again, unlike in London and New York I found the finish somewhat of an anti-climax. That said, I was delighted to finish but not so delighted with my time of 4 hours 13 mins. I'm not sure if I was under-prepared or just tired from an exhausting few weeks but I know I couldn't have run any faster.

Claire and Charlotte both seemed to enjoy themselves more than I did. It was Charlotte's first marathon which is always a special event. She did it in a fantastic time of 3 hours 42 mins. Her marathon lesson was that next time she'll be choosing her underwear more carefully and will not be running in a g-string. While I had blisters on my feet, hers were in more delicate places! From the photos, Claire seemed to having the most fun. Her time was a very respectable 4 hours and 41 mins which was all the more impressive considering that her blisters (on her feet) were monstrous.

We showered and changed and spent a very enjoyable few hours having lunch with Lindsay before catching the Eurostar home, drinking champagne all the way!

TRAINING RUN 4

On Sunday I ran the final training run organised by Gade Valley Harriers. My marathon training friends Claire and Charlotte couldn’t make it so I ventured to Hemel Hempstead on my own. One of the nice things about the series of runs organised by the club is how friendly they are and I was happy to go it alone. That said, I wasn’t happy to be running 20 miles!

For the first time the weather was actually quite kind, but that brought with it new issues. Having been such a cold winter, I got quite used to running in my Chill tights and Chill jacket. On Sunday morning I was filled with wardrobe dilemmas but decided on Swift knee length tights with a Swift racer back and Chill jacket. It proved a perfect combination.

I didn’t feel nearly as well prepared as I had for the 17 mile run at the end of February and I found the run so much harder. The hills seemed steeper and the miles longer. It was a fairly depressing feeling to get to mile 13, exhausted. In 2 weeks time that will only be the half way point.

I struggled on and after a particularly low point at mile 18 the last 2 miles passed in a haze. I finished in 3 hours exactly and was ready for tea and cake! Although I found it difficult I was surprised how quickly I seemed to recover and my legs don’t seem to have been as stiff as I thought they would which is positive. I now have 2 weeks of tapering (read putting my feet up and not doing much) before the big day on 11 April. Let’s hope I’ve done enough to be able to enjoy it.

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SPRING IS HERE (FINALLY!)

The last month has flown by with a few highs and lows. On the positive side, it’s been so nice to go running and not be freezing. On the wardrobe front I have been enjoying trying out some of our new styles and my current favourite is the Swift cap sleeve in berry (below). I’ve transitioned from my Chill pants to the Swift knee length and I’m sure it won’t be long before I’ll be in my City skort – although I may need to apply some fake tan to my translucent white legs!

On the downside, my running hasn’t been going very well since the 17 miler at the end of February. I took a week off during which time I had a sports massage. Well it turned out to be the worse thing I could have done. The next time I went running it just felt all wrong and since then every time I’ve been out I get a different niggle – my back, my knee, my shoulder! But hopefully that is all behind me as this week I’ve had 2 runs that seemed to be fine. I’m quite nervous about our last big training run tomorrow (20 miles) but at least we will then be on the home straight.