OK, I don't want to jinx this, but I may actually be getting there.
Yesterday I tried to run and made it about 100m down the road before I decided to bail out, and went for an 11 mile bike ride instead (so Mike the Bike was happy!). Today I tried a different tactic. No expectations, 30 second intervals on my FitBit. I managed 10 walk and 10 run intervals before feeling like I needed to stop (ankle), so walked most of the way home, then ran the last 0.15 miles. It doesn't seem like much, but the fact that a small yoga session killed any aches makes it feel like a massive step forward. I then walked Ollie-dog with no pain at all (and no painkillers). Softly softly, catchy monkey!...
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Last night I was babysitting, which was fine, except they said they'd be back at 11pm and they didn't get back until 12.20am! So by the time I got to bed it was around 1am. I woke up at 7am, so was really thinking I'd take it easy at PR today. That was my intention. Honestly. My mum says "the road to hell is paved with good intentions"... I started myself somewhere in the middle and LOADS of people passed me as well. But in the second mile I found my running stride and just kept going, and it was me doing the passing! It was a little muddy underfoot (but I was wearing my trail shoes) and the snow held off for the duration, which was nice of it. Really pleased with my time and a new ParkRun best for me... Distance: 3.11 miles
Time: 29m:02s Average pace: 9' 28" Fastest mile: 8' 59" Type of run: ParkRun (threshold) Cardio fitness score: 41
At the moment I have 2 guided interval sessions on my phone to choose from - Power Up 2012 (Pyramid Intervals) or Run Faster 1 with Chrissie Wellington, both from AudioFuel. I "found" AudioFuel after using the NHS "Couch to 5k" podcasts when I started running in 2014.
This week, it was Chrissie's turn to run with me (at least she says she's running with me - I don't believe it personally!). The session starts with a warm up, then has intervals of 2-4 minutes of either 175b.p.m. or 180b.p.m. I had set it up so that it would be followed by tracks at 170b.p.m. to keep me moving. I have started finding recently that actually 175-180b.p.m. isn't nearly as challenging as it used to be, so I think I will need to find something a bit faster quite soon. Once I am warmed up, I am coping pretty well with 170b.p.m. as a steady pace. I think this is good news as I am getting fitter. Aaaaanyhoo...the final interval took me up one of the hills that I had mentioned in Tuesday's blog, and that was a bit of a challenge at 180b.p.m.! I will be really glad when the weather improves - today was bitter and although I quickly warm up when I run, it's really not that tempting to get out when it feels like minus-something! On the bright side, I had a new snuggly top that I bought using a gift card that D's parents very kindly gave me for Christmas...
Distance: 3.58 miles
Time: 36m:21s Average pace: 10m:08s Fastest mile: 9m:50s Type of run: Intervals (AudioFuel Run faster 1) Cardio fitness score: 41
I know, I know, it seems impossible after my blog only a few short days ago, but yes! I actually did a run that felt "fun"!
Strangely enough, I almost had to drag myself out, but having had my Tuesday run interrupted, I decided to add an impromptu few miles in yesterday. My plan was simple: put on "Zombies, Run!" and have a gentle jog around a just-over-3-mile circuit.
The situation with the zombies (or actually in this case, mind control) is getting critical, and I (Runner 5) was trapped in New Canton where everyone except me was mind controlled. Luckily, I had Sam Yao on comms who led me to safety (for now)...
Perhaps it was because I put no pressure on myself for pace or distance - I had planned my route before I left and I was only doing this for the miles. It was chilly, but I soon warmed up. The storyline distracted me. And my cardio fitness score went up to 41 on my FitBit #proud In the evening, I went for a not-quite-so-successful swim. I usually swim on a Friday (which I can't do this week) and the pool tends to be pretty empty. Not so on a Wednesday, it would seem. One lane being used for a 1-2-1 swimming lesson, the other lane was full and I was swimming in laps with some rather leisurely swimmers! That said, I swam for half an hour and I'm glad I went (got to try out my new cozzie!).
Distance: 3.4 miles
Time: 34m:11s Average pace: 10m:02s Fastest mile: 9m:50s Type of run: Easy (Zombies) Cardio fitness score: 41 OK, the bottom line. I find running HARD, I mean properly hard work, and pretty much every run I go on, within a few minutes I'm thinking "why am I even doing this?". Whilst I was running today I wondered to myself why it is that I find it so bloody difficult. I am not often in pain, I enjoy being outside, and I love the feeling of accomplishment afterwards (which probably explains why I don't just give up, go home and eat chocolate!)... I had quite a long time to contemplate this and to consider exactly how my body and mind were feeling during my 9 mile run today - whilst running from zombies, obviously (evaded). Question 1: Does anything hurt? Answer: No (except a little niggle in my right hip and my left foot swelled a bit and rubbed on the top for the last 2 miles) Question 2: Am I too tired to continue? Answer: Honestly? No. Question 3: What's my heart rate doing? Answer: This... Question 4: Do I want to stop? Answer: Oh my God YES!!! I think the overall answer must be that, with my heart rate rocketing pretty much from start to finish, my brain just wants me to stop, or at least slow down. Well, one part of my brain. Then there's the other part that tells me "the faster you do this, the sooner it will be over", which may explain my pacy run today, and is probably combined with my stubborn bloody-mindedness in keeping me running! I'm really proud of my run today, and looking forward to a run-free day tomorrow and an hour at the trampoline park! In the absence of my bluetooth connection, I plotted my run on Endomondo to get an accurate distance. Distance: 9.31 miles
Time: 1h:31m:15s Average pace: 9' 48" Fastest mile: Unknown (forgot to switch bluetooth on!) Type of run: Long Cardio fitness score: 40 I was lucky enough to get a new FitBit (Charge HR 2) for Christmas, which has led to a bit of an obsession (hopefully healthy) with...well, my health!
I'm currently in training for Reading Half Marathon (thought I'd scuppered that plan when I slipped on ice on 30th December and landed on my coccyx - one of the most painful experiences of my life!). When I started running again in mid-December I wondered whether I'd ever manage a pace above what felt like crawling, but amazingly (!!!) with training (in my case 3-4 runs per week) and time (i.e. more than one week!), my pace is improving nicely. I can now run several miles at 10:33 and 2-3 miles at under 10:00 per mile. Due to the ice, I haven't run this weekend (I now have serious paranoia about slipping), but it looks to be thawing over the next few days so I'll be back at it. 8 weeks now until the half marathon and I can actually see myself doing it in a respectable time. I've only ever run that far once (alone) and completed the distance in 2hr 23 mins. I'll be aiming to beat that! My FitBit allows me to track all of this and also my cardio fitness (now standing at 39, which is bordering on "excellent" for a woman of my age) and my resting heart rate, which is 60-62 bpm. I've lost half a stone, all but given up alcohol, upped my fruit and veg intake and I'm feeling good! And now, to bed...more soon! |
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