I kept it a bit quiet, but I was inspired to look for a 24 hour event after a friend (Emma) posted on Facebook about one she'd done in June - it sounded like a challenge I wanted to take up. The only one accessible to me this year was the Cotswold 24 Hour Race organised by 100 Mile Run, so I signed up.
I'll be honest, I didn't do any particular training except for continuing to train for my marathon. The laps were 9km (around 5.6 miles), so my aim was to complete 5 laps over the 24 hours which is 28 miles (just over a marathon). In retrospect, this may have been a little ambitious as I'd never completed more than 13.6 miles in training.
0 Comments
I did it!
An actual, real run! This is how my day panned out: 4 miles (yes, you read that right) walking the Ollie-doggo in the pouring rain/howling gale first thing (followed by shower, breakfast and coffee). The a spot of Yoga with Adriene (day 12), followed by a short shopping trip and home for coffee and peanut butter and honey on toast (my current favourite lunch). After some digestion time then a short (0.45 mile) walk/run warm up, I decided to take the plunge and risk it... The sun was shining (a total turn around from first thing, although it was still windy), the zombies were chasing me - well, I needed to run. I ran as easy as I could and was staggered when I got home to find that my pace was well under 11:00 per mile (and my cardio health score remains at 41 in spite of my 3 week rest). Adriene helped with a quick post-run stretch, then I re-taped my foot using kinesiology tape (more on that another time). Another mile walked with the mutt (again, in the pouring rain!) and D&I are off out for a well-deserved meal this evening. I feel confident that with careful training in the meantime, I will be able to tackle the half in 2 weeks. Happy days :)
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 In my capacity as "Runner 5" (Zombies, Run!), I pick up a lot of sports bras - just today I collected at least 3 during my missions (along with several pairs of underpants!). In my capacity as a runner on a budget, and back in reality, I was looking for something comfortable, functional and not bank breaking! I have 2 sports bras, which I have owned for around 10 months. They are both manufactured by La Isla (who I think have changed their name to Syrokan since I made my purchases). SYROKAN Women's Racerback Lift Comfort Support Underwire Padded Push Up Sports BraWhat they say:
My Review This is currently retailing at £16.49 on Amazon, including delivery. This is a very pretty sports bra, available in a range of colours. I have the light blue. I am a 34/36B and own this in 36B. It is a little on the large size cup-wise, although I'm not sure that the next size down might not be a little too small. It has a racer back and hook and eye fastening - it pulls on over the head. Through trial and error, I have learned not to wear this for running! Although the support is fine, and generally it is comfortable, it rubs my sternum, causing a small and very sore blister if I wear it to run. However, it's fine for weights, cycling etc. Comfort: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Fit: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Control: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Durability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Appearance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Would I recommend: Not for running, but for non-running sports. SYROKAN Women's Med Impact Racerback Contour Padded Underwire Support Sports BraWhat they say:
My Review This is currently retailing at £14.99 on Amazon, including delivery. I have to say, I love this sports bra. It pulls on over the head (which I've seen other reviewers say is awkward to do, but I've never found that), then hooks and eyes on the back. Really comfortable, with plenty of padding and great coverage at the front. The (racer) back has nice wide straps and sits comfortably right across the middle of my back. Doesn't ride up or move around whilst running. Size wise, I'm a 34/36B. I have this in a 36B and it fits beautifully. I've washed this at 30 and 40 degrees and have tumble dried it multiple times and it's still in perfect condition. I will definitely repurchase this - in fact I expect I'll buy another fairly soon since I'm doing so much running. At this price, you couldn't do much better! Comfort: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fit: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Control: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Durability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Appearance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Would I recommend: DEFINITELY! Events conspired against me this week and ParkRun was not a possibility. So I ran on my own (which isn't at all unusual for me). Well, me and a bunch of zombies. I set zombie chases to "on" (twice per hour) and both of those chases came in the first 5 minutes! But I managed to outrun the horde and escape the mind control, too...not a lot of people can say that before 9am on a Saturday. Now I just have time for breakfast, coffee (yum!) and a quick shower before becoming "football mum" for a few hours... Distance: 3.3 miles
Time: 36' 00" Average pace: 10' 54" Fastest mile: 10' 49" Type of run: Zombies, Run! (Easy run but with chases set to 2 x per hour) Cardio fitness score: 40 |
AuthorSophie Archives
May 2018
Categories
All
|