Today's run: 5 km (3.11 miles) in 37:25.
Injury check: knees are not happy.
______
Muggy. Warm, not much wind. Bit of a long slog. And knee pain. And that's Tuesday done.
In retrospect, maybe I should have given my body another day or so of rest after my speedy run on Sunday. My legs ached a little during my five minute warm-up on the exercise bike and I quickly realised today would not be fast. This was an exercise in stamina.
The Knee started hurting a bit after the first 1.5 k. I really don't know what to do when that happens, because sometimes it just twinges a bit and then it's ok again - so should I stop or power on through?
Today I was stubborn and finished the run. Both knees were tweaking by the end and I am icing the bad one tonight.
I am fairly happy with today's time but I think I'll have to give it a week before I run again. Sad face.
Succeeding and failing on the road to the London 2013 Marathon. Possibly falling to bits in the process.
26/06/2012
24/06/2012
Hey, I Put Some New Shoes On
Today's run: 2.5 km (1.55 miles) in 15:12.
Injury check: All more or less ok.
______
A short run today, partly just to try out the new shoes, partly because The Knee has been aching a bit this week and I didn't want to push it.
However, I did manage to keep up 10 km/h for nearly the whole of this run, ending it with a sprint that let me claim a personal best time for this distance.
I also did a whole kilometre as a warm-up jog. Slowly, yes, but it was a whole kilometre - and then I did the 2.5 k run. I had to lie down at the end (yes, really) but I got my breath back more quickly than I have in the past.
All the above may not impress some people, but I am very proud of today.
Footwear verdict: the new shoes are very nice. They're a bit more comfy than my old pair and I think they're a little lighter too.
Yes, I stood on a treadmill and took a photo of my new trainers. I fully expect to feature in the anecdotes of a few strangers as 'the odd woman in the gym who photographed her own feet...'
Injury check: All more or less ok.
______
A short run today, partly just to try out the new shoes, partly because The Knee has been aching a bit this week and I didn't want to push it.
However, I did manage to keep up 10 km/h for nearly the whole of this run, ending it with a sprint that let me claim a personal best time for this distance.
I also did a whole kilometre as a warm-up jog. Slowly, yes, but it was a whole kilometre - and then I did the 2.5 k run. I had to lie down at the end (yes, really) but I got my breath back more quickly than I have in the past.
All the above may not impress some people, but I am very proud of today.
Footwear verdict: the new shoes are very nice. They're a bit more comfy than my old pair and I think they're a little lighter too.
 |
| Shiny new shoes |
23/06/2012
Group Therapy
There are times when friends have to support each other through thick and thin.
There are also, apparently, times when friends realise that they have all agreed to do the marathon, and gather together to commiserate over the fact that they have evidently taken leave of their senses. And also to shop.
First there was brunch, and then it was on to the running shop to get fitted for new trainers - because going on a treadmill was exactly what we all felt like doing after tucking into these delicious brunch goods:
 |
| The breakfast of lunatics |
In all honesty, I wasn't really planning on buying trainers, I just thought I'd see what the man said about my feet/walk/run. But seeing as I bought my current pair of trainers on the basis that they were the least expensive pair I could get in the last running I shop I visited (two years ago), maybe splashing out a bit on the right pair of shoes will be the sensible thing to do before embarking on a full training regime. That makes sense, right? Good.
Also, I like buying things for me...
15/06/2012
Interval Training is Hard
Today's run: 2.68 km (1.67 miles) in 20:08.
Injury check: Ok while running.
______
Today was hard.
I have variousexcuses reasons for it being hard (including the fact that in the last couple of days my hayfever has started kicking in and I could feel a familiar tightness in my chest when I started running, although it's nowhere as bad as it could be/has been before) but mostly I think it just wasn't my day. If you're a runner, you'll probably know that some days you simply can't seem to find your rhythm and the run doesn't go well, for no real reason. If you're not a runner - well, just take my word that this is a real thing.
I also tried some interval training during this run, as suggested by one of my friends from work. The idea is to run fast (i.e. faster than your usual pace) for two minutes and then jog/walk for one, then repeat those three minutes as many times as you want/can; the theory is that this will help you go further and therefore build up your stamina.
I tried this sort of run once before on the treadmill and I quite liked it, because it does actually make it easier to go the distance with breaks in between the fast sections. However, I found this much harder to do outside! Mainly because I don't know how fast to run in the 'fast' sections - how much speed can I put on briefly without tiring myself out and ruining the rest of the pattern? Well, I know the speed I can cope with: 10.5 km/h (11 km/h for the final push) - but I know that from the treadmill screen; I can't judge it yet on my own.
I also still find it harder to run to a time rather than a distance; I don't really know why I see those two end goals as so different, but I do.
Also, although The Knee behaved itself during the run today, once I'd stopped (and collapsed ungracefully on the ground) it suddenly decided to develop a really painful ache. Don't know what to do about that except try to keep up the strengthening exercises and see how it goes...
FYI, my running work friend also recommends doing burst sprint training up a hill, but, let's face it - I'm unlikely to ever do that.
Injury check: Ok while running.
______
Today was hard.
I have various
I also tried some interval training during this run, as suggested by one of my friends from work. The idea is to run fast (i.e. faster than your usual pace) for two minutes and then jog/walk for one, then repeat those three minutes as many times as you want/can; the theory is that this will help you go further and therefore build up your stamina.
I tried this sort of run once before on the treadmill and I quite liked it, because it does actually make it easier to go the distance with breaks in between the fast sections. However, I found this much harder to do outside! Mainly because I don't know how fast to run in the 'fast' sections - how much speed can I put on briefly without tiring myself out and ruining the rest of the pattern? Well, I know the speed I can cope with: 10.5 km/h (11 km/h for the final push) - but I know that from the treadmill screen; I can't judge it yet on my own.
I also still find it harder to run to a time rather than a distance; I don't really know why I see those two end goals as so different, but I do.
Also, although The Knee behaved itself during the run today, once I'd stopped (and collapsed ungracefully on the ground) it suddenly decided to develop a really painful ache. Don't know what to do about that except try to keep up the strengthening exercises and see how it goes...
FYI, my running work friend also recommends doing burst sprint training up a hill, but, let's face it - I'm unlikely to ever do that.
31/05/2012
First 5k
Today's run: 5 km (3.11 miles) in 35:59.
Injury check: The Knee made itself felt, but no real pain.
______
Quietly pleased with today's effort. It wasn't superbly fast but it was steady, and it was a full 5k. I ran the opposite direction around my usual path, which meant the short, sharp slope upwards that I've been dealing with on every circuit became a nice, short slope downwards. Much better. I could have gone further if I'd had to - not a lot, but I wasn't completely dying.
Today I tried out my newest running accessory: an arm band to carry my smartphone in. Up until now I've been fine with the tiny mp3 player I have for my music, but now I have a running app so I need a holder for my phone. Although that sounds a bit poncy (and/or geeky), the app also gives me regular audio feedback - a time and distance check - which really helps me to keep going. I need that encouragement, that notification that I am getting somewhere with each step.
I also have the app telling me what speed I'm going at as I pass each time or distance check. I'm not sure what distance it thinks it's averaging that over, because it's often blatantly wrong (11 km/h? Really, app? I don't think so. Not yet, anyway.), but those overly optimistic speeds do give me moments of amusement during the slog.
To reward myself for this evening's efforts I am now eating an entire bar of Galaxy Caramel. Not the small bar; the big one. And I'm totally allowed because I ran 5k today. Yum.
Injury check: The Knee made itself felt, but no real pain.
______
Quietly pleased with today's effort. It wasn't superbly fast but it was steady, and it was a full 5k. I ran the opposite direction around my usual path, which meant the short, sharp slope upwards that I've been dealing with on every circuit became a nice, short slope downwards. Much better. I could have gone further if I'd had to - not a lot, but I wasn't completely dying.
Today I tried out my newest running accessory: an arm band to carry my smartphone in. Up until now I've been fine with the tiny mp3 player I have for my music, but now I have a running app so I need a holder for my phone. Although that sounds a bit poncy (and/or geeky), the app also gives me regular audio feedback - a time and distance check - which really helps me to keep going. I need that encouragement, that notification that I am getting somewhere with each step.
I also have the app telling me what speed I'm going at as I pass each time or distance check. I'm not sure what distance it thinks it's averaging that over, because it's often blatantly wrong (11 km/h? Really, app? I don't think so. Not yet, anyway.), but those overly optimistic speeds do give me moments of amusement during the slog.
To reward myself for this evening's efforts I am now eating an entire bar of Galaxy Caramel. Not the small bar; the big one. And I'm totally allowed because I ran 5k today. Yum.
23/05/2012
Wanna Make You Sweat
Today's run: 4 km (2.5 miles) in 27:41.
Injury check: The Knee made itself felt, but no pain.
______
Today was tougher than I expected. It was a lovely day, sun shining and everything (maybe summer is finally here?) but unfortunately by the time I made it out of the office it was also somewhat muggy. It was alright to run in, but I was sweating a lot and it just sat on my skin, not cooling me down a lot. I also ran the last kilometre with a stitch.
Consequently I did not reach my 5k goal. I almost gave up at 3k but then decided I probably had another 500m in me... and then decided to at least make it to 4k. And then I laid down on the (newly mown) grass in the sun and panted for a bit. It was a really lovely evening for relaxing in the sun.
By the time I'd recovered and stretched out I had many little bits of grass sticking to my arms and legs and - I discovered once I'd ambled back to the changing rooms - my forehead. I am so cool.
Injury check: The Knee made itself felt, but no pain.
______
Today was tougher than I expected. It was a lovely day, sun shining and everything (maybe summer is finally here?) but unfortunately by the time I made it out of the office it was also somewhat muggy. It was alright to run in, but I was sweating a lot and it just sat on my skin, not cooling me down a lot. I also ran the last kilometre with a stitch.
Consequently I did not reach my 5k goal. I almost gave up at 3k but then decided I probably had another 500m in me... and then decided to at least make it to 4k. And then I laid down on the (newly mown) grass in the sun and panted for a bit. It was a really lovely evening for relaxing in the sun.
By the time I'd recovered and stretched out I had many little bits of grass sticking to my arms and legs and - I discovered once I'd ambled back to the changing rooms - my forehead. I am so cool.
20/05/2012
Clothes Maketh The Woman
Today's run: 3 km (1.86 miles) in 19:03.
Injury check: Felt The Knee on the last 50m sprint, but otherwise ok.
______
So I went out and bought some shiny new togs for running in: lightweight tops and shorts to help me fly like the wind. They're lovely, and (even if I do say so myself) I think I look pretty cool in them. Until I actually start exercising and my face turns strawberry red - and then I exude all the coolness that I normally do during a gym session...
However, the gear is nice to run in and the 19:03 is a personal best over 3k, so I'm calling that a win.
Injury check: Felt The Knee on the last 50m sprint, but otherwise ok.
______
So I went out and bought some shiny new togs for running in: lightweight tops and shorts to help me fly like the wind. They're lovely, and (even if I do say so myself) I think I look pretty cool in them. Until I actually start exercising and my face turns strawberry red - and then I exude all the coolness that I normally do during a gym session...
However, the gear is nice to run in and the 19:03 is a personal best over 3k, so I'm calling that a win.
17/05/2012
Short Run
Today's run: 2.5 km (1.55 miles) in 16:39.
Injury check: All clear.
______
A short run today, in the gym on the treadmill. I didn't push it today either, so it's not a fast time; I just wanted to do a little run to see how the knees held up after taxing them on Monday. All appears to be ok.
This short run is the length I've been working on for a while for an entirely different goal - which requires me to speed up a good deal over this distance rather than increase my endurance for the long runs. So, diametrically opposite my marathon goal.
Hmmm.
Conclusions from today: I need to buy some of those fancy running tops that help you keep cool, because I overheat like anything when I run. (I go red in the face pretty much as soon as I do any exercise. So does my mum; it's genetic.) I also need to sort out my breathing because I got stitch again. That happens more on the shorter, faster runs than the longer, slower ones. My body was definitely built for endurance over speed.
Injury check: All clear.
______
A short run today, in the gym on the treadmill. I didn't push it today either, so it's not a fast time; I just wanted to do a little run to see how the knees held up after taxing them on Monday. All appears to be ok.
This short run is the length I've been working on for a while for an entirely different goal - which requires me to speed up a good deal over this distance rather than increase my endurance for the long runs. So, diametrically opposite my marathon goal.
Hmmm.
Conclusions from today: I need to buy some of those fancy running tops that help you keep cool, because I overheat like anything when I run. (I go red in the face pretty much as soon as I do any exercise. So does my mum; it's genetic.) I also need to sort out my breathing because I got stitch again. That happens more on the shorter, faster runs than the longer, slower ones. My body was definitely built for endurance over speed.
14/05/2012
First Run
Today's run: 4.71 km (2.93 miles) in 33:53.
Injury check: felt The Knee for the first 2 km and then the last one, but no pain. Bizarrely, it was the good knee tweaking by the end. Am icing it as I type.
______
Three days ago, on Friday 11th May 2012, I agreed to run the 2013 London Marathon. This was my first training run. I actually ran 5 km but I don't have an exact time for that, since I managed to poke my phone at the wrong moment and stop the recording before I reached my goal distance (it's a new app, I'm still figuring it out).
It was not exactly an auspicious beginning: it started pouring with rain just as I was waiting for a GPS fix to start my run - and then it started to hail. I don't mind running in the rain; I draw the line at hail. I ducked inside for five minutes until the hail stopped, then waited another five until the rain was nearly done too. And then I ran.
5 km is the longest I've run in a really long time. It's only a start, but it's not a bad one.
Injury check: felt The Knee for the first 2 km and then the last one, but no pain. Bizarrely, it was the good knee tweaking by the end. Am icing it as I type.
______
Three days ago, on Friday 11th May 2012, I agreed to run the 2013 London Marathon. This was my first training run. I actually ran 5 km but I don't have an exact time for that, since I managed to poke my phone at the wrong moment and stop the recording before I reached my goal distance (it's a new app, I'm still figuring it out).
It was not exactly an auspicious beginning: it started pouring with rain just as I was waiting for a GPS fix to start my run - and then it started to hail. I don't mind running in the rain; I draw the line at hail. I ducked inside for five minutes until the hail stopped, then waited another five until the rain was nearly done too. And then I ran.
5 km is the longest I've run in a really long time. It's only a start, but it's not a bad one.
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