Since my last post I have managed to keep running regularly and, on the whole, it has been going well. I've done a lot of Heaton Park runs after work, including one that lasted 20mins without walking! I was so happy after that one, my longest yet! Unfortunately, it was also the first run in my new running shoes, which meant I was a bit of a cripple for 3 days afterwards. They make me run better, but my calves weren't used to them at all so they were very sore after. I've now got some compression socks, on the advice of my physio (mum), so the problems don't seem to be reoccurring quite as badly.
I have had 2 runs since that one. The first one I set off from home with the aim to run to a local landmark which, up to then, had been the place where I turned around after the first half of my run/walk. I hadn't managed to make it all the way there without stopping, but this time I did :D I set the stopwatch as I set off and didn't look at my watch until I got there. It was a 15min run in the end, which I'm quite pleased with given the distance and the fact there are a couple of hills. It was also dismal weather. I only did 5 mins jogging on the way back, my legs really couldn't take any more. I was disappointed, but considering I could barely walk the day before I suppose it wasn't too bad.
Today's run started out ok. I had decided to go back to following the C25K plan, starting at week 6 (so 10mins run, 2mins walk, 10mins run). The first 10mins was ok, but the 2nd was awful! I even had to walk for 30secs in the middle, I just couldn't keep going. I think (hope!) the reason for it was because it was a morning run and I'd only had a banana before it. I know the distance I'm running should be fine on a banana, but seeing as I usually do evening runs my body isn't used to having less in the tank. Fatty! I ended the session with a fast walk up a very long hill. My cereal tasted fantastic though after that :D
I've also been swimming a couple of times in preparation for the triathlon. I'm beginning to think the swim will be the hardest part. I'm just not an efficient swimmer! I'm improving though, in 3 weeks I've managed to reduce my 200m time from 5:48 (argh!) to a slightly more respectable 4:49. I'm aiming for 4:30. I'm also trying to use my arms for the majority and keep my legs fairly still, so that I'm not knackered for the bike ride and run after the swim. It seems like a million miles away now, but hopefully by September it will be something I can do reasonably well.
It's my birthday tomorrow, so I'll be having a couple of days off running and a couple of days on restaurant food and (hopefully) cake :)
Thursday, 30 May 2013
Thursday, 23 May 2013
Spinning Around
So I went spinning. I was so nervous after everyone I spoke to said how horrific it was going to be. I shouldn't have worried, it was fine! Don't get me wrong, it was tough and my legs burned, but I didn't feel like I couldn't manage it at any point. I was quite worried about the standing up bits, but they were really good fun. I'll definitely be returning! The worst part of it all was losing £1 to the locker. Sod's law that is the only type of pound I am losing.
Following that, yesterday I went for a run around Heaton Park. It was the first run of week 4 of my 5k plan and I had aimed to do 7mins running then 2 mins walking rest, 3 times. As always, the first stint was the most difficult. The vast majority is up hill. I'd love to be able to train somewhere flat for once, but unfortunately I won't be able to do that until we move. Anyway I made it to the end of the first 7min stretch and the 2nd wasn't so bad (still uphill, but more flat/downhill parts). I then did the 3rd stretch and went off on a new path, which was really lovely. It was sunny and I could see over Manchester and Cabaret was on my mp3 player and it was just nice :) I even forgot about the fact I was running and just enjoyed the view, which is something I've been trying to do but not succeeding!
At the end of the 3rd stretch I knew I wanted to try a 4th, so I walked for just 1 minute this time then set off running again. I got a bit disorientated and thought I was at the bottom of a small hill, which in fact turned out to be a very long hill, on quite an incline, with gale force winds blowing at me! I had to have some serious mental conversations with myself during that session. The '3 weeks ago' me would've given up half way up, if not before, but my running has given me some new found mental strength to allow me to carry on with things and ignore the voices that are telling me I can't do it. When I reached the top, my heart was pounding, I could hardly breathe and my legs were doing their own thing, but I felt like Rocky!! I couldn't believe I'd done it, nor could I believe I still had another minute to run, but that was all down hill so a nice easy finish. When my watch beeped at the end of those 7 minutes I felt elated, I'd done it! I could've leaped into the air and cheered, had my legs not been replaced with jelly.
So today is a rest day, which I am very glad of as I'm feeling physically drained. I still feel like there's no way I could manage all 5k without walking, but when I think about where I was 3 weeks ago, only just managing 3 minutes at a time, I'm confident I'll get there by 14th July. If I can manage to do 2 sets of 7 minutes, the latter being mostly up hill, with only 1 minute walking break in between, then surely running for 14 minutes isn't too far away? I read a marathon report by someone who had achieved their first one and she said she was never out of breath (although everything hurt), so perhaps at some stage it will start to become easier aerobically. I certainly hope so!
P.S. I went to Sports Direct last night and bought some proper running shoes, was very exciting! Now there's a sentence I never thought I'd say!
Following that, yesterday I went for a run around Heaton Park. It was the first run of week 4 of my 5k plan and I had aimed to do 7mins running then 2 mins walking rest, 3 times. As always, the first stint was the most difficult. The vast majority is up hill. I'd love to be able to train somewhere flat for once, but unfortunately I won't be able to do that until we move. Anyway I made it to the end of the first 7min stretch and the 2nd wasn't so bad (still uphill, but more flat/downhill parts). I then did the 3rd stretch and went off on a new path, which was really lovely. It was sunny and I could see over Manchester and Cabaret was on my mp3 player and it was just nice :) I even forgot about the fact I was running and just enjoyed the view, which is something I've been trying to do but not succeeding!
At the end of the 3rd stretch I knew I wanted to try a 4th, so I walked for just 1 minute this time then set off running again. I got a bit disorientated and thought I was at the bottom of a small hill, which in fact turned out to be a very long hill, on quite an incline, with gale force winds blowing at me! I had to have some serious mental conversations with myself during that session. The '3 weeks ago' me would've given up half way up, if not before, but my running has given me some new found mental strength to allow me to carry on with things and ignore the voices that are telling me I can't do it. When I reached the top, my heart was pounding, I could hardly breathe and my legs were doing their own thing, but I felt like Rocky!! I couldn't believe I'd done it, nor could I believe I still had another minute to run, but that was all down hill so a nice easy finish. When my watch beeped at the end of those 7 minutes I felt elated, I'd done it! I could've leaped into the air and cheered, had my legs not been replaced with jelly.
So today is a rest day, which I am very glad of as I'm feeling physically drained. I still feel like there's no way I could manage all 5k without walking, but when I think about where I was 3 weeks ago, only just managing 3 minutes at a time, I'm confident I'll get there by 14th July. If I can manage to do 2 sets of 7 minutes, the latter being mostly up hill, with only 1 minute walking break in between, then surely running for 14 minutes isn't too far away? I read a marathon report by someone who had achieved their first one and she said she was never out of breath (although everything hurt), so perhaps at some stage it will start to become easier aerobically. I certainly hope so!
P.S. I went to Sports Direct last night and bought some proper running shoes, was very exciting! Now there's a sentence I never thought I'd say!
Tuesday, 21 May 2013
It Starts...
On 24th April, I sat in on an assembly with the theme of setting goals for yourself. The headmaster used the recent London Marathon as an example. It got me thinking, I needed a new challenge. I was never going to run a marathon, I don't think I could keep myself focused for long enough to run for 4hrs, but I could start somewhere.
I had noticed the recent adverts on TV (I spend a lot of time in front of the TV!) for the Race for Life. I loved the angle they had taken this year, the whole 'cancer, we're coming to get you' idea, and often found myself welling up watching them. I had thought I'd like to get involved, but I hadn't run on purpose in over a decade. But once I get an idea in my head I tend to obsess about it, so I paid my entry fee (doing the 5k at Heaton Park in July) and made my mind up to start training.
One day later I was turning my house upside down, looking for my trainers. When I eventually found them (in a room we call 'the cave', under a pile of stuff destined for ebay), I wasn't overly surprised to see they were still like new. I don't think they'd ever seen a road! Nevertheless, on they went and I found some clothes resembling exercise gear, before doing some stretches and hitting the pavement. I soon realised that, although we live in a lovely part of the UK, it is definitely not flat. Half way up my first hill, 2 minutes into my first run, I wondered what the hell I was doing. I passed another jogger (heading downhill, jealous!) and managed to draw my face into what I'm hoping was a smile, although it probably bore more of a resemblance to Gollum in the throes of passion.
By the time I reached the top of the hill, my wind pipe was on fire and my legs were burning. I walked for a bit, turned around and ran down the hill (much more my kind of thing!). On returning home I was knackered but felt elated that I'd actually done it. I'd probably managed to run for all of 5 minutes, split into 2, but I'd got out of the house and gone running.
I hobbled around the following day feeling like I'd achieved something massive, not just a poxy 5 minute run. As soon as I had stopped aching (it took a few days!) I was out again. I started doing 4 sets of 3mins, with a 2 min walk in between. The next week I progressed to 4x4mins. I was loving the feeling I got when returning home after a run, as well as the general feeling of well-being from getting more exercise. Don't get me wrong, I've never been sedentary, I've ridden horses all my life and having had Saffy for almost 5yrs now I ride at least 4 times a week and spend my evenings mucking out, emptying wheelbarrows and carrying bales and buckets of water. I don't often push myself to the limit cardio-wise though, so this was something new.
Last week was week 3 of my training. I was already finding it easier to keep going for longer, but I was always glad of a walk break. I decided to go to Heaton Park as it is on my way home from work, to suss out what the actual 'race' would be like. It was not flat. At all. It was lovely though, lots of great scenery, good tracks and plenty of wildlife. Week 3 consisted of 3x6mins with 2mins walk in between. I enjoyed it so much on the first day that I ended up doing 4 sets. I did 2 Heaton Park runs, one with 3 sets and 1 with 4.
On Sunday I went all out. I got up early and did my first sprint training session in an attempt to boost my aerobic capacity (ie. make it easier for me to jog for longer!). I managed 8 sets of 30 second sprints, followed by 1 minute walk break. I started the session with a 6 min jog to warm up, which I aimed to also do to finish, but I was that drained I only managed 4mins. It took a long time for me to get my breath back! Not to be outdone, I then went and rode Saffy before Ross and I walked up Holcombe Hill and beyond, a 1300ft ascension. We did 8 miles in total. It was a great walk, but I'm still feeling it 2 days after! Of course, I don't think the sprinting or riding did much to soothe the aches!
So that's where I'm up to now. Week 4 of the running will hopefully include 3 sets of a 7min run followed by 2mins walking. Tonight though I am attending my first spinning class. I've never done anything like it before, but it's a beginners' one and I've heard they are great cardio workouts. I booked and paid for it in advance when I was feeling particularly active last week, just so I couldn't chicken out!
I'll report back on how it went. It will be good training for my triathlon, but that's a story for another day :)
I had noticed the recent adverts on TV (I spend a lot of time in front of the TV!) for the Race for Life. I loved the angle they had taken this year, the whole 'cancer, we're coming to get you' idea, and often found myself welling up watching them. I had thought I'd like to get involved, but I hadn't run on purpose in over a decade. But once I get an idea in my head I tend to obsess about it, so I paid my entry fee (doing the 5k at Heaton Park in July) and made my mind up to start training.
One day later I was turning my house upside down, looking for my trainers. When I eventually found them (in a room we call 'the cave', under a pile of stuff destined for ebay), I wasn't overly surprised to see they were still like new. I don't think they'd ever seen a road! Nevertheless, on they went and I found some clothes resembling exercise gear, before doing some stretches and hitting the pavement. I soon realised that, although we live in a lovely part of the UK, it is definitely not flat. Half way up my first hill, 2 minutes into my first run, I wondered what the hell I was doing. I passed another jogger (heading downhill, jealous!) and managed to draw my face into what I'm hoping was a smile, although it probably bore more of a resemblance to Gollum in the throes of passion.
By the time I reached the top of the hill, my wind pipe was on fire and my legs were burning. I walked for a bit, turned around and ran down the hill (much more my kind of thing!). On returning home I was knackered but felt elated that I'd actually done it. I'd probably managed to run for all of 5 minutes, split into 2, but I'd got out of the house and gone running.
I hobbled around the following day feeling like I'd achieved something massive, not just a poxy 5 minute run. As soon as I had stopped aching (it took a few days!) I was out again. I started doing 4 sets of 3mins, with a 2 min walk in between. The next week I progressed to 4x4mins. I was loving the feeling I got when returning home after a run, as well as the general feeling of well-being from getting more exercise. Don't get me wrong, I've never been sedentary, I've ridden horses all my life and having had Saffy for almost 5yrs now I ride at least 4 times a week and spend my evenings mucking out, emptying wheelbarrows and carrying bales and buckets of water. I don't often push myself to the limit cardio-wise though, so this was something new.
Last week was week 3 of my training. I was already finding it easier to keep going for longer, but I was always glad of a walk break. I decided to go to Heaton Park as it is on my way home from work, to suss out what the actual 'race' would be like. It was not flat. At all. It was lovely though, lots of great scenery, good tracks and plenty of wildlife. Week 3 consisted of 3x6mins with 2mins walk in between. I enjoyed it so much on the first day that I ended up doing 4 sets. I did 2 Heaton Park runs, one with 3 sets and 1 with 4.
On Sunday I went all out. I got up early and did my first sprint training session in an attempt to boost my aerobic capacity (ie. make it easier for me to jog for longer!). I managed 8 sets of 30 second sprints, followed by 1 minute walk break. I started the session with a 6 min jog to warm up, which I aimed to also do to finish, but I was that drained I only managed 4mins. It took a long time for me to get my breath back! Not to be outdone, I then went and rode Saffy before Ross and I walked up Holcombe Hill and beyond, a 1300ft ascension. We did 8 miles in total. It was a great walk, but I'm still feeling it 2 days after! Of course, I don't think the sprinting or riding did much to soothe the aches!
So that's where I'm up to now. Week 4 of the running will hopefully include 3 sets of a 7min run followed by 2mins walking. Tonight though I am attending my first spinning class. I've never done anything like it before, but it's a beginners' one and I've heard they are great cardio workouts. I booked and paid for it in advance when I was feeling particularly active last week, just so I couldn't chicken out!
I'll report back on how it went. It will be good training for my triathlon, but that's a story for another day :)
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