Category: Running

Well, sort of.

I have not followed a training plan for this half marathon. I am feeling quite relaxed about it, although I am sure on Sunday morning I will be nervous. Not following a plan has been good- I have roughly worked out the long run distance each week but I have not been obsessive about ticking off the miles. The downside is that I forgot about cutting back a bit. I know that with a half marathon I don’t need a month long taper or anything, but I know I do better if I take it a bit easier the week before.

Anyway, on Monday I remembered and so only did a 3 mile run after work. It was one of those runs that felt so slow (it was windy and my legs were stiff) but actually was not that bad- around 10 minute mile pace which for after work is OK for me.

The Pump instructor is away this week, which again is pretty good timing as my legs take a while to recover from the squats and lunges.

After my Monday run I tried some of this coconut water- lemonade flavour. It is all £1 at Ocado at the moment so I ordered one of them to see. The verdict? I quite liked it. It was sharp and tangy (and not fizzy- phew)- it does have some added fruit sugar but only a small amount (2% I think) and I suppose it would have been too sour otherwise.

On Sunday we spent time at the allotment and picked a whole load of strawberries and a few raspberries. I have been enjoying them with my breakfast since, and still have some left. I put some chia seeds in a bowl with a little almond milk, then add the berries, some muesli, sometimes a few almonds, and then top with more milk, and let it soak overnight. Delicious.

I am off to Sweatshop tonight and have been told we can choose between a shorter or slightly longer run, but I think I am going to err on the side of caution, especially as my back has been a bit stiff today. Then I can’t decide what to do for the rest of the week. I think I might have a short run after work on Friday, as I have a busy day on Saturday, plus I would rather be a bit rested before Sunday.

Favourite summery drink? I quite like elderflower, but I had some on Friday which turned out to be fizzy so I was not that impressed with it. Peach iced tea or mango coconut water are also on my refreshing list.

 

First up, doughnut peaches are back!

I normally find them in Asda but each time I checked they have not had any (and have not seen the label on the shelf either) but today I saw them in Sainsbury’s, and for only £1.50 for this big punnet! Exciting times folks.

So, next weekend I am doing a trail half marathon. I say trail marathon- it is through some woods, so it’s off road. I think trail makes it sound more hardcore than it probably is. But anyway, it is still a half and they should be taken seriously.

Over the past few months I have been upping my mileage again- I had a bit of a break after the Bath Half as I found that so tough, but I still managed a good amount of miles- in fact 72 miles both in March (Bath was at the start) and April. But since then my mileage has dipped. Partly I think this is because I was managing 4 runs a week, and this has gone down to an average of 3, and also because we went away in May. But life in general has been getting in the way a bit too…

For the last 2 weeks though I have only managed 2 runs per week. I had my lovely 3 run weekend and a sports massage on the Monday, but then when I got home I had the most awful headache- I took painkillers which did nothing, and in the end had to go and lie down and take some more a couple of hours later. This impacted my running in two ways:  I didn’t get any work done that evening, so I had twice as much for Tuesday. Plus on Tuesday I felt really delicate, so didn’t think a run was a good idea. Add on to that other meetings, and the need for a rest day after a long run and all I managed was Wednesday and Saturday.

I did manage 11 miles last Saturday, which has given me some confidence. Then spent about 90 minutes at the allotment on Sunday, and on Monday I was still aching. Plus I got home late and had work to do (as it was I worked until 9.15 and then had to get up early the next morning to finish as I needed to unwind a bit). On Tuesday it was baking hot but I managed 5 miles, which I was pleased with as I do want to make my midweek runs a bit longer. I had to stop and cool down for a bit after a few miles as it was so hot.

Then, on Wednesday I was going to have a short run, as we were off out (I knew I had no time for Sweatshop) but I didn’t get away until late so only just had time to mark some work and change before we were out (and then I had more work when we got back). Thursday was pump and then Friday I was out for dinner- again just enough time when I got home to shower and change before rushing out again.

On a side note, I had a delicious salad with lentils, butternut squash and goats cheese, and then we went to the fabulous Pudding Stop for dessert.

So many tempting things on their menu, but in the end I opted for a delicious lemon tart.

When they brought our food over, the guy told me that my slice was too small (something about it being the last ?) so they had given me two small slices instead of one large. Luckily they let me take half home as one slice was plenty!

I was up early on Saturday for a long run. I had mapped out an 11 mile route, but it turned out to be closer to 12 miles. The weather was cooler at least, although my face was still covered in salt after a few miles. Near the end it started raining, and at first it was just wonderful- slightly heavier than a fine mist, and really cooling. But for the final half mile or so it was very heavy, and so all the salt washed off my face into my eyes- I had to finish with just one eye open and when I got home had to stumble up the stairs with both eyes shut as they were stinging so much!

My run was slow (well slower than I would have liked I suppose)- I slowed a lot towards the end and the 11.8 miles took me 2.08. But with the heat, and being so tired, I am OK with that. Next week I am not aiming for a pb, I just want to enjoy the woods, and also raise some money for a local hospice charity. (If you want to help raise money my page is here)

I shall not be stressing anyway. I know by now that I don’t do well in the heat, and I love running though woods so I am looking forward to some pretty scenery.

Are you always after a pb or do you sign up for races for different reasons? I do look for fast and flat courses, but I also like more interesting off road ones, and I am always tempted if a technical t-shirt is on offer!

Hey peeps, I hope you are all doing well. Last week we got back from Berlin on Wednesday evening (too late for Sweatshop!) and then on Thursday I was meeting someone at work early on, plus I was going to pump in the evening, so by the time Friday rolled around I was itching for a run!

I went out before breakfast- as I had been to pump the night before (and that was the first time for 3 weeks as for the previous 2 weeks I had late meetings for work) I had achy legs so took it easy. I went up to the field where the cows are, luckily they were away from the path, and I enjoyed being out in the cool air. 4.35 enjoyable miles.

On Friday night I could not decide about parkrun, so decided to see what time I woke up.  Saturday morning I woke early so after some pottering about I headed out. Because I had a long run planned for Sunday, and because my hip was annoying me on the train journey to Gatwick the previous Friday, I was going to take it easy.Famous last words eh?  I was pretty good to begin with- I flipped my watch around so I could not see the screen and just ran on feel. At one point my hip felt weird, so I told myself to ease off, but of course for the final bit I had to try to finish as fast as possible (although the gentle finish slope has never felt so steep!), and then when I stopped my watch and saw 27 something I wished I had pushed a bit harder (although as soon as I stopped I felt a bit sick so I had pushed hard at the end). Later on when I got my text I was surprised to see I managed 27.12- this is now the third time I have managed that exact time! I also managed a royal flush negative split, with every mile being faster than the previous one (I know that is easier with 3 miles than longer races!)- not really taking it easy! I ended up putting Deep Heat on my hip later on as it was a bit achy, but nothing too bad. 3.1 (mostly) enjoyable miles.

On Sunday I was up bright and early for my long run. Annoyingly, just as I was about to leave, I found that my Garmin had run out of charge. It would not normally bother me too much (although I am loving adding my runs to Daily Mile and tracking my monthly and yearly miles) but I hadn’t decided on a route, I knew I wanted to run 9 miles but could not remember which route I needed, so had to have it on so I would run the right amount. I charged it for a bit, and then headed out, but this was not so good because by then I was hungrier and the weather was hotter. I started off OK, but for the final few miles I was too hot and thirsty; I was annoyed with myself for not bringing any water with me, and by the end I was struggling. I managed 9 miles, although the Garmin ran out of battery at 8.94, a bit before I got home. 9 miles and lesson learned- charge my Garmin the night before, and bring a drink if it is a super hot day!

When I got home the first thing I did was have a coconut ice lolly- even more refreshing than some cold coconut water.

After that I had to pop to town, and then went to the allotment for a couple of hours of weeding and planting. I have some weed resistant matting, so I put that down with some new strawberry plants, as our own strawberry plants are really hidden in the grass now! I had a very sore back when I got home though. Perfect timing, as I had a sports massage booked for Monday evening.

Three runs in a row is really my limit- after that I just slow down loads and get really achy. I am always amazed at people who run 6+ times per week. Although I have found that I quite like a short run the day before a long run, but I know I really need a rest day after a long run.

Where do you like to have your rest days?

Hey peeps, I hope you are all doing well. I have been away for a couple of days- once I have some photos I shall do a little recap (probably….) but for now I have some pondering for you.

If you don’t run, why don’t you give running a try?

About to take on the Great North Run. This was after I had to have a break from running as I was awaiting an operation, so re-started the run/walk programme in about May, and did the half marathon in September.

I think this post might turn out to be a little evangelical, but I really do think you should give it a go. Now, if you have not been reading my blog for long, or in fact if you read it from the start, you might not realise that I have not always loved running.

When I was at school I liked being active- I liked cycling and I liked playing hockey, but most sports were not my thing, and for sports day I was usually given whatever was left. I cycled when I was at uni too (I didn’t learn to drive until my final year) and kept active, but didn’t think I was built for running.

After I had been working for a few years (way back in 2008) one of the teachers mentioned that she was doing a local Race for Life and wanted to get a school team going. I had not even heard of them, but she was going to walk it and so I signed up. Whilst walking the course I felt very inspired to see so many people of all shapes, ages and sizes running the 5K course, and really felt like I should have been able to run it.

The following year I signed up to my local one, but didn’t tell anyone for ages. I looked on the internet for training guides but they were all so complicated (run 1 min, walk 90 seconds, run 3 mins, walk 45 seconds etc)- no way could I remember that! Then I found in a magazine the most simple run/walk programme ever. I cannot remember what it was from, possible Zest magazine, but it was super easy to remember what to do, so I started following it, using the clock on my phone to time each section. It was also easy as you did each run 3 times in a week, so it was more of a routine. What I do remember is that I didn’t have any special running kit (apart from a sports bra)- I had old skechers trainers, some old khaki capri combat trouser things, and just old cotton t-shirts. At least now there are plenty of websites (including Millet Sports) who can provide affordable exercise gear.

I still remember each week thinking that I would never manage the first run, finding the second run OK as I knew I could do it, and then on the third run wondering how I would manage the step up next week. In case you are interested I will put it at the bottom of the post.

I honestly thought that I would train, run the race, and then stop running. I did manage to run it (it was my first time of running non stop too, as in my training I had a walk break after 15 minutes), but at some point I realised that I actually enjoyed it. I think partly I enjoyed achieving something that I didn’t think was possible, but I also love being outside in the fresh air, and found it rather therapeutic to be outside just running.

It was a year later that I signed up to a “proper” race, a local 10K- again I kept it a secret in case I didn’t manage it, but I did, and then I was well and truly bitten by the running bug. I really wish I had my blog back then, but I didn’t start it until 2010 when I was running regularly and had run a half marathon.

In 2011 I ran a marathon, and crossing that finish line was such an amazing moment, and such a proud achievement for me. But really it is up there with my first 5K, because I didn’t believe that I could do either of them, but for both of them I followed a plan, and did them slowly (I am a tortoise and not a hare), but I finished them, and proved the doubting section of my mind wrong. Of course when you look at them side by side, a marathon is much harder than a 5K, but my journey for achieving both was similar, and I think it has given me confidence in other areas of my life because I have achieved things that I didn’t think were possible.

I suppose my point to you is that I am not a natural runner, but I run, and I love it, and through running I have met wonderful people and had wonderful experiences. Also you never know unless you try. I really didn’t think I could run a 5k, and now running is just a part of me. When I was not allowed to run a few years ago, I was really fed up, and so I want to make the most of it now. I see senior people running races and I just think it is amazing, and I hope that I can continue to run for years and years to come.

So, if you run, when did you start and why?

If you don’t run, have I tempted you at all? Or if not, what would you be evangelical about? 

*Collaborative Post

In case I have tempted you the plan I followed was this:

Each week do 3 runs.
Week 1 Run for 1 min, walk for 90 seconds 8 times = 20 minutes
Week 2 Run for 2 minutes, walk for 90 seconds 7 times = 24.5 minutes
Week 3 Run for 3 minutes, walk for 90 seconds 6 times = 27 minutes
Week 4 Run for 5 minutes, walk for 90 seconds 4 times = 26 minutes
Week 5 Run for 5 minutes, walk for 1 minute 4 times = 24 minutes
Week 6 Run for 8 minutes, walk for 90 seconds 3 times = 28.5 minutes
Week 7 Run for 10 minutes, walk for 1 minute 3 times = 33 minutes
Week 8 Run for 15 minutes, walk for 1 minute 2 times = 23 minutes
Now you are ready to run a 5k race!!!