I went to see a sports physio on Thursday for advice on all my aches and pains. Apparently it is common to have a lot of niggles in the first few years of running and there was nothing majorly wrong which was a relief. He recommended that I change my shoes - he thought they were fairly worn even though I've only had them for a few months and he advised that I needed greater stability. He also suggested knee length compression socks, some exercises to stretch my nerves and spent a painful half hour massaging my legs.
So yesterday we went shopping at Sweatshop and had gait analysis - in much more detail than the last time at Startfitness. They had me standing on a special machine and moulded insoles to fit the movement of my feet then filmed me running on a treadmill in my trainers and then trainers with more stability. The physio had suggested I get Brooks or Asics trainers and they had one pair of Brooks in my size but they were £95 and the same shoes in last season's colours were available on their website for £65 so we went away to think.
Sweatshop offer a 30 day money back deal on their shoes - however much you have used them and even if they are filthy, they also suggested that I could use this time to go back to the physio and see what he thought of them. Online it was only a 2 week period so we decided to go back and buy the £95 shoes. But when I tried them on again they felt a bit tight at the sides - I have very wide feet - and the assistants in the shop recommended that I try different makes with the same level of stability.
I immediately found the Mizunos most comfortable - the same make as my last pair - so despite the physio's advice I bought them and tried them out last night for a 2 mile run - and my legs don't hurt as much as normal and my shins are fairly pain free so maybe I've got the right ones. I'll be making an appointment to go back to the physio to see what he thinks too.
Now I'm planning on going out for another run just to test them out again!
Sunday, 16 September 2012
Monday, 27 August 2012
Finally running again
As I've just said on my main blog, it's been a while since I last posted. But until this morning it had also been a while since I had run :o(
I managed a few runs after my last post and was really pleased to run 4 miles on 19th July - but then I realised I had hurt my hip and it took over two weeks to feel better enough to think about running - but by then we were on holiday in Italy and it was just too hot to even think about running (although that didn't stop Mr Locket!). Once we had returned I should have got straight out there but I had got out of the habit and I really had to force myself to go out with Dot this morning. I've lost so much fitness - it was a struggle. I've also gained 8lbs since going away so there is more of me to cart around. We managed 2 miles - with lots of stops to walk, partly because I was exhausted and needed to catch my breath and partly because Dot's foot was hurting. The first mile was really hard but it got better and I'm really pleased I went out - especially as I don't have any aches and pains now. :o)
I managed a few runs after my last post and was really pleased to run 4 miles on 19th July - but then I realised I had hurt my hip and it took over two weeks to feel better enough to think about running - but by then we were on holiday in Italy and it was just too hot to even think about running (although that didn't stop Mr Locket!). Once we had returned I should have got straight out there but I had got out of the habit and I really had to force myself to go out with Dot this morning. I've lost so much fitness - it was a struggle. I've also gained 8lbs since going away so there is more of me to cart around. We managed 2 miles - with lots of stops to walk, partly because I was exhausted and needed to catch my breath and partly because Dot's foot was hurting. The first mile was really hard but it got better and I'm really pleased I went out - especially as I don't have any aches and pains now. :o)
Saturday, 7 July 2012
Still struggling
Running is tough at the moment. Maybe it's because it is getting warmer or maybe it's just a phase. I hope it's going to get better though.
Dot and I ran home from a neighbouring village on Sunday - straight into the wind - and I just couldn't do it. I walked after half a mile, walked again after quarter of a mile, walked again after a 5th of a mile........... and so on, you get the picture? I think I had started off too fast subconsciously trying to keep up with Dot - certainly my times on Endomondo showed that I'd been going faster. But I was really frustrated with myself - I only managed 2.5 miles running and walked so many times.
On Wednesday it was running club and by coincidence we were actually running long intervals - about a third of a mile each time for four repetitions with a break inbetween each run. We covered about 1.3 miles, so not very far and it didn't get me to overcome my mental block about stopping and walking.
Then today Mr Locket and I went out and did 5k - but again with walks after the first mile, the second and then a couple of times during the third :o(
I'm sure it's a mental battle more than a physical one - I just seem to be giving up and not believing I can do it whereas when I was doing the C25K programme I had confidence in my ability to keep going. I'm looking forward to the new NHS podcasts that are going to come out later this month - hopefully they will rekindle my enthusiasm.
I hope I haven't just "gone off" running! That would be a disaster - I'd have to go back on my diet!! ;o)
Dot and I ran home from a neighbouring village on Sunday - straight into the wind - and I just couldn't do it. I walked after half a mile, walked again after quarter of a mile, walked again after a 5th of a mile........... and so on, you get the picture? I think I had started off too fast subconsciously trying to keep up with Dot - certainly my times on Endomondo showed that I'd been going faster. But I was really frustrated with myself - I only managed 2.5 miles running and walked so many times.
On Wednesday it was running club and by coincidence we were actually running long intervals - about a third of a mile each time for four repetitions with a break inbetween each run. We covered about 1.3 miles, so not very far and it didn't get me to overcome my mental block about stopping and walking.
Then today Mr Locket and I went out and did 5k - but again with walks after the first mile, the second and then a couple of times during the third :o(
I'm sure it's a mental battle more than a physical one - I just seem to be giving up and not believing I can do it whereas when I was doing the C25K programme I had confidence in my ability to keep going. I'm looking forward to the new NHS podcasts that are going to come out later this month - hopefully they will rekindle my enthusiasm.
I hope I haven't just "gone off" running! That would be a disaster - I'd have to go back on my diet!! ;o)
Thursday, 28 June 2012
Struggling - but still going
I seem to be struggling with my running at the moment which is frustrating - but at least I'm still getting out there and doing it.
Yesterday was running club and we did a road run for 20 minutes doing about 3k. We went fairly slowly and when we got to the "loop back" points where we could either run back and meet the slower runners or pause and have a rest, I rested rather than run! We covered about 1.7 miles but I was glad to get to the end. Fortunately my leg didn't hurt but I was VERY hot at the end because the weather was so muggy.
Today I went out again with Mr Locket. I wasn't planning on going too far as I knew I was already tired from yesterday but it was still quite tough. I ran 2.5 miles with a couple of minutes walk after the first mile. It was hot and rainy with a bit of a breeze. I was too tired to run 5k and when I stopped my leg cramped up again so I spent about half an hour icing it and it seems to be ok now. It seems as if I really do need to have a rest day in between each run. Running two days in a row clearly over strains my leg and it complains!
I read somewhere that your initial progress when you start to run can be really impressive - like the difference between not being able to run at all and then running for half an hour a few weeks later - but then you get to a point where you are not improving as quickly which can be frustrating. I think I'm at that point now - I can run 5k (most times!) and my speed is gradually improving, but I'm not making any vast increases in distance or time. Maybe it's ok that I am just consolidating my running - or maybe I need to try to push myself further.
Yesterday was running club and we did a road run for 20 minutes doing about 3k. We went fairly slowly and when we got to the "loop back" points where we could either run back and meet the slower runners or pause and have a rest, I rested rather than run! We covered about 1.7 miles but I was glad to get to the end. Fortunately my leg didn't hurt but I was VERY hot at the end because the weather was so muggy.
Today I went out again with Mr Locket. I wasn't planning on going too far as I knew I was already tired from yesterday but it was still quite tough. I ran 2.5 miles with a couple of minutes walk after the first mile. It was hot and rainy with a bit of a breeze. I was too tired to run 5k and when I stopped my leg cramped up again so I spent about half an hour icing it and it seems to be ok now. It seems as if I really do need to have a rest day in between each run. Running two days in a row clearly over strains my leg and it complains!
I read somewhere that your initial progress when you start to run can be really impressive - like the difference between not being able to run at all and then running for half an hour a few weeks later - but then you get to a point where you are not improving as quickly which can be frustrating. I think I'm at that point now - I can run 5k (most times!) and my speed is gradually improving, but I'm not making any vast increases in distance or time. Maybe it's ok that I am just consolidating my running - or maybe I need to try to push myself further.
Sunday, 24 June 2012
Ouch - not a good run
I've had two frustrating runs this weekend.
The first was yesterday when I managed 5k but had to keep stopping to walk because I was too tired to carry on. Each time I walked I paused Endomondo so I made sure I did run a full 5k - and amazingly I actually did it in a personal best time of 33m 46s so I must have been running parts of it faster than normal. But I was still disappointed with myself for the walking.
Then today I wanted to try an interval session. Because doing week 1 would have meant I had only run for 8 minutes I decided to jog the five minute walk before running the 60 seconds and walking the 90. But I had a technological breakdown because my phone wouldn't let me access the podcast - or any music at all - so it was my first run without "support"!
I quickly got tired again today so after I'd done about 5 intervals I decided to gently jog home with a couple of walks. Then when I wasn't far from finishing my left leg just really started to cramp up along the inside of my calf, running down to my ankle. I'm not sure what muscle this is but I've been told it is a very difficult one to stretch and it has been hurting for the last few weeks after each run just not as badly as today.
I hobbled home very slowly complaining miserably to Mr Locket about how much it hurt (he was very kind and patient!) and then put ice on it when I got back.
It isn't hurting as much now but I think I will be resting it until Running Club on Wednesday.
Hmm, a frustrating end to the weekend.
The first was yesterday when I managed 5k but had to keep stopping to walk because I was too tired to carry on. Each time I walked I paused Endomondo so I made sure I did run a full 5k - and amazingly I actually did it in a personal best time of 33m 46s so I must have been running parts of it faster than normal. But I was still disappointed with myself for the walking.
Then today I wanted to try an interval session. Because doing week 1 would have meant I had only run for 8 minutes I decided to jog the five minute walk before running the 60 seconds and walking the 90. But I had a technological breakdown because my phone wouldn't let me access the podcast - or any music at all - so it was my first run without "support"!
I quickly got tired again today so after I'd done about 5 intervals I decided to gently jog home with a couple of walks. Then when I wasn't far from finishing my left leg just really started to cramp up along the inside of my calf, running down to my ankle. I'm not sure what muscle this is but I've been told it is a very difficult one to stretch and it has been hurting for the last few weeks after each run just not as badly as today.
I hobbled home very slowly complaining miserably to Mr Locket about how much it hurt (he was very kind and patient!) and then put ice on it when I got back.
It isn't hurting as much now but I think I will be resting it until Running Club on Wednesday.
Hmm, a frustrating end to the weekend.
Saturday, 16 June 2012
Mr Locket is no weatherman!
I looked at the big black clouds overhead as we left the house and said
to Mr Locket "I think we're going to get very wet". "No we won't" he
said, "the cloud is getting higher and it's moving away......"
Famous last words.
It poured! And we got soaked to the skin.
But I really didn't mind at all.
The only problem was my glasses. They got so wet that I couldn't see out of them at all so I had to run carrying them instead which left me a bit blind. But I could see well enough to avoid getting run over which was the main thing!
After last weekend's struggle to run without stopping this was a much better run and I felt much stronger. I did have to stop a couple of times just after the first mile but that was only to sort out my music and Endomondo which were both playing up. And I actually ran a personal best finishing the 5k in 35.45!
I'd been feeling quite flat all day and my run has boosted my mood so much - I feel on a high now
I do love running! How weird is that?!
Famous last words.
It poured! And we got soaked to the skin.
But I really didn't mind at all.
The only problem was my glasses. They got so wet that I couldn't see out of them at all so I had to run carrying them instead which left me a bit blind. But I could see well enough to avoid getting run over which was the main thing!
After last weekend's struggle to run without stopping this was a much better run and I felt much stronger. I did have to stop a couple of times just after the first mile but that was only to sort out my music and Endomondo which were both playing up. And I actually ran a personal best finishing the 5k in 35.45!
I'd been feeling quite flat all day and my run has boosted my mood so much - I feel on a high now
I do love running! How weird is that?!
Monday, 11 June 2012
4 miles again - but a bit of walking again too
When I first graduated I rushed ahead and tried to add more and more
time and distance to my runs then I had a phase where I couldn't keep
going and had to walk which really knocked my confidence. So I have
been trying to consolidate and achieve 5k on a regular basis and I have
gradually started to go faster too.
But I've been thinking that I need to try to go a bit further again.
Because I find the beginning of each run tough I didn't want to tell myself that I was going for 4 miles - I was just going to try to get to 5k and then see if I could go any further.
On Friday night I went out running with a friend I hadn't run with before and with a couple of walking bits did 3.8 miles and then on Sunday evening I went out again.
But this run was tough from the start and I ran out of steam and needed to walk a little bit after the first mile and then again after the second. Once I got started again I was determined to keep going and determined to "make up" for my walking by running further and longer so I pushed on until I'd done 4 miles - and then I practically collapsed with exhaustion!!
I really felt quite rough after this run and for a couple of hours afterwards - really until bedtime. I don't know if it's because I had just got back from a 3 mile walk when I went out for my run or if it's just a cyclical thing - that I will feel more tired at times.
My legs were tired this morning but I've been for another 3 mile walk and have been to bootcamp and the gym too so I wont be running again until Wednesday night's running club!
I think I will continue to try and run 5k, do intervals and every now and then push to run further - I still need to work out a new routine to fit in the running club with running 3 times a week.
But I've been thinking that I need to try to go a bit further again.
Because I find the beginning of each run tough I didn't want to tell myself that I was going for 4 miles - I was just going to try to get to 5k and then see if I could go any further.
On Friday night I went out running with a friend I hadn't run with before and with a couple of walking bits did 3.8 miles and then on Sunday evening I went out again.
But this run was tough from the start and I ran out of steam and needed to walk a little bit after the first mile and then again after the second. Once I got started again I was determined to keep going and determined to "make up" for my walking by running further and longer so I pushed on until I'd done 4 miles - and then I practically collapsed with exhaustion!!
I really felt quite rough after this run and for a couple of hours afterwards - really until bedtime. I don't know if it's because I had just got back from a 3 mile walk when I went out for my run or if it's just a cyclical thing - that I will feel more tired at times.
My legs were tired this morning but I've been for another 3 mile walk and have been to bootcamp and the gym too so I wont be running again until Wednesday night's running club!
I think I will continue to try and run 5k, do intervals and every now and then push to run further - I still need to work out a new routine to fit in the running club with running 3 times a week.
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Wimped out of the Parkrun - then ran my fastest 5k
I decided to pluck up the courage to register for my local Parkrun yesterday and then was quite relieved when it looked like my registration wasn't going to come through in time................ but then the emails arrived last night so this morning my daughter and I went along to the local park - about a 15 minute drive away, arriving about 5 minutes before it started.
I had been expecting about 80 people but there were quite a lot more and they all looked really fit and raring to go! A few of them were dressed in Union Jack t-shirts or shorts or flags for the Jubilee which was nice.
We lined up at the back of the group and set off.............straight into a steep slope! Now I really don't like hills, especially not at the start of a run, and everyone had set off at quite a good pace. I got to the top of the slope (only about 300 yards) and gave up.
Just like that.
I don't know why but I just couldn't face struggling along at the back and coming in last.
After I'd stopped and gone back to join Mr Locket and the other children, I noticed the runners coming back down the slope and although most of them were speeding away at the front (even the ones pushing buggies) there were some slower ones going at my sort of pace so I probably should have just kept going.
I was really frustrated with myself for giving up and immediately began to doubt my ability to run at all so, like they recommend when you fall off a horse, I was determined to go straight out for a run as soon as I got home.
My daughter had decided that she didn't really fancy running so I set off by myself which was unusual. The first mile was really tough - slightly uphill part way and my legs were hurting from the start so I was doubting whether I could keep going. Endomondo told me I had done the first mile in 12 minutes 10 seconds which was fairly average for me and I began to feel better about it all.
I had gone back to listening to Laura on week 9 as I felt that I needed some support on this run and the 5 minute encouragements were really helpful. I did the second mile quite a bit faster at 11m36s - possibly because it was flatter than the first mile or possibly because by then I was running along the main road through the village so I was definitely on show!
I was a bit worried that I was going to lose motivation as Laura started to wind down the podcast and tell me how well I had DONE when I knew I needed to keep on running through the warm down walk and maybe a bit longer to cover the 5k, but I just kept on putting one foot in front of the other and didn't even give in and go home when I ran past the top of my street.
My third mile was my fastest at 11m14s and I finished 5k in 35m57s - my fastest time ever by a minute or two so I was really chuffed - especially after my failed parkrun.
I think I'll go and have a practice run of the route before I try an official parkrun again. I have a feeling there would be a few more hills round the course so I would need to be prepared for that.
Overall I'm really pleased with today's run - even if it was my second attempt!
Monday, 28 May 2012
Back to week 1 again
The last time I tried a fartlek approach to running I failed totally. I
used the week 1 podcast and tried to run faster for the 60 seconds and
then jog slowly for the 90 - but unsurprisingly I just didn't have
enough energy to keep going and very quickly wore myself out. There is a
reason that I run really slowly and that is that is because it is the
only way I have enough stamina to run for any length of time. Once I
increase the effort I have to drastically reduce the time!
At last Wednesday's running club meeting we "did intervals" and ran a certain number of lamp-posts then walked back - and even the really fit and fast runners were walking back not jogging - and I realised that it really was ok to walk to recover and then try harder with the periods of running.
So early on Saturday morning I managed a slow 5k along the tracks and fields round my parents' house and then on Sunday I went back out with the week 1 podcast and "ran" the 60 seconds but then walked the 90 second intervals.
I had Endomondo running and with a slow jog after the intervals finished I covered 2 miles (not counting the 5 minutes walking at the beginning and end) and each mile took about 12 minutes 30 which shows I must have been really running for the 60 second intervals as my normal slow jog takes anywhere between 11.30-13 minutes per mile.
Unfortunately Endomondo told me all the information then promptly ate it so I don't have any of the details of how fast I was actually going which is a bit annoying. It just means I get to try it all again!!
Learning that it really is ok to walk in between intervals is quite an eye-opener. I had previously thought that doing week 1 and walking again basically cancelled out all the progression I had made to become a graduate and that I really was "going back to week 1" but I can see now that it is probably the best way to increase my speed. It's also a way I can have the fun of going for two runs at the weekend without exhausting myself - one slow 5k on Saturday and a faster 20 minutes on Sunday - win win!
At last Wednesday's running club meeting we "did intervals" and ran a certain number of lamp-posts then walked back - and even the really fit and fast runners were walking back not jogging - and I realised that it really was ok to walk to recover and then try harder with the periods of running.
So early on Saturday morning I managed a slow 5k along the tracks and fields round my parents' house and then on Sunday I went back out with the week 1 podcast and "ran" the 60 seconds but then walked the 90 second intervals.
I had Endomondo running and with a slow jog after the intervals finished I covered 2 miles (not counting the 5 minutes walking at the beginning and end) and each mile took about 12 minutes 30 which shows I must have been really running for the 60 second intervals as my normal slow jog takes anywhere between 11.30-13 minutes per mile.
Unfortunately Endomondo told me all the information then promptly ate it so I don't have any of the details of how fast I was actually going which is a bit annoying. It just means I get to try it all again!!
Learning that it really is ok to walk in between intervals is quite an eye-opener. I had previously thought that doing week 1 and walking again basically cancelled out all the progression I had made to become a graduate and that I really was "going back to week 1" but I can see now that it is probably the best way to increase my speed. It's also a way I can have the fun of going for two runs at the weekend without exhausting myself - one slow 5k on Saturday and a faster 20 minutes on Sunday - win win!
Sunday, 20 May 2012
Losing confidence and finding it again
Friday
I'm about 3 weeks post graduation of the C25K and I have to confess that I am struggling a bit.
I don't know if it is because I am missing the sense of achievement of following and completing the podcasts (I'm certainly not missing the music) or if it is because I managed the 30 minutes in week 9 and then rushed on to 40-45-50 minute runs too soon afterwards, pushing and pushing to run further and for longer.
The last few runs I've been on have ended up with me walking for part of it which is really frustrating as I feel like I have failed somehow and now I have let myself walk it seems increasingly tempting to walk again.
The other thing that is slightly knocking my confidence is going to running club. Everyone there is really lovely and the coaches are great but because I have tended to run with the regulars as my friend goes too I find myself getting a bit anxious that I won't be able to keep up or keep going as long - even though I have plenty of evidence that I can run for 30+ minutes and they're not going that fast anyway. Maybe it's just the case that I don't feel in control of the pace like I do when I'm on my own.
Update - Saturday
I pushed myself to go out for a run this evening when I wasn't really feeling inspired to go. Normally I'm really eager but I could have just left it. But anyway, I'd been to Sports Direct and bought a proper wicking running top so I felt I should give it a test run.
Mr Locket came with me and we went to my old route up and down the farm track because I KNEW I could run this. I'd run it lots of times before so I could do it again. And I was determined not to stop and walk (which has happened in the last 3 runs).
I decided to aim to do 30 minutes and then see if I could push it to 5k but I wasn't putting any pressure on myself to run further and further like I had been in previous runs.
It was a struggle all the way through really but particularly the first half. Mr Locket ran with me for some of it until I sent him off to run at his much faster pace (which meant I could slow down a bit!) and we met up every now and then through the run. He said afterwards that I seemed a lot more relaxed and seemed to be finding it much easier than normal which was encouraging.
Once I'd got past 30 minutes it was fairly easy to keep going to 5k and I did it in about 38 minutes which is about my usual. The farm track was quite rough so it slowed me down a bit compared to running on tarmac but I was pleased to get my first 2 miles in under 12 minutes each.
I wish I could go faster but it isn't going to happen any time soon! I'm just happy that I was able to do my 5k without stopping. Hopefully I'm back on track!
I'm about 3 weeks post graduation of the C25K and I have to confess that I am struggling a bit.
I don't know if it is because I am missing the sense of achievement of following and completing the podcasts (I'm certainly not missing the music) or if it is because I managed the 30 minutes in week 9 and then rushed on to 40-45-50 minute runs too soon afterwards, pushing and pushing to run further and for longer.
The last few runs I've been on have ended up with me walking for part of it which is really frustrating as I feel like I have failed somehow and now I have let myself walk it seems increasingly tempting to walk again.
The other thing that is slightly knocking my confidence is going to running club. Everyone there is really lovely and the coaches are great but because I have tended to run with the regulars as my friend goes too I find myself getting a bit anxious that I won't be able to keep up or keep going as long - even though I have plenty of evidence that I can run for 30+ minutes and they're not going that fast anyway. Maybe it's just the case that I don't feel in control of the pace like I do when I'm on my own.
Update - Saturday
I pushed myself to go out for a run this evening when I wasn't really feeling inspired to go. Normally I'm really eager but I could have just left it. But anyway, I'd been to Sports Direct and bought a proper wicking running top so I felt I should give it a test run.
Mr Locket came with me and we went to my old route up and down the farm track because I KNEW I could run this. I'd run it lots of times before so I could do it again. And I was determined not to stop and walk (which has happened in the last 3 runs).
I decided to aim to do 30 minutes and then see if I could push it to 5k but I wasn't putting any pressure on myself to run further and further like I had been in previous runs.
It was a struggle all the way through really but particularly the first half. Mr Locket ran with me for some of it until I sent him off to run at his much faster pace (which meant I could slow down a bit!) and we met up every now and then through the run. He said afterwards that I seemed a lot more relaxed and seemed to be finding it much easier than normal which was encouraging.
Once I'd got past 30 minutes it was fairly easy to keep going to 5k and I did it in about 38 minutes which is about my usual. The farm track was quite rough so it slowed me down a bit compared to running on tarmac but I was pleased to get my first 2 miles in under 12 minutes each.
I wish I could go faster but it isn't going to happen any time soon! I'm just happy that I was able to do my 5k without stopping. Hopefully I'm back on track!
Monday, 14 May 2012
Skipping the rest day
Two days running in a row and boy do my legs ache today!
I never normally have any aches and pains apart from shin pain on the day of my run but after running 3 miles on Saturday and 4 on Sunday my thighs are so stiff and achey!
I clearly need to have that day of rest in between each run although I have to admit that having achey legs is quite a nice reminder of the fact that I've gone out there and run. It's still a novelty and I'm still delighted that I can do it!
I never normally have any aches and pains apart from shin pain on the day of my run but after running 3 miles on Saturday and 4 on Sunday my thighs are so stiff and achey!
I clearly need to have that day of rest in between each run although I have to admit that having achey legs is quite a nice reminder of the fact that I've gone out there and run. It's still a novelty and I'm still delighted that I can do it!
Sunday, 13 May 2012
4 miles - but I walked a bit again :-(
I broke the rules today and went out running for a second day in a row.
I had texted a friend to see if she wanted to go for a run tomorrow morning but she had a 4-5 mile run planned for this afternoon and asked if I wanted to go along.
It was the first time (other than last week at the running club) that I have actually tried to run "with" someone else. Normally when I go out with my daughter or husband they just run ahead of me!
My friend and I ran at the same pace and chatted as we went - well to be honest, my friend talked and I struggled! She suggested we went a bit slower but I still found the breathing difficult and talking hard.
After just over 2 miles I gave up and walked a bit to get my breath back - my legs were fine but my lungs were struggling and I just didn't think I could keep going. It got a bit easier then towards the end of the run I walked a bit again. When I checked Endomondo it said I had done 3.95 miles so I pushed myself to run again and speed up for the last bit.
I covered 4.2 miles in about 52 minutes so it was slower than yesterday's run but further and a totally new route with some wet and muddy patches.
I had a good warm down walk home but I was fairly exhausted when I got back and still feel tired now - but I have just been out for a 3 mile walk with some different friends so I've had plenty of exercise today!
My next run will be on Wednesday at the running club and I know it will be an hour of doing interval type running so I don't know when I will next get to go out on a "long" run but I hope I can get back into running without walking.
I had texted a friend to see if she wanted to go for a run tomorrow morning but she had a 4-5 mile run planned for this afternoon and asked if I wanted to go along.
It was the first time (other than last week at the running club) that I have actually tried to run "with" someone else. Normally when I go out with my daughter or husband they just run ahead of me!
My friend and I ran at the same pace and chatted as we went - well to be honest, my friend talked and I struggled! She suggested we went a bit slower but I still found the breathing difficult and talking hard.
After just over 2 miles I gave up and walked a bit to get my breath back - my legs were fine but my lungs were struggling and I just didn't think I could keep going. It got a bit easier then towards the end of the run I walked a bit again. When I checked Endomondo it said I had done 3.95 miles so I pushed myself to run again and speed up for the last bit.
I covered 4.2 miles in about 52 minutes so it was slower than yesterday's run but further and a totally new route with some wet and muddy patches.
I had a good warm down walk home but I was fairly exhausted when I got back and still feel tired now - but I have just been out for a 3 mile walk with some different friends so I've had plenty of exercise today!
My next run will be on Wednesday at the running club and I know it will be an hour of doing interval type running so I don't know when I will next get to go out on a "long" run but I hope I can get back into running without walking.
Saturday, 12 May 2012
Odd run
I've just got back from an odd run.
It was odd in the sense that I achieved a personal best time of a mile in 10 minutes 57 seconds which is a minute faster than my previous best and between 1.5-2 minutes faster than my average. And it was uphill for the end of the first mile too. But I found I just couldn't keep going and had to stop several times to walk - which I never normally do.
After a while I paused Endomondo when I was walking and started it again when I tried running again. After 3 miles I stopped and walked the rest of the way home feeling frustrated with myself
I don't know if it was a psychological thing. Because I had walked briefly on the very steep bit, maybe it meant that I hadn't "run" the whole thing which may have made it easier to stop and walk again?
Or it may have just been a physical thing. I hadn't intended to run the first mile faster than normal but it was a different, more public route so I may have been trying to go faster subconsciously - and I may just have tired myself out too soon. And then there was the steep bit that really took it out of me.
I came back thinking I had failed and that it was a "bad" run but my husband argues that I should be celebrating my personal best instead.
I think I'm worried that if I start stopping and walking then I won't be able to make myself keep going and I'll keep "giving up" and then those 9+ weeks of training will be wasted
P.S. I've just checked Endomondo and I actually ran my fastest 3 miles so far - even though I walked some of it and didn't pause Endo every time I walked!
It was odd in the sense that I achieved a personal best time of a mile in 10 minutes 57 seconds which is a minute faster than my previous best and between 1.5-2 minutes faster than my average. And it was uphill for the end of the first mile too. But I found I just couldn't keep going and had to stop several times to walk - which I never normally do.
After a while I paused Endomondo when I was walking and started it again when I tried running again. After 3 miles I stopped and walked the rest of the way home feeling frustrated with myself
I don't know if it was a psychological thing. Because I had walked briefly on the very steep bit, maybe it meant that I hadn't "run" the whole thing which may have made it easier to stop and walk again?
Or it may have just been a physical thing. I hadn't intended to run the first mile faster than normal but it was a different, more public route so I may have been trying to go faster subconsciously - and I may just have tired myself out too soon. And then there was the steep bit that really took it out of me.
I came back thinking I had failed and that it was a "bad" run but my husband argues that I should be celebrating my personal best instead.
I think I'm worried that if I start stopping and walking then I won't be able to make myself keep going and I'll keep "giving up" and then those 9+ weeks of training will be wasted
P.S. I've just checked Endomondo and I actually ran my fastest 3 miles so far - even though I walked some of it and didn't pause Endo every time I walked!
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Being brave
Well I did it!
I actually went and joined a running club tonight!
I'd been thinking about it for a couple of weeks and tonight was registration night for the beginner's programme, but I started to get cold feet and wasn't going to go.
Then I saw a post on the C25K forum by someone who had just joined a group and it made me think that I should just do it.
So in a very convoluted fashion I got Dot to message a school friend on facebook to give her mum my phone number and ask her if she would ring me as I knew she'd joined the group last year. Amazingly she rang just half an hour later and it turned out that she was still going along to the same group and was happy to give me a lift.
She said that I wouldn't be running tonight as it would just be registration for newbies but I thought I would go in my running clothes just in case and then I decided to run the mile to her house (I was fairly exhausted when I got there so I was a bit concerned that I shouldn't be joining a running group after all but it was slightly uphill and I never feel great in the first 10-15 minutes of a run)
When I got to the sports centre there were a group of people who had been members of the beginner's group for a while and then there were the new ones like me. I filled in my form and paid my subs and was going to ring my husband to come and pick me up but my friend asked the coach if I could go out with the regulars (I didn't discover until later, but she'd told him I could run 6k! I don't think she'd told him just how slowly I run!!)
So we did some warm ups which were good and then set off for a run round the streets before doing "bank training" up a moderately gentle hill. We probably covered about 2.5 miles but I'm sure I was going quite a bit faster than normal and as I'd already run the mile to my friend's house I didn't feel too bad when I slowed to a walk a couple of times.
I actually really enjoyed it and felt like I kept up most of the time so I'll definitely be going back next week. They weren't scary people at all - there were about 9 and they were all really nice.
Next week it will be back to proper beginner's level but I may be able to stick with the regulars if I can keep up!
I actually went and joined a running club tonight!
I'd been thinking about it for a couple of weeks and tonight was registration night for the beginner's programme, but I started to get cold feet and wasn't going to go.
Then I saw a post on the C25K forum by someone who had just joined a group and it made me think that I should just do it.
So in a very convoluted fashion I got Dot to message a school friend on facebook to give her mum my phone number and ask her if she would ring me as I knew she'd joined the group last year. Amazingly she rang just half an hour later and it turned out that she was still going along to the same group and was happy to give me a lift.
She said that I wouldn't be running tonight as it would just be registration for newbies but I thought I would go in my running clothes just in case and then I decided to run the mile to her house (I was fairly exhausted when I got there so I was a bit concerned that I shouldn't be joining a running group after all but it was slightly uphill and I never feel great in the first 10-15 minutes of a run)
When I got to the sports centre there were a group of people who had been members of the beginner's group for a while and then there were the new ones like me. I filled in my form and paid my subs and was going to ring my husband to come and pick me up but my friend asked the coach if I could go out with the regulars (I didn't discover until later, but she'd told him I could run 6k! I don't think she'd told him just how slowly I run!!)
So we did some warm ups which were good and then set off for a run round the streets before doing "bank training" up a moderately gentle hill. We probably covered about 2.5 miles but I'm sure I was going quite a bit faster than normal and as I'd already run the mile to my friend's house I didn't feel too bad when I slowed to a walk a couple of times.
I actually really enjoyed it and felt like I kept up most of the time so I'll definitely be going back next week. They weren't scary people at all - there were about 9 and they were all really nice.
Next week it will be back to proper beginner's level but I may be able to stick with the regulars if I can keep up!
Monday, 7 May 2012
Failed at fartlek
I tried to do the
fartlek approach for my run yesterday using the week 1 podcast for my intervals but I have to
confess that I totally failed.
I'm a really slow runner - it's the only way I know to keep going for 30+ minutes - so trying to run just a little bit faster right from the start was just a disaster. I was instantly out of breath and struggling to "jog" the 90 seconds and even had to walk at times.
In the end I just gave up on trying to run faster and plodded on at my usual slow pace but I was still puffed out and listening to Laura saying things like "slow down to a walk" and "stop running now" (or however she says it) really affected my incentive to keep going! And when she said to stop running at the end I just stopped even though I had only run for 20 minutes and covered 1.67 miles.
I just didn't have the energy to keep going which is frustrating as I have been managing to run for 5k or more for the last 3 runs.
And it was such a beautiful sunny day (at last) and I really wanted to have a good run! It was also the first time that I had gone out on my own. Usually I have Dot or Mr Locket with me to keep me motivated.
Frustrating! Hopefully the weather will be good enough for me to go for another run today - this time I will go back to my usual slow and steady plod - I'm just not ready to try going faster yet.
I'm a really slow runner - it's the only way I know to keep going for 30+ minutes - so trying to run just a little bit faster right from the start was just a disaster. I was instantly out of breath and struggling to "jog" the 90 seconds and even had to walk at times.
In the end I just gave up on trying to run faster and plodded on at my usual slow pace but I was still puffed out and listening to Laura saying things like "slow down to a walk" and "stop running now" (or however she says it) really affected my incentive to keep going! And when she said to stop running at the end I just stopped even though I had only run for 20 minutes and covered 1.67 miles.
I just didn't have the energy to keep going which is frustrating as I have been managing to run for 5k or more for the last 3 runs.
And it was such a beautiful sunny day (at last) and I really wanted to have a good run! It was also the first time that I had gone out on my own. Usually I have Dot or Mr Locket with me to keep me motivated.
Frustrating! Hopefully the weather will be good enough for me to go for another run today - this time I will go back to my usual slow and steady plod - I'm just not ready to try going faster yet.
Monday, 30 April 2012
Woohoo!
I've just run for 6K!
But golly it was hard tonight and those endorphins were hiding from me.
Dot and I went on a different, more public route for a change but it was a real struggle from start to finish with a highlight just before the first mile when I received a peptalk from Ali through Endomondo - it really made me smile, thanks Ali!
The route included a short but very steep incline which I am proud to say I managed to keep running up - I was seriously out of breath at the top - but I was determined to keep on running.
As we approached home we were both very tempted to cut the run short (well, short-ish at about 37 minutes) but I really wanted to get past the 3.5 mile mark that I had set in the previous run and I was hoping to get past 6K too so we kept on going past our street until we finally stopped at 47.30 minutes and 3.74 miles (6.01K). We were both beetroot red and totally exhausted but I'm really pleased with what we achieved :-)
But golly it was hard tonight and those endorphins were hiding from me.
Dot and I went on a different, more public route for a change but it was a real struggle from start to finish with a highlight just before the first mile when I received a peptalk from Ali through Endomondo - it really made me smile, thanks Ali!
The route included a short but very steep incline which I am proud to say I managed to keep running up - I was seriously out of breath at the top - but I was determined to keep on running.
As we approached home we were both very tempted to cut the run short (well, short-ish at about 37 minutes) but I really wanted to get past the 3.5 mile mark that I had set in the previous run and I was hoping to get past 6K too so we kept on going past our street until we finally stopped at 47.30 minutes and 3.74 miles (6.01K). We were both beetroot red and totally exhausted but I'm really pleased with what we achieved :-)
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Cracked 5k - and then some!
One week after graduating from C25K I have managed to crack 5k - but definitely
NOT in 30 minutes - but speed isn't my focus, I'm more interested in
being able to keep running.
I've discovered that once I get past the first 10-15 minutes of running along thinking "I can't possibly do this, what am doing this for.........." I actually get "used" to running and can carry on for much longer than I ever anticipated.
Yesterday Dot and I went out initially intending to run for 30 minutes but hoping to be able to push it to 40 to do the 5k that I'd just missed on Thursday, but we found we were able to run for nearly 44 minutes covering 3.55 miles - that's 5.7k (nearly 6k!!!) I included a sprint towards the end (well, I call it sprinting and it's one heck of a lot faster than my normal running) and could have probably carried on for longer if I'd tried.
I'm getting such a high from running - partly I expect from the endorphins but mostly I think from the sheer sense of pride and achievement! I really never thought I could do this but I can and it's great! It is so wonderful to feel good about myself for once
I've discovered that once I get past the first 10-15 minutes of running along thinking "I can't possibly do this, what am doing this for.........." I actually get "used" to running and can carry on for much longer than I ever anticipated.
Yesterday Dot and I went out initially intending to run for 30 minutes but hoping to be able to push it to 40 to do the 5k that I'd just missed on Thursday, but we found we were able to run for nearly 44 minutes covering 3.55 miles - that's 5.7k (nearly 6k!!!) I included a sprint towards the end (well, I call it sprinting and it's one heck of a lot faster than my normal running) and could have probably carried on for longer if I'd tried.
I'm getting such a high from running - partly I expect from the endorphins but mostly I think from the sheer sense of pride and achievement! I really never thought I could do this but I can and it's great! It is so wonderful to feel good about myself for once
Thursday, 26 April 2012
3 miles but not quite 5k
I've just been out for a very soggy run in the rain and pushed myself to
keep going at the end to get to the magic 3 mile mark which I did in
just under 38 minutes. I was so ecstatic, thinking I had cracked 5k but
I've just checked and I only did 4.9k
Oh never mind! I still did THREE WHOLE MILES!!!! Woo hoo! I would have never believed it possible!
..................but does that mean I've got to run even further next time???
Oh never mind! I still did THREE WHOLE MILES!!!! Woo hoo! I would have never believed it possible!
..................but does that mean I've got to run even further next time???
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Running post C25K
I went out for my first run as a graduate from the C25K last night and it was my best run yet.
The first 10-15 minutes were tough but Dot and I went on a different route so it was more interesting than usual and we actually needed to keep running to get somewhere whereas normally we run up and down a farm track.
I had ditched Laura (sorry Laura, it was nothing personal, just your taste in music) and was listening to 101 Running Songs instead and that definitely kept me motivated and interested - I found the pace was easiest running to Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl!
After a while it just started to get easier and when Dot, as official time-keeper, told me there was only a minute left I decided to just keep on going to the end of the track.......... then along the road a bit........... then round a cul-de-sac............. then on to the next street............ and then to the end of it until we had run for 36 minutes covering 2.78 miles I was on a high and felt like I could have just kept on running - and I really wish I had!
I'm still feeling that high today and want to go out running again but the negative little devil on my shoulder keeps reminding me that even if the end of the run was good and fun and exhilarating I will still have that tough first half of the run to get through! Why can't it all be good - and easy too???
The first 10-15 minutes were tough but Dot and I went on a different route so it was more interesting than usual and we actually needed to keep running to get somewhere whereas normally we run up and down a farm track.
I had ditched Laura (sorry Laura, it was nothing personal, just your taste in music) and was listening to 101 Running Songs instead and that definitely kept me motivated and interested - I found the pace was easiest running to Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl!
After a while it just started to get easier and when Dot, as official time-keeper, told me there was only a minute left I decided to just keep on going to the end of the track.......... then along the road a bit........... then round a cul-de-sac............. then on to the next street............ and then to the end of it until we had run for 36 minutes covering 2.78 miles
I was on a high and felt like I could have just kept on running - and I really wish I had! I'm still feeling that high today and want to go out running again but the negative little devil on my shoulder keeps reminding me that even if the end of the run was good and fun and exhilarating I will still have that tough first half of the run to get through! Why can't it all be good - and easy too???
Sunday, 22 April 2012
Failure and success
Oh I was so disappointed
I went out out for my final week 9 run yesterday morning full of enthusiasm and excited to be finally graduating and I just couldn't do it!
My daughter and I had waited for the rain to pass before we went out and set off dodging the puddles but even though I was going really slowly I couldn't breath properly.
I've never found it easy to breath right while running and when I went out with Mr Locket on Thursday he pointed out at the end when we were running together that I was breathing very shortly so I really tried today to breath deeply but it didn't work.
Endomondo told me I had run my first mile in 12.44 minutes, then Laura said I had done 15 minutes and then I just stopped running and started walking. I hadn't planned it but I couldn't go on. I can't believe that the first time I have failed at a run was on my final run before graduating! Maybe I've just been lucky so far and not had a really bad run before.
I have been trying to work out what went wrong and there are a couple of factors that were different from when I normally run: I tend to run in the evening and this time I went out in the morning which may have had an effect and then I hadn't had much to drink before I set out so maybe I was dehydrated. Or maybe it is because I ran further on Thursday (33 minutes) and then went to the gym for quite a tough (for me) session later that evening. My legs were really tired on Friday at work but it wasn't my legs that let me down - more my body and my breathing.
BUT....................
This afternoon I went out again - even more determined than usual to get to the end and although it was tough and although there were times when I ran REALLY slowly, I did it. I actually ran the 30 minutes and finished the programme! Normally I try to run a bit further once Laura has said it is time to stop - on Monday I went for an extra 2.5 minutes and on Thursday an extra 3 but today I was quite happy just to stop the moment Laura said I could - especially as I had put a real spurt on for the last minute of running and was going surprisingly fast for me.
I didn't therefore run as far as I had on Thursday - only managing 2.30 miles compared to 2.66, and I ran a lot slower as well, but I don't care. I'm just delighted that despite the fact that I have always been completely exercise-phobic I have actually stuck at a running programme for 9 weeks and seen it through to the end. I can't run 5k in 30 minutes - and I may never be able to, but I CAN run for 30 minutes without stopping and just a few short weeks ago that was beyond my comprehension.
And what is even more astounding is that I actually ENJOY it! Not always while I'm doing it, I have to confess, but sometimes I do and the sense of achievement and all those lovely endorphins afterwards leave me on a high!
Go me! :-)
I went out out for my final week 9 run yesterday morning full of enthusiasm and excited to be finally graduating and I just couldn't do it!
My daughter and I had waited for the rain to pass before we went out and set off dodging the puddles but even though I was going really slowly I couldn't breath properly.
I've never found it easy to breath right while running and when I went out with Mr Locket on Thursday he pointed out at the end when we were running together that I was breathing very shortly so I really tried today to breath deeply but it didn't work.
Endomondo told me I had run my first mile in 12.44 minutes, then Laura said I had done 15 minutes and then I just stopped running and started walking. I hadn't planned it but I couldn't go on. I can't believe that the first time I have failed at a run was on my final run before graduating! Maybe I've just been lucky so far and not had a really bad run before.
I have been trying to work out what went wrong and there are a couple of factors that were different from when I normally run: I tend to run in the evening and this time I went out in the morning which may have had an effect and then I hadn't had much to drink before I set out so maybe I was dehydrated. Or maybe it is because I ran further on Thursday (33 minutes) and then went to the gym for quite a tough (for me) session later that evening. My legs were really tired on Friday at work but it wasn't my legs that let me down - more my body and my breathing.
BUT....................
This afternoon I went out again - even more determined than usual to get to the end and although it was tough and although there were times when I ran REALLY slowly, I did it. I actually ran the 30 minutes and finished the programme! Normally I try to run a bit further once Laura has said it is time to stop - on Monday I went for an extra 2.5 minutes and on Thursday an extra 3 but today I was quite happy just to stop the moment Laura said I could - especially as I had put a real spurt on for the last minute of running and was going surprisingly fast for me.
I didn't therefore run as far as I had on Thursday - only managing 2.30 miles compared to 2.66, and I ran a lot slower as well, but I don't care. I'm just delighted that despite the fact that I have always been completely exercise-phobic I have actually stuck at a running programme for 9 weeks and seen it through to the end. I can't run 5k in 30 minutes - and I may never be able to, but I CAN run for 30 minutes without stopping and just a few short weeks ago that was beyond my comprehension.
And what is even more astounding is that I actually ENJOY it! Not always while I'm doing it, I have to confess, but sometimes I do and the sense of achievement and all those lovely endorphins afterwards leave me on a high!
Go me! :-)
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
A new toy
Mr Locket is going to get jealous as I have a new object for my affection.
After reading about "him" on posts on the C25K forum I set out to investigate Endomondo to see what he was all about.
I downloaded him on Sunday and gave him a test-walk and was impressed so on Monday Dot and I took him out for a proper test run - w9r1 - and it was great. The robotic voice told me when I had run a mile and how long it had taken me, then updated me after 2 miles.
Also, because Endo was marking the distance I was able to go on a completely different route from normal which was fun. We ran along the road for the early-not-too-visibly-exhausted bit then went up a farm track, across a deeply ridge-and-furrow field, across a few stiles, round the edge of another field, up another track and so on until we ended up on the farm track that we normally run up and down and because I knew it was measuring until I finished I actually ran for an extra 2.5 minutes after Laura had said to stop so that I could get to the end of the track - finishing at 2.47 miles, so just under 4k in 32.30 minutes. I was VERY happy!
Endo told me how fast I had run, what my average speed was, what my best speed was etc and when I got home and looked on the computer it showed a graph of the route below the map so I could actually see where on the route I ran faster/slower, uphill/downhill and so on. Brilliant!
I know I've only just started with Endomondo but I definitely recommend it - especially as you can set your privacy levels so other people can't see where you are actually running as it seems to be a bit risky to say "this is where I live, and this is my running route and this is how long I go out for and when etc" to the whole world - although some people do obviously.
After reading about "him" on posts on the C25K forum I set out to investigate Endomondo to see what he was all about.
I downloaded him on Sunday and gave him a test-walk and was impressed so on Monday Dot and I took him out for a proper test run - w9r1 - and it was great. The robotic voice told me when I had run a mile and how long it had taken me, then updated me after 2 miles.
Also, because Endo was marking the distance I was able to go on a completely different route from normal which was fun. We ran along the road for the early-not-too-visibly-exhausted bit then went up a farm track, across a deeply ridge-and-furrow field, across a few stiles, round the edge of another field, up another track and so on until we ended up on the farm track that we normally run up and down and because I knew it was measuring until I finished I actually ran for an extra 2.5 minutes after Laura had said to stop so that I could get to the end of the track - finishing at 2.47 miles, so just under 4k in 32.30 minutes.
I was VERY happy! Endo told me how fast I had run, what my average speed was, what my best speed was etc and when I got home and looked on the computer it showed a graph of the route below the map so I could actually see where on the route I ran faster/slower, uphill/downhill and so on. Brilliant!
I know I've only just started with Endomondo but I definitely recommend it - especially as you can set your privacy levels so other people can't see where you are actually running as it seems to be a bit risky to say "this is where I live, and this is my running route and this is how long I go out for and when etc" to the whole world - although some people do obviously.
Saturday, 14 April 2012
Running Shopping
I very excitedly went to a running shop for gait analysis today. I was expecting to run on a treadmill and be filmed showing myself up in public but the assistant just looked at my bare feet and watched me walk and said I was a "neutral" then produced about 5 different pairs of running shoes in the price range we told him.
They were all really comfortable and it was difficult to choose between them. The assistant was very scathing about the shoes I'd been running in for the last 8 weeks "We'd NEVER sell a pair of shoes like THAT!" ;o)
In the end I went for some Mizuno Wave Riders that cost £60 and apparently have enough support and cushioning. I liked them because they were the most comfortable although there was another pair that had springier bottoms that I liked - I just didn't find the actual shoe as comfy.
While we were on our spending spree I bought myself a grown up running top and an armband to hold my phone so I can listen to Laura hands-free.
I gave all three new purchases a test-run this evening on w8r3 and the shoes were great, the top was great but the armband thingy fitted so snugly on my phone that it kept turning the volume off so that's been a waste of money :o(
The shoes were so good that I reckon I even ran an extra 30 seconds faster than my previous two runs - not a lot, I know, but I was still pleased! And I think my shins feel less sore than normal too which is great.
I'm definitely a little bit obsessed with running now which is quite funny as I'm still only a beginner! I've just ordered Running Made Easy from Amazon to feed my addiction ;o)
They were all really comfortable and it was difficult to choose between them. The assistant was very scathing about the shoes I'd been running in for the last 8 weeks "We'd NEVER sell a pair of shoes like THAT!" ;o)
In the end I went for some Mizuno Wave Riders that cost £60 and apparently have enough support and cushioning. I liked them because they were the most comfortable although there was another pair that had springier bottoms that I liked - I just didn't find the actual shoe as comfy.
While we were on our spending spree I bought myself a grown up running top and an armband to hold my phone so I can listen to Laura hands-free.
I gave all three new purchases a test-run this evening on w8r3 and the shoes were great, the top was great but the armband thingy fitted so snugly on my phone that it kept turning the volume off so that's been a waste of money :o(
The shoes were so good that I reckon I even ran an extra 30 seconds faster than my previous two runs - not a lot, I know, but I was still pleased! And I think my shins feel less sore than normal too which is great.
I'm definitely a little bit obsessed with running now which is quite funny as I'm still only a beginner! I've just ordered Running Made Easy from Amazon to feed my addiction ;o)
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Week 6 run 3 done and dusted!
I had a great run on Sunday!
Those are words I NEVER thought I would hear myself say in a million years!
I wasn't confident going out - the increase to 25 minutes worried me especially as runs 1 and 2 were so much easier, and Dot couldn't come because she had just got back from an exhausting weekend training for her Duke of Edinburgh Award. But I pushed myself to go anyway.
And it was fairly easy! I'd been absolutely exhausted doing week 5 run 3 and really struggled with it but not this run, and when Laura said I could try to run a bit faster for the last minute I increased my pace and even ran for an extra minute just because I could!
I was still running very slowly for most of the run but I was reassured that I was actually going faster than I could walk when I caught up with and overtook someone walking ahead of me - that made me very proud!!
So tonight I will be going out for run 1 of week 7 and it will be my first time running in wet weather so I hope it doesn't put me off ;o)
Amended - I was going to go out last night but it was so cold and sleeting heavily so I decided to stay cosy inside instead. Dot and I went out this evening instead and did the first run of week 7. I speeded up for the last minute as Laura suggested and when she said to stop I decided to keep going to the end of the farm track we were running up. Dot was measuring time and reckoned we did an extra 3 minutes! I have just measured the distance on a clever website and we ran 2.1 miles. That's a long way off the 3 miles the podcast reckons we can run in 30 minutes but I'm still very happy about it.
Those are words I NEVER thought I would hear myself say in a million years!
I wasn't confident going out - the increase to 25 minutes worried me especially as runs 1 and 2 were so much easier, and Dot couldn't come because she had just got back from an exhausting weekend training for her Duke of Edinburgh Award. But I pushed myself to go anyway.
And it was fairly easy! I'd been absolutely exhausted doing week 5 run 3 and really struggled with it but not this run, and when Laura said I could try to run a bit faster for the last minute I increased my pace and even ran for an extra minute just because I could!
I was still running very slowly for most of the run but I was reassured that I was actually going faster than I could walk when I caught up with and overtook someone walking ahead of me - that made me very proud!!
So tonight I will be going out for run 1 of week 7 and it will be my first time running in wet weather so I hope it doesn't put me off ;o)
Amended - I was going to go out last night but it was so cold and sleeting heavily so I decided to stay cosy inside instead. Dot and I went out this evening instead and did the first run of week 7. I speeded up for the last minute as Laura suggested and when she said to stop I decided to keep going to the end of the farm track we were running up. Dot was measuring time and reckoned we did an extra 3 minutes! I have just measured the distance on a clever website and we ran 2.1 miles. That's a long way off the 3 miles the podcast reckons we can run in 30 minutes but I'm still very happy about it.
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Woohooo!
I've just done week 5 run 3 and I am SO impressed with myself!
But golly it was hard!
Running for 20 whole minutes without stopping, having only run for a maximum of 8 minutes previously.
I have to confess that I went v e r y s l o w l y and Dot was miles ahead but I did it - even if I did feel like death afterwards! Mr Locket and Fred had come to the park while Dot and I ran up the farm track beside it and they were both a bit concerned at how beetroot-faced and exhausted I was.
I'm still feeling a bit done-in an hour and a half later - but it is a happy kind of exhaustion - accompanied by a lovely glass of ice cold wine - just to take the edge off the pain in my legs of course ;o)
The first two runs in week 6 don't feel like they will be a problem at all now as they involve much shorter running times but I know it starts to get serious from run 3 onwards. I'm looking forward to being able to run listening to my own music or the radio but at the moment I still need Laura's encouragement and time-keeping!
I had a great time in London on Friday and Saturday and ate myself silly! I've carried on being naughty today but go back on the diet tomorrow morning but I think I will miss Slimming World this week and see if I can lose the extra pounds before the following meeting.
But golly it was hard!
Running for 20 whole minutes without stopping, having only run for a maximum of 8 minutes previously.
I have to confess that I went v e r y s l o w l y and Dot was miles ahead but I did it - even if I did feel like death afterwards! Mr Locket and Fred had come to the park while Dot and I ran up the farm track beside it and they were both a bit concerned at how beetroot-faced and exhausted I was.
I'm still feeling a bit done-in an hour and a half later - but it is a happy kind of exhaustion - accompanied by a lovely glass of ice cold wine - just to take the edge off the pain in my legs of course ;o)
The first two runs in week 6 don't feel like they will be a problem at all now as they involve much shorter running times but I know it starts to get serious from run 3 onwards. I'm looking forward to being able to run listening to my own music or the radio but at the moment I still need Laura's encouragement and time-keeping!
I had a great time in London on Friday and Saturday and ate myself silly! I've carried on being naughty today but go back on the diet tomorrow morning but I think I will miss Slimming World this week and see if I can lose the extra pounds before the following meeting.
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Week 5
Well I'm part way through week 5 and having thought that I would never be able to run for 8 minutes without stopping I can happily report that I can indeed do that and actually quite enjoyed this evening's run. Whether I will be able to make the massive jump up to 20 minutes on Sunday is another question altogether! It just seems inconceivable. But I keep telling myself that other people have managed it so therefore I can too.
I'm rather pleased with myself as I went out for this evening's run and then went straight on to the gym where I did 45 minutes on the bike, treadmill, cross trainer and rowing machine - and I managed to increase my time on the cross trainer - also known as the torture machine - to 5 minutes then a further 3 at the end of the session. Doing the C25K has definitely had a dramatic effect on my stamina and willingness to keep on trying even when I think I'm too tired.
Diet-wise things aren't so great. I thought I'd been quite good last week especially with all the running but I stayed the same on the scales so things have gone dramatically downhill since weigh in. I had LOTS of cake at work yesterday as well as some chocolates and today I have had more cake which was particularly delicious. This weekend is completely written off as I am going to London with some friends and my sister to go to the Country Living show and one of the things I'm looking forward to most about the trip is being able to eat whatever and whenever I like! I know for a fact that I am going to go completely off the rails but that is rather an exciting prospect :o)
I'm rather pleased with myself as I went out for this evening's run and then went straight on to the gym where I did 45 minutes on the bike, treadmill, cross trainer and rowing machine - and I managed to increase my time on the cross trainer - also known as the torture machine - to 5 minutes then a further 3 at the end of the session. Doing the C25K has definitely had a dramatic effect on my stamina and willingness to keep on trying even when I think I'm too tired.
Diet-wise things aren't so great. I thought I'd been quite good last week especially with all the running but I stayed the same on the scales so things have gone dramatically downhill since weigh in. I had LOTS of cake at work yesterday as well as some chocolates and today I have had more cake which was particularly delicious. This weekend is completely written off as I am going to London with some friends and my sister to go to the Country Living show and one of the things I'm looking forward to most about the trip is being able to eat whatever and whenever I like! I know for a fact that I am going to go completely off the rails but that is rather an exciting prospect :o)
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Week 4
Flipping Heck! The change from week 3 to week 4 was immense!
Week 3 had seemed so easy - only running for 9 minutes, the same as week 2, but in week 4 you suddenly go up to running for 16 minutes with very short walks in between.
It was hard! But I have done it, managing to go up to 5 minutes running without stopping.
Dot and I ran on Monday and Thursday night and then the whole family came out last night which was really fun. Fred was amazing and ran the whole thing without even seeming to get out of breath at all but Daisy had a problem with her shoes so she and Mr Locket walked.
It's quite funny when Dot and I go running because I am so slow and she is so fast so we end up running quite a long distance apart with Dot turning and running back to meet me every now and then.
Week 5 has 3 different runs and will culminate in running for 20 minutes without stopping which I am dreading. But they say that 1000s of people have started running using the C25K programme so it must work - I can't be the fattest and most unfit person ever to try it (although I'm not far off!) so I'm sure I will cope.
We have been watching ITV's Biggest Loser and I was really impressed in the final this week when the contestants all came back after a further 16 weeks of dieting and exercising on their own. The stroppiest, grumpiest contestant had lost over 7 stone and looked amazing - and she put it down to running each day. So I thought to myself, if she can do it (with a fairly negative attitude) then so can I!
Week 3 had seemed so easy - only running for 9 minutes, the same as week 2, but in week 4 you suddenly go up to running for 16 minutes with very short walks in between.
It was hard! But I have done it, managing to go up to 5 minutes running without stopping.
Dot and I ran on Monday and Thursday night and then the whole family came out last night which was really fun. Fred was amazing and ran the whole thing without even seeming to get out of breath at all but Daisy had a problem with her shoes so she and Mr Locket walked.
It's quite funny when Dot and I go running because I am so slow and she is so fast so we end up running quite a long distance apart with Dot turning and running back to meet me every now and then.
Week 5 has 3 different runs and will culminate in running for 20 minutes without stopping which I am dreading. But they say that 1000s of people have started running using the C25K programme so it must work - I can't be the fattest and most unfit person ever to try it (although I'm not far off!) so I'm sure I will cope.
We have been watching ITV's Biggest Loser and I was really impressed in the final this week when the contestants all came back after a further 16 weeks of dieting and exercising on their own. The stroppiest, grumpiest contestant had lost over 7 stone and looked amazing - and she put it down to running each day. So I thought to myself, if she can do it (with a fairly negative attitude) then so can I!
Monday, 12 March 2012
Monday 12th March
Dot and I ran our second and third week 3 runs on Wednesday and Saturday night and week 3 definitely seemed easier than weeks 1 and 2 - so I'm hoping the same will apply to week 4 when I go out tonight.
I also managed to go to the gym on Thursday evening and I was really pleased that I was able to do even longer on the cross-trainer than normal (4 minutes).
Diet-wise things have gone totally downhill since Thursday. I had lost 1.5lbs last week but I am sure I have put that back on and more. Hey ho. I obviously need to go out running more often!
I also managed to go to the gym on Thursday evening and I was really pleased that I was able to do even longer on the cross-trainer than normal (4 minutes).
Diet-wise things have gone totally downhill since Thursday. I had lost 1.5lbs last week but I am sure I have put that back on and more. Hey ho. I obviously need to go out running more often!
Monday, 5 March 2012
Week 3
Actually, scrap that. I'm too old to be saying yay! - but think something equally enthusiastic, just more mature ;o)
I'm so delighted!
I have managed to go up to week 3 today and run for 3 whole minutes at a time - twice!
I really thought I was going to struggle to run for a longer amount of time because I was finding 90 seconds quite tough but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting and what made this evening's run even nicer was that Daisy came along too and ran most of it beside me so we could chat - I'm always miles behind Dot :o)
Dot and I hadn't managed a run last week and I hadn't been to the gym either but we did our third week 2 run on Saturday and then our first week 3 today.
On week 3 you don't run for any longer in total - only 9 minutes like week 2 but it actually seems easier because you only run 4 times instead of 6 because of the two 3 minute sessions.
Anyway, I'm really chuffed that I managed it and I am a little less daunted now about moving up to 5 minutes next week.
I'm at work for the next four days but I am hoping to go to the gym on Thursday evening and to fit in another run before the weekend. The diet is still not going very well - I keep being tempted to eat things I should be avoiding and drink too much wine but hopefully I have been a bit better this week and may have lost something - I'll find out tomorrow.
Monday, 27 February 2012
Monday 27th Feb
Dot and I went for our second week 2 run yesterday going round and round the smaller of the two parks in the village while Mr Locket helped Fred learn how to ride a bike - something he has shown no interest in until now. So while he was zooming across the park Dot and I were slowly chugging round the outer edge making sure we didn't get run over.
Running on grass was easier on my knee but I do prefer running on pavement and actually getting somewhere - I felt a bit more self-conscious running around in one spot where people could see my struggling progress. My knee didn't hurt at all in the evening and only hurt when I woke up on Monday morning and when I went out for my weekly walk with Sally - but it is encouraging that it is hurting less and for a shorter period of time than when I first started.
However, I am dreading moving up to week 3 - how will I ever run for longer? The 90 seconds of week 2 already seems like an incredibly long time!
Running on grass was easier on my knee but I do prefer running on pavement and actually getting somewhere - I felt a bit more self-conscious running around in one spot where people could see my struggling progress. My knee didn't hurt at all in the evening and only hurt when I woke up on Monday morning and when I went out for my weekly walk with Sally - but it is encouraging that it is hurting less and for a shorter period of time than when I first started.
However, I am dreading moving up to week 3 - how will I ever run for longer? The 90 seconds of week 2 already seems like an incredibly long time!
Friday, 24 February 2012
Friday 24th Feb
Dot and I went for a run on Tuesday night and managed week 2 of the podcast, but my legs cramped up as soon as I stopped.
On Thursday I went to the gym for an hour and rowed, cycled, walked, arm-cycled (bizarre!) and went on the cross trainer then I got to use the weights for the first time too.
Then today I have been at work but I might as well have been at the gym because I've had a full work out! I was lotting up the books for our next Antique Sale and there were over 600 heavy antiquarian books that all needed sorting and carrying upstairs. I was exhausted by the end of it but I have come home to the smell of Dot's baking and have been unable to resist her German apple cake - delicious! And now I am about to go out to the Greyhound Stadium for a charity fundraiser where I will be fed pie and peas. I'm not looking forward to the dog racing but the supper makes me smile :o)
On Thursday I went to the gym for an hour and rowed, cycled, walked, arm-cycled (bizarre!) and went on the cross trainer then I got to use the weights for the first time too.
Then today I have been at work but I might as well have been at the gym because I've had a full work out! I was lotting up the books for our next Antique Sale and there were over 600 heavy antiquarian books that all needed sorting and carrying upstairs. I was exhausted by the end of it but I have come home to the smell of Dot's baking and have been unable to resist her German apple cake - delicious! And now I am about to go out to the Greyhound Stadium for a charity fundraiser where I will be fed pie and peas. I'm not looking forward to the dog racing but the supper makes me smile :o)
Monday, 20 February 2012
Monday 20th February
My knee was fine after my run until I went for an hour long dog walk with a friend on Sunday and then it really started to hurt. I took some nurofen and it soon calmed down.
Went for my usual Monday morning walk with Sally and it was ok - possibly because I had taken nurofen before I went.
I managed to fit in half an hour at the gym this afternoon and did 2 miles on the bike, a combined total of 5 and a half minutes on the cross trainer (my longest time so far) and 10 minutes on the treadmill.
My legs are tired now and my knee is a little uncomfortable but nothing serious.
Diet-wise things aren't so great as we went out for a delicious 3 course Italian meal with Mum and Dad on Friday, had friends round for a rather boozy evening on Saturday and then ate Dot's iced-banana cake on Sunday. Hopefully the exercise will have counteracted some of my gluttony! ;o)
Went for my usual Monday morning walk with Sally and it was ok - possibly because I had taken nurofen before I went.
I managed to fit in half an hour at the gym this afternoon and did 2 miles on the bike, a combined total of 5 and a half minutes on the cross trainer (my longest time so far) and 10 minutes on the treadmill.
My legs are tired now and my knee is a little uncomfortable but nothing serious.
Diet-wise things aren't so great as we went out for a delicious 3 course Italian meal with Mum and Dad on Friday, had friends round for a rather boozy evening on Saturday and then ate Dot's iced-banana cake on Sunday. Hopefully the exercise will have counteracted some of my gluttony! ;o)
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Saturday 18th Feb
My knee felt fine so Dot and I went out for another run this afternoon.
We stuck to the week 1 podcast but I think the next run I go on will be a week 2.
On Mr L's advice we tried running on grass round a field but by the time we got out there it was getting pretty dark so we just did one lap of the field and went back to running on the pavement. I actually found the uneven surface of the grass a bit tough on my knee.
It was harder work running because it was really windy but I'm pleased that we managed to do it.
My knee was a little sore straight after running but soon settled down so I think I will be able to keep going as long as I'm careful.
We stuck to the week 1 podcast but I think the next run I go on will be a week 2.
On Mr L's advice we tried running on grass round a field but by the time we got out there it was getting pretty dark so we just did one lap of the field and went back to running on the pavement. I actually found the uneven surface of the grass a bit tough on my knee.
It was harder work running because it was really windy but I'm pleased that we managed to do it.
My knee was a little sore straight after running but soon settled down so I think I will be able to keep going as long as I'm careful.
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Thursday 16th Feb
I spoke too soon.
My knee was fine all evening but then started to hurt a lot during the night and the pain woke me every time I turned in my sleep.
So frustrating!
But I went to the gym again this evening as the children are at Granny and Grandpa's for a couple of nights and did a total of 20 minutes on the bike - 2.9 miles and 4.5 minutes total on the cross trainer. I tried rowing but it hurt my knee today so I decided to give it a miss.
When I go again on Monday I will be able to try some of the other equipment. I haven't been able to use anything new the last two times as changes can only be made to my programme by one of the Exercise Therapists rather than the assistants. It will be interesting to see what else I can do.
I've told them at the gym how much I want to be able to do running so I'm going to try to improve my fitness and strength there and maybe try running on the treadmill which will be flatter and less high-impact than pavements.
My knee was fine all evening but then started to hurt a lot during the night and the pain woke me every time I turned in my sleep.
So frustrating!
But I went to the gym again this evening as the children are at Granny and Grandpa's for a couple of nights and did a total of 20 minutes on the bike - 2.9 miles and 4.5 minutes total on the cross trainer. I tried rowing but it hurt my knee today so I decided to give it a miss.
When I go again on Monday I will be able to try some of the other equipment. I haven't been able to use anything new the last two times as changes can only be made to my programme by one of the Exercise Therapists rather than the assistants. It will be interesting to see what else I can do.
I've told them at the gym how much I want to be able to do running so I'm going to try to improve my fitness and strength there and maybe try running on the treadmill which will be flatter and less high-impact than pavements.
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Wednesday 15th Feb
Hooray! I've been out for a run with Dot and my knee only hurts a little bit!
I went back to week 1 of the podcast as I had only done one run from week 2 then had over a week off and this time I made a conscious effort to run s l o w l y. This isn't to say that I had been running fast before hand but I really slowed down this evening. I may even have been walking faster. But I didn't feel out of breath and my shins aren't hurting as much as they had previously.
So I'm pleased!
Tomorrow evening I plan to go to the gym and then on Friday I want to try another run with Mr Locket so he can advise me on how to run better.
I went back to week 1 of the podcast as I had only done one run from week 2 then had over a week off and this time I made a conscious effort to run s l o w l y. This isn't to say that I had been running fast before hand but I really slowed down this evening. I may even have been walking faster. But I didn't feel out of breath and my shins aren't hurting as much as they had previously.
So I'm pleased!
Tomorrow evening I plan to go to the gym and then on Friday I want to try another run with Mr Locket so he can advise me on how to run better.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Tuesday 14th February
Just a quick post to keep a record of what I did at the gym today.
10 minutes on the rower
10 minutes on the bike set at level 3 with a couple of minutes at level 4 - 1.2 miles
3 struggling minutes on the cross trainer
10 more minutes on the bike - 1.2 miles
1 1/2 minutes on the cross trainer again - with complete jelly-legs at the end.
My knee is feeling a lot better and I was very tempted to go out for a run when I got back but Mr Locket thinks I should give it a little longer and I wanted to see how it felt after going to the gym. I've stopped wearing my new winter boots because I think they have been contributing to my knee pain. They are totally flat but I think the fact that my foot is held still at the ankle is putting strain on my knee. That's probably a load of rubbish really but my knee is hurting less now that I am not wearing them although I haven't done a lot of walking over the last 4 days so that may be it.
I'm off to Slimming World in a bit. I was very tempted not to go as I have been cheating on the diet and I'm fairly sure I will have put weight on this week. I find it very discouraging when I go and have gained but if I don't go I will probably keep on eating the wrong things. My leader has also texted me today to encourage me to come so it would be rude not to ;o)
Edited to add the amazing news that I actually lost half a pound this week. Definitely undeserved but I'm very pleased about it as I was sure I'd gained about 2.5lbs.
10 minutes on the rower
10 minutes on the bike set at level 3 with a couple of minutes at level 4 - 1.2 miles
3 struggling minutes on the cross trainer
10 more minutes on the bike - 1.2 miles
1 1/2 minutes on the cross trainer again - with complete jelly-legs at the end.
My knee is feeling a lot better and I was very tempted to go out for a run when I got back but Mr Locket thinks I should give it a little longer and I wanted to see how it felt after going to the gym. I've stopped wearing my new winter boots because I think they have been contributing to my knee pain. They are totally flat but I think the fact that my foot is held still at the ankle is putting strain on my knee. That's probably a load of rubbish really but my knee is hurting less now that I am not wearing them although I haven't done a lot of walking over the last 4 days so that may be it.
I'm off to Slimming World in a bit. I was very tempted not to go as I have been cheating on the diet and I'm fairly sure I will have put weight on this week. I find it very discouraging when I go and have gained but if I don't go I will probably keep on eating the wrong things. My leader has also texted me today to encourage me to come so it would be rude not to ;o)
Edited to add the amazing news that I actually lost half a pound this week. Definitely undeserved but I'm very pleased about it as I was sure I'd gained about 2.5lbs.
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Feeling frustrated
I'm feeling very frustrated and a bit of a fraud too after everyone's encouraging comments as I haven't been able to run since Saturday because of my knee - even walking hurts it. I know I can't call myself a runner yet but I have been so proud of myself for going out regularly and I am really disappointed that I'm having to stop for a while when I've only just started.
And I was frustrated when I went to Slimming World on Tuesday because instead of losing pounds from all this new exercise I had actually put on half a pound. This was probably a combination of the wine I had drunk this week and catch-up from last week when I ate an awful lot of cake but only gained half a pound. So a pound on in two weeks isn't too bad but it's going in the wrong direction so I need to try a bit harder and cut down on the treats. The problem is that when the dieting doesn't go so well my natural reaction is to eat more naughty things almost in rebellion!
I had my first assessment at the gym at our local hospital today - I had a referral from my doctor as part of my "getting better" programme. After the initial info gathering session and weight, height, blood pressure, waist/hip/chest etc measurements I got to go on a couple of the machines. I had told the trainer that I had hurt my knee so he selected exercises that shouldn't hurt that particular muscle.
I did 10 minutes on the bike - set to fairly low impact which was a relief, then 7 minutes rowing which was fun and then I managed 3 minutes on the cross trainer before practically falling off with jelly legs! It was really hard work! As the gym is in the hospital it has funny opening times so I had to stop there as it was closing for the day.
My knee didn't hurt at all during the exercise but it is a bit sore now that I am resting so I am going to take some more ibuprofen and see how it is.
And I was frustrated when I went to Slimming World on Tuesday because instead of losing pounds from all this new exercise I had actually put on half a pound. This was probably a combination of the wine I had drunk this week and catch-up from last week when I ate an awful lot of cake but only gained half a pound. So a pound on in two weeks isn't too bad but it's going in the wrong direction so I need to try a bit harder and cut down on the treats. The problem is that when the dieting doesn't go so well my natural reaction is to eat more naughty things almost in rebellion!
I had my first assessment at the gym at our local hospital today - I had a referral from my doctor as part of my "getting better" programme. After the initial info gathering session and weight, height, blood pressure, waist/hip/chest etc measurements I got to go on a couple of the machines. I had told the trainer that I had hurt my knee so he selected exercises that shouldn't hurt that particular muscle.
I did 10 minutes on the bike - set to fairly low impact which was a relief, then 7 minutes rowing which was fun and then I managed 3 minutes on the cross trainer before practically falling off with jelly legs! It was really hard work! As the gym is in the hospital it has funny opening times so I had to stop there as it was closing for the day.
My knee didn't hurt at all during the exercise but it is a bit sore now that I am resting so I am going to take some more ibuprofen and see how it is.
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Monday 6th February
I enjoyed my run on Saturday but my legs cramped up a lot when I got back and then a muscle or tendon down the side of my left knee started to really hurt. It had begun to hurt after my run on Thursday but the pain had worn off over Friday so I felt ok to run but I have obviously aggravated it again.
I took ibuprofen but it hurt during the night whenever I turned over in bed and was pretty painful all Sunday.
I'm really frustrated because I want to be able to keep running and don't want a little injury to get in the way.
I went for my usual Monday morning walk with Sally who is a physiotherapist and when we got back she had a look at my knee and thinks it is the end of the sartorius muscle that is hurting. She applied friction to it and then ice and it is actually feeling a lot better but I don't think I'll go running on it for another day or two.
Tuesday - it is still sore but ibuprofen works. I'm very tempted to just go running and see how I get on but Mr Locket is being more pesimistic and saying I should rest. I'm worried that if I don't go for a few days then I will lose the impetus and motivation - and the tiny amount of fitness that I have acquired.
I will let you know when I go out again.
I took ibuprofen but it hurt during the night whenever I turned over in bed and was pretty painful all Sunday.
I'm really frustrated because I want to be able to keep running and don't want a little injury to get in the way.
I went for my usual Monday morning walk with Sally who is a physiotherapist and when we got back she had a look at my knee and thinks it is the end of the sartorius muscle that is hurting. She applied friction to it and then ice and it is actually feeling a lot better but I don't think I'll go running on it for another day or two.
Tuesday - it is still sore but ibuprofen works. I'm very tempted to just go running and see how I get on but Mr Locket is being more pesimistic and saying I should rest. I'm worried that if I don't go for a few days then I will lose the impetus and motivation - and the tiny amount of fitness that I have acquired.
I will let you know when I go out again.
Saturday, 4 February 2012
A major miracle
Yep, that's what it is - a miracle - one I honestly never thought would happen.....
I have started running.
Actual running - one foot in front of the other, faster-than-I-can-walk kind of running.
I have never been fit - even at school I was always rubbish at PE and once I left I did nothing more energetic than walking until I spent a summer working on an archaeological dig (where I met Mr Locket) when I was pick-axing and shovelling and pushing wheelbarrows all day (and bought my first pair of size 12 jeans, and tucked my shirt in for the first time in years!) So that was probably the slimmest and fittest I have ever been.
Anyway, I digress!
I'm overweight.
Officially "obese".
And at 16 stone 8.5lbs I decided enough was enough and went back to Slimming World.
That was in April last year and since then I have lost just over 2 stone.
It was more, but Christmas had a rather negative effect on my dieting and I gained 9lbs. I've lost 4lbs of that over January and am now at 14 stone 3.5lbs so I have lost a total of 2 stone 5lbs.
But I still wasn't doing anything about my general fitness other than walking - and even then I wasn't doing that as much as I had been in the summer - but I kept "thinking" about running and wishing I could do it. Mr Locket runs regularly and I am always envious of him for his ability to get on and run.
The first step was to buy some running shoes so I found a cheap pair (in case I only ever ran once) and Dot and I went out for our first run/walk. We went out for 45 minutes and went 2.8 miles but it was walking with very short spurts of running whenever I felt I could manage it for as long as I thought I could do (not very long).
I then did nothing for another 6 days but in the meantime I had read domesticali's post about trying the C25K NHS programme - and it sounded difficult but do-able and as Dot was encouraging me to go out again we downloaded the first podcast and set off for the first run last Saturday.
I'm not going to lie. It was HARD going. The first week has you walking for 5 minutes (easy) then running for 60 seconds interspersed with 90 seconds of walking. Now I know that SOUNDS easy and probably IS easy for a relatively fit person. But I am several stone overweight and very unfit and I found it really difficult. 60 seconds seemed like an awfully long time (much longer than I had been running the first time I went out) and I was hugely relieved at the end of each minute. But I did it all and survived and had the 5 minute walk at the end to cool down and get my breath back.
But golly did my legs hurt?! My shins were so sore - but a friend who is a physiotherapist said that it would be a good idea to take ibuprofen and to do a few stretches. Poor Mr Locket must have been totally sick of me complaining how much my legs hurt - fortunately he's a very patient man ;o)
The really amazing thing was that Dot and I went out AGAIN on Monday night. So it wasn't just a one off. I was actually going to try to do this running thing.
And I even found it easier the second time - although my legs still hurt incredibly afterwards - like cramp down the front of my legs.
Then we went AGAIN on Thursday night. So that was the 3rd repetition of week 1 of the podcast.
Now it was time to move on to week 2 - with increased running periods - which was really scary. Week 1 had been hard enough.
Then this afternoon Dot and I just decided to go for it - even though it was snowing and freezing cold. The programme for week 2 had walking for 5 minutes to start then running for 90 seconds with 2 minutes of walking in between. And once again I survived it. And once again my legs were in agony when I got home so I sat in a warm bath for an hour until they started to feel a bit better!
Initially I had just gone out running in the clothes I was wearing that day - just changing into running shoes. Almost as if I wasn't really doing this running thing - wasn't admitting that it was really happening. Then on Thursday I bought myself some jogging bottoms - but when I ran in them that night I found that they were a bit too loose around the waist and I had to run with one hand holding them up! So today I bought myself some more - this time with a tie round the waist so I could tighten them and they were much better and this time Dot downloaded the podcast directly to my phone so I didn't have to cope with the idiosyncrasies of Mr Locket's geriatric mp3 player.
Each time it is a real effort to make myself actually do it but once I'm out with Dot I do enjoy running and I am SO impressed with myself. It may seem to be a small achievement - at the best I have only run for 90 seconds at a time - but I have had 40 years of being fairly idle and thought that's how I would stay. To be able to say that I have been running 4 times over the last week is amazing.
I really think I can do this.
And I will be so proud of myself if I keep on going.
I'm never going to be skinny and super-fit but I would be very, very happy to be slimmer and fitter.
And feeling better about myself is all part of getting better from the horrible anxiety and depression that knocked me down last year.
Now I don't expect anyone to read this blog but I wanted a place to record my achievements - however small they are.
Lucy
I have started running.
Actual running - one foot in front of the other, faster-than-I-can-walk kind of running.
I have never been fit - even at school I was always rubbish at PE and once I left I did nothing more energetic than walking until I spent a summer working on an archaeological dig (where I met Mr Locket) when I was pick-axing and shovelling and pushing wheelbarrows all day (and bought my first pair of size 12 jeans, and tucked my shirt in for the first time in years!) So that was probably the slimmest and fittest I have ever been.
Anyway, I digress!
I'm overweight.
Officially "obese".
And at 16 stone 8.5lbs I decided enough was enough and went back to Slimming World.
That was in April last year and since then I have lost just over 2 stone.
It was more, but Christmas had a rather negative effect on my dieting and I gained 9lbs. I've lost 4lbs of that over January and am now at 14 stone 3.5lbs so I have lost a total of 2 stone 5lbs.
But I still wasn't doing anything about my general fitness other than walking - and even then I wasn't doing that as much as I had been in the summer - but I kept "thinking" about running and wishing I could do it. Mr Locket runs regularly and I am always envious of him for his ability to get on and run.
The first step was to buy some running shoes so I found a cheap pair (in case I only ever ran once) and Dot and I went out for our first run/walk. We went out for 45 minutes and went 2.8 miles but it was walking with very short spurts of running whenever I felt I could manage it for as long as I thought I could do (not very long).
I then did nothing for another 6 days but in the meantime I had read domesticali's post about trying the C25K NHS programme - and it sounded difficult but do-able and as Dot was encouraging me to go out again we downloaded the first podcast and set off for the first run last Saturday.
I'm not going to lie. It was HARD going. The first week has you walking for 5 minutes (easy) then running for 60 seconds interspersed with 90 seconds of walking. Now I know that SOUNDS easy and probably IS easy for a relatively fit person. But I am several stone overweight and very unfit and I found it really difficult. 60 seconds seemed like an awfully long time (much longer than I had been running the first time I went out) and I was hugely relieved at the end of each minute. But I did it all and survived and had the 5 minute walk at the end to cool down and get my breath back.
But golly did my legs hurt?! My shins were so sore - but a friend who is a physiotherapist said that it would be a good idea to take ibuprofen and to do a few stretches. Poor Mr Locket must have been totally sick of me complaining how much my legs hurt - fortunately he's a very patient man ;o)
The really amazing thing was that Dot and I went out AGAIN on Monday night. So it wasn't just a one off. I was actually going to try to do this running thing.
And I even found it easier the second time - although my legs still hurt incredibly afterwards - like cramp down the front of my legs.
Then we went AGAIN on Thursday night. So that was the 3rd repetition of week 1 of the podcast.
Now it was time to move on to week 2 - with increased running periods - which was really scary. Week 1 had been hard enough.
Then this afternoon Dot and I just decided to go for it - even though it was snowing and freezing cold. The programme for week 2 had walking for 5 minutes to start then running for 90 seconds with 2 minutes of walking in between. And once again I survived it. And once again my legs were in agony when I got home so I sat in a warm bath for an hour until they started to feel a bit better!
Initially I had just gone out running in the clothes I was wearing that day - just changing into running shoes. Almost as if I wasn't really doing this running thing - wasn't admitting that it was really happening. Then on Thursday I bought myself some jogging bottoms - but when I ran in them that night I found that they were a bit too loose around the waist and I had to run with one hand holding them up! So today I bought myself some more - this time with a tie round the waist so I could tighten them and they were much better and this time Dot downloaded the podcast directly to my phone so I didn't have to cope with the idiosyncrasies of Mr Locket's geriatric mp3 player.
Each time it is a real effort to make myself actually do it but once I'm out with Dot I do enjoy running and I am SO impressed with myself. It may seem to be a small achievement - at the best I have only run for 90 seconds at a time - but I have had 40 years of being fairly idle and thought that's how I would stay. To be able to say that I have been running 4 times over the last week is amazing.
I really think I can do this.
And I will be so proud of myself if I keep on going.
I'm never going to be skinny and super-fit but I would be very, very happy to be slimmer and fitter.
And feeling better about myself is all part of getting better from the horrible anxiety and depression that knocked me down last year.
Now I don't expect anyone to read this blog but I wanted a place to record my achievements - however small they are.
Lucy
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