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.

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.

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?!

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.

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!