100th Post

Tuesday: This is the 100th post, 100 days since I decided to take up running. Have I changed much? I have gone from being obsessed about getting time for running and having a hat for it, to... well, perhaps little change there, then ;o) It is funny looking back at earlier posts, being excitable about being able to run for 4mins non-stop, and I'm surprised by how much I ached at the start. My right calf and knee still trouble me on/off but I think my body's now a lot more used to running. I have to smile wryly at posts insisting this hobby is for fun and not to be taken seriously; if someone said to me, 101 days ago, that in 101 days' time, I would be days away from my first race and in training for two 10km races in May, with the long-term view to completing a half marathon in September, I would have thought that person was a little k-razy. But here I am, one stone lighter, feeling a lot fitter, and 4 days away from an undulating 5km race. Today was a rest day as I plan to run on Wednesday and Thursday, leaving Friday as a rest day before the big race on Saturday. I managed to negotiate the nursery run with the other half and went to the city centre to shop for my much-yearned for training gear. Up & Running is the only specialist running shop in the area and it was a very informative trip. I had a gait analysis done, which involved me running on a treadmill whilst my running technique was filmed and analysed by computer. The assistant told me I was a neutral with a slight tendency to over pronate, but nothing to worry about, and I tried on some shoes which were best suited to me. The best pair for me were a Mizuno Wave pair, very light and comfy, as if moulded to my feet. However, despite receiving cash as an early birthday present, I cannot spend £72 (£80 without the 'newbie' discount) on shoes right now. It was reassuring to hear that the pair of New Balance shoes I have were a very good choice for a beginner, though the Mizunos would be a great improvement on them. I plan to stick to what I have, as the assistant agreed they were fine for now, and will keep an eye out for the Mizunos at a lower price for the future. I bought specialist marathon socks (2 for £12) and lycra capri pants (£25) from the shop. I also bought a £20 sports bra from M&S (technically £8.50, due to gift voucher) but when I got home, I realised I should have tried it on and not guessed the size (due to time contraints) as the size I got was a little too big. This will need changing fast. I had a problem finding tops which were both affordable and to my personal taste, as I am keen to find loose fitting tops in a long length, preferably long sleeved, but this is proving hard to find. I know I will need to buy the 'proper technical' tops once I start training in June for the half marathon, but for now, I know I can cope with cheaper cotton alternatives. Later in the day, I felt very weak and tired, and I managed a nap and had salt to increase my blood pressure. This was very worrying, I had only been walking a little for shopping in the morning, yet I could barely stand late afternoon. I hope this is just a temporary blip, I am anxious enough about Saturday without this adding to it. Due to feeling unwell, I was unable to shop for tops and general running socks. These are the last items left, which I hope to get tomorrow. I won't be purchasing a watch until after the Salford 5km Run, I want to try using my mobile phone's features for this one. And I had been so pleased to think I had found a relatively cheap hobby for myself... But I do believe this is the most cost-effective hobby for me. My other half spends around £25 per month on gym membership which he uses up to four times a month; including today's shopping, I have spent no more than around £80 on running so far - this is considering I am in my 4th month of running, I have run at least 3 times per week since I started and most of the costs are 'start-up' costs, which won't be repeated for a long time, and the main costs in future will be entry fees for races, and all of this will still add up to being hugely cheaper than joining a gym. 100 days on, I am still as keen as ever on my running, actually more serious than ever about it, and determined to keep going with it. My only regret is not having discovered the wonderful world of running earlier :o)