Weekend Rest

Saturday: Rest weekend for me and I was expecting to be all achey today, but not at all. However, I did have an admittedly lazy day, mostly on the sofa, so I didn't really have the opportunity to test my body! I was craving chocolate a lot today, and definitely feel I over-indulged, which is annoying, since I've been happy with my healthy eating for a while. But I guess it's only one day and beating myself up about it will achieve nothing, whereas running like hell on Monday will :o)

Back with a Vengeance

Friday: I was positively chomping at the bit today, having had two days off. First run with my new Rugby Nations hat :o) It didn't rain but the hat was great in keeping my head warm, and it made me feel less conspicuous (even though i probably wasn't!). I had the earphone problem again, refusing to sit in my ears if I dared make a movement faster than walking. I have got on the case of finding headphones compatible with my mobile - ebay! The weather was a lot better today, it was cold and a little windy, but no rain at all. However, there was a lot of ice on the paths and I had to really watch some areas for fear of injury. I nearly slipped at the end, just walking towards the car to go. But I had a great time overall. The ratio of walking to running was around 2.5 to 2.75 : 1. I did some long periods of walking, absent mindedly, and tried to do my best to make up for it in running. I tried a slower method of running, which was so slow, i may as well have walked, but this allowed me to run for longer and build up the stamina for bursts of faster running. I saw another lady out jogging, middle aged at least - I gaver her a big smile, we runners need to stick together! I found it awkward running past the open air cafe by the boating lake, it was busy today and I felt very self conscious. I strayed from the 'usual path' and and enjoyed going to previously unwalked/unran in areas. The session lasted around 45 minutes which included nearly ten minutes at the end of me walking around quite slowly to unwind. I also found logs which I walked over and around many times, to stretch my legs further to warm down. My thighs were frozen again today whilst the rest of me was most red and sweaty. I found having a hotter than usual shower made a difference to my aches, barely felt any so far. I won't be training the next two days, since the kids are home on the weekend. Actually looking forward to Monday for once! :o)

Another Rest Day

Thursday: I was all ready to go back to running today, but responsibilities took over the entire time window allocated for running. Despite runners world advising plenty of rest, I was very reluctant to miss two days on the trot. Apparently, muscles heal and reconfigure better during rest periods. I experienced more aches today, my legs were much stiffer. I am trying to maintain the whole healthy eating plan, moreso on a rest day, as I feel guilty for scoffing chocolate, knowing I can't burn it off! Oh wow, I am actually thinking like a runner now, i believe! On advice, I looked up great trainers.org but that requires setting up an account to get the full benefit of their advice, which I will do later.

Rest Day

Wedenesday: With plans made, I decided to leave today as a rest day, but as is Sod's Law, my plans fell through, and too late for me to be able to fit in a run instead. However, to heed the advice of the experts at runners world, I reluctantly accepted I needed a day off. The body continues to feel aches, from my thighs right down to above my ankles, but not in an excessively painful way. I finally bought a hat (self-congratulatory applause)! Considering I have spent some money already on training gear, I decided to get a cheap one, but it is a nice one nonetheless. It's a Rugby Six Nations hat, very tasteful, nothing too loud. And having the flag of Scotland on it, albeit in miniature, makes me feel very patriotic :o) I figure it's all about the feel-good factor in this running lark!

Alone and Happy

Tuesday: I was able to leave my son at nursery for an hour today. Got to the park, and nearly changed my mind because of the rain. But according to my wise runner mate, 'a little bit of rain never hurt anyone'. Well, I never said it was acid pouring down, but anyway! Actually, I quite enjoyed walking/running in the rain. It wasn't too heavy, and truthfully, the cold splashes of rain felt good as I warmed up. Overall, 25 minutes of walking/running, at approximately 3:1 ratio. It felt really good, and I felt fitter, even at this early stage. The left toe never twinged, and I was huffing and puffing a lot, but that was down to inefficient breathing. My nose is still slightly bunged up and I was fiddling with my earphones, so my breathing wasn't as good as it should have been. I saw another runner - can i call myself a runner, or should that be 'newbie runner'? The male runner was twice my age and twice as fast, and gave me a funny look, maybe because I was wobbling along and not the image of the stereotypical freakily-fit runner folk. But I figure he was maybe just jealous because I looked so damn good in my black-with-a-touch-of-hot-pink training gear ;o) But my first run alone was definitely a happy one :o) I was sweating and red as a tomato by the end, although I did notice that both days, my thighs felt frozen, although the rest of me had warmed up. It's not a big issue right now, though the numbness was distracting when driving later. Still got to buy a hat, would make it easier for me in bad weather conditions, as my glasses don't have wipers for the rain (which would be an interesting invention). I plan to get contacts on for the next run, taking tomorrow off as a rest day. At the end of the day, I can report I had aches and pains, nothing major, but really feeling I did something today. However, I wonder if I should be pushing harder, or maybe in my initial zest for running, I simply can't get enough of running?

And It Begins...

It turns out the nursery gradual admissions policy dictates that admission is, in essence, gradual :0o So I stayed with my son as he played. However, determined to make a start, I took my son with me to the park straight after. 25 minutes of mostly walking and spurts of jogging, keeping in mind both the advice from runners world and also the fact my 3 year old likes a slow walk. It was a lot of fun, muddy as hell in some areas, which annoyed me as my nice new training gear was ruined (!), so I stuck mostly to the concrete paths. First reaction, wow, great fun :o) It was really quite exhilirating, it was the kind of cold weather which feels good on the face and perks you up. There were very few people about, the only ones I saw were elderly people walking their dogs (which further distracted my excitable son and slowed my pace). And no skinny folk jogging to ruin my view, splendid! I really wanted to stay longer, even just to walk, but understandably, my son could only take so much. I enjoyed myself so much, I am so glad I went. There are no aches/pains to report since I really didn't exert myself enough, though the shower I had was one of the most refreshing in a long time. I am a little bothered by my left toe, which has been a pain for months, but it shouldn't be a big hindrance at this early stage. Tomorrow, my son is allowed to stay on his own for a bit, so I shall be jumping at the opportunity to get to the park. My friend has advised me to be careful incase I injure myself, and I will be very watchful regarding running on slippery muddy surfaces, not just for the sake of my clothes! Looking forward to tomorrow already, newbie's first trip on her own :o)

Last Minute Thoughts

(Geordie accent) Day Two in the Big Runner Household... :o)
All plans today collapsed - after an unexpectedly late night, I awoke after a short sleep this morning with excruciating stomach pains. Not a good start to the day at all, and was close to going to hospital but thanks to NHS Direct, heavy paracetamol dosages numbed the pain and enabled me to stay home. My other half is sadly very under the weather, so been busy making us both chicken soup, and all shopping plans cancelled. Therefore, the much-desired baseball cap will have to wait for tomorrow but another priority is seeing the doctor, to seek advice about me starting my running, which is common sense for anyone undertaking major changes in their exercise regimes. My old 'exercise regime' being non-existent, but anyway, always good to get a medical opinion.
Already received a lot of much-needed and much-apreciated support and advice from my runner friend and I'll be posting the links he sent me for 'runners world'. The articles there are really useful, well, common sense in many ways, but important for me. However, some of it is quite serious in tone, I never realised how seriously some folk take running, which is a bit daunting, so I won't think about it! I used to hate running, seriously, I would do anything to get out of cross-country running at high school. Any sport, be it hockey, tennis, swimming, I was up for, but I never understood why folk liked to run. I do wonder if I expect too much from it, having read the runners world information for runners. And it's all so serious, my word, so serious about running. Which, I guess, it has to be for the professionals. For me, I just want to get some fresh air, get fit, have fun. I wonder if I'll get all competitive about it, as I don't feel that way right now. Maybe that's a good thing though, I would never have started this if I felt forced into it. I am really looking forward to starting, though am genuinely surprised by how little us newbies are supposed to do in the beginning. Obviously, the runners world people know their stuff, but I am going to be amending their suggestions to my mood on the day. I am not setting out to be Paula Radcliffe (just as well, hehe) but I want to have fun, the injury-free way preferably! Oh yes, and weight loss, can't wait! Which reminds me, got to weigh myself tonight (moan, groan). Got to be done, since one of my aims is to lose weight - glad I posted before I do it, it will definitely depress me for the rest of the evening! But anyway, positive thinking, looking forward to moving forward, and running :o)