Running With A Pedometer

Thursday: Today was amended from a rest day to a training day, as due to family commitments, I won't be able to run on Friday. No sun this morning, just dark clouds and drizzle. I had my gloves with me, but I took them off quickly as I warmed up fast. I also had my pedometer with me, finally, having been looking for it for ages. I was keen to measure how far I cover in my training sessions, especially as the OU running forum is always discussing distances, and I really wasn't sure how much I did. I measured it from the start of my warm up, 6min wlk, to the end of the cool down. I did two 15min runs with a 5min walk in between, and the pedometer calculated it took me 56mins to cover 4miles. Which is nothing to boast about, but I was pleasantly surprised by the distance I covered, I had previously suspected that I was barely covering two miles per session. I tackled some more short uphill sections today, and while I was struggling up them, I thought of the uphill Mound stretch I may have to do in the Great Edinburgh Run, which is steeper, and the very thought was panic-inducing. I followed this with downhill running to keep my spirits up, as the uphill bits were painfully tough. It was just after doing a tough uphill section, I experienced some pain under my left collar bone, around the base of the neck, like a sharp, tightening pain. That did ease off after I pressed the area and massaged it gently. Apart from that, my right calf was a bit of a pain, as usual. After the first 15min run, I walked for 5mins, and half of that was spent limping due to a slight cramp. Once I got going, the right calf wasn't a major issue, the entire body ached and sweated then. But again when I stopped, the right calf went stiff and heavy. When I get home, it's usually fine after a hot shower and a massage. Now, I expect three days of rest, which feels excessive for someone itching to run more, but it's all part of the training process and should hopefully make me a stronger runner as the muscles get time to repair themselves.

Running and Pushing

Wednesday: I was an eager beaver this morning, dying to get back to the park. It had rained overnight and it was bitterly cold like the last few runs, despite the sun being out. Still, I was so pleased to be back out there. I did a lot of stretching and loosening my body, it felt incredibly stiff and tight this morning. The plan advised a 15min run; I managed a 16min run, 6minwalk, then an 18min run. I had intended to do two 15min runs, but went over because towards the end of each run, songs came on the radio that just had to be run along to. That was a great feeling, ending a run out of choice and not out of desperation looking at the stopwatch. That said, I did find the middle periods of both runs very tough. I try to stick to flat or downhill paths usually, but today, I made the effort not to avoid steeper gradients. Since I am training for two Great Runs now, I feel the need to push myself harder, especially when I am not feeling major aches and pains at the end of a day of running. My right calf was aching after the first run, hence the long walk before then second run, but no other aches to report. I found myself watching the paths for cracks and unevenness while i ran, I am feeling more conscious of the danger of injuring myself, especially as I am training harder than the official training plan advises. I bumped into a fellow parent at school who is doing the Great Manchester Run, and she told me she needed knee pads now because her knees were so painful from her training. This woman is less than ten years older than me, but a lot fitter and more experienced, and so hearing that made me slightly anxious. I guess as long as I use any anxiety I have to make me train more safely, that is the main thing. I'm just very much enjoying the feeling of satisfaction after a good run, as well as the peace and solitude of the journey. On the charity side of things, the British Heart Foundation finally got back to me and have me registered as officially running for them for both Great Runs. I am pleased, and now I just wait for their sponsorship forms, so I can start getting people to sponsor me. I am meeting a friend for dinner next week, who I hope will rope in her work colleagues into sponsoring me, and also, I am planning to corner family members this weekend for the cause. I will be announcing my entry in the two Great Runs to them, which will no doubt be met by a mixture of surprise and laughs, which is fine, as long as they dig deep for charity :o)

Rest, But Not Rested

Tuesday: As planned, I rested today. I considered going to the park for a walk anyway, but decided against it, as I would have been too tempted to run for a bit. Staying at home when I would rather have been running was a little depressing, and by evening, I was actually very down about it. I had plenty of things to do to keep me occupied but for some reason, my body felt very sluggish and sleepy. At the end of the day, I felt completely exhausted, even though I hadn't done half as much as I do most days. I was struggling to stay awake and decided I wouldn't get any effective study done, so I had an early night (early being in bed for 11.30pm). The only good thing about today was my finally deciding to register for the Great Edinburgh Run. The OUSA running forum was very helpful and after speaking to my other half about it too, I realised I could do both Great Runs, as long as I trained hard enough! I rang up to register and now, I am officially in training to do two Great Runs. The thought is more exciting than terrifying right now, I am sure the reality of it all will eventually hit me :o)

Week 2/16 Towards The Great Run

Monday: As decided over the weekend, I went running today, chomping at the bit after a two day rest. It was icy cold but the sun was shining. There was a lot of ice on the path, and after reading a lot about other runners getting injuries on the OU running forum, I was very wary of my speed on the icy bits. I warmed up with an 8min walk, lomger than usual but necessary when it was so cold. Then I did two 10min runs, seperated by a 2min walk. The plan advised one 10min run, so it feels good to be doing more. The first run felt very hard towards the end, which surprised me as I expected more from myself, having had lots of rest. The second run was really difficult in the last 3mins. I didn't plan to run more but then I heard a song on the radio that had to be run along to, so after a 2min walk, I burst into a vigorous and energetic run for around 2mins, concentrating on speed. That was a great rush, really invigorating, and actually I was surprised I had that in me. Today's run felt good, I find the hotter and sweatier I am at the end, the more I enjoyed it. At the end of the day, I have again no aches to report, which is making me wonder whether I push myself hard enough, as I hear of others having many tired limbs and aches. My only moan is my right calf, as always, which I massage, keep elevated and straight. I have received a lot of advice and information from my runner friend about the importance of rest days, which the OU running forum members echo. Muscle needs time to recover and whilst it all makes sense and I know it is proven advice, I am struggling to fight my instinct that wants me to run every day. I am getting a great deal out of my running, more on an emotional level than a physical level these days, hence the desire to run more and frustration over the plan's advice to rest. Tomorrow is technically a rest day, but the thought of not going to the park to run is actually very depressing for me. How things change, from me scoffing at runners months ago, to becoming virtually obsessed with it :o) The idea of doing the Great Edinburgh Run started as a joke with a friend, but I have been reading up on the event, which takes place 2 weeks before the one in Manchester. There is something exhilirating, and poetic, about doing my first big run in my home city, but with the short time gap between the two Great Runs, I wonder how wise it would be to do both. However, doing my first big run in Edinburgh would be a fantastic experience, it would perhaps mean more to me than doing the one in Manchester. I shall be seeking advice over the matter, as the idea of doing both runs won't leave my head.

Week 4 - Reflection

Sunday: I cannot believe it's been four weeks already, nearly a month. It feels somehow shorter and longer than that, simultaneously. This week has pleased me, I have made so much progress, my body has surprised me. I started the week off with 4min runs and I ended the week on a 15min run. I was keen to get to that 15min mark as soon as I read the greattrainer.org plan for my 10k run. Today, I got a lot of rest, in between a lot of shopping, and I am being careful not to bend my right leg so much. I have noticed I have been really craving junk food the last few days, and I am concerned I have had too much of it. It increases my desire to get out for a run to burn it off. However, I am learning how important the rest days are, and am trying to accept that they are part of the training plan. Tomorrow sees the start of week 2 of 16, counting down to the Great Manchester Run. The plan reads as follows: Mon-Rest, Tues-10mins easy jog, Wed-Rest, Thurs-15mins easy jog, Fri-Rest, Sat-Rest, Sun-15min jog. The amount of rest greattrainer.org prescribes never ceases to surprise me, but I know runners world are the same, and they are the experts after all. I will be adjusting the plan to suit my personal commitments, so I am planning - 10mins; Rest; 15mins; Rest; 15mins; Rest; Rest. That order means I am still taking four days off as rest and doing 3 days of runs. So I am running tomorrow, and after feeling quite lethargic and all junk-food-ed up this weekend, I am really eager to get out there. I found an online forum to chat to other running enthusiasts which is very exciting for me. I am probably the newest and most inexperienced person there but it is great to be able to learn from others and of course, be able to rave or moan about incidents in the company of those who understand :o)

Weekend Rest

Saturday: I had a lie-in today and awoke feeling glad I wasn't running, mostly due to the fact we'd had a lot of snow. It was freezing today. I kept myself on my feet through lots of housework but I was careful to take rest breaks, my right calf was tender. By the end of the day, there were no aches or pains, just a feeling of tiredness and and I did feel very sleepy very quickly. I started a new 9 month Open University course today, so I shall be juggling what free time I have between my study and running commitments. Over the coming months, it will be interesting to see how much I use one as a distraction from the other :o)