Rest Day and Delayed Aches

Friday: A rest day and the aches beckoned. I noticed a little tightness in my thighs and did some stretching, which uncovered hidden aches. The usually problematic right calf has been good for a while and still feels okay. More 'running pangs' today, as I was driving, seeing a lot of runners out on the streets, but I am slowly adopting the more mature attitude to resting, as is required of proper runners. I try to keep myself busy on rest days if I can, as non-running days often seem to pale in comparison to running days. At the end of the day, I can report a lot of stretching exercises have been done. I plan on running on at least one day out of the weekend, which is possible through a lot of organisation and making do with a dawn run. Having gone over 5miles last time, my confidence has been boosted, and I hope the body aches remain minor as, though it may sound rather odd, I am actually aching to run now :o)

Going the Extra Mile

Thursday: Today was a rain-filled run and I actually enjoyed it more for the weather. It felt great to have cool rain hitting my hot face as I ran, much more fun than feeling my jaw seize up from freezing temperatures. Despite planning my route the night before, I didn't have time to check it before I left the house, and forgot it when I got to the park, so I just made it up as I went along. For the first time, I carried a bottle of Lucozade with me, hoping it would help give me the energy I felt my last few runs were lacking. It proved to be very useful since my unplanned route led me to do a lot of uphill running, which pushed my breathing to its limits. Though, it was a bit comical at first, I forgot that lots of running meant the bottle had been vigorously shaken, and when I opened the bottle the first time, the juice exploded on my face and clothes... and actually it happened a second time too :o) Next time, I may just take a bottle of water with me to avoid all that! The Lucozade tasted really good and gave me the energy bursts I needed. It will take some getting used to, carrying a drink, but I think it will really benefit me, and it definitely spurred me on to run more today. I did a 5min warm-up, 15min run, 5min walk, 15min run, 5min walk, 15min run, then walked to cool down. In total, I covered 5.29 miles in 71.5mins, which really pleased me, since the aim had been to get 4miles covered. After the 2nd 15min run, I spent a few minutes wondering whether to go for another burst of running, and planned on 10mins, but half way into the 3rd 15min run, I thought I could push myself to do the whole 15mins. It feels really good to have done it and I felt running in the rain helped me, it felt better than good. After the run, as I walked to cool down, I felt my sides ache and my calves too. At the end of the day, I can report no aches whatsoever, a hot shower sorted me out well, I believe. I do feel tired but pleased with having completed the 3rd 15min run. No running tomorrow, I am busy and also I accept I need to rest my body after two consecutive days of running. I am considering a dawn run on the weekend though, but that might just be the euphoria of a great run speaking :o)

Personal Goals in Freezing Weather

Wednesday: Freezing temperatures all morning, the park was covered in thick frost and fog. My jaw felt like ice while I walked as part of my warm up. I also did some stretching, which I am often lazy about, but I was wary of the extreme cold causing me injury, injury worries being on my brain. I am trying to be careful to remember to have the right bra on, cotton with good support, to ensure comfort and eliminate chafing. I did two 15min runs, and covered under 4 miles in 51.5mins. The focus is on endurance, as it has been from day one. The fetch website informed me of the mileage as usual, and I wasn't pleased that I hadn't reached 4miles in the last two sessions. So I have made time to plan myself, and mapped out a route of at least 4miles for my next run. Measuring routes outside of the park is much easier but I am persevering with keeping my route within the park. I much prefer the park, in spite of the increasing number of runners appearing every time I go, which feels strange as I started running at a time the park was near empty. I guess I should get used to seeing other runners and not be so self conscious, because after all, the Great Runs will have thousands of people running, and I need to concentrate on me and not the people around me. I am feeling very serious about my running now and am proud I have set myself the Great Runs as goals. I haven't lost as much weight as I hoped yet, though apparently it's due to fat being converted to muscle, though I don't look or feel muscular. But I feel fitter and stronger, and I am starting to see positive body changes, small ones they may be but change is good :o)

Rest Day and Thoughts of Injury

Tuesday: Due to family commitments, I was unable to run today, though my programme does encourage rest days between training sessions. I feel fine, my right calf still requires lots of stretching and I make sure I am not bending it too much. I missed out on a very sunny day and seeing other runners running is an odd feeling. I actually crave running when I see other runners out and about, which may appear obsessive, but I like to think it's enthusiasm :o) Hope to be out running tomorrow. The discomfort of recent runs is slightly worrying, though it's possible I am overthinking or overanalysing the situation. But I am keen to not let myself slip backwards. With my runner friend having an injured foot, I am aware that the smallest injury could set me back in terms of weeks and so I feel the need to be as fit as possible to cover any loss of training time. I know an injury cannot be fully prepared for, but I think as long as I keep pushing myself to get fitter, a possible injury will worry me less.

Monday: Icy cold today, despite the sun. My contact lenses have expired so had to wear glasses which is not the most comfortable option. Still, I was glad to be back in the park, and not having to wake up at dawn. I didn't have time to plan my route before going to the park, so I ran a route I hoped would be sufficient. I started with a 7min walk, then15min run, 4min walk, 15min run, then cool down. When I got home, I checked the fetch website, to see I had covered under 4miles in 49mins, tho it wasn't easy measuring distances accurately in the park. The first run was immensely hard as some of it was uphill and I really struggled to breathe with the gradient. I seriously thought that I couldn't cope with a second 15min run, I had struggled that much. But the walk after the run re-energised me quickly, and I quickly changed my mind and started another 15min run. The second run was much more enjoyable and less of a struggle, as it was more downhill and flat. I am so pleased I managed to do the two runs, I feel my body should be doing it with more ease now. At the end of the day, no major aches to report, and the right calf feels a lot more normal at the moment. It is slightly worrying how the last two runs have felt more difficult to do but I am hoping it is temporary and that I can improve on my performance with time :o)

Reflecting On Dawn Running

Sunday: Today was intended to be a running day, to make up for yesterday's below normal performance. But I must be either getting lazy or warming to rest days more! My alarm awoke me and I switched it off, going back to sleep. I felt I needed a rest, Saturday had been a busy day and I had a slightly blocked nose. It was just as well I rested, outside temperatures were below freezing and I would have risked a full blown cold. Throat's also a bit sensitive so I've been drinking lots of water, which should help with slight aches in the head I have been having, nothing serious but probably due to a lack of water. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed running so early in the morning this week. It is so pleasing I was able to work out that time to run, losing a whole week out of my programme would have been very demoralising. I have been able to carry on with doing two 15min runs and doing it successfully. Being told about the fetcheveryone.com website has made a big difference to my running plans, I can now monitor my mileage more accurately and plan routes in advance in accordance to the mileage and paths I want to cover. This is the kind of technical detail I now want to pay attention to, and it's something I have been building up towards. The two Great Runs feel very far away at the moment but I feel the need to be as well prepared for them as possible. My fear is not being able to complete the Runs out of insufficient training. The Great Edinburgh Run on May 4th will be a big test for me, I think I will just be relieved to finish the 10km. The Great Manchester Run on May 18th, on the other hand, I think will be a case of me trying to beat the time I achieved in Edinburgh. I have moments when I wonder if I am doing the right thing doing two Great Runs in a short space of time, but then I read about other runners covering those distances within days of each other, and I tell myself I'll get there, slowly but surely :o)

Perseverance

Saturday: The plan for today was to do one 15min run, instead of the two I usually do, due to time constraints. As usual, I wasn't able to have a proper breakfast at 6am, my stomach seems to be have become very fussy about food since I started running. I had a Tracker bar and a glass of milk and set off in the freezing cold. I didn't bother with the pedometer, now that I have the brilliant fetch website to refer to. I began with a 5min walk/warm up, no problem, then began the 15min run. But it had to be the worst I have done to date. Around 8mins in, my legs quite suddenly felt dead, drained of energy. I slowed my pace further than the already slow pace that it was at, but it was extremely difficult to keep going. I felt like I was dragging two big logs, it took every ounce of effort to not stop completely. I was so so disappointed with my legs, I don't know why that happened, and as suddenly as it did. It's possible that I need to warm up more, considering the low temperatures I have had to run in early in the morning. I walked home after that, half limping, bringing my total session time to 30mins. Fetch informed me I covered 2 miles in that time, which is worse than I usually do, but the time didn't bother me as much as my incompetent legs did. The main positives to take from today is I didn't give up and and I achieved 15mins which is what the training programme advises. As long as I persevere, and be sensible with it, I should get to where I want.