Fartlek and Nightmares

Saturday: I was determined to run today, after yesterday's unplanned rest, and as my son was feeling better, I left him and his sister with their dad, while I went for an early morning run. It was cold, very light drizzle and cloudy. I began my run fine, keeping to a slow and even pace, deciding to go up the easy uphill slope. It was on the downhill I decided to attempt the fartlek approach to running, after text alerts encouraged me to try it. I did try a few days ago, on a subconscious level, as I speeded up every time the chorus of a particular song came on. But today was a more conscious effort to try fartlek and it was incredibly difficult, partly because I was doing it incorrectly. I discovered my mistakes later when I received advice about fartlek from the running forum. When I speeded up, I went all out, which was not the right way, and when I slowed down, I should have waited till I had recovered. The problem is, I should be sticking with building up my endurance and fartlek is perhaps more advisable for the more experienced, or at the very least, runners who are focusing on speed and race strategies. I feel very much a newbie in all of this, which is an observation and not a complaint; I have been running for less than 3 months and have yet to race. I think once I have my first 10km run (the Great Edinburgh Run) under my belt, I will feel a lot more experienced and less of a newbie. Today's run was a lot harder because of my attempts at fartlek, and my target of a planned lap route very nearly failed because I was struggling for the last five minutes. I also felt my chest tighten and pains that were from the sheer struggle. I was relieved to end the lap though I still had to half limp home, my right calf and knee ached terribly. Fetch informed me I did 3.82km in 28mins 31secs, not bad, it would have been much slower if I hadn't done fartlek. At the end of the day, I can report the right knee and calf are playing up again, aching strongly. But to add to that, I have been coughing a lot since I came back from my run. It's possible I caught the viral infection my son has and the wheezing from running could have exacerbated it. I feel very tired and the chest hurts from coughing and even breathing is uncomfortable at times. Lots of water has been drunk in an effort to stay healthy for running tomorrow. Today's run felt painful, the best word for it, and I feel it reflected my low fitness levels, which disappoints me somewhat. I do feel that I am fitter compared to three months ago but perhaps not at the level I hoped to be. It is possible my view is being negatively shaped by the weight scales which show my weight hasn't moved for a while, still sitting at a loss of 8pounds in less than 3 months, which is pretty rubbish by any standards. I'm aware of the whole fat/muscle issue and the need to keep eating as healthily as possible, it's just a little disheartening to not be making the progress one strives so hard for. However, less talk and more action, and if I don't cough so much tomorrow, I will be out running, pushing harder. I had a strange dream last night, about many different things, one part of it was about me walking to the Great Edinburgh Run and being surrounded by thousands of entrants. It was sunny and I felt positive about it but I realised I was late and unprepared (not exactly sure how) and a great sense of fear set in, the fear that I would finish last. The other runners were laughing and joking, and moved away to the starting line; I had gone with a friend but she was nowhere to be seen, and I realised I had no idea where the starting line was, and I became frantic in my attempts to find it. At which point I woke up, relieved it was just a nightmare. Still, I won't make any progress simply thinking about running, a lot of training to do before I am ready for the Salford 5km Run on 19th April.

Unplanned Rest Day

Friday: I kept my son home from nursery as he was under the weather, so this meant no running today. The right calf and knee were twinging at irregular intervals, but it feels a lot more normal in the evening. It's been a while since it felt so fine, I realise that the unexpected day off running is a blessing in disguise. I hope to be out running tomorrow, and since it is the weekend, I will need to be up very early. Hopefully my right leg will perform better after all this rest. My online trainer suggests my shoes may be the cause the problem with my right leg and I intend to see a specialist running shop for advice. I think it's possible I am just not resting it sufficiently or am putting too much weight or pressure on it. However, the experts obviously know best, so I will have a better idea once I see someone. I hope the shoes are not the issue, partly because I do really like my shoes (they are still very new and very comfy) and partly because of cost (I am not keen on spending lots of money on new trainers, less than two months after my last pair). But the main thing is to make sure my legs are okay, obviously. Looking forward to running tomorrow, the weather seems to be improving, but I am happy for it to rain :o)

Ups and Downs

Thursday: The weather was a lot calmer today, still quite breezy, but better running weather. I aimed for 20mins and managed 23mins 46secs, covering 3.27km. It was very hard today, the right leg felt very achey and heavy for a great deal of the time. This was despite coming back from a rest day, and the leg remained difficult to walk on as I went back to the car. Stopping to break made it worse, walking (or half limping) eventually relaxed it. I felt very tired later, partly due to a sleepless night with the kids, and managed a short nap. I'm pleased I made my target, I guess I need to keep on my endurance and delay any thoughts about speed. The Salford Run is getting closer and luckily, I have discovered it won't be clashing with my studies, so I am good to go on that front. Whilst I am satisfied on the running front, my studies need a lot more concentration, having barely passed my first assignment. The Easter holidays will be a big challenge for both my study and running commitments, as the kids have different holidays this time, but I've never been one to shy away from a challenge.

Resting While The City Blew

Wednesday: The awful weather finally hit and shook Manchester today, gale force winds, bucketing rain and hailstones. Just as well I had planned to rest :o) Conscious of my temperamental right knee and calf, I didn't run today, giving it a break to repair itself. No other aches and pains to report, just the right leg feeling sensitive. I plan to run tomorrow, weather permitting. The rain doesn't bother me, it actually motivates me, oddly enough. But strong winds irritate me, so hopefully they will have died down by tomorrow.

Slower But Better

Tuesday: After a night of raising the right leg and applying frozen peas to the knee and the calf (to the point I was sneezing), I awoke this morning determined to have another go at running. My knee still appeared a little swollen looking and felt sensitive, but walking on it was okay. I did my usual gentle stretching and walking to warm up. I set myself a target of 20mins again and I set off on an extremely slow pace. This was perhaps where I went wrong yesterday, misjudging the speed my body could take. Today, I was much slower and I found myself able to keep going. The right knee and calf twinged and ached at intervals but it was very manageable and most of the run felt good and relaxed. I was so pleased to see I went past 20mins and was still running, and decided to pretty much run till I dropped, and why not. I covered 5.46km (3.39miles) in 44mins 13secs. That was my limit, I would have been risking injury going on for longer. A good run today, slow but doing over 40mins felt great. I was limping a little afterwards, the right calf ached strongly. The right knee continued to feel delicate all day and in the evening, I finally got round to putting frozen peas on it again. Tomorrow will be a rest day in order to save the right knee from getting worse. I forgot to mention in my last post that I ran alone yesterday, the husband was too lazy to get out of bed for a run, and that was just as well as I performed so badly yesterday! Today was a great deal better, and though my right leg aches and moans at me for running whilst I type, it was so very worth getting out there :o)

Disappointed and Frustrated

Monday: Absolutely terrible start to the week. Whilst I was lucky that Manchester escaped most of the awful weather some parts of the country witnessed, I had my worst run to date and it has left me extremely annoyed and disappointed. I had aimed to do either 20mins of running or 'one lap' of a route I had planned. The lap would take longer than 20mins but that was a target based on my body feeling overly energetic, and 20mins was my minimum acceptable standard. I did around 15mins of walking to warm up, longer than usual, but that was how long it took to get to my starting point. It was wet and cold, nothing out of the ordinary with the weather, even the sun was shining at intervals. The run began fine and as I moved towards an uphill slope, I coped in my usual gasping but persevering manner. Judging by the music I was listening to, I thought I was going faster than usual, but I felt fine as I turned to go downhill. However, as I approached flatter ground, the legs started to die on me. I had already been experiencing a lot of strong twinges in the arch of my left foot, which spread to the whole foot, but I persevered and the twinges ached less. But both legs felt heavy and the right ached strongly. I ignored this for a bit, reducing my speed, adjusting to an easier pace. But it didn't matter what I did, both legs felt sharp pains and began to go numb, so much so, I worried I'd injure myself because I couldn't feel the ground contact so well. I just made it to the nearest measurable point and was crushed to see my time was 16mins 15secs (1.34mile/2.16km). I half limped back to the car, having to sit and stop on the way to the car, as the legs ached terribly. I am really frustrated I didn't make 20mins, it really was such an achievable target. The only consolation, if any, is that the program advises 15mins, so I did beat that, but it doesn't lessen my disappointment with my body. The junk food from yesterday, coupled with the lack of water, must have made a hugely negative impact. It is so strange that some days, the body can cope with so much, and other days, it refuses to do the minimum. The left leg recovered quickly but as the day wore on, the right leg has been hugely achesome. I have noticed there is some redness and puffiness/swelling around my right knee, and it is slightly tender. I have applied ice to it and to my right calf, which has helped alleviate the aches but only temporarily. With looking after the kids, one of thom is unwell, and household chores to do, it is difficult to rest the right leg as much as I would like. I am wondering whether to run tomorrow or not, as I fear injury, but also, it's harder to make myself rest after a terrible run. What was also disappointing about today was not having the kind of run that helps work things out of the system, I just feel incredibly frustrated right now, and it's hard to think rationally in that state. I will just have to wait and see how the right leg is tomorrow, and if I do go out, I know I should take it very slow, because the last thing I want is an injury, with only a few weeks to go before my first race.

Rest and Reflection

Sunday: An extremely late night meant I was up late this morning and despite my attempts, I was unable to find time to go out for a run today. I was keener on the idea and the body was more ready for it than I expected. Not to be, though, so a rest day. The right calf felt perfectly fine all day till evening and started to ache again. It does feel a lot better compared to yesterday though, the ice has made a big difference. I craved junk today and gave in to it, which is so disappointing, after doing so well in my running. This has been a really good running week for me, I feel I have been making real progress in my endurance levels. I am feeling more confident and fitter, and as I get more serious about my running, I am still really enjoying it. All in all, a productive week. Tomorrow, I am being joined by my other half for my run, which ought to be an interesting experience, if nothing else. He isn't keen on the 'early start' but it will be good for me to run along with someone, as much as I prefer to stay on my own, because I will have to run with hundreds and later thousands for my races.