Pre-Race And A Silly Knee

Saturday: After another incredibly late night, I opted not to run today, partly to save myself for tomorrow's race. Oh, a race, finally! I had a lot of chores to do, so no time really for running anyway. But I am now nursing an aching right knee; I was dancing along to music as I was washing the dishes (as one does...) and was holding my (2 stone) son at the same time, moved suddenly, twisting my right knee :o( I didn't strictly twist it, I swung round one way whilst the leg went the other way, bearing the weight of my son on my right side. And good gosh it hurt, and it has been aching, verging on pain intermittently. I am really disappointed, this could affect me running tomorrow. Great trainer texted to remind me I am due a 25-35min run tomorrow, which fits fine with me doing the race (though it won't be the 'easy run' they suggest). I think I should be fine, I have been very careful with the knee since I hurt it, and I have that calf gel to rely on to ease the aches. After itching for so long to race, I don't plan on letting this stop me (hopefully!). It made me think a lot about my runner friend whose injured knee is the cause of the break in running, and is finding the recovery period an incredibly tough time. I started up a discussion in fetch asking fetchies how they coped with injury and how they came back from it, hoping it would help and be a positive thing. It's difficult watching fellow runners go through injury, it must be awful not being able to do what you enjoy so much. But reading the stories on the forum about how runners persevered, over long periods of time, and came back, never gave up, it really is inspiring, and I do hope my runner friend will be cheered by those stories. Tomorrow's my race, an early night tonight since it's a long journey to get there, but I am looking forward to it :o)

A Fun Run Is Planned

Friday: A rest day after two days of running, and needed after a very late night. More disappointing news on the race front - the Sale Festival 5 Miler has been cancelled :o( So much for plan B. A lot on my mind at the moment, contributing to my desire to race. The other half is celebrating and rightly so, he will graduate next month, having done better than expected, and we're all very proud and pleased; my own studies are a source of misery currently and running is my only solace. I persevered and used another site to look up races for the weekend. I found two fun runs on Sunday and after much thought, I plan to do the 5km Pants in the Park race (in aid of a charity raising awareness of prostate cancer, www.prostateuk.org). Entry on the day is allowed, thankfully, and I am really looking forward to it. It won't be a 'serious' race like my previous ones but I am just so pleased to have found a race :o) It should be a fun atmosphere, similar to what the Race for Life ones are like, I assume. Bit of a problem with the lift situation, the other half thinks a race every 6 months is plenty, plus of course the petrol issue. It can be tiring having to put up with non runners thinking they know best, or rather, always trying to put down anything to do with running, and to be against a race for charity is just ridiculous, in my opinion. I intend to check out the bus timetables for Sunday morning, to go to the race on my own. It could be a lengthy journey but it will be worth it, I surprise myself by how excited I am about racing. But this one will be more fun than competitive, I think, and I just can't wait to get out there and take in the atmosphere. I remember how it felt to be walking around pre-race during the Great Runs and it was pretty exciting, not that this one will be on such a huge scale, but it is a fun run, and it's fair to expect fun :o)

Running and Race-Hunting

Thursday: The weather changed a lot overnight, it was very cloudy and a lot colder today - much to my delight :o) Sunny weather is all well and good when one isn't running, and I was pleased the sun was hiding this morning. My programme wanted me to have rest days between runs this week but I felt so much better after my cold and wanted to make the most of it. Again, I didn't carry a drink with me, wanting to see how I could cope without it. On one running forum, someone had said they were able to cope without a drink for up to 10miles, and the post was actually a little arrogant sounding (something about dismissing races of less than 10miles, I think), but that aside, it made me want to aspire to that level. Today's plan was a 25-35min run, and I did 30mins 06secs, covering 2.94miles. I was a little annoyed to discover I was just short of 3miles, I really ought to plan my routes more to make sure I am getting a good number of miles done (partly with that fetch challenge in mind). I was happy with today, I ran better and I felt better after I finished. My online trainer isn't as satisfied and expects me to be running longer sessions and doing higher mileages, though I am pretty much on track with the great trainer programme. I am disappointed I'm not doing the Race for Life on Sunday, I looked up other races and the only other alternative seems to be the Sale Festival 5 Mile on Saturday; it's very far and with petrol costs pinching tightly, I would have to bus it, but the other half is proving more obstacle than support in my running again. I'm pondering over doing this race, a 5 miler is no small thing, and maybe I haven't trained as much as I should have in preparation for a 5 miler. It's something I will sleep on before deciding, as I can enter on the day if I wish. For some reason, I am itching to race, something positive to look forward to for myself.

Back To Running

Wednesday: Bad news - the Race for Life allocation has been filled up and I can't do it this weekend :o( I had gone to bed so very excited about it and can't believe I missed out by a day. There is a 5 Mile race in Sale on Saturday but, with our budgeting for petrol (I could rant about how extortionate it is, all day), it is too far for me. I felt a lot better this morning, still took paracetamol and Lucozade to keep me going. I decided I was well enough for a run, well, it took some dragging as I still felt very fatigued, but I thought it was worth a try. It was a warm day but nice cool winds, which helped a lot. Being unwell, I had forgotten to wash and dry my training gear in time, so wore some old tracksuit bottoms today, and I didn't carry a drink, expecting it to be a short run. The schedule wanted me to do 25-35mins of running and I managed to do 25mins 16secs, covering 2.46miles (going to think in miles and not kms now, makes sense to me since I am training for a 13.1mile race). It was very tough, as post-cold runs are for me, I was ready to stop at 20mins. I was panting heavily, partly due to thirst perhaps, and I don't know how but I managed to 'soldier on' to get to over 25mins. It felt so great to be within the programme's targets. After the run and a long cool-down walk, I drank some Ribena and was pleased to feel fine. The training programme suggested a rest between runs but as I am feeling better, I think I may run tomorrow anyway. I'm disappointed not having the Race for Life to do this weekend but I guess I just need to find something else to focus on.

Bad and Interfering Colds

Tuesday: The bad cold got worse, I couldn't get out of bed this morning. I did make an attempt but fell onto the floor, so that did make me realise a run wouldn't be happening today... Again, lots of paracetamol to help me get back on my feet (too much to do, no time to be unwell). I did take a few more than recommended but apparently that's incredibly dangerous, so I instead overdosed on Lucozade energy drinks to get me through the day. Hot tea is also good, though with the recent warm weather, a cold drink felt better. I was disappointed not to run today, I know I need to stick to the programme if I want to be ready for Glasgow in September. It was a a case of resting a lot today and just trying to be patient till the cold and queasiness passed. By the end of the night, I wasn't feeling 100% but I was definitely improving. Whilst lying on the sofa, I spent time looking up future races, something to look forward to. I discovered a Race for Life this weekend in Oldham, which is a fun 5km and for charity; having enjoyed myself as a spectator when it took place locally, I was keen as mustard to get involved. I checked with the other half to babysit and plan to sign up tomorrow morning. Feeling quite excited about it, a race :o)

Week 2 Towards Glasgow

Monday: A rest day in accordance with the training schedule, and I began to sniffle and sneeze, the bad cold again. With fatigue setting in, I took lots of paracetamol and dranks plenty of fluids. But I felt a little queasy all day too, can't have been due to the lentils I cooked, everyone else was fine. One of those days one feels a little delicate, I guess. Tomorrow's a running day, hope to stay on track with the programme after taking things easy last week.

Finally, A Run To Report

Sunday: Another bad night, this is getting to me, strange nightmares which make no sense and I don't touch cheese before I sleep, so it must just be stress. Again, I eventually rolled out of bed feeling very heavy with an aching back. It took a lot to get me out of the house for a run, the body just felt alien to my mind, a dense object I had no control over. Once I had my training gear on and got out of the house, my 'running head' switched on. It was around midday when I went out and it was scorching hot. Important lesson learned: don't run during the midday sun, it is an idiotic idea, at least for a newbie. I had my hat on but forgot my sunglasses. I didn't take a drink with me, since I had drunk plenty of water yesterday and this morning, and decided to reduce my dependency on drink during running. The park was full of families and I was the only runner (perhaps the sensible runners knew it was stupid to run at the hottest time of the day, lol). Though I did see one other runner later, a male only in shorts, going at the speed of lightning, and I was full of admiration for his energy levels under this heat. I started off well, struggling at 4mins, doing well at 7mins, and struggling hard at around 14mins. The programme advised a 20-30min easy run and I managed 20mins 02 secs, covering 3.32km. The run went better than expected, and I felt better than expected after it, not as dizzy as I thought I might be. A mistake I made today was perhaps my warm-up walk. The runners world magazine had an article about being careful not to warm up too much before a run on an excessively hot day, and I think if I had shortened my walk, I could have run for longer. 20 mins took it out of me in a big way but thankfully not to the level where I felt ill. I drank Ribena on reaching home and felt quite good about having run today. I realised this was my first run in 6 days, proper run anyway, the biggest gap I have had to date. Also, I was supposed to have done 3 20-30min easy runs this week; I did a 16min and a 20min, so am already behind schedule (which is pretty funny really, after all my talk about planning to stick strictly with the programme, I am behind with one week into it!). Having trouble accessing the great trainer website, but I know my next run is scheduled for Tuesday. I plan to go out tomorrow anyway, to catch up and get some more training time behind me. Looking back, this hasn't been the most productive running week but, as Yazz once trilled, the only way is up (yes, quoting an Eighties one-hit wonder is possibly a new low...lol). I have high hopes for the coming week, running is my main source of de-stressing. That is slightly worrying though, knowing how hard a time my runner friend is having during an injury, I wonder how I would cope without being able to run. My friend has had a lot of lows but has coped sometimes so admirably, in trying to keep busy, despite being immobile for so long. It's something I hope I don't have to go through but seeing a runner go through the trials of an injury, it's hopefully something I can learn from. Tomorrow is the start of week 2 of my programme and I am looking for a race for this month, I am missing the post-race feeling in a big way.

Running Delayed Further

Saturday: A bad night, despite getting more hours than usual. I missed my tutorial and my run, trying to get some proper sleep but strange nightmares prevailed. I eventually got out of bed with a very achey back and in no real mood to run, feeling rather heavy and tired. No running today then, though plenty of housework (does that count as cross-training, as it was pretty intense today, lol). I hope to run tomorrow, the end of the first week of the half marathon training programme. At the moment, I am feeling rather stressed about certain things, hoping this won't affect my running adversely. Maybe running will help in that respect, maybe. Another non-running day, the body may be feeling sluggish but the mind is eager to drag it to the park tomorrow.

Back Home

Friday: I had time to run this morning, but chose not to, instead going off on an adventure of sorts (being more 'nutta' than sensible, perhaps, and that wasn't my choice of adjective!). I can't complain, I did have time to run again but I chose not to. This may be a pattern that repeated itself a lot during my stay in Scotland. I don't think it means my attitude towards running has changed a lot, though. I think, for so long now, I put running ahead of a lot, nearly everything. That was even one of the main reasons for going away, so that I could run more, which may verge on obsessive, I don't know. But going back to my 'home ground', is always an emotional experience and I really don't regret not putting my running first. Catching up with my friend was a lot more important to me, as was enjoying the feeling of being back. My last visit was a very difficult one, hearing about my runner friend's injury and then not doing as well as hoped during the Great Edinburgh Run. This time round, I was more relaxed and perhaps more appreciative of the little things, and not so stressed about running. How strange, though, to think this week began with me stressed out of my skull about how to run with no childcare available. I arrived back in Manchester in the evening, tired, emotional and glad to have had the time away. The plan for tomorrow is to attend a tutorial and possibly make a run, but it will depend on how tired I am. It's been a bit of a mad week so far and the tiredness is catching up. Thank goodness for Lucozade bottles in the fridge :o)

Family Before Running

Thursday: Family commitments dominated this evening, when I had planned to run. My older brother had planned to run with me and I was happy to have his company, but running time never materialised. I was a little disappointed by this, it has been 3 days since I had a proper run. However, I did know that staying with family was not a guarantee for running time. Also, I have chosen not to run and put friends first, so I can't complain. The kids are loving their holiday, I am quite fatigued by lots of walking (sightseeing etc) and late nights/early mornings. The body isn't craving running as much as the mind is saying I ought to be running. Great trainer are texting to remind me to run and though I am worried about falling behind with the programme, I am reassured that at least this is the start, and I have plenty of time to catch up. It's important not to stress about my running when this is the nearest to a holiday I am going to get for a while.

A Time For Friends

Wednesday: I was pleased and rather humbled by the comment left by Georgia D's Dad on my blog a few days ago, as ever, far too kind :o) It really is a lovely surprise to find comments on my blog, I forget sometimes that others may read what are pretty much ramblings of a newbie runner. Which is perhaps what I ought to name my blog soon, something like 'ramblings of a runner', as the title of 'newbie' is wearing old, according to my runner friend. I do feel new to all this, still, perhaps being in the company of much more experienced runners in forums. But that doesn't bother me, rather, I quite revel in my newbie status, I think, allow myself to get away with a great deal, too, as I am so new, lol. Tonight's planned run was foregone for catching up with a friend, though I did manage some short bursts of untimed, unmeasured running. My aim had been to come to Scotland to run as much as I could, and though I still feel motivated to run, I have enjoyed spending a little time socialising, which I don't get to do much usually. Again, the plan is to run tomorrow, but so far, family issues and lack of running aside, the trip has gone better than expected so far :o)

Away To Scotland

Tuesday: I arrived in Scotland by lunchtime and set about making plans for the evening. Once managing to organise family to watch the kids for the evening, I faced a choice - either go for a run, or go out to meet fellow students (the local branch of the students association). A hard choice indeed, considering my social life is near non-existent ;o) I went to the meet which was great fun, and much-needed, feeling no guilt whatsoever about not running. As much as I love running, it isn't everything, dare I say! However, I did pack my Runners World magazine in my suitcase for bedtime reading, as well as my half marathon application form, as yet half-filled. I am wondering what to put down for estimated time. No run today but a wonderful evening in the company of friends old and new, and a run is planned for tomorrow :o)