For the first time in my life, I am truly appreciative of the benefits of Norfolk.
As someone who grew up and now lives in the very hilly city of Bath, surrounded by the beautiful Cotswold hills, I feel safe and secure, surrounded by hills, like sleeping dragons looking down on me.
In terms of running, the hills have been great. Before injury, my fitness was greatly improved by hauling my ass up the hills around and about. More recently, I had been told to stick to flat runs so my 2 milers have been along what I'd thought was a flat route ... until Monday!
Monday I decided to up distance to 4 miles as planned, and to try the Bristol - Bath cycle route. Which is flat.
And I mean F-L-A-T! I'd had no idea how hilly my everyday route is. I know that might sound odd, and I assure you I don't have some wierd inner ear condition, but hills are relative - and relative to the biggies, these are teeny. But these invisible hills have clearly done their bit because the 4 mile run along the cycle path was easier than I thought. And once again, the mad woman in my head was remarkably quiet!
On a darker note - there were definite tones of Blair Witch on the outward couple of miles as I didn't see another living soul ... with the exception of several hundred tits.
***Breaking leg news***
Not breaking leg.
Breaking news vis-a-vis leg.
See?
Anyhoo....
I have managed to pull my lower soleus near where it joins my achilles - this time on my left leg. It hurts to walk so back on the bike for a few days until it calms down.
Do you have any idea how sick to the back teeth I am of the twinges and strains?
Seriously.
Very ... very over it.
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
From strength to strength and back again
Well. This running lark is beginning to pay off.
On Tuesday, I did another 3 miles and this time used the Garmin satnavthingy watch that Running Mate loaned me. I have a 2 mile circuit which I had done 1.5 of on Saturday - but found the temptation to stop at the end of lap 1 very great as I was almost at my front door - it took Herculean strength to will myself to run another mile in the opposite direction.
So this time, I used the Garmin to show me how far I had travelled and managed a 3 mile route door to door.
The Garmin also showed me my pace - I LOVE knowing this! It deeply appeals to the control freak in me, and I managed 3 miles in bang on 30 mins. Not only did I manage 10 minute splits, but I did this whilst running without the mad lady occupying my thoughts, convincing me I was about to die every 3 minutes. I found a little bit of joy in digging deep, and found myself running from a place of determination and strength for the majority of the run.
This is some breakthrough for me.
I am used to staggering through 80% of my runs. Feeling as if I am a tourist in the the Oz-like land of running, where the munchkins are replaced with gaunt, haunted looking fast people and I am a flushed looking, staggering Dorothy who appears to have gone 10 rounds with the wicked witch of the west.
But on Tuesday, I began to feel like the wizard maybe has a point. I know I'm not fast. But I knew I had what that run required. And I went out and ran it.
And it felt good.
My good friend Jamie made a comment that the mad woman I described in my earlier post was a voice that thought she was keeping me safe - when in fact, that voice was just holding me back.
It's amazingly powerful when other folk point something out that you knew for yourself - it's not till someone else articulates it that you manage to shift it.
****in further leg news****
I'm learning the importance for me to warmup, stretch then run, cool down and stretch. I've never much bothered with warm ups and stretching before the run before. But I'm finding I'm getting nasty adductor strain if I don't. Shin a little bit niggly, so planning on replacing tomorrow's run with a spin and some weights instead and have booked in to see The Good Witch of the North (aka Claire the physio).
On Tuesday, I did another 3 miles and this time used the Garmin satnavthingy watch that Running Mate loaned me. I have a 2 mile circuit which I had done 1.5 of on Saturday - but found the temptation to stop at the end of lap 1 very great as I was almost at my front door - it took Herculean strength to will myself to run another mile in the opposite direction.
So this time, I used the Garmin to show me how far I had travelled and managed a 3 mile route door to door.
The Garmin also showed me my pace - I LOVE knowing this! It deeply appeals to the control freak in me, and I managed 3 miles in bang on 30 mins. Not only did I manage 10 minute splits, but I did this whilst running without the mad lady occupying my thoughts, convincing me I was about to die every 3 minutes. I found a little bit of joy in digging deep, and found myself running from a place of determination and strength for the majority of the run.
This is some breakthrough for me.
I am used to staggering through 80% of my runs. Feeling as if I am a tourist in the the Oz-like land of running, where the munchkins are replaced with gaunt, haunted looking fast people and I am a flushed looking, staggering Dorothy who appears to have gone 10 rounds with the wicked witch of the west.
But on Tuesday, I began to feel like the wizard maybe has a point. I know I'm not fast. But I knew I had what that run required. And I went out and ran it.
And it felt good.
My good friend Jamie made a comment that the mad woman I described in my earlier post was a voice that thought she was keeping me safe - when in fact, that voice was just holding me back.
It's amazingly powerful when other folk point something out that you knew for yourself - it's not till someone else articulates it that you manage to shift it.
****in further leg news****
I'm learning the importance for me to warmup, stretch then run, cool down and stretch. I've never much bothered with warm ups and stretching before the run before. But I'm finding I'm getting nasty adductor strain if I don't. Shin a little bit niggly, so planning on replacing tomorrow's run with a spin and some weights instead and have booked in to see The Good Witch of the North (aka Claire the physio).
Sunday, 11 July 2010
What a difference a day makes!
I had a much better run today. Upped my distance back up to 3 miles for the first time since starting back at it.
AND! During my first few runs back I knew I had to be cautious and not go hell for leather so I was deliberately jogging, not running at any real pace. And today, I ran at a more normal pace and knocked a full minute off each mile! I'm down to nearer 10 minute miles again which makes my sub 2 hour goal for Cardiff feel a bit more achievable. I felt strong for nearly all of the run.
However, I still have the mad woman in my head. The mad woman whose response to being hot, sweaty and breathing heavily is "YOU'RE GOING TO DIE!!!". She panics. It's like a reaction to being dangled off a very high cliff. She makes the conversations I have in my head while I'm running most interesting.
She's an assertive mad woman. I keep thinking that one day I'll run and she won't be there but she's pretty persistent. A friend asked me today if the running is getting easier. And of course, I am getting fitter, but I still have these insane debates where she screams "STOP RUNNING! YOU HAVE TO STOP!" at regular intervals.
------
I would like to send a message to the several nice people I passed while running today. I think I may have scared them. So apologies. You see, I was actually trying to smile. But, as I've mentioned before on this blog, smiling whilst running is tricky - when it comes to a choice between smiling and breathing, breathing tends to win, hands down. So when I try to smile, it's a bit half-hearted, or rather half-mouthed. And I only seem to be able to spare my top lip for these smiles, which results in a sort of grimace that possibly looks like I'm about to stab them rather than smile at them. What makes it worse is that my top lip then sticks to my dehydrated teeth on it's return to it's natural position.
I've decided to practice the cool art of the runner's wave and nod combo instead.
I don't want small kids to have bad dreams.
TTFN.
AND! During my first few runs back I knew I had to be cautious and not go hell for leather so I was deliberately jogging, not running at any real pace. And today, I ran at a more normal pace and knocked a full minute off each mile! I'm down to nearer 10 minute miles again which makes my sub 2 hour goal for Cardiff feel a bit more achievable. I felt strong for nearly all of the run.
However, I still have the mad woman in my head. The mad woman whose response to being hot, sweaty and breathing heavily is "YOU'RE GOING TO DIE!!!". She panics. It's like a reaction to being dangled off a very high cliff. She makes the conversations I have in my head while I'm running most interesting.
She's an assertive mad woman. I keep thinking that one day I'll run and she won't be there but she's pretty persistent. A friend asked me today if the running is getting easier. And of course, I am getting fitter, but I still have these insane debates where she screams "STOP RUNNING! YOU HAVE TO STOP!" at regular intervals.
------
I would like to send a message to the several nice people I passed while running today. I think I may have scared them. So apologies. You see, I was actually trying to smile. But, as I've mentioned before on this blog, smiling whilst running is tricky - when it comes to a choice between smiling and breathing, breathing tends to win, hands down. So when I try to smile, it's a bit half-hearted, or rather half-mouthed. And I only seem to be able to spare my top lip for these smiles, which results in a sort of grimace that possibly looks like I'm about to stab them rather than smile at them. What makes it worse is that my top lip then sticks to my dehydrated teeth on it's return to it's natural position.
I've decided to practice the cool art of the runner's wave and nod combo instead.
I don't want small kids to have bad dreams.
TTFN.
Friday, 9 July 2010
Running on Empty?
Blimey.
That was a bit of a shock.
I've spent all week taking out my frustrations on the spinning bike, confident in the knowledge that with every spin I am increasing my fitness, despite the lack of actual running.
So, this morning I am in sunny London, in Bermondsey. And I decided to do one of my favourite things - a run along the Thames.
And I am careful ... oh so careful. I run up to the park, then stretch, very carefully. Then, I'm off! Up to Tower bridge and along past Hay's Galleria, towards Waterloo. The weather is amazing. The sun shines, there is a breeze coming off the Thames, and it has to be one of the best views in the entire world.
But
My legs don't work.
And my lungs appear to have shrunk.
And I am making wierd gaspy noises as I run.
(Not to mention the fact that everywhere smells pungently of dog's piss but I'm not going to hold myself responsible for that - it just added to the general malaise)
Hmmmm.
I believe this is what is called "Running on Empty". It's Friday, and I hae worked out every day this week. No rest day - maybe my legs are tired?
Or maybe, just everynow and again, you get a crap run. It was only 2 miles. But felt like 13. Scary.
But the jewel is this: On 2 occaisions, for about 1 minute each, I felt I was running like a well-oiled machine. Fleeting feelings - but definitely there! It's like panning for gold - sift through all the shit and there are a couple of jewels.
Leg is not too bad. I cooled down properly, stetched well. It's tight but not as bad as it has been. The groin strain I appeared to pick up today is another issue. Hey ho. Nothing shall stand in my way.
ttfn
That was a bit of a shock.
I've spent all week taking out my frustrations on the spinning bike, confident in the knowledge that with every spin I am increasing my fitness, despite the lack of actual running.
So, this morning I am in sunny London, in Bermondsey. And I decided to do one of my favourite things - a run along the Thames.
And I am careful ... oh so careful. I run up to the park, then stretch, very carefully. Then, I'm off! Up to Tower bridge and along past Hay's Galleria, towards Waterloo. The weather is amazing. The sun shines, there is a breeze coming off the Thames, and it has to be one of the best views in the entire world.
But
My legs don't work.
And my lungs appear to have shrunk.
And I am making wierd gaspy noises as I run.
(Not to mention the fact that everywhere smells pungently of dog's piss but I'm not going to hold myself responsible for that - it just added to the general malaise)
Hmmmm.
I believe this is what is called "Running on Empty". It's Friday, and I hae worked out every day this week. No rest day - maybe my legs are tired?
Or maybe, just everynow and again, you get a crap run. It was only 2 miles. But felt like 13. Scary.
But the jewel is this: On 2 occaisions, for about 1 minute each, I felt I was running like a well-oiled machine. Fleeting feelings - but definitely there! It's like panning for gold - sift through all the shit and there are a couple of jewels.
Leg is not too bad. I cooled down properly, stetched well. It's tight but not as bad as it has been. The groin strain I appeared to pick up today is another issue. Hey ho. Nothing shall stand in my way.
ttfn
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
This is still a running blog
It is.
I am still thwarted by leg problems. I am still not running regularly. And I am watching the calendar days fly off like on a Hitchcock film - each flying leaf of paper getting me one day closer to running a half marathon.
A HALF MARATHON for fuck's sake! What was I thinking?!
*sigh*
But I have decided that this is still a running blog. Even when I can't run, it's still a running blog, because I am still working on strength and fitness each week. And, after a quick visit to the Cardiff Half facebook page today, I realised that I am not the only runner in the world to be cross training instead of running.
The visit to the facebook page was something of a gut wrenching revelation actually. There are many many folk running 20, 30, even 40 miles each week ... ALREADY! And it's still 13 weeks to go.
I am comforting myself with the thought that David Icke was in fact right and that we are literally *over run* with aliens under cover as humans. I believe that these aliens show their most alien traits when they run. It is the ONLY explanation I can think of for the immense distances these nutters are already clocking up.
However, there are also some huming beans on the facebook page. Special mention goes to
I am still thwarted by leg problems. I am still not running regularly. And I am watching the calendar days fly off like on a Hitchcock film - each flying leaf of paper getting me one day closer to running a half marathon.
A HALF MARATHON for fuck's sake! What was I thinking?!
*sigh*
But I have decided that this is still a running blog. Even when I can't run, it's still a running blog, because I am still working on strength and fitness each week. And, after a quick visit to the Cardiff Half facebook page today, I realised that I am not the only runner in the world to be cross training instead of running.
The visit to the facebook page was something of a gut wrenching revelation actually. There are many many folk running 20, 30, even 40 miles each week ... ALREADY! And it's still 13 weeks to go.
I am comforting myself with the thought that David Icke was in fact right and that we are literally *over run* with aliens under cover as humans. I believe that these aliens show their most alien traits when they run. It is the ONLY explanation I can think of for the immense distances these nutters are already clocking up.
However, there are also some huming beans on the facebook page. Special mention goes to
Joshuua Barker
is it bad if im not running anything yet but on the plus side i have bought some very nice running shoes :)
I love you Joshuua.
I am secretly terrified that I have bitten off more than I can chew. My trainer is perfectly confident it will be fine. But he has immensely inflated beliefs of what I can do - as shown on monday when I nearly crashed to the floor trying to lift the weight he completely believes is well within my reach.
To business - last week started back running after about 6 weeks off. I was advised to run 3 very slow and steady 2 mile runs. Unfortunately, although my shin feel better, I have nasty pains in my calf after running. Nasty enough to see me limping for 24 hours after. No amount of stretching seems to help.
Physio is away this week so I have switched to the bike until she gets back, although I think I will try just one more run on Friday. Also have a new upper body weights work out which is much fun as I feel nicely butch and beefy when I heave weights.
So.
That's me.
More soon.
Promise.
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