This is my week of 'not running very much' after last week's busy one. Mainly because the kids are on half term and running when everyone's home doesn't go down well! So, today's run was Sweatshop with my littlest. He loves running down the hill - doing a weird chicken-monkey impression while he goes - but when he gets to the bottom and realises he has to go back up... oh dear. We had tears and everything tonight. Until he got engrossed in a conversation about Minecraft and suddenly discovered he could run again, without even trying!
While we were running, the cold, as ever, made me want to pee. Glam, right? Which made me also think about how gross I've become through my running. In fact, the longer my runstreak goes on, the more gross I get. If I get back from my beginners' runs, for example, I'm really not sweaty at all... so I don't shower. I body spray and change into my ordinary clothes. And then I wear the same running gear for the next run. Socks an' all. Mmmm... stinky. Plus, I snot rocket when I'm on my own. I have peed behind a bush. I may have not made it to the bush in the past... I am not frightened to be burp-powered. And a good travelling trump is always satisfying. Unless you suddenly become aware of someone behind you and then it's all kinda 'bury me' embarrassing.
So, when my littlest is crying about a hill, I'm struggling with sympathy because I actually need a pee. And all of the grossness above is a solo-activity. And there will be no bush visits! It becomes a matter of convincing him to get moving. And stop climbing on walls. Because the pee fairy is due a visit!
Anyway, I did have a bath after today's run. I'm fragrant as a rose.
But I still have epic snot-rocket skills. :o)
Showing posts with label SRC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SRC. Show all posts
Friday, 20 February 2015
Wednesday, 28 January 2015
Runstreak Day #424 - hotch potch runs
What a hotch potch of running today! First was a 'school run', running my littlest to school while he scooted - in the drizzle and cold. It sure does make getting him to school a lot quicker than walking! Plus I kinda like the look on the other parents' faces when I'm running back up the hill. And I bumped into one of my beginner group runners while I was dropping off my son - which was cool too.
The next run was a Sweatshop run... again with my littlest. But he wasn't feeling it at all - even though he really wanted to go - and then my Garmin wouldn't play ball, not finding a signal for more than a mile of running. Gah! And then when we were as far away as we were going to go, little legs decided to turn up the volume on the moaning and it took every bit of parental game playing to get him to run back to the starting point!
Plus, I needed to pee. And what with it being cold and a bit grim out... dealing with an expanding bladder while trying to be perky and encouraging to a reluctant 9 year old nearly finished me off.
Still, splitting my runs is allowing me to build back up my mileage and for the first time in a couple of months my monthly miles are back over 100 and marathon training isn't seeming like such a crazy thing.
And I earned my cuppa. Several cuppas!!
The next run was a Sweatshop run... again with my littlest. But he wasn't feeling it at all - even though he really wanted to go - and then my Garmin wouldn't play ball, not finding a signal for more than a mile of running. Gah! And then when we were as far away as we were going to go, little legs decided to turn up the volume on the moaning and it took every bit of parental game playing to get him to run back to the starting point!
Plus, I needed to pee. And what with it being cold and a bit grim out... dealing with an expanding bladder while trying to be perky and encouraging to a reluctant 9 year old nearly finished me off.
Still, splitting my runs is allowing me to build back up my mileage and for the first time in a couple of months my monthly miles are back over 100 and marathon training isn't seeming like such a crazy thing.
And I earned my cuppa. Several cuppas!!
Thursday, 15 January 2015
Runstreak Day #410 - boy running...
410 days in a row... every so often I write down the number of days I've run and it blows my little noodle. I think about me from two years ago... having only ever run three times. Not three days in a row... three times. Ever. And now I've strung together a streak of 410 days of running every day with no rest days.
Which also makes me chuckle because in the last week I've said to several people that they need to take a rest day. And emphasised how important it is...
Tum te tum... hypocritical me... tum te tum...
Anyway, I definitely don't always run flat out and some of my runs are very definitely active rest days. Which was the case today because my run was a Sweatshop run with my 8 year old - and when I take him along I always run at his pace. And that pace can be 'flat out, I'm going to die' or 'doo be doooo climbing on a wall doo be dooooo just going to explore a wild patch over there... and am taking my sweet time over doing it'. That's fine an' dandy. As long as he's enjoying himself, I don't care.
On the way back we didn't walk... we were on 'a mission'. It involved deflector shields. Titanium bombs. Fire blasters. Hiding behind bushes. Chasing around the edge of the park. And running a whole lot faster than he'd managed during the proper run!! It's amazing what turning running into a game can do for a boy. All you need to do is to pretend to blast a fireball at him and then jump occasionally and act like you've been hit... and it's a recipe for running happiness!
So, that was today's run. A teensy bit over 3 miles. Lots of fun with my littlest. And we get to be together for a bit of mummy and son time. Nice.
Even if I am a non-resting hypocrite. :D
Which also makes me chuckle because in the last week I've said to several people that they need to take a rest day. And emphasised how important it is...
Tum te tum... hypocritical me... tum te tum...
Anyway, I definitely don't always run flat out and some of my runs are very definitely active rest days. Which was the case today because my run was a Sweatshop run with my 8 year old - and when I take him along I always run at his pace. And that pace can be 'flat out, I'm going to die' or 'doo be doooo climbing on a wall doo be dooooo just going to explore a wild patch over there... and am taking my sweet time over doing it'. That's fine an' dandy. As long as he's enjoying himself, I don't care.
On the way back we didn't walk... we were on 'a mission'. It involved deflector shields. Titanium bombs. Fire blasters. Hiding behind bushes. Chasing around the edge of the park. And running a whole lot faster than he'd managed during the proper run!! It's amazing what turning running into a game can do for a boy. All you need to do is to pretend to blast a fireball at him and then jump occasionally and act like you've been hit... and it's a recipe for running happiness!
So, that was today's run. A teensy bit over 3 miles. Lots of fun with my littlest. And we get to be together for a bit of mummy and son time. Nice.
Even if I am a non-resting hypocrite. :D
Wednesday, 7 January 2015
Runstreak Day #403 - SRC with my littlest
... a completely no pressure run. Well, no pressure on me to run in any way which means I'm working hard physically. But when you're running with a child, the challenge is far more mental than anything else! Parenting on the run, if that were an Olympic sport, I would be a strong contender for some kind of medal, or at least I'm pretty sure I'd meet the qualifying standard!
It always starts off so well when it comes to running with kids. My littlest is completely up for it and over Christmas had kept on saying 'when's running club on again?', 'why isn't it running club tonight?' and so on. And then, when it comes to it today, he wants to go, but then says he's not going to run fast. Or run at all. To which I say, 'don't worry about coming tonight if you're not feeling up to it, there's always another day', and he groans and says 'oka-a-a-a-ay, I'll come', even though it would be have been entirely fine if he hadn't wanted to!
Anyway, we made it to Sweatshop... and he actually did a fair bit of running. Erratic running! First pretty steady, then sprinting, then steady, then a bit of sprinting... and all the while I'm having to make sure I stay with him. And then there are the bits where he disappears doing some kind of ninja superhero thing by running over walls, through bits of scrubland and up and down any steps / slopes he spots. And at any point what is good fun could turn to tears and 'I can't do thi-i-i-i-i-i-is' wailing. You just never know. Running roulette... at any point... it could be all over. :o)
He managed 2.6 miles in the end. The last half mile was hard work - lots of enthusiasm and encouragement and offers to stop / walk if needed. But he could see the faster runner catching us up (they do a longer loop than us) and he was getting in a panic that he wasn't going to be first back! The joy of being competitive and unrealistic all at the same time. So, we did it. Another mummy and kid run. A rollercoaster of 'this is the best thing ever' to the depths of boy-shaped despair.
But he still wants to go again next week and is thrilled that he's been to enough Sweatshop runs to get his own t-shirt!!
It always starts off so well when it comes to running with kids. My littlest is completely up for it and over Christmas had kept on saying 'when's running club on again?', 'why isn't it running club tonight?' and so on. And then, when it comes to it today, he wants to go, but then says he's not going to run fast. Or run at all. To which I say, 'don't worry about coming tonight if you're not feeling up to it, there's always another day', and he groans and says 'oka-a-a-a-ay, I'll come', even though it would be have been entirely fine if he hadn't wanted to!
Anyway, we made it to Sweatshop... and he actually did a fair bit of running. Erratic running! First pretty steady, then sprinting, then steady, then a bit of sprinting... and all the while I'm having to make sure I stay with him. And then there are the bits where he disappears doing some kind of ninja superhero thing by running over walls, through bits of scrubland and up and down any steps / slopes he spots. And at any point what is good fun could turn to tears and 'I can't do thi-i-i-i-i-i-is' wailing. You just never know. Running roulette... at any point... it could be all over. :o)
He managed 2.6 miles in the end. The last half mile was hard work - lots of enthusiasm and encouragement and offers to stop / walk if needed. But he could see the faster runner catching us up (they do a longer loop than us) and he was getting in a panic that he wasn't going to be first back! The joy of being competitive and unrealistic all at the same time. So, we did it. Another mummy and kid run. A rollercoaster of 'this is the best thing ever' to the depths of boy-shaped despair.
But he still wants to go again next week and is thrilled that he's been to enough Sweatshop runs to get his own t-shirt!!
Wednesday, 17 December 2014
Runstreak Day #382 - Christmas crazy running
Blimey, fitting in today's run was a rushed old business! At least it wasn't a naughty secret run for day ermmmm... think it's about 382?! Anyway, it was a Sweatshop run with my littlest, so it was more 'jog' than 'run', but it still counts. :D
This time of year is just relentlessly dark, isn't it? It doesn't exactly inspire you to go out. But, an 8 year old who's decided that he LOVES running club, does help you with a little shove out of the door. He even managed to get himself ready super dooper quickly once we'd got back from the school Christmas play. I've never seen him move so fast!
Yet... when we get to SRC, he goes all monosyllabic and shy! And then, when we run, he's going 'I've got a stitch, I want to stop' within about two seconds. Once he'd got past that though, he was fine. It was a Christmas jumper run this evening, so he had a festive meerkat, while I was sporting my Santa Baby jumper and candy striped socks. Because we're the slowest, however, the others go on ahead (which is absolutely fine)... and it meant that while a group of them looked like there was a festive theme going on, we ended up wa-a-a-a-ay behind, looking like a pair of Christmas crazies running around in Chrimbo knitwear.
I also discovered how to get my littlest moving once the run was done and we had our 'cool down' jog to get home. You just pretend to fire a laser at said small boy and then run off yelling 'you can't get me!'. He then takes the bait and it becomes a game of space shooter mayhem, with him chasing and blasting and me doing pretty much the same back. In fact, the last bit of our run was probably the most fun run I've had in a while. Complete with me running, then jumping to 'dodge' the laser beams he was firing at me, pretending to be hit, then hiding behind a tree to ambush him...
It might have been rainy, cold and dark... but who needs sunshine and sparkles to rediscover your inner child? :)
Geeky stats stuff
This time of year is just relentlessly dark, isn't it? It doesn't exactly inspire you to go out. But, an 8 year old who's decided that he LOVES running club, does help you with a little shove out of the door. He even managed to get himself ready super dooper quickly once we'd got back from the school Christmas play. I've never seen him move so fast!
Yet... when we get to SRC, he goes all monosyllabic and shy! And then, when we run, he's going 'I've got a stitch, I want to stop' within about two seconds. Once he'd got past that though, he was fine. It was a Christmas jumper run this evening, so he had a festive meerkat, while I was sporting my Santa Baby jumper and candy striped socks. Because we're the slowest, however, the others go on ahead (which is absolutely fine)... and it meant that while a group of them looked like there was a festive theme going on, we ended up wa-a-a-a-ay behind, looking like a pair of Christmas crazies running around in Chrimbo knitwear.
I also discovered how to get my littlest moving once the run was done and we had our 'cool down' jog to get home. You just pretend to fire a laser at said small boy and then run off yelling 'you can't get me!'. He then takes the bait and it becomes a game of space shooter mayhem, with him chasing and blasting and me doing pretty much the same back. In fact, the last bit of our run was probably the most fun run I've had in a while. Complete with me running, then jumping to 'dodge' the laser beams he was firing at me, pretending to be hit, then hiding behind a tree to ambush him...
It might have been rainy, cold and dark... but who needs sunshine and sparkles to rediscover your inner child? :)
Geeky stats stuff
Wednesday, 10 December 2014
Runstreak Day #375 - SRC run with my littlest
I really like the fact that my youngest has decided that he wants to come to SRC with me. He got himself ready in plenty of time, wearing his new running top and jacket... and anyone who owns their own 8 year old will know that getting them to get ready for anything on time is a miracle. And then he gets ready all on his own and is giving me a running commentary about how he's doing just that. Bless!
We ran together (obviously), so it wasn't particularly quick, but he is getting better at running. And his pace is more even... although why it is that little boys need to intersperse running with jumping, climbing on walls and pretending to be a ninja, I'm not sure.
I was glad we weren't going too quickly, to be honest. My left knee is feeling a bit dodgy at the moment, and I think it's because of my back injury making me run a bit strangely. If it's not one thing it's another! After a while, it felt a bit better, but at first, it wasn't terribly comfortable. Ideally, I'd stick to short, flat runs for a bit - but because I can't drive, I can't do that... so it's hills or nothing. I just have to find myself the least steep ones I can manage and go with that.
By the end of our run, my son had decided to speed up. They have a biccie / sweet tin at SRC that they say whoever's back first gets first choice. Well, he decided that would be him. Because, apart from anything, he said 'it would be wrong for grown ups to take sweets from a child'!!!! He spotted a couple of runners coming up behind him and would NOT let them beat him... and at the end, running into a headwind, he was managing an 8 minute-something mile pace! Good lad!
And another day bites the dust!!
Geeky stats stuff
We ran together (obviously), so it wasn't particularly quick, but he is getting better at running. And his pace is more even... although why it is that little boys need to intersperse running with jumping, climbing on walls and pretending to be a ninja, I'm not sure.
I was glad we weren't going too quickly, to be honest. My left knee is feeling a bit dodgy at the moment, and I think it's because of my back injury making me run a bit strangely. If it's not one thing it's another! After a while, it felt a bit better, but at first, it wasn't terribly comfortable. Ideally, I'd stick to short, flat runs for a bit - but because I can't drive, I can't do that... so it's hills or nothing. I just have to find myself the least steep ones I can manage and go with that.
By the end of our run, my son had decided to speed up. They have a biccie / sweet tin at SRC that they say whoever's back first gets first choice. Well, he decided that would be him. Because, apart from anything, he said 'it would be wrong for grown ups to take sweets from a child'!!!! He spotted a couple of runners coming up behind him and would NOT let them beat him... and at the end, running into a headwind, he was managing an 8 minute-something mile pace! Good lad!
And another day bites the dust!!
Geeky stats stuff
Wednesday, 3 December 2014
Runstreak Day #354 - longest run in a while
Okay, so it's nowhere near as far as I *can* run... but it's the furthest I've run for the past week or so, and that is definitely a good thing.
Ridiculously I was nervous about going for tonight's run and almost didn't go as it's been such a struggle lately. Knowing that it was an SRC run and you have to be there for a certain time... plus, my husband drives me there because a) he's a good egg and b) I'm still not back to being able to drive. So, I was dropped off and other than run away - which would still have involved running (obviously!) - the only thing to do was to go in and join in.
I started off by running with a few other people, but to be honest, I wasn't really in a chatty place - I needed to concentrate on my rhythm so that I could manage the run at all. Not that anyone else knows that - I do though! I would love my running to be easy again, but it isn't and I am finding new ways to be able to keep on keeping on... and the fact that I managed just over 4 miles, including a big hill, with only one feeling faint episode, is definite progress. Again, a runner stayed with me when I felt ill - those acts of kindness are amazing and so much appreciated.
Hopefully the tweaks my GP has made to meds will start to make a real difference soon.
Hopefully the tweaks my GP has made to meds will start to make a real difference soon.
At least my pace, though not where it was, is getting better. Sub-8 minute first mile... second around the 8 minute mark... the hilliest bit with a GAP of around 8 again... and managed to finish fairly strongly. It was only around mile 3 that I felt horrible. But with a 30 second breather, got going again and survived until the end.
Progress. That's good, right?
Geeky stats stuff
| Distance: | 4.06 mi |
| Time: | 34:07 |
| Avg Pace: | 8:25 min/mi |
| Elevation Gain: | 239 ft |
Sunday, 16 November 2014
Runstreak Day #344 - atrocious runs and running stars
With 3 weeks left until the year is done, I managed my worst run of the year today. It was shockingly bad. I was meant to be doing my normal long run with Sweatshop... and was using it to see if I was up to running a half next weekend. I figured that if I could manage 10 miles this Sunday, then I could cope with a half next weekend.
My body thought different.
I started off okay - at a slow, relaxed pace, running with a few others... but by the time I was 3 miles in, I began feeling faint. Light-headed and everything going a bit black and wobbly around the edges. I stopped, and then walked for a while, one of the people I was with stayed with me... then I started again... by 4 miles, it happened again. I told the person I was with to carry on running and she carried on to catch up with another couple of people we'd been with. I felt terrible. A mixture of 'not very well' and massively frustrated. The tears started to come. I tried to carry on running... ended up walking again... and stopped... again.
So, there I am, on the edge of the path, head down trying to stop feeling faint and hoping that people will just run past and leave me alone to wallow in the misery of not being able to run. But one of them didn't. He stopped and asked if I was alright and I said I felt faint. Unlike the others who had gone past, he stayed with me. And he didn't just stay with me at that point, but he ran with me the rest of the way - another 6 miles of me running, feeling faint, having to stop, then walking and back to a run... over and over. He was absolutely brilliant. I felt guilty for ruining his run, but so grateful that he stayed with me when I was feeling so horrible. I apologised so many times for making him stop, but he was a complete star about it.
Just when you feel at a complete low. Just when you're wondering how you can carry on. When you feel a bit swallowed up and hopeless. Someone can show you how fantastic people can be.
And yes, I know everyone's thinking 'you shouldn't have gone for a long run today' - and you're probably right. But I did, it was rotten... and I'm going to do very slow, short and gentle runs for a while until I feel better.
Geeky stats stuff
My body thought different.
I started off okay - at a slow, relaxed pace, running with a few others... but by the time I was 3 miles in, I began feeling faint. Light-headed and everything going a bit black and wobbly around the edges. I stopped, and then walked for a while, one of the people I was with stayed with me... then I started again... by 4 miles, it happened again. I told the person I was with to carry on running and she carried on to catch up with another couple of people we'd been with. I felt terrible. A mixture of 'not very well' and massively frustrated. The tears started to come. I tried to carry on running... ended up walking again... and stopped... again.
So, there I am, on the edge of the path, head down trying to stop feeling faint and hoping that people will just run past and leave me alone to wallow in the misery of not being able to run. But one of them didn't. He stopped and asked if I was alright and I said I felt faint. Unlike the others who had gone past, he stayed with me. And he didn't just stay with me at that point, but he ran with me the rest of the way - another 6 miles of me running, feeling faint, having to stop, then walking and back to a run... over and over. He was absolutely brilliant. I felt guilty for ruining his run, but so grateful that he stayed with me when I was feeling so horrible. I apologised so many times for making him stop, but he was a complete star about it.
Just when you feel at a complete low. Just when you're wondering how you can carry on. When you feel a bit swallowed up and hopeless. Someone can show you how fantastic people can be.
And yes, I know everyone's thinking 'you shouldn't have gone for a long run today' - and you're probably right. But I did, it was rotten... and I'm going to do very slow, short and gentle runs for a while until I feel better.
Geeky stats stuff
| Distance: | 9.81 mi |
| Time: | 1:42:38 |
| Avg Pace: | 10:28 min/mi |
| Elevation Gain: | 115 ft |
Runstreak Day #340 - aaargh! Another tough run!
Can I just recommend not having PTSD to people? It sucks massively. And it's sucking the life out of my running at the moment. My energy is in the toilet. My sleep is massively disrupted. Physically I'm still recovering from the accident. Emotionally, I feel ridiculously low. And the medication I'm now on is leaving me feeling pretty darned horrible.
So, in terms of things not to experience... I recommend not experiencing PTSD and running. It is threatening to rob me of my love of running and it is only through stubborn stupidity that I won't give in to it. I could quite happily just curl up and shut myself away from the world and wait for it to quiet down and for me to feel better. Instead, I went (well, was driven - am still not back to driving) to SRC where it was a hilly Wednesday run in prospect. Normally, I really enjoy the challenge of that route. I like chatting with people beforehand and the matey relief at surviving the hill afterwards. But tonight I felt a bit anxious about it. Because of the fireworks going off (a lovely reminder of the airbag going off in the car accident a few weeks ago), but also because I know my energy is terrible at the moment. A route I can normally run with no issue has become hard.
Aaaargh!!!
I ended up having to stop a few times as I ran up the hill. Which is not like me at all. I don't know how I'm going to manage the trail half I'm doing in 10 days time when I can't even get up a relatively small hill, and I have several BIG climbs to do. I guess just getting round and being grateful that I'm there at all will have to be enough.
You know what? That *is* enough. I am struggling at the moment *because* I survived a fatal road traffic collision. I survived. This is hard right now... but I survived. And I still get to run, no matter how hard it might be. That's definitely enough.
Geeky stats stuff
So, in terms of things not to experience... I recommend not experiencing PTSD and running. It is threatening to rob me of my love of running and it is only through stubborn stupidity that I won't give in to it. I could quite happily just curl up and shut myself away from the world and wait for it to quiet down and for me to feel better. Instead, I went (well, was driven - am still not back to driving) to SRC where it was a hilly Wednesday run in prospect. Normally, I really enjoy the challenge of that route. I like chatting with people beforehand and the matey relief at surviving the hill afterwards. But tonight I felt a bit anxious about it. Because of the fireworks going off (a lovely reminder of the airbag going off in the car accident a few weeks ago), but also because I know my energy is terrible at the moment. A route I can normally run with no issue has become hard.
Aaaargh!!!
I ended up having to stop a few times as I ran up the hill. Which is not like me at all. I don't know how I'm going to manage the trail half I'm doing in 10 days time when I can't even get up a relatively small hill, and I have several BIG climbs to do. I guess just getting round and being grateful that I'm there at all will have to be enough.
You know what? That *is* enough. I am struggling at the moment *because* I survived a fatal road traffic collision. I survived. This is hard right now... but I survived. And I still get to run, no matter how hard it might be. That's definitely enough.
Geeky stats stuff
| Distance: | 4.04 mi |
| Time: | 35:24 |
| Avg Pace: | 8:46 min/mi |
| Elevation Gain: | 246 ft |
Sunday, 9 November 2014
Runstreak Day #330 - long run treacle day
I am in a bit of a bleh place with my running at the moment. For the past week almost all of my runs have been just sheer bloomin' hard work. I think because I'm feeling pretty low in myself it's starting to rub off on my running. Normally, that wouldn't happen because I'd have the physical energy spare to get my act together and run without thinking about it too much. Unfortunately, I'm not sleeping at all well at the moment and it means that day after day of that is giving the net result of my feeling exhausted. And therefore running is a struggle too. Because I need that, right?!
So, today's run involved three bits. Run to the Sweatshop Sunday long run. Do the long run. Run home. Part one - that was okay. Survived in one piece with no particular problem other than just generally feeling a bit tired. Part two - ran with a running friend, which was good... you get to chat and survive it together... plus, she wanted to run at a fairly steady pace and that suited me fine. What wasn't fine, however, was the bloomin' head wind we were running into for most of our run. It was relentless. Even swearing at it a bit didn't help (and that *always* helps!)... and it carried on battering us. Head on. Blowing across us. Head on and swirly. Urgh. We did at least have the wind behind us on the way back, but after nearly 4 miles of battering, it was poor relief... and neither of us were really feeling the run at all. Chatting or not chatting, a hard run is still a hard run.
Then... part three. The bit we'll call 'I gave up after 1.5 miles, walked for half a mile, then ran the last half mile home. And it was horrible. A slow shuffle for most of it. And after a mile or so of hill, I'd had enough and couldn't face running up the last bit of hill. So, I stopped my Garmin and trudged. Even running down the hill at the end wasn't the normal fun-fest. I was frozen (wore the wrong clothes - again!). And tired. And my ankle was hurting a fair bit.
Okay, so I still did it. But I think I've broken myself a fair bit!
Tomorrow will involve a VERY gentle run. VERY gentle. I am officially knackered.
Geeky stats stuff
So, today's run involved three bits. Run to the Sweatshop Sunday long run. Do the long run. Run home. Part one - that was okay. Survived in one piece with no particular problem other than just generally feeling a bit tired. Part two - ran with a running friend, which was good... you get to chat and survive it together... plus, she wanted to run at a fairly steady pace and that suited me fine. What wasn't fine, however, was the bloomin' head wind we were running into for most of our run. It was relentless. Even swearing at it a bit didn't help (and that *always* helps!)... and it carried on battering us. Head on. Blowing across us. Head on and swirly. Urgh. We did at least have the wind behind us on the way back, but after nearly 4 miles of battering, it was poor relief... and neither of us were really feeling the run at all. Chatting or not chatting, a hard run is still a hard run.
Then... part three. The bit we'll call 'I gave up after 1.5 miles, walked for half a mile, then ran the last half mile home. And it was horrible. A slow shuffle for most of it. And after a mile or so of hill, I'd had enough and couldn't face running up the last bit of hill. So, I stopped my Garmin and trudged. Even running down the hill at the end wasn't the normal fun-fest. I was frozen (wore the wrong clothes - again!). And tired. And my ankle was hurting a fair bit.
Okay, so I still did it. But I think I've broken myself a fair bit!
Tomorrow will involve a VERY gentle run. VERY gentle. I am officially knackered.
Geeky stats stuff
| Distance: | 11.56 mi |
| Time: | 1:52:40 |
| Avg Pace: | 9:45 min/mi |
| Elevation Gain: | 310 ft |
Cool down
| Distance: | 0.55 mi |
| Time: | 4:53 |
| Avg Pace: | 8:56 min/mi |
Sunday, 2 November 2014
Runstreak Day #326 - running, chatting, distracting
It's funny how running with someone else can break you out of the fug of a few duff runs, isn't it? I usually run with the Sweatshop Running Community on a Wednesday evening and tonight's run was the normal hilly one. I ended up running with someone who I ran with on Sunday's struggle-a-thon and chatted with her the whole way round.
Bingo! Relaxed pace... run that felt easy. And I got to go from 'I can't run at all' to 'oh yeah... that's how it happens'. When you run on your own regularly and end up doing the same / similar routes all the time, you can really get stuck in a rut. You don't run at a conversational pace because there's no-one to have a conversation with. There's no-one to distract you if you're struggling a bit... or encourage you if that's what you need. And runs just feel, well, different when you're running with someone else.
All of which helps when you're running up a jolly big hill and you appreciate being distracted from its big scariness!
I also appreciated talking about normal stuff. I'd had a bit of a rough day of it after lots of horrible nightmares and a bad night's sleep. Running with someone else, chatting about things like kids and work and school... and generally getting to feel like a human being again... well, that was definitely a result. Plus, since she's also doing the Liverpool marathon... fingers crossed I have a scarily-long-run-buddy sorted too!
Not bad for a dark and cold Wednesday evening in October. Especially considering I didn't even fancy going for a run at all!
Geeky stats stuff
Bingo! Relaxed pace... run that felt easy. And I got to go from 'I can't run at all' to 'oh yeah... that's how it happens'. When you run on your own regularly and end up doing the same / similar routes all the time, you can really get stuck in a rut. You don't run at a conversational pace because there's no-one to have a conversation with. There's no-one to distract you if you're struggling a bit... or encourage you if that's what you need. And runs just feel, well, different when you're running with someone else.
All of which helps when you're running up a jolly big hill and you appreciate being distracted from its big scariness!
I also appreciated talking about normal stuff. I'd had a bit of a rough day of it after lots of horrible nightmares and a bad night's sleep. Running with someone else, chatting about things like kids and work and school... and generally getting to feel like a human being again... well, that was definitely a result. Plus, since she's also doing the Liverpool marathon... fingers crossed I have a scarily-long-run-buddy sorted too!
Not bad for a dark and cold Wednesday evening in October. Especially considering I didn't even fancy going for a run at all!
Geeky stats stuff
Runstreak Day #323 - the awful long run!
Good grief I did not get on well with today's run. I just was not feeling it at all. Some runs you do. Some you don't. Today, I didn't.
For a start, it was a t-shirt and shorts day. Which is weird in October. And threw me slightly. And then it was stupidly windy. Which I always hate, especially when it comes to running into a headwind for nearly 6 miles along the river. And then I had stomach ache which, had I not been running with a group would have had me stopping and bending double to try to provide some relief. And my ankle / back weren't feeling great.
And the list could go on and on. Moan, moan, moan!
To be honest, I wasn't in the best frame of mind to start my run. The delights of the post-car accident crap continue to reverberate and I managed a teary panic (triggered by just the thought of driving again) right before joining the Sweatshop run. I pulled myself together and did the run, but it does have an impact. The first three miles were a struggle, even though I was running with someone else the whole time... then the next three, our group of two became four as we ran with another couple of runners - battling the battering from the headwind the whole time. The last 5 I ran just about on my own, with the other three a little way behind. I was so glad to get past 10 miles and know I'd got less than a mile left. Even though I'd taken it steady, it really took its toll. I wonder how it is that I could run a half marathon two weekends running and be okay... but not even manage 11 miles today and find each mile a struggle.
Felt so ill afterwards I had to go to bed.
Ah well. Better than not doing it at all.
And it didn't put me off registering for the Tissington Trail Half Marathon next year!
Geeky stats stuff
For a start, it was a t-shirt and shorts day. Which is weird in October. And threw me slightly. And then it was stupidly windy. Which I always hate, especially when it comes to running into a headwind for nearly 6 miles along the river. And then I had stomach ache which, had I not been running with a group would have had me stopping and bending double to try to provide some relief. And my ankle / back weren't feeling great.
And the list could go on and on. Moan, moan, moan!
To be honest, I wasn't in the best frame of mind to start my run. The delights of the post-car accident crap continue to reverberate and I managed a teary panic (triggered by just the thought of driving again) right before joining the Sweatshop run. I pulled myself together and did the run, but it does have an impact. The first three miles were a struggle, even though I was running with someone else the whole time... then the next three, our group of two became four as we ran with another couple of runners - battling the battering from the headwind the whole time. The last 5 I ran just about on my own, with the other three a little way behind. I was so glad to get past 10 miles and know I'd got less than a mile left. Even though I'd taken it steady, it really took its toll. I wonder how it is that I could run a half marathon two weekends running and be okay... but not even manage 11 miles today and find each mile a struggle.
Felt so ill afterwards I had to go to bed.
Ah well. Better than not doing it at all.
And it didn't put me off registering for the Tissington Trail Half Marathon next year!
Geeky stats stuff
| Distance: | 10.76 mi |
| Time: | 1:38:32 |
| Avg Pace: | 9:10 min/mi |
| Elevation Gain: | 55 ft |
Tuesday, 7 October 2014
Runstreak Day #305 - group running
... yup, hard work again.
Isn't this getting boring? Managed just over 4 miles with Sweatshop this evening. Mainly ran on my own... and really felt the pace drifting away from me again. I am exhausted at the moment. I can manage just over 2 miles and then it's as if the brakes go on and the batteries drain.
Ho hum.
There wasn't really anything notable about my run either. It's now October... in two months time I'll have been running every day for a year. I guess that's the way with running every day. Some runs just slip by without there being any feature of note other than the quiet satisfaction of having got out there. Some runs are memorable. The Ramathon was brilliant. I've done parkruns where I've buzzed with happiness afterwards. There have been runs with friends which was pure fun. But there have been lots which have been hard work or just not that special. You accept those though. There is always something to be gained from any run.
At the moment, it's allowing me to feel just a tiny bit of control in my life. For almost 4.5 miles this evening, I made a decision to run, saw it through, sucked up the fact that it's still painful and didn't give in to the post traumatic stress which is making everything so difficult right now.
Hard work. It doesn't all have to be fun to be worth doing though.
Geeky stats stuff
Isn't this getting boring? Managed just over 4 miles with Sweatshop this evening. Mainly ran on my own... and really felt the pace drifting away from me again. I am exhausted at the moment. I can manage just over 2 miles and then it's as if the brakes go on and the batteries drain.
Ho hum.
There wasn't really anything notable about my run either. It's now October... in two months time I'll have been running every day for a year. I guess that's the way with running every day. Some runs just slip by without there being any feature of note other than the quiet satisfaction of having got out there. Some runs are memorable. The Ramathon was brilliant. I've done parkruns where I've buzzed with happiness afterwards. There have been runs with friends which was pure fun. But there have been lots which have been hard work or just not that special. You accept those though. There is always something to be gained from any run.
At the moment, it's allowing me to feel just a tiny bit of control in my life. For almost 4.5 miles this evening, I made a decision to run, saw it through, sucked up the fact that it's still painful and didn't give in to the post traumatic stress which is making everything so difficult right now.
Hard work. It doesn't all have to be fun to be worth doing though.
Geeky stats stuff
| Distance: | 4.36 mi |
| Time: | 36:28 |
| Avg Pace: | 8:22 min/mi |
| Elevation Gain: | 148 ft |
Wednesday, 1 October 2014
Runstreak Day #298 - necessary normal
Today has been a bit of a tough day - we had to go to the police station to make statements and it was an hour and a half of reliving it which was stressful beforehand, difficult to get through and exhausting afterwards. As I was talking to the officer about the impact it's had on me, something occurred to me. I was talking about the panic I feel when I've driven (I've managed once and it was awful) and when I've walked on my own. And I realised that although my running has been painful and stupidly hard work for the last 10 days, I haven't felt that same crushing panic which has happened when I've walked / driven.
When I run, I feel in control. My body might feel alien to me because of various pains / problems right now... but I feel so much less vulnerable when I'm running. For a while every day for the past 10 days, I've struggled, but I've found a little piece of life which I felt was still in my control. When everything else has felt like it's sliding away from me, running is still mine.
This evening, I ran with Sweatshop. I ran with a friend who is always lovely company. I ran slowly. It was painful. I'm still wheezy from the tonsillitis / chest infection I've had. But I'm still running.
If you have the chance to grab a bit of life just for yourself, you want to hold onto it really tightly. Because when things are tough, it makes all the difference. Running every day has made running part of my normal life - and I need normal right now.
298 days is a powerful amount of normal.
Geeky stats stuff
When I run, I feel in control. My body might feel alien to me because of various pains / problems right now... but I feel so much less vulnerable when I'm running. For a while every day for the past 10 days, I've struggled, but I've found a little piece of life which I felt was still in my control. When everything else has felt like it's sliding away from me, running is still mine.
This evening, I ran with Sweatshop. I ran with a friend who is always lovely company. I ran slowly. It was painful. I'm still wheezy from the tonsillitis / chest infection I've had. But I'm still running.
If you have the chance to grab a bit of life just for yourself, you want to hold onto it really tightly. Because when things are tough, it makes all the difference. Running every day has made running part of my normal life - and I need normal right now.
298 days is a powerful amount of normal.
Geeky stats stuff
| Distance: | 3.48 mi |
| Time: | 33:12 |
| Avg Pace: | 9:33 min/mi |
| Elevation Gain: | 140 ft |
Wednesday, 10 September 2014
Runstreak Day #284 - more hilly hills
What a turnaround from the whole too scared to run with other people version of me earlier this year! The plus side of running with other people?
1. You get to chat about nerdy running stuff before you head off
2. You get to chat about nerdy running stuff when you get back
3. There's the chatting about nerdy running stuff
4. Did I mention the nerdy running stuff?
Okay... so mainly, you get to talk about nerdy running stuff without anyone rolling their eyes in boredom at you! Plus, if - as with tonight - you have a silly big hill to run up, then when you've all run down it like big kids and are all sweaty and revolting at the bottom... you get to blather about it in a slightly over-excited, puffy panty way... which you never get to do when you run on your own!
Anyway, my legs hate me just a little bit for making them run up another hill for the second night running. Tomorrow's run needs to be a lot flatter and slower for them to forgive me!
284 days done. Crikey!
Geeky stats stuff
| Distance: | 4.07 mi |
| Time: | 33:27 |
| Avg Pace: | 8:13 min/mi |
| Elevation Gain: | 246 ft |
Sunday, 7 September 2014
Runstreak Day #281 - I am that annoying runner...
Plus, it's kinda weird when your face aches more from smiling than your legs do from running, isn't it?
That's what happened today because I just really REALLY enjoyed my run. I think I drive other people a bit mad sometimes when I'm running. I think that after 20 months of running the novelty of actually being able to run hasn't worn off and I am so amazed and happy that I'm running a fair distance that I can't shake the smiling. I say hello to just about everyone I pass (unless they're studiously not making eye contact!). I talk to doggies as I run past and have been known to say 'morning' to the ducks that I pass on the canal.
And when I'm running at a slower pace than normal (as I was running with someone else), I got to completely relax while I was running and enjoyed just about everything about my run. The weather was sparkly and lovely. It was nice to chat as I ran. I felt light and strong the whole time. And when I finished at almost 11 miles, I felt like I had plenty more left in my legs.
When I was starting running I never thought there would be a time when running would ever feel like today. It was always so hard. Always such a struggle. Aching legs. Chest burning. Hard flipping work. I love that I get to smile when I run these days. It's a brilliant feeling.
Even if it is annoying to everyone else!
Geeky stats stuff
| Distance: | 10.70 mi |
| Time: | 1:45:38 |
| Avg Pace: | 9:52 min/mi |
| Elevation Gain: | 68 ft |
Sunday, 3 August 2014
Runstreak Day #246 - sweaty hot Sweatshop run
Pre-run - 'Don't think I can manage this... don't be silly, you've run further than this before... but I don't think I can... but you can, stop being stupid... but what if I can't... you can... can't... can... damn it, I'll go...'
Mile 1 - 'Okay, this is survivable...legs working... knee not hurting too much... pace seems okay...'
Mile 1.5 - 'Damn... can't seem to find my rhythm... the faster ones have gone off ahead... and I can't keep up... don't know if I can do this... maybe I should aim for 7 miles instead'
Mile 2 - 'Right, right, I got this... maybe I could just do 5 miles though... yeah... I'll aim for 5... that means I'm nearly half-way...'
Mile 3 - 'Think... I... might... die...'
Mile 4 - 'okay, I can't keep up with the faster ones, I'm not with the slower ones, I'll be okay at running on my own, that's what I'll do...'
Mile 5 - 'why am I on my own?!??!! Why can't I find a pace that matches with someone... anyone... Ooooh look... I've done 5 miles! Okay... I'll aim for doing 8 miles, there's a bit where I can cut off a couple of miles and I'll head that way'
Mile 5.5 - 'sure that cut off must be soon... weird... I don't recognise this bit...'
Mile 6 - 'damn it! Missed the bloody cut off... now I have to run 10 miles. Oooh, I can hear someone running behind me... don't look round... don't look... *looks*... he's matching my rhythm... okay, that's okay... it's kinda relaxing... one... two... three... four...'
Mile 7 - 'We've been running together for about a mile, is there a protocol about chatting?! I guess I should. Right... it is officially about time we started to chat' *chats and does best 'I can keep this up for ages' face*
Mile 8 - 'Surely we must be there soon... must keep up pace... can't slow down... this is so tiring... my knee hurts... I'm a sweaty blob...' *keeps up perky chatting*
Mile 9 - 'YES! Only a mile to go! I AM AWESOME!!! Stay cool... don't let other running bloke know that death was imminent a mile ago... YES!!! GO ME!!'
Mile 9.5 - 'Oh good grief, I have to run up some steps right before the end... I don't know that my legs can do it' *carries on chatting and attempts to bound up steps enthusiastically whilst begging them not to give way*
Mile 10 - 'WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!! I did it!! Jeez the sweat is going in my eyes... that stings... I stink... my hair is a frizzy mess... my sweat patches have sweat patches... Oh, what's that running bloke? Same again next Sunday? Ach... why the heck not'
*chats for a bit before collapsing into the car to glug down an entire bottle of water in less time than it takes to question sanity for inflicting another hot sweaty run on self*
Post-run - 'Shower, tea, shower, tea, shower, tea, shower, tea, shower, tea, shower, tea, shower, tea, shower, tea, shower, tea, shower, tea, shower, tea, shower, tea...'
And that is the delight of a long run! Managed to maintain the pace I'd like to do for the half marathon I'm running next month. Am not *checks self* dead. And all is well! Hooray!
*happy dances*
Geeky stats stuff
| Distance: | 9.81 mi |
| Time: | 1:27:41 |
| Avg Pace: | 8:56 min/mi |
| Elevation Gain: | 76 ft |
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
Runsteak Day #221 - chatty happy runny
I'm definitely starting to feel less intimidated about running with other people. I ended up running with a guy who was there for the first time and we ran and chatted the whole way round the 4 and a bit mile route. Which was great. But as we were finishing, the guy was saying 'I don't think I could keep up with you over a longer distance' etc...
... and the funny thing was, I get the impression these days that people think I'm better at running than I am because a) I run every day and b) I guess I look like people imagine a runner to look. I've gone from being an obese puddin' in January last year to being a size 8... wearing running shorts and a vest... and I suppose that's what looks like a runner.
It just goes to show that you shouldn't judge anyone by what they look like. I was so intimidated by the 'proper runners'. Y'know... those wearing shorts... decent running shoes... a vest top... kinda wiry looking. A bit like I look now! When someone says to me 'I don't think I'll be able to keep up with you' without seeing me run, I know that they've thought 'she's a proper runner'! When I'm not! I'm barely off being a beginner. I'm 18 months off the couch. I've run two races. Ever. My times aren't particularly quick. I still find running *really* hard (even though I love doing it). And I still doubt whether I can run the distance I'm setting out to do!
But tonight, I put that insecurity to one side and just enjoyed my running. And discovered, yet again, that runners are a lovely lot. Nice way to spend a Wednesday evening!
Geeky stats stuff
| Distance: | 4.29 mi |
| Time: | 36:26 |
| Avg Pace: | 8:29 min/mi |
| Elevation Gain: | 148 ft |
Sunday, 6 July 2014
Runstreak Day #218 - sunny Sunday runday
Anyway, it came to me while I was on a long run with the Sweatshop Running Community this morning. I'd run half my run with a friend, then she didn't feel well and ran slower with someone else and said for me to go on. So I did. And I ran at a nice comfortable pace... one that wouldn't have been anything special in terms of times... but which did leave me feeling fresh legged and happy at the end. I was on my own for a fair bit of the time. Caught up to a guy who'd not stopped to wait for the rest of the group at the halfway point and finished my run about 5 minutes ahead of him. But while he was exhausted and unable to speak for a good few minutes after he'd stopped running, I realised that I preferred my version of feeling okay to that feeling you get when you've pushed yourself just a bit too far.
So... I'll never be Mrs Quick. But I'll aim for Mrs Happy instead. I'll run at a pace that doesn't exhaust me. I'll say hello to the ducks as I run past them. I'll smile at the cyclists. And I'll enjoy the freedom of running.
And life will be the sweeter for it.
PS Doesn't mean I wouldn't like to get faster times for my running - just means I'm not going to go killing myself to achieve them!
Geeky stats stuff
| Distance: | 7.42 mi |
| Time: | 1:03:56 |
| Avg Pace: | 8:37 min/mi |
| Elevation Gain: | 46 ft |
Sunday, 29 June 2014
Runstreak Day #211 - sociable Sunday miles
However, it also crossed my mind that there are certain things that are especially annoying when you're running. I feel a top 10 list coming on...
1. Small yappy dogs who go for your ankles
2. Geese... hissing, mean geese... who just go for whichever bit of you they fancy. Because they're mean. Really mean.
3. Extendable leads with dogs attached... which stretch a-a-a-a-a-all the way across the path but which you don't see until almost too late.
4. Traffic lights on red when you've got a good rhythm going.
5. Traffic lights on green when you fancy stopping but without looking like you're stopping because you're knackered.
6. Anyone who yells 'Run Forrest run!' at you. Not original. Trust me.
7. Groups of people taking up the whole of the pavement.
8. Cyclists swerving about on the pavement. Stay left. Stay right. Choose. Just choose!!
9. Dog poop in the dark
10. Cars parked on pavements, forcing you into the road.
Extendable leads are my least favourite thing though!!
Ranty lists aside, today's run was good. Wore my new trainers for the first time and that was groovy - though I distinctly remember telling my husband that my trainers I bought at the end of February would last for ages and ages... and it's not even been 4 months and I've done 500 miles and they're too worn for comfort! Anyhoo... the new ones were comfy and I think that I can keep the pace I was running at going for a good long while... which means I also feel much more confident about getting under 2 hours for my next half marathon (never thought I'd be able to say 'my next half marathon'!!! Even doing one was beyond my imagination less than a year ago!). Plus, I was brave and ran with others again... and that's feeling more survivable too.
Day 211 all done and in the bag. Wonder what next week's runs will bring?!
Geeky stats stuff
| Distance: | 7.44 mi |
| Time: | 1:05:33 |
| Moving Time: | 1:05:33 |
| Elapsed Time: | 1:08:45 |
| Avg Pace: | 8:49 min/mi |
| Avg Moving Pace: | 8:48 min/mi |
| Best Pace: | 6:54 min/mi |
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