I had a lovely Christmas: family came to stay, Santa delivered some great presents and we cooked and ate some wonderful, delicious food. Now, however, the wrapping paper is in the recycling bin, family have gone home and I have to return my thoughts to my training schedule.
My run today was hard. I was unmotivated. It was raining. Roast dinners do not make good running fuel. My body felt like it had never run before. Let's just say that today's 4m run goes down on the list of achievements under the heading "despite everything".
However, the most positive aspect of today's run is the reminder that if I want my body to perform well I have to look after it. Given that we're coming up to the new year, it's a perfect time to figure out what adjustments can be made to my routine to turn some old habits into better ones. First, I'll take care to eat appropriately, with running fuel before runs and a roast dinner indulgence on Sundays, after long runs. It's all about balance, you see. ;-)
Thursday, 27 December 2012
Tuesday, 25 December 2012
Merry Christmas!
What better way to start a day of eating and drinking than to go out for a run? The training schedule called for a 3 mile run, so that's what I did this morning. It was pouring rain, thunder and lightning for my warm up but thankfully it cleared up for most of my run. At 7AM it was pretty quiet out there - I saw only three pedestrians and only a few houses with signs of life (i.e. excited children eagerly tearing paper from the presents Santa delivered).
Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!
Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!
Sunday, 23 December 2012
A quarter marathon
This morning I ran 6.62 miles (10.65 km) - which is a little over a quarter of a marathon. I was pretty pleased with my run, given that I chose a route with three hills (total 331') and it was the furthest I've run since the summer. Despite this, there was a niggling thought in the back of my mind: the marathon with be another THREE laps again. Sheesh, that's a long way!
However, I then realised my longest training run will be 18 miles, which is only three laps, not four. So that's not so bad.... ;-) The book assures me that if I follow the programme and run 18 miles in training I *will* be able to run the marathon.
It was quite mild out there today, although breezy. After the rain of the last few days the park was very wet in places - but thankfully there was no rain for today's run. The blisters are an on-going issue though, even though I wore the older trainers and my socks were dry.
Time to crack on with the Christmas preparations.
However, I then realised my longest training run will be 18 miles, which is only three laps, not four. So that's not so bad.... ;-) The book assures me that if I follow the programme and run 18 miles in training I *will* be able to run the marathon.
It was quite mild out there today, although breezy. After the rain of the last few days the park was very wet in places - but thankfully there was no rain for today's run. The blisters are an on-going issue though, even though I wore the older trainers and my socks were dry.
Time to crack on with the Christmas preparations.
Thursday, 20 December 2012
Dreich
"Dreich" is a word I learned whilst living in Glasgow. It's used to describe weather which is wet, dull, gloomy, dismal, dreary - you get the impression. Well, that's what it's like today; nonetheless, I still ran 4 miles in the park. I'm on annual leave for the Christmas holidays so at least it wasn't pre-dawn *and* dreich!
Time to decorate the tree now, so at least it'll seem warm & cosy inside. Especially if I have a glass of winter Pimms! ;-)
Time to decorate the tree now, so at least it'll seem warm & cosy inside. Especially if I have a glass of winter Pimms! ;-)
Saturday, 15 December 2012
100 Miles
Today I passed a momentous landmark, having run a total of 100 miles in training. Given my obsession with Microsoft Excel, here's how it looks:
I'm making steady progress by slowly increasing my weekly total (I've yet to do this week's long run, which is why the "weekly miles run" for week 10 looks low). In some ways it's been a relatively easy first 100 miles, given that each run has been shorter than 6 miles. I'm doing 4 runs per week, which is the frequency I'll stay at until the marathon - they'll just keep getting longer over the coming weeks.
Today's run was the Crane Park Time Trial. I was 4 seconds slower than my PB - although I was first lady!
I'm making steady progress by slowly increasing my weekly total (I've yet to do this week's long run, which is why the "weekly miles run" for week 10 looks low). In some ways it's been a relatively easy first 100 miles, given that each run has been shorter than 6 miles. I'm doing 4 runs per week, which is the frequency I'll stay at until the marathon - they'll just keep getting longer over the coming weeks.
Today's run was the Crane Park Time Trial. I was 4 seconds slower than my PB - although I was first lady!
Tuesday, 11 December 2012
The Official Start
Today I started my official training programme!
The programme lasts 16 weeks but I've started two weeks early, just in case I'm ill at some point over the winter months. All the running I've done so far has enabled me to run four times per week, this week totalling 15 miles. All being well, I should run approximately 500 miles before 14th April 2013. Bring it on!
To celebrate I ran 5km around Bushy Park, which looked stunning. It was -1C at 8AM, the frost was thick on the ground and the mist hung in the air. It was just before sunrise and it was lovely to see the changing colour of the clear sky as the sun rose. One morning I'll take a camera and show you how beautiful these parks are.
The programme lasts 16 weeks but I've started two weeks early, just in case I'm ill at some point over the winter months. All the running I've done so far has enabled me to run four times per week, this week totalling 15 miles. All being well, I should run approximately 500 miles before 14th April 2013. Bring it on!
To celebrate I ran 5km around Bushy Park, which looked stunning. It was -1C at 8AM, the frost was thick on the ground and the mist hung in the air. It was just before sunrise and it was lovely to see the changing colour of the clear sky as the sun rose. One morning I'll take a camera and show you how beautiful these parks are.
Sunday, 9 December 2012
Blisters
Unfortunately, during today's run, I've managed to get a couple of blisters on the soles of my feet - the first of my training schedule. I've been wondering what might have caused them:
Otherwise, it was a good run today. My neighbour joined me and it made the time and distance just melt away.
- Ill-fitting shoes. As these were my new shoes I'm hoping this isn't the cause. I'm now wearing Asics because New Balance no longer sell the 2A narrow fitting shoes - if you know of a good alternative please let me know!
- Loosely laced shoes (see above) although I tightened them only the other day.
- Wet socks. In an attempt to avoid running on tarmac (which can be a problem in causing shin splint injuries) I ran on grass - but it was rather boggy in places and I ended up with wet socks.
Otherwise, it was a good run today. My neighbour joined me and it made the time and distance just melt away.
Saturday, 8 December 2012
Another PB
This morning, at the Crane Park Time Trial, I bumped into my next door neighbour waiting at the start line. We set off together and chatted for most of the way round (after running the London marathon last year she's moved on to tougher challenges.) I was delighted to discover I'd achieved another personal best, having knocked 36 seconds off the PB I set a couple of weeks ago! :-)
Another gloriously sunny day today.
Another gloriously sunny day today.
Sunday, 2 December 2012
Olympics Spirit
This morning I read a magazine article about the spirit in London during the summer Olympics. It spoke about the positive mood and friendly helpfulness which pervaded this great city; it was a time when strangers could speak to one another.
I've mentioned before that I'm on a one woman mission to make the local running community a cheerier place. Today Richmond Park was filled with the usual cyclists and runners, all braving the cold and frosty morning. I made a point of saying "good morning" to most runners I went past. It makes me smile when they return the greeting; it makes me chuckle when they do so with a tone asking "do I know you?" - afterall, why else would someone in London wish a passerby a good morning?
At the start of my run I went past two chaps who returned my cheery greeting. Later, I saw them on the opposite side of the park and was delighted when they greeted me with a friendly "hi!". I haven't converted the whole community (yet), but for a fleeting moment the spirit of the Olympics returned to a small, sunny corner of London.
I've mentioned before that I'm on a one woman mission to make the local running community a cheerier place. Today Richmond Park was filled with the usual cyclists and runners, all braving the cold and frosty morning. I made a point of saying "good morning" to most runners I went past. It makes me smile when they return the greeting; it makes me chuckle when they do so with a tone asking "do I know you?" - afterall, why else would someone in London wish a passerby a good morning?
At the start of my run I went past two chaps who returned my cheery greeting. Later, I saw them on the opposite side of the park and was delighted when they greeted me with a friendly "hi!". I haven't converted the whole community (yet), but for a fleeting moment the spirit of the Olympics returned to a small, sunny corner of London.
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