Catch up
Got declined for the London Marathon 2008, but what the hell, Pete and I went about training for the Hastings Half instead. We have just finished it and you can read about it here: Kim and Pete do the Hastings Half Marathon
In training
I have applied to run the Flora London Marathon 2007 for charity - a little daunting, but i figured it was also a great way for me to get fit (finally!) and lose the excess weight i have gained over the years.
I have decided to write a diary to help me record my trials and tribulations over the next 6 months.
Previously on Jog Blog
I had started running back in September but after having a month in India where i did no training i felt i was back to square one. At the beginning of November Pete decided to join me in my training which has been a great motivation every morning as well as some much needed company. At the moment we can do a 30 minute run (approx 3 miles) so there is some way to go.
I have been running 6 days a week with Saturday off but am starting to have a pain in my right calf so have decided it would be best to jog one day and then have some non impact exercise the next. I have decided to cycle every other day.
November 27th
Weight = 57kg Height = 157cm
Starting heart rate = 74 Finishing heart rate = 110
Distance ran = 3 miles Time running = 27 mins
30 mins beforehand I drank a small glass of water and ate a banana. Warm up and warm down before and after running. Slight pain in right calf by end (caused by downhill?) managed to control breathing so did not get stitch like yesterday.
November 28th
Cycle day. Did a 50 minute bike ride (approx 8 miles) from Charroux to La Chapelle Baton and back. Legs felt the workout but didn’t keep me warm like jogging.
November 29th
Same warm up and pre-run snack. Ran with Pete. 3+ miles. A full 30 minutes in total. Tired but not exhausted.
November 30th
Day off. Late night yesterday. Will make up for it - I promise.
December 1st
Starting HR = 78 Finishing HR = 140
Distance = 2.5 miles Time running = 25 mins
Enjoyed today - it was a lovely morning. The sun was out and there was a slight chill in the air which means i didn’t get too hot. I felt fitter in general. Pete was busy so I ran alone today. Thought it would be hard without him as motivation but i was fine (I still like his company though!) I didn’t run for as long as i wanted as i was short of time.
December 2nd
Rest day
December 3rd
Distance = 4 miles Time running = 40 mins
Hard work today. Not only did i do a new longer route but the weather was pretty awful. Cold, wet and windy. I stopped after 20 mins at the top of a slope after running against the wind which had tired me out quickly. Felt pretty tired by the end so will have to work on this distance before increasing it to 5 miles. Feel very positive about it though. I can feel i have improved and should have plenty of time to get in shape for the marathon.
December 4th
Rest Day
December 5th
Weight = 57kg
Distance 11 miles Time cycling = 65 mins
Warm up as usual but within first few seconds of jogging i could feel the pain in my right calf again (possibly shinsplints?) Decide to not run and do a dreaded cycle instead. First 6 miles okay but on return i was working against the wind and rain and came home with a rather attractive mud splatter all the way up my back. Seemed to go better than my last cycle - maybe it’s not so bad after all. I still prefer jogging though!
December 6th
Rest Day
December 7th
Distance (approx) = 3.2 miles
Time running = 35 mins + i finally made it up the hill!
Today was another good day despite the wet and windy weather (again!). It was hard going against the wind but that was only for part of the route. The run felt good and i was determined to get up a hill at the end of the route. I have been going up it in stages and today i finally made it to the top - supposedly a good stamina builder. I will try it tomorrow too and slightly increase the distance/time.
Fed up of getting wet though - waterproof mac tomorrow.
December 8th
Was planning on running today but it sounds like a hurricane outside. I think i would get blown around the route on a day like today.
Rest Day instead.
December 9th
Distance = approx 2.7miles Time running = 25 mins
Todays run didn’t go so well. I felt my legs had no energy (felt like jelly by 15 mins into the run) I had a headache, needed the loo and got a stitch fairly early on.
Lessons learnt:
Go to the loo JUST before warm up and stretches.
Leave 1 hour from eating banana and drinking 1 pint water (30 mins is too soon now i am doing longer distances)
Drink more water during the day generally
Try and avoid late nights before a scheduled run day.
Tomorrow will go better. I plan to do a longer run with a couple of breaks to try and increase my endurance.
December 10th
Distance = 4.8 miles Time running = 50 mins
My run went much better today. Made sure I left 1 hour to let my food and water digest. Loo break just before leaving and i made it a whole 4.8 miles! I did have a brief walk (90 secs) after doing’the hill’ as i had a slight stitch which soon disappeared once i’d slowed for a bit. I still had a little energy left at the end too. Boy do i feel good!!
I am now planning my training runs when i am back in the UK. There are a few 10k and 10 milers i want to enter. My friend Helen has also helped me purchase a new toy - a heart rate monitor - was in the sale so bargain price. Can’t wait til it arrives! This running lark is getting quite addictive.
December 11th
Rest day.
Arrghh! I have just found out that i didn’t get a place for the London Marathon in 2007. No matter - i will apply do another one in Europe. I just hoped that FLM would be my first as it is such a good course and has such good organisation and support. Pooh sticks! I have found one in Norway in June - the Midnight Sun Marathon. Yes you’ve guessed it - it is held at night time as the sun doesn’t set during the summer in Norway so it will still be light - bizarre eh!
December 12th
Woke up at 4am and couldn’t get back to sleep so ended up watching films until 9am at which point i didn’t feel like running so had an extra day off.
December 13th
Weight = 56kg
Distance = approx 3 miles Time running = 35 mins
Lovely crisp winters morning. The sun was out melting the frost that had formed overnight - beautiful weather for running. No problems during the run - felt good - coping with the hills better. Increase tomorrow to 40-45 mins.
Aiming for a 6 mile run on sunday!
December 14th
Didn’t make a run today. The pain is back in my right shin and after a bit of research i think i may be sufering from shinsplints. I need to rest for a few days and do some serious stretches and exercises and hope it clears up.
NOTES ON … A Slow Start
Well I recovered from my shin splints, enjoyed christmas and New Year and then moved back to the UK, recovered from a cold etc… I have only just started jogging again - I hope it is not too late for me to be in shape for the Hastings Half Marathon next month.
I suppose i was slightly disappointed at losing out on a place in the marathon which was my ideal motivation. However now I am settled I am getting back into the swing of things and have found i actually missed the running. It is also very uplifting to be running along the promenade everyday. The sea is very calming and makes me smile, the promenade is an ideal starting point for jogging, it is long, wide and flat and there are a few different levels to run on for variety. Now I have no excuse!
February 3rd 2007
My first run in 6 weeks went pretty well, I was surprised that I could do 2 miles quite comfortably - there is hope for me yet? Did 2 miles then jog/walk back the 2 miles - felt good as it was a lovely sunny day and there are plenty of other joggers about.
February 4th 2007
Up bright and early, pre run drink and snack. Run 2 miles only as I must start off slow after 6 weeks rest. Felt okay. My breathing seems pretty calm it’s just my legs that need to build up some more stamina.
P.S. Just getting used to my new heart rate monitor - it’s great being able to time my runs and know when my CV system gets in ‘the zone’.
February 5th 2007
Rest day
Apologies
Very sporadic with my jog blog updates. Probably because things haven’t been going so well and i am feeling a bit despondent about it. I definitely won’t be doing the Half Marathon in Hastings next week!
I have been suffering from weakness in my legs and pain particularly in my calves/shins - at first i thought this may be jogging constantly on a hard pavement surface but even grass didn’t help.
My legs give up WAY before my breathing does and I struggle to do 1/2-1 mile now. Have i buggered something up? After running my legs are like jelly and feel that they aren’t attached to my body - it feels weird, different to just feeling tired.
Even fast walking now causes mild pain and fatigue in my legs and i am starting to feel a weirdness in my hips too.
Have decided to leave off running altogether until I feel better - maybe i will go swimming. Once better I will start going to a running club which may be able to help give me better advice/motivaton etc…
Until then …..