Running around the park is one thing, but soon it will be time to actually complete a race, since meeting Kerrie in the week this has been a thought that has been playing over in my mind. This weekend I managed to run the majority of my current route (2.6 miles) which considering the issues with my knees is still a really good thing. The route was also interesting as we had a downpour on Friday night which left some very large puddles to negotiate. It was interesting that the river wasn't overly full but the roads did have difficult dealing with the amount of rain water It did also create some difficulty for us runners, who had to find alternative routes or face the possibility of wading through the puddles, not knowing what was under the water, never a good idea. After completing our run, Mrs C decided to look for races to take part in. She found the Pizza run, and even though it sounded fun, it was this weekend, and also sold out already. So I'm on the look out for a 5k around the end of June, start fo July, suitable for runners of all abilities. Anyone with a suggestion let me know, and also looking for people to run with.
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Had a really great day today. The morning was spent in a conference but over coffee and in the networking session there was quite a lot of talk about fundraising events and running....I was a champion at all of this. Then back to the office for a special visitor. Some f you will already know Kerrie Aldridge a truly inspirational runner whose story, and video, went viral during this years London Marathon. Kez came in to talk to us about her journey and share her experiences. Even though, in her own words, not everything was the way it should have been, she still has positive memories of the Marathon. Kez tells her story with such great humour. I loved her telling the marshals to call the police, but she couldn't give a statement as she "had a marathon to finish"....well at least they would know where to find her on The Mall. And at the finish line, shouting at the tourists to get out of the way, and then running through them as they made a cheering tunnel. We talked about medals, T-shirts, Jeffing, inspirational runners, Expo, Gym Buddy and taking part in a proper race. I am already looking at some of the suggested races as something to aim for at the end of June - watch this space. Thank you Kez, it was amazing to meet you today. You can read more about Kez's story on her own blog - www.kezthisisme.blogspot.com Jeffing. There you are its out here now....Jeffing! The art of Run-Walk-Run, technique by former 10,000 metre Olympian Jeff Galloway. If it is good enough for him its good enough for me. Although I do still plan in running a 5K without walking by the end of June. Boy it was hard tonight! I know I had a few days off work last week, but I still got out there and did walking (plus steps) and running. I don't know wether it was having spent a day back in the office, perhaps I sat down for too long or something else but my legs were like lead. We tried a new route as well, maybe that made an impact, I was talking to Sam2.0 in the office about how the next distance increase would take me to 5K but having looked at the map it seemed like a big step. Sam2.0 suggested running the new part of the route as part of my current distance, so it wouldn't seem as daunting when we include it for real next week. The new route dosen't seem as long now that I've done it but as it is in a new part of the park there were new challenges to contend with - footballs, dogs (on and off leads) and tennis rackets, well it won't be long until Wimbledon. Tomorrow I will be discussing stretching with Sam2.0 and also expecting a special visitor t the office. When I think of Steps there are two things that normally jump to mind, 10,000 a day or Pop songs with actions. This week we took a little trip to Windsor Castle, which despite all the wandering around we did I barely hit my 10,000 steps. However, we also took a visit to Cliveden House and boy did we over achieve on this day. Cliveden is well known as a filming location, Sherlock Holmes, Cinderella, Mr Selfridge etc, but probably best knownas the Home of Nancy Astor and for the part it played in a certain political scandal in July 1961. The house and gardens are stunning and it was whilst we were out walking in the gardens the Steps Challenge became obvious. Known as the Yew Tree Walk, the 172 steps take you from the banks of the river Thames to the main gardens. Pictures dont do the steps justice, but it was a bit of a work out on a non-running day! Back to the running today with Coach Mrs C. We are continuing with the 10% of a marathon course with the aim to be able to run all (or at least most of it) by the end of next week. Toady we took the pace a little slower as we ran for longer. The upshot being the overall pace improved from11:43/mile to 10:56/mile. We have set a few areas on the route where each time we are increasing the distance we run and also have a 'Finish Line' to run through at the end. Mrs C has threatened to decorate it like a Finish Gantry for when we complete the first 5K. Exactly One month until we need to do that, but it doeas already feel like I am nearly there. This morning I managed to complete 10% a a marathon course, as my training et least for this week is 2.62 miles. Only another 90% to go. With the new distance comes a new route, or at least a similar route with a new start and finish. No coaching partner today, so it was back to the playlist, but I learnt my lesson from last time and chose some more moderate tunes. I am continuing with my walk a bit, jog a bit, run a bit, training but I am finding it easier to run(or at least plod) a little further each time. Today I even managed to run up the incline, in my head its a hill, but it really is just an incline. According to Stava I hit 2 Personal Records today, it appears some of my route has some sections that people have set on Strava. After the run a couple stopped to talk to me about my run and if I was training for anything, I could barely speak at this point but managed to pull a few words together for them. It made me smile as I was going home, why would you think it was a good idea to try to speak to people just after they have run? And how well do athletes cope with this when TV commentators do it! This was a morning run, so it will be interesting to see how it compares when I do the same route in the evening. I was delighted to be invited to join a Social Media Running group over the weekend, a great way of meeting other runners, and encouraging each other. I'm not I am ready for a physical running club yet but this is a good way to start. Due to work commitments, so far all my runs have been in the evening. Today however, I was able to experience what it is like to be a morning runner. To begin with I wasn't really sure it was for me. Perhaps it is that running later in the day my legs have had chance to warm up, or at least move a bit. For the first run/jog bit I really wasn't feeling it. I had done some stretching, but clearly not enough, my knees were tight, by legs felt heavy, every step seemed like a struggle - and we were only on the first mile! Mrs C was encouraging and we had our first goal to get to before the walking bit, it seemed to take forever. After a short walk the next run/jog was already a bit easier, clearly more warming up will help. Whilst we have been out doing this route, there is one area I have tried to push myself on, it is at the half way point and involved, initially running between 2 bridges. Gradually I have extended the distance, and today managed to run form the entrance to the park (prom) all the way to the entrance past the second bridge. Now this is still a long way of 26.2 miles but is still the longest I have run without stopping. Little goals and tick them off as you get them. Battling with technology this morning, phone recorded my achievement but watch and phone have clearly fallen out and are not talking to each other at present. What tech do you use when running? I had a very interesting day yesterday, which started with an amazing call with a fellow runner, I count myself as part fo the team now, hearing about their motivation and the challenges of starting running. They have faced huge challenges but refused to let it beat them. Over the past year or so I have faced my own challenges and if I can be half as strong I will be super pleased. When I got home I felt really sick so didn't go out, but then found myself missing my run.....this is a very strange new experience. Back to full strength, I was out running on my own again tonight, well I say on my own, though there were plenty of other runners, joggers and shufflers making their way around their own particular route. Lovely to see an old friend, Sam, who was training for a half marathon - thanks for stopping to say Hi. Deciding that I would need some musical motivation to keep me moving I connected myself to my phone/music player/fitness tracker chose a playlist and off i went. Now, without Mrs C to keep me to a steady time I only had the beat of the songs to guide me, and it turns out it is really important not only to have tunes you lie, but also a suitable BPM. I started with a bit of Pulp, Common People is 150 BPM so I guess not the best start, Example, Kickstart 126bpm then Embrace, Ashes 138bpm. I think I need to do some research as to the way to build a playlist for running, It would be good to get some input so feel free to comment below. Top Tip from _.mrst._ - disable the lock screen on your device so you don't need to input the code with sweaty figures. The good news is I completed the 2.2miles without incident, and did it in 25.35minutes. What was also great was running longer than I have without stopping, maybe 5k without walking by the end of June isn't such a far of goal.
Tonight the other member of the family decided to take up the role of speed coach, pushing the pace to get me around the 2 mile course in a new PB - well it worked, the run jog, walk lamp post was still in action, but we are now down to 10min per mile. Lella was pleased with her coaching technique, which seemed to centre around how quick we could get home for dinner - how wide the stride I was taking and how deep the breaths I was taking. Still if it improve the pace it must be worth it. Have invested in a running top, the hoody running is way to warm. Had a good chat to the guy in the store who asked what I was training for. He was impressed by the 9lb I have lost in the last 2 weeks. If the weight reduces it may help my knees, and it needed to come off anyway. This week has been mental health awareness week, I reflected on my recovery following the incident in September 2018. When I was ill I challenged myself to be well enough to host the MoRun, for Movember. It seems appropriate to be writing this today, as I have just agreed hosting duty for 2020 MoRuns. In 2018 whilst I was recovering I wanted to be able to stand on stage and tell those running why I was supporting MoRun (apart form the obvious bit of enjoying hosting events like this) So in front of 1000 runners I shared my story, and how I nearly wasn't there to tell them my story. It is important to remember, even when things are at their darkest, there is always somebody who has your back. It may be a friend, a colleague, a family member a loved one or even a stranger, but you do need to tell someone. They may not spot the signs , but if you can ask for help, someone, maybe someone unexpected will be there. It is ok not to be ok First trip out with the new shoes and happy to report no issues - wish I could say the same for technology which failed to publish today’s blog, so here we go again.
Decided to try out the new shoes in the same 2 mile course as earlier in the week, and also added in a walk then jog element. I have heard that running a lamp post then walking a lamp post is a good place to start so off I set. Note To Self - check where the next lamp post is before you head off, not all lamp post are equally spaced. Despite the random spacing, managed to knock a further 5 minutes off my 2 mile time, I believe this is a new PB (I’m all over this running jargon). Discussion in the office today was about my new shoes and how best to lace them up. Secretly I think my colleagues want to be part of the blog, but I told them they would need blog names- Sam2.0 (double marathon runner) and Angel, discussed using the extra holes on the shoes for better grip around the foot. This is definitely a game changer. Have decided that some sort of running top will be my next investment, running in a hoody was too warm tonight. |
AuthorAfter 24 years of helping others to achieve their running goals - it is now my time. Archives
February 2022
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