After my 10k on Monday, the pat two days have just been about walking, making sure I am getting for the Wales Coastal Path Challenge, keeping my legs moving and preparing for Saturdays World Day of Running. When I first entered I was aiming for the 5k, but last week I asked the organisers to swap me to the 10k - this was a way of motivating myself to do more, plus by this time I had the 870 mile challenge to do....so every mile counts. Whilst walking I have also been investigating different routes, that will come in useful as the challenge progresses. In Wales we still have more Covid restrictions than England, and with this in mind I wondered if anyone would be able to run(Plod) with me on Saturday at a safe distance. I have designed myself a fairy flat 10k course (the normal MoRun Bute Park course is out of action currently so this was my next choice) I asked friends and family if they would perhaps plod along with me at some point on the course - many use this route as part of their own training so it is very rare I don't see anyone I know somewhere long this route. I have been in touch with Movember and look forward to be able to do things with them over the year. The link between physical and mental health is so key, we all know someone Im sure who has ha d 'wobble' over the past few weeks - make sure you keep talking...it does help. My 870 tshits are on order and of course the Justgiving page is avaialbe if you can help in any way. www.justgiving.com/fundraising/870miles870miles
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Another First - a whole 10K with stopping, and actually enough left to run up the hill as well at the end!
Was up early as I wanted to get whatever distance I could done before it gets too warm, I feel there will be some early runs this week. I was aiming to do a 10K in whatever way I could, and set off, then realised I couldn't remember the route I did last time (doh). Figuring that most of it was the same as my 5k I continued on and thought I'll add a bit at the half way point and that should mean I finish before the hill at the end. So plodding along I just kept going and managed a quick photo at the furthest distance form home I have run. I nice dog walking lady stopped whilst I took my photo, and wished me luck on the rest of my run (nice). As I ticked off the km it was clear I still didn't have enough to avoid the hill, i added in a loop, still not enough the distance seemed to be increasing so slowly. Oh well run up the hill untill 10k! However, when I got on the hill a surge of energy came and I just powered up to the top.....I have no idea how but hill climbing today was easier!! In total another 10.98k in the bag (6.82 miles) off my 870mile total. Will walk the dog a bit later so there will be a bit more to add today as well. First week completed of my 870 mile Wales Coastal Path Virtual Challenge and 26.77 miles in the bag. My goal in my head was to try and do a marathon distance a week, which may or may not always be possible but it gives me a managable chunck to work on as 870 miles seema huge target (and it is)! Didn't start welltoday, the top of my foot is hurting, I think it needs a bit more streching, plus I went off a bit fast, so by the 2k mark i needed to stop and loosen my trainers slightly and give my foot a strech. Returning to my plodding pace we managed the next 5k without much problem and then completed a further 1k up hill, just so i can say the first hill climb wasn't a fluke. Finishes off with a walk to cool down and stretch out. Pleased with progress this week - currently near the Transporter Bridge in Newport and position 72. Look what arrived today, no excuse now but to get out and do some more miles as part of my Wales Coastal Path Virtual Challenge.
4 more miles so far and I conquered my first 'real' hill - I can now run up Rhydypenau. I spoke with the MoRunning people and they are helping me with my challenge and I have linked with their virtual run for fundraising. If you can make a donation please visit - www.justgiving.com/fundraising/870miles Monday 15 June 2020 - today I received my first ever medal for completing a running challenge. When I started this blog one of my goals was to get a medal, but I wanted it to be for an event/cause that was close to me. Movember's Miles For Mates was a perfect fit. I have supported and worked at Movember events for a number of years, I had time on my hands during lockdown, I could run at my own pace, update my time as it improved and raise awareness of Mental and physical health In total I walked, ran (plodded) over 100km (62 miles)with my fastest 5k (34:58).
As I sat and wrote my blog yesterday (before the medal arrived) I realised that 10K would be a great distance to aim for next, I had already completed 7k run, plus nearly 2k of walking, so we were nearly there already. I was at writing when I spotted an number of the South Wales Running Community telaking about a new challenge. The Wales Coastal Path Virtual Challenge - 870 miles!!! I started thinking, this is a long distance but something you can do over 12 months, thats works out at 72.5 miles a month or 16.73 miles a week - suddenly this is a bit more doable. So with a little bit of apprehension - I signed up This is a huge challenge and so far with a walk last night and a 10k today i'm about 1% of the way - but it will give me a focus and something to achieve - plus I can use all my other events as every mile counts. I am going to use the event to continue to support the work of Movember, with the support fo the team from MoRunning (thanks team) - find out more and help with the link below: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/870miles Today was not about time, but it was about how far I can go at my ploddy pace.
I made the decision to warm up with a walk down the hill, and then run on as much flat as I could. The weather was pretty warm again, which was nice and being the start of the week the streets were quieter again. Having done 6.5 on Saturday, I though 7k would be a good goal, and I thought the route I chose would be around that distance turned out I was a bit short, but more of that in a bit The Walkers and other runners were on the whole good with their social distancing, bar one lot who insisted on walking and filling up the pavement - what is wrong with people!! I spotted by Roath Park lake a fantastic Runner, at present a lot of the road is coned off to allow for social distancing, and many of the cones had been knocked over. This amazing guy was walking and putting each of them back correctly - hero. I made sure to thank him for his work. I took some water with me today, partly as it was warm and also so I could have some water when I finished - However, carrying the water battle really annoyed me - so I will need to look at other options. I have taken a photo each time I get to the furthest point away from my house - just as a record of where I have been. Todays photo wasn't quite as picturesque as I intended (lamp lamppost) but I was also trying to do it without stopping. As I was nearing my target finish spot I noticed I was under 7k - well nothing for it I would just need to keep going. The only issue being we now need to go up hill....... So off I set, and sailed passed the 7k - in fact I think had it been a little earlier in the run I probably would have gone all the way up the hill. New Goal
On the whole people are pretty good with Social Distancing when I am on my run. I try, where I can, to go around people, move from the pavement to the road (actually I like running on the road, it seems less bumpy). I also try to acknowledge people to thank them for moving to one side etc.
But....there are some people who just don't get it - groups who walk 3 a breast , people who just open car doors without looking, and my favourite, people who come around blind corners and then act like its your fault that you didn't see them!!! I know this is actually no different to how things were before the pandemic, there were always people who have no awareness of their surroundings....but I had hoped that with all the social distancing messaging it might have got through to some people (sorry Rant over) Managed to do 6.5k at my slow and steady plod, recovery was pretty quick afterwards so all in all (despite those mentioned above) a pretty good result. I have a busy few weekend booked in: I have 16 days to improve my time - Movember's Miles for Mates 27 June - 5K as aprt of World Day of Running You can find out more about both HERE 4 July - South Wales Running Community Relay - Team C 12 - 1 - aiming for 10K or as near as A day off from running yesterday and time to think about my choice of next goal.
I remembered that after my knee injury a number of people telling me that when they got injured it was an increase in speed that had caused it, so for me I have made the decision I am happy with my plodding pace so lets go for distance. Next Goal - 10K Had a look at some online training plans including this one - HERE Have realised that I am already well on my way so can see if I can sue the plan to get me to 10K over the next few weeks. I am aim for the middle of July as a goal. Today, accompanied by Chris and Eddie (in my ears), I set off just to see how I felt as I was plodding along. I decided to follow a similar route to my normal one, and just let my body tell me how I felt about how long to run for. I tried to consciously not look at my watch. Very soon I knew I was more than 3K and added an extra bit of the park that I haven't run through for so long, it was great to see what changes they have made, I remembered last year they were beginning work in one area and this now seems to be nearly complete. After that bit of the park I headed back this time retracing my route, to conquer 'The Hill' which I should stress is no more than an incline, but back last year when I started this journey it was one of my initial goals 'run up the hill'. Toady I sailed up there and just kept plodding until I had decided I'd had enough for today. Check of watch - 6.13k complete I did feel as though I could have gone on, but enough for one day, we don't need to do it all in the first week. I have noticed my breathing recovers much quicker now, so had a look at a few more stats, and have noticed my Avg.Heart Rate has reduced from 177bpm to 166bpm - this has to be a good thing. I checked my 5k time but there wasn't much change in it so haven't recorded it as part of my Movember's Miles For Mates. - there is still time to take part, support a great cause and do something amazing for your physical and mental health Here is the link. According to the plan it's a quieter day tomorrow, so will see what Saturday brings. Now wether the choice of what you listen to impacts your time I don't really know. I have mentioned before that 88bpm is a good pace for me at the moment but theis morning I thought I would try listening to the Radio.
I listen to the radio quite a lot and choice of station often depend on the time of day and what mood I am in. Today I thought Chris Evans would be a good choice, 1 - he runs, 2 - there is talk in between the music, 3 - he has some interesting guests. So off I set with Chris chatting to the guys at Brighton and Hove Albion about virtual crowds at the premier league game with Arsenal. Music and chat continued and very soon I was at 4K, and matching my 30 minute run pace from Sunday. At 10am I was joined by Eddie Temple-Morris who aided me to my 5k with some Deacon Blue (always a good choice) At 5k I stopped my watch to see my new best time 34:58 first time under 35 minutes since June 2019. Well clearly the choice does make a difference. New Goals: Now I need to make a choice - time or distance?
Today was all about something new.
For the first time ever, I was part of a running relay. I have doen some walking ones in the past but never running. Builth and District Running Club organised a 15 hour relay, for teams to complete in isolation - send in your times via Strava or similar. I am part of an online group, South Wales Running community and they organised 2 teams, split into half hour sessions. Complete a minimum of 30 minutes more if you want. The sessions were allocated and I was on for 9.30 as part of Team B. I had a trial run on Friday to make sure I could time my run, and also so i could test I culd run for 30 minutes.... This morning I made my way to my chosen start point, I needed to be somewhere flat, as most of my routes start down hill, which wouldn't be fair for my time. I gave myself enough time to arrive, do my selfies and also a Facebook Live. There were loads of people out for their own runs, but I stood out in my Team B bib. A few asked what I was doing, so it was nice to tell them about South Wales Running Community and the #BaDRelay15. At 9.30 off I went, it was busy but I managed to avoid people and was soon into my stride. My playlist was keeping me on my 88 BPM time, so I wouldn't over do it. For the first time since June last year, I completed a lap of Roath Park and very soon after my 30 minutes were up. 4.32K a whole extra 0.12K longer than my practice run. Baton was then virtually handed over and I headed back home. Great fun and even in these times when we acn't be with people it felt like I was part of an event. (before, after and time) |
AuthorAfter 24 years of helping others to achieve their running goals - it is now my time. Archives
February 2022
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