Out and back

I decided to run out and back today to see if I could gauge whether I start off too hard or whether I am steady at the same pace all the way through a run. On the podcast I listen to, the fellow (who periodically tells me I am doing a good job) lets me know when it is halfway. At that point I turned around. At one minute to go I pushed harder a little bit and finished about 20m past my starting point. I guess I would have finished spot on if I'd kept at the same pace for the last minute. That tells me a couple of things. One, my pace is very consistent. Sure it's only 25 minutes running, but it's steady. Two, I'm travelling very slowly if I only made an extra 20m by pushing hard for a minute!!!

One more 25min run then I kick up the time to 28min!!

Another 25 minutes

Another 25 minute run today! It felt good too. We started daylight savings today so I went out late this afternoon. I had heaps of time and heaps of light so I decided to walk a bit before I ran my 25 minutes. I walked the long way to the river then started running along the river. I ran on grass the whole 25 minutes. Both my physio and chiropractor would be pleased. Then I walked another km or so home. All up about 8km in an hour 20. I enjoyed the run today. I feel absolutely no pressure on me. I am running simply because it is something I like to do. I wonder if that is why I am finding the times easy at the moment.

Hi Vanessa! I am coming back to Burswood soon I promise. There is a run in another week or so and I will do that too. I'm busting with confidence at the moment. But I don't want to ruin it all with injury so I am NOT overdoing anything!!!

The plan is another two 25 minute runs and then three 28 minute runs and then consistent 30 mintues runs. Good plan eh?

Blogger won't let me upload Percy's picture - I'll try again later.

25 mintues!

It was decidedly hot here this morning, by Perth standards. But still another beautiful day. Today I was set to run 25 minutes without stopping. I can remember (not so long ago) doing this run once before and the jump from 20 minutes to 25 minutes was very ugly. I wanted to finish strongly and not ugly so I took it very steady. I honestly felt like I was jogging on the spot, I was going that slow, but Percy show me that I did actually cover some distance. For the first time in a long time I wasn't overtaken by anyone - I think more because it was quiet out there than because I was running swiftly!

So I made it! I made 25 minutes. I'm starting to feel like I'm getting back some of which I had lost. Next week is all 25 minute runs. Very exciting.

Special message to Beki. I missed you. I am so sorry. I would like to have caught up. I hope you enjoyed our fair city.

Another beautiful morning

A pretty good run this morning but a little chilly. Two lots of 10 minute runs with a 3 minute walk break. All up 4km including the warm up and cool down. Not too bad I guess. I've decided I'm not looking forward to daylight savings - sorry to all of you who love it!! It'll be too dark in the mornings! Maybe as it starts to get light I might enjoy it more - but it's just perfect now. I love it when the sun is just rising and the air is clear. Beautiful.

I took it really steady this morning and I finished strongly again. I don't know how fast I was going and I haven't looked. There's a 5km run in a couple of weeks and I think I might head towards that. I won't be ready to run it all, and I'm not going to try, but a run/walk might be perfect. I'd like to start going back to runs again. And I want to go back to my weekly training runs at the Marathon Club - but I'm just not ready for that yet. When I can make 4km without stopping I will look at it again.

Week 6 day 1 C25K

Today's run was 5 min then 8min then 5 min with a 3 min walk in between, plus a warm up and cool down. Percy let me down and told me I'd only gone 1.8km but he was having problems locking onto the satellites. I reckon about 4.5km. I am becoming consistent again. This morning I couldn't wait to get up again. The dawn was beautiful - bright red clouds. Isn't there a saying red in the morning shephards warning? Not really sure what that means. I tried to finish strongly again today. Now I'm taking it easier, I feel I've got more in the tank. I hope that doesn't mean I'm being lazy because I'm enjoying the running at the moment!

My chiropractor is a miracle worker. Yesterday he worked out that I've been running lopsided which means my left leg has been working harder than my right. Yet I had no strength on that side because the nerves weren't firing or something. Then he poked and proded and hey presto! I had strength! Both sides are about the same now which is amazing. I had never noticed. But now I do. Go figure. I've still got no movement because of the arthritis but he can balance me out at least. He reckons I might get some movement so I'm cautiously optimistic. PLUS today I get my weekly massage. I'll get him to dig into the sides of my calfs which are what have been bugging me lately.

I'm kind of looking forward to daylight savings but kind of not. It's always better in the mornings once it starts getting light really early - but I'm such an early riser that I'm in bed when it's still light!!! I'll see how I adapt this year. Then we get to vote on whether to keep it.

C25K Week 5 Day 3

Well I'm thrilled to report I managed 20 minutes today! It's given me a huge confidence boost. I've been looking forward to this run since Monday when I decided I'd give it a go. Since I don't run every day, I had to content myself with a bike ride yesterday. This morning I had no problem getting out of bed, although it was very hot overnight. Kind of reminded me of Karratha - poor buggers are already getting 27 overnight. But here the heat was because it was overcast, not that it's really heat!!! I was awake before the alarm and while I contemplated whether or not to get up early, the alarm went off. Out the door in five minutes flat intent on making 20 minutes. I took it really slow, even for me, but I finished strongly. I'm still sitting at about 8 minutes a km but I don't care anymore. I know 20 minutes is not really a big deal, but I'm excited. Now to jump on the bike again and ride to work.

Day 2 Week 5 again

Today I did two 8 minute runs again. I am no longer concentrating on how slow I am running, and I had a great run this morning. I made it fairly easily and am confident to try the 20 minute run next time. I figure as long as I am out there and it looks something remotely like running, then it's got to count. All up during my run/walks I am covering between 4.5 and 5km, so a marked improvement from where I was a month ago. Now, to jump on the bike and cycle to work!

King's Park story true

Well the King's Park story was TRUE!!!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/12/2057917.htm?section=wa?section=wa

So THANK YOU to the person (whoever you are) who commented on my blog. There's a comfit of the person and I am racking my brain to think if I saw him. I was EXACTLY there on the spot, by the description on the news. I can't remember seeing anything odd - certainly no one running with a beach towel! A few minutes either way and it would have been all over. A shame really, I'd love to be able to do my bit to nail a bad guy.

*edit*
I just rang Crimestoppers to tell them I was in the area. I don't know if it will help, but maybe they can rule out times or something. I would also recognise the elderly couple the police want to speak with - because they walk every day too.

Arthritis

My visit to the chiropractor yesterday has given me lots to think about. We've been working on this pain in my neck but I thought I may as well ask him about all my other aches and pains. I have this constant dull ache in what I thought was my hip, which I thought was as a result of me not stretching properly. The chiropractor took x-rays and I could clearly see that on one side is a "normal" looking hip and on the other side is a mass of bones all fused together. I have arthritis. It's not in my hip but my sacrum. I have no movement on that side at all. How could no one have not noticed that??? That's why I can't do the downward dog. It's why I can't run. I physically can not lift my knee high enough on the right hand side. And I am crooked so use energy to straighten myself as I run/walk. I am destined to shuffle for the rest of my life. Sigh. On a positive note it is not my lack of flexibility preventing me from touching my toes! I CAN touch my toes but only on one side, which of course is NOT what you do when you are at the gym!! On another positive note - I have an explanation for all my difficulties! It's rather encouraging, really.

Of course the chiropractor is disturbed at my running and even wants me to cut down my cycling. I said no to both (of course!!) and he was very polite and said he wouldn't push the point. I am very pleased that I can continue and I feel an enormous relief that I CAN'T run. I no longer have that pressure on me to improve my times. What I will do is improve my distances!! And just stick at my 7 or 8 minute kms. In the big scheme of things WHO CARES how fast I run???

So with this enormous relief I went for a run last night. I'm not sure what I was thinking, but I decided to see just how much movement I do have when I run. You'd think I'd be relieved to take it easy, but noooooo I have to go and push it. I don't know what the muscle is but it's not my calf and it's not my ankle but somewhere in bewteen on the outside. Anyway it started hurting, so I stopped running. I lasted one 8 minute run and 3 minutes into the next one.

I've got to get it into my brain that I'm after time not speed. I'll continue on the C25K and see how I go.

Avoid Kings Park?

Thanks to Anon for your comment yesterday. I don't scare easily but you've given me something to think about. The Western Path is the one I cycle on and I was on the Western Path at 7.15am on Monday morning! It is a very long path in a very big park, so not really surprising that I didn't see anything. Obviously the baddy is completely stupid because the path is at it's busiest in the mornings!! Still, occasionally I can go for a couple of kms without seeing someone. Unfortunately I have no one to cycle with, so I will continue to brave the ride alone. I am very confident I can look after myself! I do, however, avoid the park at night - especially on foot. Seems like the time of day is no longer relevant though...

I was supposed to go for a run this morning but it was raining. I wussed out. It wasn't the rain so much as getting my iPod wet. Percy can stand a bit of water but not the iPod. I think I read on the forum that someone wraps their iPod in glad wrap - I guess I could have tried that but it didn't occur to me at 5.30 this morning when I saw the rain and was nice and snuggly warm in bed. I have every intention of going this afternoon, looks like the rain will clear. As long as I run on Wednesday (sometime) I haven't missed a day, right? I've got a chiropractor's appointment after work, so hopefully it'll still be light enough to go after that. (Yes - STILL with the damn sore neck!!)

Day 2 Week 5 C25K

Two 8 minute runs this morning. That's day 2 of week 5 of the C25K. I managed 4.5km in about 37 minutes all up. I decided to angle up through Kings Park on the way home but did not realise the hill was so steep. I huffed and puffed up the hill but then enjoyed a long steady downhill for my effort! I might do day 2 again before I attempt the 20 minute run for day 3. I kind of feel like I cheated today because of the very long downhill - like it wasn't me running. It might be a good route to take for the 20 minute run, so I can feel like I end strongly! But another two 8 minute runs first I think, on level ground. I'm in no hurry - I'll get there. And this time, I'll get there with no injuries!!

Well done to all those who ran in the Melbourne Marathon, half marathon and 10km yesterday. I'm jealous of the 10km-ers, in awe of the half marathoners and staggered by the effort of the marathoners. Nothing like a gritty marathon race report to talk you out of wanting to do a marathon!!

Getting faster?

Today I apparently managed almost 4km in 33 minutes. But I think Percy was lying to me because he told me my fastest pace was a 3.43min/km!!! Not sure what happened there. I did three 5 minute runs and although it wasn't fast, I felt relatively comfortable. Not super comfortable, but confident I would make the time. I guess that's something.

Pretty ordinary weather today. Overcast and a little nippy. I hope that means I have sent the beautiful weather over east for the MM runners. Good luck guys, especially Andrew. I'll be thinking of you all.

Flawless weather

Today's weather was absolutely perfect. Flawless. Clear blue sky, a soft gentle breeze, and it was cool (but not cold). I headed straight down to the river for my run. THIS is what running outside is all about! I wish I could bottle today's weather. We've had rain and overcast conditions for so long that I can't remember the last beautiful day. (And I noticed on the news that Karratha is already getting 40 degrees.) It was so wonderful that when I finished my run, I jumped straight on my bike and rode to work. I just wanted that "outside" feeling for as long as possible. I pretended I was in a transition for a duathlon - well, I got the run and the bike the wrong way around but you know what I mean. It was funny, my bike ride was harder than usual. I wouldn't have thought my Week 4 on the C25K would take it out of me that much - but I guess it is an indication of how unfit I am!

This morning's run was about 3.5km in 32 mintues. I'll have to upload Percy's picture later. Today was a three minute run, 90 seconds walk, then a five mintue run. Then a second set after two and a hlaf minutes walk. I felt strong in the last five minute run so I ran the last minute at 10km/h. That's pretty quick for me. I think I might jump straight back to Week 5 again, and three 5 minute runs.

Back out there

My neck is still sore but it's been a week since I went for a run, and I don't want to fall into another lazy habit - so I went for a very slow run this morning. I went back to Week 4 of the C25K and took it steady. There were two sets of three minutes and five minutes with 90seconds break. My fastest pace was 7 mintues 15 a km but I did mange to get up to 11km/h for the last minute. All up 4.5km in about 42 minutes.

It's a public holiday here today and a beautiful day! There were lots and lots of people along the river running, walking and cycling. It felt really good to be out there again.