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!