4 months old
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
You can't beat it! :-)
It doesn't matter what kind of run I've had; a great run, a rubbish run or no run at all; this is what it's all about...
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Racing the Sun and a Lean Lent
Racing the sun - this is what I was doing on Saturday afternoon/evening. By the time I eventualy made it out for my run I knew time was going to be tight. I didn't start my run till almost 3pm and with 15 miles to do in the forest I knew I was going to be pushed for pace to get it done before the light went. My planned route in the hidden forest was to do fairly flat 1-2mile loops so that i could have a good paced long run that was 'easy on the legs'. My plan was scuppered though as on arrival in the forest I couldn't access my planned route. Instead I just had to pick a track and run out into the forest. I ended up on routes I have never been on before. It certainly lived up to the 'hidden' moniker as I did't see another soul the entire time I was there, despite it being a lovely sunny (albeit late) afternoon.
The change of route also meant a change of difficulty as I was no longer able to do my intended flat run. It was hilly. Too hilly for what I had planned and I did end up walking quite a few times on the ascents. I was about 6.75miles out into the forest when I noticed a distinct change in the light. I decided that it was best that I turn around and head back, and I could make up the extra distance by doing out and back half mile reps closer towards 'civilization' (otherwise known as the carpark). That way I wouldn't be stuck in the middle of the forest in the dark on my own with no headtorch.
The run was really tough. I felt strong till after 10 miles and by 11 miles the soreness and fatigue had set in. Those final four miles were what I call 'hard as h*ll miles'. Those are the miles that you hate at the time but that you remember afterwards when you are racing and remembering how hard you had to work to get to the race so you better just suck it up and get on with it.
I was definitely racing the sun trying to get back to the carpark in time with my tired legs. This was good though as it gave me the extra encouragement to get a good overall pace for the run. Despite the route being hilly as h*ll as well I still managed to run the pace I had been hoping for on the flat route so I finished the run feeling really happy. I was aching all over and competely shattered and it felt really good.
I was so pleased with my run, especially after my fairly disasterous runs for the two previous weekends. Two weekends before I felt like my entire pelvis was shattered by doing my long run on the road and the previous weekend, on the club Valentine's run up at Glenmidge I had an absolute shocker. Of course, isn't it just the way of things to have a shocking run in front of an audience? It was only the third time since Annabel was born that i have actually had company on a run and it was really disappointing to feel so out of sorts and to be running so poorly. Holding everybody up all the time, meaning they had to stop and wait for me, and really struggling on the hills and barely being able to hold a conversation meant that i was feeling so rubbish that I cut my run short and went back to the house a few miles early. In previous years I would have had no problems keeping up, in fact I imagine I could have comfortably led the pace but I feel like a whole different perso now, and running has become a bit of a battle. It really affects your confidence when you can't keep up with people you would normally comfortably run with. Perhaps it is just as well that most of my trainng is now a solitary affair with nothing and nobody to make me feel slow except my garmin.
February has pretty much been disappointing on the running and dieting front. It was only to be expected after the manic january I had but it's now time to get back into things again. The timing couldn't be better with Lent beginning tomorrow - a perfect excuse to give up all the bad foods again and do a bit more intense training. My cross training has been very limited these past 3 weeks so I need to get on a roll with that again too.
So I'm off to hunt out the last of the haribo and get things ready for pancakes tonight and from tomorrow I'm going to be good as gold, promise ;-)
The change of route also meant a change of difficulty as I was no longer able to do my intended flat run. It was hilly. Too hilly for what I had planned and I did end up walking quite a few times on the ascents. I was about 6.75miles out into the forest when I noticed a distinct change in the light. I decided that it was best that I turn around and head back, and I could make up the extra distance by doing out and back half mile reps closer towards 'civilization' (otherwise known as the carpark). That way I wouldn't be stuck in the middle of the forest in the dark on my own with no headtorch.
The run was really tough. I felt strong till after 10 miles and by 11 miles the soreness and fatigue had set in. Those final four miles were what I call 'hard as h*ll miles'. Those are the miles that you hate at the time but that you remember afterwards when you are racing and remembering how hard you had to work to get to the race so you better just suck it up and get on with it.
I was definitely racing the sun trying to get back to the carpark in time with my tired legs. This was good though as it gave me the extra encouragement to get a good overall pace for the run. Despite the route being hilly as h*ll as well I still managed to run the pace I had been hoping for on the flat route so I finished the run feeling really happy. I was aching all over and competely shattered and it felt really good.
I was so pleased with my run, especially after my fairly disasterous runs for the two previous weekends. Two weekends before I felt like my entire pelvis was shattered by doing my long run on the road and the previous weekend, on the club Valentine's run up at Glenmidge I had an absolute shocker. Of course, isn't it just the way of things to have a shocking run in front of an audience? It was only the third time since Annabel was born that i have actually had company on a run and it was really disappointing to feel so out of sorts and to be running so poorly. Holding everybody up all the time, meaning they had to stop and wait for me, and really struggling on the hills and barely being able to hold a conversation meant that i was feeling so rubbish that I cut my run short and went back to the house a few miles early. In previous years I would have had no problems keeping up, in fact I imagine I could have comfortably led the pace but I feel like a whole different perso now, and running has become a bit of a battle. It really affects your confidence when you can't keep up with people you would normally comfortably run with. Perhaps it is just as well that most of my trainng is now a solitary affair with nothing and nobody to make me feel slow except my garmin.
February has pretty much been disappointing on the running and dieting front. It was only to be expected after the manic january I had but it's now time to get back into things again. The timing couldn't be better with Lent beginning tomorrow - a perfect excuse to give up all the bad foods again and do a bit more intense training. My cross training has been very limited these past 3 weeks so I need to get on a roll with that again too.
So I'm off to hunt out the last of the haribo and get things ready for pancakes tonight and from tomorrow I'm going to be good as gold, promise ;-)
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Trail vs. tarmac
Before I was pregnant I never really noticed any difference in the effect that running on the road had on my legs compared to running on the trails. Generally my soreness levels were dictated by how far I had run and how hilly the route had been. I never felt any difference with regards to the effect the actual surface had on my legs even though many other runners felt a distinction and it was often written about in books, articles and blogs.
Post pregnancy however is a very different story. The effect the different surfaces has on my legs now is markedly different. Maybe this shift in perception has occured because my body is currently in a more delicate state than before, and probably will be for the next 6 months or even a year -maybe it just *feels* things more.
I know I currently have to be careful not to overdo things whilst my body is still in *recovery* but I do have a marathon to train for. My initial thoughts had been to alternate my long runs between the trails and the road. This was before I even felt the *road effect* today. My thinking was that I need to do tarmac runs, part out of practicality and part because the marathon is on the road and I need to practice on it in order to race on it. But now I am starting to think maybe I will only do every third long run on the road.
My run today was only 2 miles longer than last week but my legs felt 10 times worse during the run and twenty times worse after it. I am running 4 times per week and at least 2 of these are on the treadmill - this is definitely down to practicality and also because it is a more forgiving surface. But the roads must be endured. I will just try and endure them as little as possible.
If it were possible and practical I would do all my runs on the trails - that's where I'm at home.
Post pregnancy however is a very different story. The effect the different surfaces has on my legs now is markedly different. Maybe this shift in perception has occured because my body is currently in a more delicate state than before, and probably will be for the next 6 months or even a year -maybe it just *feels* things more.
I know I currently have to be careful not to overdo things whilst my body is still in *recovery* but I do have a marathon to train for. My initial thoughts had been to alternate my long runs between the trails and the road. This was before I even felt the *road effect* today. My thinking was that I need to do tarmac runs, part out of practicality and part because the marathon is on the road and I need to practice on it in order to race on it. But now I am starting to think maybe I will only do every third long run on the road.
My run today was only 2 miles longer than last week but my legs felt 10 times worse during the run and twenty times worse after it. I am running 4 times per week and at least 2 of these are on the treadmill - this is definitely down to practicality and also because it is a more forgiving surface. But the roads must be endured. I will just try and endure them as little as possible.
Sunday, 29 January 2012
Numbers Game
Here are some numbers for January:
14 - the number of weeks that make Annabel's age.
29 - number of days in January so far that I have trained (today is the 29th Jan) - no rest days so far in 2012!!
4 - the number of times per week that I am running.
1 - the number of long runs per week
1 - the number of interval sessions per week
1 - the number of tempo runs per week
1 - the number of progress runs per week
7 - the number of times per week that I am cross-training.
11 - minute per mile pace I was running in December
9 - minute mile pace I am managing for shorter runs now.
10.4 - the number of miles in my first Long Run of the year - today in Mabie Forest.
(long runs only count for me when they are in double figures)
17 - the number of weeks till the Edinburgh Marathon
7 - the number of days per week I am exhausted.
7 - the number of days per week I am thankful for how lucky I am to have my little family.
And here's the magic number - 3 - the number of stones I have lost since Annabel was born!!
1.5 - stones left to lose.
14 - the number of weeks that make Annabel's age.
29 - number of days in January so far that I have trained (today is the 29th Jan) - no rest days so far in 2012!!
4 - the number of times per week that I am running.
1 - the number of long runs per week
1 - the number of interval sessions per week
1 - the number of tempo runs per week
1 - the number of progress runs per week
7 - the number of times per week that I am cross-training.
11 - minute per mile pace I was running in December
9 - minute mile pace I am managing for shorter runs now.
10.4 - the number of miles in my first Long Run of the year - today in Mabie Forest.
(long runs only count for me when they are in double figures)
17 - the number of weeks till the Edinburgh Marathon
7 - the number of days per week I am exhausted.
7 - the number of days per week I am thankful for how lucky I am to have my little family.
And here's the magic number - 3 - the number of stones I have lost since Annabel was born!!
1.5 - stones left to lose.
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Parkrun Debut
Strathclyde Parkrun
It was pouring with rain when we left the town but luckily it dried up as we made our way up the motorway. Unfortunately the wind didn't disappear as well. It was increadibly windy for the race, and not especially warm (I've got a bit soft in my non-running ways haha!!).
I quite enjoyed the run despite the weather. I couldn't believe how hard it felt to run at what I would have considered a really slow pace. Racing is hard!! I am really pleased though how my pace has improved since last month. I was running 11 minute miling in December and today my target was 9 minute miling. I was pretty much on target 28:04 (9:02pace). That's my marathon PB pace - for 5km!! Long way to go, but heading in the right direction. Happy days.
We stopped at Starbucks on the way home and I foolishly ordered a large mug of tea - dear god it was practically a pint mug!! Not ideal for a post-pregnancy lady ha ha.
Looking forward to the next one. The race that is, not a pint of tea!!
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