Definitely voodoo

Full disclosure: I did have a tiny niggle in my Achilles this morning, but it's been getting better all week and surely a week is long enough to get over these things? 

So I sensibly did the 5-minute walk and it felt as ok as my poor feet ever get these days. And initially the run was fine. I've definitely seen an improvement in my fitness which is most gratifying. So I trundled along, being mindful of the niggle which remained in my Achilles rather than my calf muscle, so all's well, right? But it was getting tighter and I did walk a couple of times just in case. It didn't really kick off until I got back onto Bishop Road, only 1/2k or so from home so I walked back from there.

And now I'm icing my leg. The muscle had a kind of knot in it so hopefully the ice thing will ease that. Plus paracetamol. I'm not squeamish about anti-inflammatories.

During the C25K I didn't have the amount of pain I'm having now - or did I just run through it? There were no injuries like the muscle/Achilles thing I've got going on now.

So do I live with it, gingerly running once a week or so and hoping that it doesn't kick off again? Do I get some shoes with a bit of a heel lift? Do I go to the running physio and get some advice? All of the above? 

C25K+1

I absolutely refuse to believe that there was some kind of voodoo in the c25k app which prevented my calf muscles hurting and now that I'm beyond it, the magic has gone. 

My calf hurts.

I was very responsible and did some warm-up dynamic stretches as described in Runners World and I think they helped - I don't want to walk for 5 mins, I want to leave the house like a gazelle. 

4.38 km 

I did stop running when my calf really kicked off so possibly it would have been 5k if I'd got home. 

6m 46 per km so that is fine by me. The goal (kind of) of doing 5k in 30 mins feels like a long shot. And I'm not that bothered.

I'm still out of breath on the hills but I guess that's exercise for you

Couch to 5k: week 9 Runs 25 - 26 - 27 WHOOP!!!!

Run 25: really very unpleasant and overly challenging. I thought I'd give myself a treat and run around the downs - not done that for more than a year. It's such a palaver cycling up there but that's basically on me. If there is another time it'll be smoother.

So I set off running and it felt like hard work, like I didn't have much energy. And it got worse. The very gentle hills seem insurmountable to my aching lungs. (my legs and various aches and pains were OK though)

Towards the end, when was desperate for Laura to tell me there are just 5 minutes left, I slowed down to the 'not quite walking' pace and just crawled back to my bike. I was so out of breath, so tired, and so uncomfortable (for another reason which I will not elaborate on), that I had thoughts of giving up - on this run and the whole programme (never been known for my resilience)

But I rationalised the possible reasons for my alarming loss of fitness. Mainly that I spent the weekend eating and drinking too much  - never a good thing. Plus the Downs is all off-road which is harder than pavements. (I'm ignoring the fact that the local route is about 50% off-road...) And it is very hot today. 

But I won't give up with just 2 more runs to go, that would be a waste. And next time I'll stick to the route I've been using round here and hope that today was just an odd day. 

I think I hit the 5k mark (again, failed to use mapmyrun properly)

And the average pace (which included a bit of walking ) was 6m 42s per km (so maybe my extra 'speed' is why I felt so wrecked?) 

Best split was 6m 16s which is insane for me... 

Run 26: Second to last run - and it was so much better than the last one. Thank goodness. It was the usual route but with some extra twists to get the distance. And I did it. I still don't care for even the slightest hills, but that is where the magic happens, right? 

My left Achilles is a little sore - really hope it doesn't develop into anything more serious because I don't want to stop this momentum. 

I'VE ONLY BLOODY DONE IT! 

Run 27 pros: new running bra (very comfy); running shorts (ugly but not their fault)

cons: slightly achy Achilles; still finding 'hills' harder than they should be; haven't quite found a 5k route. 

4.47km  6m 54 per km

I feel really happy to have done this. As long as the Achilles thing doesn't get any worse, I believe I can keep running 3 times a week for about 30 mins or 5k. It makes the Parkrun seem like an achievement. 

It might change once the weather stops being so perfect. I've been lucky that most of the training has been in nice weather - there is a lot of rain to come. Perhaps a waterproof phone cover? 

I really am going for it... 

Rambling blog entry.

Couch to 5k: week #8 runs 22 - 23 - 24

 run 22

Well - another step up: today's run was 28 minutes. 

And it was fine. I mean, really, it was fine. I added a little extra distance to get nearer the full 5k and according to Mapmyrun it was 4.57km but I didn't start it at the right point so it was possibly shorter than that. But getting closer. Incidentally, it's telling me my average speed was 7m 1s per km which included some walking so I'm OK with that. 

So, here I am.

I think what helps is not drinking and eating far too much before going for a run. Who knew? 

Run 23

So - I did it again, as in, I forgot to start the app so I walked for 5+ mins, realised my horrible mistake and began the 5-minute warm-up walk after 5 mins or so. So I basically ran for 33 mins, adding on some extra distance. Well done me, right? 

And it was OK. I feel like I've turned a corner and got just a little bit fitter. I could be fooling myself of course but I didn't feel particularly out of breath and my hurty bits didn't hurt so much. 

Mapmyrun says 5.59 km but that included the walk at the start but I will count this as a 5k run. Yay!

For the next one - Sunday probably - I will do the mapmyrun properly and see where I get to. But, excitingly, I'm planning to do that one on the downs. I have a weird short shift on Sunday morning and can then cycle up the endless hill (so I won't include the warmup) and see how far I get. I used to love running up there. Why did I stop? One of the main reasons, even though it sounds utterly trivial, is that I have to go through a stupid procedure to get out of the house on my bike. It's a sorry tale of missing locks and walks through the house. 

But - yay - well done me. 

This is despite this list of current injuries to my poor feet:

1. the toe operation. It's healed and is doing what it was supposed to, as in eliminating the stabbing pain in the joint

2. the arthritis remaining in the joint: mostly it's fine but it causes pain elsewhere

3. I dropped scaffolding on my 2nd toe yesterday and gouged out a chunk near my nail - it's still a bit weepy. Lovely

4. new sandals - the blisters have more or less healed 

5. Barge injury - the hole in my left heel is closing but it's still painful to put weight through

Feet are so important: I don't feel I can walk with any grace or elegance at the mo. I know I will never wear heels again. Luckily I like a chunky sole...  

Fastest split was 6m 41s per km.

Run 24: Probably OK - don't remember it. But I know I felt good afterwards.

couch to 5k: week #7 runs 19 - 20 - 21

So this week we've - I've - been doing - smashing - 25-minute long runs. And they feel very long. I'm craving the midpoint bell and Laura telling me I'm doing ever so well... But the psychology of waiting for permission to stop, to slow down, whatever, is very strong. 

So - that's week 7 done.

I'm having to leave 2 lots of 2 day rests for various reasons - one being I've booked body pump next week and I think doing those classes is more beneficial than sticking to the single rest day. So, that. 

This week's middle run was along the Kennet and Avon Canal, which is utterly beautiful. We were lucky with the gorgeous spring weather of course but the flat towpath was just heavenly to run along.

Or it would have been if, 1. I hadn't been gorging on full English breakfasts and fish and chips for lunch and copious amounts of wine, and 2. I hadn't gouged out a chunk of my heel by sliding off the boat roof onto the door lock. Luckily it was on a bit of my heel which doesn't get a lot of pressure when running - but it really hurts when I walk. So that was a challenge... 

Next week it's 28-minute runs. 3 times a week. Unheard of. Will it trigger some kind of running mania in me? Or will it be another of my short-lived passions which I will get to the end of and never do again? At least with this one, there is an obvious benefit of keeping going with it.