Unremarkable.
4.63 km (including the warm-up walk at the beginning)
7m 26s per km. Again, including the warm-up walk at the beginning.
So getting towards the 5k and I felt OK. Bit lungy but that surely is part of the reason one runs - to get fitter which requires effort. The e-word. Not my favourite.
Anyway - I did it, no drama
So - my legs felt heavy this morning. Probably because I am overweight and they carry that extra burden... But I'd committed (somehow - there are no consequences or rewards for doing this) (Oh, hang on - isn't it all about rewards and consequences?) to going out this morning. My thinking was (I overthink it, it's why running's a rare occurrence. Note that during the c25k there was no thinking involved and I just went out and did it. Lesson) that the weather is about to turn unusually stormy later this morning and I'd cancelled a Body Pump class so I had to do something.
It was mainly ok - a bit out of breath like I should be and there was the heavy legs thing going on but mainly OK. Until I think about my Achilles: it was a little bit hurty all the way round, but it didn't get (much) worse. It's better when I concentrate on my knees rather than my feet. I'm trying to remember the Malcolm Balk session when I'm sure he said something about visualising your knees moving in a circle rather than your feet hitting the ground... It's all a bit vague now - probably about 15 years ago. Just after the 1/2 marathon (2006) but it did help a bit. Calfs are fine.
This new normal thing - 5 minute warm-up walk, do the run trying not to hurt my Achilles, then icing for 10 mins while I do this.
4.14km
6m 39s per km - wait, that's insane. I was running slowly. I do not think that's right but I didn't do anything different. I mean - yay!
It is a beautiful morning, I awoke refreshed and have a nice new top. I am living the dream.
It was OK - I did the 5-minute warm-up walk which I can only assume is the secret to this even though I'd rather leave the house running, but you know, getting old means compromise...
My Achilles was the worry - it's still aching, a niggle, nothing serious but there is the constant thought that it would trigger my calf muscles and I'd end up walking back feeling wretched. But - it didn't get any worse (well, maybe a little bit) and I've given it 10 mins of ice so fingers crossed it will be fine for 2 runs a week (building up to 3, let's not be unambitious here)
And I felt OK lung-wise. Not super fit but nothing like the gasping red-faced loser I have been.
So, am I now a 'runner'? Looking at the stats, I'm more of a jogger but that's more than a couch potato.
3.88km
6m 51 per km
win #1 I went for a run
win #2 I have just got in and it's just started tanking down
win #3 my Achilles doesn't hurt much more than it did before
win #4 my calf muscles are fine
So I'm being Ms Sensible and having 10 mins of ice on my left leg, not that it's injured, just to give it a treat for getting me out there for 30 mins
4.14km, 7min 10 per km
Basically a brisk walk then, but that's not the point is it. I did the 5 min walk and ran very slowly. Not too out of breath which was nice and I was very aware of how my leg was feeling. Perhaps over-thinking it? Well, whatever I am back without feeling depressed or angry about how my body lets me down.
I'm getting old, I'm not going to beat myself up about not being able to run like I could when I did the 1/2 marathon: perhaps if I'd kept up with running then I'd be an impressively fit ultra runner. I might not have had stress fractures. Etc.
There is no point in dwelling on such things.
I went for a run and came back relatively uninjured.
Win
