Is it really that long since my last run???

Probably. Although in my head it was far more recent than June... 

Anyway - out I went, having put the kit out last night, which always seems to help. Nudging, it's called. And it was OK. I did stop a couple of times; once because my right calf was aching ominously but nothing came of it; and once because I was puffed out and psychologically predisposed to just walking for a bit (it was really hard to get going again, but I made it all the rest of the way round) 

5.39km

7m 23s per km.

I'm seriously not going to beat myself up about being slow. 

I've put on 2-3 lbs since I lost a load of weight last year, and that makes me annoyed with myself. There is no reason it's happened other than I eat and drink too much to keep the weight off. And so I'm now back on the intermittent fasting regime and trying not to over-indulge on the non-fasting days (which is where I come unstuck: in my head, a fasting day simply cancels out the overindulgence...)

So that is where I am today. 

End of this chapter...

Nothing dramatic, just that the car I've been borrowing/renting is going back tomorrow which means I won't have a car. Which means today was the last chance for a while to drive up to the downs for a run. 

Which I did.

Yay - well done me, etc.

It's been a very long time since the last run, even though I came back off that one with: 'oh there's no reason not to keep doing this' and 'oh, I'll be doing this far more often now I've got out there'.

And then I just don't go. Until today 

It was nice to get a change of scenery even if I was less than spectacular. 

Things I noticed as I ran:

1. there are more and more van dwellers on the downs. 

2. The travellers are back

3. It was the Race for Life today and I wondered if I could manage a 10k now. (Not without a lot of training) 

4. I ran through the weird foresty area and met a woman coming out of the undergrowth having obviously just been for a wee. Awkward

5. Ladyboys of Bangkok are still up there - I have absolutely no desire at all to see the show

6. There were a good dozen birders out there with their massive lenses taking shots of a peregrine falcon, which in fairness, was pretty spectacular. How do they all get there? Is there a birders whatsapp soo when one sees something interesting they all flock down there to see it? They looked pretty happy though. 

5.29km

7m 06s per km

I did slow down on the foresty area and I'm out of shape... 

 

I might have walked a little bit...

... but it's OK

Again I cancelled an exercise class and went for a run instead. I should do weights, I know but I have a huge barrier in place preventing me from just going to the gym. It's called fear. Or laziness

Anyway - it was an ok run. My right calf felt knotty but I think it's ok, and my hamstrings are a bit twitchy. But I'm 60 and I'm more surprised that I still think I can run than the fact it's a bit hurty at times.

5.23km

7m 11s per km

Experimental

'Experimental' in the sense that yesterday I cancelled today's exercise class with the promise that I would go for a run instead, no matter what. This morning I had regrets. But I'd put my kit out last night, so I slipped it on and went out. 

And it was the same as it ever was. 

So, in conclusion, I'm never going to 'want' to go for a run, but I should do it anyway as there is everything to gain. 

5.83 km

6m 59s per km

40' 44"

I think I need to aim for a 45 minute run which is the optimum duration for cardio exercise. So aim for 6km? 

But where shall I go? Perhaps next time I will go to the downs and see how that feels.

That wasn't so bad, was it?

Other than collecting a smidge of animal poo on my shoe it was OK

I didn't overthink it, just went out. The mornings are getting lighter which will help with the get-up-and-go nature of this running lark. 

Niggles

1. Calfs borderline dodgy but I think I've got away with it. So much for the daily balance exercise building up my lower leg strength.

2. Left knee - started off a bit hurty and weak but got over itself

3. arthritic foot was ok - I mean, it's arthritic so it's never gong to get any better but I am so grateful that it's no worse than it is. 

5.67km

7m 13s per km

Slow, but achievement level: gold

Better

I know I've put on a couple of pounds since I was at my happy weight - but it's only 2lbs, right? I mean, I was over 9 stone this time last year and now I'm hovering around 8st 2 - so as long as I don't totally mess up, I'm ok. 

This morning I spent an age chewing over the pros and cons of heading out - but then I just did it. So glad I did.

5.22 km

6m 57s per km

So that's all good. Slight niggle in my right knee but everything else seems to be holding up.

And - like every time I actually get out there - I come back and tell myself there is no reason not to keep this up, 2 or 3 times a week, and reap the benefits. Then I leave it for 3 - 4 weeks because... 

1. lazy

2. weather

3. other stuff to do

the list goes on 

Not so good

It's me. I'm down. Putting weight back on and feeling old.

5.19km

7m 12s per km

2025: run #2

Cold.

I still can't imagine wanting to go for a run because I love it rather than because it's free exercise. But that's just me. Maybe one day... 

Right knee hurts a bit; left knee not so much. Other than that I'm OK. Very out of breath on the 'hill' but I didn't stop, so well done me. 

I actually went further than planned which had been to do the same little route as last time - but I got into 'Tesco walk' mode and headed onto the path before I noticed my huge mistake: this was the uphill way round. Nit But I did it.

5.06km

7m 16s per km

Not too bad - but my right knee might argue differently. If it were sentient. 

Happy New Year

Yes, this really is the first run I've been on this year. In fact, the first one since 24 October.

So, yeah, I'm not really living up to my intention of 'being a runner'.

Excuses? I have had hMPV with added insanely sore throat and sinuses. It's been hanging around for 2 weeks now and I'm still coughing (even more so since I got back from my run)

I say 'run'. It was a test, that's all and it was a challenge. There was a junior Parkrun on Horfield Common and I felt outpaced.  My lungs are not at anything like full capacity thanks to the virus but I was proper struggling to get enough air. I can't do hills, even the gentle slopes were killing me. 

Anyhoo

3.69km

7m 11 s per km

I'm ok with that. My head said I'll do that 3 times a week and build up again. Maybe one day I will do it without any drama. This morning's drama was me taking about 5 mins to fasten my bra: there has to be a better system (but not the ones with a zip up the front - practical but dreadfully ugly)

This is fine

Just went out and did it. No drama. 

the only new and exciting thing was that I tied my hair back in bunches. Not trying to be cute, but I think they suit me better. And I am all about looking my best while wheezing and being red-faced in public.

I listened to a Radio One mix at the beginning but apart from 'Paradise City' I wasn't feeling it so I listened to 'Cautionary Tales' from Radio Four about Ponzi and pyramid schemes. Am I dull?

5.66km (found a new route which adds a little bit on and doesn't have hills) (yay)

7 min per km

quite happy with all that.

I did walk a few steps because my knee was a bit hurty and needed a quick reset but I generally didn't feel out of breath enough to want to stop. This is despite having a bottle of wine yesterday... But I think the 350 calories I've burned this morning might counteract the 3 cookies I had yesterday. And the toastie. And everything else. Not that I'm a bit obsessed with my weight (I've lost 0.2 pounds since September but that was after a rise of 0.2 since August. Not that I'm weighing myself every day and recording it...) Every fraction of a pound seems significant despite having lost 14 over the last few months. Now that I'm used to feeling lighter, the achievement doesn't feel so immense.

Rambling now - this is about running: I did a run and I feel good about it. 

Up on the Downs

Now I have a car again (well, it's not quite mine, but I have custody of it until next June) I drove into work to do a 1/2 shift, leaving me plenty of time to scoot up to the Downs and go for a run. It feels good being back up there: flat, not too much traffic, scenic - what's not to like? I did feel tired which I hope was due to the lack of food (nothing since supper yesterday) rather than being dismally unfit.

I was happy enough - but the whole unfit thing is annoying. I know it doesn't just happen while sitting on the sofa, that it requires effort, but I'm still taking it personally and would rather not have to work at it. But there I am - pushing 60 (9 weeks to go) and I'm running. A bit.

5.44 km (it's quite flat so I go further...) 

6m 42s per km (again - it is quite flat!)

Well done me. 

Well, that went better...

It was a lovely morning - crisp, high pressure - and I'd promised I'd go running. No pressure.

And it was fine. Just the usual stuff of aching legs, a tiny niggle in my right calf (didn't amount to anything, yay) and the knowledge that I'm getting older and this will never get easier.  (Is that true though? I mean, if I train more it will get easier - or at least not harder. And psychologically now I've had a good run I feel more likely to go again soon... So, I take it back) (But not the bit about getting older)

My Sweaty Betty (bum-sculpting and expensive, but I got them off Ebay so not so pricey) leggings have gone a bit loose. I'm putting it down to the elastic perishing as they're quite old - but the other reason is I've lost enough weight to make a difference. A stone. From just over 9 to just over 8 stone. I know it's on my scales, first thing in the morning etc etc, but the objective fact is I've lost a stone and it feels great. I will never have what could be subjectively judged to have a good figure - but I am happier with the way I look now than I have been for a long time. 

And that makes me happy.

As I hurtle towards my 60th birthday I will take the time to appreciate my good fortune in life and make sure I don't fritter it away by putting the weight back on and spending even longer on the sofa watching Suits... 

Today's run

4.94 km (so annoyed I didn't make it to 5km...)

7m 01s per km (not unhappy with that)

Mistake

Well - there is no joy in running with a hangover. I had hoped I could run it off, but there was no way that was going to happen. I had to walk several times and I felt awful.

Lesson learned.

4.80 km

7m 29 per km

Summer running...

No. of runs since seeing a badger: 1 

It was a glorious morning - the first balloons in ages drifted over the garden and I had my kit out ready to jog off into the sun.

Nice.

Apart from the effort and the general pain and out of breathness. But hey ho.

5.02 km

6m 54s per km

I'm definitely getting better and losing 11 lbs has helped enormously - a few more to go and perhaps I will up my pace and distance even more. It doesn't really matter though - getting out there and doing it is what counts. 

I had a pizza with extra chorizo and a whole bar of chocolate last night with the thought that I'd run it off this morning - but I am very well aware of that fallacy. The rule of thumb is that a mile of running burns off 100 calories - I must have had 1500 minimum and didn't run 15 miles. But I feel good this morning, so well done me. 

Badgers

For some reason my last post didn't include the episode with the badger. I was 1/2 way around the Tesco's path when I saw an RSPCA officer. Someone had called them to see a badger. I've never seen a badger before - this one was sadly in the throes of dying, it was fitting and looked very wrong. 

That's badger #1. Today's badger was dead on the pavement outside 133 Bishop Road. At first I thought it was a cat warming its tummy in the sun, but no, it was stone cold dead, on its back, attracting the attention of schoolchildren. I've reported it to the council who have promised it'll be cleared within 2 days. So.

Anyway, I have lost another few pounds, about 11 in total - well done me - and I think it's made running a little bit easier. Not much - I haven't exactly been pounding the pavements so there is little to compare it with, but I didn't stop to walk so I'm pleased about that. 

3.63km

7m 11 sec per km

Short because I didn't want to overdo it (lol) and I stopped for the badger.

So that's all good. 

Imperative

Long time no run. It was time to get back out there and see how I get on. No pressure. And I've been on holiday for 10 days so there was no running and no holding back on the food and wine. 

When does the feeling of 'I need to go for a run' kick in? There are people who go for a quick run whenever they can fit one in, who feel wrong if they don't run, who run to help them relax. Who are these people?

I run because exercise is essential to healthy living, it's free, you can take it with you. 

It's also awful: the pain, the inclement weather, the expense of decent kit (that last one is more of an option...) 

Weight loss - now there is something I'm getting good at. So far, the 5:2 diet has lost me about 1/2 a stone with about 5 lbs still to go. It's not that easy being hungry all the time during the fasting days but there is always the knowledge that the next day you can have what you want (within reason). The difficulty is always in keeping it off - but if I stick with the regime, I can cut back on the fasting days and it will be fine, right? That will be the test.

So I'm on a fasting day today which means I had enough to eat yesterday and so have a little bit more energy for a run than I did last time: shall we see how I did?

4.27km

7m 19s per km

Pretty poor in truth - but I'm ok with that. 

Not sure about this lark

So I'm being very sensible and actually taking weight-loss seriously rather than hoping for the best. I've done 2 days in a 5:2 diet regime which I am pretty sure works (as long as you don't go mad on your non-fasting days which could prove my downfall...

Yesterday was a fasting day (well, 400 calories) and it was fine. I told myself last night that I would be  running this morning and sure enough I did; first thing after the usual exercises I headed out into the beautiful sunny morning. 

It was ok. Can I blame fasting for my lack of energy forcing me to walk for a bit? It would make sense I guess but I do think I should have been able to keep going. Once the idea of walking comes into my head, I come over all feeble and just slow right down. 

And now I feel knackered. The bursitis, if that's what it is, keeps hurting (but doesn't get any worse) and my feet are aching now, 5 hours later. But my calfs and Achilles are ok - yay, whoop whoop etc

4.99 km

7m 14 per km

Unbuttered Parsnips

That wasn't a great experience to be honest. Perhaps my attitude of 'well at least I got out for a run' doesn't butter any parsnips... 

I'm overweight and unfit. I don't have the body strength to see me through the run - I had to walk about 4 times. 

5.04km

7m 28s per km

Don't know how I managed over 5km, but apparently I did. And the pace reflects how much I had to walk. It's horrible trying to get back into running after a walk - there is a huge hike in effort required. Mentally as well as physically

So, there it is: a run done - well done me - but unbuttered parsnips. 

pain and effort

More effort than pain to be honest. As usual, the hardest part was getting going. Well, that and the effort of getting up the hills with no breath. But hey ho. Another run under my belt. A very long belt as I have lost no weight. 

I was listening to BBC Radio 6 Music and it was good. They played a fantastic track from the new Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album: I feel a Spotify playlist coming on. 

4.5km

6m 54s per km 

It's my own fault

Putting on weight and not doing enough exercise: and I wonder why I felt so exhausted today. I had to walk. I had no breath. I was barely jogging at times. 

But I went for a run.

Now I'm wondering if the achievement of 'going for a run' is really enough to make me feel good about myself. I don't feel good about myself. Time is taking its toll, but I am grateful I've got this far and haven't totally given up. 

4.2km

7m 7s per km