34 mins and 3.37miles which is more than 10 mins a mile. There was a large hill involved as I was going round the downs. I guess I shouldn't be too disappointed. I'm never going to relive the giddy heights of doing the Bristol 10k in under an hour...
Not unhappy with the fact I've been for a run. Slightly miffed about the knackeredness I'm now feeling. That was made considerably worse by spending 2 1/2 hours this afternoon digging the garden, but hey ho...
I did a yoga session yesterday which might account for the ache in my left hip. I hope that was the reason for it...
And now I feel like I need a long lie down.
Before running another twice this week of course. And 3 times a week for the forseeable...
6 May 2012
3 May 2012
How long????
I haven't set foot on the long road to running for an awfully long time now.
And the longer I leave it the worse it gets.
But I know the worst part is the getting going: put on the shoes, plug in the ipod and open the front door - after that it's easy
(If I can convince myself that's true I might stand a chance of going for a run at some point in the near future...)
And the longer I leave it the worse it gets.
But I know the worst part is the getting going: put on the shoes, plug in the ipod and open the front door - after that it's easy
(If I can convince myself that's true I might stand a chance of going for a run at some point in the near future...)
17 Apr 2012
Justified
After yesterday's enormous effort in running for 31 mins, I actually feel ok today. Legs not hurting, achilles quite benign.
Perhaps I can run further, longer etc etc and perhaps - just perhaps - I will get to use my smashing Merrell minimalist running shoes for something other than cycling to work in...
Oh, I must get a loose top to disguise the wobbly bits. More shopping-related incentives to run more!
Perhaps I can run further, longer etc etc and perhaps - just perhaps - I will get to use my smashing Merrell minimalist running shoes for something other than cycling to work in...
Oh, I must get a loose top to disguise the wobbly bits. More shopping-related incentives to run more!
16 Apr 2012
puff pant wheeze
3.27 miles
30mins 58 secs
9.48 mins per mile which is about 9 mins 30 a mile - not too bad considering:
1. I'm still doing funny running
2. I haven't really run any distance for about 6 months
so really, I'm not too downhearted, except that I was so knackered and I felt like I'd eaten a huge sandwich just before setting off, but the fact is I hadn't.
I think I'm just very very very unfit compared with how I was running before
Also - I whacked my kneecap over the weekend and it is now excrutiating to go upstairs - I'm hoping it's only to do with the kneecap-whacking rather than any lingering problem with running
So - after a mere 2 and a bit weeks, I've done a run. Hurrah!!!
30mins 58 secs
9.48 mins per mile which is about 9 mins 30 a mile - not too bad considering:
1. I'm still doing funny running
2. I haven't really run any distance for about 6 months
so really, I'm not too downhearted, except that I was so knackered and I felt like I'd eaten a huge sandwich just before setting off, but the fact is I hadn't.
I think I'm just very very very unfit compared with how I was running before
Also - I whacked my kneecap over the weekend and it is now excrutiating to go upstairs - I'm hoping it's only to do with the kneecap-whacking rather than any lingering problem with running
So - after a mere 2 and a bit weeks, I've done a run. Hurrah!!!
29 Mar 2012
hot and sweaty
It's been very warm these last few days - for the end of March it's been positively balmy. So going for a run was only going to be a good idea in the early hours.
Like 9am...
I did nearly 35 mins this morning and it was hard work - hence the title of this post. And my right achilles is aching which is a bit of a worry, but I think it's a grumble rather than an injury, so I'm going to rest it until Sunday or possibly Tuesday
(this is horrible - I have drops of sweat running down my face and they're as irritating as te cat's whiskers when she gets too close...)
3 things I have learned from this morning's run:
1. my feet are bicycle wheels - they're only in contact with the ground at the very bottom, directly underneath - so the movement is to push back from that point and that brings my knees up like they're supposed to be.
2. my right leg is wrong: it's doing the old thing of trying to reach out in front of me with and that's what's causing the problem, I think. When I'm concentrating I can make it do it properly, and it makes it ache a bit which suggests I had been doing it wrong - perhaps I need to go back to the osteopath and get balanced out again. Or just do all those stretches I'm supposed to do...
3. Don't eat before a run. I had 2 veggie sausages and 2 poached eggs about an hour before I went out and it was too much too soon: about 15 mins in I could feel this food just sitting in my stomach waiting to be digested and being disappointed.
So I have an idea - this Tuesday I'm going to the dentist at 930 - so I'll go for a run first - I can get out of the house about 7am for 30 mins and be back in time for a shower and breakkie and then walk to work via the dentist. And I can do this twice a week - Tues and Thurs and walk to work those days cos I can leave later than when I'm cycling and stopping off at the gym. And I will run before I've had anything to eat.
And by the end of the week I will have lost 10lbs and will be a happy bunny.
Yay
Like 9am...
I did nearly 35 mins this morning and it was hard work - hence the title of this post. And my right achilles is aching which is a bit of a worry, but I think it's a grumble rather than an injury, so I'm going to rest it until Sunday or possibly Tuesday
(this is horrible - I have drops of sweat running down my face and they're as irritating as te cat's whiskers when she gets too close...)
3 things I have learned from this morning's run:
1. my feet are bicycle wheels - they're only in contact with the ground at the very bottom, directly underneath - so the movement is to push back from that point and that brings my knees up like they're supposed to be.
2. my right leg is wrong: it's doing the old thing of trying to reach out in front of me with and that's what's causing the problem, I think. When I'm concentrating I can make it do it properly, and it makes it ache a bit which suggests I had been doing it wrong - perhaps I need to go back to the osteopath and get balanced out again. Or just do all those stretches I'm supposed to do...
3. Don't eat before a run. I had 2 veggie sausages and 2 poached eggs about an hour before I went out and it was too much too soon: about 15 mins in I could feel this food just sitting in my stomach waiting to be digested and being disappointed.
So I have an idea - this Tuesday I'm going to the dentist at 930 - so I'll go for a run first - I can get out of the house about 7am for 30 mins and be back in time for a shower and breakkie and then walk to work via the dentist. And I can do this twice a week - Tues and Thurs and walk to work those days cos I can leave later than when I'm cycling and stopping off at the gym. And I will run before I've had anything to eat.
And by the end of the week I will have lost 10lbs and will be a happy bunny.
Yay
27 Mar 2012
Run like the wind
Or a gentle breeze at any rate...
So I did another 1/2 an hour this morning - and I know it was that long cos I used the nike+ thing. It's far from being calibrated properly (8min 15 per mile - hello???) but at least it gives me a countdown for 30mins.
But I don't like running and waiting for the mins to be counted down - I am going to use the treadmill at the gym tomorrow and get it right. I do fairy steps now obviously.
But the run was ok. And I am going to keep it up and try to move up to an hour at a time and hopefully get the 10km feeling I used to have. If I can get there I think I should be able to lose weight and keep it off. And not knacker my knees along the way...
So I did another 1/2 an hour this morning - and I know it was that long cos I used the nike+ thing. It's far from being calibrated properly (8min 15 per mile - hello???) but at least it gives me a countdown for 30mins.
But I don't like running and waiting for the mins to be counted down - I am going to use the treadmill at the gym tomorrow and get it right. I do fairy steps now obviously.
But the run was ok. And I am going to keep it up and try to move up to an hour at a time and hopefully get the 10km feeling I used to have. If I can get there I think I should be able to lose weight and keep it off. And not knacker my knees along the way...
20 Mar 2012
sometimes I surprise myself
Not often, it's true.
But I did run today - about 1/2 an hour - and it was OK. My right heel/calf is aching a bit but in an ok way, not feeling like it's about to pop.
And I am so unfit - there were a few hills in there and I was struggling. A lot.
Going between the toe-strike and heel-strike seems to be OK - I know the going downhill thing will be tough to get working once I'm converted. I had a thought that I might perhaps use the treadmill at the gym to get me going in the barefoot shoes - start with 5 mins perhaps and build up from there.
More time to spend trying to stop the march of time...
And I was trying to make sure I didn't run too long (or, more accurately, too short) a time and had to keep looking at the clock on my ipod. Of course once I got back I discovered there was a stopwatch and a time in the thing. Should have known that really.
But I did run today - about 1/2 an hour - and it was OK. My right heel/calf is aching a bit but in an ok way, not feeling like it's about to pop.
And I am so unfit - there were a few hills in there and I was struggling. A lot.
Going between the toe-strike and heel-strike seems to be OK - I know the going downhill thing will be tough to get working once I'm converted. I had a thought that I might perhaps use the treadmill at the gym to get me going in the barefoot shoes - start with 5 mins perhaps and build up from there.
More time to spend trying to stop the march of time...
And I was trying to make sure I didn't run too long (or, more accurately, too short) a time and had to keep looking at the clock on my ipod. Of course once I got back I discovered there was a stopwatch and a time in the thing. Should have known that really.
11 Mar 2012
28 minutes!!!
I possibly went about 3 miles - very slowly.
And I was in my old running shoes so I could change from one running style to the other - which was great on the downhill bits as I could land on my heels and not feel too slippery underfoot.
But it was bloody hard work.
I think I've lost fitness - running fitness at least - from not running. (Kind of obvious...) and 1/2 an hour was a killer.
But I think it was the right thing to do. I need to get running fit again and I know I'm barefoot running for about 1/2 the time - although the shorter extension for my calfs in those shoes is protecting my achilles, if not really improving my technique. I guess the thing to do is to put in the occasional 5-minutes on the merrell shoes every week or so and build up on that.
I called in at Moti in Bristol and they basically told me what I already knew but didn't want to face up to - that it's going to take a long time to get back to where I was before, running 10k on a Sunday morning.
But I will get there as the alternative is descending into fat-lassedness. Well, fatter-lassedness anyway...
And I was in my old running shoes so I could change from one running style to the other - which was great on the downhill bits as I could land on my heels and not feel too slippery underfoot.
But it was bloody hard work.
I think I've lost fitness - running fitness at least - from not running. (Kind of obvious...) and 1/2 an hour was a killer.
But I think it was the right thing to do. I need to get running fit again and I know I'm barefoot running for about 1/2 the time - although the shorter extension for my calfs in those shoes is protecting my achilles, if not really improving my technique. I guess the thing to do is to put in the occasional 5-minutes on the merrell shoes every week or so and build up on that.
I called in at Moti in Bristol and they basically told me what I already knew but didn't want to face up to - that it's going to take a long time to get back to where I was before, running 10k on a Sunday morning.
But I will get there as the alternative is descending into fat-lassedness. Well, fatter-lassedness anyway...
5 Mar 2012
Feeling braver
Well, the acute pain seems to have gone but I;m very nervous about going for a run. Even in the old, padded shoes.
But if I don't go, it will take longer and longer to get back into the running and any half-baked plans I might have for 10k runs this year will just wither and die...
So, the plan is... there is no plan actually, but one day very soon I will haul myself out there and see how I get on.
I really really hope I can turn into a barefoot runner, wearing my nice, minimalist shoes, loping gracefully round the roads of Bristol... (that last bit - probably a bit too much to hope for...)
But if I don't go, it will take longer and longer to get back into the running and any half-baked plans I might have for 10k runs this year will just wither and die...
So, the plan is... there is no plan actually, but one day very soon I will haul myself out there and see how I get on.
I really really hope I can turn into a barefoot runner, wearing my nice, minimalist shoes, loping gracefully round the roads of Bristol... (that last bit - probably a bit too much to hope for...)
29 Feb 2012
Still hurts
It's not good. The only cure is rest. I did the calf exercise at the gym this morning and it made my achilles hurt so I stopped it.
So what happens next? I'm going to pop into Moti to see if they have any advice - I haven't run since last time cos that seemed to be a bad idea. But I don't want to stop altogether and I don't want to go back to the old style. Perhaps that's not the worst thing that can happen.
Bit down, in truth. It's a kind of wake-up thing telling me I'm getting old and it'll take a long time to heal and then a long time again to get back to the level I was at before. (which wasn't very impressive frankly...)
So what happens next? I'm going to pop into Moti to see if they have any advice - I haven't run since last time cos that seemed to be a bad idea. But I don't want to stop altogether and I don't want to go back to the old style. Perhaps that's not the worst thing that can happen.
Bit down, in truth. It's a kind of wake-up thing telling me I'm getting old and it'll take a long time to heal and then a long time again to get back to the level I was at before. (which wasn't very impressive frankly...)
26 Feb 2012
Poxy new running shoes
OK it's not the fault of the shoes but I am hurting in the achilles dept and it's cos of the shoes. I think the only way to progress here is to run in my old shoes (but barefoot stylee) and hope to build up some sort of stamina like that.
I've heard it can take 6 months to get as runny as you were in old shoes doing this - and I'm beginning to believe it. I'd thought initially that it was the calf muscles that were the deciding factor, but I guess it's more about Achilles - it certainly is for me.
It's very annoying cos I know this is the better way to run, and I've spent a shed load of money getting the right shoes for the job. It feels harsh to think that I'm still gong to have to go through all this pain when I was hoping for a fast change.
So, at some point this week I will drag out my newish old shoes and go for a longer barefoot run in them. Seems a bit arse about face but there you go...
I've heard it can take 6 months to get as runny as you were in old shoes doing this - and I'm beginning to believe it. I'd thought initially that it was the calf muscles that were the deciding factor, but I guess it's more about Achilles - it certainly is for me.
It's very annoying cos I know this is the better way to run, and I've spent a shed load of money getting the right shoes for the job. It feels harsh to think that I'm still gong to have to go through all this pain when I was hoping for a fast change.
So, at some point this week I will drag out my newish old shoes and go for a longer barefoot run in them. Seems a bit arse about face but there you go...
21 Feb 2012
running backwards
Well, not exactly running backwards, just a feeling of going backwards...
My right achilles seems to be aching and I think it's a good idea not to run until it's better. But I don't know how that's going to take.
I ran on Sunday morning (not very far but a bit faster cos I was running late) (Running late... I'll get my coat) and it's now Tuesday morning. Admittedly it is easing quite a bit and I guess I'm just making excuses not to run.
Which is a bad state of mind really.
My right achilles seems to be aching and I think it's a good idea not to run until it's better. But I don't know how that's going to take.
I ran on Sunday morning (not very far but a bit faster cos I was running late) (Running late... I'll get my coat) and it's now Tuesday morning. Admittedly it is easing quite a bit and I guess I'm just making excuses not to run.
Which is a bad state of mind really.
14 Feb 2012
Is it getting easier?
Well, I'm going a little bit further every time (up to about 20 mins now - woohoo) - but what I've found is I prefer running uphill - not sure why. I expect there is some mechanical reason for it.
And my feet ache - they're quite painful first thing in the morning, but they do calm down a bit. Perhaps I tie my laces too tight and should allow my footsies to move around a bit more...
The other thing is niggly knees - they're quite hurty going upstairs but once they've been warmed up a bit they're fine...
And I must - must - keep up with the back stretches as my back is getting achy again
These are the ramblings of an ageing person who is in denial, no???
And my feet ache - they're quite painful first thing in the morning, but they do calm down a bit. Perhaps I tie my laces too tight and should allow my footsies to move around a bit more...
The other thing is niggly knees - they're quite hurty going upstairs but once they've been warmed up a bit they're fine...
And I must - must - keep up with the back stretches as my back is getting achy again
These are the ramblings of an ageing person who is in denial, no???
12 Feb 2012
slowly
Well, I've run every day apart from yesterday and Thursday this week.
Is it getting any easier? Hard to say really. No harder, certainly.
There's still a lot of stress going on on my feet, especially the right one (I am generally wonky) which I guess will work its way out eventually.
But I'm still finding it really tough - much harder than I would have hoped. I think I'm not terribly fit at the moment but this is taking the mick.
So the plan is to keep on going for it and I guess eventually I will be back up to my old distance, if not the speed, and hopefully without the various knee and hip niggles which were troubling me before.
Fingers crossed.
Is it getting any easier? Hard to say really. No harder, certainly.
There's still a lot of stress going on on my feet, especially the right one (I am generally wonky) which I guess will work its way out eventually.
But I'm still finding it really tough - much harder than I would have hoped. I think I'm not terribly fit at the moment but this is taking the mick.
So the plan is to keep on going for it and I guess eventually I will be back up to my old distance, if not the speed, and hopefully without the various knee and hip niggles which were troubling me before.
Fingers crossed.
7 Feb 2012
run#1
New shoes, new running style - what could possibly go wrong?
Well, nothing really. I went for 1.1 miles or so to get used to the new shoes and it was OK. Until about 0.1 miles in and it became clear that these shoes weren't going to make this easy.
The old shoes really support your feet - these don't. There is a lot of effort to come out of your feet with these, which makes your feet very tired very quickly. I could feel the ache starting in the back of my calves as well, so after this miniscule run I was quite glad to be stopping.
But I know I will have to keep it up to get over this teething problem.
I know of other people who're switching over - people who are far fitter than I am - and they are also finding it a bit painful. It's a matter of perseverance I think, and not going too far too fast.
I think I can manage that side of it - it's the keeping going for weeks on end which will be the struggle...
Well, nothing really. I went for 1.1 miles or so to get used to the new shoes and it was OK. Until about 0.1 miles in and it became clear that these shoes weren't going to make this easy.
The old shoes really support your feet - these don't. There is a lot of effort to come out of your feet with these, which makes your feet very tired very quickly. I could feel the ache starting in the back of my calves as well, so after this miniscule run I was quite glad to be stopping.
But I know I will have to keep it up to get over this teething problem.
I know of other people who're switching over - people who are far fitter than I am - and they are also finding it a bit painful. It's a matter of perseverance I think, and not going too far too fast.
I think I can manage that side of it - it's the keeping going for weeks on end which will be the struggle...
5 Feb 2012
New Era
So much for this being the cheap option, however...
Anyway - they put me on the treadmill and they felt amazing. In fact it makes you wonder how much the big shoe companies are playing down such things as they want to continue making a fortune from the anti-pronation, complex supporting shoes they've been flogging us for the past generation.
I hope I'm going to use them...
The chap in the shop said it can takes ages to get used to the style, but my treadmill work looked good, like it was coming naturally (that's how it feels) but I know I have to build it up slowly. In truth I'm so out of shape at the mo it'll probably work better for me to build up to the hour-long run over the next couple of months and then perhaps the calfs won't be quite so whingy...
30 Jan 2012
29 Jan 2012
At long last
Well, I have been for a run - bully for me, eh!
I went almost the whole of the long route, but it was about an hour or so, bit longer maybe. And I ran very slowly. At the end, very, very slowly...
Calf-news and they seemed ok. I stretched a bit before and after and although my legs got very tired the calf-things didn't feel like they were being murdered. I'm certain they'll hurt tomorrow but perhaps my fears of the pain are overwrought.
So I felt very pleased with myself when I got in and have fought the urge to replace all the calories I used on the run by stuffing myself.
And now I have to continue with this marvellous effort and repeat it 2 or 3 times a week for the rest of my life...
I went almost the whole of the long route, but it was about an hour or so, bit longer maybe. And I ran very slowly. At the end, very, very slowly...
Calf-news and they seemed ok. I stretched a bit before and after and although my legs got very tired the calf-things didn't feel like they were being murdered. I'm certain they'll hurt tomorrow but perhaps my fears of the pain are overwrought.
So I felt very pleased with myself when I got in and have fought the urge to replace all the calories I used on the run by stuffing myself.
And now I have to continue with this marvellous effort and repeat it 2 or 3 times a week for the rest of my life...
8 Jan 2012
Oh dear...
Went for a deliberately short run this morning - about 1/2 an hour - but my calfs/calves are hurting. They started hurting right from the off, in truth, which is a bit of a worry.
and now, an hour or so later, they're aching.
I don't think it's my achilles as it's too high up, and deep in the muscles.
So what's to do???
I really don't want to stop running - and I don't think I could go back to the old way of running either.
So I have a modest plan to stretch my calfs (I'm going to stick with 'calfs' as 'calves' feels a bit bovine) everyday. Not sure how long this plan will continue, mind.
And the gym calf exercise, I guess, will have to be my friend. And I could do the bunnyhops as well.
How long is this going to take? I just don;t know - I guess I will have to run again next week and see how it feels and if it's getting better, continue with the modest plan and build up the running time?
hmm
Not a very happy bunny, tbh
and now, an hour or so later, they're aching.
I don't think it's my achilles as it's too high up, and deep in the muscles.
So what's to do???
I really don't want to stop running - and I don't think I could go back to the old way of running either.
So I have a modest plan to stretch my calfs (I'm going to stick with 'calfs' as 'calves' feels a bit bovine) everyday. Not sure how long this plan will continue, mind.
And the gym calf exercise, I guess, will have to be my friend. And I could do the bunnyhops as well.
How long is this going to take? I just don;t know - I guess I will have to run again next week and see how it feels and if it's getting better, continue with the modest plan and build up the running time?
hmm
Not a very happy bunny, tbh
6 Jan 2012
A note of caution here...
...my calves/calfs have only just stopped hurting and it's Friday. It's really hard to walk when your calf muscles are screaming at you to sit down and never contemplate running ever again (very eloquent, my calf muscles)
And then at the gym the following day there was the seated calf exercise - well, that was just taking the mick frankly.
Anyway - although in many ways I did enjoy the run, I think I would be better off running less distance, more often. Perhaps starting this weekend...
And then at the gym the following day there was the seated calf exercise - well, that was just taking the mick frankly.
Anyway - although in many ways I did enjoy the run, I think I would be better off running less distance, more often. Perhaps starting this weekend...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)