Cheeky blighters

It was a vile morning but I went out anyway, full of vim and vigour. Made it up to the first high point without any drama.

A young chap asked for my help as he'd been at a friend's house and couldn't find his way to Temple Meads. It's about 2 -3 miles from that point. So I pointed him in the right kind of direction and off he went. I hope he got there OK

When I set off again, my calf muscle was quite painful. Dilemma: do I go on regardless, or accept I need to rest/stretch/strengthen it and wait for it to mend. So I decided to go home, less than a mile away.

Annoying though

But when I stopped the mapmyrun thing, one of the adverts popped up:
'you made that 1.69 mile WALK look easy, why not raise money for cancer research'

1.69 mile WALK.

WALK

I ran (that's RAN) 1.69 miles before the pain started.
OK my pace was 11m 25s a mile which is possibly the very definition of

Perhaps only I will ever know I had run every step of the way

I did it

It was a grizzly morning - that grey rain which just makes you want to stay inside and drink tea.
But on my 'I Am Doing This' list was to go for a run.
So I very much did just that.

It wasn't nice.

My first concern was to keep my phone dry. Just hoped for the best really. It was fine.

Next was the burden of a lack of fitness and a massive arse. I am finding it tough to get my breath back after a gentle slope. It didn't seem to be getting any easier  - but then came the pace update - 9mins 42. I am quite surprised. It totally explains why I was so out of breath - but not why I was running faster...
It meant of course that the run was shorter - just over 30 mins which isn't the idea. I think 45 mins is better. But I could not have run much further this morning.

And I have a calf strain. It wasn't too much but got worse over the last 10 mins or so. Not sure why it's happening - is it something linked with the arthritis?

And I'm writing this standing up at the kitchen table - it's meant to be much better for you, isn't it. I have to think of my massive arse at the p[oint and hopefully, gramme by gramme it will shrink Hopefully to the size it was this time last year before I stupidly put every lb back on

But now I'm back - showered and with the whole day ahead with nothing planned. Just how I like it, tbh.

I am not doing this *hangs head in shame*

That didn't last long. I was honestly going to run this morning but when I felt the remnant of an achilles twinge left over from Friday, I didn't go.

This is the problem with me - the lack of motivation and the belief in my other mantra  'motivation follows action' - another blatant  and oft-proved truism.

So, in the light of 'new year new me' (which has got off to a very shaky start)  I will just get over myself and lose the stone in weight I seem to have put back on (thank you wine and chocolate. And bacon)

So here goes.

I will lose the 10 lbs I regained last year because that will tackle the depression and lack of self confidence. Also, I will embrace running and yoga to become as lithe, (well, as much as a short-arse can be lithe) supple and fit as I feel the person I am is.

Advanced grammar.

It's also pay day at the much-reduced rate thinks to going part-time. It's a massive pay cut. It might be the worst decision I've ever made - or it could make the whole self-improvement thing a doddle.

I hope I can convince myself it's the latter otherwise I will be whiling away my spare time watching Netflix and drinking wine. And that is not the person I believe I am deep down. (Problem is, that person is really, really deep down these days)

This is a wake-up call like no other. (Apart from the last few)

I Am Doing This

'I Am Doing This' is my new mantra.

It's streets head of looking in the mirror and telling myself  'I can do this': it's immediate - it's  already happening.
It works when I haven't even begun to do the thing: a statement of intent as much as a status update.

So that's the new thing

I ran this morning - I didn't want to, in fact I would have found it so very easy to talk myself out of it. I've done that many, many times before. But 'I am doing this' happened and there I was, running. And feeling quite pleased about it. Don't like the hills, but there you go.

Incidentally I hear there is a film about the Ashton Court Park un on BBC Inside Out West on 22 January - it's the story of a family coming together and training for this 5km run. It's awesome.


3.44miles
9m58s a mile

Just lurking under the 10 minute mile. Is that ever going to change? Only if I put my heart and soul into it.

Am I doing this?

Back on track. Kind of.

A not-too-bad run this morning. It was OK. What can I say?

It was very cold and my left index finger was white with shock for a couple of miles but it warmed up.

I started listening to a podcast but gave up – it wasn’t funny enough or clever enough so I bailed and listened to ‘Elsinor’ from BBC. It’s a prequel to Hamlet. If I’d known it was a prequel before I set off it would have made far more sense.

3.35 miles

9m 51s pace

Not very far, not very long. I think I need to up the time to about 45 mins which I understand is the optimum for aerobic fitness. Which means I have to put in more effort. Never something I want to hear… But I am turning into a fatty so perhaps it’s time to step up.

And when I got back there was a squirrel on the bird feeder - urban wildlife! I was hoping for birds... 

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Happy new year!

Yes - I have run every day this year so far.

Enough with the stupid cliches - other than 'new year, new me'

I am cutting my work days to 3 a week - therefore requiring a massive rethink in terms of spending. I'm not sure it's the right thing to do in many ways - other than needing to have a clear out of things which cause me stress - such as work. It's going to be more intense but then there will be more time to decompress - and that is a good thing.

Also, I have literally put on all the weight I lost over the past year or so - 8st 13.4lbs. And I was actually pleased I hadn't broken the 9st level.
Back on the intermittent fasting - and healthier eating - cutting right back on the wine (which has been my major downfall tbh)

So, all that's happening.

But I did run this morning - first time for a while and it felt like it. My hips are aching and the odd bit on the joint next to my buggered big toe joint is giving me cause for concern. Hey ho - there is a light on the toe joint horizon - well, 2 really. One is chasing the cortisol injection to make the thing less painful and the other is a new replacement cartilege treatment (cartiva) - private of course but it might just cure the thing.

3.14 miles
9m 56 pace
Barely average tbh but I am very glad I did it. if it wasn't for the odd toe thing I would mind less about running... 
I also have to keep going to the gym - limited to work days though - 3 days in a row? It's hardly impossible.

So - a plan...
running twice a week - once on Friday or Saturday  morning and Westbury on Monday evening
3 gyms
Yin every day - have done 8 mins today, quite hard work but I think it's a good thing to do. A class of actual yoga is probably good as well - but I don't want to do a full 90 mins - an hour is more than enough

So there you go.
It's 2018 already.
How did that happen..

inspiration

I need some inspiration

It's cold and wet outside.
I over indulged over Christmas.
I feel old and knackered

Although all the above are reasons to go for a run (not to hide away inside and pretend I don't need to take any exercise) my superb rational brain is fighting the logic and I am very much stuck indoors horrified at the antics of my bf. He is out running 19 miles at the start of a tour around the entire coast of Wales. I am impressed by his madness.

But not inspired

Oh, perhaps tomorrow I will do a zombie run... It would feel good to blast out a quick run before the end of the year...

I'm a runner now

I've been for 2 Monday evening runs with the Westbury Harriers and I may go back for more (except for work and Christmas...)
It was surprisingly OK - I mean, I usually avoid running with other people but I found it was fine. Also not knowing the course helped as I did't know where the hills were or how long there was left. So a win, really.
I put myself in the slowest group of course and it was quite easy. So when I do go back I will go up one and challenge myself. Not fond of a challenge really. Hence my rather troubling current situation. But that's for another blog...

Park Run

Didn't do it - I just went on a recce for work. I am planning on doing one though. It's a tough course at Ashton Court: all uphill then a turn and back down the hill. Lovely scenery if you can see it through the red mist.

Zombies are tough

I decided I would go round the downs this morning, just for a change. I reckoned it's about 5k around there which is would-like-to go-to distance these days (it's a work thing)
But I was so unfit.
Note to self - when you've lost the 10+ lbs you wanted to (and felt SO good about) don't just pile it straight back on.
Idiot.
I had to walk 3 times; once cos the zombies made me run too hard and I lost the ability to breathe. And I didn't outrun them once.
It's all very depressing to be honest. I know it's nature and it's not exactly unexpected, but I had no idea it was going to be this hard to get back up to anywhere near the quite feeble levels I was operating at before...

It was more than 5k - nearer 7.2
So, still not at the 5-mile marker.
I will get there though - I feel it's something which will make me feel an awful lot better. It may stave off the depression now I'm off the tablets.

Zombies; ran!

OK - I have a grouse about the app - I can't get it to work while there's music playing. I expect it's my fault, but there you go.
I spent the 1st bit of this morning's run listening to the Stranglers - but no zombie news updates... I turned off the music and the zombies came back. They also chased me fast up a hill - I know I was running for my life, but I absolutely knackered myself. I am so unfit these days. I'm hoping that it's going to be a FITT thing and the pain will be far outweighed by the good it does me.
I had planned to do 5k so I can tackle a parkrun soon (it's a work thing) but I missed the start probably by about 1km and then I decided running up hills was making me pant like a - zombie? - so I went home.

zombies

I have a new app. It's called Zombies; Run!

The premise is that you've survived the zombie apocalypse and are now heading towards the safe zone. But the helicopter's been shot down by a surprise rpg attack and the only thing left to do is run back to safety.
Along the way you're directed to pick up useful things - because as the nasty lady says - people have to pull their weight or they won't be lit into the safe zone. The nice chap was in love with your predecessor - it'll be interesting to see how that plays out

It's an ongoing tale of everyday zombie adventures

I found myself wondering if I should be saving my energy slightly for when the news comes that the zombies are getting close and I have to up the pace a bit.

FYI I did get back safely.

So that's where I'm at now. It saves your route and all that but where it saves it I have no idea - my phone is a bit of a mystery these days thanks to various unwanted updates...

I have to up my running game: going part-time will make a difference I'm sure...

Sunday run/crawl

3.04miles in 30' 29” 
10' 01” a mile 

That's 4.8km 

I am going to work up to 5km and keep that as my baseline doable and repeatable run. 
I'm blaming anti-depressants on being so bloated and unfit. But I actually know that's just me in denial... 
It's quite nice running from home - I keep discovering little alleys and routes behind houses and so on. Not exactly urban exploration but it make the run a bit more interesting 

A dreamlike state

If only.

Still - a run is a run. And I managed to go a little over the 5k distance. (Distances sound better in km - the numbers are bigger...)

Not fast, not spectacular other than nearly face planting the pavement for no apparent reason. And sweating so much that a kindly lady near the church felt sorry for me.

It may be the beginning of my new push to get fit again. I have a journal to fill out with my goals and what have you - one of which is to lose weight and this includes getting fitter. Perhaps with the right push it will motivate me to persevere.

'Motivation follows action'

oh, the effort...

I haven't been for a run for weeks and I have put on weight and generally not taken very good care of myself. So it was a struggle to go out for a run this Saturday. A proper, hardcore struggle.
I knew I wasn't going to go far or fast but I wasn't expecting the sheer agony of rudely-awakened muscles the next day...

It's almost enough to make me question (ever) venturing out again - but all the advice is that it gets easier. Do I believe that? I still view myself as someone who runs - self-delusional perhaps - so I have to get out and actually pound the streets from time to time. A parkrun? never done one, no reason not to start this week. It's 'only' 5km...

Stats from Saturday... unavailable right now cos Mapmyrun has got some interminable advert for Fred Olsen Cruises which has crashed... 

Ah, here goes - 2.04 miles in 20m 24s exactly 10-minute miles...

But that's only just over 3 1/4 km... perhaps I will have to build up to a 5km parkrun...
I can't believe I'm thinking that... I once ran a 1/2 marathon you know

at least I went for a run

Whitstable is my favourite place for a run - all that fresh sea air, relatively unknown surroundings, pretty flat - just perfect for a PB

Except - being hung over and over weight did not allow a pb. Far from in fact.
10min 11 per mile, I only managed 3.11 miles and I was struggling.

But I did go for a run and I didn't stop.
So yay me.

tough

OK I had to drag myself out this morning - it's a bank holiday and I had lots of wine last night. But no excuse not to go
I am glad I went, let me get that clear from the start
God it felt tough, though. Then when the mapmyrun lady piped up it was to say I was running miles in under 10 mins. Like, wow - I was pleased cos it explained why I was so tired

3.46 miles, 9m34s per mile - and that's the fastest I've been for months.

So I just have to keep doing it. I find it hard to believe I ever ran further - I know I'm overweight (again) and don't run much but I used to run 6 or 7 miles quite regularly. Perhaps I will get there again. Perhaps I will want to go that far again one day - for now, 3 or 4 miles is fine

new route

Well, it was a run - short and strenuous enough to leave me very red-faced. I've discovered about a mile of back alleys and off-roading routes to make the effort interesting. All I need to do now is up the distance to about 5 miles, up my speed to 9 30 a mile and I will feel I have progressed. But for now just getting out of the house for 30 mins is an achievement.
I trained for the 1/2 marathon from this place in Bishopston - how did I ever run 7 miles before work? I did though.
11 years ago now...

Don't blame the app

The app actually had saved my run - and the next one

3.73 miles, 9m 55s per mile

But the next one on Sun 7th...
2.51 miles and 9m 44s per mile - but I was knackered - totally puffed. I've put on some of the weight I recently lost, plus I did have a hangover - so there were mitigating circumstances... But I was mortified about how hard it was

So - do I stop running and save myself the pain and the exhaustion - or put this behind me, get out there and enjoy the experience (honestly it's possible) and just take heart from the fact I'm in my 50s but still running. Kind of.

Colleagues did the 10k at the weekend and did it in under 50 mins. So glad I didn't sign up - although if I had done long enough ago I would have been motivated to get training, right?

Motivation then - nothing difficult to understand there.

Back on track.

Well, back on the road/pavement etc etc

Not proud of my record this year - it seems to get harder all the time. But it's more mental than physical. Or perhaps I just have to accept I'm getting older and it will get tougher to keep going. But that's not the issue. The point is getting out there and 'enjoying' it. I do get the feeling of freedom and achievement though. And that is enough. Any more than that is pushing it - but then I do have the old '5% extra' thought along the way which gives me a little bit extra in reserve.

My bloody app - it doesn't seem to save my runs. The last one was 11 March - which is truth is the last time I ran - but I definitely saved yesterday's. I know it was over 10 mins a mile but there was a nice route I wanted to have a look at today.
Technology - it can be amazing but sometimes it just shortens your life,