Good morning.
It's all getting a bit real re: the under 50 minute target with offers of training support and the start of my fundraising campaign for Think Pink Scotland.
I am quite excited but thought I had better turn some of that energy into action so have signed up for the BUPA Great Winter Run in Edinburgh on Saturday 09 January. It is a 5K event but I thought it would give me a good idea of the pace that I am currently running at - it does feel faster than I have ever run before but it would be good to know if that is in the legs as well as the mind!
Link above if anyone fancies it...
Also, time is running out to enter the Glasgow Women's 10K with the early bird discount - it really is the best running event ever, come on - you know you want to!
http://runglasgow.org/10k-2010/online.php
(ps also more about Think Pink Scotland at the following links:
http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/givingtoglasgow/medicalfund/cancer/thinkpink/
http://www.justgiving.com/thinkpinkwithpippa)
Tuesday 22 December 2009
Wednesday 9 December 2009
You know it is winter when...
… you have finished your run by 8am and it is still dark! However, you do feel great and very righteous that you have exercised before the world has even managed to officially wake up. This morning I went out along the canal from Maryhill towards Falkirk and would you believe it but there were little baby deer. Just five minutes from the hustle and bustle of Maryhill Road there they are, three of them, just sauntering along the canal path – generally minding their own business (well, until a cyclist with no lights appears out of nowhere and gives them – and me – the fright of their lives!).
Well, that’s it – the Glasgow Women’s 10K training has officially started! Entry form is in and targets have been set. It will be my 15th consecutive year of running the world’s greatest running event and I can’t wait. My best ever time (and that was a couple of years ago!) was 53.20 but this year I want to do it in under 50 minutes! There, I have not only said it but now I have written it down… there is no going back. Who’s with me?
Well, that’s it – the Glasgow Women’s 10K training has officially started! Entry form is in and targets have been set. It will be my 15th consecutive year of running the world’s greatest running event and I can’t wait. My best ever time (and that was a couple of years ago!) was 53.20 but this year I want to do it in under 50 minutes! There, I have not only said it but now I have written it down… there is no going back. Who’s with me?
Womens 10K training
Hello fellow jog/runners
Im Evelyn,
First blog ever may i add , but the plan is to keep you all up to date with how my training is or isnt coming along for next years Womens 10K.
I just enjoyed a nice break from jogging for a few weeks ..due to a slight Knee injury unforeseen and very annoying but ventured out for a run this morning and managed a good 4 miles before the grip of pain became too much too bare ,The cold mornings are just the thing to blow the cobwebs away and im hoping to at least be running twice a week for the next few weeks and then get a bit more serious after the festive season (hope your all agreed on this tee hee hee)..
Next run pencilled in for saturday morning after i drop my little girl Naomh at dance class, i have an hour to spare so i will use it wisely and i feel some hill work may be just the thing so all going according to plan i will drop by and update you all and if you feel up to it you can do some hill work too T.T.F.N. Evelyn
Im Evelyn,
First blog ever may i add , but the plan is to keep you all up to date with how my training is or isnt coming along for next years Womens 10K.
I just enjoyed a nice break from jogging for a few weeks ..due to a slight Knee injury unforeseen and very annoying but ventured out for a run this morning and managed a good 4 miles before the grip of pain became too much too bare ,The cold mornings are just the thing to blow the cobwebs away and im hoping to at least be running twice a week for the next few weeks and then get a bit more serious after the festive season (hope your all agreed on this tee hee hee)..
Next run pencilled in for saturday morning after i drop my little girl Naomh at dance class, i have an hour to spare so i will use it wisely and i feel some hill work may be just the thing so all going according to plan i will drop by and update you all and if you feel up to it you can do some hill work too T.T.F.N. Evelyn
Tuesday 8 December 2009
New to blooging
Hi there
I am new to this blogging stuff....so i'll try my best!!!!...... I can't believe I was chosen to become the face of the race 2010...I am soo looking forward to being part of the campaign....the other ladies that won are all a great bunch and im looking forward to our spa day up at Cameron House in January xxx
I have started my training for the 10K by driving my son to nursary, leaving my car there and jogging/ walking back home. I then jog back up to get him at hometime.....
The Glasgow Club membership will also come in handy during the snowy/icy months when I cannot run outside.....
Hope everyone has a lovely Christmas and wonderfull New Year....
All the best for 2010.....
I am new to this blogging stuff....so i'll try my best!!!!...... I can't believe I was chosen to become the face of the race 2010...I am soo looking forward to being part of the campaign....the other ladies that won are all a great bunch and im looking forward to our spa day up at Cameron House in January xxx
I have started my training for the 10K by driving my son to nursary, leaving my car there and jogging/ walking back home. I then jog back up to get him at hometime.....
The Glasgow Club membership will also come in handy during the snowy/icy months when I cannot run outside.....
Hope everyone has a lovely Christmas and wonderfull New Year....
All the best for 2010.....
Monday 11 May 2009
Post Race!
It’s the day after the race, all the hard work is over! Well done to everyone who took part yesterday, I hope you all had a great day and got the times you were hoping for! I’m very pleased to be able to say that I got a new PB!! My official time was 56mins 30 secs! I averaged 10.7kph for the run, I actually ran the first 6k averaging 10.9kph, the pace I need for a 55m 10k! After 7k it had dropped to 10.8kph, then by time I got to the top of the hill in Pollock Park it was 10.7kph! But by that point I knew it was flat for the rest of the way and that if I just keep running at an even pace I should get a good time and so I managed not to let my average drop further! I did my first mile in 8m 41s, second 8m 49s, third 8m 56s, fourth 9m 13s, fifth 9m 32s and sixth in 9m 11s.
I know I said in my very first blog that I wanted to achieve 55 minutes for my 10k time, but I realised over training that was a bit too ambitious just yet so I am really happy with the time I did get for it, I achieved my fastest 10k yet, I ran the full race without stopping (actually the first time I’ve done that in a race!) and despite projectile vomiting on the finish line, I actually felt really good after it! Errr also I do apologise to anyone who witnessed my throwing up at the end! It probably was not pretty!
The race itself I actually really enjoyed! The warm up at the start was great fun (over 10,000 women dancing to Abba at 9.30 on a Sunday morning, what a sight!) and the support along the route was excellent, no doubt helped by the sun which after a dreadful few days decided to make a welcome appearance! The organisation as usual was excellent and I felt the whole day went really well. The main highlight for me however was around the 5k mark when a girl dressed as a banana ran past me, just before the entrance to Pollock Park! I hadn’t seen her coming up behind me so got quite a surprise! Well done to her and everyone else who managed to raise a lot of money of various charities! It really does make all the training and effort feel worthwhile.
I want to say hello to a woman I got talking to on the start line, Tracey. If you are reading this, I hope you got the time you were looking for and good luck with the Great Scottish Run in September! Thank you also to the person that left a comment on my blog, I have had a lot of fun writing this over the last 18 weeks (and have found it a great motivator to get myself out running to make sure I’ve had plenty to write about!), but its good to know that people other than my friends and family are reading this and hopefully have found it useful as well!
Well all that’s left for me to say now is thank you all for reading my blog, and I’ll be starting my Great Scottish Run blog shortly (17 weeks to go!) if any of you are interested in finding out how my running is going throughout the summer!
Signing off one last time,
Claire
I know I said in my very first blog that I wanted to achieve 55 minutes for my 10k time, but I realised over training that was a bit too ambitious just yet so I am really happy with the time I did get for it, I achieved my fastest 10k yet, I ran the full race without stopping (actually the first time I’ve done that in a race!) and despite projectile vomiting on the finish line, I actually felt really good after it! Errr also I do apologise to anyone who witnessed my throwing up at the end! It probably was not pretty!
The race itself I actually really enjoyed! The warm up at the start was great fun (over 10,000 women dancing to Abba at 9.30 on a Sunday morning, what a sight!) and the support along the route was excellent, no doubt helped by the sun which after a dreadful few days decided to make a welcome appearance! The organisation as usual was excellent and I felt the whole day went really well. The main highlight for me however was around the 5k mark when a girl dressed as a banana ran past me, just before the entrance to Pollock Park! I hadn’t seen her coming up behind me so got quite a surprise! Well done to her and everyone else who managed to raise a lot of money of various charities! It really does make all the training and effort feel worthwhile.
I want to say hello to a woman I got talking to on the start line, Tracey. If you are reading this, I hope you got the time you were looking for and good luck with the Great Scottish Run in September! Thank you also to the person that left a comment on my blog, I have had a lot of fun writing this over the last 18 weeks (and have found it a great motivator to get myself out running to make sure I’ve had plenty to write about!), but its good to know that people other than my friends and family are reading this and hopefully have found it useful as well!
Well all that’s left for me to say now is thank you all for reading my blog, and I’ll be starting my Great Scottish Run blog shortly (17 weeks to go!) if any of you are interested in finding out how my running is going throughout the summer!
Signing off one last time,
Claire
Saturday 9 May 2009
Week 18
It’s the day before the race….
My final week of training has been more relaxed than the previous weeks, in an effort not to tire my legs out or risk picking up an injury. As detailed in my last blog I ran 7k on Monday, therefore gave myself a break from Spin that night. I had to admit I was fully intending on going to Body Balance on Tuesday night, until I realised the Man U v Arsenal Champions League semi-final was on ITV, so I cancelled it and did my Tae Bo dvd at home instead then watched the game!! Wednesday night I was intending on going for a run, but the weather was terrible so I gave it a miss. Thursday night I finally did manage to get a run, it was still very windy but I had ran out of days in the week to say I’ll go out the next night! I did a 5k, in 28mins 22secs, slower than I’ve done it in the past but I didn’t want to push myself too hard. Plus, it was really windy!!! Did I mention that?! I did my first mile in 9m 3s, second 9m 13s and third 9m 10. That was all the training I did this week, as was out at a concert Friday night and then didn’t want to do anything today being the day before the big race!
The other night I found myself thinking back to the number of 10k’s I’ve actually ran. This time last year I’d only ran the distance twice, both in training. The first I managed in just under 1 hour 10 mins, the second in 1hr 7m. I remember being shocked that I was actually able to run for over an hour without stopping! I did the Women’s 10k that year in 1hr 6m 50s, but I ended up walking a couple of parts of it! Also that year I ran the City v City 10k (in June) and actually took slightly longer, completing it in 1hr 7m 15s! Glasgow still came top though, beating London and Liverpool, despite my slow time! I ran the Great Scottish Run for the first time that year also, completing it in an improved time of 1hr 3m 15s, I was really happy to have done it in under the 1hr 5m!
Last year I ran a 10k in training for May in 1hr 6m, but then unfortunately was loaded with the cold come the weekend of the run and so had to give it a miss. I ran 4 more 10k’s that year,3 of which were over a 4 week spell! St Andrew’s Hospice 10k at Strathclyde Park in 1hr 1m in August, GSR in Sept at 1hr 2m, Cumbernauld 10k in 58m also in Sept, and then Cancer Research 10k at Strathclyde Park in October, in the worst conditions ever in around 1hr 10m! Torrential rain all weekend meant the ground was really muddy and slippy and so we ended up walking a fair bit of it as it was simply impossible to run! Plus the start was delayed by about 45 mins as the route was a mess so everyone was frozen by time they started!
This year already I’ve ran two 10k’s in training, and both were under an hour, so its clear how much my running has improved this year. My ultimate aim for the year is still to get a 10k time of under 55mins, but I would also like a 5k in under 25mins (best so far 26m 41s) and I also have an aim for the summer to run a 15k, I have never gone beyond a 10k before so would like to try further, even if its really slow, just to see if I can manage it! Sometimes I think there must be more to life than running, but what can I say, I love it!! I also want to run more 10k’s as training runs, to get myself used to running that distance. I feel that I can easily run 5k even if I’m not feeling great, so I want to get to that position with the 10k now!
For Sunday I don’t think I’m quite at the 55m stage yet, but I am confident if I can keep my legs moving I should be able to get under an hour. I am feeling quite relaxed though about the run and I am looking forward to just going out and enjoying it, soaking up the great atmosphere that is there every year with the fellow runners and the people who come out to watch and cheer us on. With the level of improvement I have made so far this year, and with having a Great Scottish Run to look forward to in September (and whatever other runs I sign myself up for between now and the end of the year!) I hope to be able to achieve my target times!
Anyway, I have rambled on long enough now, so all that’s left for me to say is good luck everyone for tomorrow, I hope you all enjoy the race and I shall post my final blog after it with my post run analysis!! Then the countdown to the Great Scottish Run begins….!
My final week of training has been more relaxed than the previous weeks, in an effort not to tire my legs out or risk picking up an injury. As detailed in my last blog I ran 7k on Monday, therefore gave myself a break from Spin that night. I had to admit I was fully intending on going to Body Balance on Tuesday night, until I realised the Man U v Arsenal Champions League semi-final was on ITV, so I cancelled it and did my Tae Bo dvd at home instead then watched the game!! Wednesday night I was intending on going for a run, but the weather was terrible so I gave it a miss. Thursday night I finally did manage to get a run, it was still very windy but I had ran out of days in the week to say I’ll go out the next night! I did a 5k, in 28mins 22secs, slower than I’ve done it in the past but I didn’t want to push myself too hard. Plus, it was really windy!!! Did I mention that?! I did my first mile in 9m 3s, second 9m 13s and third 9m 10. That was all the training I did this week, as was out at a concert Friday night and then didn’t want to do anything today being the day before the big race!
The other night I found myself thinking back to the number of 10k’s I’ve actually ran. This time last year I’d only ran the distance twice, both in training. The first I managed in just under 1 hour 10 mins, the second in 1hr 7m. I remember being shocked that I was actually able to run for over an hour without stopping! I did the Women’s 10k that year in 1hr 6m 50s, but I ended up walking a couple of parts of it! Also that year I ran the City v City 10k (in June) and actually took slightly longer, completing it in 1hr 7m 15s! Glasgow still came top though, beating London and Liverpool, despite my slow time! I ran the Great Scottish Run for the first time that year also, completing it in an improved time of 1hr 3m 15s, I was really happy to have done it in under the 1hr 5m!
Last year I ran a 10k in training for May in 1hr 6m, but then unfortunately was loaded with the cold come the weekend of the run and so had to give it a miss. I ran 4 more 10k’s that year,3 of which were over a 4 week spell! St Andrew’s Hospice 10k at Strathclyde Park in 1hr 1m in August, GSR in Sept at 1hr 2m, Cumbernauld 10k in 58m also in Sept, and then Cancer Research 10k at Strathclyde Park in October, in the worst conditions ever in around 1hr 10m! Torrential rain all weekend meant the ground was really muddy and slippy and so we ended up walking a fair bit of it as it was simply impossible to run! Plus the start was delayed by about 45 mins as the route was a mess so everyone was frozen by time they started!
This year already I’ve ran two 10k’s in training, and both were under an hour, so its clear how much my running has improved this year. My ultimate aim for the year is still to get a 10k time of under 55mins, but I would also like a 5k in under 25mins (best so far 26m 41s) and I also have an aim for the summer to run a 15k, I have never gone beyond a 10k before so would like to try further, even if its really slow, just to see if I can manage it! Sometimes I think there must be more to life than running, but what can I say, I love it!! I also want to run more 10k’s as training runs, to get myself used to running that distance. I feel that I can easily run 5k even if I’m not feeling great, so I want to get to that position with the 10k now!
For Sunday I don’t think I’m quite at the 55m stage yet, but I am confident if I can keep my legs moving I should be able to get under an hour. I am feeling quite relaxed though about the run and I am looking forward to just going out and enjoying it, soaking up the great atmosphere that is there every year with the fellow runners and the people who come out to watch and cheer us on. With the level of improvement I have made so far this year, and with having a Great Scottish Run to look forward to in September (and whatever other runs I sign myself up for between now and the end of the year!) I hope to be able to achieve my target times!
Anyway, I have rambled on long enough now, so all that’s left for me to say is good luck everyone for tomorrow, I hope you all enjoy the race and I shall post my final blog after it with my post run analysis!! Then the countdown to the Great Scottish Run begins….!
Tuesday 5 May 2009
Week 17
One week to go!!! Can’t believe how fast the weeks have gone since I started this blog!
After not doing too much last week, I had quite a full training week this week. Monday night was back to Spin class. Had missed it the last 2 weeks so was looking forward to getting back into it again. I found the first 20 mins of the class pretty tough but after that I think my legs suddenly remembered what they were supposed to be doing and it got easier!
Tuesday night I got along to Body Balance and felt as if I knew what I was doing a bit better than last week, which was good. I always enjoy doing Body Balance after Spin as they are so different to each other!!
Went out for a run on Wednesday night. It was the first running I’d done since my 10k the previous Wednesday, and my legs were feeling tired, probably from Spin on Monday night! I ended up just doing 3.22k (2 miles) in 17mins 19secs, averaging 11.1kph. First mile was 8m 24s, second 8m 54s. Decided not to push myself too far as I wasn’t quite feeling up for it and had a lot more running planned for the next few days!
Since it was a fairly short run on Wednesday I went back out again for another run on Thursday. Unfortunately my GPS watch battery ran out after about a kilometre so I don’t know exactly what I did, but I know the route pretty well now so I ran for about 6.5k, and I think it was in about 37-38mins.
Had a rest day on Friday, then got back out for another run on Saturday. It was a hot afternoon and I decided just to try for a fast 5k rather than a longer run, ended up managing to do the 5k in 27m 16s, averaging 11kph. My first mile was 8m 41s, second 9m and third 8m43. The second mile was running uphill as you can probably tell from the times!
As it was a holiday Monday I gave myself a break from the running on Sunday to go out Monday instead. I still wanted to get out for a final long run before the 10k, but woke up to a typical holiday Monday weather of high winds and rain! I took ages to work up the enthusiasm to get outside, and once I did manage to get out, I nearly turned straight back into the house again! I pushed myself as much as I could though, and am pleased to say I managed 7k, which under the circumstances I think it was a good distance to last! I did it in 39m 45s, averaging 10.6kph.
Considering half the run was into really strong winds where I felt I was running on the spot though, I am definitely not too disappointed! I actually feel that run showed how much I have improved, simply because I didn’t give up during the run. I used to give up so easily when struggling but I feel now that I know I can do it, and that does help keep me gong when it’s hurting! My mile splits were 9m 49s for the first, second 9m 19s, third 9m 6s and fourth 9m 12s.
After my run and since I was already drenched through, we decided to go swimming at Glasgow Club Easterhouse Pool. I managed to swim a few lengths before we went into the steam room to unwind!!
Well with less than a week now till the 10k, I feel I’ve done almost as much preparation as I can do. This week I’ll try to do a couple of light runs after work to get my legs moving but not tire them out too much, so hopefully I’ll be fresh for Sunday! I feel I’ve been fighting off the cold for a couple of days now so really hoping that doesn’t come to anything….!
I’m going to post one more blog on Saturday before the race just to let you all know how my final preparations are coming on so enjoy your last week of training!
And of course, look out for my post race blog where I’ll give you my in depth review of the whole day!!! Getting really excited about it now!
After not doing too much last week, I had quite a full training week this week. Monday night was back to Spin class. Had missed it the last 2 weeks so was looking forward to getting back into it again. I found the first 20 mins of the class pretty tough but after that I think my legs suddenly remembered what they were supposed to be doing and it got easier!
Tuesday night I got along to Body Balance and felt as if I knew what I was doing a bit better than last week, which was good. I always enjoy doing Body Balance after Spin as they are so different to each other!!
Went out for a run on Wednesday night. It was the first running I’d done since my 10k the previous Wednesday, and my legs were feeling tired, probably from Spin on Monday night! I ended up just doing 3.22k (2 miles) in 17mins 19secs, averaging 11.1kph. First mile was 8m 24s, second 8m 54s. Decided not to push myself too far as I wasn’t quite feeling up for it and had a lot more running planned for the next few days!
Since it was a fairly short run on Wednesday I went back out again for another run on Thursday. Unfortunately my GPS watch battery ran out after about a kilometre so I don’t know exactly what I did, but I know the route pretty well now so I ran for about 6.5k, and I think it was in about 37-38mins.
Had a rest day on Friday, then got back out for another run on Saturday. It was a hot afternoon and I decided just to try for a fast 5k rather than a longer run, ended up managing to do the 5k in 27m 16s, averaging 11kph. My first mile was 8m 41s, second 9m and third 8m43. The second mile was running uphill as you can probably tell from the times!
As it was a holiday Monday I gave myself a break from the running on Sunday to go out Monday instead. I still wanted to get out for a final long run before the 10k, but woke up to a typical holiday Monday weather of high winds and rain! I took ages to work up the enthusiasm to get outside, and once I did manage to get out, I nearly turned straight back into the house again! I pushed myself as much as I could though, and am pleased to say I managed 7k, which under the circumstances I think it was a good distance to last! I did it in 39m 45s, averaging 10.6kph.
Considering half the run was into really strong winds where I felt I was running on the spot though, I am definitely not too disappointed! I actually feel that run showed how much I have improved, simply because I didn’t give up during the run. I used to give up so easily when struggling but I feel now that I know I can do it, and that does help keep me gong when it’s hurting! My mile splits were 9m 49s for the first, second 9m 19s, third 9m 6s and fourth 9m 12s.
After my run and since I was already drenched through, we decided to go swimming at Glasgow Club Easterhouse Pool. I managed to swim a few lengths before we went into the steam room to unwind!!
Well with less than a week now till the 10k, I feel I’ve done almost as much preparation as I can do. This week I’ll try to do a couple of light runs after work to get my legs moving but not tire them out too much, so hopefully I’ll be fresh for Sunday! I feel I’ve been fighting off the cold for a couple of days now so really hoping that doesn’t come to anything….!
I’m going to post one more blog on Saturday before the race just to let you all know how my final preparations are coming on so enjoy your last week of training!
And of course, look out for my post race blog where I’ll give you my in depth review of the whole day!!! Getting really excited about it now!
Monday 27 April 2009
Week 16
Only 2 weeks left, and I think this week of training was the least I’ve done since I started this blog!!
Well Monday night I wasn’t able to go to Spin as had to be somewhere else, and then Tuesday night I wasn’t able to get to the 10k night at Run 4 It, so I ended up going to Body Balance instead! It was great to be back after missing the last 2 weeks, but there was a new routine, which I’d done for the first time when I was last there 3 weeks ago, so it felt like my first time again when everyone else knew what to do except me! I’m sure after a couple of weeks I’ll get the hang of it though!
Wednesday night I went out a run, and my legs were a bit sore from the previous night so it was a case of I’ll go out and see how far I can run! Well I am very pleased to say I ended up running for 10k, at a new personal best of 56mins 47secs! It beat my previous best by 2minutes, which I am amazed about! I somehow just managed to keep myself running, and even though I was tiring at the 8k mark I decided if I made it that far I was not going to stop now! My average speed was 10.6kph, and my mile times were 8m 47s for the first, second 8m 48s, third 9m 13s, fourth 9m 7s, fifth 9m 23s, and the sixth 9m 30. Now I just need to get my last 2 miles about the 9minute mark to get under 56mins!
I am actually really happy with the run I did on Wednesday as it is a big improvement on my previous best. It’s made me realise though that I am unlikely to be able to knock another 2 mins off it in 2 weeks time, and I think I have actually managed to relieve the pressure I was putting on myself to do so. I do however feel confident that if I keep the training up throughout the summer, and keep improving the way I have been recently, that a 10k in under 55m will be an achievable goal for the Great Scottish Run in September.
Well that is all the training I was able to do this week, as I gave myself Thursday off to recover, and had a night out on Friday then a wedding on Saturday. Was fully intending to do a run Sunday afternoon but it didn’t happen as it was a very late night! But at least with my limited training this week I did run a 10k so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been!
For the week coming up I’m booked into Spin and Body Balance for Monday and Tuesday. Its been 2 weeks since I was last at Spin so looking forward to getting back to it. Also hope to get some more running in, would like to try keep running at my required speed of 10.9kph for a 55min 10k and see how far I can get, then next week will cut back slightly so I’m not too tired out by time Sunday comes along!
Well Monday night I wasn’t able to go to Spin as had to be somewhere else, and then Tuesday night I wasn’t able to get to the 10k night at Run 4 It, so I ended up going to Body Balance instead! It was great to be back after missing the last 2 weeks, but there was a new routine, which I’d done for the first time when I was last there 3 weeks ago, so it felt like my first time again when everyone else knew what to do except me! I’m sure after a couple of weeks I’ll get the hang of it though!
Wednesday night I went out a run, and my legs were a bit sore from the previous night so it was a case of I’ll go out and see how far I can run! Well I am very pleased to say I ended up running for 10k, at a new personal best of 56mins 47secs! It beat my previous best by 2minutes, which I am amazed about! I somehow just managed to keep myself running, and even though I was tiring at the 8k mark I decided if I made it that far I was not going to stop now! My average speed was 10.6kph, and my mile times were 8m 47s for the first, second 8m 48s, third 9m 13s, fourth 9m 7s, fifth 9m 23s, and the sixth 9m 30. Now I just need to get my last 2 miles about the 9minute mark to get under 56mins!
I am actually really happy with the run I did on Wednesday as it is a big improvement on my previous best. It’s made me realise though that I am unlikely to be able to knock another 2 mins off it in 2 weeks time, and I think I have actually managed to relieve the pressure I was putting on myself to do so. I do however feel confident that if I keep the training up throughout the summer, and keep improving the way I have been recently, that a 10k in under 55m will be an achievable goal for the Great Scottish Run in September.
Well that is all the training I was able to do this week, as I gave myself Thursday off to recover, and had a night out on Friday then a wedding on Saturday. Was fully intending to do a run Sunday afternoon but it didn’t happen as it was a very late night! But at least with my limited training this week I did run a 10k so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been!
For the week coming up I’m booked into Spin and Body Balance for Monday and Tuesday. Its been 2 weeks since I was last at Spin so looking forward to getting back to it. Also hope to get some more running in, would like to try keep running at my required speed of 10.9kph for a 55min 10k and see how far I can get, then next week will cut back slightly so I’m not too tired out by time Sunday comes along!
Monday 20 April 2009
Week 15
3 weeks to go!!
Well my last entry went up to the Monday rather than Sunday being the Easter weekend, so this one will start at Tuesday instead…er actually make that Wednesday as I had a rest night on Tuesday (legs were rather exhausted after a 6k race on Sunday and then running 10k on Monday! Actually come to think of it I rested on Wednesday night also….so onto Thursday!
After two days of no running I was looking forward to getting the trainers back on. The other half had recommended that I mix my running up a bit, as I tend to run very even paced, so I went out on Thursday night aiming to try for 5k but starting off faster than usual. It worked well, as I ended up running the 5k in 26mins 41secs, smashing my previous best ever 5k time achieved last year by 40secs, and about a minute faster than my best this year! I averaged 11.2kph, first mile was 8m 23s, second 8m 52s and third 8m 34s! It was one of those runs were everything seemed to work and I felt great, wish it felt like that all the time!
On Saturday morning we decided to return to the scene of last week’s 6k, Strathclyde Park. Other Half took off ahead of me, so unlike last week I was running alone. I completed 6k in 33m 25s, a whole minute faster than last Sunday! Must have been the other half slowing me down…..! I averaged 10.8kph, the highest average I’ve had for a distance longer than 5k! I did the first mile in 8m 47s, second 8m 54s and third 9m 08m.
Saturday afternoon we took a trip out to Run 4 It at the Tiso Glasgow Outdoor Experience. As we are both planning on doing a lot of running over the summer (me for the GSR 10k and him for the half marathon) we wanted to get gait analysis undertaken, which is where the trained sales staff examine your feet and running style on the treadmill that they have in the shop! The staff in there were excellent, we must have spend about a hour and a half in the shop, trying on different trainers and getting to test them out after finding out the best style for each of us. It was really interesting and was great having knowledgeable and helpful staff! I definitely would recommend anyone to go along and get yourself fitted for a decent pair of trainers if you are planning on doing a lot of running! While there I also put my name down to come along to the Women’s 10k evening they are having on Tuesday night. It sounds really interesting and Yvonne Murray is going to be there also so should be a fun night.
Went out for a run again on Sunday afternoon but I’m quite ashamed to admit I only lasted 2 miles before wilting in the heat! I did it in a good time, 17m 21s averaging 11.1kph, first mile 8m 30s and second 8m 50s, but my throat was so dry and I had no energy left in my legs so decided to call it a day at that point! Note to self, on hot days like today drink more water before going out!! Ideal running conditions for me are definitely cooler evenings rather than hot afternoons!
Well I had wanted to try attempt another 10k this week but unfortunately that didn’t happen….hopefully will get closer one night this week!
Well my last entry went up to the Monday rather than Sunday being the Easter weekend, so this one will start at Tuesday instead…er actually make that Wednesday as I had a rest night on Tuesday (legs were rather exhausted after a 6k race on Sunday and then running 10k on Monday! Actually come to think of it I rested on Wednesday night also….so onto Thursday!
After two days of no running I was looking forward to getting the trainers back on. The other half had recommended that I mix my running up a bit, as I tend to run very even paced, so I went out on Thursday night aiming to try for 5k but starting off faster than usual. It worked well, as I ended up running the 5k in 26mins 41secs, smashing my previous best ever 5k time achieved last year by 40secs, and about a minute faster than my best this year! I averaged 11.2kph, first mile was 8m 23s, second 8m 52s and third 8m 34s! It was one of those runs were everything seemed to work and I felt great, wish it felt like that all the time!
On Saturday morning we decided to return to the scene of last week’s 6k, Strathclyde Park. Other Half took off ahead of me, so unlike last week I was running alone. I completed 6k in 33m 25s, a whole minute faster than last Sunday! Must have been the other half slowing me down…..! I averaged 10.8kph, the highest average I’ve had for a distance longer than 5k! I did the first mile in 8m 47s, second 8m 54s and third 9m 08m.
Saturday afternoon we took a trip out to Run 4 It at the Tiso Glasgow Outdoor Experience. As we are both planning on doing a lot of running over the summer (me for the GSR 10k and him for the half marathon) we wanted to get gait analysis undertaken, which is where the trained sales staff examine your feet and running style on the treadmill that they have in the shop! The staff in there were excellent, we must have spend about a hour and a half in the shop, trying on different trainers and getting to test them out after finding out the best style for each of us. It was really interesting and was great having knowledgeable and helpful staff! I definitely would recommend anyone to go along and get yourself fitted for a decent pair of trainers if you are planning on doing a lot of running! While there I also put my name down to come along to the Women’s 10k evening they are having on Tuesday night. It sounds really interesting and Yvonne Murray is going to be there also so should be a fun night.
Went out for a run again on Sunday afternoon but I’m quite ashamed to admit I only lasted 2 miles before wilting in the heat! I did it in a good time, 17m 21s averaging 11.1kph, first mile 8m 30s and second 8m 50s, but my throat was so dry and I had no energy left in my legs so decided to call it a day at that point! Note to self, on hot days like today drink more water before going out!! Ideal running conditions for me are definitely cooler evenings rather than hot afternoons!
Well I had wanted to try attempt another 10k this week but unfortunately that didn’t happen….hopefully will get closer one night this week!
Tuesday 14 April 2009
Week 14
Another week flown by, and now less than 4 weeks till the 10k! Hard to believe I started this with 18 weeks to go…it doesn’t feel like I’ve typed up 14 blogs already!
Had quite a good week of training this week, Monday night was Spin class as usual, and typically was hard work but I do enjoy it! I had other plans on Tuesday so couldn’t get to Body Balance but got out for a run on Wednesday night. After running 6k the previous Wednesday and then 7k on Saturday, I wanted to aim for an 8k. I ended up doing 8.5k in 47mins 55secs, averaging 10.6kph! It was one of those nights where I felt great, I didn’t even feel exhausted after it, which meant I ended up being annoyed with myself for not trying to run 10k! My run was extremely consistent, my mile times were 9m 5s for the first, second 9m 1s, third 9m 13s, fourth 9m 1s and fifth 9m exactly! At that pace I was on for a 10k in less than 56 and a half minutes, and I am totally kicking myself for not going for it!!!
Anyway, I wasn’t able to get out on Thursday or Friday, and come Saturday as it was Easter weekend and a lovely day I ended up going down to the park with the other half for a kick about with a football! We ran a mile first, but didn’t time ourselves, and it was nice for once not concentrating on what speed I was running at! After that we went into Glasgow Club Whitehill Pool, and for the first time in a while I managed to do some proper swimming as I wasn’t exhausted from a run before it!
Sunday was the 6k at Strathclyde Park. The organisers had arranged for a 6k and 10mile run, both starting off together. The other half had come along to watch but ended up feeling guilty about letting me run on my own so signed up with 10 minutes to go accompanied me on the run!
I had to admit I was starting to struggle towards the end, wishing it was only a 5k! I ended up finishing it in 34m 24s, averaging 10.5kph. The first 2 miles were good, first in 9m 3s and second in 8m 54s, but then the third I took 9m 27s which made my overall time a bit slower than I would have liked. What really didn’t help was that for a part of it I was running alongside a 75 year old man who was doing the 10mile, and then he shot past me!! Hope I’m as fit as that when I get older. But it just goes to show what a healthy life style can do for you.
Well normally I end my week’s blog on the Sunday, but as it was a holiday Monday I can tell you all about that too! I went with the other half to run the route for the 10k next month (assuming it’s the same as previous years!) I am very happy to say that I did the full 10k without stopping, in 58m 44s. Average speed was 10.2kph which is a bit off the pace I want, but with still 4 weeks to go (and only the second time I’ve ever ran a 10k under an hour!) I am pretty happy with it! The first half went really well, I reached the 5k stage at 28mins, therefore had I kept that up it would have been a 56min 10k. However I did really start to struggle in the second half, and honestly I’m amazed I managed the full distance without stopping! I’m sure at one stage though I could have walked faster than I was running….! My mile splits are all over the place by the end, first 9m 4s, second 8m 51s, third 9m 11s, fourth 9m 47s, fifth a disastrous 10m 19s, then sixth 9m 31s! But strangely enough when I finished I wasn’t collapsing on the ground (I think I’d managed to run so slow that my body had already recovered!!!) As I run slower than the other half (and it hurts his knee to run at my pace!) he did some Fartleking again, running away from me than back for a jog, then sprinting away again, so he covered 7miles in the same time I did 6.2!
Well with 4 weeks to go I know I can run the 10k distance, and I know I can run at a good speed, now I just need to start putting the two together! My aim is to keep doing longer runs but trying to get faster each time.
Now pass those Easter eggs. I think I deserve them!!!
Had quite a good week of training this week, Monday night was Spin class as usual, and typically was hard work but I do enjoy it! I had other plans on Tuesday so couldn’t get to Body Balance but got out for a run on Wednesday night. After running 6k the previous Wednesday and then 7k on Saturday, I wanted to aim for an 8k. I ended up doing 8.5k in 47mins 55secs, averaging 10.6kph! It was one of those nights where I felt great, I didn’t even feel exhausted after it, which meant I ended up being annoyed with myself for not trying to run 10k! My run was extremely consistent, my mile times were 9m 5s for the first, second 9m 1s, third 9m 13s, fourth 9m 1s and fifth 9m exactly! At that pace I was on for a 10k in less than 56 and a half minutes, and I am totally kicking myself for not going for it!!!
Anyway, I wasn’t able to get out on Thursday or Friday, and come Saturday as it was Easter weekend and a lovely day I ended up going down to the park with the other half for a kick about with a football! We ran a mile first, but didn’t time ourselves, and it was nice for once not concentrating on what speed I was running at! After that we went into Glasgow Club Whitehill Pool, and for the first time in a while I managed to do some proper swimming as I wasn’t exhausted from a run before it!
Sunday was the 6k at Strathclyde Park. The organisers had arranged for a 6k and 10mile run, both starting off together. The other half had come along to watch but ended up feeling guilty about letting me run on my own so signed up with 10 minutes to go accompanied me on the run!
I had to admit I was starting to struggle towards the end, wishing it was only a 5k! I ended up finishing it in 34m 24s, averaging 10.5kph. The first 2 miles were good, first in 9m 3s and second in 8m 54s, but then the third I took 9m 27s which made my overall time a bit slower than I would have liked. What really didn’t help was that for a part of it I was running alongside a 75 year old man who was doing the 10mile, and then he shot past me!! Hope I’m as fit as that when I get older. But it just goes to show what a healthy life style can do for you.
Well normally I end my week’s blog on the Sunday, but as it was a holiday Monday I can tell you all about that too! I went with the other half to run the route for the 10k next month (assuming it’s the same as previous years!) I am very happy to say that I did the full 10k without stopping, in 58m 44s. Average speed was 10.2kph which is a bit off the pace I want, but with still 4 weeks to go (and only the second time I’ve ever ran a 10k under an hour!) I am pretty happy with it! The first half went really well, I reached the 5k stage at 28mins, therefore had I kept that up it would have been a 56min 10k. However I did really start to struggle in the second half, and honestly I’m amazed I managed the full distance without stopping! I’m sure at one stage though I could have walked faster than I was running….! My mile splits are all over the place by the end, first 9m 4s, second 8m 51s, third 9m 11s, fourth 9m 47s, fifth a disastrous 10m 19s, then sixth 9m 31s! But strangely enough when I finished I wasn’t collapsing on the ground (I think I’d managed to run so slow that my body had already recovered!!!) As I run slower than the other half (and it hurts his knee to run at my pace!) he did some Fartleking again, running away from me than back for a jog, then sprinting away again, so he covered 7miles in the same time I did 6.2!
Well with 4 weeks to go I know I can run the 10k distance, and I know I can run at a good speed, now I just need to start putting the two together! My aim is to keep doing longer runs but trying to get faster each time.
Now pass those Easter eggs. I think I deserve them!!!
Monday 6 April 2009
Week 13
5 weeks to go until the big day, how did it get that close?! Some days I really don’t think I’ll be able to reach my target of a 55minute 10k, then other days when I’m out running and it’s going well I think maybe I can. If I could do it in training I think I would be happy enough with that! I signed up to the Great Scottish Run at the same time as the 10k and I am planning on keeping this blog going throughout the summer for that. So hopefully if I don’t achieve 55mins in May then I’ll be able to do it for September!
Well onto this weeks training, Monday night was my usual Spin class, and Tuesday was Body Balance. Enjoyed both as usual and there was a new release out for Body Balance. It was really good doing a different routine as I was starting to know the old one really well and knew exactly what was coming up next. By changing the routine every couple of months it definitely keeps the body working that bit harder, trying to figure out what comes up next!
Wednesday night I was able to get out for a run, it was a lovely night so went out in just shorts and t-shirt, a first for this year! I did a 6k run, managed to do it in 33mins 56secs, averaging 10.6kph. My first mile was 8m53s, second 9m12s and third 9m13s. I was really pleased to have done a 6k, especially as I am dong a 6k run this Sunday at Strathclyde Park!
I wasn’t able to get out running again until Saturday, but I made it a worthwhile one as I managed to do a 7k! My time was 40m49s, averaging 10.3kph. So it wasn’t quite the speed I wanted but I’m happy just to be able to start doing longer distances now, it felt a really good run (and I wasn’t sick after it!). One thing I always find with my running is how consistent I seem to be over it. A lot of people run negative splits, where the second half of their run is much faster than their first, but the mile splits on Saturday for me were 9m22s, 9m22s, 9m16s and 9m23s! After the run we went up to Glasgow Club Easterhouse Pool for swimming and a nice long sit in the steam room, perfect way to recover after a long run!
Sunday I wasn’t able to go out running till late afternoon. Nearly didn’t go at all but the motivation of something to write about in this blog forced me out! I decided after my longer runs during the week I wanted a short, fast run, so decided I would see how quick I could run a mile!! Now I did this last year and managed it in 8m15s, but as I have been running 8m45s miles within longer runs I wanted to see if I could do it in under 8mins. I did a warm up jog for a kilometre, then set off, and was very happy to complete the mile in 7m52s! Would never have thought I could do that before! Now I just need to figure out how to keep that pace up 5 more times for a 49min 10k! The very first time I ran a mile, which would have been about 2 years ago now, I did it in about 11 and a half mins (and collapsed at the end!) so it’s nice to be able to see such a massive improvement!
Well this week, as I said above I have a 6k run on Sunday. I am not focusing too much on the time, I am hoping more to get more experience of running amongst other people before the 10k next month. I also would love to run for 8k now, having done 6 then 7k this week, hopefully it will be possible! I then need to work on getting my speed up for these longer runs, should be achievable….right?!
Training song of the week – Meatloaf's Bat out of Hell – the full version! By time its finished that’s another mile covered!
Well onto this weeks training, Monday night was my usual Spin class, and Tuesday was Body Balance. Enjoyed both as usual and there was a new release out for Body Balance. It was really good doing a different routine as I was starting to know the old one really well and knew exactly what was coming up next. By changing the routine every couple of months it definitely keeps the body working that bit harder, trying to figure out what comes up next!
Wednesday night I was able to get out for a run, it was a lovely night so went out in just shorts and t-shirt, a first for this year! I did a 6k run, managed to do it in 33mins 56secs, averaging 10.6kph. My first mile was 8m53s, second 9m12s and third 9m13s. I was really pleased to have done a 6k, especially as I am dong a 6k run this Sunday at Strathclyde Park!
I wasn’t able to get out running again until Saturday, but I made it a worthwhile one as I managed to do a 7k! My time was 40m49s, averaging 10.3kph. So it wasn’t quite the speed I wanted but I’m happy just to be able to start doing longer distances now, it felt a really good run (and I wasn’t sick after it!). One thing I always find with my running is how consistent I seem to be over it. A lot of people run negative splits, where the second half of their run is much faster than their first, but the mile splits on Saturday for me were 9m22s, 9m22s, 9m16s and 9m23s! After the run we went up to Glasgow Club Easterhouse Pool for swimming and a nice long sit in the steam room, perfect way to recover after a long run!
Sunday I wasn’t able to go out running till late afternoon. Nearly didn’t go at all but the motivation of something to write about in this blog forced me out! I decided after my longer runs during the week I wanted a short, fast run, so decided I would see how quick I could run a mile!! Now I did this last year and managed it in 8m15s, but as I have been running 8m45s miles within longer runs I wanted to see if I could do it in under 8mins. I did a warm up jog for a kilometre, then set off, and was very happy to complete the mile in 7m52s! Would never have thought I could do that before! Now I just need to figure out how to keep that pace up 5 more times for a 49min 10k! The very first time I ran a mile, which would have been about 2 years ago now, I did it in about 11 and a half mins (and collapsed at the end!) so it’s nice to be able to see such a massive improvement!
Well this week, as I said above I have a 6k run on Sunday. I am not focusing too much on the time, I am hoping more to get more experience of running amongst other people before the 10k next month. I also would love to run for 8k now, having done 6 then 7k this week, hopefully it will be possible! I then need to work on getting my speed up for these longer runs, should be achievable….right?!
Training song of the week – Meatloaf's Bat out of Hell – the full version! By time its finished that’s another mile covered!
Monday 30 March 2009
Week 12
Another week gone and its now officially British Summer Time! Does that mean we’ve finally had the last of the snow?!
Monday night was back to Spin class, and after missing it last week because I had the cold I was glad to get back on the bike. Although once on I nearly fell of as my feet weren’t strapped in properly, but that’s another story! It was a different person taking it to the usual 2 people, meaning it was a slightly different style of spin, but it was good, it fun not having the same routines all the time.
I had a lot on this week, out Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night so gave Tuesday night Body Balance a miss, both Spin and Body Balance are on 8-9pm, so by time I get back home, showered etc its 10pm at the earliest, fine when nothing else on during the week but thought it would have been a bit much this week! I had planned on going out a quick run when I got home from work but it was a terrible night, rain was chucking it down, so I ended up going my Tae Bo Abs and Glutes dvd instead. Got myself booked in for both Spin and Body Balance next week though!
That was me until Friday, as I said last week I’d taken the day off work (mainly to recover from the Metallica concert on Thursday night!). I went out a run in the morning, but it was a really windy day, and a bit sleety, so I only ran 2 miles. I managed it in 18mins 5secs, first mile 8m54secs, second mile 9m11s. Overall average speed was 10.7kph, not bad I think considering the wind! Saturday was a much nicer day, and I went out for a 5k run with the other half. He waited in the car, leaving for his run about 4 mins after I left, predicting with my head start that we would finish at about the same time. It was one of those runs where I just felt brilliant, first mile 8m 58s, second 8m 45s, and third 9m 2s, then as much of a sprint finish ending the 5k in 27mins 40secs! I was so happy with it, it’s the second fastest 5k I’ve ever done, and the fastest by far this year! My average speed was 10.8kph. The best part about the run however was that the other half didn’t catch me, although at 23m 10s he was just behind me! After that we went swimming at Glasgow Club Whitehill, for a cool down as much as it was a swim!
Sunday I went back out again for another run, but again it was pretty windy and I think going out for the third day in a row, which I’ve not been used to doing for a while, was starting to take its toll on me! I managed 4k in total, nearly stopped after the 3k mark though! My time was 22mins 44 secs, whereas the previous day I’d done the same distance in 22mins exactly (and managed a further kilometre after that!) I averaged 10.6kph, first mile was a good 8m 48s but I had a terrible second mile, at 9m 28s! But considering I did that after such a good run the day before, I am not too disappointed!
I now want to start working on trying to run longer distances, with the nights now lighter, I am planning on getting out a couple of nights a week as well as my weekend runs, and so definitely need to start doing more 6 or 7k’s soon so I can tackle the 10k in May without stopping at 5k as I’ve forgotten how to run beyond that distance!!
Monday night was back to Spin class, and after missing it last week because I had the cold I was glad to get back on the bike. Although once on I nearly fell of as my feet weren’t strapped in properly, but that’s another story! It was a different person taking it to the usual 2 people, meaning it was a slightly different style of spin, but it was good, it fun not having the same routines all the time.
I had a lot on this week, out Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night so gave Tuesday night Body Balance a miss, both Spin and Body Balance are on 8-9pm, so by time I get back home, showered etc its 10pm at the earliest, fine when nothing else on during the week but thought it would have been a bit much this week! I had planned on going out a quick run when I got home from work but it was a terrible night, rain was chucking it down, so I ended up going my Tae Bo Abs and Glutes dvd instead. Got myself booked in for both Spin and Body Balance next week though!
That was me until Friday, as I said last week I’d taken the day off work (mainly to recover from the Metallica concert on Thursday night!). I went out a run in the morning, but it was a really windy day, and a bit sleety, so I only ran 2 miles. I managed it in 18mins 5secs, first mile 8m54secs, second mile 9m11s. Overall average speed was 10.7kph, not bad I think considering the wind! Saturday was a much nicer day, and I went out for a 5k run with the other half. He waited in the car, leaving for his run about 4 mins after I left, predicting with my head start that we would finish at about the same time. It was one of those runs where I just felt brilliant, first mile 8m 58s, second 8m 45s, and third 9m 2s, then as much of a sprint finish ending the 5k in 27mins 40secs! I was so happy with it, it’s the second fastest 5k I’ve ever done, and the fastest by far this year! My average speed was 10.8kph. The best part about the run however was that the other half didn’t catch me, although at 23m 10s he was just behind me! After that we went swimming at Glasgow Club Whitehill, for a cool down as much as it was a swim!
Sunday I went back out again for another run, but again it was pretty windy and I think going out for the third day in a row, which I’ve not been used to doing for a while, was starting to take its toll on me! I managed 4k in total, nearly stopped after the 3k mark though! My time was 22mins 44 secs, whereas the previous day I’d done the same distance in 22mins exactly (and managed a further kilometre after that!) I averaged 10.6kph, first mile was a good 8m 48s but I had a terrible second mile, at 9m 28s! But considering I did that after such a good run the day before, I am not too disappointed!
I now want to start working on trying to run longer distances, with the nights now lighter, I am planning on getting out a couple of nights a week as well as my weekend runs, and so definitely need to start doing more 6 or 7k’s soon so I can tackle the 10k in May without stopping at 5k as I’ve forgotten how to run beyond that distance!!
Monday 23 March 2009
Week 11
How did it get to week 11 of my training already? That was quick!! Well wasn’t a bad week overall I guess, not brilliant either though!
I gave Monday night Spin a miss as I was still feeling a little run down from the cold, too much energy is required for it at the best of times! Was able to go to Body Balance on Tuesday though which I enjoyed.
By Wednesday night I was feeling much better and so able to go out for a run. I did 5k in 28mins 21secs, averaging 10.6kpm, which is the fastest 5k time I’ve done this year! Was very happy with it, it was one of those runs where I wasn’t thinking at all that I hope I can last to 5k, it was just a matter of how quick I could run it! My mile times were 9mins for the first, 9mins 25secs for the second and 9mins 3secs for the third, so I need to work on that second mile time! That was the one where I run back up the hill though….!
I wasn’t able to go anything Thursday or Friday night, so Saturday went out with the other half and ran round a loch that is near us, which is 2.78k long (to be exact!) As I run a bit slower than him, he was doing some Fartleking, sprinting ahead then jogging back and running with me for a bit then sprinting ahead again. I completed the lap in 15mins exactly, averaging 11.1kph. I was well impressed with myself, especially as I had been out the night before!! The other half did a second lap while I recovered, and I then jogged to meet him at the other side, doing another 1.3k, strangely averaging 10.3kph when I thought I was going really slow! This time last year that would have been fast for me! After that we did a couple of hill sprints, which apparently are great training, if not just a form of torture! The second hill sprint I was given a slight head start and other half was aiming to overtake me, I knew he was right on my shoulder as we were approaching the top and I suddenly got a burst of speed and broke away, reaching the top first! That was a fun moment! (He won’t thank me for saying that!) It is good if you are out training with someone who runs at a different pace than you add in such things as Fartleks and chases as it saves one person having to run slower and definitely brings a more competitive edge to the running!
Was out a bit later on Sunday as had been visiting my mum, being Mother’s Day of course! It was a really windy day and I was feeing a bit bored, so ran a mile in 8mins 52s, averaging 10.9kph, then did 5 hill sprints, up the usual bit I struggle with on the way back up my usual route. I then ran a fast kilometre back home, at 5mins 29s. It was nice to do something a little different for a change, it does get a bit repetitive just going out running the same route all the time!
This week I have quite a lot on at night, got Spin on Monday night again though, and I’m taking a day off work on Friday so would really like to try do a 7 or 8k run…..will let you know next week how I get on!
Training song of the week – Gonna Fly Now from the Rocky soundtrack, got me through the hill sprints!
I gave Monday night Spin a miss as I was still feeling a little run down from the cold, too much energy is required for it at the best of times! Was able to go to Body Balance on Tuesday though which I enjoyed.
By Wednesday night I was feeling much better and so able to go out for a run. I did 5k in 28mins 21secs, averaging 10.6kpm, which is the fastest 5k time I’ve done this year! Was very happy with it, it was one of those runs where I wasn’t thinking at all that I hope I can last to 5k, it was just a matter of how quick I could run it! My mile times were 9mins for the first, 9mins 25secs for the second and 9mins 3secs for the third, so I need to work on that second mile time! That was the one where I run back up the hill though….!
I wasn’t able to go anything Thursday or Friday night, so Saturday went out with the other half and ran round a loch that is near us, which is 2.78k long (to be exact!) As I run a bit slower than him, he was doing some Fartleking, sprinting ahead then jogging back and running with me for a bit then sprinting ahead again. I completed the lap in 15mins exactly, averaging 11.1kph. I was well impressed with myself, especially as I had been out the night before!! The other half did a second lap while I recovered, and I then jogged to meet him at the other side, doing another 1.3k, strangely averaging 10.3kph when I thought I was going really slow! This time last year that would have been fast for me! After that we did a couple of hill sprints, which apparently are great training, if not just a form of torture! The second hill sprint I was given a slight head start and other half was aiming to overtake me, I knew he was right on my shoulder as we were approaching the top and I suddenly got a burst of speed and broke away, reaching the top first! That was a fun moment! (He won’t thank me for saying that!) It is good if you are out training with someone who runs at a different pace than you add in such things as Fartleks and chases as it saves one person having to run slower and definitely brings a more competitive edge to the running!
Was out a bit later on Sunday as had been visiting my mum, being Mother’s Day of course! It was a really windy day and I was feeing a bit bored, so ran a mile in 8mins 52s, averaging 10.9kph, then did 5 hill sprints, up the usual bit I struggle with on the way back up my usual route. I then ran a fast kilometre back home, at 5mins 29s. It was nice to do something a little different for a change, it does get a bit repetitive just going out running the same route all the time!
This week I have quite a lot on at night, got Spin on Monday night again though, and I’m taking a day off work on Friday so would really like to try do a 7 or 8k run…..will let you know next week how I get on!
Training song of the week – Gonna Fly Now from the Rocky soundtrack, got me through the hill sprints!
Monday 16 March 2009
Week 10
Another mixed week, the first half of the week was great but then it ended really disappointing…the highs and lows of running I guess!
Monday and Tuesday night was my usual Spin and Body Balance classes, enjoyed them as usual, although I felt at Spin as though my legs were working independently of my brain! I always come out of Spin knowing I’ve had a good workout, but Monday was even more so than usual! I think I spun too hard…..! Going to Body Balance the following night is definitely a nice contrast after the hard work out of the day before!
On Wednesday night I managed to take advantage of the nice weather when I got home from work and go out for a run…except by time I got all my running clothes on and back outside the rain had started!! I was motivated by that point anyway, so still went out for a quick run. I think I’ve mentioned before that once round my block is 1.25k, I went round twice, so 2.5k in total, and did it in 13mins 46secs, an average of 10.9kph. So that’s a quarter of the race done at the target pace….just need to do that a further 3 times in a row! Felt really good from it though, I’d forgotten how much better I run at night!
I managed to get back out again on Thursday night, this time I’d aimed to run 3 times round the block, so about 3.75k, however I was feeling pretty good again so ended up doing 4k in total. My time was 22mins 21secs, averaging 10.8kph, so was pretty pleased with that. Hopefully I can get back in a routine of going out for a run after work a couple of times a week as I really think it will help my running. The one piece of advice I’d say to anyone is that you need to get your running clothes on as soon as you get in the house, I find that if I sit down its very hard to get back up again! And unlike the Glasgow Club you can’t book to go out running so the only motivation is yourself! (Or your other half kicking you out the door….! At least he had a lovely meal waiting on me when I got back from my run on Wednesday thought so he’s not all bad!)
By that point I was feeling pretty good about Sunday, and was going to give myself Friday off, then go for another run on Saturday before my 6k race on Sunday, but Friday I started coming down with the cold. A few people in my office had been feeling ill with it during the week so I guess not altogether surprising that I caught it also, and as the day went on I was getting more and more blocked up! I completely rested on Saturday, still hoping to be able to run Sunday, but I woke up on Sunday feeling really run down so I decided not to go. I knew I didn’t have the energy to run it, and no point forcing myself and perhaps making my cold worse. It’s really annoying to not be able to take part in a run that you have signed up for, but I have found another 6k at Strathclyde Park in April on the Jog Scotland website. I check out their events page regularly incase there are any runs coming up that I’m interested in doing, so I am going to sign up to that as another training race before May. It’s a 6k and a 10mile, think the 6k will be plenty though for me! Hopefully I won’t be floored with the cold too long and can get back into my routine soon!
Monday and Tuesday night was my usual Spin and Body Balance classes, enjoyed them as usual, although I felt at Spin as though my legs were working independently of my brain! I always come out of Spin knowing I’ve had a good workout, but Monday was even more so than usual! I think I spun too hard…..! Going to Body Balance the following night is definitely a nice contrast after the hard work out of the day before!
On Wednesday night I managed to take advantage of the nice weather when I got home from work and go out for a run…except by time I got all my running clothes on and back outside the rain had started!! I was motivated by that point anyway, so still went out for a quick run. I think I’ve mentioned before that once round my block is 1.25k, I went round twice, so 2.5k in total, and did it in 13mins 46secs, an average of 10.9kph. So that’s a quarter of the race done at the target pace….just need to do that a further 3 times in a row! Felt really good from it though, I’d forgotten how much better I run at night!
I managed to get back out again on Thursday night, this time I’d aimed to run 3 times round the block, so about 3.75k, however I was feeling pretty good again so ended up doing 4k in total. My time was 22mins 21secs, averaging 10.8kph, so was pretty pleased with that. Hopefully I can get back in a routine of going out for a run after work a couple of times a week as I really think it will help my running. The one piece of advice I’d say to anyone is that you need to get your running clothes on as soon as you get in the house, I find that if I sit down its very hard to get back up again! And unlike the Glasgow Club you can’t book to go out running so the only motivation is yourself! (Or your other half kicking you out the door….! At least he had a lovely meal waiting on me when I got back from my run on Wednesday thought so he’s not all bad!)
By that point I was feeling pretty good about Sunday, and was going to give myself Friday off, then go for another run on Saturday before my 6k race on Sunday, but Friday I started coming down with the cold. A few people in my office had been feeling ill with it during the week so I guess not altogether surprising that I caught it also, and as the day went on I was getting more and more blocked up! I completely rested on Saturday, still hoping to be able to run Sunday, but I woke up on Sunday feeling really run down so I decided not to go. I knew I didn’t have the energy to run it, and no point forcing myself and perhaps making my cold worse. It’s really annoying to not be able to take part in a run that you have signed up for, but I have found another 6k at Strathclyde Park in April on the Jog Scotland website. I check out their events page regularly incase there are any runs coming up that I’m interested in doing, so I am going to sign up to that as another training race before May. It’s a 6k and a 10mile, think the 6k will be plenty though for me! Hopefully I won’t be floored with the cold too long and can get back into my routine soon!
Monday 9 March 2009
Week 9
What a week!! At one stage I thought I wasn’t going to be able to run on Saturday! I was at Spin class on Monday night as usual, however it was a different person taking the class this time. That instructor and the usual one are going to be taking alternative Monday nights from now on. They have quite different styles to each other, so it will be good not doing exactly the same routine every week. However as is was the first time with someone new, I was really feeling the burn in my thighs by the end! Actually I felt the burn after about 10 mins in if I’m honest!!
Tuesday however my left leg was really painful. I’d injured my groin about a year and a half ago. Every so often I feel a twinge in the area but it usually disappears quickly. It was quite tight on Tuesday though and I was finding walking a struggle. I went to body balance at night and realised I couldn’t do some of the stretches as it was just a bit too painful. I did what I could, and then got myself home and didn’t move for the rest of the night! I took it really easy the rest of the week, didn’t do any exercise and walked pretty slowly everywhere to avoid making it worse so by Saturday I was feeling ok for the run.
It was another terrible day on Saturday, when will this bad weather end?! We got down to Glasgow Green and did a warm up jog to keep the muscles warm, and also so I could test my leg out! Luckily it didn’t hurt! Just before the race was due to start a group warm up took place. At this point there was still no sign of a start line though, with everyone was just gathered together on the grass. Then suddenly the girl doing the warm up shouted “go” pointing to the left, and we were all looking around confused, and then some people started running so we all ended up following them! After about 750 metres however we realised the people at the front had stopped and were walking back. Turns out it was a false start, we shouldn’t have been told to go! So we all had to go back up to where we started, by this point there was an actually start tape up, and then do it all over again! Anyway, we got going (a second time!) and it was a fairly decent course with just a couple of small hills but mainly flat. However I think the confusion over the start, lack of training over the last week plus being wary about my leg put paid to a fast time and I finally got myself over the finish line at exactly 30 minutes (incidentally still the fastest 5k I’ve done in race conditions but much slower than I know I can do it!) The other half would like me to add that he did it in 22 and a half minutes. Show off!
After the run, we went to Glasgow Club Easterhouse Pool for a soak in the pool and then went into the Steam Room to relax. You can get into any of the Glasgow Clubs “Sauna, Steam and Spas” for free if you are a Fitness Unlimited member and it is a great way to wind down after any exercise!
I was down at a friend’s house on Sunday so had a break from running, although with the heavy snow showers I might not have got out anyway! I did do my Tae Bo Abs and Glutes dvd once I got back home though so I was still doing some exercise!
This week I have a 6k for St Andrews Hospice round Strathclyde Park on Sunday. I have my usual Spin and Body Balance classes on but I am hoping to get out running a couple of nights after work as well. I feel I did my best running last year when I was in a good routine of going out about 4 or 5 times a week, at nights going short fast runs with longer slower runs at the weekend, but at the moment as I am just going out at the weekend but trying to run faster, I’m not getting the mileage I need. Got a couple of months till the Women’s 10k now so if I can get out more I really think it will make a difference. One positive I can take from this week anyway is that April last year I did the North Glasgow 5k in 31 and an half minutes, this year, a month earlier, I am already doing it much quicker, so I am at least ahead of where I was at this point last year!
Tuesday however my left leg was really painful. I’d injured my groin about a year and a half ago. Every so often I feel a twinge in the area but it usually disappears quickly. It was quite tight on Tuesday though and I was finding walking a struggle. I went to body balance at night and realised I couldn’t do some of the stretches as it was just a bit too painful. I did what I could, and then got myself home and didn’t move for the rest of the night! I took it really easy the rest of the week, didn’t do any exercise and walked pretty slowly everywhere to avoid making it worse so by Saturday I was feeling ok for the run.
It was another terrible day on Saturday, when will this bad weather end?! We got down to Glasgow Green and did a warm up jog to keep the muscles warm, and also so I could test my leg out! Luckily it didn’t hurt! Just before the race was due to start a group warm up took place. At this point there was still no sign of a start line though, with everyone was just gathered together on the grass. Then suddenly the girl doing the warm up shouted “go” pointing to the left, and we were all looking around confused, and then some people started running so we all ended up following them! After about 750 metres however we realised the people at the front had stopped and were walking back. Turns out it was a false start, we shouldn’t have been told to go! So we all had to go back up to where we started, by this point there was an actually start tape up, and then do it all over again! Anyway, we got going (a second time!) and it was a fairly decent course with just a couple of small hills but mainly flat. However I think the confusion over the start, lack of training over the last week plus being wary about my leg put paid to a fast time and I finally got myself over the finish line at exactly 30 minutes (incidentally still the fastest 5k I’ve done in race conditions but much slower than I know I can do it!) The other half would like me to add that he did it in 22 and a half minutes. Show off!
After the run, we went to Glasgow Club Easterhouse Pool for a soak in the pool and then went into the Steam Room to relax. You can get into any of the Glasgow Clubs “Sauna, Steam and Spas” for free if you are a Fitness Unlimited member and it is a great way to wind down after any exercise!
I was down at a friend’s house on Sunday so had a break from running, although with the heavy snow showers I might not have got out anyway! I did do my Tae Bo Abs and Glutes dvd once I got back home though so I was still doing some exercise!
This week I have a 6k for St Andrews Hospice round Strathclyde Park on Sunday. I have my usual Spin and Body Balance classes on but I am hoping to get out running a couple of nights after work as well. I feel I did my best running last year when I was in a good routine of going out about 4 or 5 times a week, at nights going short fast runs with longer slower runs at the weekend, but at the moment as I am just going out at the weekend but trying to run faster, I’m not getting the mileage I need. Got a couple of months till the Women’s 10k now so if I can get out more I really think it will make a difference. One positive I can take from this week anyway is that April last year I did the North Glasgow 5k in 31 and an half minutes, this year, a month earlier, I am already doing it much quicker, so I am at least ahead of where I was at this point last year!
Monday 2 March 2009
Week 8
Well I’m pleased to report that this last week of training went much better than the previous week! I have definitely learned my lesson, never again will I go out running without at least eating breakfast first!
Monday night was back to Spin class again, was pretty challenging this week, the good thing about Spin is that you have some control over how hard a work out you actually do, as you can up the resistance on the bike more to make it harder, or easing off on it if you are struggling. I was feeling the thighs burning on Monday so I must have been using the resistance quite high, or I’m just very unfit! Tuesday night I went to Body Balance again, I definitely do feel my balance has improved since I started going! Not quite as wobbly as I was to begin with!!
Wednesday night I decided to do a fitness dvd in the house. I have recently got Billy Blanks Tae Bo dvds and there are various different programmes on them. I did “abs and glutes” that night. Now that was an intense workout! It only lasts about 25 mins, then 5 mins warm down, but it is very high tempo! I definitely felt it working immediately, and walking was a little difficult on Thursday! My butt muscles were agony, probably as they’ve never been used before!!
Thursday night I went to the hairdressers, oh wait this is just a training diary isn’t it?! Moving on…..! Saturday we went to Broadwood Loch for a run. The other half spotted his mate up ahead and so sprinted off to catch him up, I took off at a more leisurely pace. Had decided I wanted to do a 6k, as all my running recently I’ve stopped as soon as I reach 5k (if I’ve even made it that far!). I’m pleased to say I did do 6k without stopping, although my time was pretty slow, 35 mins 54 seconds! I was only just over 10kph! However I realised that this time last year if I was able to do a 6k without stopping it would have taken me about 40 mins! I am glad anyway that I managed to get beyond the 5k point, especially as I’m doing a 6k race in a couple of weeks!
Sunday I went out for a run just at the rain came pouring down! Thinking I wanted back in the house quickly, I ran what must be the fastest first mile I’ve ever done (without stopping at the end!), 8 mins 41 secs! I had planned to run out to the end of the road and back, which is exactly 4k. However at about the 3k mark you are running back up a hill…at 2.5k I was averaging 10.9kph, perfect pace, but my earlier exertions had by then taken their toll on me and by time I had got up the hill my pace had seriously dropped! In the end I made it back to the house having done 4k in about 22mins 34 secs, an average of 10.6kph! I am pretty pleased with that as it’s the fastest I’ve ran over that distance this year, as although I’ve ran faster over 2 miles (3.2k) I had stopped at that point so don’t know if I could have kept it up for longer! Plus I ran such a fast first mile, and the weather conditions were dreadful! (I was getting funny looks from passing drivers in cars for being out running in the pouring rain!)
This weekend I have the Stress Combat 5k at Glasgow Green on Saturday. Any previous 5k I’ve done as an organised race I’ve always been over 30 mins, I am not putting too much pressure on myself for a time for this one but would love to be around the 28minute mark….will let you know how I get on in next weeks blog!
Favourite Training Song This Week: Linkin Park/Jay Z = Points of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer
Monday night was back to Spin class again, was pretty challenging this week, the good thing about Spin is that you have some control over how hard a work out you actually do, as you can up the resistance on the bike more to make it harder, or easing off on it if you are struggling. I was feeling the thighs burning on Monday so I must have been using the resistance quite high, or I’m just very unfit! Tuesday night I went to Body Balance again, I definitely do feel my balance has improved since I started going! Not quite as wobbly as I was to begin with!!
Wednesday night I decided to do a fitness dvd in the house. I have recently got Billy Blanks Tae Bo dvds and there are various different programmes on them. I did “abs and glutes” that night. Now that was an intense workout! It only lasts about 25 mins, then 5 mins warm down, but it is very high tempo! I definitely felt it working immediately, and walking was a little difficult on Thursday! My butt muscles were agony, probably as they’ve never been used before!!
Thursday night I went to the hairdressers, oh wait this is just a training diary isn’t it?! Moving on…..! Saturday we went to Broadwood Loch for a run. The other half spotted his mate up ahead and so sprinted off to catch him up, I took off at a more leisurely pace. Had decided I wanted to do a 6k, as all my running recently I’ve stopped as soon as I reach 5k (if I’ve even made it that far!). I’m pleased to say I did do 6k without stopping, although my time was pretty slow, 35 mins 54 seconds! I was only just over 10kph! However I realised that this time last year if I was able to do a 6k without stopping it would have taken me about 40 mins! I am glad anyway that I managed to get beyond the 5k point, especially as I’m doing a 6k race in a couple of weeks!
Sunday I went out for a run just at the rain came pouring down! Thinking I wanted back in the house quickly, I ran what must be the fastest first mile I’ve ever done (without stopping at the end!), 8 mins 41 secs! I had planned to run out to the end of the road and back, which is exactly 4k. However at about the 3k mark you are running back up a hill…at 2.5k I was averaging 10.9kph, perfect pace, but my earlier exertions had by then taken their toll on me and by time I had got up the hill my pace had seriously dropped! In the end I made it back to the house having done 4k in about 22mins 34 secs, an average of 10.6kph! I am pretty pleased with that as it’s the fastest I’ve ran over that distance this year, as although I’ve ran faster over 2 miles (3.2k) I had stopped at that point so don’t know if I could have kept it up for longer! Plus I ran such a fast first mile, and the weather conditions were dreadful! (I was getting funny looks from passing drivers in cars for being out running in the pouring rain!)
This weekend I have the Stress Combat 5k at Glasgow Green on Saturday. Any previous 5k I’ve done as an organised race I’ve always been over 30 mins, I am not putting too much pressure on myself for a time for this one but would love to be around the 28minute mark….will let you know how I get on in next weeks blog!
Favourite Training Song This Week: Linkin Park/Jay Z = Points of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer
Monday 23 February 2009
Week 7
What was I saying last week about having good weeks and bad weeks? Well this one definitely goes down as a bad week!
It started off promising enough, Spin class on Monday night, which, after a two week break from it, was pretty painful! Definitely was feeling the sweat during it! But that hopefully means its doing some good! What wasn’t good was the stairs to get into work the day! Boy did my thighs feel heavy! Body Balance on Tuesday night again also, and despite the thigh pain it was really good. I enjoy both classes even though they are such a contrast to each other, its good on a Monday night to go a bit mad on a bike then know the next night I’m still doing exercising but its much more about working your core and not working up a sweat!
Didn’t manage to get out running till the weekend, and what I did do isn’t exactly much to celebrate! Was pretty much just up and out the house on Saturday morning, did just over 3.5k but was seriously struggling, to the extend that I wasn’t really paying attention to where I was going, got a bit to close to a bush and my earphones got caught up in a branch and became detached from my mp3 player!! I had to stop to pick them up and just could not get going again! Walked a little then managed to run about a kilometre or so back to the car, so I’m thinking I might have done about 4.5k in total. After the run we went to Glasgow Club Easterhouse Pool for some swimming and then a relax in the steam room before going back home! Perfect end to a rubbish run!
As if I hadn’t learned my lesson from Saturday, I went and did the exact same thing on Sunday, got out of bed and went running, with no proper food since my dinner the previous night, and not much water in me. Stupid decision!! Only made it to the mile mark this time before I wilted!! (I’m blaming the fact it was a hot day also!) I could so easily have chucked it at the kilometre point but managed, somehow, to push myself a bit further! (My Garmin, although is set up to measure in kilometres, also beeps at every mile, which can be good for pushing you that bit further, i.e. if I make it to 3k and can do a bit more it beeps for 2 miles at 3.22k!). Luckily my fiancé was out getting the Sunday papers in the car and picked me up (then gave me a lecture about not taking on the proper fuel before running!!)
As much of a disaster as my weekend of running was, i learned some good lessons of what not to do. Clearly getting up and going running first thing in the morning with no food or drink for fuel is a stupid idea! I’ll just have to put the weekend down to bad experience and hopefully put it behind me for future runs!
It started off promising enough, Spin class on Monday night, which, after a two week break from it, was pretty painful! Definitely was feeling the sweat during it! But that hopefully means its doing some good! What wasn’t good was the stairs to get into work the day! Boy did my thighs feel heavy! Body Balance on Tuesday night again also, and despite the thigh pain it was really good. I enjoy both classes even though they are such a contrast to each other, its good on a Monday night to go a bit mad on a bike then know the next night I’m still doing exercising but its much more about working your core and not working up a sweat!
Didn’t manage to get out running till the weekend, and what I did do isn’t exactly much to celebrate! Was pretty much just up and out the house on Saturday morning, did just over 3.5k but was seriously struggling, to the extend that I wasn’t really paying attention to where I was going, got a bit to close to a bush and my earphones got caught up in a branch and became detached from my mp3 player!! I had to stop to pick them up and just could not get going again! Walked a little then managed to run about a kilometre or so back to the car, so I’m thinking I might have done about 4.5k in total. After the run we went to Glasgow Club Easterhouse Pool for some swimming and then a relax in the steam room before going back home! Perfect end to a rubbish run!
As if I hadn’t learned my lesson from Saturday, I went and did the exact same thing on Sunday, got out of bed and went running, with no proper food since my dinner the previous night, and not much water in me. Stupid decision!! Only made it to the mile mark this time before I wilted!! (I’m blaming the fact it was a hot day also!) I could so easily have chucked it at the kilometre point but managed, somehow, to push myself a bit further! (My Garmin, although is set up to measure in kilometres, also beeps at every mile, which can be good for pushing you that bit further, i.e. if I make it to 3k and can do a bit more it beeps for 2 miles at 3.22k!). Luckily my fiancé was out getting the Sunday papers in the car and picked me up (then gave me a lecture about not taking on the proper fuel before running!!)
As much of a disaster as my weekend of running was, i learned some good lessons of what not to do. Clearly getting up and going running first thing in the morning with no food or drink for fuel is a stupid idea! I’ll just have to put the weekend down to bad experience and hopefully put it behind me for future runs!
Wednesday 18 February 2009
Week 6
The start of another week, and another snow storm, so once again I wasn’t able to make it to Spin class on Monday night. Was back at Body Balance on Tuesday thought, and have booked in for both this week. Looking forward to going back to Spin after a two week break from it, there’s a sentence I thought I’d never say!
Saturday was a busy day, I was getting taken out for a meal for Valentine’s Day at night so made sure I did plenty of exercise in the morning! The other half was meeting a friend he often goes running with for a run at 9.30 in the morning so I thought I may as well go also, though they run 10k’s at 45mins (and are attempting the half marathon at the GSR in Sept for the first time!) so I started off first knowing they would soon overtake me. I was pleasantly surprised to make it well over the mile before they passed me! Good to know I’m not the only one struggling!! I did a 5k again, same as last Saturday, this time I did it in 28mins 50secs! It was a push but I could tell as I was approaching the 5k that I would be under 29mins as long as I didn’t slow down so I was determined to do it!
One problem I have had since I started running is that I am often sick after a run, or worse during a run! I haven’t yet been able to compete in a race without throwing up over the finish line, sometimes quite discreetly, others quite spectacularly! I know a lot of people do it through nerves on the day, but I am sometimes sick also when doing training runs so I know it isn’t just that with me. I threw up on Saturday as soon as I reached the 5k, I would have liked to have run a bit beyond it without stopping but no chance! Apparently it is a build up of lactic acid but I really have no idea how to stop it! I’ve tried loads of different things, not eating before running, eating two hours before, changing what I drink, I think I just have to accept it’s a part of my running style! Would be interesting to hear if other people have had similar experiences so I welcome any comments on this!
Anyway, after the 5k, and the throwing up, I was a wee bit away from the car and didn’t want to just walk all the way back so ended up doing some fartleking – where you combine sprints with slow jogs, apparently it is great training and also great for your recovery times! My favourite way to do it is sprint to a lampost, walk/jog to the next one, then sprint to the next again, and if people are passing you make sure you sprint past them so you look like you’re a really good runner!! (not that I do that of course….!) After the run we went swimming (more a relaxing soak than exercise!) and tried out the sauna and steam room, and then I did my weights so was well deserving of my meal I would say!
Sometimes with running I feel great, like I could run forever, whereas other times I feel it’s such a struggle. Last week was a struggle, my 5k was not easy and after such runs I do think that I will never be able to achieve my target 10k time. I was really pleased with my 5k time on Saturday at just over 30 secs quicker than last week, however it still wasn’t anywhere near target. I went out for a run again on Sunday, but I wasn’t able to go out till just before teatime. I was completely hyper, having just booked my wedding cars (getting married in April next year!) at the wedding show at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall so decided since it was a bit later than usual I would just go and try run a short, faster run. I ended up doing 2.5k in 13 and a half mins, averaging 11.2kph! I felt great, yet that pace would have been a 27min 5k, nearly 2 mins quicker than the day before! Ok admittedly I probably would have been unlikely to run a full 5k at that pace, but the more my body gets used to running faster, the better!
All in all it felt a good week of training! I did a 5k which had improved on the week before, then a 2.5k at above target pace, with still 3 months to go to the big day! I have to say I feel at lot more optimistic than I did this time last week!!
Saturday was a busy day, I was getting taken out for a meal for Valentine’s Day at night so made sure I did plenty of exercise in the morning! The other half was meeting a friend he often goes running with for a run at 9.30 in the morning so I thought I may as well go also, though they run 10k’s at 45mins (and are attempting the half marathon at the GSR in Sept for the first time!) so I started off first knowing they would soon overtake me. I was pleasantly surprised to make it well over the mile before they passed me! Good to know I’m not the only one struggling!! I did a 5k again, same as last Saturday, this time I did it in 28mins 50secs! It was a push but I could tell as I was approaching the 5k that I would be under 29mins as long as I didn’t slow down so I was determined to do it!
One problem I have had since I started running is that I am often sick after a run, or worse during a run! I haven’t yet been able to compete in a race without throwing up over the finish line, sometimes quite discreetly, others quite spectacularly! I know a lot of people do it through nerves on the day, but I am sometimes sick also when doing training runs so I know it isn’t just that with me. I threw up on Saturday as soon as I reached the 5k, I would have liked to have run a bit beyond it without stopping but no chance! Apparently it is a build up of lactic acid but I really have no idea how to stop it! I’ve tried loads of different things, not eating before running, eating two hours before, changing what I drink, I think I just have to accept it’s a part of my running style! Would be interesting to hear if other people have had similar experiences so I welcome any comments on this!
Anyway, after the 5k, and the throwing up, I was a wee bit away from the car and didn’t want to just walk all the way back so ended up doing some fartleking – where you combine sprints with slow jogs, apparently it is great training and also great for your recovery times! My favourite way to do it is sprint to a lampost, walk/jog to the next one, then sprint to the next again, and if people are passing you make sure you sprint past them so you look like you’re a really good runner!! (not that I do that of course….!) After the run we went swimming (more a relaxing soak than exercise!) and tried out the sauna and steam room, and then I did my weights so was well deserving of my meal I would say!
Sometimes with running I feel great, like I could run forever, whereas other times I feel it’s such a struggle. Last week was a struggle, my 5k was not easy and after such runs I do think that I will never be able to achieve my target 10k time. I was really pleased with my 5k time on Saturday at just over 30 secs quicker than last week, however it still wasn’t anywhere near target. I went out for a run again on Sunday, but I wasn’t able to go out till just before teatime. I was completely hyper, having just booked my wedding cars (getting married in April next year!) at the wedding show at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall so decided since it was a bit later than usual I would just go and try run a short, faster run. I ended up doing 2.5k in 13 and a half mins, averaging 11.2kph! I felt great, yet that pace would have been a 27min 5k, nearly 2 mins quicker than the day before! Ok admittedly I probably would have been unlikely to run a full 5k at that pace, but the more my body gets used to running faster, the better!
All in all it felt a good week of training! I did a 5k which had improved on the week before, then a 2.5k at above target pace, with still 3 months to go to the big day! I have to say I feel at lot more optimistic than I did this time last week!!
Tuesday 10 February 2009
Week 5
This last week has been a bit hit and miss, thanks to the good old British weather again! Now I remember why in the last couple of years I didn’t start training till springtime! Maybe also explains why I’ve never been able to run that fast until well into the running season before!
Anyway, Monday night’s Spin class was cancelled, unsurprisingly, because of the snow. Even if it hadn’t been cancelled we wouldn’t have gone anyway, driving conditions were terrible! Did my weights in the house instead to at least feel I was doing something!
Luckily on Tuesday the weather had improved so I got to my Body Balance class. The first girl who took it was back again, and I found I am starting to enjoy it more and more (as I figure out what I’m actually doing!) Still have slight issues with my balance, i.e. I fall over. A lot. But I think I am maybe not quite as bad as I was when I first went!! Body Balance is all about your core strength and I’m hoping that if I keep going it will help my overall fitness and improve my running, because of my core stability or whatever they call it! The stuff they talk about on Dancing on Ice!
Wednesday night was back to doing weights again, then didn’t get a chance to do anything else again until Saturday morning. I went out for a run and for the first 2.5k I felt great, was running about 10.6kph, feeling happy with it, then started running back up the hill on my usual route and nearly gave up! It was such a struggle to keep going, in the end I pushed myself into doing a 5k in just under 29 and a half minutes, ave about 10.2kph. I must have done a really slow second half of the run! However, although I really struggled I can take some positives from it. Firstly, although I wanted to give up, I kept going right to the 5k. I used to give up far too easily when running, so I am proud of myself for not stopping. I think now I am better at knowing my limits, and knowing how much I can push my body. I am aware that when I start feeling tired I do usually have a bit more in reserve! Secondly, I ran the 5k about 30 seconds faster than I did my previous 5k about 3 weeks ago. Therefore, I have improved!! Thirdly, it was a freezing cold day therefore not ideal running conditions, and finally I woke up the next day not feeling that great so was probably starting to not feel well on the Saturday!! So there, four good reasons why I should be pleased with my run!! I feel better already! (I was hoping for a 5th reason, one for every kilometre, but can’t think of one unfortunately!) Actually just thought of one, the first part of my run was at a really good speed, so at least it wasn’t a totally slow run! Did my weights after my run, then had a nice long soak in the bath! I remember when Saturday mornings used to be about having a lie in….!
Sunday: as I said above I wasn’t feeling too great, tried to go a run but made it to a kilometre but my legs were feeling like lead so decided not to push myself. I’m a great believer in listening to your body and if you are not feeling 100% you shouldn’t push yourself and risk getting more unwell (despite what the other half says about me being a quitter!! (This coming from the guy who spend the whole Saturday lying on the couch because he had the sniffles!!)
One thing I’m finding at the moment is that I do feel really motivated to go running! I’m not sure if its from writing this blog or because, due to the weather, I’m not getting to exercise as regularly as in the summer months. I actually felt jealous when the other half ran a 5k on Tuesday night when I was at my class because I wasn’t out running! Hoping this feeling of motivation continues for a while longer anyway!!
Anyway, Monday night’s Spin class was cancelled, unsurprisingly, because of the snow. Even if it hadn’t been cancelled we wouldn’t have gone anyway, driving conditions were terrible! Did my weights in the house instead to at least feel I was doing something!
Luckily on Tuesday the weather had improved so I got to my Body Balance class. The first girl who took it was back again, and I found I am starting to enjoy it more and more (as I figure out what I’m actually doing!) Still have slight issues with my balance, i.e. I fall over. A lot. But I think I am maybe not quite as bad as I was when I first went!! Body Balance is all about your core strength and I’m hoping that if I keep going it will help my overall fitness and improve my running, because of my core stability or whatever they call it! The stuff they talk about on Dancing on Ice!
Wednesday night was back to doing weights again, then didn’t get a chance to do anything else again until Saturday morning. I went out for a run and for the first 2.5k I felt great, was running about 10.6kph, feeling happy with it, then started running back up the hill on my usual route and nearly gave up! It was such a struggle to keep going, in the end I pushed myself into doing a 5k in just under 29 and a half minutes, ave about 10.2kph. I must have done a really slow second half of the run! However, although I really struggled I can take some positives from it. Firstly, although I wanted to give up, I kept going right to the 5k. I used to give up far too easily when running, so I am proud of myself for not stopping. I think now I am better at knowing my limits, and knowing how much I can push my body. I am aware that when I start feeling tired I do usually have a bit more in reserve! Secondly, I ran the 5k about 30 seconds faster than I did my previous 5k about 3 weeks ago. Therefore, I have improved!! Thirdly, it was a freezing cold day therefore not ideal running conditions, and finally I woke up the next day not feeling that great so was probably starting to not feel well on the Saturday!! So there, four good reasons why I should be pleased with my run!! I feel better already! (I was hoping for a 5th reason, one for every kilometre, but can’t think of one unfortunately!) Actually just thought of one, the first part of my run was at a really good speed, so at least it wasn’t a totally slow run! Did my weights after my run, then had a nice long soak in the bath! I remember when Saturday mornings used to be about having a lie in….!
Sunday: as I said above I wasn’t feeling too great, tried to go a run but made it to a kilometre but my legs were feeling like lead so decided not to push myself. I’m a great believer in listening to your body and if you are not feeling 100% you shouldn’t push yourself and risk getting more unwell (despite what the other half says about me being a quitter!! (This coming from the guy who spend the whole Saturday lying on the couch because he had the sniffles!!)
One thing I’m finding at the moment is that I do feel really motivated to go running! I’m not sure if its from writing this blog or because, due to the weather, I’m not getting to exercise as regularly as in the summer months. I actually felt jealous when the other half ran a 5k on Tuesday night when I was at my class because I wasn’t out running! Hoping this feeling of motivation continues for a while longer anyway!!
Week 4
I started this week with me usually routine (ie second week in a row!!). Spin on Monday and Body Balance on Tuesday. The usual girl who takes both classes was ill with the flu so we had different people taking them. Really enjoyed spin but found it a bit more intense on the thighs this week. Walking up the 2 flights of stairs to work on Tuesday was a struggle! But it’s an amazing cardio workout and you can really feel it making a difference. The encouragement you get from the trainer means you push yourself that bit harder. The class is a really mixed group too, so you never feel out of place.
Body Balance was also someone different and did a different routine but again I really enjoyed it (although my balance still isn’t very good!). I’m hoping that after a few weeks me “core” will improve and therefore balance will be better.
After running a mile averaging 11.2kph last Sunday, I went for a run on Saturday hoping to do longer at a good speed. I managed 2 miles at 10.8kph, just short of the 10.9kph needed for a 55 minute 10k. (I really must decide whether to think in km or miles!!!! All this jumping around between them must be confusing for anyone reading this!!)
Felt really pleased with myself for doing that distance and speed at such an early stage in my training this year. Also did some weights once I got back in which meant I could go to Pizza Hut guilt free later on in the afternoon.
I went out for another run on Sunday and did 3km in total. First 2.5km I was averaging 10.9kph, bang on target pace. However I was running into a massive head wind, it was freezing and I was running up a hill! So by the time I reached 3km I had tears streaming down my face with the wind and my average had dropped to 10.7kph. But with 3 and a half months to go to be able to do a quarter of the distance at target pace, I’m not too disappointed!
To help my 10k training I also signed up for two other runs this week. A 5k run for Combat Stress at Glasgow Green and a 6km at Strathclyde Park, both in March. I saw the leaflet for the Combat Stress run at Glasgow Club Easterhouse the other week and thought it would be ideal preparation. Hopefully by then I’ll be able to dot the full 5km distance at my target 10k pace, if not quicker….!!!
Body Balance was also someone different and did a different routine but again I really enjoyed it (although my balance still isn’t very good!). I’m hoping that after a few weeks me “core” will improve and therefore balance will be better.
After running a mile averaging 11.2kph last Sunday, I went for a run on Saturday hoping to do longer at a good speed. I managed 2 miles at 10.8kph, just short of the 10.9kph needed for a 55 minute 10k. (I really must decide whether to think in km or miles!!!! All this jumping around between them must be confusing for anyone reading this!!)
Felt really pleased with myself for doing that distance and speed at such an early stage in my training this year. Also did some weights once I got back in which meant I could go to Pizza Hut guilt free later on in the afternoon.
I went out for another run on Sunday and did 3km in total. First 2.5km I was averaging 10.9kph, bang on target pace. However I was running into a massive head wind, it was freezing and I was running up a hill! So by the time I reached 3km I had tears streaming down my face with the wind and my average had dropped to 10.7kph. But with 3 and a half months to go to be able to do a quarter of the distance at target pace, I’m not too disappointed!
To help my 10k training I also signed up for two other runs this week. A 5k run for Combat Stress at Glasgow Green and a 6km at Strathclyde Park, both in March. I saw the leaflet for the Combat Stress run at Glasgow Club Easterhouse the other week and thought it would be ideal preparation. Hopefully by then I’ll be able to dot the full 5km distance at my target 10k pace, if not quicker….!!!
Week 3
I’m begging to wonder whose idea it was to start training in January! When will this weather ever improve!
Anyway, spin class on Monday night for the second week. Really enjoyed it again and found it better than the previous week as I think I actually worked a lot harder (due to knowing what I was doing this time!) The thighs certainly burned more.
Went to Body Balance for the first time on Tuesday night. It’s a mix of Thai Chi, Pilates and yoga and I totally loved it. Turned out it was the same fitness coach that does spin on the Monday night and she is really enthusiastic. Thighs were defiantly struggling at times from spin the previous night and I was getting a little confused at times with exactly what my right foot, left hand were supposed to be doing (a bit like playing twister!) However I fully expect that will get easier the more I go back.
Booked up for both spin and Body Balance again this week through the Glasgow Club website so that should get me away from Sky+ and ensure when I get in from work I go straight back out again. No matter how hard it can sometimes be to leave the house, I always feel so much better after exercise and glad I made the effort. Must be those endorphins or whatever they are called!
Due to work commitments and a party on Friday night I didn’t find any time for other exercise until the weekend. Went to Glasgow Club Easterhouse gym on Saturday, which has re-opened after a major refurbishment. I was looking forward to using all the new equipment. I had a quick warm up on the treadmill then tried out the resistance machines. They looked so modern and were really easy to use. It’s a major improvement. Everyone was saying how much they loved it.
Finally on Sunday I managed to get out running. After a week since my previous run I was itching to get out on the roads. I’d been helping a friend move house during the day so didn’t get out till 6pm. Since it was pretty late I decided to try and run just one mile at my target 10k pace. A 10k of 55 minutes works out at 10.9kph so I set my watch up and ran as fast as I could. I managed the mile in 8m 35 secs, which works out at 11.2kph (so faster than I need to be in May) although if was asked to do that a further 5 times in a row then I would never have made it!
Next time I plan on doing a similar speed but for 1.5 miles and hopefully this will trick my body into believing that is my usual running pace!
Anyway, spin class on Monday night for the second week. Really enjoyed it again and found it better than the previous week as I think I actually worked a lot harder (due to knowing what I was doing this time!) The thighs certainly burned more.
Went to Body Balance for the first time on Tuesday night. It’s a mix of Thai Chi, Pilates and yoga and I totally loved it. Turned out it was the same fitness coach that does spin on the Monday night and she is really enthusiastic. Thighs were defiantly struggling at times from spin the previous night and I was getting a little confused at times with exactly what my right foot, left hand were supposed to be doing (a bit like playing twister!) However I fully expect that will get easier the more I go back.
Booked up for both spin and Body Balance again this week through the Glasgow Club website so that should get me away from Sky+ and ensure when I get in from work I go straight back out again. No matter how hard it can sometimes be to leave the house, I always feel so much better after exercise and glad I made the effort. Must be those endorphins or whatever they are called!
Due to work commitments and a party on Friday night I didn’t find any time for other exercise until the weekend. Went to Glasgow Club Easterhouse gym on Saturday, which has re-opened after a major refurbishment. I was looking forward to using all the new equipment. I had a quick warm up on the treadmill then tried out the resistance machines. They looked so modern and were really easy to use. It’s a major improvement. Everyone was saying how much they loved it.
Finally on Sunday I managed to get out running. After a week since my previous run I was itching to get out on the roads. I’d been helping a friend move house during the day so didn’t get out till 6pm. Since it was pretty late I decided to try and run just one mile at my target 10k pace. A 10k of 55 minutes works out at 10.9kph so I set my watch up and ran as fast as I could. I managed the mile in 8m 35 secs, which works out at 11.2kph (so faster than I need to be in May) although if was asked to do that a further 5 times in a row then I would never have made it!
Next time I plan on doing a similar speed but for 1.5 miles and hopefully this will trick my body into believing that is my usual running pace!
Week 2
I started the second week of training with a Spin class. The other half and I have just joined the Glasgow Club with a couples Fitness Unlimited membership. As well as giving you access to all the gyms and swimming pools you also get into all the fitness classes as part of the membership!
We went to the class at Glasgow Club Easterhouse on Monday night and really enjoyed it. The instructor was fantastic and allowed everyone to go at their own pace, which was more encouraging than being shouted at for not keeping up! The next day I booked Spin for the following week along with a Body Balance Class on the Tuesday night. One of the benefits of membership is that you can book on-line through the Glasgow Club website.
This week I also signed up for the Ignis Asset Management Women’s 10k through the Run Glasgow website. It was very easy to do and I ended up singing up for the combined Great Scottish Run entry and saved myself some money. I put a target time of 55 minutes for both of them, so if I don’t achieve it in May there is always September.
Back to training, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I did nothing! But on Friday I managed to get out and I was determined I was going to do 5k. I piled the clothes on and headed off. Started really well but once I hit 4k I felt I was struggling with the heat from my extra layers!! I hate Scottish winters. Anyway, I pushed on and did the 5k in 29m 5seconds. Slow by some people’s standards I know, but for my first decent run for a while I was really happy to get under 30 mins (even if only by 4 seconds).
On Saturday we went to the gym. Our usual gym at Glasgow Club Easterhouse was getting refurbished so we went to Glasgow Club Haghill instead. That’s the great thing about the Glasgow Club membership, you have such a wide choice of facilities across the city. Did a quick run on the treadmill then weights, before going across to Glasgow Club Whitehill for a swim. All that exercise meant I didn’t feel to guilty about the curry and Baileys on Saturday night!
On Sunday it started to snow just as I was about to go out for a run so I only managed 2.5k. I did average 10.2kph however, so it was at a faster pace than my 5k on Friday at least.
All in all, 2nd week of training not too bad but I think there is plenty of room for improvement!
We went to the class at Glasgow Club Easterhouse on Monday night and really enjoyed it. The instructor was fantastic and allowed everyone to go at their own pace, which was more encouraging than being shouted at for not keeping up! The next day I booked Spin for the following week along with a Body Balance Class on the Tuesday night. One of the benefits of membership is that you can book on-line through the Glasgow Club website.
This week I also signed up for the Ignis Asset Management Women’s 10k through the Run Glasgow website. It was very easy to do and I ended up singing up for the combined Great Scottish Run entry and saved myself some money. I put a target time of 55 minutes for both of them, so if I don’t achieve it in May there is always September.
Back to training, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I did nothing! But on Friday I managed to get out and I was determined I was going to do 5k. I piled the clothes on and headed off. Started really well but once I hit 4k I felt I was struggling with the heat from my extra layers!! I hate Scottish winters. Anyway, I pushed on and did the 5k in 29m 5seconds. Slow by some people’s standards I know, but for my first decent run for a while I was really happy to get under 30 mins (even if only by 4 seconds).
On Saturday we went to the gym. Our usual gym at Glasgow Club Easterhouse was getting refurbished so we went to Glasgow Club Haghill instead. That’s the great thing about the Glasgow Club membership, you have such a wide choice of facilities across the city. Did a quick run on the treadmill then weights, before going across to Glasgow Club Whitehill for a swim. All that exercise meant I didn’t feel to guilty about the curry and Baileys on Saturday night!
On Sunday it started to snow just as I was about to go out for a run so I only managed 2.5k. I did average 10.2kph however, so it was at a faster pace than my 5k on Friday at least.
All in all, 2nd week of training not too bad but I think there is plenty of room for improvement!
18 weeks to go.
Hi fellow runners
My name is Claire and over the course of the next few months I hope to keep you up to date with my training for the Ignis Asset Management Women’s 10k. This will be the third time I’ve taken part in this event. I didn’t want to use the word “run” as the first time it was more of a walk!
With a previous best 10k time of 59 minutes (achieved last September) I figured aiming for 55 mins for May would be achievable. That was before I realised that doing practically no training in November and December meant it would be a bit of a struggle to start it up again, not helped by the typical Scottish winter weather.
I started running again last week. Went out on Saturday and managed about 3.5 but at a ridiculously slow time! So Sunday I decided I would try and run 2.5k in a time faster than 10kph. I managed it….just! How did I get in this state when only a couple of months earlier that would have been a gentle jog!
Being back at work meant I didn’t get out running again until this Sunday. I went out aiming to do a fairly decent run at a not too bad a pace (in other words about 4k in over 10kph). However with the strong wind I wasn’t too optimistic. I started reasonably well but then my hat flew off so that wasn’t great having to chase after it!! Then the batteries in my Garmin GPS died, so I had no idea how fast I was running (a couple of months out of running meant I had lost all perception of speed!!). Then the wind really picked up and I decided to turn back as I was pretty much running on the spot. I reckon I did about 2 miles in around 20 minutes, or something like that!
They say the first week is always the worst. I’ll try and do better next week!
My name is Claire and over the course of the next few months I hope to keep you up to date with my training for the Ignis Asset Management Women’s 10k. This will be the third time I’ve taken part in this event. I didn’t want to use the word “run” as the first time it was more of a walk!
With a previous best 10k time of 59 minutes (achieved last September) I figured aiming for 55 mins for May would be achievable. That was before I realised that doing practically no training in November and December meant it would be a bit of a struggle to start it up again, not helped by the typical Scottish winter weather.
I started running again last week. Went out on Saturday and managed about 3.5 but at a ridiculously slow time! So Sunday I decided I would try and run 2.5k in a time faster than 10kph. I managed it….just! How did I get in this state when only a couple of months earlier that would have been a gentle jog!
Being back at work meant I didn’t get out running again until this Sunday. I went out aiming to do a fairly decent run at a not too bad a pace (in other words about 4k in over 10kph). However with the strong wind I wasn’t too optimistic. I started reasonably well but then my hat flew off so that wasn’t great having to chase after it!! Then the batteries in my Garmin GPS died, so I had no idea how fast I was running (a couple of months out of running meant I had lost all perception of speed!!). Then the wind really picked up and I decided to turn back as I was pretty much running on the spot. I reckon I did about 2 miles in around 20 minutes, or something like that!
They say the first week is always the worst. I’ll try and do better next week!
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