The mojo is back

I'm what you'd call an irregular runner (plodder).

I see running as a means to an end, the end being a sleeker body and the opportunity to not look like a beached whale whilst on holiday.  But saying this, I do very occasionally actually get what is known as the 'running bug' - that buzz you get from continually improving and an urge to get out there for your next run.  I hasten to emphasize here that this 'buzz', for me, is infrequent and more often than not I require a bad result from the scales or a kick up the arse to actually get me out there.

This is kind of how 2011 panned out.  My best laid running plans went out of the window.  Races I'd intended to do, I didn't and by September I could tell the jelly belly was making a return.  I felt that in order to progress I needed to change the way I trained.  Too often I was plagued with shin splints and achy knees which made me think I was going about it all in the wrong way.  My aim has been for a while now, that I get back to 10K races but the same thing happens every time.  I enter a race to give me 'motivation' then I put far too much pressure on myself to get across the finish line in a good time and by doing so end up knackering myself completely in the run up to the big day.

From October last year I decided to ask my friend Jane to come out with me twice a week. Although we spend far too much time talking, the commitment to get out there each week is there regardless of speed and distance.  In addition to running with Jane I also tried to add in a longer run each weekend which I sometimes do with 'P'.  This time though, rather than increasing my distance I just run for an allotted time and try to keep my pace slow to steady,  I then increase my long run by around 5 minutes each weekend.

Now this was all going well until Christmas and New Year loomed.  Work commitments increased, Jane and I had other engagements (yes, yes, excuses I know!) but basically it all went kind of crappy for a while.  However, 2012 has seen me return with a vengeance.  I've not only been running regularly but also walking much more than I normally would.  My 'time' rather than 'distance' regime seems to be working well and wait for it..........I actually got up this morning aching to go for a run!  Yes, the BUZZ is back.

I opted in the end for a brisk dog walk rather than push myself on a rest day but at least I know the urge is there and hopefully will stay.

January 2012

Runs to date: 5
Walks to date: 8
Hikes to date: 1
Calories burnt to date: 2449

Mission to get fit 2011 – Update 5....Race week!

Ok, so the countdown's almost over.  This Sunday will see me taking part in the Evesham Vale 10k in Worcestershire and I'm starting to get very, very worried.  Although I finally managed a long run of almost an hour on Sunday, I've done nowhere near enough training to prepare me for the 10k distance.  At my current long distance pace I can only hope to complete the course in around 1 hour 11 minutes (if I'm lucky) and that's a diabolical time compared to my previous years efforts.  However, I'm looking more to the next few months.  I've come a long way in the last couple of months and if I just continue the training my September race could see me getting my best time ever.

Not much on the training plan for this week due to Sunday being race day, so shouldn't be too taxing!

Week 6

Mon - Rest - Rest
Tues - Rest - Rest
Weds - 25 min easy - 25.36 min, 2.17m
Thurs - Rest - Rest
Fri - 35 min easy -
Sat - Rest - Rest
Sun - RACE DAY - 10K 10.30am Evesham Vale

Mission to get fit 2011 – Update 4

Dear, oh dear, oh dear!!!!

Last week turned out to be a complete wash out on the training front.  Went all the way to lovely Lake Como with great intentions and running gear packed in the case only to return with it still neatly folded having not seen the light of day!

Got back on the training program this week with a great 45 minute run earlier in the week and a superb hill training session last night.  I'm very worried no about how I'm going to manage 10k.  I really could do with another 2 or 3 of weeks where in reality I have just 7 days to go until the first of my 10k races.  Never the less I will do what I can but I'm not going to kill myself over the next week by trying to cram in extra training sessions.  This will only play havoc with the shins and really won't help in the long term.  I really should have taken a step backwards to re-do week 4 of the training plan but if I'm to stand any hope of completing the full 10k distance I need to get my long run up to an hour this week, so onwards to week 5.

Week 4

Mon - Rest - Rest
Tues - 25 mins fartlek or hills - None !!!
Weds - Rest - Rest
Thurs - 40 mins mod - None !!!
Fri - Rest - Rest
Sat - 50 - 55 min long run - None !!!

Week 5

Mon - Rest - Rest
Tues - 45 min mod - 43 min mo, 3.90 miles
Weds - Rest - Rest
Thurs - Rest - Rest
Fri - 25 min fartlek or hill run - 25 min hill run
Sat - Rest - Rest
Sun - 55 - 60 min long run - 59.17 min, 4.91m

Mission to get fit 2011 – Update 3

Update 3 starts on a downer :(

Last week I developed a niggley pain, one that I've felt before.  Although I've done my best to take things gradually -  I've not increased my speed and distance at the same time and not increased the length of my runs by more than 5 minutes each week, and yet this nagging shin pain has returned.  After getting shin splints on a couple of occasions (the first where I didn't know about such things and decided to run through it! d'oh) it's really not a road I want to go down again, I almost have a paranoia about it!  The first experience I had of them saw me hardly able to walk the 10 minute school run let alone run a 5k and I was pretty much out of running action for around 8 months!

Therefore, call it an excuse if you like, but last week was pretty much a total wash out regarding the running plan.  After a couple of runs early in the week the niggle was getting worse so I decided rather than ruining my chances of completing the 10k altogether I'd rest, ice and dose with ibuprofen to help alleviate the problem.  After rethinking my running plan I wonder if the problem has arisen, not from the quality of my running but from the fact I'm now trying to cram in 4 runs a week after generally only doing a couple here and there.  Hence, I've decided for the time being to reduce my training plan down to 3 runs per week with an extra one here and there if all is going well.  I may not be quite ready for the 10k in July but I will finish it, even if I have to walk some of the way!

So here goes (I will update through the week):

Week 3

Mon - Rest - Rest
Tues - 25 min, easy - 28 min, easy/mod
Weds - Rest - Rest
Thurs - 35 min, mod
Fri - Rest
Sat - 45 min long run
Sun - Rest

Mission to get fit 2011 - Update 2

Yes, i know it's been a while since my last fitness update but believe me a fair bit has happened!

I returned from our Florida holiday once again having lost all motivation for running.  As I've said before I only have to miss a couple of weeks and it's then so hard to get back into it.  Anyhow, I went out for the occasional plod around the local streets but decided I needed a goal to help get me motivated - it was time to look for another race.  Scouring events on the Runners World website I eventually decided to enter the Acorns Triple Run, in particular the 5k run.  At first even the prospect of this wasn't enough to get my bum into gear but as the event drew closer I knew I had to get myself moving and slowly began to increase the number of runs and distance per week.

I completed the Acorn's Spring Run on 29th May in around 33 - 34 mins (sorry not accurate as I couldn't stop gps in time!) which I was quite pleased with.  At the same event 'P' also completed the Acorn's Half Marathon.  Whilst standing there watching runners (of all shapes and sizes) finish that Half Marathon I decided it was time to kick the training up a notch - if they could do it, so could I!

I've now entered the Evesham Vale 10k on 10th July and also the Lichfield 10k on 11th September 2011.  I've begun a training program to help me achieve the distance, as although I have completed a 10k before, this was 2 years ago and I currently can't run for more than 40 mins without keeling over at the side of the road!  I'm also getting my breathing looked into as I'm having some real issues on that point, hopefully once this is sorted it should make things a bit easier at least.

I'm hoping that by blogging my training plan for each week along with my actual runs it will help keep me motivated.  Sometimes it's just so difficult to juggle life and fit in that 4 mile run at the end of the day.  You hereby have permission to kick me up the bum if I'm not meeting my weekly quota! :)

So here goes Week 1 of the new training plan has already be completed...........well kind of! Yes, I know, not a very good start but week 2 is so far going much better :).  I will update week 2 as the activities are completed so check back for my progress.

Week 1

Mon - Rest - Rest
Tues - 20 min run, moderate - 20 min run, mod
Weds - Rest - Rest
Thurs - 25 mins, moderate - None
Fri - 20 mins, easy - None
Sat - Rest - Rest
Sun - 35 mins long run - 35 mins 4.8k

(Training plan with actual activity in blue (or red if not completed))

Week 2

Mon - 25 min run, mod - 25 min mod, 2.38 miles
Tues - Rest - Rest
Weds - 30 min mod - 29.36 min mod, 2.74 miles
Thurs - 25 min easy - None
Fri - Rest - Rest
Sat - 40 min long run - None
Sun - Rest - Rest