Fed up with ordinaryExtra ordinary is where it's at

I’ve just got back from my longest run in a couple of months. A good 8 miles up through the parks to Ringinglow and then winding back along the streets of Bents Green.

The first half was hard though. I had to walk the hardest 0.5 miles through the woods to the Norfolk Arms pub. Still I’m glad I pushed on and didn’t turn back.

I’m absolutely knackered now though. Not legs type tired but sleepy. Very sleepy. Perhaps a strong coffee will help!

My head was pretty bad for a good portion of the run too. Running with a headache isn’t ideal.

Anyway, that’s it for now. Roger and out!

This week has been pretty good. From starting in pain and despair, I’m ending (the working week, anyway) on a positive note.

I’ve clocked up at least 14 miles this week, with one 6 mile run included. I’ve been out a total of 4 times.

The six miler had a couple of 20 second water breaks in, but I did it in just under an hour still. Going out consecutive days has been an effort too. My legs do feel tired from that.

From where I was over Christmas, I’m pretty happy with that to be honest. Still behind where I should be, and way off the 150 miles a week I’ll be doing on the run, but happy none the less.

Mentally, I feel much more able to run too. After not running for so long I started to think that I couldn’t. It is amazing how much of running is mental. You think of exercise as a physical activity but your body is so much more capable than you think. The problem is that, biologically speaking, bodies are things of habit. Breaking that habit requires a big mental effort. After all, for most of the day I’m sat still at my desk. Is it any wonder that my body is lazy?

Anyway, to get back on schedule I need to have run at least one 10 mile run by the end of January, which is scarily next week!

I’ve decided to not get too bothered if I miss that goal but really need have done at least 8 miles by then. It’s a balance between setting achievable goals and pushing yourself. I figure that if I’m back on target a week into February, it’s not much of a big deal.

That’s a good question. My last post was way back on 24th October, so just what have I been doing all time?

The simple and honest answer to that question is, not much running.

In fact it’s more like, a lot of eating and not much running.

This last month has been a hard one for many reasons:

• The weather has turned for the worse big style
• It’s dark very late in the morning
• It’s dark very early in the evening
• I’ve been busy at work

But the main reason is that I’ve struggled for motivation for life in general. There are a number of personal reasons for this which I’m not going to expand on here, but needless to say it’s been a hard month. Very hard.

I’ve been running only once a week for the last month. That’s meant each time I’ve gone out it’s been unbelievably hard. I’ve been more prone to minor injuries too. Which then means I can’t run for at least three or four days anyway, which leads to being more tired and having more injuries etc etc etc.

I went out for a 9 mile run with Smack last weekend. It was only a little further than I’ve gone previously and the same route I’ve done three times previously. But this time it was hell. Smack was a gent and tried to make out he was tired too but I don’t think he was really!

I guess I’ve learnt a lot over the last month. Stuff like (be prepared for massive revelation here):

• Running less frequent is bad.
• Being depressed is bad.
• Eating lots of take aways is bad.
• Being too busy at work is bad.

So the question I’m asking at the moment is where do I go from here? How do I get back to the place where I wanted to run and was enjoying it?

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we’ve not met as a group at all in the last month. That is something that needs to change. I feel time marching on and we’re still unsure of the route, the date, where we’re staying, blah blah. May will be upon us before we know it!

Also writing this thing helps too. I read previous articles and it shows me the progress I’ve made. It’s all too easy to forget the fact that in September I got tired running 200 metres to the shops. Now I’m moaning that I found a 9 mile run hard! That’s an amazing achievement that I need to keep reminding myself of.

So my goals for the coming week are to:

• Go running today or tomorrow at least 5 miles
• Meet with at least two of the guys, preferably all of us together
• Plan in time during the working week where I can take a long lunch break and go for a 5/6 mile run

That’s the plan, let’s see how we do… now then, where’s my coffee…

I’m not sure I need to explain the title too much, it should be self explanatory!

I didn’t quite manage the 10 miles I was hoping for today but seeing as it was raining and windy and I ran up some steep hills, I wasn’t too upset.

It was a hard run today, physically mentally. I did have to walk up one of the hills because I was exhausted. In the end I managed 8.5 miles in just under 1.5 hours.

After getting home I showered as normal but was in for a world of pain as the tingly-minty-menthol Original Mint Source shower gel set my cracked and slightly bleeding nipples on fire! Too late to do anything about it but scream (I was alone in the house) and curse each one of the 7,635 mint leaves that were causing me pain!

I’m sat here more than an hour later and I’m still sore from the stupid shower gel! I hope it eases soon!

Well it’s been a week since my last run and boy can I feel it.

It’s strange that in the short time I’ve been running I’ve noticed such a change. Previously not doing any exercise all week was the norm and I felt okay about that. Now after a week without running, my legs ache, I really feel like every meal is just piling the pounds on without running them off and I’m frustrated that I’ve not managed to run.

So my body is telling me it needs to run but my mind is saying other things! The kids are off to a party this afternoon and I’ve got a couple of hours free time. I’m going to do at least 8 miles, hopefully 10, but my brain is urging me not to!

It’s a struggle to remember that I can run 8 miles. I’ve done it only a month ago but it’s like my brain is trying to convince me that it was a dream or something. The thought of running 6 miles even making me nervous and yet I’ve done that distance about 6 times now.

So why is my brain being such a pain in the arse about this? Answers on a postcard please…

A strange one this, but after my 8 mile run the other day I thought I’d take a couple of days off.

The next day I felt really good but resisted the urge to go out. After all I’d run 14 miles in two runs in two days.

After two days I was ready for a run… only I wasn’t. My legs hurt and my knees felt funny. So I held off. But as the day went on they hurt more. The next day they even more, especially when I walked.

Today I woke up and everything seems fine.

I’m confused as to what was going on but tomorrow I’m going to try a run, probably a shortish one, mainly because I’m busy at work but also to just stretch my legs and get ready for the planned 10 mile run at the weekend.

I’ll let you know how I get on.

Okay, okay so perhaps it’s not a world record but it is a personal record. This afternoons run ended up being 8.4 miles. Two days after a 6 mile run too.

I ran from home, up through Endcliffe Park and Bingham Park etc to Forge Damn, then up Clough Lane and followed the path to Fulwood Lane. Went down Fulwood Lane to the Norfolk Arms pub and came back along Ringinglow Road. As I neared home I really wanted to make 8 miles and so I took a little detour through Nether Edge.

So how was it?

Well, the first 3 miles where really tough. Running by myself was hard compared to running with the lads two days before. I guess I’m still out of the habit as it’s still only my third run after more than a week off.

But the hardest part was climbing Clough Lane and up to Fulwood Lane. The path is quite steep and I was exhausted at the top. I took a quick stop to grab some water (this was my second run carrying my rucksack) and then set off again.

The journey home was beautiful and easy. Perhaps it just felt easy after the climb I’d just done!

I had a couple of stitches to work through but they went.

By the time I got home I was feeling good. Tired but good. Oh, and just a little bit sweaty!

An hour or so afterwards I’m starting to stiffen up a bit and my knees ache slightly. I’ll see how I feel in the morning, but for now I can sit happy at my new world record!

You can see the full route on Map My Run.

The weather today is beautiful: clear blue sky, a crispness in the air, no wind and bright sunshine. A perfect autumn day in fact.

It makes me want to go and run, and keep on running. That’s good, surely? Well, yes and no. Since doing my second 10k (6.2 miles roughly) run I’m thinking that that should be my short run distance and perhaps 8 or 10 miles my long run.

According to my targets I should be on under 5 miles for my short runs and 6 miles for my long ones. I’m struggling to keep to my training schedule because I think I can run further than that.

What should I do? All the information I’ve read says stick to a 10% increase per week. Any more and you’ll regret it. But my last 6 miles was easy. Surely I should let my body tell me what it can cope with. The scale of the challenge is dragging me forward too. Seeing that I need to be able to run 26 miles a day for 6 days is daunting.

I think today I’m going to try for an 8 mile run and see how that goes. If I cope well, I’ll seriously consider upping my short run distance to 6 miles in one go. If it’s rock hard and I injury myself, I’ll know I’ve been an idiot and will try to learn the hard way!

I’ll keep you posted…

Well, after more than a week poorly, not running and eating crisps and chocolate, I’m back running. And surprisingly it feels good.

I’d expected it to be horrible but to be honest, not running was harder. During my week off I was very aware of the fact I was eating the same but not burning the calories running. I haven’t dared step on the scales! Tomorrows weigh-in will be the test!

Thankfully though the week off hasn’t made me less fit. This morning I did my second 10km and the first run with the lads.

It was great to be running with the guys, it was very different from running alone. The chatting made the whole thing really enjoyable and has given me a boost. I can’t wait to do it again.

The only issue really was that JP made us all look bad! He didn’t even break a sweat. Oh, if you ask him he’ll say he was tired but I don’t believe him for a second! He keeps saying that running is very different from endurance cycle rides, and it may be, but being fit enough to do endurance cycle rides certainly helps!

The distance today was pretty easy to tell you the truth. I was surprised. I’d expected to be much more tired than I was. After all I’d not done anything for over a week (except a quick 2 miles yesterday after work) and have eaten quite a lot of pizza and curry! Mmmmm curry…. Sorry, it’s nearly lunch time and I’m very hungry!

Where was I? Oh yes, the distance. It was very easy and that was a boost too as I now think that moving from 6 miles to 10 is doable pretty quickly and that the target of a half marathon (13 miles) by Christmas is possible.

Basically, I feel good. Running: good. Being with friends: good. Eating food, not putting on weight or feeling bad: good.

What’s not to like?!

Well I didn’t need to worry about the ankle causing me grief did I? I’d been fighting off a cold for the last week or so but Sunday morning when I woke up I felt terrible.

Since then I got worse and worse. I’ve been off work this week feeling extremely tired with a headache and zero energy. Needless to say I’ve not run since Friday.

It’s strange how a month ago I’d feel pretty pleased with myself that I went for a run only six days ago but now I feel like a slob and am itching to get out for a run!

Still I need to remember to take it slowly and not push it until I’m well. I tried a little bit of a run up to a school meeting last night. I got ten paces and had to stop, out of breath and energy!

Perhaps I’ll leave it until Saturday.