Fed up with ordinaryExtra ordinary is where it's at

Today, Smack and I walked from Edale, up Jacob’s Ladder to Kinder Scout and back. It was a fantastic route with a little off piste trekking too. That had nothing to do with mis-reading the map you understand…

The route was about 13 miles in all and was definitely good strength training. Jacob’s Ladder was a killer!

My legs were really tired at the end of the walk, I’d only done my 10km the previous day! But the views were amazing. Stunning. Well, words can’t describe it or do it justice.

All finished off with a nice cool pint of lager in the Nag’s Head.

The only downside was that I went over on my ankle and twisted it. Let’s hope that it heals quickly.

Today I passed a major milestone in my journey. I ran my first 10km or 6.2 miles! That puts me a little ahead of schedule as I was planning to do my 10km at the end of October.

I ran 6.4 miles in total in just under an hour and I’m pretty pleased to say the least!

It was actually much easier than I’d expected too. I was tired at the end but but exhausted. My legs were not cramping and I’d run through some early stitches.

It may be worth noting that I was back in my flat trail shoes. No built up heels in sight and I had no pains in my legs, hips, knees or ankles.

My next target is a 10 mile run out to Burbage and back.

Last night I went on my second short run of the week. A 4 miler through Endcliffe Park to Forge Dam and back. The previous day I’d done the same run and it was easy. This time though it was rock hard.

So what was the difference?

Well, apart from being the second day in a row I’d run, it was also at 5pm. I’d not eaten since lunch time and was still in the post lunch dip to be honest. The previous day I’d got up, had a banana and a coffee and then gone out about 30 minutes later. Obviously my energy levels are much higher first thing. After a day at the office I was obviously drained.

I think I’ll avoid running at that time in the future.

On another topic, yesterday I started to develop a pain in my left hip. It occurred randomly as I was walking home from work. It was a sharp, shooting pain up into my hip socket. It’s come back a few times since and is definitely linked to posture in some way as it’s started when turning or sitting.

I’m going to try running in my flat shoes again as I did find my running shoes caused pain in my ankle yesterday. I’ve checked them and the have padding on the outside of the foot. This has the effect of twisting my foot so that it lands on the inside (with my big toe) noticeably earlier than the outside of my foot.

When I let the shoe dictate my foot position I started getting pain in my ankle. When I worked against it and tried to level my foot, the pain went. Perhaps this is linked to the hip pain? I don’t know for sure at this stage but it’s a bit of a worry as I’m only just starting my training really and issues at this stage could really affect my training. Something to watch for sure.

Today’s run was back in my old running shoes. This was the comparative test to see if there was any difference between running in flat shoes with no cushioning and normal running shoes.

It’s hardly the most scientific test in the world I know but it has given me some interesting things to think about.

Putting my running shoes on I instantly noticed that I felt like I was wearing high heels (don’t that I know what that feels like you understand). The heel felt really high and as I started running I noticed my stride was different. I was obviously heel striking and it didn’t feel great. I could overcome this but it took a lot of concentration to ensure I ran more “naturally”.

As with my last run, running felt easier, obviously partly due to increased fitness but also I believe to concentrating on technique. I tried again to follow the Chi Running aspects of keeping a level pelvis and leaning forward from the hips. What I found was that with traditional running shoes this was more of an effort than it was in my flat shoes.

As regards the cushioning, I didn’t feel like I was loosing out due to not being able to feel the ground like in my flat, non-cushioned shoes. Nor did my feet feel more comfortable.

I did 4.6 miles in total and at the end I felt the majority of effort had been in my calves, just like my previous run, and I had no stress in my knees at all. I’m almost certain now that the having a “high” heel causes an unnatural running position, which is more stressful and less efficient.

The other night I had a dream about running. After many hours Internet research, I’d decided to try running in shoes with no cushioning in. I have a pair of Hi-Tec trainers that have very thin soles and so I tried them.

I set off for my run and the next thing I realised I’d run for hours and wasn’t even tired! Running this close to barefoot was effortless and a joy.

Back in the real world, when I woke up on Sunday morning I knew running with no cushioning wouldn’t be effortless but I decided to give it a try. Sunday is my long run day in my schedule and I was aiming for my revised (down) long run target of 4.5 miles.

At this stage, while I’m gaining a level of fitness quickly, it’s hard to tell what is from getting fitter and what is due to style, shoes or technique, but… As soon as I set out I noticed a difference. Without a padded sole, I really couldn’t land on my heel because it hurt and felt unnatural. Instead I was landing mid/fore foot. Also, possibly related, I felt like I was lifting my feet the minimum needed to clear the ground, rather than lifting them high.

The whole thing seemed very lazy and I felt a bit self conscious. I must have looked like I was really knackered and struggling! But I wasn’t. It was easy.

Previously, the first 10 minutes have been hard. Getting my body warmed up and into running mode made me out of breath and it was difficult to do. This time I had none of that at all. I got into a rhythm and felt really good and feeling the ground underneath my feet was nice. I’m not sure it gave me any more grip or whatever but it felt good.

I did 4.9 miles in total and could easily have gone 6 miles. I was faster too, 47 minutes. Less than a week ago I’d done 4.2 miles in 47 minutes. As I said, the run being easier and fast could easily have been due to increased fitness but it’s only been a week. Could I have got that much better in two runs and a week? I don’t know.

After the run my legs felt very different. My thighs felt as though they had hardly been used. But my calves ached. They still do but only when I’m not using them. As soon as I walk the aching goes.

Reading online it seems the ache in my calves is because I’m landing on the front of my foot, the calf muscles take the impact rather than my knees. This seems to make sense and fits with how I feel.

The only downside I had was that my Hi-Tec trainers are not a tight a fit as my running shoes and I got a small blister on my left foot.

Today is my rest day but tomorrow I’m off out in my running shoes to compare results this time. I’m trying for another 4.5 miles in the same time as yesterday. Hopefully that should enable me to tell what is from shoes and what is from fitness.

I guess the title says it all really. Everything about today’s run was wrong. I forgot about lunch then was at a meeting until later than expected. That meant getting home at 4:15pm and filling my face with Weetabix, a banana and then a sandwich. I was meant to go for my run at 5pm so I knew I shouldn’t eat that close to going out but I was starving!

I set out expectant after my previous 5.5 mile run. Boy was I in for a shock!

A few hundred meters in I regretted eating so much so late. I had a terrible stitch. I tried to run it off but it got worse. I had to stop and catch my breath after just a mile.

No sooner had I started running again when my right thigh cramped. It felt really tight and was getting worse. I walked for a bit then tried again. No good, it felt like I was damaging it. So, out of breath and feeling low ( well, worse than that really ) I turned around and started walking home. I ran 2.2km.

So right now I’m walking along Rustings Road, I couldn’t walk through the park as seeing all the runners made me feel even more of a failure today.

I knew my good start would end at some point, but I’d hoped it would go on a little longer. I know there will be many more downers along this journey and that I’ll bounce back and move on. But that doesn’t make me feel any less shit now.

I wonder how Eddie Izzard got on today…

Well after my previous deliberations about whether or not to run, I did in the end go out.

I really couldn’t be bothered though. At the end of a day filled with moaning kids and mundane housework, what I really wanted was beer, curry and TV.

Encouraged by my wife, I got changed and went out. And I felt good. I pushed passed the 3 miles of my first run and went all the way to Forge Dam and back. And I didn’t walk any of it. In total I did 4.25 miles in 45 minutes which I was more than happy with. I felt I could easily have carried on further too!

I expected that when I awoke the next day though that I would suffer. To my surprise, it seemed by stretching, drinking loads of water and eating a pile of nuts and seeds I’d escaped the aches and pains I was expecting.

As evening approached my wife asked if I’d like to go out again. Two nights in a row? Why not, I thought, I’ll just stretch my legs and do a slow mile or so. So I got changed and set off.

I tried a faster pace through the first park and covered my first mile in about 8 minutes, but then I had to walk for 30 seconds. I realised I had no energy and every step became really hard. I pushed on though and ran, walked and crawled (okay, not crawled) to Forge Dam where I got to the previous day. By this point I felt okay again and decided to keep going.

I didn’t get much further though! After Quiet Lane, the path becomes rough and there’s a noticeable increase in the gradient. By this point I had a goal of doing 10km, as I’d always thought of a 10km run as something only really fit people do. Could I do 10km only 3 runs in after more than five years of sedentary life?

Er, no.

The path became too steep and too rough. I realised that while I could plod along for the distance, my legs had no power with which to lift me uphill. So with a bit of a sad heart I turned around and came home.

The run home was much easier. I picked up my pace and actually ran all the way without walking at all. At one point I thought I was tired and so walked but after only a few steps I felt that walking was actually more difficult than running and so I carried on running again.

By the time I got to Endcliffe Park I was still going well and my gloom at not running 10km had been replaced by the satisfaction of a good run. I’d also broken the 1 hour barrier in only my third run.

Then something I’d never experienced before happened. It was either tiredness induced madness or endorphins being released. I’m not which, but I liked it! My body started to tingle all over and I started to laugh out loud. I couldn’t help it. I felt like I could sprint a marathon and so I picked up the pace. For the last 400 meters or so I was flat out and laughing like a crazy man. What I sight I must have been!

Much too quickly the high went and I wished I hadn’t done the sprint finish. I started to cramp and ache. What had I done?

Not content with cramp, my body then hit me with another new experience. Runners nipple I believe it’s called. From the rubbing of my t-shirt my nipple had started to bleed. Just a bit, but it really wasn’t nice at all.

Today I feel good all things considered. My legs aren’t painful but have no power in them. Climbing stairs is very hard. I doubt I could run anywhere!

So far so good for me and I can’t help being proud of my runs so far. Although I didn’t make the 10km I’d hoped for I’ve gone from being tired running to the shops, less than a mile away, to running 5.53 miles (to be exact) and feeling okay. All in less than a week.

At this rate of progress I’ll be ready for my first marathon in a month…

Today I’m so lacking energy. I couldn’t get for a run yesterday as I was in London for business and so spent most of the day on the train. I was travelling first class but sitting on a train for 5 hours in a day is pretty poor whichever class you’re in!

So today I need to do a good 3 miles at least, hopefully 5, but the problem is I really can’t be bothered. It’s the weekend and spending the day with the kids is so tiring I just want to collapse on the sofa, order a take away curry and then sleep.

How do you keep going when you’re so tired? I keep trying to tell myself that I need to and that I’ll suffer in the long run if I don’t. But the run is so far away that it’s easy to convince myself that I can skip today’s run and make up for it another day… It’s times like this when you need a personal trainer to kick your arse into gear!

Let’s hope I can keep strong and actually get out after tea!

Last night I went out for my first real run.

I went through the local parks and according to Google Maps I ran about 3 miles in 35 minutes. I say ran, but there was a bit of walking in there too.

So how did it feel? I’d love to be able to say I feel great and after a while the endorphins kicked in and made it easy, but that would be a big fat lie. It was hard. Not in the way I was expecting though.

I’ve not done any real exercise for a good while now, probably years, and I thought that I would get horribly out of breath and my heart would stop. It didn’t. The hardest thing was stopping all the mental screaming that my body was doing.

No sooner as I started to run my body complained loudly. It was as though my thoughts were ambushed by screaming children. “Do you know your legs are sore? You are aware that you’re getting out of breath? All this running is making me hurt!”

Resisting those shouts and the demands to stop was really hard. In the end I started tricking myself to stop them. I’d say, “I’ll just run to that bench” but then run passed it and snigger. Then I’d say, “Just to the next road, then I’ll stop” and still keep going. Strangely this seemed to work. The voices died down and I started to realise that my body was coping pretty well actually.

Then the burps and farts started. Why is it that when you run you burp and fart? Or is it just me? It was quite embarrassing to be honest. After about a mile they too stopped.

The other major difficulty I found was pace setting. Because I’m not used to running, finding a pace that was right proved difficult. I started off with a pace that was way too fast. I got to the end of the first park in about 4 minutes. I was expecting it to take closer to 7. That was why I was so knackered! I walked for about 100 meters to catch my breath and set off again, slower. Much slower.

I built up speed to a pace that felt easy and the rest of the run was pretty good.

By the time I was back where I started I’d done the 3 miles and started my warm down walk home. Strangely walking felt wrong and so I ran back home too. Only another few hundred meters but they all count.

Getting in I realised I had no real idea of what to do now. I’d eaten tea already and it was 8:30pm but I was hungry. Should I eat after a run? If so, what? I drank lots of water and opted to eat a handful of nuts and a plum. Much more research is needed into pre and post running foods and diet in general.

This morning I don’t feel too bad. I ache less than I imagined but it still hurts. I’m starting to realise there is a lot I don’t know about running. I’ve no idea if I should run again today or rest until it doesn’t hurt?

But all that will have to wait for a day at least. Real life is calling and I’ve work that needs to be done. I’m in London tomorrow and so this stuff I can read about on the train on the way there and back.