I've been putting off starting my half marathon training - this time because of an injured toe! He-Who-Must-Be-Ignored accidentally kicked my big toe a few weeks ago - then my big dog trod on it a few times - result - sore toe - and worse than that I think there's some damage done to it as it's been showing signs of an infection. I'm not one for dashing to the doctors at the drop of a hat so I'll see how it goes over the next week or so. I've never really taken any notice of my feet before - but suddenly I realise just how important they are!
As this 13.1 training is going to be 6 days a week I'm probably not going to bore you with full details of how it went etc etc. I'll probably stick to just making simple notes for me to look back on... however, I do reserve the right to change my mind on that one!
I intend to do at least part of this training outdoors. Probably on the days when I'm not expected to run too far!
I hope that my new Best Friend - a hand held battery operated fan with a water spray will help me to stay cool and a little more comfortable. We ladies of a "certain age" get hot enough as it is, without adding running into the mix!
Because of time constraints I will probably NOT be doing 6 days a week - so for the purposes of this training a week might actually be anything up to 10 days long - or maybe longer! I will be taking my time, fitting it in with my life, hopefully enjoying myself and rising to the challenge!
My Random Thoughts Before I Begin:
It Has Begun!
WEEK ONE
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| My New Best Friend?! |
I intend to do at least part of this training outdoors. Probably on the days when I'm not expected to run too far!
I hope that my new Best Friend - a hand held battery operated fan with a water spray will help me to stay cool and a little more comfortable. We ladies of a "certain age" get hot enough as it is, without adding running into the mix!
Because of time constraints I will probably NOT be doing 6 days a week - so for the purposes of this training a week might actually be anything up to 10 days long - or maybe longer! I will be taking my time, fitting it in with my life, hopefully enjoying myself and rising to the challenge!
My Random Thoughts Before I Begin:
- What the bloody hell am I thinking of?
- I'm too bloody old for this lark! (b******s Netty, what's age got to do with it? You're fitter now than when you were 20!)
- Will I make it to the end?
- If Janet can do it then I can do it too!
- How far will I get before I run out of steam?
- I don't imagine I'll get to the end.
- Shall I have a take away tea tonight? ;) (just seeing if you're paying attention!)
- I'm going to try damned hard to get to the end!
- Remember c25k when you thought you couldn't run 3 miles?
- You never thought you'd graduate Bridge to 10k - but you did!
- I think I'll get bored running for HOW LONG to actually complete 13.1 miles
- Will I be able to find the time to fit the longer runs in
- Chin up Netty - it can only kill you!
- This is ONE HELL OF A CHALLENGE!
- Lets give it a go.....
It Has Begun!
WEEK ONE
Saturday 23rd July 2011
Treadmill. As this is a far easier workout than I've been doing lately I upped the incline to a mere 2% for the warm up walk and for the jog, then increased the incline to 4% for the final cool down walk. I also decided that as the jog was a short one I'd up the speed to 6mph just to burn a few extra calories. I don't expect to be doing that when I start to increase my distance as the weeks roll by...
Treadmill. As this is a far easier workout than I've been doing lately I upped the incline to a mere 2% for the warm up walk and for the jog, then increased the incline to 4% for the final cool down walk. I also decided that as the jog was a short one I'd up the speed to 6mph just to burn a few extra calories. I don't expect to be doing that when I start to increase my distance as the weeks roll by...
5 minute warm up walk
15 minute jog
5 minute cool down walk
Week 1 Day 1
| Duration | Calories | Av. ♥ | Max ♥ | Distance | Walk Speed | Jog Speed | Notes | |
| 25 mins | 186 | 129 | 158 | 1.92m | 3.7 | 5.0-6.0mph | Incline 2% |
Day 2
Sunday 24th July 2011
Outdoors - didn't quite make the required 25 minute duration as I miscalculated the speed I was travelling at and got home a little too quickly, however I did cut down on the walking portion so I suppose I did enough jogging which sort of makes it ok. I've promised myself that I'll do more jogging outdoors. Not only is this a harder workout, it's more interesting for me (scenery passing by rather than a stationary wall) and it's more interesting for anyone who's checking up on my on Endomondo as they can see which route I took today. There were lots of fellow joggers out today. The first one I saw as a lady in a High Vis. yellow jacket - she was jogging along with her dog and really looked super cool, relaxed and not at all flustered! The next one was a guy who looked pretty comfortable, then the High Vis lady and I passed again further along the lake side, followed by another lady then a man. I judged them all to be younger than me. Non of them looked as out of breath as me - but what the hell. At least I'm joining them out there in the great out doors! It was a lovely morning for a run. I really MUST endeavour to do a minimum of 1 run a week outdoors. 2 if I can. Probably the shorter ones though
Today's Requirement:
Sunday 24th July 2011
Outdoors - didn't quite make the required 25 minute duration as I miscalculated the speed I was travelling at and got home a little too quickly, however I did cut down on the walking portion so I suppose I did enough jogging which sort of makes it ok. I've promised myself that I'll do more jogging outdoors. Not only is this a harder workout, it's more interesting for me (scenery passing by rather than a stationary wall) and it's more interesting for anyone who's checking up on my on Endomondo as they can see which route I took today. There were lots of fellow joggers out today. The first one I saw as a lady in a High Vis. yellow jacket - she was jogging along with her dog and really looked super cool, relaxed and not at all flustered! The next one was a guy who looked pretty comfortable, then the High Vis lady and I passed again further along the lake side, followed by another lady then a man. I judged them all to be younger than me. Non of them looked as out of breath as me - but what the hell. At least I'm joining them out there in the great out doors! It was a lovely morning for a run. I really MUST endeavour to do a minimum of 1 run a week outdoors. 2 if I can. Probably the shorter ones though
Today's Requirement:
5 minute warm up walk
15 minute jog
5 minute cool down walkWeek 1 Day2
| Duration | Calories | Av. ♥ | Max ♥ | Distance | Walk Speed | Jog Speed | Notes | |
| 23.13 mins | 232 | 148 | 166 | 2.13m | * | * | Outdoors |
Day 3
Tuesday 24th July 2011
I took off into the great outdoors again today! As per usual my heart rate is up about 20bpm on its usual rate compared to when I'm out for a walk with my dogs - or when I'm about to jump on my treadmill. I really do get myself proper stressed about getting out there and jogging! I just hate that people might be watching me and that I might be making a fool of myself. Get a grip woman! You're doing fine!
5 minute warm up walk
10 minute jog
10 minute walk
5 minute jog
5 minute cool down walk
Week 1 Day3
| Duration | Calories | Av. ♥ | Max ♥ | Distance | Walk Speed | Running Speed | Notes | |
| 35 mins | 244 | 131 | 163 | 2.65 | * | * | Outdoors |
Day 4
Wednesday 27th July 2011
5 minute warm up walk
15 minute jog
5 minute cool down walk
Week 1 Day 4
| Duration | Calories | Av. ♥ | Max ♥ | Distance | Walk Speed | Running Speed | Notes | |
| 25 mins | 165 | 134 | 165 | 2.08 | * | * | Outdoors |
Day 5
Thursday 28th July 2011
Today I decided to try to enjoy the workout and focus on relaxing - rather than my focus being getting to the end as quickly as possible! My friend Martyn spotted me and waved as he went by in his van. I was on a walking portion in between jogs and felt as thought I was a bit of a cheat being spotted walking when I was all geared up in my running stuff! (Why is is so ruddy important to me what people think? Must be some incident from my childhood that makes me feel this way!)
5 minute warm up walk
15 minute jog
5 minute walk
10 minute jog
5 minute walk
Week 1 Day 5
| Duration | Calories | Av. ♥ | Max ♥ | Distance | Walk Speed | Running Speed | Notes | |
| 40 mins | 317 | 140 | 164 | 3.44 | * | * | Outdoors |
Day 6
Friday 29th July 2011
My breathing is always pretty ragged during the first five minutes of my jogging portion. Today I made an effort to slow down the jog (I'm not racing against the clock - I'm trying to achieve distance) Time can be worked on if and when I finish the training program. I got accosted by two dogs in the playing field today. The owner wasn't particularly apologetic but I wasn't bothered by the dogs - I'm a doggy person so had I not been jogging and on a timer I'd have stopped and fussed them.
There was a slight drizzle in the air this morning - perfect for keeping me cool :) The temperature was a very comfortable 59*f
Friday 29th July 2011
My breathing is always pretty ragged during the first five minutes of my jogging portion. Today I made an effort to slow down the jog (I'm not racing against the clock - I'm trying to achieve distance) Time can be worked on if and when I finish the training program. I got accosted by two dogs in the playing field today. The owner wasn't particularly apologetic but I wasn't bothered by the dogs - I'm a doggy person so had I not been jogging and on a timer I'd have stopped and fussed them.
There was a slight drizzle in the air this morning - perfect for keeping me cool :) The temperature was a very comfortable 59*f
5 minute warm up walk
20 minute jog
5 minute walk
| Duration | Calories | Av. ♥ | Max ♥ | Distance | Walk Speed | Running Speed | Notes | |
| 30 mins | 202 | 131 | 156 | 2.38 | * | * | Outdoors |
THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS WEEK:
I feel proud of myself for getting my arse out there in the fresh air and doing the majority of the training OUTDOORS! I felt foolish at first and thought people would look at me and laugh. I learned that they didn't. In fact, I suspect lots of people looked at me and were envious of the fact that I could actually DO THIS! The rest of the people didn't notice me at all. I blended in. Which suits me just fine! :) I will try to do what I can outdoors. I wont be able to do a workout every day - this week I did manage to fit it all in which was great, but I'm not going to put pressure on myself to workout every day - I want this to be fun. To be enjoyable. I don't want it to become a chore.
Thanks for reading. Catch you again soon
PS - just reading through before publishing and I've noticed a DISTINCT SHIFT OF ATTITUDE. At the beginning I was saying I'd do 1 or maybe 2 runs outdoors (but I wasn't keen at all!) Today I'm thinking that jogging outside was really enjoyable and I'm looking forward to doing more!
5 comments:
Impressed!
But we know you can run for 35-40 mins straight, so doesn't it feel a bit weird having to do 10 and 15 min jogs again?
Well yeah Adrian - in some ways - BUT - before this week I'd only done 2 or 3 outdoor runs which are far more difficult that doing it on a treadmill, so going back to intervals is good. I think if I'd had to go to straight 30 or 40 minute runs right at the start of this training I'd not have taken it outside at all.
Of course we can do this Netty....I think? We are not competing with anyone else so we can take as long as it takes. No pressure! Like you say treadmill running is so much easier. When the going gets tough we can always go back on the treadmill.
Thank you for your awesome comments on my blog! I found Katybun's blog, and realized that you and she are doing what my friend Kelly and I are doing (she blogs only via FB) -- training together, miles apart. :) I am hooked!
As far as training outdoors, I went through the same anxiety! I called it my Imaginary Audience blog...
I am proud of you for completing B2:10K! Well done!
I was actually afraid to run on a treadmill, that I'd be bored, but when my family went to Disneyland recently, I used the treadmill and it was fine. I was hesitant about using a track, but it's fine too. I think I prefer scenery, but at least on a treadmill or track you don't have to dodge berries that have fallen off the trees...
Hope your toe heals well!
P.S. I realized intervals are good because you're learning to stretch what used to be 40 minutes, out to 70+, and then 70 out to 180min. haha... hmmm... Plus the walking intervals are so brief.
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