Reading back on last months post and looking at this months target (above - which I wrote right at the beginning of March) it seems that I wasn't particularly optimistic about the amount of running I'd be able to do! Perhaps I was being my usual cautious self!
So, how did I do?
Well, not too bad at all! Today I got in a run of 9 miles and as you can see from the totals below - I've done pretty well during the month of March! Yay Me!
- Distance: 92.22 miles
- Calories: 8,495
- Average Speed: 5.6mph
- Average H/R: 144bpm
- Maximum H/R 170bpm
As you can probably tell, I've made good progress with my distance which has surprised me. I was expecting to stall at 3 to 7 miles (at the end of last month I felt that 7 miles was really the absolute maximum I could expect to push myself to) During this month I have managed to increase my maximum distance to 12 miles. Fair enough, I did do it in a couple of stages. 2 miles down to the park then a break before heading off with the joggers. A short break at the 9.5 mile point after we finished the club run and caught our breath, then a further 2.5 miles before I finally decided that I could go no further. That said, and with hindsight I feel a bit gutted that I didn't do an extra mile on that particular run so I could get a time in for half marathon distance! Did I really say that doing a half marathon looked like a bit of a dream that I wouldn't achieve? Pah! What rot! I CAN do that distance! I just need to NOT GIVE UP quite so quickly next time I'm close!
Health wise how have I been? Hmmmm...
Well, not perfect that's for sure! It seems that every time I put on my running shoes I find something else that ails me! This month I can report the following problems - general aches and pains in the left calf, left ankle, left knee and the left hip! Also, a niggle around my shoulder blades when I extend my distances! (I'm putting that down to my running bra pulling on my shoulders a little too tightly) I've also had to buy a silicone toe guard as I've injured one of my toes - left foot - what it it with my left side?! (BTW that is NOT my hand in the picture - they actually look a bit grim if you ask me, which is fine because the subject of gippy toes is a bit grim!) The knock on effect of wearing the toe guard was that my little toe got a bit pushed out of line which made me uncomfortable which made me change my running gait which is probably why my hip hurts! Can't win can I?Maybe I'm too old for this lark?!
Maybe there's a more sensible hobby for a middle aged woman to take part in, like knitting or sewing or baking cakes or some crap like that?
Will I let the niggles put me off running?
Not a chance! I don't fancy knitting. I can't sew and I'd much rather buy cakes from the local shop! I feel far more motivated to run now I'm out in company. Not only do I feel that I will let myself down if I stop running because of silly little niggles but I feel that I'll be letting my new running buddies down! That's not to say that if I feel I have a major problem brewing I wont stop running, because I will - but I probably wont stop running because of niggles that once upon a lonesome time would have stopped me in my tracks. Chatting to the others it seems that niggles are par for the course!
Barking Mad Moment Of The Month:
On Good Friday I did a run with the gang and spotted a lovely huge old tree. Before I knew what was happening I'd stopped running, wrapped my arms around the tree and gave it a hug and a kiss! A few of my companions looked at me as thought I was EverySoSlightlyBarkingMad but it felt good. To be honest it was a little bit too large to get a good hold of for a proper hug but I didn't feel that was a problem as I was a little bit strapped for time!
Which brings me on to.....
Meditation:
Ah, and almost as an afterthought I'm just letting you know that I've started to meditate! Now, I've always thought that meditation was a bit hippy and a bit far out and a bit, well, a bit not really for me but my sister was telling me about Headspace and told me I should "Get Some" As it involved being able to download an App for my phone I thought - well, this might just be for me (I'm rather a Geek at times) Better than that, it was free so I had nothing to loose in the trying out of it! I was surprised that I don't have to sit cross legged on the floor chanting "Ommmm" while clearing my mind of every thought that might pass by! Now, why am I mentioning it in my running diary you might ask (or you might not ask, as the case may be!) I'll tell you why. I've noticed that when I'm out running my head often clears of all thoughts (well, most thoughts - the odd "Am I going to die" and the occasional "I need a pee" does slip in there!) and I go into a bit of a meditative state. I'm already noticing some benefits of getting myself some Headspace (although He Who Must Be Ignored has noticed that it's cost him some £££££ now the free trial is over!) and think that combined with my running which I find calming and relaxing I could turn into a whole new me! Well, probably not, but hey, my family and friends can dream can't they?! So, that was March.
April sees the arrival of my 52nd birthday. Is it really 2 years since I started my running journey? Maybe I'll dip into a decline with another passing year but I hope not. I hope I'll continue to run and continue to feel the benefits of trying to get Fit For My Fifties!
Thanks for allowing me to bore you once more. Enjoy yourself. Stay fit and healthy and catch you again soon.
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