It's another year!!

It's been ages!! I need to do better. But this year will be 5 years since I started running and started this blog. 

However, to quickly recap, I've kept running this year. I did the Great South Run in 2018 with a very respectable time of just over 2 hours with my running buddy pushing me along. My knee has basically got a lot better, despite a glitch recently,  and I've been behaving and listening to my body.

I have continued to run regularly with Clare and I really feel that, whilst I still don't love running, I now actually like it, and using it as a tool when I am stressed, or low (or even having a good day) to clear my head, be focussed and my brain feels less cluttered.

 I'm doing a monthly challenge now where I run a set number of km each month. Last month it was 25km, this month is 25km. Who knows I might increase it to 50 over time....... but let's not get too carried away!!! 

I'm looking forward to the spring coming, and dryer weather, when we can vary our running routes a little more. It's been really cold, and I even used a treadmill to do one of my runs. I haven't run on a treadmill for many many years!!! 

I had an amazing trip to the National Running show, listening to incredible athletes such as Paula Radcliffe, Jo Pavey, Roger Black, Steve Edwards, Ben Pope. I meet the Run Mummy Run founder, Leanne Davies, and was everso slightly startstruck that she knew my name - but to be fair tagging her in My instagram posts might have given her a clue. But even so!!!! I bought some new kit, both clothing and gadgets which I love and have put into use. I might blog on those on. On another note, for amazing gluten free food, visit the Little Owl, next to the Holiday Inn, at the NEC.

Let's not leave 6 months to speak again!!!

And I've made the decision to join a running club again. It was a hard decision to move away from the club I'd previously been at, but this feels the right place to be at a new club at this time. I know some people might not like this, but at the risk of sounding selfish, this is about finding somewhere where I am comfortable. 

Toodles!! 

When injury strikes

So, just to meander slightly, it's 5.30am and I'm sat outside in the garden writing this as I can't get back to sleep. Picture a beautiful sunrise and being able to sit outside where it's lovely and cool, knowing later it's going to get much hotter. Being awake so early wasn't in the game plan - it rarely is at this time of day, but I was hungry and water just wouldn't stave off the hunger pangs!! Tea and toast it was.

So, to catch up: since I did the half-marathon in April, things have gone downhill. One week after the event I managed to injure my knee (not really sure how), and after a week of walking with a lot of pain, I gave in and went to see a physio, and he felt that the HM might have been a precursor to the knee pain. I was told on my first appointment to stop running for the time being.

So with fortnightly appointments and exercises to do at home (and the gym) I was given the go ahead to run again near the end of July. Thankfully being able to do cross-training cardio exercises, as well as strengthening exercises, has enabled my fitness level to remain and not decline. This weekend just gone I did my first parkrun in weeks and finished in a respectable 37.14, which considering it was hot I was really pleased with. A couple of niggles on the route which then went away, and no lasting effects since. So, its looking good as long as i don't overdo it. Thankfully the summer holidays means I can take things easier and not be on the feet as much as I would be at work hence hopefully promoting a better recovery before going back to work in September. I have a hospital appointment in September to investigate what could be a meniscus issue, but it's not holding me back too much. I just have to be sensible.

Admittedly, once I got the go ahead to start running again I was nervous because I was worried about not getting very far due to getting out of breath quickly, or my knee would hurt a lot and I'd have to stop running again. And my running mojo which had remained during the time I wasn't running took a hike in the opposite direction.

So, I have a choice now. Sat outside in the garden in lovely and to actually go for a run before 7am would probably be beneficial however, its very lovely being sat in the back garden and listening to the birds and background traffic (as well as a persistent car alarm!!!).

So, what now? The physio was suggesting that there would be no reason why I still couldn't do the Great South Run in October. I know I have ten miles walking in my legs (tested that theory doing the Gromit Unleashed 2 trails) so a walk/run would almost definitely be in the bag.

SO to go for a run, or not? It's lovely and cool, and I'm lovely and relaxed!!

Amazing!!!!!

Today I set myself a target.

Having entered the Wickham Whistler, a multi-lap event where you run as many laps that you want, I set myself a target of 2 laps. Since January, the furthest I’ve run is 3.5 miles, and to meet a month target run of 26.2 I needed to do 5.9 miles. Each lap was 3.3 miles long.

I set myself a plan of running 3 mins and walking 1 min. I kept this up for the first 3 laps, even recognising that I was having a thoroughly good time.  The only sign of being uncomfortable was towards the end of lap 3. I could have stopped there having done what I set out to do. But 4 laps would be a half marathon. Did I have enough in me to do the 4th lap?

I started on my timed intervals but suddenly I couldn’t keep going with it. It was like my legs said no more. I finished the lap walking it.

But I did a half marathon distance - double what I expected to do. I managed to stop my watch after three laps without thinking, and then restarted it for the final lap. This however had its benefits. I was able to note that it took me just over 2 hours to do 9.9 miles - just under the distance for the Great South Run, which I’m doing again in October.

As said before I have seen unexpected changes to my mindset since restarting running in January. I am definitely more positive, I am enjoying it and am willing to push myself further. I loved today’s event. Seeing friends I haven’t seen for a long time made all the difference to how I felt.

So, let’s check out the next On The Whistle event.....

Did I mention that I hurt now???

It's been a while........

Wow!! I can't believe I last blogged back in October when I signed up again for the great south run 2018. My intention had been to start training again from that point. It didn't happen.

However, since the start of January this year, I have been to 4 parkruns (out of 7) and been running with a friend too. I did also deliberate rejoining a running club but as training sessions do not fit with family stuff, it was not worth the membership at this time especially as I am not entering races on a regular basis to get the affiliated discount.

Anyhow, I am finding several things since starting running again:
* I am actually enjoying running
* going back to parkrun with people, be it friends or my daughter, has made it lass daunting for me to turn up
* whilst I have completed 5km running once so far this year, it's showing that I haven't completely lost fitness over the last 12 months, and my other runs have gone okay with walks in between.
* I really do have an awesome running buddy who adjusts to what I need to do to keep moving
* I belong to an amazing running community online
* I'm reconnecting with running club buddies
* I'm actually believing in myself that I can do this

And to be honest it's the latter comment that I've never really had that feeling of before. I don't know whether it's because I have no 'pressures' such as lots of races, belonging to a running club, but I look forward to running most of the time now. Still need to work more on my motivation but one step at a time........

Along this year, I am tracking my running efforts with the Run Mummy Run challenge where I pledged to run 5 miles a week. It hasn't always happened, however I am still running each week.

So it's all good at the moment.

Happy days

The green-eyed monster

The decision to take a break from running happened a year ago at the Great South Run. Whilst I generally like the course and the event, I didn't enjoy last year. So I said then I wasn't going to re-enter (despite always being tempted by the early bird offer) and look at taking a break from running events once I finished the forty challenge. 

Forty challenge completed on Christmas Day 2016. I have done some casual runs with a friend since but entered no events this year. I had no regrets with that decision. Whilst I'm missing not running the GSR today, I'm not sorry I followed my decision to have a break. Although whilst the green-eyed monster reared its ugly head today, and it was almost painful to watch my husband go off to the GSR this morning, it has been good in a way to realise what events I do enjoy. So after carrying said green-eyed monster this morning for a few hours I have now entered next years GSR event with a sense of anticipation and excitement. And a year to train with something to look forward to. And perhaps come back to running with a renewed inner strength that I can do this. I'm starting from the beginning again with the running but that's okay. It has taken a lot to realise that it's okay to restart with a couch to 5k programme. Particularly with the reinstatement of asthma treatment and learning to manage that whilst running. 

I have focused a lot of this year on my mental health, and getting myself into a better place. It's an ongoing process, but I have found areas that I have moved forward in which has made such a difference. Hopefully I will be able to carry forward what I have learnt, particularly through more difficult days. 

Just in case you were wondering, my husband did an awesome job at the GSR and I'm am so proud of what he achieved today. 

I've got going

So, I'm still reading the motivation chapter of the book. It's been a hard one to read, partly because being brutally honest with myself is never pleasant, and it means I have to face some home truths. But I will persevere.

This last 7 days I have been swimming twice, and to the gym once. I have to admit to having some anxiety tonight prior to swimming - no real idea why but just really struggled with going out. But I went it.

I have really enjoyed swimming, rhythmically going up and down the pool, and the refreshing feel I get when submerging my head in the water. And trying to keep going, and do more, to reach a target, or beat what I had the previous time (which didn't happen this time). its difficult to describe but. That feeling of flowing through the water, being in that moment, not worrying about anything else (except maybe a stray or slower swimmer). 

The gym went well too. It fair to say I got very sweaty, but for the last 10 mins I was the only one in the gym. Which was quite nice. 

I'm trying I really am. I will get there. All being well, come October and should I be offered a marathon place, I will have got myself to a decent place where I can concentrate on marathon training.

Mental health and exercise

There is much available to read about the benefits of exercise to improve mental health. So I decided to delve into a book that actually offered the chance to properly explore motivational thoughts (and unmotivating thoughts), not just read and and try to absorb.

So I found this book: 8 Steps to Mental Health through Exercise by Dr. Christina Hibbert. So far, I have completed three chapters, and it has really allowed me to delve much deeper into my thoughts that stop me from exercising, as well as exploring what my benefits of exercise would be. Interesting that whilst she offers information into the benefits of exercise, her questions allow you to explore your own reasonings. I wonder whether you have to be the right frame of mind to allow yourself to do that, but so far I have been really honest with myself.

So right now, I am working on the Motivation chapter. The hardest chapter so far for me. And I guess in some ways this is probably the key chapter in the book to try and work through. Having not yet looked further this is likely to be he chapter to help kick one's butt back into action.

But I ask myself some questions more personally:
*why having run since April 2014 am I still struggling to find enjoyment and accepting the benefits of exercise to mental health?
* why can't I get myself sorted out? I want to go out running and swimming and cycling, but I now particularly struggle with the thoughts that having not exercised since January my fitness has gone downhill and I'll just be a red-faced ball mess after about 5 minutes. What is stopping me from just getting my running gear on and going out?

Yesterday I had my first vague medal envy this year. Is this a sign things are on the up?

I can't be the only person to go through this. But yet I feel very alone in this.