It's Saturday and therefore Parkrun day. And I was actually looking forward to it, despite the fact that it had been raining all night again, so the course was likely to be muddy and damp.
Keen to improve on my time from last week, I decided that I would start the day with a proper breakfast, because while the pop tart I ate in the car last week tasted great, it possibility did not give my body the nutritional advantage that it needed. A little bit of internet research revealed that porridge and a banana was the way to go - so I set the alarm an hour earlier than I needed to, and got up to make my little pot noodle style tub of porridge with golden syrup. Then remembered with the first mouthful that I actually hate porridge - the slurpy consistency and lack of any proper flavour makes me feel quite ill. I'm breaking out in a sweat just thinking about it now. Urgh. I managed three quarters of the pot though, and hoped that it would be enough for the challenge ahead.
The run went well, I'm still struggling with pacing myself and started way too fast, but the porridge must have done some good as I managed to beat last week's time by 49 seconds, so my PB is now at 36.09. I'll try to eat the whole pot next week.
In preparation for tonight's club session billed on the website as "Everybody's favourite: Beechwood Hills", I decided that I need a little extra help. So off I went in search of some new running gear. I have found that wearing normal tshirts is a bit of a nightmare, as they get soaking wet - with a lovely combination of rain and sweat, which then gets cold next to my skin. If I am cold, I am miserable and liable to start whinging, so some preventative action was needed. And if I am going to trot around the streets of Newport, I might as well look like I know what I am doing.
Being of limited means at present, I decided that Sports Direct was the way forward. I am amazed every time that I go there at the sheer amount of tat that is available. Pink Lonsdale velour tracksuit anyone? With an orange kappa t shirt to go with it? Now, I realise that I am not exactly a pinnacle of style, but I was left wondering who actually buys this stuff. Actually, it appears that no one does as I was the only customer present at the time.
Anyway, the outcome of my visit is that I am now the proud owner of a nice black waterproof running jacket thing, at a bargain price of £14.99, and with pink reflective go faster stripes on the arms, I was feeling quite pleased. I couldn't actually find any suitable tshirts though, so another outing will be required for that.
Off then to the leisure centre for the club session meet up. Informed again that it was just a little run to the start of the training - it wasn't - it was 1.6 miles which is not, at this stage in my training a little run, its actually quite a long way.
I had thought that the last hill session was bad. This was worse. It involved running up a fairly steep hill as far as a pre determined lamp post, then back down again, then up again to the next lamp post, then back down again, and repeat until a) collapse or b) 20 minutes had gone by. I managed 4 lamp posts before I had to admit defeat. The faster runners did 7. But, I have to comment that the brilliant way that the coach organises the session means that everyone can work at their own pace, but still feel like they are part of the group. I loved the way that the more experienced runners always had an encouraging word or two to say when they passed me, and even though I was unable to even offer a grunt in reply due to lack of oxygen, feeling like part of group is what kept me going tonight.
I even managed to run back to the leisure centre from the session - not very quickly at all but I still managed to do so without stopping. The total distance run tonight: 7.25km. Nearly 2km further than I've ever managed before, which brings me nicely on to the motivational quote for this week:
Thank you for reading.
Keen to improve on last week's athletic excellence, off I went this morning to the Newport Park Run. I was determined to try to run the whole thing this time without having to walk, even if this meant going more slowly overall.
I found it hard to go slow, and not try to keep up with the main group of runners at the start. But then it suddenly occurred to me when I was halfway round that the only person I am really in competition with is myself. If I have to walk some of it, the only person I will have let down is me, no one else is even going to notice. I suppose that is the same as life generally; the only person who should ever judge me is myself.
Anyway, I kept going right until the end, even managing a moderately fast sprint in the last 50 metres towards the finish line. And all made a little bit better by the lovely bacon sandwich in the cafe afterwards.
I was delighted when the official email confirmed that I had finished a whole 61 seconds quicker than last week, which has definitely given me the motivation to keep going.
I was not looking forward to tonight's club session, having had a day off from lectures so was lounging around in my pjs for most of the day, listening to the rain landing on the roof of my attic room.
The thought of doing anything involving a track also filled me with dread - reminding me of my failure to suceed at anything vaguely athletic while at school and hiding in the changing rooms in the hope that no one would notice my absence from the 800m. My favourite event at school was the 2000m walk, which was 7 and a half laps around the tennis courts. No seemed to mind if I spent the entire 80 minute double PE lesson strolling round at my own pace. However, when it came to sports day, this backfired somewhat, as I was the only person in my house to have recorded a time in the event, which meant I was forced to perform it in public. I actually came second and have a little certificate somewhere - it turned out that all the other "competitors" were as lazy as me.
I arrived at the track in the pouring rain, wondering what the hell I was thinking. Although within five minutes I was glad I made the effort. Everyone at the club was wonderfully welcoming, and off we went for a little jog to the start - fortunately much shorter than last week. The track is 400m, around the outside of the Newport County football pitch, and the warm up was 2 laps for beginners (I do like it that they use this word rather than lazy people) and 3 or 4 laps for everyone else. There was then a couple of slower paced laps all together and then a pyramid - where I had to do 400m, 600m, 800m, 800m, 600m, and 400m with a little rest in between. Like last week the session was organised so that everyone can take part - the advanced runners had an extra 2000m in the middle of all that as well.
Surprisingly, I found myself quite enjoying it. I found it easier to pace myself on the track as I could see how far I had to go until the next rest and could slow down or speed up as needed. It is also nice that the coach and other club members are encouraging me to keep going as they sprint past, even though I am barely moving.
So all going well so far. Have found another motivational quote for this week. Might make this a regular feature:
Yesterday was my first proper test of just how slowly I am actually running. I took part in the Newport Park Run. Park Runs are a series of timed 5km runs around various locations throughout the UK. Best of all they are free.
I did quietly question my sanity when I got up at 7.30am, while it was still dark outside, to run around a damp field following about 10 hours of non stop pouring rain the night before. However, once I arrived at Tredegar House where the Newport event was held I was actually quite proud of myself for making the effort.
The actual event wasn't too bad. I surprised myself by just how far I was able to go without stopping, even if at times it was very, very slow. I did panic slightly half way round when I realised that there are two laps to the course and had only done one. I didn't come last though and probably was a bit slower than I might have been because I was very wary of falling over in some of the muddier parts of the course. And I also got over my fear of appearing in public as a wobbly, red puffing blob.
The results came through by email later in the day - they have a barcode system where everything gets scanned and timed accurately, all quite clever really - I finished in 37.55. Not exactly breaking the land speed record but not as bad as I thought it would be.
I'd recommend the park run events to anyone who is thinking of taking up running. The atmosphere is great, with all kinds of people taking part including children and dogs, and no one seems to mind if, like me, you are actually a bit crap.
Having stuggled with motivation in the past, I decided to join a local running club. I thought that this might help turn this all into a bit more of a sociable activity, and I may be able to get some advice about training as well.
After a bit of internet research, last night I went along, in the drizzling cold evening to meet up with a local club at the sports centre, full of enthusiam for interval training. I actually had no idea what that was, and am perhaps glad I didn't because I would have stayed at home in the warm, with some chips.
The session started with "a little jog to warm up" - which actually turned out to be a 1.75 mile run to the starting point of the session - further than I have ever run in my life - and during which I thought I might actually pass out. But the wonderful club members made sure that someone stayed with me the whole time, even when I was barely moving and were so encouraging that I kept going because I didn't want to feel that I was letting them down.
I thought that the "little jog" was bad enough, so had no idea of the horror that is hill training. It basically involved running up and down a fairly steep hill lots and lots. With tiny breaks in between sets. Halfway up the first attempt I thought my lungs were going to explode. The club arranges the sessions so that everyone can participate whatever level they are at, and again someone stayed with me the whole time. I was quite proud of myself to have managed 8 times up and down the hill by the end of the session, even though everyone else did at least 20 laps. Still every journey starts with a single step.....
I think joining a club was a good idea - I met some really nice people, who were very supportive despite my complete lack of sporting ability, which makes me much more likely to go back next week.
Bad news today though - I can barely move my legs. And I know it is going to be worse tomorrow. Have smothered myself in vast quantities of deep heat in the hope that it will do something to relieve the pain. But I'm really quite happy with myself that I started.
I'm feeling the need for a little bit of motivational encouragement, so here goes:
I decided that if I am going to do this, I might as well do it properly and get all the right gear. So off I went to the shopping outlet village with the hope of picking up some bargains.
It probably wasn't the best idea as I left the Nike and Reebok shops feeling like a heffer as nothing for sale in the ladies wear section was big enough. Onwards then to the underwear shop to purchase a decent sports bra - having read in a magazine that apparently boobs have no muscle, and once the ligaments have been stretched there is no going back - not a thought that filled me with joy.
I picked up a couple of styles that I thought were my size - why are sports bras so ugly - and headed off into the changing room. They didn't fit at all, and having no idea why, I called over the rather nice lady handing out the tag things. She then proceeded, without warning to whip off the offending garment, leaving my top half completely naked, look at the size both of me and the bra, and shook her head in horror.
Completely the wrong size apparently. To my delight, I am a back size smaller than I thought, but to my dismay three whole cup sizes bigger?! The lovely lady trotted off and came back with a selection, which to be fair to her fitted me perfectly. And she spent the next half an hour prodding, pulling and yanking at my chest to ensure that I had the best fit possible.
I have been of the lardy arsed persuasion for most of my adult life. I like junk food, and lying in bed all day, and avoiding all strenuous activity. My idea of exercise is stretching out of the window at the local KFC to pick up my drive thru order. The staff at my local greasy spoon know my order without having to ask. I do have a rather nice gym membership, which I managed to use 7 times in the first six months of the year, and not at all during July and August.
However, it has recently struck me that maybe life is passing me by a little bit. And thanks to my healthcare related uni course, I am becoming increasingly aware that my lifestyle choices are going to have an impact on my long term health if I don't do something more postive soon.
So in a moment of random craziness, I signed up for the Bath Half Marathon. It is on the 11th of March. And at the moment, the only time I run anywhere is when I need to get to McDonalds before they stop serving breakfast.
This blog is going to be my record of what happened. Whether I make it or not.
