On Thursday we did intervals again and it was not horrible. My breathing was under control again and I was able to jog in between faster runs.
Yesterday we went for a long run of 50 minutes. Unfortunately my breathing decided it was not going to be under control. I never felt comfortable and it didn't seem like I was ever getting enough breath. At 35 minutes I had to slow down to a walk and again see the depressing sight of Mark and Kirsty running on ahead. I got my breath back pretty quickly, threw up - just to make the experience complete - and resumed running after 2 minutes. The others turned back to join me and we got to 50 minutes together. I was still not breathing properly.
The frustrating thing is that I can't predict when this will happen, or what I can do when it does, except stop. I don't want to stop. I am going to Google some stuff on breathing exercises for asthma; maybe that will help. I'm also not going to eat anything less than 3 hours before a run!
Our first 5k race is on Monday, and after yesterday I am not looking forward to it.
Sunday 18 July 2010
Tuesday 13 July 2010
Steady as she goes
Our plan is at its 4-week point, which is an 'easy' consolidation week. But we started from week 3, so we replaced the suggested 20-minute run with 25 minutes. Today is cooler than it has been for several weeks, and the run felt good. Yes, that's right, it actually felt good! It seemed fast, even though my iphone app disagrees. We mainly ran in Green Park which I consider a harder run as it has gradients - which are absent from all of the other locations we run in. There is no flat but no mad hills either - perfect for a slightly tougher run, I think. Kirsty tried to push for a few minutes longer but my mind was set on 25; I compromised by doing the last minute at a faster pace.
Breathing was well under control today and I am so happy. I believe the return to 3 sessions per week has made a big difference, helped along by lower humidity. Let that be a lesson, Lisa, 3x per week is a minimum.
Breathing was well under control today and I am so happy. I believe the return to 3 sessions per week has made a big difference, helped along by lower humidity. Let that be a lesson, Lisa, 3x per week is a minimum.
Sunday 11 July 2010
Back on a plan
Running became really hard for me. The uncommonly hot summer and the less frequent training made every step a long one. I have cursed London's humidity to everyone who will listen; why can't it be a rubbish summer like last year??
13 miles started to look like a hell of a long way again. We had been talking about getting on a proper training plan but failed to find one that appealed. I don't want to be required to run more than 3 times per week as there are other things in my life. I decided to bite the bullet, get the Royal Parks' beginner training plan, and put it into Excel so that we could adapt as necessary. It's a good plan I think, a 'steady run', interval or hill run, 'tempo run' (slightly faster than is comfortable) and then a long run at the end of each week. Distance and intensity increases each week. We will alternate between interval and tempo each week to give three runs. I also want to do some other sort of exercise on some of the off days; but it seems unlikely that I'll do much of that.
The interval run was, of course, horrible. I struggle to get my breath back after one minute of brisk running, and I have to walk instead of 'jog' in between brisks. Another point of frustration as I know that Kirsty doesn't need to walk. It was also the hottest day of the year so far and simply entirely unpleasant.
Today we met at Regent's Park for a change of scenery. We tried to get there early to avoid the heat, but earliness rarely happens on a Sunday. By the time we got our act together it was 10.45 and baking. It was less humid, though, and we did a thoroughly heart-warming 45 minutes, mainly hiding under the shade of trees. It wasn't easy and I didn't feel quite in control of the breathing, but we did it! It feels like we have started to get back on track.
13 miles started to look like a hell of a long way again. We had been talking about getting on a proper training plan but failed to find one that appealed. I don't want to be required to run more than 3 times per week as there are other things in my life. I decided to bite the bullet, get the Royal Parks' beginner training plan, and put it into Excel so that we could adapt as necessary. It's a good plan I think, a 'steady run', interval or hill run, 'tempo run' (slightly faster than is comfortable) and then a long run at the end of each week. Distance and intensity increases each week. We will alternate between interval and tempo each week to give three runs. I also want to do some other sort of exercise on some of the off days; but it seems unlikely that I'll do much of that.
The interval run was, of course, horrible. I struggle to get my breath back after one minute of brisk running, and I have to walk instead of 'jog' in between brisks. Another point of frustration as I know that Kirsty doesn't need to walk. It was also the hottest day of the year so far and simply entirely unpleasant.
Today we met at Regent's Park for a change of scenery. We tried to get there early to avoid the heat, but earliness rarely happens on a Sunday. By the time we got our act together it was 10.45 and baking. It was less humid, though, and we did a thoroughly heart-warming 45 minutes, mainly hiding under the shade of trees. It wasn't easy and I didn't feel quite in control of the breathing, but we did it! It feels like we have started to get back on track.
Thursday 1 July 2010
Slacking and Amsterdam
Our plan became to extend our long run by 5 minutes per week, and we did a 45 minute, 6.69km run on June 22nd. But we soon realised *cliche alert* that failing to plan is planning to fail. The end of June came with us doing just 2 runs per week and losing our way somewhat.
The next run was in lovely Amsterdam, where Kirsty, Mark and I went for a short break. We failed to find a park to run in (what we thought was a park was a zoo) and ended up following a random route through the quiet streets and canals of Amsterdam on a Sunday morning. Plus a car park. It was hot; we got to 30 minutes and I was really tired, having forgotten my Ventolin and having to work so much harder for breath. I felt a sort of accomplishment which outwieghed my slightly uncomfortable thought that I've become one of those people that runs on holiday.
The next run was in lovely Amsterdam, where Kirsty, Mark and I went for a short break. We failed to find a park to run in (what we thought was a park was a zoo) and ended up following a random route through the quiet streets and canals of Amsterdam on a Sunday morning. Plus a car park. It was hot; we got to 30 minutes and I was really tired, having forgotten my Ventolin and having to work so much harder for breath. I felt a sort of accomplishment which outwieghed my slightly uncomfortable thought that I've become one of those people that runs on holiday.
Sunday 20 June 2010
As we were both away at the weekend, Kirsty and I decided to go for 40 minutes on a Monday. We did it! Actually it was 40 minutes and 15 seconds as that took us to a magical 6km distance. Unfortunately from about 35 minutes, I started to feel some pain in my left knee and groin area. It was still there in the morning and I could feel it when walking. I decided to skip the planned Wednesay and Friday run to give it time to calm down. I helped it along by stretching. Groin stretches, woo!
I think it was a good decision as I had a pain-free run on Saturday. I tried short intervals but only got to 3 before deciding I lack the motivation to do intervals alone. I then did a 20 minute normal pace to atone for my sin. It was quite achey.
I think it was a good decision as I had a pain-free run on Saturday. I tried short intervals but only got to 3 before deciding I lack the motivation to do intervals alone. I then did a 20 minute normal pace to atone for my sin. It was quite achey.
Thursday 10 June 2010
Long runs
*Retrospective updating has messed up my sense of dates, so I'm writing about a run from a couple of weeks ago and one on the post date, haha*
One Sunday Kirsty came to Battersea for a shot at running 35 minutes together. I had run 35 minutes with Mark, which was a really good run; at his suggestion, we'd even run faster for the last minute and it felt great. That was a real boost to the spirits. But Sunday was a horribly hot and humid day and it was a thoroughly unpleasant run. We got to 32 minutes and gave up. I think Kirsty was more annoyed at it than me as she hadn't done 35 minutes before. I hope there isn't too much of this sort of weather over the summer.
Our second shot at 35 came on this day, I believe, and it was successful. Unmemorably so.
One Sunday Kirsty came to Battersea for a shot at running 35 minutes together. I had run 35 minutes with Mark, which was a really good run; at his suggestion, we'd even run faster for the last minute and it felt great. That was a real boost to the spirits. But Sunday was a horribly hot and humid day and it was a thoroughly unpleasant run. We got to 32 minutes and gave up. I think Kirsty was more annoyed at it than me as she hadn't done 35 minutes before. I hope there isn't too much of this sort of weather over the summer.
Our second shot at 35 came on this day, I believe, and it was successful. Unmemorably so.
Tuesday 8 June 2010
Short intervals
Short intervals are hard work. I think I tried running them too fast, around 5min/km. But I managed the required 5 intervals with a bit of extra walking, plus the 5min lead-in and lead-out runs. I kind of wanted to die afterwards. As I'm updating this retrospectively I've messed up timings a bit, but I know that on June 10th I tried my second short interval run with Kirsty. Yet another thing that is better and easier with my running buddy. Still bloody hard though! The thing is, I really really like running at the faster speed, for about 30 seconds until I completely lose my breath.
That run is memorable because we got a couple of really nice compliments; from someone at work and from a (hot) random as we ran past. Running is a good thing :)
That run is memorable because we got a couple of really nice compliments; from someone at work and from a (hot) random as we ran past. Running is a good thing :)
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