Plateau? Second wind? Actual fitness?

I concluded that a lack of proper warm-up contributed to my failure at longer intervals. However I keep forgetting that in warm up phase. Still brisk walking to warm up, but it quickly tails off into an easier walk and a chat. Warming up is boring!

After the disaster Kirsty and I did a 30-minuter on a dreary, rainy Saturday starting at Waterloo. We meant to run east along the South Bank, but the path was closed off so we ended up going over Blackfriars Bridge and doing exactly the same route we would do after work! Our desire for variety was thus thwarted, but happily the running went well.

I've started noticing a pattern. The first 5 minutes is easy. 5 - 15 is some sort of hell; breathing is difficult, muscles are complaining in their muscley way and I want to stop. Somewhere around 17 minutes - I don't know why - everything gets easier. I can't describe what happens exactly, but the breathing definitely settles into something I feel like I could maintain over a long distance. Happy Lisa!

Interval madness

After looking at a few different plans, we settled on the Royal Parks Foundation's half-marathon training plan as a basic guide, but that we would essentially do what we wanted. I personally like the RPF plan because it has training weeks dated exactly to race day. I know, little things. There are intervals (starting at: run really fast for 1 minute, walk for 1 minute, etc), longer intervals (starting at: 5mins easy pace, 10mins a bit faster, 5mins easy) and long runs at the weekend.

So we decided to try a longer interval run. I was still recovering from my cough and really not ready for that push. The faster pace was at 6min/km and I managed 4.5 minutes but my breathing was ragged and my legs really hurt. Kirsty and Mark were both along and they slowed down with me, but my legs hurt so much that eventually I had to stop. They kept running for a bit and, during this whole thing, I've never felt worse than when I watched them run on. Very frustrating, but a couple of ciders in the pub afterwards helped somewhat.

So after my enforced break and 28-minute achievement, we moved up to 30 and started looking for a half marathon training plan. We didn't fully finish couch to 5k and I wondered whether we should have. They must have recommended 3x 28 and 3x 30 minutes for a reason. But the important thing is, we kept going.

Couch to 5k is a clearly outstanding programme for the average lardass to get up to a level of fitness, but I haven't found anything so good for taking someone on to longer distances. Even beginner plans have you running 4 times a week plus cross training, and ranges of experts have different opinions and agendas behind their plans. But none of them seem to match my agenda, which is that I want to run the whole way. That is the main goal, and I'll be so happy if I achieve it. My ideal secret plan is to finish the half in 2hrs 6 minutes, or 6 minutes per km. And I can't see me exercising 5 times per week - there are other things in my life!

Running vs jogging

One thing that I've occasionally thought about is the difference between running and jogging. Naturally the internet disagrees with itself and I haven't invested any money on books or magazines about running. One does detect a slightly derisory tone about jogging, as if it is some essentially different and inferior activity, but without any definitions to qualify it.

But this morning I came across a BBC article by some sport trainer guy defining 6mph as a cut off point. So you have to be doing 10 minute miles to be running, any less is jogging. And what's more, if you are jogging, you might as well be walking, because it supposedly has the same calorie-burning benefits with less strain. I am a little incensed. My comfortable RUNNING pace is currently just under 11 minute miles. I certainly can't walk that fast, and in all my running, I've never been outpaced by a walker. It also says that you should always run on the balls of your feet, but I know the jury is out on this one - I saw a proper running article suggesting that up to 70% percent of elite runners are heel first, and that what matters is what's comfortable and doesn't result in injury. I'll keep heeling it, thanks.

I want to run faster - I currently get a little too out of breath, but I believe that if I keep at it, I'll get there. I don't think condescending articles like that really have any place on the BBC, which aims to promote health and fitness. It's potentially very discouraging to be told that you might as well be walking, when you've put all your best effort into doing something better. And I will keep going. Whether it's called running or not.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/health_and_fitness/4286146.stm

A weighty issue

It's no secret that I am overweight. Going to the doctor is a ritual hell - whether I'm going for an asthma check up or travel vaccinations, they always trot out the medical wisdom that just losing weight would be good for me. Now I'm not going to complain about how hard 'just' losing weight is. I think people should accept responsibility for themselves - no matter how I got here or how easy others may find it to keep the weight down - it is my problem and only mine to change.

Weight loss was never my goal with this running thing; I've always had it in my mind that if I have to run that distance and still be this fat, so be it. But, but. I have not lost a single pound in weight since I started running; not one. Everyone has said that I must be replacing fat with muscle and I'm happy to believe that. I am still wondering if my weighing scales are stuck, though.

Not really finishing C25K

Weeks 7 and 8 were where it became difficult. I got another cold and bad cough, so on the programme week 7, I hardly ran at all. I did 15 minutes on one occasion, coughing and spluttering the whole way. Kirsty seemed to lose her way too, and suddenly we weren't on programme anymore. I knew this wasn't going to be easy, but I really would have hoped for fewer problems than I've had. Nonetheless, I have kept the sense that I must continue, and I need to keep running regularly if I am to complete that thirteen miles.

This period emphasised to both Kirsty and I that running alone is much harder. Having that other person, or persons, there alongside you changes all sorts of psychology. For me it makes me 'man up' a bit, focus less on my various complaints, and removes the temptation to stop early. When my cough cleared up, we ran 28 minutes together and it really didn't feel hard.

Week 6 was a couple of split run/walks and a 25 minute run on the weekend. Everything felt ok after breaking the 20 minute milestone. The long run was interesting as I began to notice a pattern. The first couple of minutes felt easy, then I began to get out of breath. From about 5 minutes on, everything was hard, but after about 12-15 minutes it started to get a little easier. But, no sign of that 'runner's high' yet!

Happily, there was no sign of that headache. Dr Google's other ideas on it were dehydration, caffeine and hangover. So I make sure I drink enough water, limit my guzzling of coffee before runs, and run late in the day if I am hungover.