Livin' on a Prayer!

Yes, that's right, I'm half way there! My first ever training session was 12 weeks ago, and 12 weeks today it'll all be over. Eek!

Lots to tell you since last time - go get a cup of tea. On Monday, feeling more positive after last weekend's mini meltdown, I was supposed to do just 20 minutes of "recovery" and thought I could probably run the whole thing. Er, no. Still needed to walk after 10 minutes. And I had really, really sore shins - I think it's a bit to do with my new shoes and insoles, and restarting to run again after my break over Christmas. I had just the same problem a couple of weeks into the training back in November, and it eased then after a little while so hopefully this is just a temporary blip again.

Tuesday was another steady 50, and this time I did manage to run a bit more. I think the fitness is kicking back in at last! Unfortunately I had to walk the last 10 minutes (it was quite up"hill") as my shins were agony. But I did cover 4.25 miles in the 50 minutes, which is just a fraction under the 12 minute mile pace so not too shabby, and I strapped some ice to my legs when I got home which seemed to help a bit.

The next challenge was Friday - my plan said "40 minutes brisk". Brisk?! I can only do one pace! But I was determined to give it a go. I went to the gym as my friendly physio had advised me to treadmill it, in the hope that it would be less mean on my poor shins. Also I thought it would be easier to keep track of my speed and know when I was going "faster". Unfortunately, having finally got to the end of Deathly Hallows Part 1, I'd forgotten to upload Part 2 so had nothing interesting to watch. And believe me, when you've got nothing else to watch, the numbers on the display don't half tick round slowly! I did really feel I was pushing myself hard, and, bearing in mind my normal road speed is just over 5mph, I had the treadmill up to 6mph for some goodly stretches, which felt mighty fast and tough. At the end of my session the stats showed I'd done 4 miles in 45 minutes, which gave me an average speed of 5.33mph, or 11:15 minutes per mile. I was a teeny bit disappointed that it wasn't a bit faster, as I was cream crackered and even a bit wibbly when I got off the treadmill, but it was overall a good session and any improvement is a good thing.

Which brings me to Sunday's long run. Do you need another cup of tea yet? Sunday was a beautiful day here, although it had rained a lot overnight, and everywhere off road is still really boggy, so I knew I'd have to run on tarmac. I wanted to get back on programme, which said 90 minutes (take it easy it said - I can do that!), and I mapped out a route that I thought would be about 7 and a bit miles. I'd also got myself an audiobook to listen to. Normally I listen to music while I'm out - my iPod has a whole range of stuff which shuffles through (it's fun to see what pops up next) and every so often I'll get a really great tune with a perfect beat for my rhythm, so for 3 1/2 minutes or so I'll be flowing beautifully and steadily until the next track and it all goes a bit to pot again. But a couple of people had recommended audiobooks as a way of passing time when the runs get longer so I thought I'd look into it. They are really expensive! I mean, I know you get several hours listening, but £20 for a book?! And what to choose? Do I go for a book I've already read so I know what's going on, or something brand new (in which case I'd have to concentrate a bit more - not so good on the roads?). And if I got a book I didn't know and it was rubbish then I'd have wasted my £20... In the end I went for a non-fiction book called "Born to Run", about a native tribe who live in canyons in Mexico and can run vast distances. Don't mock, it is actually very interesting, although I did find my mind wandering occasionally and then I'd have missed a bit and wasn't really sure what he was talking about - with a non-fiction book though, this is not such an issue as missing a crucial plot point in a novel!

So, back to the running. I set off at a very gentle pace, and kept going. I walked occasionally but not nearly as much as I thought I would, and in fact towards the end it was almost easier just to keep running. I even managed to keep going up a couple of inclines (I hesitate to call them hills), even the one that had a stream flowing down it that I had no option but to splash through and get soggy feet. After an hour I treated myself to a jelly baby - I am not going to be able to keep going through a whole marathon with nothing to eat, no matter how carb loaded I am, and apparently it's good to practice eating on the run. The current fad is for energy gels that come in little sachets and you squirt them into your mouth as you go, but these are really for later in the programme (when your run gets to about two or three hours) and to be honest sound a bit yucky. The jelly baby, however, was a lovely little treat, just enough to give me a teeny sugar rush but not enough to sit too heavy in my stomach. And just think how many I could eat over the course of a whole marathon! Maybe we should have a sweepstake... Or maybe not.

In the event, I ran exactly 8 miles (I was about half a mile from home when I got to 8 so switched William off  - you know I don't do all this maths and route mapping in my head; there's an app for that and his name is William - and just ambled slowly home to cool down) in 1 hour 32 minutes. That's slightly more mathematically challenging, but it's just over 11 1/2 minute miles. And I felt really good, still felt I had more in the tank and no major pains anywhere. I was a bit worried that I'd seize up over the course of the afternoon but in the event it was no worse than you'd expect for having run 8 miles. So that was definitely an up day (apart from the leaky hot water tank... Grrr).

Oh, and I have entered a half marathon. The plan says you should aim to do one before the actual thing, as it's good training for race day etiquette - hanging about at starts, not getting carried away and rushing off too early, tackling water stations etc. I couldn't find one for the beginning of Feb, as per my plan, without having to travel too far and worry about logistics etc, but the Surrey Half on March 9th actually passes about a mile from my front door so it seemed rude not to join in. It's five weeks before the big day so hopefully will fit into the plan ok, and based on Sunday's effort I am aiming for somewhere in the region of 2 1/2 - 3 hours.

So, sorry about the novel I seem to have written here (maybe I should record it as an audiobook and charge a fiver to listen...!). If you're still with me you deserve a gin and tonic now. I am, as I said right at the beginning, half way there now, and beginning to believe this is really going to happen. Lots more hard work and miles to put in between now and then, but bring it on!