Well, who would have thought that juggling motherhood, my imminent return to work, a half-marathon training programme and a mathematics degree would have kept me so busy?
All in all, the running is going well - I am not as thorough as for my last half-marathon, but I am hitting the main training milestones and feel comfortable during my long weekend runs. Now reached the 60 minute mark, although at a rather slow pace. I keep reminding myself though that a post-baby body isn't the same as a pre-baby one, and that the goal this time is simply to enjoy myself, keep fit, raise cash for the homeless and complete the race on the big day. I think I am set to do all of this.
In the meantime, I never have any time to update this blog anymore, which is another difference with my previous half-marathon. It is only going to get worse, too, as I am going back to the office more or less full time in September.
I have also discovered the very-exciting Google+, and decided to post smaller updates there instead, as the process is a bit faster. So, dear supporters, please join me on Google+ if you are so inclined, and you will get all my running news there, too!
x
Monday, 1 August 2011
Monday, 27 June 2011
Week #1 of Training - Done!
This week was the first in my training programme. Nothing too difficult so far, and I am happy to report that I managed to stick to all four sessions. Tuesday, 20 minutes of jogging; Monday, a 'failed' interval training session as I was planning on using my residence's treadmill and it didn't have the appropriate setting (but I still ran well for the required 20 minutes!); Friday, tempo running (5 min easy, 10 min faster, 5 min easy, very enjoyable); and yesterday, a 20-minute easy run in delightful company, as Stephen came with me. We are incredibly rusty though, I have to say. It's hard to imagine completing the half-marathon at this stage, when we are still struggling past the 15 first minutes of a run. But I'll get there!
This week has also been completely awesome in terms of fundraising. Closest friends and family really dug deep into their pockets, sometimes from the other side of the Atlantic, which is rather touching. Thank you Marcia, Tom, Stephen and Mark for this week's donations; they got me to reach 40% of the fundraising target already!
Tomorrow, after a day of rest spent enjoying my own birthday celebrations (and therefore a large meal), it's back to the programme, for week #2. Given the current hot weather, which is apparently set to last a bit longer, I plan on fitting the runs into early mornings. Something that is not massively hard to achieve, given that our daughter is waking me up at 6 o'clock sharp every day. However, I have a cold right now and feel rather stuffed up, so I just wonder how hard I'll be able to run this week.
In terms of mapping apps, I had started using Mapmyrun but am getting relatively frustrated with it. For now it seems that Runtastic is working a lot better for me - easy and accurate GPS mapping, less work to do to enter new workout details, etc. So I may transition to it completely... You can see the detail of the most recent runs there.
Finally this week, a quick note of encouragement to my friend Arnaud (a.k.a Arno), who is running his very first race (the Asics 10k in London on the 10th July) and is also fundraising. Go Arnaud, go! You've come a long way!
This week has also been completely awesome in terms of fundraising. Closest friends and family really dug deep into their pockets, sometimes from the other side of the Atlantic, which is rather touching. Thank you Marcia, Tom, Stephen and Mark for this week's donations; they got me to reach 40% of the fundraising target already!
Tomorrow, after a day of rest spent enjoying my own birthday celebrations (and therefore a large meal), it's back to the programme, for week #2. Given the current hot weather, which is apparently set to last a bit longer, I plan on fitting the runs into early mornings. Something that is not massively hard to achieve, given that our daughter is waking me up at 6 o'clock sharp every day. However, I have a cold right now and feel rather stuffed up, so I just wonder how hard I'll be able to run this week.
In terms of mapping apps, I had started using Mapmyrun but am getting relatively frustrated with it. For now it seems that Runtastic is working a lot better for me - easy and accurate GPS mapping, less work to do to enter new workout details, etc. So I may transition to it completely... You can see the detail of the most recent runs there.
Finally this week, a quick note of encouragement to my friend Arnaud (a.k.a Arno), who is running his very first race (the Asics 10k in London on the 10th July) and is also fundraising. Go Arnaud, go! You've come a long way!
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Practising With Soldiers
Woah. I am sore. That's what I am.
Yesterday I attended the first British Military Fitness training 'run' in what may well become a series for me. This is a very quick post before Maggie's dinner time, to share the excitement with you all.
Here's what I expected: 20 minutes of rough-ish warm-up and strengthening exercises, followed by a run for 40 minutes. I also expected to be at the back the group for that run, because let's face it, my first half-marathon was two years ago, and I've had a baby and very little serious training since then.
What really happened: there was no 'run' as such, but a lot of of running. What do I mean? I mean that for one hour it was a relentless (read: no breaks aside from a total of about 4 minutes to glug some water) series of hard and fast strengthening exercises such as squats and lunges, which we had to do while counting down aloud ("louder!"), and were interspersed by either short jogs or sprints of about 30 seconds - 1 minute max. So... not really a 'run' then, you see. But wow, what value for the mere 5 quid that I paid! The guys are truly nice folk (they do not humiliate you and you do not, I swear, have to respond "sir yes sir" (a shame, perhaps?). You get tons of exercise, tons of ideas for very good stretches, great outdoors training, and the opportunity to meet other runners who are also struggling (well those who were at the back of the queue with me struggled too, I could tell).
So, the only expectation that was matched for me was that I was the last in queue for most of the hour. I also thought I wouldn't be able to make it, and felt like throwing up for about 10 minutes towards the second half, right after trying to exercise through a 10 minute stitch. Yet I still would do it again, and I am so chuffed that I made it through to the end! Hardcore!
I then enjoyed being totally soaked under a hailstones shower, as I was walking to join Stephen and Maggie at the Natural History Museum where they had been watching Dodos and creepy crawlies all morning.
Evidently, I went to bed at 8 without even dining. And stayed there.
Yesterday I attended the first British Military Fitness training 'run' in what may well become a series for me. This is a very quick post before Maggie's dinner time, to share the excitement with you all.
Here's what I expected: 20 minutes of rough-ish warm-up and strengthening exercises, followed by a run for 40 minutes. I also expected to be at the back the group for that run, because let's face it, my first half-marathon was two years ago, and I've had a baby and very little serious training since then.
What really happened: there was no 'run' as such, but a lot of of running. What do I mean? I mean that for one hour it was a relentless (read: no breaks aside from a total of about 4 minutes to glug some water) series of hard and fast strengthening exercises such as squats and lunges, which we had to do while counting down aloud ("louder!"), and were interspersed by either short jogs or sprints of about 30 seconds - 1 minute max. So... not really a 'run' then, you see. But wow, what value for the mere 5 quid that I paid! The guys are truly nice folk (they do not humiliate you and you do not, I swear, have to respond "sir yes sir" (a shame, perhaps?). You get tons of exercise, tons of ideas for very good stretches, great outdoors training, and the opportunity to meet other runners who are also struggling (well those who were at the back of the queue with me struggled too, I could tell).
So, the only expectation that was matched for me was that I was the last in queue for most of the hour. I also thought I wouldn't be able to make it, and felt like throwing up for about 10 minutes towards the second half, right after trying to exercise through a 10 minute stitch. Yet I still would do it again, and I am so chuffed that I made it through to the end! Hardcore!
I then enjoyed being totally soaked under a hailstones shower, as I was walking to join Stephen and Maggie at the Natural History Museum where they had been watching Dodos and creepy crawlies all morning.
Evidently, I went to bed at 8 without even dining. And stayed there.
Monday, 6 June 2011
Coached Practice Run #1
Just booked a place on one of the race sponsors' training runs. I'll be testing my abilities in a group somewhere in Hyde Park on the 18th June, in the morning. Hoping to then have a nice picnic with my two favourite people - weather allowing. The awesome thing about this practice run is that it is lead by British Military Fitness: "All instructors are serving or former members of the armed forces". That should be, er, interesting.
The last time I run in Hyde Park was about ten years ago, in my attempt to join the Serpentine Running Club. I was rubbish. Trailing at the far end of the group, and as usual completely socially awkward. Hopefully I'll do better boot-camp style, and with all the practice I've accumulated since then!!!
The last time I run in Hyde Park was about ten years ago, in my attempt to join the Serpentine Running Club. I was rubbish. Trailing at the far end of the group, and as usual completely socially awkward. Hopefully I'll do better boot-camp style, and with all the practice I've accumulated since then!!!
Saturday, 28 May 2011
Today's workout
Aaah, treadmill, you are my salvation. This has been a tough, busy week, and I just completed my only run. Details here.
I'm thinking that for indoors runs I'll try to run each time at least at the average speed of the previous one. So this time I started at 7.4 km/h as a minimum speed, and worked at increasing this gently. Reached a 7.6 km/h average today, which will therefore be my minimum setting for the next treadmill run. I like numbers...
That's it for today. Off to shower and prepare for my very first date with Stephen since Maggie was born. I am terrified. But that's a topic for another blog...
I'm thinking that for indoors runs I'll try to run each time at least at the average speed of the previous one. So this time I started at 7.4 km/h as a minimum speed, and worked at increasing this gently. Reached a 7.6 km/h average today, which will therefore be my minimum setting for the next treadmill run. I like numbers...
That's it for today. Off to shower and prepare for my very first date with Stephen since Maggie was born. I am terrified. But that's a topic for another blog...
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
First donation for Shelter!
Nothing to declare on the training front I'm afraid - although for good reason: Stephen and I took a break into the gorgeous city of Ottawa.
But, there are news on the fundraising front, with a first generous donation from my lovely mum and dad! Aaaw! I can't type more because Maggie just woke up, but do check out their message on my Just Giving page!
But, there are news on the fundraising front, with a first generous donation from my lovely mum and dad! Aaaw! I can't type more because Maggie just woke up, but do check out their message on my Just Giving page!
Thursday, 19 May 2011
My Mapmyrun profile
For those of you who are really keen on following the minutiae of my half-marathon training, here's my Mapmyrun profile. I log my workouts there, with maps whenever I train outdoors.
Today, another quick jog on the 'rolling hills' setting of the residence's treadmill. A nice, easy-going 7.3 km/h average.
Nothing else to declare, aside from the splitting headache that hit me because I went straight from running to sitting down and nursing Maggie...
Today, another quick jog on the 'rolling hills' setting of the residence's treadmill. A nice, easy-going 7.3 km/h average.
Nothing else to declare, aside from the splitting headache that hit me because I went straight from running to sitting down and nursing Maggie...
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Surprise treadmill!
Quick post. We've been in Canada for a few days and I had lost hope as to my ability (and willingness!) to do anything running- or fitness-related, what with the constant snacking on good food and junk that is possible here. Yet today I found a treadmill in the residence in which we are staying until the weekend. Result: a quick 20-min session, a lot of it spent working out the settings of the machine. Still, a decent jog on the 'rolling hill' setting. Needed that.
The 'official' RPF Half training programme doesn't demand anything until the 22nd June, so I'm really slacking for lack of deadlines here.
The 'official' RPF Half training programme doesn't demand anything until the 22nd June, so I'm really slacking for lack of deadlines here.
Monday, 16 May 2011
Doing it all over again...
That's it folks, after months spent attempting to get back into running, I have taken that step and signed up for my second half-marathon. This time, it'll be in London, and I'll be running around the various (gorgeous) royal parks, during the London Royal Parks Half, on the 9th October this year.
This time again, I will at least attempt to maintain a blog on my adventures as I train and mentally prepare for this. It may or may not be as frequently updated, comprehensive or entertaining as the last one, but I'll give it a go as I also keep busy raising Maggie and studying for my OU degree (and, incidentally, going back to work some time in September).
For now, it is an ugky blog with an ugly design. I am, after all, abroad right now, and have to balance a billion things into this crazy schedule - starting with a large brunch with friends in a couple of hours.
I intend to use the event's 'official' training schedule for beginners, which doesn't require me to start proper training until the 22nd June. In the meantime, I'll do the odd run or jog. But not today. Today, it is raining in Toronto. And I am jetlagged.
This time again, I will at least attempt to maintain a blog on my adventures as I train and mentally prepare for this. It may or may not be as frequently updated, comprehensive or entertaining as the last one, but I'll give it a go as I also keep busy raising Maggie and studying for my OU degree (and, incidentally, going back to work some time in September).
For now, it is an ugky blog with an ugly design. I am, after all, abroad right now, and have to balance a billion things into this crazy schedule - starting with a large brunch with friends in a couple of hours.
I intend to use the event's 'official' training schedule for beginners, which doesn't require me to start proper training until the 22nd June. In the meantime, I'll do the odd run or jog. But not today. Today, it is raining in Toronto. And I am jetlagged.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)