Author: Jess Guth

Dr Jess Guth is a Legal Academic. She blogs at jessguth.com She also doesn't really run - reallynotarunner.com

Uneventful week 1 of 10k plan

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I’m still on plan  – I am still slowly making me way through week 1 of the 10k programme. After the Monday run, Tuesday was a core strength session so I did the strength yoga on my yoga app (and fell over several times) and then we also did some other core strength exercises (press-ups, squats, lunges and the dreaded plank which I held for what felt like an eternity until I face planted).

Wednesday was  crappy day. I was more anxious and stressy than I have been in a long time and I actually just wanted to hide on the sofa but in spite of the outrageous wind, Kath made me go for a run. The plan said 6 minute run with 3 minute walk break 3 times. So we did that. It was cold and stupidly windy and at times I felt like I was running on the spot. It was such hard work but I did feel better afterwards.

Thursday was rest day and today was a 30 minute walk. We had thought about re-doing the 6minute/3 minute run but I am a wimp and didn’t want to run because of the snow and possible ice. We walked to feed the sheep instead.

We’ve also done day 2 of the Wanderlust TV 21 day yoga challenge. We’ll try and catch up a little over the weekend as we are supposed to be on day 5. The challenge is brilliant – I’ll get to a proper review at some point but the explanations are great and even though I’ve only done 2 I think my technique is already better.

Core session tomorrow and run on Sunday but we’ll check the weather and pick the better day for the run so may swap them round

Happy Friday.

 

Moomin Butt Moving again

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Right, let’s try this running lark again. I finally feel better so wanted to see if I’m better enough to start the 10k programme. It seems I am. The first run is a 40 minute slow run so we set the watch to 2minute run/1 minute walk intervals and trotted off. We stopped to feed the sheep and once that was done carried on – so it’s a bit of a cheat because I did get a little rest just before mile 1 – if sliding around in the mud covered in hay counts as a rest that is.

Anyway, it was uneventful. It was slow (just under 14 minute per mile pace I think) but I just plodded along happily until the end. 40 minutes didn’t fit with the intervals so we went for 42 minutes. We covered just about 3 miles I think. That’s it really, that’s all there is. No drama, not battle, just a slow uneventful little trot.

I wore my new trail shoes for the first time- they’re New Balance ones. I bought them in the sale together with another road pair (I am dreading having to retire my current road ones – they came through two marathons with me, how can I possibly retire them?!?). I’ll review the new trail ones properly in a bit but so far so good – much better than my others. After the last run I decided I really didn’t want to persevere with the Salomon trail ones because they really do make my feet ache. They’re great for walking in but whenever I run in them my arches start aching really quickly.

Happy to have made a start on the plan, tomorrow is rest or a core gym session. I definitely won’t have time for the gym but am hoping to do a strength yoga class from the Yoga Studio tomorrow evening. Next run Wednesday!

February Runner’s World (UK)

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I don’t know why the issue of Runner’s World that arrives in early January is actually the February issue. It makes no sense but there we are. It is what it is. Anyway, I’ve just finished reading it. Well, reading the bits that I am interested in reading. Here are my thoughts.

It’s been a while since I picked up a Runner’s World but just before Christmas we saw a really good offer so bought a subscription and this was the first issue. I always quite like the science-y bits while I am reading them. I like knowing that, if I wanted to (I never do) I could go and follow up on the articles and snippets and actually find the research they are referring to. I also noticed though that I don’t remember the studies, I forget the info almost as soon as I have turned the page really and maybe that’s because most of this stuff is irrelevant to me. The potential gains in speed or performance these studies deal with don’t really apply to me – they apply to people who, you know, can actually run. There are however always a few things that might be useful. On p21 there are some exercises to help keep your spine mobile. While I always find it quite difficult to follow instructions from the pictures and short descriptions, the general idea that spinal mobility is important to running makes sense to me and I felt a little smug that our yoga routines include a good amount of work on this.

The 106 tips and tricks starting on p43 were a nice quick read and as well as some new info (Kiwis – I will eat more Kiwis) there were also some useful reminders – like trying to run relaxed and enjoy the journey not just the end race goal… usual stuff really. I shed my usual tears at the running heroes and the feature about people who had lost and kept off significant amounts of weight running and rolled my eyes at the price of of some the gear featured, reviewed and advertised but in this issue it was the ‘Your First Mile’ feature that caught my eye.

The programme presumes you can walk a mile or walk for about 20 minutes. Ok I’m good with that – it also has a 4 week programme to help you get there if you’re not at a point where you can walk for 20 minutes. The running bit starts with 30 second jog and 90 second walk – 10 times and by the end of that first week the running is up to 60 seconds and by the end of week 3 you’re at 2 min jog, 1 min walk x 4 plus 3 min jog, 90 sec walk and then another 2 min jog. I know this programme is designed by experts and I’m sure they know what they are doing and maybe I’m just a wimp and a little fragile but… If this programme is really for someone who works up to being able to walk 20 minutes, really for a total beginner then running at whatever pace for 30 seconds, even if it’s slower than walking pace, is a lot. I’m sure many people out there can do this and it looks great to me now (in fact I’m vaguely thinking it might be a nice confidence builder for me but I already have a plan) but I don’t think it would have looked that great to the me that couldn’t run to the postbox at the end of our road. I’d welcome your thoughts, maybe it’s just me.

There’s also some good stuff about the importance of the mind in running (don’t I know it – but how do I learn to break the negative cycle?!?) and some useful stuff about winter running. All in all not a bad issue – of course there’s the usual lack of larger size runners in the pictures other than the ones specifically featured in the weight loss section and somehow I always feel a bit sneaky reading Runner’s World, you know, like it’s not really for me – after all, I’m not really a runner.

Sunday Weigh In is back

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I stopped getting on the scales a while ago initially for positive reasons – I didn’t care at all what the number said, I knew I was getting fitter and stronger and healthier so the actual weight didn’t matter. Then the running got patchy and we fell off the food and booze wagon a bit – which is silly because when we were making the effort we were eating really yummy healthy food that we were both really enjoying. In the run up to Christmas I knew my weight was sneaking up again and just after I suddenly worried that it might even be getting as high as it was 2 years ago before I started running. Clothes don’t fit properly, running is so much harder than it needs to be. A good few pounds need to come off.

So on the 2nd January I set a new baseline – a stone lighter than the baseline I set 2 years ago but also over a stone and a half heavier than I was at my lightest during Dopey training. Hmph. I was determined to have a good food and exercise week but as I mentioned I was ill instead. I have lost 6 pounds but I’m not really celebrating that because it’s more due to being poorly than anything else.

We have a food plan for the week with lots of fresh, yummy things but also included comfort food to guard against the cold and grey ‘pass me the biscuits’ kind of feeling. We’re starting today with pancakes (a healthier version K once found a recipe for, possibly in a Runner’s World or from a Running Bug) – a lovely Sunday treat with yoghurt and raspberries. For lunch we’re having cottage pie with a mountain of veg and for tea a salad with a few nuts and seeds sprinkled in for crunch. This week is relatively conservative with food – familiar things to not upset my tummy which is still getting back to normal. Next week I think we will be more adventurous, we’ve seen some lovely recipes that look healthy and delicious. I’ll try and remember to share.

We’re also going to start running again this coming week. I’m not sure about starting the 10k programme – yesterday I was still quite wobbly after my 2 mile walk so I will see how I feel after a walk today and then see if I need a very easy, very short run week or whether I’m ready to have another go at week 1 of the 10k programme. The programme isn’t aligned with a race so it doesn’t really matter.

Happy Sunday

Moomin Butt not Moving

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Running is a Rollercoaster. That Sunday run I blogged about last was so hard. So so hard and yet so brilliant at the same time. It was great to be out. Then on Monday we ran too – that was hard too, in fact worse because I have totally unrealistic expectations of myself. Our new 10k programme said 40 minutes slow so of course I wanted to run 40 minutes slow… I forget I can’t actually run 40 minutes, slow or otherwise and that intervals are required. Anyway, we did that 40 minutes with lots of walking and whimpering on ice patches and another 6km or so walking and I didn’t half feel that on Tuesday…. Tuesday was rest day and then on Wednesday the plan was to run 6 minutes 3 times with 3 minute walk breaks. We were going to do this in the evening when Kath got home from work. I was quite looking forward to it. I worked at my mum’s for a bit and then walked to the sheep. I felt a bit tired once I got there – a bit wobbly. I sat with the sheep for a bit and then walked slowly back home. Very slowly feeling decidedly dodgy.

Whatever bug I got, it wiped me out good and proper. I have been mostly asleep since Wednesday late afternoon (it’s now Saturday) and haven’t dared stray far from a loo. Add to that a tight neck and shoulders leading to migraine type headache in the back of my head and you get the idea. Yesterday I walked round the block – you know all 250 steps or whatever it is and my legs nearly gave way at the end. Today I walked the mile to the sheep and back and I feel stronger so maybe I’m winning. Also – the headache and tightness is gone – obviously or I wouldn’t be typing this. But why does this always happen just as I want to get back into the running. Now I’m scared about starting again again.

I have been thinking about running and reflecting on how far I have come. Well, there’s little else to do in between dozing when reading, screens and any sort of noise are out. A year ago we were about to embark on our Dopey Challenge. Just imagine that. I think the 5k was on the 7th January with the Challenge finishing on the 10th with the marathon. Oh the 5k. If only I could enjoy each run that much. Read about it here. Anyway, the WDW Marathon weekend is in full swing now except that the weather isn’t playing and RunDisney had to cancel the half marathon. Loads of Dopeys have been running on treadmills and in the parks to get their 13.1 miles in. I like that about running. It’s not about winning or coming first, people genuinely want to complete the challenge for them, they want to earn Dopey  – so they are. It is a shame though because they are missing out on what was maybe my favourite Disney race ever, certainly my favourite half marathon. I wrote about it here. But safety first and I can’t believe people are giving RunDisney a hard time!

Anyway, why am I telling you this? Because sometimes we need to stop and think about what we have achieved. As I sit here watching athletics on the TV, following the Dopey adventures  and other running successes via  Facebook groups and worrying about starting again and not being able to run and how hard it all is, I am challenging myself to remember that a year ago I did Dopey. And a year before that I couldn’t run at all. So yes, it’s a bit hard out there at the minute. But I want to get back to something close to Dopey fitness and that won’t happen unless I get out there and keep putting one foot in front of the other. So, tomorrow I will walk my 2 miles again, a bit faster and then throughout the week I’ll try a run and just keep working at it – sing it with me: Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho it’s off to work we go…