Running back to you

Forgive me for the lack of posts! I know I was away on holiday so can be excused that week- but we have been home a week since and I seem to have been so busy with back to school and back to work I just haven't gotten round to posting.

Today I want to share my continuing running journal, and then over the weekend I will upload some holiday pics and info.

So - as we jetted off on holiday I had completed week 4 for the first time, not enjoyed it and decided to repeat the week if possible while I was on the ship. I am pleased to report I managed to complete 2 more week 4 runs on board, one on the Saturday afternoon and one on the following Monday. I also swam in the sea on the Saturday, did laps in the pool on Monday and more laps in the pool on Wednesday morning - making sure I was down early and ready for the pool opening so there was only me in it!

My first run on the treadmill went really well, I had forgotten just how much easier it is in a nice air-conditioned gym with no wind/rain/blazing sunshine/holes in the ground/dogs/cyclists.... anyway - it went well, I felt good. Run 2 wasn't quite as successful because I left  my iPod in the cabin and so had no podcast to tell me when to run and when to walk! So I did the 5 min warm up walk timing myself with the clock on the treadmill, then started running, and forgot I was only running for 5 mins and managed to run for 10 instead. I did complete the full amount of time needed for the run, but not in the correct order LOL. Its that damn 'its easier on a treadmill' thing - I was so enjoying myself running along that I just forgot to stop!

We flew home on the Thursday and I did the final repeated run of week 4 on the Saturday - boy was it hard going. I felt like I was dragging legs of lead about and the wind and the open air suddenly seemed very hard work. I was still very tired after our weeks cruise though, so even though it felt hard I decided I had to now be ready for week 5.

So we come to Monday this week and I began week 5. Its a funny week this one as its the first time you do a different run for each session. Day 1 is to run 3 x 5mins. I wasn't particularly looking forward to it after feeling like I had dragged myself round on the last session - and I was pleasantly surprised to find I not only found it quite easy, but I thoroughly enjoyed it as well! This made me look forward to Wednesdays run.

Wednesday was back to work day, and I had to pop into Blyth to pick up a few things straight after work before heading back home, so I didn't get to run till about 1.30pm. I will have to get used to running about this time as my running plan is now to run every Mon/Wed/Fri to leave weekends free, and I'm working mornings - so midday running it will be! Anyway, back to W5.2. This session was to run for 2 x 8mins. It was fab! I really enjoyed the run and found that I appreciated only having to walk the recovery once between the 2 longer runs. By the end of the second 8mins my legs were feeling it and I didn't feel i could have gone on much longer - but was so pleased with how it went. I also recorded my fastest time so far of just under 6mins per km for the running sections.

W5.3 was scheduled for today. The dreaded 20 mins of continuous running...... I had to pop to work this morning, then to the post office, before coming home to go for my run. I admit I was apprehensive, and yes despite me saying I believed in the program after week 3 - still a bit sceptical. 20 mins seemed an awful long time to run for someone who just 6 weeks ago could barely run to the end of the street, and probably wouldn't have even tried. I walked the usual brisk 5min warm up and got myself into a position where the first few mins running would be with the wind behind me and on the slight decline so I could adjust my pace and not get too puffed out early on, and get myself into the groove before having to run into the wind and on an incline. I am amazed and delighted to say I managed the whole 20 mins without a problem. I don't think I could have gone on much longer mind you - when the voice said times up I was very much ready to stop! But I was beaming from ear to ear as well. It felt amazing! amazing to know I had ran, continuously, for a full 20 mins, amazing I had not had a stitch, or had to stop, and truly amazing I hadn't even really had to push hard at the end to keep going - which makes me feel good about tackling the longer runs that are coming over the next 4 weeks.

I'm still a bit gobsmacked. I actually ran non stop for 20 mins. And it wasn't a shabby average speed either - I was doing 6min KMs - which is bang on target for a 30 min 5K which is the desired result of this program! I may have to keep pinching myself just to make sure I haven't actually dreamed it.

Something else I have learned today is that I'm ready for the long runs mentally. I am starting to find the stop/starting recovery walks between runs frustrating. I recover faster than the time it gives you and I'm itching to get running again. Next week might feel like a bit of a step back as week 6 session are again 3 different planned runs, and are returning to the walk/run/walk/run format. However I now have complete and utter faith in the program so will not be deviating from the plans - I want to be running that 30 min 5k at the end of this and so another week of building up fitness and stamina will help - roll on Monday for W6.1!

oh - and Aldi - please can you get your lovely cheap running kit in really soon? I need long running pants and a long sleeved top and jacket before it gets too cold!!