Week 2 Day 3

What a miserable day! It's overcast with that horrible fine mist in the air that isn't quite rain but gets you soaked anyway. Talk about unispiring for a run.

I so struggled to get out there. You wouldn't believe the excuses I could have come up with. But I went. On went the trainers and, with one foot in front of the other, taking one step at a time (and any other cliches you can think of!) I got round.

I did the loop again. For me this is definitely better than a there and back run. The first five run stages actually went better than I thought and didn't feel too bad. Again the walk times seemed to last longer than I expected and the last run stage, while it felt harder seemed to be quicker. Go figure!

Anyway, I've committed to continuing with this by buying the upgrade for my phone app. I really don't think I could have done this at all with out it. So a rest for the weekend and then on to week 3 on Monday!

Week 2 Day 2

I didn't want to go today. I had completely forgotten that it was a run day until I left work and I just felt too tired to go. But I forced the trainers onto my feet and put one foot in front of the other and half an hour later I was home and it was all over.

I did the loop again today, but this time in the other direction so that I did the hilly bit first and the flat for the second half. What suprised me about today's run was, even though I wasn't in the mood for it the 90 seconds running seemed to be a much shorter time than the 60 seconds walking. The walking time seemed to go on forever. I this actually a sign of improvement? Who knows. And I passed a walker this time instead of the walker passing me (It wasn't the same person and she was just strolling along walking her dog and on the phone, so I guess she wasn't a huge challenge but at least it was the right way round this time!)

Week 2 Day 1

It was cold this morning. I could see my breath out there so I took the dog for a walk first. By the time we got back it had warmed up a bit and the sun was out so I put my trainers straight on and set off.

The intervals changed today it was 6 repetitions of 90 seconds running and 60 seconds walking so I decided to do a different route. This one is flatter than the other one but if you continue on it meets up with the other forming a circuit. As I started off a lady started walking ahead of me, she was on her way to work but walking faster than I could. When I did my first run interval I passed her but she passed me while I walked again. So, thinking this wasn't right, I set off on the second run at a faster pace. Too fast as it happened, I really didn't think I was going to make the 90 seconds, but I passed her and go a good way ahead of her. Then came the walking interval and she passed me again.

Well it didn't seem right so I said as much.

"Your not supposed to be going faster than me" I said.

"Ah! I run four times a week for 6 miles and walk these two miles each way to work every day so I'm quite fit" she replied.

"Well that makes me feel better" I said. "This is only week 2 for me"

"Keep it up" she said. "You're doing it that's what matters"

And it did make me feel better about it and positive about getting out there and continuing with this. Everybody has to start somewhere don't they?

Anyway, I continued on the run and when my nice little phone app told me I was half way I realised I was only about 200 yds from where I've been turning around last week from the other direction. So instead of turning around I continued on. Big mistake. This meant that each of the three remaining run times landed on uphill sections!

So what have I learnt from today's run.

1) It really doesn't matter how fast I go it's the fact that I go that counts.
2) I can already do a loop rather than a there and back which I much prefer
3) If I'm going to do the loop do it the other way round and get the hilly bit over and done with!

Happy running!

Week 1 Day 3

I'm a bit late posting this really as I actually did this run on Friday.

It was an overcast day and I really didn't want to go but I forced myself. Suprisingly I found the first two intervals much easier than the first run I did and the 60 seconds really didn't seem to be so long. I can't say that about the end of the run but it definatly shows an improvement. This supprised me as I had been feeling realy unfit the day before.

Anyway, by the time I got home the sun was out and I felt very good about myself. So on to week two on Monday. Stepping it all up a bit.

Week 1 Day 2

It has been a georgeous day here, warm and very spring like so getting my trainers on and hitting the road actually wasn't too hard to do. I enjoyed the run (8 repertitions of running for 60 seconds and walking for 90 seconds). I'm very lucky in that by the time I've walked for five minutes I am in country lanes surrounded by fields which really does make the whole experience a lot easier for me. I think I would struggle to do this (even more than I do) if we lived in a city.

Anyway, now showered and refreshed I am feeling very virtuose so it's off to cook tea.