Week 1 - Goal 10K
So officially this is week 3, however, due to a virus and a manic week i'm starting week 1 today. Although the big-picture is the 26.2, my focus at the moment is a 10K (6 miles) in August. I've run with the Monday evening step-up group for a few months now and cope pretty well with it but a few weeks ago, I pulled my "Rectus Abdominis" (central core stomach muscle to you and me and christened The Dinosaur by my daughter) painting the bannisters and it gave out on me completely during my second outing with the Social group, meaning a slow and slightly humiliating plod back to base with tears of self-pity along the way.. Doc advised 6 weeks of rest, I tried a little 2 mile trot after 7 weeks which went well then I nailed 4 miles straight off the following week BUT it's been 10 weeks since I've been near the club so i'm quite nervous...
Monday
I set off with the group, it's SO hot and for the first 15 minutes or so my legs feel like lead and my breathing isn't great. Fabulous start!! Then legs fall into place and I manage to regulate my breathing and I feel pretty good for about a mile before the heat starts to get to me and I think I feel my dinosaur twinge a bit - it isn't, I tell myself, it's just my head saying it's happening again. I push on but am gutted when I have to have a little walking break. I don't do walking breaks so feel disappointed with myself. Running on for a bit I have to walk again and then I get cramp in the underside of my foot, which is pretty painful. I manage to stretch it out a little and limp on, even nailing the very mean canal bridge towards the end of the run and make it back to base. I'm shocked to see that we only ran 3.5 miles - I struggled so much and I've done so much more in the past. I'm starting to feel like I've underestimated the task and overestimated my ability. Why can't I do this anymore?! I'm feeling pretty rubbish and incredibly worried about the whole thing now but I know I must not let it knock me back as that will be detrimental to my training - a positive attitude helps enormously!
Breakfast: 2 white toast, butter & marmite
Lunch: Pastrami & tomato sandwich on white with mustard. L/F natural yogurt with melon and grapes.
Pre-Run Snack: 1 white toast with almond butter
Post-Run Dinner: Tuna, egg and butter bean salad with watercress, red onions & green beans and a warm crusty roll with butter - because carbs are good and warm bread always cheers me up!
Tuesday
Still feeling flat about last nights run, but this morning I do 30 minutes of light weight exercises and 30 minutes of core strength yoga/pilates stylie exercises, then take my usual 2 mile walk. It's nice to stretch my legs out a bit as they are aching from last nights run. This evening it was off to Sargeant Mack's Field Fest, which I really love and will miss loads when it stops in a couple of weeks. I work hard tonight as I want to get as much benefit as possible from the sessions, but I really struggle with the stomach stuff - sit-ups etc. Maybe it's because of the dinosaur? Hopefully I can improve on this in the next couple of weeks!
Breakfast: Special K fruit & nuts with milk
Lunch: Pastrami & tomato sandwich on white with mustard. L/F natural yogurt with nectarine and honey.
Pre-Sargeant Mack snack: Banana
Post Sargeant Mack dinner: Big Mac meal -_- I know, I know....
Wednesday
Everything hurts today, especially my legs and hips, plus it's ridiculously hot and humid. I have a bike ride planned as I've read somewhere that cycling is brilliant cross training for running but wait until the heat drops in the evening and get in about 2 miles. It's not much but I hate my bike and haven't cycled anywhere in years so the plan is to build it up slowly. Owww my poor legs... Dreading tomorrow a bit as it's a 4 mile run and i'm worried about coping with it.
Breakfast: Special K fruit & nuts with milk
Lunch: Tuna salad sandwich on white with salad cream. L/F natural yogurt with nectarine & honey.
Dinner: Veggie burger in ciabatta with spicy pesto, mozzarella, semi-dried tomatoes & red onion, oven chips & lots of salad
Snack: 1 biscuit - how good am I today?! ;)
Thursday
Dreaded run day is off to a great start due to a hayfever medicine shaped crisis which means I miss breakfast. After a quick banana and a glass of water, I set out. My posture has been a bit off lately, I tend to slump forwards, so I make a pact with myself to check on that occasionally. I also decide to tackle the distance mile by mile instead of the 4 miles as a whole. Mile 1: Leaden legs and raggedy-breath - posture not bad. Mile 2: Feeling stronger and increasing speed. Rocking the posture too. Mile 3: Getting tired and start to check the distance too often. Posture-Police constantly pulling me up too. I know I can do this, so do this I will but to be honest it's a struggle then BAM cramp in the foot again. I try to run through it but the toes on the other foot join in and I limp into a nearby park at 3.67 miles. Note to self - sort out those new trainers, these are terrible!!! Grrrr! When I've had breakfast and recovered, I meet Mum at Willen Lake and walk almost three miles with her before stopping for a latte. Leg-ache factor: Epic. I'm SO looking forward to my rest day tomorrow!
Pre-Run Breakfast: Banana
Post-Run Breakfast: Porridge with raisins & honey
Lunch: Chicken, avocado & salad sandwich on white and a peach
Dinner: Homemade ham & mushroom French bread pizza with a salad
Extras: 2 custard creams - but I deserve them :P
Friday
Rest day finally!! 2 mile walk this morning but other than that I have really made the most of it, haha.
Breakfast: Special K fruit & nut with milk
Lunch: Chicken salad sandwich & a muller rice
Dinner: Smoked haddock fishcakes, new potatoes with herb butter, broccoli & peas. "Accidentally" washed this down with a bottle of wine then scoffed too much Terry's Chocolate Orange -_-
Saturday
As Sean is working this morning, there's no park run for me (I'm yet to do one!) but I have planned a bike ride on the Saturday's that I can't make it. The afternoon is busy and Mum invites us to an impromptu BBQ so I get home mid-evening having had two glasses of her lethal homemade Sangria and really just want to lay on the sofa with chocolate and maybe a glass of wine BUT I get my bike out and rope Sean into riding with me. I'm really proud of myself for not making excuses and getting out there and return 45 minutes later feeling smug - that is until the wine hits the glass anyway....
Breakfast: Granola & milk
Lunch: Beef salad roll and a muller rice
Dinner: BBQ chicken breast, a hot dog, jacket potato, salad and a slice of millionaires shortbread tart. Sangria and wine. Ooops!
Sunday
Sunday is supposed to bring my long run of the week (5 miles at the moment), but after a dodgy night (I suffer with insomnia but can't take pills as I also have sleep apnoea) an extra hour in bed chilling with tea seems far more appealing. I half-heartedly promise myself i'll go later in the day or this evening before dinner but I don't. I'm thinking I should change my rest day perhaps, I seem to be more motivated during the week. We shall see! Still week 1 done! Woooo!
Breakfast: Pancakes with Nutella & fruit
Lunch: Naughty pub lunch featuring a pulled pork flatbread pizza & salad
Dinner: Sticky bacon chop things from M&S, chips & coleslaw
Extras: Couple of biscuits. Or maybe 4.. Oh, and more wine...
