Where would I be without you lot eh? I so appreciate all the supportive posts and by way of proof, I went out today and clocked a 29 minute 5K. And with minimum agony too (which is a bonus).
A lot of you have said that strengthening the core muscles is so important - and it concurs with everything that I've read about this. Apparently the hips are the most important of the joints to strengthen, for us folk who like a bit of running in our lives. I've found some exercises that I'm gonna do as well - and they are exactly the same ones that I used to do when I joined a pilates class a couple of years ago. In fact, I've even gone and bought ANOTHER bit of gear - a pilates stretchy band thingy! What with all my running clothing, my Brooks shoes, my big fat pink foam roller, compression shin/calf guards and now my elastic band stretchy thingy, my house is a veritable gymnasium of equipment! I'm determined to sort this leg pain out once and for all!
Once I heaved myself out of bed this morning and cleaned my teeth, made a power juice and donned my SuperDan costume I was ready to hit the great outdoors. I decided to wear my beanie and my gloves cos it was a bit parky out there this morn. "How are your legs?" asked Mrs Dan - I replied "They're ok today. I think. I hope." and bid her a cheery farewell as I closed our front door.
I'd decided to just do 5K today so I set off along the river and reached the big A road that links St Margarets to Richmond. The pavement along here is usually deserted, which makes for a great running track and I started up the looonnng incline over Twickenham Bridge. Suddenly I was aware of loads of people! I mean, throng loads of people. I had to side step, out of the way of them all, as I plodded along and when I reached the summit of the bridge I saw what all the fuss was about. The Richmond HM was in the closing stages and there were loooooooooads of runners. I kept going and looked at all the exhausted runners trudging across Old Deer Park towards the finishing line. The finishing line is where I would leave the A road and run across the park and it was really fun watching everyone yelling encouragement to the finishers. It made me think that one day I really must do one of these group runs cos usually I shy away from group situations, preferring the solitude of my thoughts and agonies!
I ran across the park as tons more runners worked their way in the opposite direction towards the finishing line which was now a good kilometre behind me. I reached Richmond Bridge and felt great - more HM runners were jogging very slowly and painfully past me back towards the park and I wondered how the hell anyone can do FOUR TIMES the distance I was running today! That particular thought nearly made me collapse right there! I am so in awe of those that can do this sort of distance.
I powered on over the bridge and back down to the river t'wards home. I definitely felt lighter today - literally because I weighed myself a couple of days ago and was another 3lbs lighter than before. So now at 12 stone 3lbs I should be putting less pressure on my joints - or at least that's the theory! Anyway I felt my phone buzz at the 5K mark and I stopped running and took a sneaky peak at the time. 29 mins dead - which was good enough for me. A warm luxurious jacuzzi awaited my sweating body and I moaned with ecstasy as the water jets massaged my legs and hips.
Thanks again for all your support of late. It really does make a BIG difference.......
I have just come back from 8.45km and feeling fine. Took me 1:24:30. Slow I know but I should manage the distance now!
Another Half... 
