W3R1

[AlasdairW]

Onwards and upwards old boy!

So I’m in the UK for a week. Unfortunately, I’m still sleeping in the wrong time zone so i has a bit of an early start today.

We have a family event today, so when my girlfriend woke up around 7:30, and appeared clad in running gear, I was a bit surprised - I’d totally forgotten it was run day. My girlfriend is also doing C25K - she’s a week or two ahead of me.

Off she popped and left me to grab my gear and head on out myself.

Well, that temperature is a little shock to my system that been lumbering around my routes in the Middle East! Oh well. I still managed to do it in shorts, so I’m a happy bunny. Had more on top though.

So today I did my first run of Week 3. I was a bit surprised to see the run/walk pattern had changed. That threw me a little bit and I got caught out about half a km away from home at the end - oops.

I managed to get to a running shop when I landed on Friday, so I’m sporting some shiny new running shoes. Still had a bit of trouble with my left shin, but not as bad as it has been, and I was half a day recovery down, and slightly dehydrated, so I’m it too concerned.

The run itself was fine. I think I actually felt a little better after it than at the start.

I recently watched a video on Slow Running, which was suggested by you lovely lot after my last run. I’ve also begun reading the book too.

In my run today I tried to focus on mid foot landings, and I have to say it just felt weird. I guess that’s a lifetime of walking and running as a heel striker.

One thing I felt while trying it was that in order to get my foot to land on the ball rather than the heel it felt like my whole lower leg was a lot more tense. That might just be me misunderstanding what I’m feeling. Has anyone else on here noticed that or got a recommendation?

That’s about all for today, so happy trails everyone!

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Hope uk weather isn't too much of a shock to the system 😂 grey running. As for landing on the middle if your foot it was only going through the weeks of c25k that learned to do that and also landing softly, it is all about learning so good luck

[angelbetty Graduate]

Well done for getting up and out there! And as Buddy34 said it's all about the learning here! The Korgis said it first in 1980 in the song 'Everybody's got to learn sometime'! So why not relax and enjoy the ride, it will come with practice!

I can't comment about landing on the ball of your foot but I imagine the tension you feel might be muscle fatigue like I get sometimes after my up hill run. Once you get the hang of slowing it all down and shortening your stride, you may find it eases. It might be worth seeking some advice about your running style? To have someone like a running coach or personal trainer viewing you from the side as you run and giving you some pointers. The shop where I bought my shoes offered this as part of their gait analysis service xx