New shoes, week 4 and some questions...

[EnVadrouille]

Between the August Bank Holiday and the 2nd week of September, I wasn't able to run. No physical injury (even thought my legs did hurt at every step) but my other half treated me to a weekend abroad for my birthday and there was no gym facilities at the hotel. Outrageous, I know!!!

I could have gone running in the country side, but 2 factors you need to consider:

1) The weather in Spain at the end of August is still boiling hot and the thought of getting up at 6am to go running while on a romantic weekend away, wasn't even considered!

2) The terrain. We stayed in the mountains and face it, I was only on week3, not training for Iron(wo)man!

Then, following that, we went to visit my parents. I stop you straight away: the level of stress involved in a whole week stay at my parents, would incapacitate anyone. Really! I guess I knew already that it would be impossible to keep training, so rather than fighting it, I accepted the truth: I would resume my training once back in London.

Yes, I was dreading my final run of week3 after nearly 10 days of couch. I thought to myself: "Should you not feel good after that run, you will restart week3 from the beginning"

But, no, it went superbly well! My rested body (by body, I really mean legs) did not hurt, neither during or after, and the beautiful surrounding of training ground (Bushy Park) amazed me with the autumn colours.

I had fun... dare I say that in public!? I was doing my 3 minute run watching a herd of fallow deer when, rudely interrupted by Laura. "Slow down" she said. I had run for 3 minutes and was just happy going on. But, I know I need to listen to Laura even though I felt I could have kept running for longer.

I transferred my enthusiasm and excitement on finding a pair of running shoes - I mean proper running shoes. I am lucky as I have a very helpful independent specialist shop nearby and purchased my expensive-but-so-worth-it-AND-adapted-to-me-so-I-will-run-better-and-faster pair of trainers.

My day of rest went by and on Sunday I started week4 and my new life with my new shoes Yes, I'm grinning...

Am I the only one to find it easier to run for 3 minutes rather than 90 seconds? Really, I find the 90 second runs more difficult in the sense that it takes time to find the good pace and then it’s already time to stop. Running 5 minutes was good. Not easy, but I was OK, even decided to speed up a bit for the last minute of the last run. I was shattered afterwards, but a great feeling to “run more than you have walked”

Now, I have 2 more issues:

The first one is about days getting shorter. Don’t feel like going running in the park when it’s dark. I might need to find a new route, but that might involved road and cars

The second one is an old one: fitting the training in the busy week schedule. The choice is hard: getting-up at the crack of dawn or finding enough energy after a long day in the office and the hour journey back?

I start wondering what will I do when the weather gets colder... I think another trip to the sport shop might be necessary. Any advice on the essentials?

[AnnaDJ Graduate]

I run early in the monring. I've tried a couple of evening runs and they really don't work for me. So far I've invested in a long sleeved running top and a pair of gloves. I think next on the list is a waterproof running jacket. Given that I live in Yorkshire I expect by December I will be adding a base layer too. I'm determined to keep as many runs outside for as long as possible.

[Soozz Graduate]

Really pleased to hear your run went so well, just shows a break doesn't seem to compromise your fitness level / training. Your holiday in Spain sounds lovely -and I can identify with the family visit stress!

The shoes sound good - I got proper running shoes in W4 and it spurred me on mentally to know I'd invested in them, as well as being better to run in.

I'm a Yorkshire gal too and it's already colder here. Have got some warmer running gear in readiness, like AnnaDJ. I like to run in the early mornings, don't think I'd fancy doing dark evenings. Thought I might run after tea tonight but it was dark by the time I'd waited an hour or so after eating. I don't know how safe it is or isn't where you live but running in the park in the dark sounds a bit scary, especially if you run at the same time and on set days. Any chance you could run in your lunch hour?

Best of luck, keep blogging.

[EnVadrouille in reply to Soozz]

Plenty of runners in Yorkshire I see

I think I'm more of a morning person too. But, I already get up at 6am for work, so I wonder how early I would have to get up to train...

I ran last night after leaving work early and I plan on going tomorrow morning before a dentist appointment... Sounds lovely doesn't it!!!

I'm looking at a jacket and maybe some warmer top. That should keep me going!

[ScottishHoosier Graduate]

I have bought a wind stopper long-sleeved top from Gore Running Wear. I am so glad I did. It is chilly in the mornings here in NE Scotland, and we've had quite a bit of wind, too. Right now I just wear the top, but I also got a florescent yellow, slightly rainproof jacket and matching gloves (not rainproof). I haven't worn either of those yet, but I wished I'd worn the gloves this morning. My warm is the 1/2 walk with my daughter to school, then I do my workout. The walk was really rather nippy this morning, so I might take to wearing a tight t-shirt under the wind stopper.

I have run a few times at 7AM before I had to get the kids ready for school, but the sunrises are getting ever later. I do some runs at 9AM after dropping daughter at school. I might switch to doing that all the time in the winter. I could run in the evening, but in December it will be dark here by 16.30.