TailChaser's Half Marathon Training Diary - Week 7

[TailChaser]

Hiya Runners!

This has been an interesting and challenging week. This week I officially hung up my trowel and became a desk bound commuter. This has meant the freedom I did have in my old part time role has gone and I'm in to squeezing runs in where I can, whatever the weather. Like most other people then...

Run 1: On my first day in my new job! I was pretty shattered, it had been a pretty full on day. It was blowing a gale and chucking it down horizontally outside. How committed was I? Well, at the weekend I had kicked off my sponsorship and I already had 27% raised, so if that wasn't motivation enough nothing was. I got a lift from Katnap to the track as he had a club training night and decided to run home from there. It was supposed to be intervals but not in that weather and not really in the dark. I'll have to have a think about these. Anyway, as soon as I left the track the heavens completely opened. Ironically, Mr Blue Sky was playing on my headphones and I just had to run, it's such a happy tune! I waved my fist at the sky and just went for it - it was fantastic!!! One of the best runs I have ever had!! Who'd have thunk it! 6km of pure fun!

Run 2: Another challenge. 10km in the dark. It wasn't raining, but it was dark and I was tired. Normally I'd find a nice, interesting route but I didn't want to go too far as I wasn't sure how my tiredness would affect me. So two loops around our side of the river. Not very interesting but it got it done. I did find that the hill we go up was much easier than usual though. I don't know if that was just having the distraction of Katnap, my 'counting cars' distraction technique (starting from 0, add 1 for cars going up, take one away for cars going down. It works!), both or just the darkness or maybe I'm fitter?!

Run 3: Yet more of a challenge. Katnap usually does the Friday night kids taxi service but tonight I had to do it. So my 3km 20 minuter was done in a different town...in the dark! It seemed an easy run but my stats told me differently, which was a bit disappointing.

Run 4: parkrun as usual, with pre-setup. I really need a rest from pre-setup for a week. It was extra hard to get up this morning! It was our run's 200th and Katnap's 50th - a big day. We also had Sandie1961 and Shake-and-run with us, and the sun was out! So all in all it was a lovely morning despite the lethargy. We all struggled with the slippiness of the riverside surface today - not only was it damp, it was icy. I tried my best to go fast with the leaning technique but it was really difficult. I'm getting a bit cheesed off with it now as I know I can go so much quicker and I don't want to wait until the summer to get faster! Might investigate better gripping shoes...

So, I survived my first week of my new job. The sponsorship thing has been a big incentive to keep going as well as my sheer bl@@dy mindedness. I don't walk around as much as I did but I've still kept my step count up. Calorie burning is a bit of a problem as I do like a snack but I'll adjust. The only thing I might have to really change is my plan when the runs get a lot longer in a few weeks time, which will mean changing my gym membership to let me do that in the evening instead and the long runs will move to a Sunday (but I'm not giving up parkrun, no way!!).

Let's see what Week 8 has to offer: bring it on!!! Happy running everyone!

[Katnap Marathon]

We can always do a run at stupid o'clock or when the 🐈 says!

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Katnap]

Not at this time of year!!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Well done TC. I have soooo much respect for everyone who has to fit their runs around a full time job - and in the winter too. You certainly did that this week. 👊

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks cheeky, I just hope I can keep it up! It will be easier when the days get longer though.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

A new job is very tiring so don’t underestimate how much energy all that concentration requires. You’re trying to take in so much.

Good for you for still being able to get out though 💪🙂 It all sounds on-track and very positive. Happy running to you.

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks IP, it is. I don’t think I’d have managed it without the fitness that running has given me 😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Wow, that's a busy week. Well done for squeezing in all that running (plus your yoga). At least the nights will start to get lighter and give you a bit more run time, though I guess that won't make much difference for a while yet. Look after yourself. A reset week is always valuable, so if things get too much, rest a bit knowing its all part of a sensible plan!

(P.S. of course I have that trowel too 😂)

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks Linda! I had a reset week last week so I was nicely rested for this week. Even got complimented by Strava for it 😂 They are definitely needed.

Yes! They’re really good trowels! 😂😂

[JaoJao]

Hey TailChaser, are there any runners at your workplace you can get to know? Or is there a running route you close by you can use at lunchtime?

When I was in the city this is what I did but it took me some time to work it out and find the routes

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to JaoJao]

Oh there are loads JJ. It’s a university so there’s a huge sports community. I can even get vouchers towards their C25k and B10K courses!! I think I may go for swimming once I have a car. I need to investigate further I’m just feeling my way atm 😊

[JaoJao in reply to TailChaser]

Oh fantastic, that will help with restricting yourself to exercise either end of the day, enjoy exploring it’s all part of the journey

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to JaoJao]

Yes! There is so much to explore here!

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

You have done brilliantly TailChaser, working all those runs around your new job. I only managed 2 runs without the job! Yes maybe you need to give others the chance to do set up for a while; you have certainly done your bit. I have some trails to try out today, more for fit, on the treadmill in case they need to go back.

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

I had exactly the same thought on Saturday Dexy so I have resisted putting my name down. Whether I can still resist by Thursday if no one has come forward is another matter 🤔🙄

Have fun today! Does that mean you have your trail shoes?

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

I am doing token sorting after the run on Saturday with Oldgirlruns to try and help out but there are so many who don’t even think about volunteering.

I have bought some Saucony road and trail shoes in women’s and men’s sizes (men’s are slightly wider) . I’ll try them tomorrow before Pilates. I probably can’t tell with the trails until I get in the mud and trails but 🤞

[Coddfish 10 Miles in reply to Dexy5]

Which ones did you get? Mine are Saucony Guides.

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

I like token sorting, it’s strangely therapeutic. Our parkrun is trying to get everyone to volunteer at least 3 times a year... We do ok though, just after New Year we had 51 volunteers!

Let us know how the shoes do.

[Coddfish 10 Miles]

Back in the days when I worked full time, I could barely find the energy for any sort of exercise, so definitely well done. (I was amused then that spell checker tried to turn exercise into excel user, which is something I spent far too much time doing!). A routine definitely helps.

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Coddfish]

It definitely does CF, I don’t think I’d do it without the routine and it does actually energise me for the rest of the evening. I love Excel btw 😁