It occurs to me that most Half Marathoners would have done their run by now and wouldn’t be at 17 weeks of training! Time is definitely beginning to feel that it is of the essence. With BJ and co saying that more stricter measures may have to be put in, I am gazing at our small back garden thinking of how many laps it may take to complete 13.1 miles. Katnap has warned me that I will go dizzy, may go mad and possibly both. It is a distinct possibility though as I’m not wasting these months (yes, I know it’s never really wasted but it’s not just physical training is it?).
So, this week has been defined by Joe Wicks and his PE lessons. He has murdered my quads with his squatting and knackered my shoulders by his up down planks, but boy, they were good. The floor boards and the carpet are in serious danger and the cat is terrified but it’s good stuff! Although the gym is closed, I have done four of Joe Wicks’ workouts with the boys and one Running Channel workout with Katnap. I think that more than makes up for it!
Meanwhile, the runs have become…interesting…. We’re all making sure we only go out for that once a day exercise. We’ve done two runs as a family and I’ve done a cycle ride on empty rush hour roads with youngest kitten. The only problem I have found is that by the afternoon, when I’ve finished work sitting at the desk, my legs have seized up after the morning workout, so it’s taking a while to get going again. Add to that, the final piece of the motivation jigsaw has been removed with the postponing of VRWC (my one reason for pushing eldest kitten beyond 20 minutes) next week could be more ‘interesting’. Anyway, this is how they panned out this week:
Run 1: a 3k loop to eldest kitten’s old school and back. He did really well, especially as we ran with faster youngest kitten. He knocked 2 minutes off the same distance last week.
Run 2: 6.8k with Katnap. As scheduled in my plan. I was especially creaky. This was probably the worst day of burning quads and stiff hamstrings - it was the 2nd day of Joe Wicks for us. The pace wasn’t too terrible but it was very hard work.
Run 3: the same 3k loop as Run 1 but with Katnap as well this time. We went too fast for eldest kitten and he was not happy. I was still creaky but starting to loosen up, so ran with youngest kitten, weaving in and out, trying to keep our distance from people – not easy as some seem to think wearing earphones gives them extra protection.
Run 4: Non parkrun. 5k around the streets. Given up with the park after last week’s run, it’s just not worth the frustration and the danger of dog walkers. Otherwise, people generally seem to be getting better at working out 2 metres. Just slightly over 30 minutes, which was a bit annoying but still a bit stiff, particularly after the Running Channel workout earlier. Strava reminds me it’s a year since my parkrun PB – I’d been so close a few weeks ago, when will I get the chance to crack it again?
Run 5: Today’s long run. I’m definitely loosening up. That wasn’t too bad despite the gale force winds. Relatively lots of shoppers about but one particular main road was deserted as there are no shops on it. 12.8km turned into 13.6km. Lots of runners about, a few doing London Landmarks Half Marathons and Regency 10ks which would both have been on today. Had to do a lot of work on my hamstrings when I got home though as they were soooo tight.
One positive thing about this week is that I think I can finally put my winter running tights away now. It’s definitely warmed up, even if the wind is cold, it’s still generally warmer.
So, mojo still intact, somehow. Still pondering whether to do the HM on Easter Sunday to get it out of the way. I think basically, as long as I continue loosening up, I’ll just do it when I think I can. I just still have that feeling that it’ll be better sooner rather than later.
Everything has changed so much since I started this. This diary is really going to be something to read back on when this is all over.
Take care everyone, keep running, keep healthy and keep safe xxx
