HHM Training Week 1 Day 4

[Dodgylungs]

Indoor session: Easy Run: 25 minute run on the treadmill.

I was aching like hell when I woke up this morning and the massage gun worked wonders on my aching muscles. It was nothing short of miraculous as my right hamstring came out in aching support of my damaged left one. However, after about 10 minutes of vigorous massage it was better!! The same was applied on my back, thighs and glutes and I was ready to Rock the Casbah and the Kentish Town gym.

The Nike Running Club app has transformed my training because it has guided coaching sessions. I was going to simply follow a plan without any guidance and I wonder at what point I would have started to find it challenging. With the coaching, not only are the running sessions more enjoyable and less arduous, I know that what I’m doing is going to benefit me rather than hinder me. There was a reinforcement of the idea that the easy runs are the most important runs. When I was building up to 13K previously on the Health Unlocked forum and also using this NRC app, it was continuously stressed to run slowly. However, my previous runs were individual runs and now I’m actually working from a structured 14 week plan, I can see how the easy runs support the speed runs and fartleks. I would have done this NRC plan all along if I’d realised it existed!!

I’m only on week 1 but I ran for the whole 25 minutes today at a modest pace and found it actually a lot of fun. I’m going to go back to the gym later and do some weights. I didn’t intend to do so many indoor sessions but I find the treadmill is better for doing recovery runs and the interval runs where the start stop nature of them is difficult outside unless you have a stop watch. The treadmill is more effective for these workouts. So my next outdoor run will be a 5K on Sunday. Tomorrow is a rest day and Saturday is more interval speed runs. It will be interesting to see how mixing the training up like this affects my ability to run longer distances and whether running outdoors will still seem harder than on the treadmill. Am actually quite excited to find out.

Here’s a picture of me on the way to Gails for a skinny latte and croissant. How Hampstead of me!

[misswobble Marathon]

Well done 💪🏃‍♂️👍🍮🥐. I had porridge 😋

I’ve started that programme today! I really enjoyed it 🙂🏃‍♀️🌝

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

The NRC one? Is porridge good for distance running?

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to Dodgylungs]

Yes! Slow release carbs 👌🏽

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to Tasha99]

Intend to shy away from carbs but maybe I shouldn’t. Where do I look for a good HM eating plan?

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Dodgylungs]

I eat healthy these days since losing weight and getting fit.

There’s some runner’s meal plans on the BBCFood website. Have a Google 😃👍

Porridge is my running breakfast I make mine with water as I can’t run on milk 🤢

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to misswobble]

I researched how to make porridge and apparently it’s supposed to be made with water. So that’s what I do too! And a pinch of salt.

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to Tasha99]

Tastes nicer with milk though

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to Dodgylungs]

You need carbs! Especially the day before a long run. I used slimming world personally which I liked as you cat eat a lot 🤣

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Dodgylungs]

There are healthy carbs in nature - eg vegetables. Sweet potatoes are really good and not associated with sugar-spikes associated with regular potatoes. I eat spuds sometimes but far more sweet potatoes. Eat fewer refined carbs

It’s worth getting to know more about heathy grub

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

I’ve never liked sweet potatoes so need to find a more interesting way of eating of eating them.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Dodgylungs]

I’ve conducted a sweet potato poll of family and friends which concludes to be a gender divide, with menfolk being indifferent to its charms while us ladies seem to love the stuff

Learn to like it!😃💪👍. It’s extremely versatile and can be used in desserts too

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

I’ve tried really hard to like it but it’s right down there with lumpy custard and lambs hearts I’m afraid...Gender divide is an interesting theory. I think I concur with that.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Dodgylungs]

Custard is better without lumps. Lumps aren’t compulsory. Try it without 😃

Be open-minded! Be prepared to eat new stuff. Get cooking and you’ll be amazed I eat peanut butter and avocado now which I thought I hated 🙂

I think we can manage without hearts, you’ll be relieved to hear 🙂

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

I’m very open minded around food. I’m about to try some bulgar wheat as good GI source of carbs.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Dodgylungs]

Good 👍😃. Eat a colourful range of food Beware the beige buffet

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Dodgylungs]

Yes, the very same! I love the guided runs. I signed up once I got the invitation 😃

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

I can’t believe it’s free. Where’s the catch?

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Dodgylungs]

I’ve been using it for ages I love coach Bennett I do the Training club too. There’s loads of their workouts on YouTube too

I guess they make money from members buying gear. I only bought one item and that was shoes, and they were cheap in the sale, I got free next day delivery as a member.

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

I bought a pair of Nike trainers which were expensive and I’ve only run in them once. Prefer my Adidas that I got from Runner’s Need - but the Nike ones are great for walking. Might need to upgrade my running trainers soon as I’m putting in the mileage and they’re a year old.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Dodgylungs]

You can find out the expected mileage of the shoes. You can then keep tabs on them on the Nike app.

Apparently there’s healthy eating info on the Nike app. I googled away from the app and all sorts came up 🙂

[misswobble Marathon in reply to misswobble]

I alternate my shoes. I’ve got some On Cloudsurfers, and a pair of Nike Pegasus Shields for wet days. Trail shoes for off-road adventures

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon]

Those massage guns are heaven sent. I don’t know how I’d manage without mine. I was running in your neck of the woods this week in Hampstead Heath. Perfect for hill climbs 👍🥵

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

Yea they are brilliant! Haven’t yet negotiated the hills on the Heath but will do so later in the training.

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

Good move following a plan!

If you’re aching so much the day after running, it might be worth trying some hamstring stretches. Massaging is great for relieving the aches but probably doesn’t address the cause. I was prone to getting hamstring niggles after longer runs; stretching has prevented that. A good time to stretch is after a run but I usually just do a series of squats beforehand.

[Dodgylungs Half Marathon in reply to SkiMonday]

Good advice, thank you.