Keep on running #ThisGirlCan

Whilst the workload isn't too heavy (as my next official teaching practice starts on Monday!) I am trying to get as many runs in as possible. Forcing myself out even when the weather is horrid to try and get myself fitter and healthier. So far this week I have managed:

To run 6km without having to walk:

A slightly faster trip around my short loop than at Christmas:

Running Around

My course seems to be speeding up fast now and we have essays to write and planning to do which means I am finding little time for much else! One thing I am determined to keep up though is running. I am having to invest in 2 nights of quality long runs as they are the only 2 I get, I am getting my son some new running shoes so that we can do some shorter runs at the weekends too. 

I have restarted the 10km runner programme at week 10 level as I was able to run for a max 10 minutes at a time after once again losing fitness. Last Wednesday I managed 5x 10 minutes with decreasing intervals which was the furthest I had run in one session since June! Last night I intended to do the day 2 of the programme which would have repeated the same kind of run which takes around 70 minutes.. 

Instead I had to drop my son's forgotten book bag to him at my parents' house. I knew from a previous run that it takes me just over 30 minutes to get to my parents' house if I run there. So I decided to ditch the scheduled running plan and instead do a double run to drop off the bag. I was still going to do 10 minute intervals but just using my watch and not the app.

It must have looked a stranger than normal sight as I jogged across Kendal holding a primary school book bag in one hand (I have to say its not easy to run carrying one!). That may have been part of the reason why I wasn't finding the run as fun as normal.. then part way along the canal path I was over taken by a lady of a similar age to me. She then eased off and ran alongside me and we chatted as we went. It was really nice to have company for a change as I normally run on my own but her pace was a bit faster than mine so I was relieved when she diverted at the Leisure Centre (not surprisingly the bit I ran with her broke my records for that stretch!). 

Workout Wednesday - Hot stuff!

I need to get used to the warmth again as running in the sun is extra hard I am sure that it must burn so many more calories! A good week for running with the training programme really pushing me but not over extending me. 

I broke my record on my countryside run from Plantation Bridge to Burneside:

That run took me to over 40 km of running in May! Then I had to up my game and run 25 minute non stop (well I sort of did as I only got half way up my nemesis hill..):

Today was thankfully cooler and I ran around Kendal on my town loop:

So I am feeling quite pleased with myself! Not only is my stamina coming back but my overall speed is slowly increasing too - not yet repeated the under 6 minutes per km I managed for part of my last race but I am sure I will get there.... eventually..

Workout Wednesday Week 2

Well its been a mixed week on the running front! After last week's new 5 km record I did follow it with my 2nd best ever one. So I went into the weekend feeling pretty confident. 

Then life got in the way of my training schedule I had to do an afternoon run yesterday instead of a morning one and I didn't enjoy it at all and in fact failed to run 30 minutes non stop... Therefore when the app said that today it was a 40 minute run I was not feeling at all confident..

However it was a beautiful if very cold morning (my legs never did warm up!) and being out around Kendal felt lovely. I deliberately didn't push my speed up as I wanted to be able to complete the time. Finding a route long enough to run for 40 minutes was another issue but I added a little extra round the Natland Rd. Amazingly I managed to do the 40 minutes and then after rest walk I did another 10. 

So these are my Strava achievements this week: 

I have created a bloggers running club so that if anyone else wants to have a virtual running club with me then they can join in:

How is everyone else doing?

Workout Wednesday

Today I started to real feel my running confidence come back, I just went out and ran and it was feeling really good and when my Garmin bleeped each split time I couldn't really believe how much faster I was going without it feeling hard:

OK so I am not going to be running in the Olympics any time soon but it did mean that I knocked off nearly 2 minutes from my best ever 5 km run:

So now I need to work on getting that under the 30 minute mark as well as managing to up my game to complete the 10 km race on the 14th December. As you can see by my face at the end of today's run I finally feel confident that I can do it:

A couple of other runners recommended I used Strava to get better stats to bore everyone with track my progress. So I spent some time uploading all my runs as tracked via the Garmin since I got it in May! It really showed what a good run I had today:

•  Best estimated 5k effort (31:16) 
•  Best estimated 2 mile effort (19:44)
•  Best estimated 1 mile effort (9:46) 
•  Best estimated 1k effort (5:42) 

So if you want to follow my running progress then look out for me on Strava:

Looking at all the leader boards etc. on there shows what a challenge I have in becoming a real runner but at least it feels like I may actually be getting there now!