And finally, a running update

I have been blogging a lot tonight, I know. So, finally time to update on how the running is going.

The last run was on Tuesday morning when I felt sick and had to stop to avoid embarrassing myself.

I ran again yesterday and it went a lot better. Thank goodness!

I ate quite a large breakfast - fun free cereal with a banana and chia seeds - let it go down and then headed out. I started on week 1 of 5K training and did a few longer runs within the session but didn't overdo it. And it was OK. It really was. I think planning a decent, flat, circular route really helped. There's nothing I've found more dispiriting than doing a route that doesn't take me far from home, feel knackered and then hear Justin tell me I'm only half way through and I've got to do it all again. It's so residential where I live, you just don't want to go past the same houses more than once! I searched online and found this website, UK Running Route Planner which is brilliant. Before I found it I didn't want to go too far from the house as I don't want to finish a run and end up with a 20 minute walk home, particularly as I run before work. This planning tool, however, enables you to find a route that takes you out and brings you back in a "circle" if that's what you want, and you know you'll get home in the distance you're doing. My new favourite thing.

Today I got some new trainers from Moti. I really recommend Moti. I got my first pair of running trainers in there a few years ago. They do the video gait analysis thing and explain what each shoe does and why. It does feel a bit strange to be running in your day clothes on a treadmill in a shop but it's worth it. They're really friendly and laid back which helps me as a specialist shop of that type could be really intimidating and nervous-making for a newbie like me. I'm sure this doesn't happen every day but another customer had their dog, Max, with them who was lovely and licked me! Nothing like a friendly dog, eh? The trainers weren't cheap, but there's really no point in me trying to run in crappy shoes that are going to wreck my knees and feet. It's no fun and knees and feet are more fragile than you realise.

Here are my old and new trainers lined up - my old ones haven't really recovered from my muddy miler a month ago:

I have been feeling really stressed about it all, if I'm honest. I've been very lucky to have lots of donations this week which has really made me so happy. Equally, it's a bit of pressure to crack on and make the most of it - I don't want to let anyone down. I've turned into a bit of a bore about it all, sadly, but it's on my mind! Lots of people have been really kind and my mum pointed out that even if I do walk bits, no one will know! It's the finishing that counts.


I'm hoping to go out again tomorrow, or Tuesday but I also need to do some conditioning work which will ease me into the week a little so I may do some pilates tomorrow instead. I'm so glad the evenings are *finally* getting longer as I'll be able to go out after work instead of trying to cram in a run before work. Now that the distance is longer, I'm aiming to be out for about 45 minutes and rushing in the morning, when every minute counts, it just ends up stressful, particularly with my feeling sick problem and letting food go down etc. It was lovely on Saturday knowing that I could just take my time with it instead of watching the clock and feeling stressed out.

This week my goals are to walk to work a couple of times, manage a couple of hours' bike ride, two or three runs and some conditioning. Not asking for much eh? Let's see how it goes.