I felt like I was a proper runner .......

On Monday morning still feeling buoyed by my PB on Saturday at Tamar Lakes Parkrun I looked at this weeks menu.

5 mile easy run

35 minutes run .... 10 min easy warm up ..... 10 min hard/race pace..... 10 min steady ..... 5 min cool down

40 minute run ..... 10 min easy ..... 5 strides at 30 seconds harder pace with good form ...... 30 seconds easy .... 5 x 2 mins at easy pace with 2 mins easy after each.

Oh and this is a recovery/adaptation week!!!!!

So which one to do?

 Well it was 12.30pm by the time I'd done the day job and other tasks, the OBOAB wanted to come too and the dogs needed a run. My initial thoughts were to go with the 5 mile easy run but it was nearly lunchtime and I was already feeling hungry plus last week taking the easy option proved to be the wrong one! If I did the 40 minute run it would mean leaving the woofers behind so this left the 35 minute one.

Not wishing for the neighbours at the other end of the lane to miss out on the vision that is old bird in pink lycra and OBOAB wobbling along In front of her we went up the lane before turning round and then doing one of the usual routes. This actually helped because the 10 min hard/race pace then didn't involve running up hill ........ result!
Unfortunately the 10 min steady pace on the way back did.

I tried to put into practise things that Hayley had mentioned on Saturday like a more upright posture and moving my arms backwards and forwards more. Despite having to stop for a car and retie my shoe lace my second mile came in at 8.45 ....... woohoo!!!!!!

If you're a Podiatrist then look away now ...........

I also ran without the orthotics again. Sssshhhh

Yes, yes I know, they have helped the plantar fasciitis no end but I've also come to the conclusion that they are hindering my performance too.

Now, don't tell Coach Steph but yesterday I did actually have a little trot out (on my rest day) with the orthotics and found that I definitely don't move so freely,  they feel very hard on my feet and slow me down.

Sooooooooo I'll continue to wear them in all my other footwear but will be selective as to when I run in them.

Today we had a day off from Cheesemaking so I decided to do the 5 mile easy run. I also decided that I needed to do a circular route of around 5 miles as I'm bored of repeating the same two routes or part thereof to make up more than 3 miles. The OBOAB said he'd come too but no dogs though.

Before setting off I put my Children's Hospice South West vest on as they need a photo of moi in it for publicity purposes. Luckily Chris managed to take one without turning off my phone/turning off the camera/ turning on the video etc ...... you get the picture, he's not very good with smart phones!

We set off ...... and I immediately realised that I was still wearing the vest, oh well too late to take it off and really it wasn't going to make too much difference was it?

Once out of the lane there was the first hill ....... flipping hills on this route too! It didn't seem too bad to me but I could hear the OBOAB's heavy breathing and cursing behind me. Then the bloody motorists without brakes started to hurtle towards us, aiming first for me and then The OBOAB. I yelled a few obscenities at the first couple of cars and then realised what vest I was wearing. After that I decided to ignore the Highway code and instead of running towards the oncoming traffic I crossed sides. It seemed safer.

Although there were hills to endure it meant that once at the top we had fantastic views!

The instructions from Coach Steph were to enjoy the run, take in the scenery, be able to hold a conversation and not worry about the time.

Tick, tick, tick and tick!

I really enjoyed it, seemed to run a good pace and felt like I was a proper runner (in my dreams I know!)

The fifth mile was a struggle as it involved one of my usual return routes which is ALL up hill however I was amazed to find that my time was faster than usual here. Time wasn't part of this training run today but of course I still had to use the bird on my phone and was chuffed to see what I did. I could almost be a proper runner!!!!

A troublesome stopwatch

For those of you who were concerned about Teddy's welfare after last weeks abuse, please let me assure you that he is fine!!!
See...........

Now on this weeks menu 

Hill session 

40 minute easy run

30 minute run

So easy peasey then!!

Well as usual if you look at the small print, no it's not!!

Monday was a running day, the doggens needed a trip out and as I've now put my foot down with the old bloke on a bike and stipulated that I need to concentrate on this training and if it means it involves strides, sprints, hills or specific times etc then they can't come ...... yup I've done a risk assessment and the result ...... they are a trip hazard. The rest of the risk assessment involves the old bloke on a bike, white van man and the I can't stop for you but just leap into the hedge out of my way because I'm in a hurry ****s. 

Oh yes those **** people ....... you may think I exaggerate but actually on our country lanes people don't have brakes they just career towards us,  bearing down expecting us and our dog's and old bloke on a bike to get out of the way ...... take it from me it's frightening. I have tried the running past the vehicle whilst OBOAB grabs the dogs but still the drivers seem to think I should be the one to climb into the hedge, of course they choose to ignore my gestipulations and swearing and just accelerate away!!! 

Anyway I digress ...... it was a 40 minute easy run in the rain with an entourage!! Nothing else to report! That is all!!

Now due to having a birthday last week and celebrating for a few days it means that the day job backed up and had to be done this week. 

So two 4 .30am starts with a rude awakening at 1.15 am on Tuesday by the stopwatch alarm. Yes one of my Birthday presents from OBOAB was a stopwatch and whistle (obviously for him to time me and get my attention!) Anyway this bloody stopwatch kept going off during the early evening apparently whilst I was at work. Neither of us thought anymore about it but clearly it has a mind of its own and decided to disturb us in the middle of the night.

 It is now in the car!!

 I also had a total of 16 hours in wellies over 36 hours which didn't bode well but I have to say the orthotics are really helping in the plantar fasciitis department!

I had to fit the hill session in on Wednesday in between cheeses ripening and renneting.......

Sooooooooo (sorry forgot to mention this is a long blog post!!!!)

Set off on a 10 minute warm up with the OBOAB got to a flat bit of lane and did 5 x 25 secs strides with 35 secs recovery backwards and forwards with him on the stopwatch and whistle ......... however on the second set of strides whilst I was dying (already)  there was no whistle or shout. Seems the OBOAB couldn't reset the bloody stopwatch. After I'd pressed the reset button very hard and had an attack of tourettes we resumed the strides!

To do the 5 x 2 min hill reps I had to run a bit further on to start.

Now I thought that all I'd hear was a whistle indicating my 2 minutes was up ....... Please, please tell me 2 minutes is up! ...... and yes for the first one I did. Fab! Great present........  trotted back down the hill, got the start command and did it again however no whistle, assumed the stopwatch was being troublesome, so ran to the holly bush and trotted back down the hill. Got the start command and did it again but also managed to shout 'I hate fucking hill training' the reply came back 'so do I' as the OBOAB pedalled past me. On the next one I really was regretting the cheese and onion crisps I'd had earlier and on the last one was ready to die. Whose idea was it to run up and down hills?  I then ran home ..... just over 10 minutes. 

Once home I asked OBOAB why he was grumpy ......as he had been since the I hate hills episode. 

Seems that as he tried to turn on his bike and look at the stopwatch he came out the side door!!! Bloody silly arse. Luckily no bones broken!!!

I was looking forward to Friday's training  10 mins warm up 10 mins race pace and 10 mins cool down because we were going to Tamar Lakes (home of Parkrun) to do this as its flat (well apart from the bastard hill at the end) me, the old bloke without his bike and the two collies. 

However ...... as usual nothing goes plan ...... and take it from me girls don't marry the Village Hall Chair or anyone who has those tendencies ...... due to their commitments you'll find that you won't be able to fit your training in!!!! 

I ran up the lane (a first) and slightly hilly as part of my warm up then ran like the clappers for 10 minutes back down to Libbear. The worst thing about this is my involuntary heavy breathing and gasping ........ apologies Sue and Mike if you were in your garden!!! 

And then I ran home slowly!

Split pace was 10.57

Oh well see for yourself...

My feet!

So why am I talking feet?


Well my left foot and in particular the heel is very painful especially when I've been sitting for a while or sleeping and getting up in the night for a pee or first thing in the morning I can't bear any weight on it.


Not really what I need now that I've signed up for the Bideford 10K


And before you ask no I haven't been to see the Doctor.


Why?


Well because I don't do Doctors and also because last year I had a similar thing with my right foot.


So from the beginning ....... it all started with me having to buy a new pair of wellies for the day job last year. Now unbelievably wellies have become a fashion item and my usual Argyll ones are no longer stocked at Mole Valley Farmers because they are made by Hunter who won't give a suitable discount (don't quote me on this ..... its what the sales assistant told me). Consequently I had to buy a different make for sixty something quid. Yes that's right over sixty pounds! The same price as my leather market boots (purchased around the same time) which actually make me walk like a cripple after sitting in the van for the trip home after a market.


And boy, have I paid for them in more ways than one?


Oh yes .......they have buggered up my feet ......firstly my right foot and now the left.


Of course I googled it as you do and came up with plantar fasciitis  ....... could be right, could be wrong!


Then I did everything contrary to the advice.


Rest, pain killers, Doctor ........ no thanks.


I continued running and walking five times a week and ignored the pain although I did wear clogs and some heeled sandals (heels are good) when not running.
Anyway it eventually got better and is now back to normal but took a long time.


I know I'm stupid so now that my left foot is causing me gip I've decided I'd better do something about it as I'm signed up to run a 10k in May.


No, not got as far as the Surgery yet, however I haven't walked or run for six days and have worn my running shoes for driving and popping out ........ yes I know coach Steph, sorry I shouldn't be doing this but once I've paid the vets bill off I can save for a new pair of running shoes!


Today it definitely feels less painful despite having to wear wellies for two and a half hours.


 Chris has seriously bad feet (would you believe the Navy amputated his little toes because they couldn't be arsed to straighten them as they were clawed.......... BASTARDS ) and today had his regular appointment with the podiatrist in Holsworthy...................


I now have a list of  foot exercises to do.......

......................and an appointment on Wednesday for her to check my foot out

Hopefully normal running service will be resumed very soon!