Running through the pain!!!

After a couple of short runs this week (i know they are all short but short-er!!) I went out on a Night Hike with my Scouts on Friday night thinking it would be good cross training. They did a 5.5 mile route back to our regular meeting place which was mostly downhill. Feeling like a hero I thought I would park at the start and at the end of the night go back uphill to the start to clock a cool 11 miles.
So, this is what I did and I thoroughly enjoyed it but for the huge blisters i gained on the soles of both feet!! Ouch!! It is strange really as the boots I wear are thoroughly worn in and have been in use for around 3 years.....being Brashers they weren't cheap either! They were always a very reliable, comfortable fit until I walked the West highland Way last summer and they butchered my feet, mainly I put it, down to the weight of my 22.5 kilo backpack. Quite why they blistered my on Friday is unknown unless either the boots and my feet have fallen out to such a degree after last summer that their relationship is beyond repaid.

So after Saturday and Sunday spent hobbling and moaning I decided to man up and go back to my clubs beginner night. I completed the same 3 mile course feeling not quite as good as last week, but hey it's all miles in the bank and time on the feet eh.  A busy week ahead looms so Thursday is likely to be the next chance to pound the pavements.

Beginners Night

Back in my running hay day I was a member of my local running club, something I would highly recommend to any keen runner. Clichéd as it may be, but the camaraderie is enough to spur you onto greater things. One of the problems with running clubs though and more specifically how people get to the required level of being in a running club.is that runners by nature can be a bit single minded about their training Very few are prepared to sacrifice their tempo run to help along new members. My local club have got round this with the introduction of a beginners night where a couple of more seasoned runners take out three groups of varying standards with the aim of progressing them up to the required standard for club running. It appears to be a roaring success, I went last night and was one of 28 people pounding the pavements.

I turned up and was met by a few old familiar faces, and had to immediately temper down their expectations of me (couldn't they see my gut???!!!) I was adamant I would take on the 3 mile course but would need a few walk breaks within that. Anyway I felt pretty good and powered through at the front to complete the course without stopping to record my longest and best run of my comeback.

Since my return to jogging (I still can't class what I am doing as running) I have purposely not been taking a watch, have definitely not dug out the old garmin and generally avoid any methods of knowing how fast, (or how slow depending if you are a glass half empty kind of person) I travel. The second person home on the beginners night course was in the stage of tracking their progress and couldn't wait to tell me how fast they had gone with a good estimate of, "you must have been a minute quicker".......I even attempted to interrupt her to say "Don't tell me!!" But still I know know I am somewhere around 11 minute miles. I will try not to think about it as I know myself too well, I am ultra competitive and I used to run constantly on the edge of my watch, This time around I just want to enjoy being out.and not attempt PB's every day of the week!!

Welcome

In April 2009 I ran my last competitive race, the London Marathon, since then a series of illness, self depreciation and weight gain has seen me be a long way away from the fantastic world of running. This year it is my goal to improve my weight, my fitness, my general heath and my mood via the only way I know how - Fitness. I am not silly enough to set goals of racking up PB's again but a more moderate achievable target will be aimed for and then I can just take it step by step and enjoy it.

I currently have a small loop from my house that I only dare run at dark (good job it is currently winter!) At my first attempt I was delighted to get around this distance using 3 small walks to recover along the way. Last night I was down to just one small walk. The obvious goal here is to be able to complete the loop in one step

Last night whilst glugging water in the kitchen feeling enthralled at my small yet somewhat considerable to me achievement I realised that I should commit this journey to print and track my journey from the couch back to the pavement.