#44 – JustRunning

Spring in full bloom in Burgess Park so I pushed myself to do my last run before #Hackneyhalf on Sunday. Something to remind my legs and feet after a week’s absence what they are meant to do, and to make sure my new phone and its holder were comfortable to run with.  Tech appears to be behaving itself, which is more than I can say for my knee. Giving me a few niggles. But the big question for the race – what to wear?!

2015 #42 – Giving it 110%

Woke up to perfect weather for running: sunny, but not too hot; breezy, but not too windy. And dry. Ideal for my last #LongRun before #RunHackney.

I had planned a 20km route Burgess Park to Battersea Park (and back again) along the Thames. After sorting out a few technology issues off I trotted. Boy did I trot. And them some. And with a few gallops added to the mix to get my average pace up.

But I didn’t stop there!

My little legs found it in themselves to do those 20-km.

Then another 1km to acclimatise to the half marathon distance.

And then just for fun 2 more.

Excluding a photo stop and a few red men telling me to wait to cross some roads, nearly all of the 23-km were non-stop too. I think it’s fair to say I gave this run 110% – especially as my analysis shows I’m approving.  That is scarily starting to sound like marathon training.

But not just yet. I’m going to enjoy and celebrate the progress I have made, focus on 10th May and Hackney and take it from there one trainer at a time.

2015 #38 (Run baby run) pacing inferno!

Several days of glorious weather, sunny and amazingly unseasonably warm for April, no doubt we’ll have hose pipe bans by Friday and Express headline’s of snow on Saturday. But as they say – make hay when the sun shines. Whilst the wheat is still baby green shots and not ready for making into hay, I’ll make the time to get my inner funk on and go for a run in the evening sun. Felt so good to be in shorts and just one t-shirt.

I haven’t gone running in the late afternoon/early evening for a while – maybe that is why my pace was smoking. No intention to it, just wanted to head out for a run and what a great run! Just 5km but 5:24km pace on average. Assuming I could keep that up for a half marathon, I’d be strutting my stuff over the finish line in 1hr-53min. I can dream. I would have once upon a time. 1hr-45min is my best a few years ago with younger, fitter and considerably lighter legs. But I can hope that I can get back down towards that: if not May 10th on the Hackney Half; then one later in the year and next. Does that mean I have committed myself to carrying on running? Hope so.

I can dream.

I would have once upon a time. 1hr-45min is my pb for a half-marathon. That was a few years ago with younger, fitter and considerably lighter legs. But I can hope that I can get back down towards that: if not May 10th on the Hackney Half; then one later in the year and next. Does that mean I have committed myself to carrying on running? Hope so.

And my musical soundtrack this evening was disco, funk and boogie – and included The Trammps – Disco Inferno, which I have adapted for this evening’s shake-down.

(Run baby run)
(Run baby run)
(Run baby run)
(Run baby run)

To my surprise, one hundred strides long
Shoulders getting loose y’all, getting down my times
Folks are screaming, out of control
It was so entertaining when the paces started to explode
I heard somebody say

(Run baby run) pacing inferno
(Run baby run) burn those times down
(Run baby run) pacing inferno
(Run baby run) burn those times down

Satisfaction came in a chain reaction
(Runnin’)
I couldn’t get enough, so I had to self-destruct
The heat was on, rising to the top
Pace going strong, and that is when my spark got hot
I heard somebody say

(Run baby run) pacing inferno
(Run baby run) burn those times down
(Run baby run) pacing inferno
(Run baby run) burn that mother down

The Trammps – Disco Inferno

2015 #29 – Sun Salutation

Up early to do photography before my morning yoga class and caught this picture of the sunrise before I started sun salutations. After my long run, I felt very tired and struggled with a few of the moves. But it helped stretch out my tight muscles.

2015 #26 Pyramid Scheme

Having been trapped indoors waiting for a delivery all day, needed to get out for a run. No time (or inclination) for my planned long run, so did a set of intervals instead. Upped the intensity of the suggested one by doing a pyramid set – starting short, increasing length each time until peaking, then getting shorter again. Mr Endomondo warned me it would be hard: it didn’t lie. Pleased I did.

2015 #19 Sluggish

Commitment has been made to my next race: I’d better get some training in. Although I brought my trainers and running kit with me on my trip to North Devon this week, I didn’t wear them. I managed a fair bit of walking around some lovely scenery, taking in some large artworks and enjoying the sunsets. But no running.

I know I had better get started and soon: so shoes on, kit on and out the door I went. The weather is a bit up and down at the moment, but today it was sunny and seemed warm. I risked one less layer than I have had on all winter. Thankfully it was warm and glorious, and so very not needed. Clocked up another 7km. First few at a nice pace and easy enough going; the last two very sluggish and hard going. Maybe too long a rest after the Brighton Half or maybe too big a portion of vegi lasagne and chips for lunch, not quite sure which.  Either way, I guess no resting on any laurels for the

Hackney Half Marathon – I ‘m going to have work hard for it. Which is good, it gives my running a purpose, gives me a goal and stops me from being lazy. Well, not lazy. But I have a comeback, a reminder, to myself when I don’t feel like going out.

Slowing the running and taking time to enjoying the wildlife.

On Sunday I’ll be running 21km (or 13.1 miles – still have decided which is easier) on behalf of CoolTan Arts – please sponsor me here. Therefore, this week has been about the tapering.  I have done two training sessions – a short run and a yoga.  But any training regime worth its salt will see you taper in the days leading up to your race.  And I have, as much out of necessity as desire. I had wanted to fit in one or two more training sessions before today, but those that I have done took it all out of me as my cold hasn’t shown any signs of going away.  Nor getting any worse.  It’s b!##dy annoying.  I just wish it would go.

And spring is in the air.  Sunshine all day, and whilst I couldn’t make the most of it and train in it, I went for a walk around my local park, Burgess Park, where I do a lot of my training.  As well as soaking up the vitamin D, I kept seeing different birds – blackbirds, crows, blue tits and these that I managed to snap: a robin and a woodpecker (greater spotted I think – please let me know if I am wrong).

But what I didn’t manage to snap was the green flash that flickered past. I think the London parakeets maybe moving into the park.