Sunday 27 December 2009

Sunday 27/12 - First post xmas run

Time: 22mins
Distance: 2.8miles

Phew, this was a pretty hard run. Running in the snow is not something which requires minimal effort! I was really tired this morning, despite having a great lazy Boxing Day yesterday, but I got up and went out a run in the woods behind the house. Man it was tough! I thought it was maybe my stamina or something but pushing off the ground on slushy bark is really not the funnest thing to do. I also got a hair in my contact lens halfway through my run so had to stop for ages taking the lens out and then putting it back in. I contemplated washing it on the snow (for about a millisecond) but then was deterred by the dubious looking yellow snow further along the path. Beautiful.

As well, I'm not sure if this is a common complaint at this time of year but I seem to have lost my enthusiasm a little bit. I would love to have gone out on whw to balmaha or something, but see the thought of doing it myself, it puts me off 100%...and the thought of actually being out in the cold for hours at a time is putting me off doing my long runs.

I feel I've had a pretty good year, running wise. I also have nice plans for next year, but maybe I need a little bit of time off to re-jeuvenate, I don't know. The 2 weeks I had off affter Loch Ness I feel did me the world of good, but maybe in the winter months it's better to take more time off before training for a spring marathon. I don't want to push and push and then end up being put off running all-together.

We'll see.

Anyway, other runs this week were few but good. I was at the Frightened Rabbit gig on Tuesday night and a work lunch. Also was busy on Wed night as I got some bad news and didn't really feel like running. The runs I did do are:

Thursday 24/12

Distance: 4.5miles
Time: ~35mins

On this run I learned that walking shoes, though they may have more grip, are NOT very good at cushioning your foot on the tarmac! My godness my feet hurt afterwards! Also was very hilly on this run so my legs were quite tight afterwards.

Monday 21/12

Distance: 4.5miles
Pace: ~8.15min/mile

This run included a big downhill which is normally fun but was perfectly terrifying in the snow!

Sunday 20 December 2009

Sunday 20/12

Time: 40mins 40secs
Distance: 3.9miles (+hill sprints)

The snow, whaw! I love it! I had thought about going a cycle today with Derek and my cycling friend but my dad wanted to go for a run so I thought it would be nice to go out with him. I love the sound of the snow crunching underfoot. Dad and I had a good chat and then he went back to the house while I went on. I did 4 30 second hill sprints but it was so slippery, I almost slipped onto my bum a few times so decided to head back through the woods. It was a great run! Think I did the first part at about 9.45min/mile pace then the latter part about 8.45min/mile after the hill sprints.

Have been deliberating over whether the snow will get worse tomorrow, and how getting to work will be! They don't normally grit our street as we're in a wee cul-de-sac, so we'll see how this might pan out! I'm looking forward to this week and enjoying the Christmas run up as much as I can. Finish work on Wednesday - very excited about that!

Friday 18 December 2009

Friday 18/12 - my first run as an engaged lady!!

Time: 48mins
Distance: 6.08miles
Pace: ~8.15min/mile

Well, the title may have given it away but as a wonderful birthday pressie yesterday I was given the most beautiful ring (plus a very lovely proposal), and I cordially accepted (: The ring is unfortunately too big so away getting fixed, which I went in early to do this morning. I'm off work today on annual leave so I also did some errands and cleaned up the house then went out this run. It was so cold, and to be honest I wasn't really feeling up to going far. My shoes are wrecked, and I know I'm going to have to replace them as I've started to get pains in my ankles and knees. I'll be holding out for the January sale though!!

Wednesday 16/12

Time: 27mins
Distance: 3.35miles
Pace: 8.05min/mile

I think my Nike+ is truly screwed. It tells me ALL my runs are done at a pace of 8.11min/mile, no matter how fast or slow I go throughout. I fail to believe that it all balances out wonderfully every single time to this pace of 8.11min/mile. Think I will really need to be replacing it soon (I know I've been saying that for months!!)

Tuesday 15/12

Distance: 4.18miles

This run was great and included 3 fairly big, long hills. I tried to keep the pace up or push it on the hills and actually think it worked really well. I felt it the next day, so that was good! Though it does mean I don't really have an average pace for this run.

Saturday 12 December 2009

Saturday 12/12

Time: 1hr 5mins
Distance: 7.8miles
Pace: 8.25min/mile

Got up fairly early this morning (I'm in my 6am start routine now!) and did some bits and bobs before heading out. It's so misty and xmassy, I love it. Ran round the waterworks and along part of WHW, it was really nice. Also think I started off a bit slower but sped up towards the end. My little bowl of porridge was fairly insubstantial though - was starving by the time I got home!

Was thinking about some plans for next year while I was out running...incl. my running plans. More to come later...

Thursday 10/12

Time: 37mins
Distance: 4.56miles
Pace: 8.10min/mile

Despite doing this after coming in from work had quite a lot of energy, I think it's the bowl of wheetos I ate before I ran! There must be an experiment in there somewhere...

Tuesday 8/10

Distance: 3.70miles
Pace: 8.25min/mile

Yet again another great late night run. I'm wearing this flourescent vest out on the misty nights - it's really cool! A bit too big though, it kind of flaps around. Hopefully this helps the cars see me.
Here's the Nike+ output for the run just before the battery in my ipod died:


I thought the shape is rather amusing!

Sunday 6/12

Time: 1hr 12mins
Distance: 8.42miles
Pace: 8.40min/mile

Did a little lap of the estate and then ran out along the WHW to the Beech Tree. Was a really nice day for a run - not too cold and not raining, though there was a little downpour just before I got to the muddy part, and boy - was the muddy part bad! I had to leap over quite a few mud divets (silently laughing as I remnisced about the times both Derek and my cycling friend have gone over their handlebars!). Got to the Beech Tree feeling good though and will hopeully attempt conic hill at some point during the festive period.

Friday 4/12

Time: 34 mins 30 secs
Distance: 4.22miles
Pace: 8.10min/mile

Was meeting up with my MSc class for some dinner tonight and got away from work fairly sharp today so managed to get out while it wasn't too dark.

I had a cold for the start of this week, from about Monday 1st - Thursday so was itching to get out today. Throat was still a little dry while out though and could feel a slight cough coming on.