3rd run

Seemed much easier getting up and walk/run this morning.

Thankfully it was cooler today than Sunday or Monday. Back is holding up, thankfully.

It was 5 mins walking 

1 x 10 walk/jogging 

I didn't have time for the 5 minute cool down walk. 

Another day without chocolate yay! 

London Marathon 2025!! A quick recap

 After saying that I loved running the London Marathon and never again, I am running it again. I got carried away watching it on the TV this year, and I also got nostaglic when we took some of the children from school up to the Mini Marathon on 20th April. 

So, 20th April...

Yes, with no running since the London Marathon 2023 I applied!  The day after this year's marathon, I got up early and started from the beginning.  Unfortunately, I fell half way through and broke one or two ribs (not sure as I learnt, a few years ago, in a deliberate car crash on behalf of joyriders, they do not x-ray for ribs!).  It took only 2 months to heal.  I did notice that all my usual aches and pains (back and legs) stopped, I think because of the way I had to move to protect my ribs.  

26th June...

Pleased as I need the challenge to get motivated, I have more training time and I can run again for HHHO.

 

So, ideally I should have started running straight away as my ribs were much better, or at least gone back to Body Pump and Body Balance but nope.  

I stopped running after the London Marathon because I was exhausted; working as a School Business Manager for 2 schools (which after 10 years was too much), 3rd year of an Open Degree and training for the Marathon.  It was a mistake to stop running to be honest but I thought I would just pick it up again but life continued to get busy; either studying or working.  Also, I am an all or nothing kind of person and I need to be pushed to start and then I am fine.

Now, I have a different role; working in the finance department for our Trust but I still do bits and pieces for my long-term school (I quit working for both schools last year).  This role is just as busy but anxiety-wise, it is much better for me.  Being awake at 2am worrying about stupid things is thankfully gone, anxiety is not fun.  This role is more flexible and I can work from home twice a week if I wanted to.  As long as the work gets done, I can start later etc. 

I am however really struggling to get up in the mornings, and then I think tomorrow, tomorrow. I have put on lots of weight as well, just snacking on bad choices on the way home and have IBS. Medication has also added to the weight gain, which is affecting my running, as well as my mindset. I am 50 in January and it is so much harder, it is not so much hot flushes but constantly feeling hot which I hate.  I used to walk a few miles every day but I was constantly feeling too hot.  I was lucky at the LM 2023 as it was raining and cloudy!

So I started making better choices 2 weeks ago, and I have had to give up chocolate as it is my big weakness.  I am drinking more water, well I wasn't really drinking at all so that should be I am now drinking water.  Even better, I have started running at last.

I am using Coopah this time, as well as Myzone and Strava!  Last time, I didn't start running until mid-Nov as I didn't get a charity place until then. I was lucky to get a place with my favourite charity, now run by my friend but was started by her son, Help Harry Help Others. I didn't decide to run until the beginning of November, so I was lucky to get a place.  I had to switch from C25K in the January without finishing it and started following the London Marathon plan.  I should say that I loved running, getting up and running 10 miles on a Sunday was my favourite run.  I had also run several half marathons about 15-20 years ago, it was much easier then!

First run:

2nd run:

I need to change the walking time as I cannot walk that fast!

Hopefully, I can continue now I have started. 

A slow and painful mile run but I'm back outside

I booked half marathons in September, October and March because without that I would have no motivation. Before this morning, I had only run once since London. I have been to some classes but not as much as I could have. Last week, I only lasted 20 minutes in Circuits because of my lower back. 

Additional reasons for not running:

Ofsted

Workload

I was finishing my Uni assessment 

Too hot - mini heatwave at the moment.

The cause is my tight hamstrings, inflexible back, tight hips and weak glutes. I have ordered a belt for my back and a flex stretch. I have also downloaded a flexibility programme to help. I need to book in another sports therapy session with Emily. 

This morning I managed to get up earlier enough for a run. However I only managed a mile running as my lower back was hurting so I walked. I am okay with that though as I did get up early and go. 

After the Marathon....

So I have been feeling unwell for the past week. I think stopping after the Marathon, workload and Uni work, my body has had enough.

Uni work

Final push on Uni work, the final TMA is next Thursday. Then a break until October, when I will be doing 2 courses (one starting in October and one in April). 

Running

I'm not going to do Hampton Court 10K this Sunday. Feeling unwell so I haven't run for a week and my hamstrings are tight just walking. I don't want to run 10K etc in the Summer as it is too hot for me. The Marathon training was so short that I didn't give myself the time to run properly without my legs constantly hurting. 

I have booked the following half Marathons:

September 2023 - The Big Half, London

October 2023 - Oxford Half Marathon

March 2024 - Hampton Court 

I'm going to start start an advanced half marathon plan.

Exercising - my favourite classes

I would like to continue to do a mixture of:

Tuesday - Body Balance

Wednesday - Body Bump (and Body Balance?)

Saturday - Body Pump and Body Balance

Sunday - Circuits, Body Balance and Stretch 

The school football team only have 2 more games to go for this league so Saturdays will be free. 

Work / Life Balance 

I have a plan that I'm working towards for September. 

Back to running

So after a good weekend of classes last weekend, I didn't do any more in the week. Due to work, I missed Body Balance on Tuesday and on Wednesday evening, my arm was aching too much.  The aching in my arm is from my shoulder to my hand, hurts my tendons in my Left forearm.

On Wednesday morning, I ran 2 miles trying out my new trainers. As I wear down my shoes on the outside, my legs are getting used to being in a more upright position! 

On Saturday morning, I ran 5 miles. 2 miles jogging, 2 mins walking, (90 secs fast, 2 mins walk x 4) and 2 miles.  I added in the first 2 minute's walking as I felt that I needed to before I ran fast! I enjoyed the running, especially the 3rd and 4th time although hard to maintain for 90 secs, even though it is not a long time. 

I couldn't get a space for Body Pump and I wouldn't have got back in time for Balance so I cancelled that. 

On Sunday, I went to Body Balance and Stretch. Needed both classes to try and stretch my legs. At the beginning of stretch I cannot touch the ground when sweeping but I can at theend of the session. I just need to try and stretch at home.

Bank Holiday Monday so I went for a run.  It felt like hard work as I'm anxious as we are expecting Ofsted any moment again and its SATs Week and School Journey!  Also cat sitting in 2 places this week so less time to get everything done.

I have managed to make a headstart on my last TMA of this module. I am hoping for the following this week:

Today

Body Balance

Wednesday

Run - Running 2 miles, 2 mins fast 2 mins walk x 4, 2 miles

Body Pump and Body Balance (no space)

Friday (train strike)

Run - 7 miles

One lot of cat sitting finishes

Saturday 

Football (St Luke's)

Sunday
Circuits

Body Balance

Stretch

Weekend of classes

Felt great to be back at The Walnuts this weekend.

Saturday 

9am Body Pump

10am Body Balance

I thought I would really struggle but it was okay 👍 

Sunday

9.30 Circuits 

11.25 Stretch

Loved being back in Circuits with Tonks.

Station 1

Press Ups - one wide and one narrow

Curl Up

Plank - leg lift (I do this on knees)

Station 2

Skipping

Walking Lunges

Side shuffle / touch down

Station 3

Forward Lunge, front raise

Back lunge, bicep curl

Side lunge, touch down and reach up

Station 4

Rotator Raise

Rear Deltoid 

V Raise

Station 5

Wide Squat

Narrow Squat

Clean and Press

Stretch

New class.

Really enjoyed and really need it.

Gentle mobility and stretches.

I liked the teacher Maria too. 

Next week:

Monday - 3 mile run

Tuesday - Body Balance

Wednesday - 3 mile run

Wednesday - Body Pump

Friday - 4 Mile run

Saturday and Sunday repeat but may try and get Body Balance space too. 

What is next?

My next goals 

Keep running

No more marathons

10ks and half marathons from now on

Races booked

Hampton Court 10k

Oxford Half Marathon 

Hampton Court half marathon 

Also thinking about a London 10k

I need to learn how to run properly again. Training for a marathon in less than 6 months from nothing wasn't ideal. I cannot remember a point where my body hasn't ached since I started. 

I know I may not get back to 2:12 half marathons (13 years ago!) instead of my current 2:38 but I can get closer. 

I want to be able to run as well as attend my classes again. A mixture of the following (if I can get places!):

Tuesday - Body Balance or Dance (at work)

Wednesday - Body Pump

Saturday - Body Pump and/or Balance

Sunday - Circuits and then a new class - Stretch

I'm going to try and have monthly sports massages with Emily too.  

So back to scrolling for places on the App...