Running Roundup #2

Feeling a bit more positive about my runs this week, I didn't manage to improve on frequency but I did manage to increase my distance, which I'm really pleased about. It is so dark when I set off though, I make a point of not turning on my music until I'm at the main road, just in case.

So this week I managed my first 3.4 miles which is equal to about 5km, yay. This was my target for my morning runs, so now I know how far 5km is on my route I don't have to use my phone app anymore, I can just listen to my music uninterrupted.  

Wednesday 18th September 3.4 miles

Friday 20th September 3.4 miles

So my plan from now on is to run at least 3x 5km per week, and once I have my routine going I will hopefully start to add in a long run at the weekends. I don't really have the time in the week for a longer run, but if I can continue with my 5km, and improve on my time maybe I can add on a little distance in the future. So onward and upwards.

How do you feel about morning exercise?

Yoga Eureka!

There is nothing quite like a good stretch, and yoga for me is just that. I have to admit that my stretching routine after my run attempts is poor at best, it mainly consists of collapsing on the floor and checking instagram. So I really look forward to my yoga class.

I can feel myself getting stronger and find it easier to ease into deeper and deeper stretches. My only issue is that as I improve and get a bit more bendy, I feel like my body lets me down, in only that there is too much of it. I am not slim, I have been working on it for the last god knows how many years, but as of yet, slim I am not. But now I am finding that this is causing me issues in ways it never has before, and maybe this is the eureka moment I need to change.

It's strange I have my wedding in a year, and am desperate to tone up the bingo wings before then. But it still seems so far away so it feels like I have stacks of time, and I know that feeling will continue, until it's too late, because I've done it before. So now I am hoping that if getting slimmer means that my yoga will improve, I should be able to actually see it on a weekly basis, and those tiny, minute, improvements only noticeable by me will spur me on. That is the dream, but for me knowing what I have to do, and actually doing it are still poles apart. 

Watch this space....

How do you feel about yoga?

Running Roundup #1

Typical, the week when I have decided to start my weekly posts recording my running progress, is the week I seem to have to decided to regress. I haven't done this on purpose and in all honesty am really quite cross with myself. I did consider putting off starting the posts until next week, but ultimately this is supposed to be about my progress, and deep down I know this won't be the last time I have a week like this, I just wish it hadn't been this particular one. I just seem to get those few days every so often (a little too often) when it seems to be all to easy to make an excuse, and lose all motivation. Oh well at least I have an easy target to improve upon...

So I only went out twice this week, I was all set to go out on Thursday too, even got up early and put my running stuff on, looked out of the window, saw rain and my resolve deserted me. Usually I don't mind the rain but for some reason on Thursday rain stopped play. I was even more annoyed with myself when I looked out 10 mins later and it had stopped, by which time I had decided it was too late to set off. I did do some yoga instead though so all was not lost. The rest of the week was a write off though, motivated Chloe had left the building. So I spent the weekend knitting.

Monday 9th Sept 2.7 miles

Wednesday 11th Sept 2.9miles

As you can tell by my distances I am still very much at the start of my journey so hopefully there is tonnes of room for improvement, just need to do something about my commitment issues.

How do you stay motivated?

Blog Series

As a relatively new blogger, I am fully aware that I probably have a long way to go before I have found my feet and worked out how to do all the fancy stuff. I'm still not sure how use pictures that aren't photo's I've taken myself, I will probably end up asking a bloggy friend for some help with that, when I have plucked up the courage....

In the meantime I thought I might try and introduce a series of posts, if only to give a little structure to my rambly mess of a blog. I was thinking maybe a ''Running Rundown''? Weekly update on my running training as I prepare for my upcoming Zombie run, half marathon and any others I enter down the line. What do you think?

My other thought would be to do a monthly update on my 365 photo challenge, with some sort of collage of that months pics of the day. What to call it...any ideas?

Don't worry I am under no illusion that there are probably less than a handful of people that actually read my blog, (thank you lovely friends) but it would still be nice to give them something remotely interesting to look through. Anyway, ultimately this is for me, and I am so enjoying writing my blog, more than I ever thought I would. It has really helped my to think about things in my life in a different light, making me more observant of the things I do, and waking up my internal monologue, which is fun.

So what do you think to a blog post series, would you read it?

Keep on Running

The worst thing about going for a run super early, is that you are usually the first person to walk/run along those particular pavements that day. Which means you get to clear the route of all the sticky cobwebs made by the busy nocturnal spiders, and for some reason they always seem to whisp around at head height!!! No fun, and I always get just a little bit freaked out thinking that there may have been a rogue spider still attached. OK rant over.

I have still been going running, although I failed my personal challenge of 4 runs a week last week, (only did 3) and I didn't quite muster enough courage to get out there of an afternoon/evening, but I will at some point. 

But I think I need to scale back on the pressure I am putting on myself, I am still doing 3 runs a week and I do manage to go just a little further each time, which is amazing for me, so I should be proud of myself, not thinking myself a failure. I think maybe 3 runs a week is a more realistic goal and any extra will be a bonus. Otherwise I'll just end up getting really cross with myself and forget that I have actually come quite far. I am not a natural runner, not even when I was little, but I think I am finally coming pretty close to cracking it, with the help of yoga and some handy phone apps.

This is what I was confronted with this morning though, not sure if I was early or Mr. Sunshine is getting tardy, but it was dark out there this morning.

Do you ever set yourself unrealistic goals, and have to scale it back?

Off Target

I am a little bit annoyed at myself at the moment, I am only 2 weeks in to my 4 runs a week personal challenge, and I am already short on last week! I only managed 3. There was a little bit of disruption last week, and my usual routine was thrown out slightly but that is no excuse. 

I seem to have a fear of running at any time of the day that isn't first thing in the morning. I try to tell myself it's because it's the only time I can feasibly fit in a run during the day, but this just isn't true. It's because I am in fear of strangers, or worse someone I know seeing me run, scrutinising my wobbly bits, sweat marks and baboon bum red face. I know think I can't possibly look as bad as I imagine, but that doesn't stop me getting paranoid about it.

So this week I have an added challenge of going for a run in the afternoon/early evening, when it's busy and people are everywhere. I may stick to slightly quieter roads but I will do it. I will have to if I want to make up for that missed run last week with 5 this week! Wish me luck.

Do you ever lie to yourself, so you can pretend it's not your fault?

Sky

It seems to go on forever, with the occasional puff of a cloud or a tiny sun lit moon. I love looking at the sky, to me this is the best part of my morning run. We have been so lucky with the weather recently, and it seems every time I go out there are new things to see. My mind just wanders, maybe I am a little crazy making up tales for the little clouds and where they have come from, but I don't care. Sometimes I imagine who else may be looking at the same sky, and how much longer I will be able to catch the sunrise, before the sun is just too lazy and I have to run in the dark. Hopefully a little while yet.

This was the sky on Wednesday morning...

And this was how it looked today.

Do you ever just take the time to look at the sky?

Running on Sunshine

I'm an on and off runner, I'm not very good, I enjoy it when I'm out there but I struggle with my frequency of runs. So I have a plan I intend to run at least 4 times a week. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I can't manage Tuesdays as Monday night yoga seems to make me have a sleep time coma, and I find it nigh on impossible to get up in the morning.

Anyway back to the plan, I have set myself up with everything I need to stick to it, I have an interval app, GPS app and of course Spotify for the actual running, I've got enough P.E. kit and trainers. I even have a goal! I have an obstacle run at the end of October and ideally I would like to enter the local half marathon next year...

Now all I need to ditch is the friggin excuses and negative thoughts. I love how running makes you feel, not so much during but definitely afterwards. I feel more lively, I can get up earlier and have less cravings for naughty food. I just have to remember that when it gets tough.

So far so good though I was out Monday, and this morning, and check out this beautiful sunshine, that makes it worth getting up early too.

Do you enjoy running?

Running Shoes and Yoga Toes

Right well I have started as I mean to go on, this morning I managed to drag myself out of bed at 5:30, (was then confronted with cat sick which really did wake me up) and went or a run. I'm still a relative novice when it comes to this running malarkey, so it's just intervals at the moment but I'm working on it, and making good progress, well I think so anyway. 

I think I might need some new running sneaks though, that's a hole in the toe...

Then after work I went for my Monday night yoga sesh. It's a beginners class but I love it still manage to get a good stretch, and chills me right out. I usually manage to fall asleep during the relaxation at the end which can be a bit embarrassing, but meh I don't care that much. I always seem to sleep much better at night after yoga too, so try to avoid early morning exercise on a Tuesday to make the most of it. I actually had my my toenails painted too, so it was my first class without socks!!

What do you do to help you sleep?