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?

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?

Mini Milestone

Right so today I actually completed the first week of my challenge, I have managed 4 runs this week!! This may not be a biggie to you hardened runners out there, but for me this is quite an achievement. I just have to make sure I stay focused and carry on like this no matter how tired I am first thing.

The first 2 were good runs, and I didn't seem to have a problem getting up and out, but the last 2 weren't so good, I chose the check my Instagram feed before leaving which took half an hour, so then I was running late getting ready for work, whoops. So that will have to stop. I also managed to get in a hill this morning. I didn't do it on purpose ( I was being a good friend and took a detour to drop off a Birthday card), and I didn't enjoy it, but it showed me that I should probably get some hill training in too. Which shouldn't be too much of an issue Hastings has some wonderful hills.

So yay for mini milestones, now to decide if I should buy myself something pretty now as a reward, or after a month. Probably should wait until I've done it for a month, then I will know I definitely deserve it. What should it be, oh the choices, what do I want?!?

Do you reward yourself for reaching targets?