hooray

1.5 miles of run 2 mins/walk 2 mins on 1% incline.
You may scoff, but it’s been months since I felt well, and today I felt strong, and I ran with good form, and my breathing was even. I followed the advice I’ve been given by Zoë, who is lucky to have a personal trainer as one of her best friends, and I made sure I wasn’t bouncing, or leaning forward too much, or taking big steps, or any of the other great treadmill sins. 

Anyway, there we are. I’m back. And this time, fortified by more vitamins and healthy foods than a racehorse (but slightly less sleek and fast) I’m going to carry on training till I reach April. Five months, six days and 19 hours to go. Swine flu, sacro iliac injuries, chest infections, begone! I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.

Getting Better?

It’s official. Despite the beautiful sunny mornings, I am over getting up at 5am and running  shuffling  no, it’s not walking, so it must be running. Anyway, more shouting birds at 3-something am today (am considering a machine gun, or less radically closing the bedroom window at night) so when I hoisted myself out of bed at 5.30 it was with much grumbling.

I went my alternative route today, which starts with a little hill. Last time I did that I tried to run up it and that’s when I gave up and went home to bed, so this time I walked it, sensibly. Then I did the old 1m walk, 1m run routine, seven times. My legs hurt, so I’m sitting here with icepacks on my shins. I don’t think it’s shin splints, having had them before when I ran as a student (barefoot on a sandy beach = ow). I think it’s just ‘what are you doing to us, we like curling up underneath you whilst you sit on the couch eating chocolate’ protestation.

Good news: it felt a tiny, tiny little bit easier today. I am definitely fitter, but it’s hurty legs that let me down. If I wasn’t carrying around all those bags of dog food, I’m sure it would be easier. Anyway,  I’ve agreed to start making more of an effort with the weightloss with my friend S for company. Have just drunk a litre of water, so that’s a good start to the day!