Runna

 So I did a thing. 

And I know I said I liked to create my own plans, that is true, but I do like to look at other plans and pick and chose what will work for me into my own plan. 

I have also wanted to try Runna for ages. So I downloaded it and picked a short, 6 week improvers 5km plan, just to see how it worked. 

I chose, two runs a week (knowing that I can still do my choice of long run for a third run). I added in a strength training session and a mobility session. 

Well I'm now on week 6! feeling chuffed with that. And here are some things I really like about the app:

Variety: I like the variety of running sessions you can do; intervals, progressive long runs, pyramids. I've liked it as it's mixed up my running a bit. Although I always liked  like to add in speed sessions, hills etc, it's nice to have it all scheduled for you by someone that knows what they're doing (or an app that knows what it's doing). 

Garmin Syncing: I like that it syncs with my garmin, so I don't have to programme the technical sessions - that said I didn't realise this the first 3 weeks and WAS painstakingly scheduling them into into my watch, until I did realise.  I also like that you can add in ad hoc sessions. Which now I've come to the end of my 6 weeks I'll have a couple of weeks off plan but can still add these ad hoc sessions to my running. 

Moveable Sessions: I like that the sessions are easily moveable on the plan and goals are changeable. For example I changed my 5km time goal half way through. It didn't throw me back to the start of my plan just updated my timings on the intervals/technical runs. 

More Stats: I like the stats it gives you. I do have stats on Garmin, and strava but who doesn't love a third version of stats.

Strength training: What I LOVED was the strength training. Not only is it geared to running. But you can add what equipment you have at home and the sessions include that equipment. I have an eclectic mix of gym stuff (barbell, bands, kettlebells) and was struggling to find works outs that included all these, so this has been an absolute bonus. 

Dislike: Probably the only thing I didn't like, was the mobility, and that's nothing against the app, that's just me. I don't enjoy it (yes I know I have to do it). So I skipped all but one of these sessions. 

Has it made a difference to my running? 

Yes it has, I can feel that I've got a bit faster. It's challenged me on some of the sessions. I've also enjoyed the running sessions more. I've also accepted that I don't have to stick to it religiously and that it's ok to do my own thing somethings (I'm never going to survive 16 weeks of a plan if I feel I can't do my own thing now and then).  

I'm at the point now where I need to think about a marathon training plan. I'm very very likely now to use Runna. After this week  I'm going to spend some time looking at the options for marathon training, and find one that I think will work for me. 

Watch this space. 

Where I'm at & buses

My blogs are like buses: you wait forever for one then two come a long at once.

So I thought I'd update where I'm at with my running, planning, progress and what not. 

So we have officially 20 weeks to go... eeek. It's a this point I could potentially be starting a training plan, but I'm not. I've decided to go with a 16 week training plan, which will start the first week of Jan; I'm going to become one of those people you see out running out the that first week of Jan, and think " London Marathon training has begun" .. well that's what I always think anyway. Turns out it's true!! 

So yes, 16 weeks. I also chose this 'cause I don't want to put pressure on me over the Christmas season, cause let's be realistic, food comas aren't conducive to running, something I discovered after my run club Christmas party/lunch  on the weekend. 

BUT I'm super happy so far with the progress I've made since I got that infamous/rare "You're In!" email back in June. 

I had set myself some goals. 

• A December 1st half marathon, to get me into the running swing of things. 
• To build up some consistency, and fitness 
• To do regular strength training/stretching. 

Pleased to report this has mostly been successful (strength training fail). And there was no half marathon on 1st December (luckily the one I signed up to was cheap so not a huge loss) as I wasn't at the right distance. BUT despite that I'm super glad I did sign up to it as it got me started. And I feel like I've made so much progress, reaching that consistency goal, and I feel almost like I did a few years ago with my regular running. 

It's not always been easy. Some nights/mornings I didn't get out the door. Sometimes I had to force myself out without putting thinking about it it. Some runs were painfully hideous (mental pain, not physical thank god). Some runs were amazing. Some were even fun. But all in all, I feel like a runner again.

I've seen improvement in my speed - horray! with most runs coming in now with 12 min miles instead of  13-14. I would love to get back to regular 11 minute miles, but I know I'm progressing so hopefully that will come. 

Running does seem to be easier. I will say it's easier on my lungs, but I still have to remind myself to slow down. Problem is my legs don't like to slow down and complain if they do. Can't win, my lungs and legs need to make friends and learn to work together. 

My other goal was to slowly build up my weekly mileage. Which I've been absolutely religious about (not going over my planned milage) this was mainly to avoid injury/shin splints. I'm pleased to say that's worked (although there has been the odd days my shins have started to complain). My ultimate goal was to be at 15 miles a week by the new year. Currently reaching 14 miles a week so am well on track to do that!! 

I'm also uber proud as I've been adding in hills to my runs too. I've said it before, and I'll say it again but there is nothing like hill running for improving fitness and running.  And I do still miss Clapham which was so good for hill running. But we have a few hills around here (even though it means not running by the river) and including the hills definitely makes running on the flat so much easier.

I also have an ulterior motive as I'll be staying somewhere VERY hilly for a few weeks over Christmas and if I don't learn to love hills there will be zero running happening, so I have to prepare for that too. In fact my plan is to embrace those hills which I hope will help when I launch myself into that 16 week plan in Jan too. 

So yes, when people ask me how the training is going I am much more confident in my answer. And I'm so chuffed to be out running regularly again. I really am feeling more like my former self back in Clapham 4-6 years ago. It makes me very happy that it's still in me, and hopefully I can continue without injury and get back to full pre covid fitness again!! 

Thank you London marathon for spurring me on. 

The rollercoaster of marathon emotions.

 So, I thought I would share where my head has been at with the LM.

After the shock of getting the ballot place subsided, fear set in.  Twenty Six Miles, that’s a long way. I’ve hiked it a few times (even led a 26 mile hike once) but that was in my peak fitness pre-long-covid.

Could I do it, my mindset was if I get round in 8 hours and don’t die I’ll be satisfied.

Weirdly “the fear” was short-lived, and replaced by excitement which has stuck around for a while.

I joined a FB LM group, as well as a few other FB groups (including Girls that Jeff). I also binge listened to various pod casts, in addition to this were chats with run group friends and reading a few books on marathons.

What all these agreed was, the LM is FUN, and probably one of the most welcoming to non-runners/walkers/Jeffrers. 

This actually surprised me. Having been around in 2019 with the whole 8hour pacer-gate saga when there were huge complaints about them packing up the course ahead of the 8-hour pacer coming through (my friend was the pacer and spokesperson for that saga).  I was surprised to hear that there are jeffer pacers, walking pacers etc. This is huge relief, it seems things have improved hugely.

I will take my training seriously but I also feel that if it all goes wrong on the day, I don’t have to panic, as always (in the words of my Backpacker heroes) I’ll be aiming for a PB in fun!

Also because it’s my first marathon, I don’t have to aim for anything crazy, just to get around it. Once I’ve done it once I can think well maybe next time I can do this, or that. But that first time is just to cover the distance.

So ya, looking forward to the London party of the year.

Training for a marathon - beginners thoughts

 Thought I would put in a note about my training, which so far is going ok.

When I first got the place in the ballot in June, I was not running, this was my first concern. I needed to get back out there running. I wanted to, I just didn’t have the motivation, and also I’d been avoiding it due to backpain.

So I set my first goal as a 5km by end of August.

If you’ve been around my running journey for a while, you’ll know I prefer to put my own plans together. I know my body, I know my capabilities so I know what works for me.

So with that in mind, I set about putting together a simple plan, suited to me. My goal was a goal of 5km by end of August (starting beginning of July) then slowly increasing to a half in December. So I would start the new year with a good base of long runs.

I started with only two runs a week not to push myself too much. Two years ago I forgot that I wasn’t where I was a few years ago and ramped my milage up too quickly and suffered from the not so fun shin splints.

Slowly slowly does it is my motto.

Thankfully I was able to get to the 5km by mid august. Helped hugely by the lack of back pain. Earlier in the year when I really wanted to run but physically couldn’t cause of the back pain I promised myself that if I could ever run without that pain I would throw myself into it diligently without complaint out of gratitude. Which I feel that I have done.

As well as slowly building milage in my plans, it was about getting back into consistency with running , slowly going from two days to three days and also getting into the habit of running without thinking. A few months down the line I have semi met that goal, I’m getting better at it. Some weeks it’s a well crafted art of balancing busyness/tiredness at work, keeping to weekly milage.

I also wanted to get to a point where a 5km was an easy standard run. In those early days even running a mile stressed me out and seemed difficult, but I know that if I’m to run 26  miles I need to have a base line that seems easy.  I’m pleased to say on the most part my body has got used to running a standard 5km (not always easy, but easier).

My other goal, which I admit I haven’t quite met, is getting consistent with strength training and stretching. I promised myself after my Own Your Run coaching last year that I would never again not include strength training with my running. But I haven’t quite got into a consistent habit so far. Going to keep aiming for it and will insist on it by the time January comes around.

I found it super helpful to commit to/sign up for a half marathon in December, it’s really spurred on my running, because there’s a big part of my mindset that keeps thinking I don’t need to start properly training until January (which is true) but it also means sometimes I’m lapse in my training. So having a half marathon booked is really helping.

First time lucky, and hopefully third time lucky.

 Well well well, it's been a while.  A long while and a lot has happened. 

I realise my last post was about Ride London! So a few things have happened since then, I'll try to summarise

• Ran some more
• Signed up for a marathon (Edinburgh again) with my fabulous backpacker running crew.
• Trained well for said marathon
• Reached 15 miles (comfortable) in training.
• A pandemic hit
• Everything cancelled (including Edinburgh Marathon 😢 )
• Tried to continue running
• Struggled to run (and well to breath)
• Tried running some more.
• Got diagnosed with Long Covid
• Gave up on the marathon dream
• Did take up paddle boarding
• PadddleBoarded a marathon.
• Continued to age and aches and pains caught up with me and not let me go.
• Continued signing up for the London Marathon ballot (I mean why not I'm never going to get in)
• Got in on the ballot for the 2025 London Marathon - whoops

And this is where I find myself. Training (nervously) for the third time for my first marathon, whilst not at my finest when it comes to running. 

My VMLM goal: to get round under 8 miles and not die.

But I have learned some valuable lessons over the last few years which I hope will help get me through. Such as the importance of strength training, stretching and yoga. The importance core strength. That I love Peloton (that's a whole other blog post!!). That sometimes I'm going to have to take a step back and  rest even if it screws up the plan (Long Covid makes me do that). I'm also fully aware that if I have a long covid relapse come April then I won't be able to even get to the start line, so that's a bit of an unknown at the moment, but I feel it will become more apparent as my training progresses. 

Things I haven't learnt; not to beat myself up about how I'm not where I was (fitness-wise) 5 years ago. That staying slow is better.  

On the plus side I'm 3 months into my training (well I got the results 3 months ago) and I'm making slow progress on my running (some weeks better than others). And most importantly I've fallen in love with running again (of course not every run is a great run, but for the most part I'm enjoying it).  I think part of that love is the fact that I'm recently running without backpain for the first time in over a year (so I'm making the most of it). 

I'm taking it slow. I'll also try to update my progress here, for my own record if for nothing else. 

Who knows what will April will bring, but for now I'm up and running!! 

Running at the Westminster Mile this weekend.