Week Seven - I will Survive! ......

As many of you may be aware I was a little glum at the tail end of last week. Having injured my Achilles and needing to take a break from running  I was feeling desperately sorry for myself.

When I embarked on the Z2H challenge one of the first things I did was to purchase the 'Believe - Training Journal'. It's a handy diary / journal for logging training and setting goals and is interspersed with useful articles, hints and tips. I decided that this may be a good time to explore the section marked 'setbacks'. Now, the article written by Lauren Fleshman reliably informs me that it is important to acknowledge disappointment before moving forward. I think we can all agree  I HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED DISAPPOINTMENT! It then goes on to say that we must not dwell in misery so there shall be no more negative thoughts surrounding the duff foot going forward just a plan of action for the future.

With the foot still requiring rest I have been back in the gym doing plenty of upper body and core interspersed with a bit of swimming (I am very much a bob along breaststroke don't let the water near my eyes kind of girl)!

To fill my time I have assigned myself two goals, one is going to be significantly harder than the other.

1. To complete five unassisted fully extended pull ups

2. To attend a group exercise class

Hopefully number two won't take too long to cross off the list (I am hoping to recruit some of the Z2H David Lloyd goers for this task) but given my current strength I will be working on the first one for a while to come!

By Tuesday the foot had had a complete week of rest and there was no pain or restricted range of motion. I ventured out for a very slow and steady two miles. It felt slightly uncomfortable to begin with, probably more to do with my nerves but once warmed up all was ok, that is until I got home. Over the course of the day the pain returned so looks like I wasn't quite ready for it.

I rested the foot again and took my Z2H companion to the gym it an attempt to kill her off before Saturday's parkrun (it didn't work we both just ended up with sore legs)! The rest of the week was more resting before catching up with the Z2H group on Saturday morning.

Despite several of us having run the parkrun before there was a definite nervous energy in the air. After the obligatory group photo and some warm ups we were off. The Achilles appeared to behave itself (a little niggly but nothing major) and the run was topped off seeing Connie get her PB with a super speedy finish. Amazing effort well done Con, this girls going to be fabulous!

The high spirits, support and encouragement of the Redway Runners out in green was amazing and I am one happy lady to be part of this! 

Week Six - Trying to be sensible ........

This week started with a hangover and a sore foot! Both of which were self inflicted. I maybe overdid the enthusiasm smashing my PB at the parkrun on Saturday and followed up by a weekend drunkenly stumbling around Birmingham in very inappropriate footwear!

I don't know how we did it but me and Toby managed to squeeze in a gym session on Sunday evening, I stayed off my feet and concentrated on upper body and floor work before trying to sweat the rest of the alcohol out of my system in the sauna.

Not wanting to have too long a break from running I cautiously ventured to the Monday night social run which was a new one for me. It was lovely to have some good company, the Achilles felt okay but I was definitely aware that something was not quite right.

By Tuesday morning it was apparent there was a problem. We're not talking unable to walk / excruciating pain but a throbbing sensation and tender to touch and stretch. I booked myself straight into Body Limits on Thursday to have it looked at and went on my way for intervals and core. The foot was fine whilst running but as soon as I slowed or stopped the pain returned. Coupled with my 'gammy hip / tight ITB' I was like a rusty old car that couldn't get started on a cold morning! I returned home and the evening just continued to get worse, the girls played up to their maximum potential at bedtime, new tenants were giving me grief and by nine o'clock the aforementioned along the prospect of an injury that was going to limit by running had me literally sobbing on the sofa.

I headed back to the gym on Wednesday and had another good upper body workout followed by a swim and some time to reflect, hoping I could convince myself that not being able to run for a while wouldn't be all bad.

Thursday I saw Martin at Body Limits and instantly felt in safe hands. I have seen several massage therapists in my time some good some not so good and this guy certainly gets my vote. I was given the advice I knew was coming but that to be perfectly honest I didn't want to hear "rest". The good news is I have caught it early and hopefully with a bit of R and R it will be fine.

I am not going to lie part of me wants to sit here and type that everything is grand and I am relishing the opportunity to rest from running and focus on some cross training but right here and now I am feeling a little bit bitter that just as I had found something I was really enjoying and getting better at something has put a dampener on it especially as I was so looking forward to that Salcey Forest sunday run!

Still these things are sent to try us and I am sure by next week I will be my old chipper self!

Amanda

Week Five - is running taking over? .......

A lot of people I know would say I am really lucky and don’t get me wrong I am, but sometimes having two small children, a partner who works shifts, and being self-employed doesn’t leave a lot of time especially when you embark on training for a marathon. The aforementioned setup can be marvellous, I am lucky I get to drop off and collect my children from school and nursery, I can be there for all those important sports days and assembly’s without having to take annual leave or pull a sickie and most importantly I hardly ever have to do a Tesco shop at the weekend! However this week has not all been fun and games. Work has been demanding, time has been scarce and Toby’s shifts have fallen all at the wrong time. With very little time to spare it has become very noticeable that family life is starting to revolve around my runs.

As I signed off last week I was about to embark on my first 10k race. I had a brilliant day making it to the finish with a chip time of 53:40. I wanted to come in under an hour so was over the moon and the banoffee ice cream freebie at the end made it all worthwhile.

Thankfully I didn’t ache too much Monday and managed the club run route despite being an hour late and running it alone, Pleased to report I didn’t get lost this week and am looking forward to having some company next week. I popped into the gym afterward for some upper body strength work.

Tuesday was rest day before meeting Tony and Constance for our weekly session on Wednesday and boy were we in for a treat this week. Tony kindly shared his favourite hill with us and by the time we had reached the top we truly understood the nickname ‘puke hill’.

Due to the lack of time and childcare issues this week I attempted some core training at home after the girls were in bed and the office locked up for the night but even despite the personal training background and having worked with numerous clients in the home I seriously struggle to get the trainers on and jump around in the sitting room especially not helped by the horse sized German Shepherd that wants to lay in the way!

I am getting a sneaky night away from the girls this weekend and doubt very much I will be running anywhere on Sunday so decided to squeeze in what should be my Sunday long run on Friday morning. It was hot and a bit lonely, having never run as a group before joining Redway Runners I am now finding it increasingly more difficult to get out on my own. I did my 5 miles though before dipping my toe in the outdoor pool at the gym. It was like being on holiday out there and I could have easily stayed all day but work was calling so I went on my way (perhaps past the golden arches in the sky for a quarterpounder with cheese on the way home shhhhh don’t tell anyone!).

So before heading away for the weekend I popped along to the parkrun and bumped into Paul my parkrun angel who managed to drag me round in 23:27 a new PB and a great way to finish the week.

I guess I owe an apology to my friends and family, particularly Toby and a big thank you to my father in law who recently has made a lot of my training possible by helping with the girls. I couldn’t do this without your support and for a while it’s only going to get harder us we up the mileage. I hope you stick with me and that seeing me cross the finish line in May will make all the sacrifices worthwhile.

Until next week ......

Amanda

Week Four - Slowing things down!

This week for me needed to be about taking a step back and slowing things down.

Before getting involved in the Zero to Hero program I had decided I needed to get back into running and what better way than signing up for an event. I chose the Women’s Running 10k at Willen Lake on 5th July 2015 as it felt like a manageable distance. It has come round a lot sooner than I expected!

People close to me will know that sometimes when I get an idea in my head I go off all guns blazing and since starting running again I am constantly trying to up my mileage and beat my times. I am very aware that the ultimate marathon goal isn’t until next May and I need to keep the motivation going until then. With this in mind and next week’s 10k looming this week’s goal was “taking it easy”.

After the high of my PB Parkrun on Saturday I set off for my easy Sunday run. I couldn’t make the Redway Runners group at Olney so I plodded off along the canal down to Stoke Bruerne adding a loop on at the beginning and end to make my total distance 5 miles. It was just me, the ipod and a lot of rain but I found these cuties waiting for me at The Navigation Inn with a cup of tea which made it all worthwhile!

Me and Constance teamed up Monday for a very hot jaunt round the Monday evening club run in a respectable 40 minutes. After being adamant this time that I knew the route I was glad of some other Redway Runners to point us in the right direction as clearly left to me own devices we would have been running a totally different loop!

Tuesday was a resting day so instead of physically exerting myself I headed off to Yardley Gobion primary to watch my eldest, Faith take part in sports day and was proud to see her on the winning team.

Well if we thought Monday was a warm run nothing had prepared us for Wednesday’s speed and core session with Tony. It was hot (the hottest day for 9 years so the radio said), it was hard and it was horrible but we made it through alive despite Tony’s neighbours trying to set off our hayfever by strimming the lawn over us! I managed to pick up two new nicknames during our session. My Z2H “hero” name SUPERGIRL and not quite so flattering by Tony TENT depicting my terrible plank position.

The rest of the week was scheduled mostly for resting in advance of my 10k on Sunday (although I was guilty of sneaking into the gym on one occasion) and a 4 mile run on Friday which was fairly uneventful. Luckily I had plenty of spare time to pimp my trainers just in case you can't see me coming!

I am going to settle in for an early night and pray it's not too hot and sticky tomorrow!

Amanda