Running the red line

....well to continue that thought, it wasn't a cold winter after all. But the power of that negative thought prevailed and I didn't run in the last 3 months anyway. Went out this evening and did 3.73k, 22'52".

I started reading Time Warrior last night - its about curing procrastination amongst other things.

5k, 30 min.
Legs were a bit sore all week. It will take a few more runs to feel comfortable again and to get the pace and distance up.

Ankle is quite swollen and sore. I've been limping around all day like Dinny from Glenroe.

2k on the treadmill, 12'51". The treadmill can be very uncomfortable after about 10 minutes - I wonder if its static buildup that causes it - maybe I need to ground myself with the handrail.

The gym routine I've been given is quite good - its a circuit of about 8 machines, repeated 3 times. It only takes an hour because there's no need to rest between sets, because the same muscle group isn't used twice in a row.

Gym this evening, including 3k on treadmill, 19'10". Last night and tonight felt much easier than earlier in the week.

Gym last night (Monday).

5k tonight, 33'33".

The pace that I can comfortably sustain is definintely a good bit slower than 12 months ago.

Got a letter in the door for the Simon Fun Run in the Phoenix Park on October 6th - 5 miles this year - last year it was 5k, due to roadworks I think.

I was just thinking the other day that if I want to get benefit from the gym in particular and the jogging as well then I have to make sure I'm getting enought cardbohydrate, & protein etc., so I started logging my food intake on www.fitday.com.

On Sunday and Monday I ate what I normally eat, and it was only 1800 calories, so I ate a bit more before bed each night to bring it up to 2200 or so, even though I wasn't that hungry. I can't understand how I've been getting by on so little and yet maintaining the same weight for the last 2 years (87kg; 14 stone in old money). I'm 6 foot 5, so I would have thought that eating under 2000 calories is a big deficit for me. On the other hand, it might explain why I sometimes don't get out of bed on the weekend. So today I've been snacking on cereal bars, and had a couple of extra things to eat at various times and took in 3500 calories. I'll have to find a happy medium at around 2800 to 3000 calories and see how it feels.

Gym Friday, rest yesterday, 5.35km today, 34'48".
Took a different route and included Griffith Park in Drumcondra to see what its like - its a nice spot.

Maybe we've crossed paths, Dave! All my runs start and end in Mountjoy Square. Can you still get Boards.ie running vests, I wonder? It would be good to be able to spot other boardsies out and about.

Tonight was a 6k loop via a street I was never on before called Philipsburgh Avenue, and Griffith Avenue, 38'51". It felt better than the recent runs and the downhill stretch from Griffith Avenue to the Tolka is compensation for the uphill bit on the way out.

I'm happy enough to see that my speed is creeping up on the last 4 runs; 8.9kph, 9.0kph, 9.2kph, 9.3kph. I'd like to keep increasing the distance and be running at 10kph in a month's time.

6.5k, 41'09".
Running in the afternoon is definitely tougher than the evening. Today was a loop that included some of Drumcondra Rd, Griffith Avenue, St Mobhi Rd, and back to Mountjoy Square by the canal. There are a good few inclines. I'm tired - just out of the shower now and have to resist the temptation to lie down on the bed or I won't get up again.

7k, 46'54".
Really slow going. I had lunch at midday, an apple at 4pm, and then ran at 8.30pm. Won't be making that mistake again. My legs were tired after 5 minutes.

5k, 29'24".

4.8km, 28'24". Couldn't get any further because the Croke Park crowd was earlier than I expected. I can feel a couple of niggles in my legs that I think is because of pushing the pace in the last week.

So that 10k was 18 months ago, and I didn't even try and jog for a few months after, but the sharp pain in my big toe wasn't completely fixed. Then in May I went hillwalking in Scotland and totally overdid it, dehydrated and shattered by the end of the day. Two days later I had excruciating pain in my left big toe. Long story short it turned out to be gout, but I've been on a daily tablet since last summer and haven't had an attack in a good few months.

Did 15 minutes of "walk 2 minutes jog 3 minutes" this morning. Felt fairly uncomfortable in places. Hopefully won't be too long before I make some progress.