The Loneliness of a Middle Distance Runner

eclectichoney

Age:24, Female

I took up running a couple of months ago - started doing a 5k programme and really liked it so I think I'm hooked now

Anyway I'm still a *terrible* runner and *very* slow but I thought I'd get around to posting a log, as I'm losing my post-it notes with details of my runs.

Goals: To run for further and longer (obvious I know!) hopefully do a 10k race over the next two or three months and keep building, all going well. I'm not sure if I would be good enough to do the marathon in 2008, but we'll see.

I run in the gym in the evening during the week, and outside at the weekends. I know I'm a lightweight for using the treadmill I do some weights in the gym when I'm there so it's handy as well.


This week:
Monday 5.2k & Weights
Tuesday 3.5k (short run, and a little faster than normal) & Weights
Wednesday Off
Thursday 5k & Weights
Friday Off
Saturday 2.5k (This was outside and involved a lot of incline parts - also was out on Friday night, so I kept it short deliberately as I wasn't feeling too hot after relatively little sleep, just wanted to keep things moving)
Sunday 5.2K & Weights

Total Distance: 21.4k

Weights typically involve a selection of: Dumbbell Bench Press, Dumbbell Flyes, Millitary Press, Lateral Raises, Lat Pull Down, Leg Press, Leg Curl, Leg Extension, some body-weight squats

Next week involves a bit more of a rest week as I have a few things on, so will probably involve sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday only.

Odysseus

Welcome, its always nice to see another runner journal here. Best of luck with it.

eclectichoney

Thanks Odysseus - I wouldn't call myself a runner yet, but at least i'm trying

Today was a 3 mile run, I'm trying to build up the distance but I was wrecked this evening and had to really push to even do that. I guess I should be more patient and it will come, once I keep putting in the effort.

Weights-wise:

Dumbbell Bench Press (8KG DBs) 3X8
Lat Pull Down 28KG 3X8
Lateral Raises (4KG DBs) (3X8)
Dynamic Lunges with 4KG DBs 3X8
Dumbell Flyes (4KG DBs) 3X8

Looking forward to tomorrow already

eclectichoney

4.5k run today - tried to up the pace a wee bit.

Weights: Leg press, Leg Curl, Lex Extension, Millitary Press, Barbell Bench Press

eclectichoney

Saturday 3.5k run

This evening - 3.5 mile run

Bench Press - 13.5 kg
Lateral raises - 4 kg
Dynamic lunges - 4kg
Dumbbell flyes - 4 kg

BossArky

Maybe include the times for your runs too. When you look back in a few months you can see the progress you are making.

eclectichoney

Thanks for that BossArky - I guess my main priority at the moment is increasing the distance (I'm *very* slow ) but it would be no harm to include them as a reference for comparison as you suggested. Thanks

BossArky

Don't worry what the times are for the moment, but just be aware that if you ever do start comparisons you will have something to look back on.

Nice to run for a few months, then look back and know how much you have imrpoved by. It also will give you a mental boost to put in a tad more effort for beating that personal best in the last few hundred metres

eclectichoney

This evening: 3.5km (22 mins 10 secs) Tuesday is my short run night


(3 sets of 8 reps)
Bench Press - 16kg
Lat Pull Down - 28kg (wide grip and close grip)
Tricep Kickbacks 5kg
Leg Press - 180kg
Leg Curl - 70 kg
Leg Extension - 60 KG

Odysseus

Glad to see you taking BossArrky's advice. You absolutely right about the distance get that in and the speed will come. I try not to get caught up in my timing, however, I time every run, it highlighs when I have a good day as well as a bad one. Best of luck with it.

eclectichoney

Really unsuccessful session tonight After standing on a packed and broken down train for over an hour I didn't feel great, but headed to the gym anyway.

Had a bad stitch for the first 1k and it didn't abate and my right foot was sore so I decided to leave the running for tonight and did about 20 mins of HIIT on the step machine (which had me feeling sick from the third interval onwards). Still felt sick during the weights so went home after a not very impressive 45 mins Oh well, one of those days I suppose.

3 sets of 8ish
Bench Press 18.5Kg
Millitary Press 5kg
Leg press 175KG

eclectichoney

Great session today which made up for Thursday a bit

4 mile run (42:20 mins - yes yes I know I'm a tortoise! This is the longest I have run yet though - yay )

I have started doing the Hal Higdon Novie Supreme Training Plan http://www.halhigdon.com/beginrunner/novicesupreme.htm, and am on week 4 of it at the moment. I will stick with it over the next few weeks and see how it goes

Bench Press - 18.5 kg X8 X5 X5
Dumbbell Flyes 5kg - X8 X8 X8
2 Arm Tricep Extension 5kg - X10 X9 X9
Dynamic Lunges 5KG DBs - X8 X8 X8
Lat Pull Down Wide grip 28KG X8 X8 X8
Lat Pull Down Close grip 28lbs X8 X8
Leg Press 175lbs X8 X8 X8

BossArky

eclectichoney wrote: »

Leg Press 175KG X8 X8 X8

:eek:

Is that 175kg or lbs? 175kg is heavy!

eclectichoney

woops it must be lbs lol! i just assumed all the machines would be metric - me an my european-ness. Thanks for pointing that out BossArky

eclectichoney

Today's run: 5K (32:50 mins)

Some weights thrown in at the end: Millitary Press (5KG), some warm-up benching, Leg Curl and Extension, and some Tricep extensions. Had some DOMS in my legs after Sunday so didn't want to push things.

eclectichoney

Tuesday is my short run day, so 2 miles / 3.2km (20 mins)

Some weights as well, as usual, though my legs still felt the DOMS when doing lunges

eclectichoney

3 mile run - 32 mins

eclectichoney

Sunday morning, 3 mile run (32 mins 35 secs)

Bench Press 18.5kg X8 X8 X6
Dumbbell Flyes 6kg X7 X7 X7
Tricep Kickbacks 6KG X8 X8 X&7
Millitary Press 6KG X6 X6 X6
Lat Pull Down 28KG X8 X8 X8
Alternating between Static Lunges (Bodyweight) and Lateral raises 4KG X8 X8 X8
Leg press 180lbs X8 X8 X10 X10

eclectichoney

Today's run 2 miles (19:50 mins)
The good news is I got shiny new asics g-2120s!
The bad news is my left ankle has been sore since monday - I'm hoping it'll be better in a few days as running on it today was really quite painful, it's even sore when i walk.

Odysseus

Its a bit late now to be suggesting it as you have your new trainers, but have you had a gait analysis done to check you are running in the right trainers? If not it may be something to consider for the next time. Sorry to hear about the injury, best to rest it until its better, even though I find it hard to do that myself. A week or two off is better than a month or two.

eclectichoney

yes thanks for the advice odysseus - i had the gait thing done and apparantly i overpronate! (unsurprising given that i have very low arches i guess). It feels a little better so might test things with a short run at the weekend.

eclectichoney

First run in nearly a week due to sore ankle
3 miles - 30:30 mins

Energizer-Bunny

Great to see you up and running again..hope ankle feeling better.

eclectichoney

Another one of those annoying days, when I'm plagued by stitches for no reason and my ankle didn't feel great.
3.5km - 24 mins

satori

From looking over your recent post there are some obvious and inspiring advances made in the time to run your preset distance, reflecting not only an dynamic growth in fitness but a testament to your intention and manifested will in reaching your goal.

You go girl!

eclectichoney

Thanks for the comments guys
Today's run was 4.5Km right into very strong wind nearly the whole way round (the joys of coastal living!) but my sister was asleep this morning in the room where my watch is so i couldn't time it

thirtyfoot

On the ankle thing, you should probably get it looked at by a physio if it returns. These things don't usually go away and a niggle could soon turn into an injury and then there won't be any running at all.

eclectichoney

Thanks Tingle - touch wood, things were fine on today's run, so maybe I just rushed it a little the first time. I picked up a great ankle support bandage, which I have been wearing whilst running the last couple of times just in case.

eclectichoney

This evening:
4.5 miles / 7.2Km run in 46:50 mins

eclectichoney

Short run this evening, planned at 3.2km but had to stop after 2.5kmas my feet were in bits with blisters:( still at least my time was a bit better at 15 mins for 2.5km

eclectichoney

3 miles this evening - 29:50 secs

Fast_Mover

A come down in time..gud stuff girlie!:)
How are the blisters/ankle?

eclectichoney

Thanks was glad to see it under the 30 mins for the first time. the blisters started hurting toward the end, but i've got some new running socks so maybe they'll help to keep them at bay. the ankle is fine now, touch wood!

Looking forward to saturday's run already!

eclectichoney

3 miles - 29:05 mins (was absolutely wrecked by the end of it, it's amazing how shaving a couple of minutes off your time takes so much extra out of you!)

bench press 18.5kg X8 X8 X8
standing mill press 5kg X8 X8 X6
split squats (body weight) x8 x8 x8 (each leg)
tricep dips (body weight)
lat pull down 30kg X6 x6 x6
leg press 185lbs x9 x8 x8

Just picked up a copy of daniel's running formula, which is obviously a lot more advanced than i'm at, but there is still loads of useful stuff in it

eclectichoney

8K this evening 53:20 mins

eclectichoney

2k run this morning in 10:40 mins. Added a bit of rowing in the gym into the mix for a change (a 15 minute-ish warm up), as well as some weights.

eclectichoney

3 mile run 27:56 mins

eclectichoney

5.5k run this morning - it was so bloody windy out, 31:54 mins

eclectichoney

3 mile run - 30 mins.

How Strange

Hi eclectichoney, I've recently started running too. I've just read through your posts and you seem to be really improving.

The most I've done so far is 10k in 1:08 which I'm delighted with. I'm not doing weights as well. I prefer to run outside 3 times a week so haven't joined a gym.

Keep up the good work!

eclectichoney

Thanks how strange, do you have a log?? I'm always interested to see how other people train! I'm following one of the hal higdon plans, so hopefully should reach 10k in my long run in three or four weeks more. i'm ridiculously slow though

Fast_Mover

eclectichoney wrote: »

I'm following one of the hal higdon plans,

May I ask is it one of his novice schedules from his homepage?

How Strange

eclectic honey, no I don't but I'll follow yours and post something every now and again to compare how we are getting on as we are kind of at the same stage.

eclectichoney

Yes fast mover it's the supreme novice or novice supreme (can't remember the order!) it's basically the spring novice programme followed by the marathon one i think.

today: 5k run 29:45 mins followed by some weights

Fast_Mover

Have you your sights on any 5k/10k races early next year?

eclectichoney

I'm definitely hoping to do the great ireland run in april, maybe something before that if it presents itself. there seems to be a lack of 5k races in early 2008, or am i missing something??

rainglow

I never seem to come across them either....closer to a 10k, but there'a a 5 mile run on in late Jan 2008 that was advertised at the end of the Aware run on Sunday.

Fast_Mover

To be honest I don't know.
Looking for 5k/10k races myself, however around the march/april months and in the munster area (cork/limerick/tipp) as im not really inclined to travel further. Esp to Dublin.
Don't ask for much eh?!!:D
Great Ireland run seems like a good one, was reading about it. At a nice time of the year aswell.

eclectichoney

Might see ye there in april so so fast mover

Thanks for that rainglow - i could get the dart there (i am carless sadly which limits races a bit). hopefully my training will be ok by then, at the moment i have yet to manage five miles yet - only four and a half!

Fast_Mover

eclectichoney wrote: »

Might see ye there in april so so fast mover

Afraid not..it's on teh Capital..somewhere im not willing to travel to:D
Our race-off will have to wait till another time!:p

Your running/times are coming along nicely so keep it up.

Do you do any speed work/sprints?

eclectichoney

Not yet given that i only took up running in september, and i read in several places to leave it at least six months or so. I do try and up the pace significantly on my shorter runs though.