Once more from the top...

runrabbit

I've enjoyed reading the logs here and hoping it might be a motivational tool for me!

Here's my story, I'm female, 29, and have been keeping fit in the past few years by going to the gym and attending various classes. In January I came back from a few weeks off and hit the gym. Within a couple of days I realised I had zero motivation - because I was bored silly of it!

I decided to hit the pavements, and discovered I enjoyed it! I worked off a "couch to 5km" type programme but fast-tracked it a bit as I found some of the weeks very easy. By mid-feb I was jogging 5-6km 3-4 times a week - when injury struck. My hip, lower-back and hamstring all seized up - I had warning twinges during my runs for a few days before but I chose to ignore them. Now, after 4 weeks off and some physiotherapy, I'm ready to get back to business! I've started doing pilates once a week to try to build up my core strength, and I've hopefully learned my lesson about ignoring warning signs and will be more body-aware in future!

Tomorrow I'll start from the beginning again, after my last (hopefully) physio session tonight. I'm going to take things handy, and hope to do a 5km race towards the beginning of May. I have also signed up for the "women's mini-marathon" in June but more for fundraising than anything else.

So that's me, here's hoping my second attempt at "becoming a runner" is more successful!

RubyK

Best of luck with your log. It definitely helps with keeping you motivated. Happy (injury free) training

runrabbit

Thanks Ruby! Your log is very inspiring, you have the motivation to get out whatever the weather! I'll think of that the next rainy night!

runrabbit

Tuesday: First evening back running - jogged a very slow 3 miles. It wasn't great - my legs were tired from my physio session last night and my pilates class at lunchtime today so it felt like I was dragging blocks of concrete around. My fitness has dropped over the past few weeks too. But the first session is done so that's something to be happy about!

Felt quite nervous about my hip/hamstring but it seems to have held up okay, I have ice on it at the moment just in case.

littlebug

Best of luck runrabbit. You'll get back to your previous fitness level in no time.

runrabbit

Wednesday: Another slow 3 miles (around 28 mins) - on grass for the first time which felt much more comfortable

Thursday: Rest day

Friday: fog and rain sent me to the gym as the roads were too dangerous. Spent 30 mins on the treadmill with an incline of 1%. As usual it felt much easier than road running and I completed 4.2 miles* in 30 minutes

The first few days back have gone okay - I'm going to start a 10k plan from next week.




* I may be a bit stupid here - I always assumed the treadmill measurements were in km, however if I can slog out 3 miles in less than 30 minutes on the road and I feel like I'm going much faster in the gym then it must be 4.2 miles I completed?! Or am I dreaming? It's a Precor treadmill.

RayCun

The treadmill measurements are usually all imperial or all metric - were you asked to enter your weight? 4.2 km would be 2.6 miles.

runrabbit

Thanks! I never enter my weight, I just press auto-start. I still haven't figured it out but I'm now suspecting that it was indeed in km - which means that I'm going slower on the treadmill even though it feels like I'm flying it, and when I'm out on the roads I feel like I'm plodding along!

Should get outside more in these nice bright evenings so I'm not going to worry about it!

Saturday: strength and core training.

runrabbit

Sunday: I joined my local running club this morning for a jog in the sunshine. I found someone who was going at my pace which was great - we did 4 miles in 40 minutes. We were well behind the rest of the gang but I'm sure we'll get there in the end. I really enjoyed running with someone else - the time passed much quicker!

claralara

Best of luck with the log - it is definitely motivating! You'll be back fighting fit again in no time Have you got anything on your to-do list? I'm only a newbie myself and have committed to a half marathon in June..eek! Finding the though of that and having to answer to myslef on my log very motivating! Good luck anyway!

runrabbit

claralara wrote: »

Best of luck with the log - it is definitely motivating! You'll be back fighting fit again in no time Have you got anything on your to-do list? I'm only a newbie myself and have committed to a half marathon in June..eek! Finding the though of that and having to answer to myslef on my log very motivating! Good luck anyway!

I haven't really got a "to-do" list at the moment. When I first started running I signed up for the 5km in Dublin on 14th March as a goal. Then every bad run I had I was beating myself up that I would come in last. In the end I was injured for it anyway! So I'm just going to try to enjoy running for the moment and if a race comes up that I fancy I'll do it. I'll probably try for a 5km in April/May and I will be doing the women's mini-marathon in June - hopefully running but even if I get injured I can walk it and hopefully raise a few bob!

RubyK

Great stuff runrabbit on joining the running club, it does help training with others, even just one day a week.

Best of luck on the road to the mini-marathon in June

RayCun

There's a 5 mile race run by Sportworld in Terenure in mid-May. That's about 8k, would be a good build-up to the mini-marathon.

runrabbit

RayCun wrote: »

There's a 5 mile race run by Sportworld in Terenure in mid-May. That's about 8k, would be a good build-up to the mini-marathon.

Thanks I saw that before and it looks great but I'll be away at the time (though hopefully going for a run in New York!)

runrabbit

Monday: Felt great after my run on Sunday, both physically and mentally, so I spent most of the day in work looking forward to getting out for a run and imagining myself striding along with the wind in my hair. The reality was quite different. My legs felt so tired and weak, and I just couldn't get going. After 2 miles I felt I was going to injure myself if I kept going - my hips and pelvis were swaying wildly to make up for the lack of strength in my legs. So I stopped and strolled back to the car I hate nights like that.

Tuesday: I had my lunchtime pilates class which I love, and I hit the gym after work for around 40 minutes of resistance/weights exercises.

Wednesday: I had hoped to do some cross-training today to keep active but give my legs a proper break. Instead I spent 15 hours out at work, so I'm just about to eat now and then it'll be bedtime! I'm feeling a few twinges in my dodgy hip this evening so will do a few stretches before bed.

I really hope this week improves...

runrabbit

Well the week got better!

Thursday: Running in the rain with my local running club. 4 miles in 37 minutes, and I really enjoyed it! The rest of the group were faster than me but the lovely club leader man went around with me, and pushed me to do 6x1 minute intervals at a faster pace with 1 minute of slow recovery in between. Going back to my normal pace after that felt very comfortable. All in all, a very enjoyable run!

my runners are destroyed with muck, just decided to leave them out in the rain and hope mother nature cleans them during the night

runrabbit

Friday: Hit the gym for some strength training

Saturday: 3 mile run around my locality. Running on concrete around housing estates is boring - I will need to go further afield in future. 29 minutes.

Sunday: Met with my local running club for a run around the park. 4.75 miles in 45 minutes. My legs felt so tired throughout - I'm just not able for 2 days in a row! If I hadn't had someone spurring me on I would have turned back much earlier, so having the company is great for motivation!

I'm still really enjoying it but I'm looking forward to a rest tomorrow, my legs need it!

runrabbit

Monday: My legs got a much needed rest. Just went to the gym for some strength training

Tuesday: Pilates, followed by a nice 30 minute jog which just happened to fit into the only 30 dry minutes of the day I covered 3.3 miles in the 30 minutes, it would've been more except I was running against a strong wind for the last mile and it really slowed me! I'm happy all the same, as I'm that tiny bit quicker than I was a couple of weeks ago.

RubyK

You have a nice log going runrabbit, keep up the good work!

runrabbit

Wednesday: Some cross-training in the gym - 4km on the elliptical trainer and 1km on the rower

Thursday: Just a bad old session which has left me in terrible form. Met with the running club for time trials - I went out too quick and had to drop out before the end due to suspicious stomach pains. I'm so disappointed in myself

runrabbit

Friday: Gym - strength and core work

Saturday: 50 minute slow run, covered 5.4miles

The aim at the moment is to build up to 1 hour on my weekend runs (should only take another few weeks), then after that I need to start working on getting faster!

runrabbit

Sunday: Day off - just a nice walk

Monday: Gym - 3km on the treadmill followed by my weights routine

Tuesday: 2.9miles in 26 minutes. Was supposed to do a minimum of 30 minutes, more if possible, but found it hard going and when the rain started around 25 minutes into the run I took the excuse and headed for my car. So I'm disappointed in myself again :mad:

I don't know what I'm doing wrong but my legs just feel like blocks of concrete 80% of the time and I just don't seem to be improving.

RacoonQueen

Keep plugging away. It's all in the head, you already know that, just push through it, it's agony to push through even four minutes but when you do it once it gets easier.

menoscemo

runrabbit wrote: »

s. Was supposed to do a minimum of 30 minutes, more if possible, but found it hard going and when the rain started around 25 minutes into the run I took the excuse and headed for my car. So I'm disappointed in myself again :mad:

Hi, a little tip I learned when starting off. Don't do short loops in and around your house or car because 1- it's boring and 2- it gives you an excuse to quit whenever you feel like it.
Say for example you plan on doing 4 miles, run two miles away from your house/car so even if you feel like quitting after 2, you can't because you have to run back. Also vary your routes so it foesn't get too boring.

runrabbit

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Keep plugging away. It's all in the head, you already know that, just push through it, it's agony to push through even four minutes but when you do it once it gets easier.

Thanks, I know it is in the head but sometimes it feels like it's not and that I just don't have the energy to keep going. But you're right - if I pushed through it I would!

menoscemo wrote: »

Hi, a little tip I learned when starting off. Don't do short loops in and around your house or car because 1- it's boring and 2- it gives you an excuse to quit whenever you feel like it.
Say for example you plan on doing 4 miles, run two miles away from your house/car so even if you feel like quitting after 2, you can't because you have to run back. Also vary your routes so it foesn't get too boring.

I run in a park close to home and there are a number of fields, so I usually do loops of the various fields working away from the road. I build up the miles that way and then take a pretty direct route back, and that seems to work for me. Tonight it was starting to get dark so I stayed in the fields closer to the road as some of the further away ones are very isolated. But it was FAR too easy to give up so lesson learned!

Thanks to all for the advice, I'll stop the self-pitying now and keep plugging away at it!

runrabbit

Wednesday: Cross training in gym - 4km on elliptical trainer, 1km on rower, approx 30 minutes

Thursday: Club run. FINALLY my legs and lungs cooperated - it's the first enjoyable run I've had in 2 weeks! I really needed it as my confidence was rock bottom. Kept a nice steady pace, with 6 x 1min intervals in the middle. I even enjoyed the intervals - it felt like I was flying along (even though it would still be "jogging" to some people )! We covered just under 5 miles (4.96 according to google pedometer) in around 45 minutes or thereabouts (didn't time it). I could've gone further, so I'm a happy bunny tonight

runrabbit

Friday: Strength and core training in gym

Saturday: 6 miles in 56minutes. I felt a little tired for it, but wasn't surprised by that as I has such a strong run on Thursday.

Sunday: Rest day after too much wine last night :rolleyes:

runrabbit

Monday: 3.4 miles, 31 minutes. Felt quite strong - long may it last

runrabbit

Apologies in advance, there's a bit of b*tching and moaning in this post

Tuesday: Pilates at lunchtime. Had planned to hit the gym but got stuck in work so no go :mad:

Wednesday: My first race (5km). It went well generally, I was lucky enough in that a girl I've trained with before was there so she set a good steady pace at the start. At around the 3km mark I started feeling like I was going to be sick - the legs and lungs were still going strong so I kept going but the sick feeling stayed with me and really made the last couple of km unpleasant. As soon as I stopped I felt okay, then around 15 minutes later I had a glass of orange juice and a banana and then I felt even worse! Bad idea - I should have stuck with water! I'm very happy with my time - 25.33 - however there was talk that the course was a little short despite being "officially measured". This doesn't surprise me in the slightest as the last km felt a bit short. I'm still happy though.

Lessons learned - well the pace felt right (though I don't know if I would have got it right on my own without my friend pushing me along), the only thing that let me down was my stomach. I took 2 nurofen around an hour and a half before the race due to a niggle I have in my foot - I know that was a bad idea. I ate a bagel and a banana 2 hours before the race, and just sipped a little water from then on, so I'm not really sure what to do differently the next time in that regard.

Thursday: Not too sore, though my niggly foot was even more niggly! My stomach still felt dodgy at times on Thursday - usually just before mealtimes when it was empty. Went for an easy recovery run - 2.3 miles, around 20 minutes. Foot and stomach felt brutal afterwards :mad: (this is where the real moaning starts).

So I soaked my foot in hot and cold water, and nibbled on crackers for the evening. I can't understand why I felt so bad for so long. I'm not sure what to do for my planned long run at the weekend - it will have to be done at 9am on Saturday morning as I'm going away around 11am on Saturday, and I don't want to spend the weekend with a sore foot and sick stomach.

Another thing that is annoying me - I was planning to run the mini marathon on 7th June, mainly for the fund-raising aspect as I have signed up to raise money for a charity close to my heart. I've also paid up for the race. This morning I got an email to tell me I'll be working in the UK on that day (no bank holiday over there). I don't think I can get out of it. I'm really annoyed - I had to work St. Patrick's Day over there too so this will be the 2nd Bank Holiday I've missed this year. Plus it's money down the drain :mad::mad::mad:

....and....breath!

runrabbit

Friday: Stomach feeling better, legs a little stiff. Went to the gym for some strength work and some great stretching!

Saturday: Got up after a great nights sleep feeling fantastic and looking forward to an hours running. Out into the fabulous morning... and every step was pain - the niggle in my right foot has turned into a pain. I felt so good otherwise that I tried to run it out for 10 minutes, but after that I just decided I couldn't put myself through an hour of pain and that I was probably making the situation worse with every step. I wasn't even able to go fast enough to break a sweat anyway! So I walked back to the car. I'm feeling really down now - I felt like I was starting to make progress and even if I had managed a miserable 1 hour run it would be better than nothing. I'm just disappointed, and I feel a bit guilty for giving up even though my head tells me it was the sensible thing to do. Sitting with the foot in a basin of ice water now - this is distracting me from the discomfort!

Aaaaaah this is just so frustrating :mad:

dublinrunner

Your blog is really good and your doing so well so don't be disheartened, the main thing is to rest that foot for a few days so that the problem gets resolved! Keep it up as much as you can and possibly even wear a support for a couple of days. If the pain persists for a few days you'd probably be aswell to see a physio!
Dont be put off tho, cos a few days rest is not going to affect your fitness and you'll be right back to it in no time!:D

runrabbit

Thanks Dublinrunner

Sunday: My foot was still feeling dodgy but I'd spent Saturday eating cake and drinking beer in the sunshine so I hit the gym on Sunday to spend 40 minutes on the elliptical trainer, followed by some stretches

Monday: Gym again for more cross-training

Tuesday: a killer pilates class at lunchtime, followed by a 3.5 mile jog after work. Slow slow progress - my foot is still quite sore (but not as agonising as Saturday). It was still good to be out despite the pain.

So I'm just hoping now that the foot continues to improve, because at the moment it's like running with a foot cramp, my foot is so rigid and stiff and sore. I really felt like picking up the pace today but I just couldn't.

runrabbit

Wednesday: Gym, strength and core work

Thursday: around 3.5 miles, I didn't time myself!

Friday: Gym again for a very short session, had intended to get out for a run but life worked against me!

Saturday: Ran for an hour - covered 6.6miles. It felt pretty good, the sore foot is really improving!

runrabbit

Sunday: Feck all except eating loads of cake!

Monday: 4.4miles, approx 42 minutes. Very enjoyable if a little warm! I think I'm going to struggle in the summer!

runrabbit

Sigh

Tuesday: Tried a little run after work but my hamstring was twinging quite badly, and my foot seems to be too after being better for the past few days. Gave up to avoid further injury and will do some cross training later instead.

It's starting to feel like I'm taking one step forward and two steps back. I'm just not managing to get the mileage up at any rate and I spend 95% of my time with some part of me sore. I really want to make progress but it just seems impossible at the moment

runrabbit

Tuesday: After my disappointing attempt at a run that fell flat within seconds I hit the gym for 5km on the cross-trainer and 1km rowing

Wednesday: strength and core training

Thursday: Today was the first time I really dreaded a run. I hadn't run with the club in 2 weeks due to work and personal commitments, and after my disaster on Tuesday I was very apprehensive. I needn't have been as it was great. 15-min warm up, 6x1 minute intervals with 1 min recovery jogging in between, and a 10-minute cool-down. I felt strong and fast (for me) on the intervals and feel like I could push it a bit further next week!

I still have plenty of twinges and aches and pains but nothing feels too serious. Will there ever be a day when some part of me isn't hurting? Fingers crossed I'm getting back on track after a couple of weeks of feeling lost. I'm away for a week in 2 weeks time so when I get back I'm going to structure my training a little more, not sure how yet but I'm sure the internet will tell me!

RubyK

Sorry you have been unlucky the past while with aches & pains. Hopefully, they will soon be behind you

Nice club work there yesterday! Nights like that will show you the progress you're making.

runrabbit

Friday: Rest day

Saturday: Gym - strength and core training

Sunday: 1 hour run - around 6.7miles. Very enjoyable run, my foot feels a lot better and my hamstring niggle is gone too!

Monday: Bit of a walk in the morning, and strength and core training in the gym

runrabbit

Tuesday: Killer pilates class at lunchtime, followed by a 40min run after work. It felt like I was trudging along at no pace, but having checked google pedometer I covered 4.4miles so it wasn't too bad. My legs were feeling really tired though for some reason.

I had my first run-in with a dog this evening who ran for my legs and started jumping up on me. He was just playing and I'm not scared of dogs but I'm terrified of falling over one and breaking an arm or leg! Luckily enough I had sensed he was going to do something so I stopped in time. I let a roar at his owners to call him back and felt a little guilty afterwards, but when I passed them again they had him on a lead.

I'm shattered now. I'll sleep tonight (had the post-bank holiday insomnia last night!)

runrabbit

Wednesday: Short enough strength/core session in the gym

Thursday: 40 minute run, with 6 x 1min intervals (4.4 miles). I was hungry and absolutely shattered so I didn't enjoy it this week, also the group I was with were much faster and it's psychologically so hard to see people flying out ahead of me! I'm having a rest day tomorrow and will just get a short session in the gym on Saturday and I have to say I think I need the break, hopefully I will feel the better of it on Sunday.

I inhaled a fly today - should I be worried? He flew into my mouth just as I was inhaling. I'm sure I didn't swallow him - I coughed a bit and he didn't come back up.

Bally8

runrabbit wrote: »

I inhaled a fly today - should I be worried? He flew into my mouth just as I was inhaling. I'm sure I didn't swallow him - I coughed a bit and he didn't come back up.

Ha ha those flies are good for a runners much needed protein:D. Great log runrabbit. I often have difficult days or even weeks but I have come to realise they are all part of life as a runner. Next time your legs feel heavy or you have a bad patch you will remember that you had one before and it passed. Well thats what happens me anyway.

runrabbit

Thanks Bally8! I'm feeling a bit chesty this evening so I'm convinced I'm getting some awful fly-inhaling-related illness (and ignoring the fact that half my office is out with chest infections ). I'm sure it won't be the last of the little feckers that meets a sticky end this summer - they're starting to swarm along the hedges already in the evenings!

I'm not too worried about this bad spell, I'm looking forward to the good spell that is sure to follow!

runrabbit

Friday + Saturday - Rest days. Really felt like I needed a couple as I've been so busy and my sleep has been suffering.

Sunday - 6.9miles (11km) run, took 64 minutes.Apart from the first 5-10 minutes of leg stiffness and my streaming nose I loved it and actually felt like I could go longer and faster.

So I'll hopefully start training with a bit more thought (a few faster runs etc.) once I get back from my holidays (everyone say a prayer/cross your fingers/whatever that I get out of this country and the volcanic ash doesn't thwart me yet again!).

RubyK

Great run, runrabbit! Everything crossed that you get away on hols! Hope you have a great time in the states

claralara

Looks like you're getting back on track after your injuries. That was a great run at the weekend. My ankle is not thanking me for yesterday but I'm not going to get disheartened - I'll keep the weight off it as rest as much as possible; maybe go for a bit of cross training towards the end of the week. It seems injuries get everyone but they can be shaken -PMA! Enjoy your holidays and look forward to some good running when you get back!

runrabbit

Thanks RubyK and Claralara!

Claralara my foot took a long time to heal fully but it's nearly there. I still wear the support at the moment but will probably try a few shorter runs without it soon. I find the "hot and cold" method works well - you should try it for your ankle. 2 minutes in a bucket of iced water, followed by 2 minutes in hot water (as hot as you can stand) and repeat for at least 15 minutes. You might need someone to top up your buckets as the hot water cools quickly!

runrabbit

Monday: Pilates

Tuesday: Brutal Run - only 20 minutes long. I REALLY needed to go to the loo so I couldn't relax, and combined with the torrential rain I just threw the towel in after a couple of miles. It wasn't really worth going out but it's done now - and typically the sun is shining an hour later :rolleyes:

runrabbit

Wednesday - Tuesday: Holidays. Long-haul travel + a wedding + several associated nights-out + American-sized portions of food = tired, bloated ill runrabbit.

Seriously I feel like death, I'm writing it down as a reminder to myself to take it handier the next time! I got out for 2 runs, the first was an okay 5-miler, the second followed 4 consecutive nights-out so turned into a long walk after around 1 1/2 miles Today is gentle recovery, tomorrow I will try to go out for a run and get things back on track.

runrabbit

Wednesday - Saturday: Died a death from an awful cold and chest infection. Took a LOT of antibiotics and painkillers and inhaled a lot of ventolin. Hated the evil heat.

Sunday: Got up determined to run with my club. It was early morning but still pretty hot. The first 25 minutes went okay, then suddenly I felt really light headed. Lay down on the grass and took my inhaler and tried to get my heartrate down. Tried twice more to jog but felt like I was going to collapse - so I walked back to my car - pretty disasterous. I guess I just wasn't ready.

Monday: Pilates. Heat + illness made it very tough

Tuesday: Spent the day coughing up the contents of my lungs (to the delight of my colleagues ) By evening though I was feeling all the better for it and since I could take a deep breath I decided to chance a run - 4.08 miles in 38 minutes, pace 9:30 (I got a new toy so I can be accurate now!). A slow run but VERY enjoyable, it feels good to feel better(ish)! Hopefully it's all good from here on in!

runrabbit

Wednesday: strength and stretch

Thursday: Really good session with some intervals thrown in for good measure - 5.3 miles in 49 minutes (my recovery sessions between intervals were really slow!)

Friday: strength and stretch - my legs felt a bit stiff

Saturday: 7.1 miles in 67 minutes. Not the most enjoyable run ever - headed out in the lashing rain but wasn't anticipating how strong the wind was going to be. At one point when running into the wind I couldn't catch my breath and had to keep turning my head around to breathe. For that stretch I felt like I was barely moving at all! The first few miles were good but I started to get tired then - my legs were really feeling it!

Taking it handy now for the next couple of days, hoping to do a 5 mile on Tuesday evening.

runrabbit

I'm afraid this is a complaining one!

Sunday: Approx 3 easy miles, just to keep myself loose. Very enjoyable (weather a lot better than Saturday, and nice company too!)

Monday: Pilates. Lots of work on the back and stomach.

Tuesday: 5 mile road race (and my first real race). From when I started warming up I noticed a twinge in my lower back, which didn't ease out but didn't get significantly worse either. It niggled away at me throughout the race, but not enough to slow me down much (I was going slow enough anyway!). The race went well, Miles 1,2,3 and 5 were all around 8:30, mile 4 was slightly slower (just under 9:00 I think). I think it was the right pace for me as I was able to maintain it throughout, yet was tired enough at the end that I couldn't put a big effort into sprinting to the line - I think that's a good sign! Immediately after the race I stood at the finish line drinking some water and chatting for around 3 minutes - and when I moved off my lower back went into spasm :eek: I've never felt a pain like it before - it was agonising, yet I didn't feel injured (very weird sensation). I went to bed that night confident that I would wake up feeling fine...

Wednesday: After a broken nights sleep I woke up to find my back still in spasm. I had to go to work due to an important meeting, but the whole day was hell - every time I had to walk even a few steps I was close to tears. Went to the physio in the evening, she discovered I had a joint in my lower back that had got stuck out of place - she managed to click in back in without too much trouble but alas the muscle seemed to be stuck in spasm. I drugged myself up and went to bed - woke up at 3am and to my immense relief the spasm had stopped! Phew - my next step was the doctor for valium on Thursday morning so I'm glad I avoided that.

Thursday: I'm sore and as stiff as a poker and certainly won't be running this evening, or tomorrow either, but hopefully by Sunday I'll be able to get out for a gentle jog.

I don't know if I'm incredibly injury prone or just unlucky, but I've had enough now :mad: I feel like I'm doing everything right - plenty of core work and stretching, but every couple of months there's something new...