Grey skies give way to......

5km 35:15
Splits: 6:24, 6:51, 7:08, 7:31, 6:49


Perfect weather for a run! However the calves tighten up for a bit on the 4th km but loosened out again.
But I think I have to buy new sports bras. Most of mines are from Penneys but in fairness I've had no problems with them up to recently. This past week or so I haven't feel supported in them. Now I am small chested but I could feel that the girls were moving about and not held down, at one stage during the run it actually hurt.

Monday 3.4km 20:40 mins
Splits: 5:38, 6:07, 5:59, 6:10 (0.4)


So things have been shaken up a bit! The usual routine at the GAA club has changed and it was great to see some new faces and old ones return. Last night was a taster night so we did 20 mins running and 20 mins circuits. Have to say I really enjoyed it. Cos I knew we were only running for 20 mins I gave it a bit more effort and was pleasantly surprised with my pace. My right shoulder was a bit tense for some reason (well I'm guessing it's cos I work in an office, desk bound) so I slowed down once or twice very briefly to a walk to massage and swing my arm a bit. Shoulders feel better today, less tense.
Then to circuits - really enjoyed this, good atmosphere. As the saying goes "A change is as good as a rest". Body doesn't feel too bad this morning, I was expecting much worse!


Last Saturday with it being such a nice day, myself and the youngster went to a nature reserve and hired bikes. Just took our time, few stops to admire the scenery, have a snack etc. 15kms in 1 hr 8 mins. Enjoyed hot chocolate out on the deck overlooking the lake after.

1.9km 11:25 mins
Splits: 6:05, 5:50 (0.9)


Not much running to report on. With the evenings getting dark there's a move to indoors and circuits. So warm up, 10 mins of laps of the pitch and 30 mins circuits. The past week because we've been doing a shorter time on the laps, I've just pushed myself a bit faster. Kinda like seeing the "5"s on my splits! I don't know why but I don't like feeling out of breath so I'm hoping by doing a few short fast runs that I might a) get used to going a bit faster and b) get used to being out of breath and to be able keep going.
We shall see...
Arms are sore today. I've learned from doing circuits this past week that I've very little strength in my upper body and an non-existent core.

5km parkrun 30mins 34sec
Splits: 5:35, 6:26, 6:02, 6:25, 6:07

Parkrun in my husband's hometown this week as we are visiting him family for the long weekend. His parents thought we were mad getting up at 8am to go running when we only landed in with them around midnight!
This parkrun route is not the easiest. It's a tarmac surface which is good but bloody climbs, my legs are more accustomed to the flat Midlands. But it was a good challenge, 3 loops of the course and enjoyable. I thought I had packed my armband and headphone but couldn't find them so ran with my phone in my hand. My first loop I knew was way too fast. 2nd loop I wished I had gone to the loo before we left the house so distracted myself thinking about breakfast after the run. Last loop I keep telling myself nearly there, keep going. There were a couple of very small walking breaks on the 2nd and third loops, the climbs really drained the legs.
A PB time for me on this parkrun route. Feels, I dunno, strange writing this log entry - there were so many people taking on the challenge of DCM today and here's me posting about 5 kilometres I did yesterday!

Well I've been a bit MIA over the last few weeks. Been up to my eyes in work - work, home, eat, sleep - rinse and repeat. Hadn't an ounce of energy to get out, even for a walk. During this time though I did volunteer at my local parkrun.
So back into it last Saturday - as a parkrun tourist. Yes, we actually looked at where to do a parkrun and planned our weekend away around it!


Saturday 12/11/16 5km 32:17
Splits: 6:26, 6:11, 6:46, 6:33, 6:04


New course for me to run on (Lough Key). First run in 2 weeks so I'm happy enough with this time. It's such a scenic run that I didn't bother with my earphones, I put the phone on silent with strava running in the background, and enjoyed the run, looking at the lovely surroundings and new people to run with. Only negative was that as I wasn't familiar with the course I didn't know how far along I was. There was a marker at 2km and I didn't see another until 4km and that felt like such a long 2kms. I did have to take one short walking break during this. But when I saw the 4km marker I said right I'm nearly there and pushed on a bit. Would love to run this one again, jealous of those who run this every week! The views were great, lovely forest track, so scenic and colourful.
We made use of the facilities after and did the indoor Boda Borg - it's a lot more difficult than I expected but enjoyed it. Zip wire next time maybe (although I'm not good with heights).


Monday 14/11/16 2.9km 17:18
Splits: 5:53, 6:00, 5:51 (0.9)


Back with the local GAA club after missing what 2 or 3 weeks of it! Was dreading it, thought I would be right back to square one. The instructor did interval running which was tough but good. The intervals were progressive ie each fast interval was longer on each lap (I'm sure there's a technical running term for it!) Was really surprised when I got home to see my splits. After the running it was into the gym for circuits, again I thought I would really struggle but I actually got on alright!


A tentative but happy start back into it!

Still really not doing as many runs lately compared to what I had been doing. It's just getting harder to get out. Mon & Fri are with the GAA club and for the winter we have migrated indoors to the gym for circuits. I am enjoying them and one of the instructors said it should assist in my running. Tues & Thurs hubbie goes to the gym and Weds I visit family. I should maybe try and get out Tues night when himself gets home from the gym but that could be 8pm. Then that just leaves Sat which is parkrun. Sun should really be long run but ends up being a lie in, house work, visiting etc.


Anyway...
Sat 26/11 5km 33:06
Splits: 6:11, 6:43, 6:59, 6:52, 6:31


Were away visiting family this weekend so we were parkrun tourists for another weekend. Took in Newcastle West parkrun. A fairly small parkrun (attendance wise) which is a pity cause it's such a nice setting. Course consisted of 3 laps, first one took in a further loop out of 500m to bring the total course to 5km. A really nice park, plenty of native trees, different paths and walkways, bridges over streams, little robins, exercise stations. Fairly flat course, one "hill" but it wasn't much of a climb IMO and I'm not a fan of hills by any means.


However with Friday consisting of a day in work, 2 hour drive, few drinks, and plenty of chat until 3am I certainly wasn't planning a 5km pb!! First lap was fine, taking in my surroundings plenty of twists and turns and directional arrows so trying to keep an eye on the person ahead of me to make sure I was going the right route but that was difficult. I was just finished the first lap when I was overtaken! That person had done 2 laps of the course (he was around 3.5km and I had done around 2km!). I did expect to be overtaken on my 2nd loop but not quite so soon. 2nd loop around was harder, body was already starting to get tired from the lack of sleep and further along that loop I was lapped by a few more runners. One person said when passing me: "No pb today then". I replied, "no, not today" and he replied "at least you came out". I thought afterwards that was a bit cheeky of him, for all he knew that could have been a good run for me, god I know I'm slow but I didn't think I looked that slow running! Feckers were through the finish line when I passed for my final loop. Again I was tired and feeling rather lonely, I knew there were 3 more runners behind me but a bit back. But I knew I only had one loop to go, was more familiar with the route at this point so I was running to corners, direction arrows etc just to get myself around. All the rest of the runners were gone when I came in, except my young lad.


Have to say I did enjoy the route and would love to run it again after getting a good night's sleep. Back to the relations feeling a bit smug myself after having a run while they were still in their pjs!

No running to report : I haven't run in two and a half weeks! Don't know when I last had such a gap in running, certainly not this year, maybe a week but not this long.


Hubbie picked up a dose so I couldn't get out much of that week. Then I ended up getting it and it just floored me, I don't know when I last had such a dose and when I just didn't feel like myself for so long, normally I would be unwell a day or 2 and then back to normal. This just dragged out: flu, downgraded into a head cold, then into a sinus infection. Wiped every bit of my energy, couldn't manage a full day of work last week. Set me back in the Christmas preparation also! And I still don't feel back to myself 100%, still quite lethargic.


The closest I've gotten to running in the last few weeks is volunteering last weekend at my regular parkrun, I picked the marshalling role so there was less chance of me passing on my germs! And I bought some new running leggings in Penneys.


In 2 minds about running at parkrun this weekend, might volunteer again if they are stuck. Part of me wants to run, just to get out, move and get some air. But I know I'll be shattered after it and I have to get the rest of the Christmas shopping done this weekend. Plan is to run the Christmas eve parkrun, do the Goal Mile on St. Stephen's Day and parkrun again on NYE.


I know it's not exactly a running update but I suppose it's a log of my running thoughts as much as a calendar of my physical runs. Sorry if you took the time to read that rambling post!!

Tues 28/12 3km 17:05
Splits: 5:11, 6:06, 5:44

Away staying with the husband's family for a few days. Their local AC was having a 3km. It starts in reverse order. Everyone has given their average 5km time at registration, then people are set off at intervals with slowest going first and fastest starting last, culminating in everyone finishing around the same time.

Was a cold enough day out and like an eejit I wore a tshirt and me trying to fight off head cold mark 2!
The group I was started with were faster runners than me, around 27/28 min 5km where I'm more 31min 5km. So that explains why my first km was so fast. I knew I should have been a bit slower but I didnt want to lose them too early and I didn't want to be overtaken too soon.

2nd km was tougher. There's a bit of a climb up along the main road to where it turns off and heads towards the town. I was caught out with this climb last year so I was better prepared for it this year. Once off the main road it's all left and right corners which I normally like but at that stage 1.5 to 2 km I was being overtaken so I was conscious of not weaving over and back on the road and getting in anyone's way.

Last km was heading into the town. When you know you only have under the km to go and are on the home straight it keeps you going. I probably was one of the last to finish though. Still, I was 25 seconds quicker than last year. I found my breathing a bit laboured on this run, probably to do with this head cold as I've had a little cough too. Fresh air will do me no harm.

That looks to be probably my final run for the year. I'm going to be taking part in the Lust for Life 5km a day challenge for the month of January. I did it last year and found it very good, easier to do than I thought it would be, the Facebook page was very motivating and also stubbornness on my part to do it!