To Run Or Not To Run, That Is The Question.

Hello blog lovers.

Well, when I first started to blog my way through to fitness, back in the heavier days, way back in those couch potato days, I decided that I would only blog when I actually had something to blog about!

But I feel I need to just do this tiny little blog, just to remind myself of how things are, and what I had decided to do, etc.

Well, this cold virus thingy, it really is getting the better of me. Ok, I went out jogging on Monday, took it nice and easy, and I went out yesterday, again, I took it nice and easy. But I thinking, "Am I actually doing myself any good at all?"

So I scoured the 'tinterweb' and asked the question "Shoul I run with a cold" and this is what I came up with, the first page I looked at, and I had decided, (and have found this to be more useful) to stick with this piece of information.

The info said, and I quote (from a web page could wellsphere web page), So I guess a few days off is not going to kill me.

Sometimes life doesn't seem fair. What other explanation is there for why you, the runner, have a stuffed up nose and sore throat while your office mate-whose idea of daily exercise is to walk to the candy machine and back-sits across from you yapping away on the phone in perfect health?
There's no point in being bitter. Just get better. When faced with cold-like symptoms, runners typically have one of two reactions. The first is to go fetal, curling up in bed with a throat lozenge and a good book, waiting for the misery to pass. (For the record, this is my reaction of choice.) The second reaction comes from runners who insist the only way to defeat a cold is to lace up your shoes, hit the road, and "sweat it out."

Which option is best? Let's find out.

Neck Check

If you're unsure if you're healthy enough for a run, engage in the neck check. If your symptoms are all above the neck-sniffling, sneezing, stuffy nose-you're probably okay to run. If symptoms run the other way-chest pains, aches, chills, diarrhea, vomiting-it's best to stay indoors and take it easy. And it's never a good idea to run with a fever.

Don't Be A Superhero

Take a look back at your schedule and see if perhaps you got sick due to a bump-up in training intensity.

If you do chose to go running, take it easy. You don't want to push a minor respiratory infection into something more serious. Adrenaline is a natural decongestant. Your stuffed nasal passages may actually open while running, making you feel healthier than you really are. But a cold indicates your immune system is already weakened. Take a look back at your schedule and see if perhaps you got sick due to a bump-up in training intensity or mileage. An increase in training volume often means a more vulnerable immune system-so you might catch colds more often the typical couch potato. (Again, with the unfairness)

Down Time

Runners have a flair for the dramatic. Why else would we run 26.2? But that same drive often translates into fretting about losing conditioning while in bed. Be reasonable. Three days inside is not going to derail three months worth of training. The human body is quick to bounce back to pre-cold condition. Ease back into your training with a few easy runs and you’ll soon be right back where you left off.

Tips for a Speedy Recovery

• Drink plenty of fluids
• Gargle with warm water
• Wash your hands frequently
• Take zinc lozenges at the first sign of sickness
• Make sure you're taking a multi-vitamin
• Sleep with a humidifier in your bedroom at night
• Some runners swear by Echinacea (but there's no solid proof it boosts the immune system)
• Pay attention to your body. It will tell you when it needs rest.
• Stay positive. A healthy attitude is right up there with Mom's chicken soup for common sense cures for the common cold.

 

 

 

Club Run - Sweeper Duty

Hello blog lovers.

I still have this awful coughing and mucus and whatnot with me, I'm sure you don't want any more info than that. But I wanted to still go out running with my club. We only ever do 3 and half miles on average, with a couple of stops thrown in, so I don't have to feel guilty about stopping!

I offered my services as sweeper, I knew I wasn't going to be in the front runners today, and I felt I could be more useful to make sure no-one gets left behind! Our Illustrious Leader, was leading the way, but also was concerned about me "If you feel we are getting too far ahead the don't be shy, let  me know" I guess then she can organise a sweeper for the sweeper!, but I felt sure that I would be able to keep together with the rest of the group.

We had some of the beginners with us again this week, I am so glad that we didn't scare them off last week with the mention of Cardiac Hill, all though IL did mention that we will be doing half of ....that hill.... in this evenings run.  The weather was a bit chilly, I had noticed that some of the faster runners had gloves on. Hitchy, who drove to the rec this evening, had her gloves on. But after yesterdays run, I felt that it was still early for the full winter kit. I was wearing two long sleeve tops though. I am a woose when it comes to the cold.

So our route today had a few little humps and bumps in it. I was, as I have said, in sweeper role and keeping one the the Saturday beginners company as we approached the first of the hills. "oh gawd" she said as she caught sight of it.
"ah that's nothing" I said, "its an upside down hill, just look at each lamppost, then the tree, then the lamppost and just run to those, you will soon be on the other side" I said. She smiled at that, and she looked at the lamppost, she passed it, then she looked for the tree and she passed it. All the way to the top of the hill. I think she was pleased with herself for getting up there.

I felt good going at the pace our newbie was going. I wasn't over exerting myself, I wasn't coughing and splutter, but I was doing something, I was out there running along. I head some of the other group 1'ers saying that somebody didn't come because they were unwell. I'm not saying that I am gloating because I am out here, with the man flu, doing it, because between last Thursday and Sunday I was laid up feeling sorry for myself. I was just feeling good that I finally had enough energy to be able to get out here and do these three miles.

There were some more hills and bumps and lumps to negotiate, but I stayed by our newbies side each step of the way, encouraging up each hill, pointing out the lamppost as we passed it. She seemed pleased with each lamppost we got to and passed. We had about three official stops in this evenings run, and we only stopped for a couple of minutes each time, enough time for our IL to talk us through the next section, and maybe alter the route slightly according to the abilities of all our runners, in order to keep us all together, and then we were off again. Our newbie kept running between each stop, there was no walking.

I recalled that when I first became a member I was doing unofficial walking, so she was doing brilliantly! She also, I'm sure,  told me that she had done park run and had ran the whole way! Something which I have yet to achieve!!

So today's blog is dedicated to our newbies who have joined us in our club. Keeping us all running and growing in numbers to become a brilliant running club for all abilities! I really enjoyed this run, I really enjoyed encouring the newbies! I really love running!

Geeky stats for you.

Half A Century And Running!

Hello blog lovers.

Today This Old Girl Starts the next half century of living. So what do I do, while I am dealing with the baby germs, coughing, spluttering and sniffing like its going out of fashion? I go jogging of course.

I used caution and put out a plea via twitter about whether in fact it's a good idea to run while one is suffering cough and cold symptoms, but by the time when I was all dressed up and ready to go nothing came back to me.  I did see that some one had said it was ok to run with a head cold.

My philosophy goes similar to the Old Boys, we have to work when we don't feel too good, so why not do stuff that you like to do when you don't feel good? I suppose when the thing you like to do is knitting, or reading, then really that's not a problem, it's just sitting down, unless you do extreme knitting jumping out of aeroplanes!, but when you just need to go out running, well that's a different animal!

I thought I would just do as much as I could of my 3 mile route. If at any point I felt really unwell, I mean like ready to pass out type of unwell, then I can cut it short at any number of places, and the Old Boy wont pass out carrying me home!

The weather was quite mild considering what we have been having. but I still wrapped myself up nice and warm, two long sleeved layers! I realised that I probably didn't need two long sleeved tops on after all. And if its the same tomorrow night then I will make sure I a short sleeved top and a long sleeved over that.

The run itself wasn't very inspirational, or even exciting or demanding, apart from the fact that when I stepped out side my door to start, I really, really wanted to go back in side, and curl up with me book, and just read about running! But, I thought about a recent video I saw via someones post on facebook, about some chap who was told he could never walk again unaided or without his braces, 15 months later the video showed him sprinting! Patience. Pratice. Perseverance!

I stopped about three times I think, coughing and spluttering but I kept jogging on the whole of the route, and no short detours, well, I am out, might as well,.....and besides, it's what us women to, right girls?!

Mind you,  when I got back from my run I did get a little tweet about if you have a cough then its best not to run!!

Geeky stats for you

Long Slow, Slow Run!

Hello blog lovers.

I remember when I wrote my first ever blog, and I said something along the lines of, taking up jogging at my age, is probably not the most sensible things to do and is probably even dangerous thing to do! Well I stand corrected! Deciding to run a marathon at the age of 50, is probably the most daftest things, to date, that I have decided to do!

Today my schedule said that I should be doing interval running for 85 mins, which in my world, reads jogging and thinking about running for fast periods, for 85 mins. I can only do that running bit at the end of my nice little 3 and half milers!

I have decided to extend my distance however, you will all be pleased to hear! I do need to test this old body of mine, see how it feels after 7 miles. Next week, add a little bit more, etc, you get the idea! I just hope my body will grasp on to the idea, and pretty quick!

My route this evening would be the 6 miler route, through the posh houses, but I will be doing it in reverse! Sometimes its good to change this a bit, and I will be doing a bit extra to increase the mileage!  Of course going this way around the hills are in the beginning of the run, longer slower climbs up through Pettswood. The Old Boy was trying to explain how sometimes doing things in reverse is harder because of the hills.  I must be having a 'Blonde' moment because I just presumed hills are hills, I have to run up and I have to run down, same thing if I run down then I have to run up! Surely?

I was really struggling to jog today, I even stopped and had some walking way before the 30 minutes I did on Monday, it was about 17 or 18 minutes into the run! I put it down to the fact that I wasn't feeling too good today. I woke up with a bit of a cough. Baby germs had got to me again! An occupational hazard that I have to deal with! I suppose I could greet all the children coming in to my home wearing a surgical mask and rubber gloves! Yes, I could say that for the next few months we are going to be looking at all things doctors and nurses! I could get away with it, I'm sure!

That is how todays run went today. It was a jog some, walk some day! But my thoughts going through my head were "You could so easily have stayed in Old Girl, but look at you, you're out here just doing it" So I didn't beat myself up about todays jog along. After all I am planning on putting in an extra mile. At least the distance will be there. I will start to teach my body about distance!

The Old Boy was jogging along with me, not really understanding why I keep stopping! But I just smile at him, tell him I am tired, tell him that I am starting a cold, in fact all the excuses in my book, just so that he don't ask me again! I know todays run is going to be slow and there will be plenty of walking bits.

We eventually were running down the A21 towards Bromley. Not too far from the round about I just really, and I mean really need to go for a 'wee wee'. I was thinking at that precises moment, 'Why didn't anyone buy me tena ladies as a little giggle joke birthday pressie" I could so have needed them right then.  Mental note to self, Check out how many 'natural stopping' places there on on the VLM route, because at this rate I will need one every 5 miles or so!

Fortunately, going this way round the restaruant/pub is just a few yards up ahead! I managed to get there, without embarrassment, and used their facilities. I was just hoping the sight of me wasn't going to put people of their huge dinners! A big orange and black sweaty pink person, walking past the joints of meat they were all busy drooling over!

As we had crossed over the road the OB said "Lets go through Whitehall rec and break up the long road a bit" I felt this was a good idea. It's always good to change things around. So that's what we did. We popped out of the ally way opposite Turpington lane. Now I could have gone down there, and through our park which would be a tad shorter than jogging up to to Oxhawth. But again, my attitude was, well, I'm out, I said I was going to do extra mile so hey ho, go for it.

Jogged/walked all the way to top Oxhawth, "Now, jog all the way home, no more stopping for tea and cakes" the OB said. Well, I was planning on that anyway, because this is my bit of road that I never walk on! But I just didn't have the energy to tell him that! I just wanted to concentrate on each lamppost as we passed under it. Not even counting the lampposts, just, "There's another one gone, look for the next"

We got to our house, I stopped the Garmin and was very, very surprised that actually we had covered 7.77 miles! Yeah, go Old Girl, now that is what I am talking about!

I walked around the green for a bit, mumbling something at the OB, because he has said something about at that pace its going to take at least 7 hours to complete the marathon! I just mumbled away saying things like Rome wasn't built in a day! But I think he was secretly pleased with our run today!

Geeky stats, complete with loo stop, but I did stop it as soon as I ....was on the job.... so to speak!

Club Run - Cardiac Hill!

Hello blog lovers.

It was a wet evening! The Old Boy was contemplating going out on his bike, but he decided against it! I said "Why don't you go for a run instead" The next minute he had changed out of his cycling gear and back into his jeans! Ready to settle in front of the t.v.!

Oh well, he obviously isn't as dedicated as me! Mind you I was in two minds about it. But hey, water is not going to melt me. It will, however, turn me into a drowned rat lookie likie! But a bit of bathing, pampering and brushing afterwards can almost sort that out.

I have started to read a book that was given to me for my birthday. Quite an amusing book, I feel sure this will be a good read for me, because so far I can identify with the author, totally. Even down to the fact that arguing with yourself becomes second nature, so I am not alone in that matter. and this is a natural thing that happens to runners!

But the author does make me think about why I wanted to train for a marathon in the first place, she herself has the exact same reasons as I have, but I do have one extra reason as well. The fact that one of our group 1 runners last year had been entered for the VLM last year, by her daughter! But she had in fact never ever ran a race before! She didn't shy away from it. She took it with both hands, or should I say feet and trained for it. I watched her on the telly (I know, I was being lazy even at that time, I should have been down there cheering her on and our other PWR's) and she completed it in 5 hours and 20 minutes, I think it was!

So as soon as the registration was opened, which I just happened to see via our club's facebook page that it was, I found myself entering all my details, and pushing the submit button, and paying the cash to enter the race! I didn't tell a soul what I had done. I kept it too myself for those few months until the time when everyone was either putting smileys next to pictures of their acceptance magazines or talking of Elvis Presley! Even then just for a few days more, I kept it to myself, only telling the Old Boy!

Yep, runners are weird sort of people! Have to be, who else would go out in the cold, the rain, the snow, the dark, get up early, go out late, run for miles and miles, hurt and then come back and say "Well that was good!"

Todays club run was nice a sedate run, sort of! We had some newbies with us, they had been attending one of the beginners groups and this was their first time joining in with the group runs. Our leader today was SingStar Jo, I was secretly glad of that, well when I first heard it was her leading. Singstar Jo had her birthday weekend the same time as me. I know she had a good a time as I did at my party! So I was presuming that she would be going a nice gentle, easy, slowish flat route and pace.

She stepped up to talk us through the route, mentioned the nice down hill to the off license and then...up to Orpington, over some cheeky little humps and bumps to.....Cardiac Hill! dun dun daaaaa! (you have to sing that bit in scary mode!) Maybe she still has alcohol inside her, and she doesn't realise what she is saying. I looked over to our Illustrious Leader, I was hoping that she might jump in and have a gentle word with her about the dangers of running after a very nice weekend celebrating, but she didn't!

I just had to take it on the chin. Then I began to remember! "What are you talking about woman! You ran yesterday for 30 minutes non stop!" I did run yesterday! I managed that ok! It's going to be just fine!  And it was!

The first mile had split us into two groups, the newbies were a tad behind with our Illustrious Leader's husband Richard, it is he who takes one of beginners group.  So we decided to split the group into two, Illustrious leader would wait for the newbies and the rest of us would carry on at the pace we were going. I did volunteer to stay with I.L. but apparently hanging outside off licenses is not new to her!

Singstar Jo kept us going at the same pace, over the railway bridge, and then the cheeky little bumps. I didn't want to stop on these bumps, and I forced myself over them. I think I must have stopped running as I heard a "Come on Old Girl, keep going"

We kept on jogging until we reached the road fondly known as 'Cardiac Hill' I looked up at it, pleased that it was dark! Hills are just not as scary or 'hilly' in the night time! We had another quick breather here, for every one to catch up, the beginners were with I.L. and Richard,( now going to be known as Dancing Dad! Oh yes, that's his new name from now on! Well, unless he really doesn't like it, sends me a new marathon training plan that has me running up cudham north lane as a warm up, in which case I will change it back.) They would be running at a slightly slower pace, and maybe even change the route slightly.

Now for the hill. I had set a precedence the last time we were on this hill, and it was Singstar Jo that had me running up this hill for the first time, all the way, non stop! I can't be stopping on here again now. Alcoholic weekend or not, I had to do this hill!

Well, I did it! I was pleased I did it. My legs were not liking me one bit however, but who cares, Marathon brain is in control at the moment, and I did it. I did walk a little along the flat afterwards though, prompting another "Come on Old Girl, keep going"

We stayed together until Birchwood Road, and then from there, it was as fast or as slow as you like. I was at the back with the sweeper, who just as we turned the corner had an encounter with a beer can, it locked down on her foot, and I heard her 'clanking' along behind me! Somehow she had landed perfectly in the middle of the beer can and it 'embraced her foot, and became like a huge hob nail on her trainer!

Half way down this road is when I started to pick up the pace up, I started to pass some of the group as we headed towards our start point! I started running, it was easy, it was down hill! I passed some more of our group 1. I had the front runners in my sights. I decided to pretend I was in a race! I was going to catch them up if not pass them before they get to the sign post. I ran as hard as I could. Faster and faster! They were were getting close, I can hear their trainers hitting the wet pavements, I can hear their breathing as they all concentrated on getting to the sign post. I managed to just catch up to one of the back runners as we got to the sign post!

I took a deep breath, bent over to rest, or whatever that does to runners, you always see them bending over like that, I have no idea why, apart from the fact it feels bloody good! And then we walked inside the gate to start our warm down stretches! "Why do I do that, that kills me" I said to another group 1 runner walking beside me "Because you love it" she said to me!

Because I love it! Yup, that is how this hate/love relationship with running has developed over the past 4 years, I do it because I love it!

Geeky stats for you

Now The Party's Over! - Or Is It?

Hello blog lovers,

I was back to my training again today. I am still sort of floating around the week 6 and 7 or my training plan, which means very soon, I will have to progress to week 8 very soon. My training kind of started 4 weeks ago now, so really I should pull me finger out and get going!.

So after a fantastic birthday celebration weekend I found the energy, (just) to go for a 40 min jog. The Old Boy was still feeling a little delicate as well, but he found the energy to go out on what felt a rather chilly evening, but actually wasn't that bad.

For the 40 min jog, and I knew I wasn't going to be doing anything ore that this, I said to the OB that we will do the usual route of Turpington lane and back. 
"As long as there is no stopping for tea and cakes" he said, but I reckon he would have been pleased if i did! It really was a good party!

We started of quite gentle, as always, in fact, as I was jogging along the Old Boy was walking! Which I thought was a bit naughty! "Come on, get going, get that heart rate up" I said to him.  He eventually got into the rhythm and jogged along beside me.

My ankles again feel really tight. What is that all about? Is that what the Achilles heel do, just hurt if you exercise too much? But after a while it all loosened up again, but both of them now do feel as if I have bruises on the backs of my heels.  I kept jogging way beyond all the places that I usually stop. I was feeling pretty good considering that I had such a brilliant weekend! By the time I got up to Greenway I was still feeling pretty good.

"Keep going Old Girl" I said to myself in my head! "Keep going, no need to slow down the pace" I really wanted to go further that I had for a long time, today. Push myself to do just a few extra metres. I had managed to run all of Greenway, then turned the corner. I came face t fact with Magpiehall lane. It's really strange, but when i first started running, and I got to this part of the route, this road seemed to have a huge hill. I thought I would never be able to run all the way. And up till a few months ago, I still used to stop on this road, with the slight incline!  But today I carried on running up it.

We turned right into Holbrook, left into Parkfield, I am still running! I was feeling ok, keeping the breathing under control. If I felt as if I was running out of breath the I just slowed up the pace a bit.  Back past the Harvesters now! Still running! Yup, I may have this one cracked!  I was looking towards the school now, thinking about the slight incline that I will need to run up to get to Faringdon,
"Straight over the road to top Oxhawth" the Old Boy said. I just carried on. But as we got to the other side of the road, and just a little further, I had a walking break, (tea and cake to the Old Bo!) "Well done, good going" he said! "Now, lets get going again" even before I could utter anything!

I did take the whole minute thought before we started running again. But that was the first and only run, 29:35 minutes into the run! Yep, I was very pleased with that, I have finally met with my clubs criteria or being able to run for a least 30 minutes to be able to join!

To get the whole of the 40 min jog session we had to do a little twiddle on the usual route and add a little bit of an extra road or two before we arrived home!

So, would you like to see the geeky stats, well here they are.

Last one Before PARRRRTYYYYY!

Hello blog lovers.

That's right! After a lazy weekend I am going to have another lazy few days. That's what happens when you get close to one of those big '0' birthdays! The preparation begins tomorrow, and I don't mean preparation for training or running, I mean for my party! So no time for running! But I promise training will begin again in earnest after these next few weekends.

As I had done virtually 6 miles yesterday, albeit with a 15 min gap after 2.71 miles, I was thinking that I would only run for about 3 miles today, I know that is not what my training plan says, but this month was always going to be difficult training with my birthday coming up! But somehow the Old Boy had me agreeing to a 6 miler!
"We can always cut if short, if we go up Magpiehall lane, and you really don't fancy it" he said as his very persuasive argument.
"Ok" I said, And I really thought that I would be cutting it short! My legs were very tired.

We started the run, I was really slow! My ankles were feeling very tight! It will take at least a mile gentle jogging before they will loosen up. I felt like an old lady as I tried to jog along up Faringdon! But loosened up they did. I went past the first mile, the pub/restaurant on the corner. Then me and the Old Boy kept on running until the next left turn!

I was doing quite well, the heels had loosened up nicely and I was feeling ok, if maybe just a little tired. Maybe I will cut it short and turn down by the church to go home. I carried running, still haven't stop, and I could see the new school gates! I am quite happy with this, I was wondering how far I could go, being as that I have quite tired legs at that precise time I was doing ok! I kept going, up to the A21. Then turned the corner, and I kept going. I kept going until just before the bus garage! The Old Boy urged me on again. I started running after only a few seconds walking.

I could see the hill approaching, I was wondering if maybe I should have cut short and gone down past the church, to dear old Turn around Lamppost and home.  I took another short walk, a deep lung full of air, and I attacked the hill. I really wanted to run the whole way, or at least from the moment I started running, I didn't want to stop until I reached the posh houses!

Do you know what? I did it! I ran the hill! I got all the way into the posh house, and I even ran half way up the first straight.......and then I took a walking stop! From here on though my legs we really complaining,  I just slowed my pace down, which the Old Boy kept telling me to do anyway, just to get my breathing in control again. I though I was doing pretty well actually, but then he can hear how much I am puffing away!

I knew when we popped out of the new houses it wasn't that much further to go. I had decided then to do my sort of interval running. which would start as soon as I got on to Crofton Lane. I would jog one lamppost then speed up a bit to the next, then jog to the next one and speed up to the next. The Old Boy was a bit in front of me when I started doing that, but when I did I soon caught up with him. I didn't tell him what I was doing. Maybe he thought he was going a tad slower!

I tried to keep it up as best as I could. I walked a few more sections before I got home. Well, it wouldn't be me if I didn't. I know one day, I will be running 6 miles non stop! Just not today.

So here is my geeky stats, I shall rest up my Garmin now, hopefully Sunday will be the next run, lets just see how I feel after this weekend!