This will be short and sweet as I have a tonne of work to do!
Haven't managed to run for a week due to half term and being away but thankfully managed to get out with the lovely ladies at Chelmer Roadrunners (Tuesday group) this morning.
A lovely, slightly damp but crisp Autumn morning, perfect running conditions. Not too cold, not too hot. Lovely. We ran a new route around Galleywood, slightly hilly which was tough, but kept up a decent pace (averaged 7mins per km) and managed to run 7kms, partly because we weren't sure where we were going!
The only annoyance is that my hip started to ache again for the last kilometre. To be fair I have not done my physio exercises for 5 days now either due to being away over half term. And over the weekend I walked miles and had started to notice my hip aching at the end of a long day of walking around a foreign city (coupled with sleeping on a hard uncomfortable sofa bed at a friends house!). Going to work v hard on my exercises this week and next. Seeing my physio man again next Monday for the last time pre race.
Loved it again today, and it's made me excited about my next (and last pre race) long run which will be on Friday.
Oh yes, and I got home from my travels last night to my race number! My race number and info for my first ever half marathon has arrived and it is all real now. Gulp! 2 weeks 5 days!
Showing posts with label running group. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running group. Show all posts
Tuesday, 3 November 2015
Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Love run run! Run report 26/10/15
Last night I went out for a run with some of the Dynamo girls and we ran just shy of 9kms and I flipping loved every step! Hooray! Such a relief after the tough long run last Friday.
The course makes a big difference - we ran a different route that I haven't run before, so it was interesting to see different things and have the element of surprise, plus the course was pretty flat, a couple of very slight barely noticeable inclines and some great downhills. Compared to the very hilly route I ran last Friday it felt so much easier running on the flat.
The people make a huge difference - we ran and chatted, talked about other runs, other races, our families, what we were doing for half term, about the film 2 of us saw last week, about the restaurants and bars we were running past, etc etc. It made the time go quickly.
And the pace makes a difference - yes! It's all about the pace! We didn't race, we were running at a pace where we could chat so it felt manageable and not too hard work. Just had a nice little race/sprint for the last 200 metres. Also great fun!
In the end when I reviewed my stats we hadn't actually run too slowly, averaged 7 minutes per kilometre, which is a good 10km pace for me and shows me that my fitness and pace is improving, I've just been unlucky to run my races this year on some really really tough hilly all terrain courses, which slowed me down.
My glute muscles did feel very tight by the end and again this morning, but no pain, so feeling positive that the old hip niggles are calming down too.
Love love love running today.
Hooray. back on track. 3 weeks 5 days! Waaaaaaaaaaaa
The course makes a big difference - we ran a different route that I haven't run before, so it was interesting to see different things and have the element of surprise, plus the course was pretty flat, a couple of very slight barely noticeable inclines and some great downhills. Compared to the very hilly route I ran last Friday it felt so much easier running on the flat.
The people make a huge difference - we ran and chatted, talked about other runs, other races, our families, what we were doing for half term, about the film 2 of us saw last week, about the restaurants and bars we were running past, etc etc. It made the time go quickly.
And the pace makes a difference - yes! It's all about the pace! We didn't race, we were running at a pace where we could chat so it felt manageable and not too hard work. Just had a nice little race/sprint for the last 200 metres. Also great fun!
In the end when I reviewed my stats we hadn't actually run too slowly, averaged 7 minutes per kilometre, which is a good 10km pace for me and shows me that my fitness and pace is improving, I've just been unlucky to run my races this year on some really really tough hilly all terrain courses, which slowed me down.
My glute muscles did feel very tight by the end and again this morning, but no pain, so feeling positive that the old hip niggles are calming down too.
Love love love running today.
Hooray. back on track. 3 weeks 5 days! Waaaaaaaaaaaa
Wednesday, 30 September 2015
Finding my way again
A few months after we moved to a new town and I had let my running drift a bit and dribble on without purpose or real effort, I found a running group, the Dynamos. I decided to give them a go because they seemed relaxed and friendly, not a very serious running club. There is another running club nearby that includes all those guys who run parkrun in 15 minutes... soooooo intimidating and not for me. So I found it very reassuring to find that not all running 'clubs' are super competitive and full of fast marathon runners. There are lots like that, and they are great for some people. I even have friends now who run with said super speedy professional running club, and they are lovely too... but it's just not for me. I can't be and will never be that serious and don't want to be intimidated.
I want to run with other people like me...!
Dynamos are run by women, mostly other mothers who are passionate about running, health and fitness but also balancing that with the school run, feeding hungry kids, having a social life (oh yes, we also have the occasional tipple together!), fitting running around work and into a busy family life and so on. Perfect. Some of them are really good, experienced and/or fast. Some have run marathons and others are complete beginners and everything in between.
They are also incredibly friendly and welcoming. The first time I went to the Dynamo Monday night session I was absolutely terrified. I was so convinced I would turn up and find loads of super fitties who could knock out 10 miles in their lunch break and I'd never fit in. I sent a message to the organisers and got a text message immediately encouraging me to join them and making me feel welcome before I even arrived.
My first run was tough I won't lie - I had to push myself, which I would never do when running alone. I joined a 5km run with no stopping and slightly faster than I was used to, but I kept up, and did it and couldn't quite believe it! I discovered that running with people has so many benefits including:
- We chat on the way around so the miles go faster
- You can't just stop and walk if you're struggling as you feel you don't want to let the others down, so I always run further/faster etc when running with others.
- You always turn up and run, as others are expecting you, so you can't just chicken out and sit on the sofa.
- Making friends! Learning about what's going on in my community... (discussing the best primary school to apply to! hee hee).
But best of all, by joining a group I became a better runner. As well as sometimes just leading simple 5-8km runs where everyone runs at their own pace, the run leaders will other times lead us in different training sessions - I started to take part in (still relaxed, informal) training sessions doing hills, intervals, running further, running faster, adding strength and core exercises to build my muscles. I didn't expect to enjoy that or be able to do those sort of things. But I did, and I did! I also learned more about running from talking to others more experienced than me.
And I never ever felt like I couldn't run and didn't fit in. I started to feel like a runner. I became a runner. There were (are!) people at every level in the group, from beginner to marathon runner, slower and faster. But we all encourage each other and thrive off seeing each other's achievements.
I still run with Dynamos now most Monday nights at 8pm (if Hubby gets home in time or I have a babysitter), and I also run with another similar and lovely group, Chelmer Roadrunners.
Chelmer Roadrunners are an offshoot of the Dynamos, but they run on week day (Tues and Thur) mornings, so the runners are all women who come to run after dropping the children at school. Both groups regularly run beginner training courses to help those who have never run before or want to get back into running.
When I first started going out with the Roadrunners I would take my son in a running buggy. Now he's at school thankfully I get to run on my own which is a lot easier! Some of my running friends know me as the buggy lady though! There was another lady last year who used to run with a double buggy and three year old twins! Awesome woman.
Both of these groups, and the inspiring ladies that lead the runs have given me so much and helped me to really love running, by helping me to get better at it. When I ran my first 5kms at the end of following a c25k app alone, it took me 37 minutes, and now my personal best (pb) is under 32 minutes. Thanks to these groups I have now run some 10km races too. I struggled through my first with lots of walk breaks, but this year alone (2015) I have run 7 10km races so far, road race and cross country, and seen that distance get easier and more comfortable.
So... now the big question is... what next for me?
What's next for you?
Lisa x
I want to run with other people like me...!
Dynamos are run by women, mostly other mothers who are passionate about running, health and fitness but also balancing that with the school run, feeding hungry kids, having a social life (oh yes, we also have the occasional tipple together!), fitting running around work and into a busy family life and so on. Perfect. Some of them are really good, experienced and/or fast. Some have run marathons and others are complete beginners and everything in between.
They are also incredibly friendly and welcoming. The first time I went to the Dynamo Monday night session I was absolutely terrified. I was so convinced I would turn up and find loads of super fitties who could knock out 10 miles in their lunch break and I'd never fit in. I sent a message to the organisers and got a text message immediately encouraging me to join them and making me feel welcome before I even arrived.
My first run was tough I won't lie - I had to push myself, which I would never do when running alone. I joined a 5km run with no stopping and slightly faster than I was used to, but I kept up, and did it and couldn't quite believe it! I discovered that running with people has so many benefits including:
- We chat on the way around so the miles go faster
- You can't just stop and walk if you're struggling as you feel you don't want to let the others down, so I always run further/faster etc when running with others.
- You always turn up and run, as others are expecting you, so you can't just chicken out and sit on the sofa.
- Making friends! Learning about what's going on in my community... (discussing the best primary school to apply to! hee hee).
But best of all, by joining a group I became a better runner. As well as sometimes just leading simple 5-8km runs where everyone runs at their own pace, the run leaders will other times lead us in different training sessions - I started to take part in (still relaxed, informal) training sessions doing hills, intervals, running further, running faster, adding strength and core exercises to build my muscles. I didn't expect to enjoy that or be able to do those sort of things. But I did, and I did! I also learned more about running from talking to others more experienced than me.
And I never ever felt like I couldn't run and didn't fit in. I started to feel like a runner. I became a runner. There were (are!) people at every level in the group, from beginner to marathon runner, slower and faster. But we all encourage each other and thrive off seeing each other's achievements.
I still run with Dynamos now most Monday nights at 8pm (if Hubby gets home in time or I have a babysitter), and I also run with another similar and lovely group, Chelmer Roadrunners.
Chelmer Roadrunners are an offshoot of the Dynamos, but they run on week day (Tues and Thur) mornings, so the runners are all women who come to run after dropping the children at school. Both groups regularly run beginner training courses to help those who have never run before or want to get back into running.
When I first started going out with the Roadrunners I would take my son in a running buggy. Now he's at school thankfully I get to run on my own which is a lot easier! Some of my running friends know me as the buggy lady though! There was another lady last year who used to run with a double buggy and three year old twins! Awesome woman.
Both of these groups, and the inspiring ladies that lead the runs have given me so much and helped me to really love running, by helping me to get better at it. When I ran my first 5kms at the end of following a c25k app alone, it took me 37 minutes, and now my personal best (pb) is under 32 minutes. Thanks to these groups I have now run some 10km races too. I struggled through my first with lots of walk breaks, but this year alone (2015) I have run 7 10km races so far, road race and cross country, and seen that distance get easier and more comfortable.
So... now the big question is... what next for me?
What's next for you?
Lisa x
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