Monday 14 January 2013

I miss running :-(

I'm really missing running, and exercise in general. Damn these shin splints! I went to Body Combat four days ago, and my shins and lower legs were so painful towards the end from the jumping and running on the spot, and were still hurting when I got home - so had to ice them.

R is away snowboarding this week so I can't go out running or gymming anyway, so I'm using this week as enforced rest. Once my shins are better, I'm planning on starting running again on the treadmill as its so much softer than the pavements. Coupled with my new stability trainers, I'm hopeful I'll be back on track for my 10k training soon!

I'm also trying to lose a few pounds - just by eating a bit more sensibly. The plan is that it'll reduce the strain on my joints, and (positive thinking) make me a lil bit faster...... a girl can hope!

Sunday 6 January 2013

Day 5 - recovery/walk/shopping day

I got new trainers!

Lets get the Janathon stuff out of the way first.... I've definitely felt the need to rest my shins, so a very slow walk around the zoo seemed a good way to kill two birds with one stone (not literally - I do not condone animal cruelty, plus - there are no exotic birds at the zoo....)

So I logged about 2.5 miles walking, but I'll only count half an hour for the time spent - I don't think I can count all of the standing around looking at tigers!

Then I went into Canterbury to go the The Running Outlet - a small running shop which does gait analysis. They were really busy (as expected, although most customers did seem to be runners already, not New Year Resolutionists) but the guys in there were really nice and helpful, and it wasn't long before I was up on the treadmill.

Turns out that I overpronate moderately, which was instantly sorted as soon as I ran in the Nike Lunar Eclipses that the guy bought down for me. I tried on a few pairs (loved the bright pink Asics!) but eventually settled on a pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12s. They aren't as pretty as I'd have liked - but were definitely the most comfortable.

I'm really hopeful that these trainers will sort out my niggles, and I'm stupidly excited about taking them for a test run later tonight (after roast dinner at the in-laws - only time I can get out today. Boo!)

Ps - posting this from my phone, so will add links in later. Have a fab Sunday!



Friday 4 January 2013

Day 4 - slow run


I went for a slow run tonight as my legs were feeling ok. Ran along the cliff top and tried to run on as much grass as possible - and covered myself in mud! Ran for 3.26 miles in 36 mins, so it was indeed quite slow. Stretched a lot when I got home, but my calves and shins are very tight. I'm really hoping that new trainers will solve this, and avoid an injury.

I can't believe how mild the weather is here at the moment, I'm hoping it doesn't get worse - don't think I'm capable of running on ice, especially given the practice run on the incredibly slippery gym floor yesterday.!

In other news - I think I've persuaded my little sister to take up running. I'm sooooo happy about this! She's coming with me tomorrow to get new trainers. Hopefully I can nudge her into getting some too.... After that, tomorrow's Janathon effort will consist of walking around the zoo with M. Fingers crossed the rain holds off.


Janathon Miles Ran: 7.54
Janathon Miles Walked: 2.57
Body Combat classes: 1
Total Time Janathoning: 03:35:11
Calories Burnt Janathoning: 1729

Thursday 3 January 2013

I ran to the Gym

I have never done such a thing before - I always thought it was too far, but today I bit the bullet. And do you know what? It's not that far - around 0.96 miles (half uphill) on the way there, and 0.8 miles on the way back, taking a slightly flatter route as running downhill is BAD, don'tcha know.

Once I was at the gym I did a Body Combat class. New release + haven't been in a month + world's most slippery/sweaty floor = a very uncoordinated workout! But it was good fun, and I still had enough energy to run home.

Overall - a very successful day 3!

Tomorrow I'm planning on taking it easy and going for a 2 mile walk. Really conscious of my shins until I get fitted for some new trainers (which I'm ridiculously about!)

Janathon Miles Ran: 4.28
Janathon Miles Walked: 1.88
Body Combat classes: 1
Total Time Janathoning: 02:26:11
Calories Burnt Janathoning: 1260

Wednesday 2 January 2013

Janathon - Day 2

Today heralded the return of the dreaded shin tenderness *sad face*

It's only painful if I push it - a small spot about midway down my right shin. I presume it's the start of shin splints (again...) so I definitely need to do two things:

1) Take it easy for a few days - should't be too difficult as I'd planned on a walk tonight anyway, and should be going to Body Combat tomorrow anyway.
2) Get fitted for a proper pair of trainers. I did have some, but chucked them a few months ago as they were both old and ugly, and I wasn't running enough to use them. I bought these Nikes, and, not to sugar-coat it,  they are pretty pants (although very light!). I'm not even sure what type of trainer I need, or what these Nikes are for (I presume 'normal' though?) I did have a gait analysis done for my old trainers (Asics, no idea what model) - but figure I need another one, your body changes an awful lot during/after pregnancy.....

So the plan for this weekend is to head to the nearest running shop. I bet it will be packed with New Year Resolutionists too *le sigh*. Still, gotta be done.

Also, to add to my Day 2 woes - I realised this morning that R (my other half) is going on holiday in a couple of weeks, so I won't be able to go out and exercise during the week, as they'll be no one to look after M. This means I'll be stuck doing exercise DVDs. Pah!

__________

I wrote the above as a draft at lunchtime. On my way home from work, I started getting 'twinges' in my left calf. 'Oh great' I thought, 'Now the other leg is getting shin splints'.

Upon arriving home, I duly rolled my trouser leg up to inspect the injured limbs. Turns out the tender spot on my right shin? It's just where I walked into the open dishwasher door the other day - got a huge bruise *red face*

Still, I'm taking it easy so went for a quick walk to the local Asda to get R some food for dinner. A nice easy 1.5 miles..... but I did take the hilly route!

Janathon Miles Ran: 2.51
Janathon Miles Walked: 1.88
Total Time Janathoning: 01:04:30
Calories Burnt Janathoning: 493


Tuesday 1 January 2013

Janathon Day 1 - Done!

Today was pretty busy, and I'm not gonna lie - I was a lil bit hungover..... I woke up at 8am (childfree) after a night of drinking a lot of colourfull cocktails, feeling a bit dehydrated and headachey, but not too bad. I thought about going out for a quick run, but to be honest - a sausage and egg sarnie sounded much more appealing......


So the only other time I had free was one I'd put M (my nearly-3-year-old) to bed - shortly after eating a large roast dinner at the In-Laws'. I headed out about 7:30, starting with a 5min walk.

I haven't run for about 8 weeks, and even then, I'd only run for a few weeks before getting shin pain (too much, too fast) and having to stop. And those few weeks were after a much longer break - about 4 months. I told you I was very stop-start! So I completed 2.5 miles in 26:50 - a very slow recovery run for some - but I achieved my fastest ever pace according to Runkeeper - 10:42 per mile - which is pretty amazing to a slowcoach like me.

I'll probably just go for a walk tomorrow as I'm anxious not to repeat past mistakes and do too much too soon, but I do find walking boring.....


Overall - a good solid start to Janathon. Here's to the next 30 days!

Janathon Miles Ran: 2.51
Janathon Miles Walked: 0.30
Total time Janathoning: 39:58
Calories burnt Janathoning: 343


Welcome to Boo Runs!

Welcome to my hastily setup blog, created at 7pm on 31st Dec 2012 in order for me to sign up to Janathon 2013.

I'd come across both Janathon and Juneathon before in my running-related reading, but I've never been a 'good' enough (or regular enough) runner to sign up. This year, I'm still not good or regular enough, but something's got to push me to push myself.

The truth is, I've been a beginner runner for around 4/5 years now. Something has always come up to throw a spanner in the works - shin splints, pregnancy, new baby, working full time + 1.5hr commute daily + toddler + housework etc etc. But I am done making excuses - I want to get fit and healthy, not just for myself, but for my daughter and my partner too. The Olympics was such a huge inspiration to millions this summer, but I think even more so to girls and women, and I want my daughter to grow up knowing that an active lifestyle is just the norm, and she can achieve whatever it is she puts her mind to.

So although I've only run/walked two Race for Life 5k races in the past 4 years, I have signed up to a 10k in May, and I hope to complete it in around 1hr. This blog, and Janathon, are my starting point.