Back on Track

Last week was not a good one for me when it came to running - if you have read my previous post then you already know, that I was unable to complete week 4 day 1 last Tuesday due to a migraine. Thursday I never made it out the door and by Saturday I pulled myself out the door by the hair to do a week 3 run.

Today I once again attempted a week 4 run and I nailed it - sure I felt my breathing at the end but in my defence the last little bit of running was uphill - the curse and blessing of running outside.

So I'm back on track and feel confident about the runs to come.

Tip of the day: Don't trip yourself up by thinking it's hard and that you might not be able to do it - tell yourself that you can do it, believe in yourself.

Week 3 Day 3

I completed week 3 today paying extra attention to what my body was telling me. I figured out, that it wasn't my muscles complaining but rather the tendons and ligaments in my shins.

That has me wondering if they need more conditioning before I push on. Still, I've decided to move on with week 4 but if the soreness begins to stick around for longer then I'll go back and repeat the week 3 program.

It was a good run today, however I suspect a cold is creeping up on me so fingers crossed I'll be able to keep going.

Two Milestones

I have reached what I like to think of as two milestones within a few days. First I was supposed to complete week 2 on Saturday - but before I got out of the house we got a call from family, that we don't see often enough, and they asked us to lunch. Naturally we accepted but that meant postponing my run to Sunday. And I did run Sunday which was a huge accomplishment for me - I give the credit to the C25K program for making it easy.

The second milestone was passed today when I finished the first week 3 run - I had dreaded it a bit, thinking it would be really rough graduating to the 3 minutes runs - but it wasn't actually too bad. My breathing was controlled and the muscle burn in my legs were tolerable and manageable.

So this is me, giving myself a big pat on the shoulder for work well done - especially, since I got up at 4.15 am to make sure I got my run in today.

Week 2 Day 2

Today I completed week 2 day 2 and I have to say I still find it fairly easy to get through my runs eben though I'm sure it'll change soon enough!

That said, I should mention that I run outdoors and today there was more wind than I've experienced on the previous days. The wind did make it harder workout but not in a way that had me struggling.

So far I look forward to my scheduled running days and have not yet been tempted to skip a day.

Running Gear

What gear do you need to begin running? Not a whole lot really, but good running shoes are essential to avoid injuries.

If possible go to a specialist running shop and buy your shoes there. In the one I went to, they put me on a treadmill and video recorded me running. That way the could slow down the recording and get a clear idea of how I land on my feet etc. And they used that information to find the perfect shoe with optimum support  for me.

The shoes was the same (and priced equally) as those in your regular sports shop - the knowledge of what is needed in a running shoe for individuals is simply an added free bonus.

As for clothes nothing special is needed, however, I will recommend a base layer that keeps you dry. I had running tights, t-shirts and jacket stored all the way back in my closet - bought one of those other times where I thought I might take up running but never got around to it. I use it now and to be honest, they are more comfortable.

If your female then you also need a good supportive bra - there is nothing worse than having your assets bouncing all over the place.

I use my Ipod where I have downloaded the free podcast from www.runningintoshape.com made by Carly. She did not create the C25K program but she had made it easier by adding up-beat music and her voice telling you when it's time to jog or walk. I can really recommend it especially if you're just getting started - no need to look at watches or keeping track of how long you've jogged or walked for.