Week 9, 3rd Run

Time: 1815
Duration: 3min run & 1min walk x9 (36min)
Distance: 4.17km
Weather: approx 22C - partly cloudy - cool breeze

Today's run wasn't as fast as Friday's, but that wasn't a problem because we were only 100m short compared to Friday anyway. I think yesterday's crazy swim-a-thon didn't do me very good as my muscles were aching and heavy when we started running. By the time we finished, my right shin was a little sore and I felt a little dizzy but I'm absolutely fine right now.

I'm looking forward to completing my 10 week programme - only one more week to go! After that, I'm going to concentrate on training for my 5K run in September. At the moment, I definitely can't run the whole of it. However I'm going to look up some training methods and I'll take it from there - can't promise I'll run all of it by then either though!

Week 9, 2nd Run: Woah... parp

Time: 2200
Duration: 3min run & 1min walk x9 (36min)
Covered: 4.23km
Weather: 17C - cloudy - cold breeze

Today's run was pretty amazing. I didn't think I'd have energy in me to do it, but I managed it somehow and at a pretty fast pace. Before when we used to go on a run, I didn't really feel like we were "running", more like jogging. However, today was definitely running and even my boyfriend noticed the pace had picked up a little. I don't know what made me want to go a little faster but I did so and surprisingly it didn't feel too bad! It was tough, don't get me wrong, but I didn't dread only having a minute to walk and catch my breath. I took my Heart Rate Monitor with me and checked my pulse during the three minute runs and it was reading around 170-180bpm, which I don't think is very good (well, it sure isn't healthy) and my average heart rate overall was around 163bpm, which again isn't very good. I may have got carried away with day dreaming about my 5K race but I need to find my perfect pace again because I did feel a little burned out right at the end. Anyway, overall it was a great run and I actually enjoyed running a little faster. But lessons for Sunday is to maybe slow it down a tiny bit and also I need to not eat at least 3 hours before my run on food that makes me produce gas - I mean I've heard of "second wind" but my goodness, I didn't mean to have one so literally!

Week 9, 1st Run

Time: 0500
Duration: 3min run + 2min walk x7 (35min)
Route: R Rd, W Ave, WE Lane, WE Gdns, H Rd, D Rd (C Ave on 2nd lap)
Weather: 15C - cloudy - cool breeze
Sleep: 7.5hrs

I was very conscious about my pace today, making sure I didn't burn out after the first 3 laps like last time. Fortunately, it wasn't so bad and I'm happy to report that I completed it even after Sunday's hiccup. I was focusing on my pace and breathing today whilst thinking about the 5K run in September. I'm still very nervous about it and was asking myself today if I can even run the whole thing or if I'll end up doing my walk/run. A big part of me wants to run the entire 3 miles but I'm going to be realistic and just train as much as I can in the next two months and see what happens!

adidas Women's 5K Challenge

Last night, I signed myself up to the adidas Women's 5K Challenge on 6 September. I don't know what made me do it. I think it could be partly down to the fact that I felt lousy yesterday after my "run". I'm nervous but really excited at the same time. It definitely pulled me out of my slump yesterday and I have a goal to try and aim for. This has made me look forward to tomorrow's run, which was something I was dreading before. So, I got my mojo back and I'm less pissed off about yesterday. Hurrah! Two more weeks until my programme finishes and I'm going to try and train to do a 5K run. I bought a heart rate monitor to, well, monitor my heart rate and probably at the same time try to learn what a HRM should be used for! I have two months to get myself prepared for the 3 mile race and I'm really looking forward to it (though, yes I am still very nervous). :D