It’s been a while since I talked about my exercise-related endeavours, so I figured why the hell not now? (You can, of course, follow my exercise-related Tumblr if you’re that way inclined.)
Basically, it’s going quite well. I’ve done two “long runs” of 8.25km now, which suggests that by the time May and the 10K I’ve signed up for comes around, I’ll be ready to run that distance. It may be slowly and involve a lot of guttural grunting (particularly on hilly bits) but I should be able to at least do it. And why 8.25km? Well, convenience. I set out from my house in one direction, run down a country lane that seems to go on forever (2 miles), turn down a road and do a big loop around on a slightly less country laney country lane that also seems to go on forever before making one last turn onto another, marginally more country laney than the second country lane but less country laney than the first country lane country lane and ending up coming up the street my house is on from the other end. It shouldn’t be too much difficulty to extend the route to 10K, but at the moment I’m pretty knackered by the time I get to this distance, so it’ll be a case of extending it a bit at a time.
I may still be pretty slow, but I’m certainly pleased with my progress since I started towards the end of last year. Setting up some form of “structure” and quasi-reward mechanic has helped enormously. To begin with, this was the Couch 2 5K programme, that got me off my ass and moving in the first place. In the first week of that, I was exhausted by the time I’d been running for just a minute but gradually built up to being able to run for 30 minutes at a time. I started the Bridge 2 10K programme but the holiday period disrupted that somewhat. Rather than go back to that, I’ve simply been doing three runs a week—one pace-setting one of 5K or so, one “long” one (8.25K at the minute, that will eventually become 10K) and one interval training session (currently three sets of four lots of run fast 1 minute, run moderately 1 minute, repeat with 2 minutes of walking in between each set). I’ve been using the RunKeeper app on my phone to track my progress, and it’s always pretty cool to see yourself make some sort of improvement, even if it’s only a matter of seconds. Plus you can use it to draw penises on Google Maps if you get bored.
Alongside this, I’ve recently started using the 100 Pushups and 200 Situps apps for the iPhone. These are very simple apps, just recommending the number of reps you should do in each of five sets, but they’re also effective in providing a bit of structure to your workouts. And structure is good; structure makes you feel like you’re making progress, because you can tick things off (or gain points for them in EpicWin, which is another worthwhile motivational app for iPhones) and see at a glance how “well” you’re doing.
While I doubt I’m ever going to be one of the skin-head tank-top wearing nutcases who frequent British gyms, it’s good to know that I am making some progress, and I bet it’s going to feel pretty damn special to complete that 10K in May.
You think it’s awesome too, right? Sure you do. So you want to fling a few quid my way and sponsor me, don’t you? Of course you do. And very gratefully received it is too.
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Nice one! 🙂
I really hope one day my dodgy ankle will be less dodgy and I can jog/run. I think it’d be much more satisfying than walking.
For now though, I’ll take the walking. At least I guess it’s an improvement on last year!
I do think that you are doing very well. When I ran a 10k race last year I had never run that distance before. I don’t think that I had even done 6k before. The excitement of the day will easily carry you over the line if you can run 8.25 now.
If you are interested, there is a 5k/10k near me at the end of March. 5 weeks away. Could be a good practise run?
Just out of interest, have you changed anything diet-wise as well, or are you just giving it some with the exercise? I’m curious, as I’m starting the running again myself, but I’ve noticed a big difference in how I do depending on whether I’ve eaten healthy stuff or junk beforehand.
Also, definitely take Spinker Pinkerton (awesome name) up on the race thing before the big one. There’s a world of difference between training and actually racing, not least working out where the hell you’re supposed to be and when. Getting a feel for it always helps – you’ll be a lot calmer on the big day and able to concentrate on just running. Oh, and overtaking that guy in front. And the one in front after that… 🙂
No, nothing specific diet-wise. I can still has biscuits.
Assuming I’m free, I will attempt to take Pinkerton up on said race. I doubt there will be much overtaking going on with the pitiful pace I run at, but as you say it’ll be good to get a feel for things.