Do the Couch-to-5k running plan at half speed

Woke up this morning feeling like going for an unscheduled run, so I did. Discovered that if I lengthen my stride a bit, it takes some of the pressure off my calves and works my thighs and butt more, which is excellent.

I did go out after all, and it didn’t rain on me, and the new runners are a dream, and even my calves aren’t as sore as usual. Happy me!

I haven’t run for a week now and I’m missing it. I hoped to go today, but the weather is crap and forecast to get worse. Maybe I’ll brave the rain if it’s not too bad. I bought myself a really good pair of runners the other day, and I’m dying to try them out – I walked around in them all day yesterday and they’re wonderfully light and comfortable, so should be brilliant to run in.

Not too bad, apart from the by-now-predictable calf trouble. I read up about runners’ calf muscles (I’m a runner, wheee :o) ) online and it seems the only remedy is stretching and patience. Also, I discovered today that if I leave the running track and hit the path home during the last interval, I get to spend the last few seconds of my run bounding exhilaratingly down a hill, which made me happy. :o)

Bit of a struggle today. I went out all eager, but had tight calves by the end of the warm-up and a twinge-y back after the first interval, and halfway through I flopped down on the grass and lay still until my calves stopped screaming. I did get up and finish the set, although I spent the last interval muttering “I hate you” to dear Robert’s little voice in my ear. :-p Think I’ll do at least one more week 1 before tackling week 2.

I ended up doing a full Week 1 run the other day, and I’m just back from another one. The first one wasn’t too bad, especially considering how long it’s been, and this morning was actually enjoyable – helped by its being an absolutely glorious day here today. Only thing was that my calf muscles knotted up very quickly, in spite of stretching them before and during. I’ve a vague idea that there’s some mineral deficiency that makes your muscles stiffen faster than they otherwise would – must look into that. Anyway, I’m trying not to get too excited yet because I’ve started this so many times and never got very far, but I’m pardonably pleased with myself just for starting.

Yeah, I know I should be doing it for myself, but being ordered out is the only way it’s going to happen at the moment. I said I’d go, but almost three hours later I still haven’t. There’s holes in my runners, my sports bra is in the wash, and I didn’t have the podcast on my new mp3 player. Having slowly and reluctantly dealt with all of those, I found it was starting to rain, and there’s no way my already tepid motivation would survive that. It’s brightened up now though – there’s actual blue sky out there – so I’ve run out of excuses. I’m sitting on my bed in my running gear, trying to ignore the temptation to grab a book and crawl back under the duvet.

I’m calling this week 0 cos I’m still not using the proper intervals, just alternately running and walking sides of the block. I took it fairly easy this morning – I think I’m finally getting the hang of not starting out too fast – and I really enjoyed it. It was a dull, drizzly morning so there was no sunrise to speak of, but I did get to see the sky lighten several shades as I ran, and was lucky enough to dodge the showers. It definitely helped to know Abs was running at the same time, too – thanks for the inspiration, m’dear! :o)

I’ve committed to going running with Abs (in spirit, if not in the flesh) at an ungodly hour tomorrow morning. It’s gonna be colllld, but I guess that’s even more of an incentive to get the blood moving :-p

that I did another couple laps last Thursday morning, and enjoyed it. I was hoping to get out again at the weekend, but the spring cleaning took over; might have another go this week – a spare half hour can’t be that hard to find :-p