Having a great time

 

I didn’t post last week. There were so many new things happening, just needed to get my head around what it was all about.

The last time I posted I was about to join a running Club which I have now done. I joined Intraining Running Club. I thought I was joining a beginners Class. It turns out that it is a class which takes beginners, not just for beginners. What a fabulous opportunity for newbies like me. There are all kinds of runners there with varying experiences and skills. Some have been running for a very long time and have run numerous marathons, some are building up to a marathon, some training for their first 10km to newbies like me, or even newer runners. A lady joined this week who was running 1 minute and then walking for a couple.

There are two sessions per week. Monday nights’ session is a run, just slow and steady and I ran for 44 minutes. First time I had ever done that. I was struggling a bit and one of the trainers came breezing up to me and asked how I was going. I told him I didn’t think I could do it, and felt I would need to stop soon. His response was well, you are breathing well, you’re talking – always a good sign, your rhythm is good, your pace is consistent, I reckon you have this in the bag. I immediately perked up and thought ok, maybe I can do this, and so I did. Its all about the head space isn’t it. The body is willing and able.

The Wednesday night session is about interval training which is also a massive learning curve. We were running 1km bursts with 4 minute rests in between. We were meant to run at a certain pace based on what we are capable of, just didn’t quite know how to figure out what pace I was running. I think I need a new running watch which will tell me all that sort of information 🙂 Christmas is coming.
I ended up running some slow ones and some quick ones. Still it’s all building experience and time out there actually running.

The people at the Club, trainers and fellow runners have been truly welcoming and supportive. I have said it before, but what a great community the running community is. I didn’t know they were out there, would never have found that unless I started running, and am so very glad I did.

I am starting to really enjoy running. Not all the time, not every run, but some of the time. Progress is being made.

Have a great week everyone.

The road ahead is never quite as planned

As you would know, I started this whole running experience to set myself a new challenge, something I felt I needed. I also love new events i.e. new routes when walking, new places to visit, learning new things, particularly those that are a bit hard, but have a logical outcome. For example learning Russian is not currently on my bucket list, only because I don’t know anyone who speaks Russian, I’m not planning on moving there, so it seems a bit pointless.

Learning running has a completely different planned outcome. There is the getting fit, feeling healthy aspect, weight control, and the whole idea of new physical challenges does appeal. I keep dreaming of finishing a big event and how fantastic that would feel.
I wasn’t prepared or expecting all the little wins along the way.

For a start, this whole running community (I have mentioned this before) are truly an awesome group of people. They have so far been incredibly supportive, completely embracing, and seem to celebrate everyone’s success whether you are a 100km trail runner across the French Alps or a struggling 5km runner like me. I didn’t even know they were out there until I started running, and they have been an unexpected win.

I have started to tweet and in the process have found a huge group of runners from around the world who support each other, laugh together, write poems for each other about the hardships and joys of running mostly. They are kind, generous of spirit and joyful. They have been full of advice and encouragement. Once again, such a win, and certainly wasn’t planning on finding them.

I signed up to InTraining Running Club this week which I am also excited about.  I am better at a group thing, being part of a team, and sharing the struggle.  I have signed up for their beginner classes and am really looking forward to the new challenges that is going to bring.  I start next week so will let you know how that goes.

Most of all, for a girl who found it hard to run 40 seconds non stop a few months ago, to now running a slow 5km, the win is that it has given me lots of happy endorphins and making me high on life.

Have a great week everyone.

 

 

Feeling Fatigued ……….

“Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come. Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won, and all the fear you have overcome”.  – Unknown.

 

I have been feeling really fatigued over the last few days. Have had a ton of sleep, as in almost 12 hours for 2 nights running. My mind set is normally one of ‘push through’, ‘everything will be OK in the end’, ‘just get it done’, but this feeling has stopped me in my tracks. I didn’t do a moment of exercise yesterday, and didn’t get up for a run this morning.

This morning I have been doing some research about likely causes. I don’t want to feel like this, and the sooner it’s gone the better.

I’m a “all in or out” kind of girl. My exercise regime has been ramping up since I decided I wanted to be a runner. Together with the running training, I have been doing strength and conditioning with my PT (a no – brainer, you don’t start running at my age for the first time without building up core and strength) and also doing High intensity workouts to help build up my fitness.

Together with some girlfriends, we walk 3 mornings a week, long high intensity walks, either fast on the flats, or up small mountains in the bush with big elevations of heart rate. The walks are glorious and I love them. You always feel so great afterwards and full of the joys of life.
Often we also do a bike ride one morning a week for an hour or two.

I walk the dogs an hour a day.  This is in itself great exercise.  They pelt along at a rapid rate and stop for nothing.  So, every day I do at least 2 sets of exercise per day, some days I do 3 sets and some days 4 sets. On Sundays I just walk the dogs, nothing else.

Maybe I am just doing too much so have decided that today I will make myself an exercise planner for the weeks ahead, and try and get some space and recovery between sessions.

The other big issue which I have been alerted to following my research this morning is food and water intake both before and after training. Water is not an issue, I drink at least 2 Litres per day, but nutrition is definitely a problem for me.  I just haven’t taken enough care about eating right before or after training sessions.  The Livestrong foundation wrote the following  “When blood sugar levels drop too low, exhaustion may occur. Pre-workout meals prevent this by stabilizing blood sugar levels. Eat a high-carbohydrate, moderate-protein and low-fat snack between one and three hours before working out. This can be a banana, oatmeal, juice or low-fat yogurt. After-workout meals eaten within 20 minutes also help. A snack with a 3-to-1 ratio of carbohydrates and protein will restore glycogen and replenish tired muscles, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Good post-workout snacks include trail mix, yogurt with granola and chocolate milk”  This same advice was recommended in other places I looked, so from now on, I am going to take nutrition more seriously.

Have a great week everyone.  Until soon.

Motivation through quotes

I find quotes motivate me. I come across particular ones and they hit a chord within, propel me into action, or just make me feel more determined, motivated, accepting, kind, upbeat, strong, powerful or validates what I am thinking right now.

I wanted to share these quotes with you because they may help you along the path too.

The first one that is a favourite goes like this:-

“New day,  new blessings, new opportunities, new start, new mindset,      new focus, new intentions, new results.”

I read this one often, particularly when yesterday didn’t go as well as I had planned, or just ended up being a nothing kind of day that leaves you feeling a bit blah.

One that follows from this one is, and one I absolutely love:-

“She needed a hero, so she became one…..”

 

There is a short poem that I read that speaks to my belief in sisterhood and how the very best can happen when women support each other:-

“Hey girl, I see you there.
Trying, showing up.
pushing through even when it’s hard.
Choosing energy forward over staying stuck.
Backing your talk with action.
Standing up and fighting for your fairytale.
I like what you’re up to, keep doing it. “

by Natalie Brite

To do with running, I like:_

“Run the mile you’re in”  

I also like (and I repeat it to myself often)

“It’s a slow process, but quitting won’t speed it up”

And then, just for fun, I love this sign outside my local coffee shop:-

Have a great week everyone. Heading for my second Parkrun tomorrow.  It’s still making me nervous as I was last week, but am sure the nerves will fade as I do a few of these.

5 things I learned from my first ever parkrun

Well people. I did it. My 1st ever Parkrun. It was exhilarating and for the record, I ran 37:22 which I think may be snail pace, but gives me a target to beat next time. I was super impressed with the organisation of it all, and also how many runners turned up. I had done some research on Parkrun the day before and was amazed to discover how many Countries it is being held in, and how truly global it is. There is this whole world out there I didn’t know a thing about until I started running. Loving all the discoveries. I learned a few things along the way I thought I would share.

1. Runners are truly supportive of each other. I got some positive comments along the way such as ‘doing well’ or ‘keep it up’ which was unexpected and really helpful.

2. Other runners are inspirational and aspirational. I was a bit slow today but saw so many quick and awesome runners, and got inspired to do better, and thought that I could get better and quicker and fitter.  No sooner had I finished that I was planning next week and how I would attack it differently.

3. When you plan to do something, at some stage you have to stop planning and just do it whether you think you are ready or not. The fear of failure can stop you in your tracks. I have been planning a 5km run for months, and if it wasn’t for a quote I read during the week, I would probably still be planning.  It popped up in Instagram and was the Nike logo “Just do it” but seemed to be somehow speaking to me and it did propel me to action.

4. How awesome it is to achieve something new and challenging. This is not be underestimated.  I think we go through life and there is a period we are doing lots of new things and kicking new goals, but as life moves on, it seems to happen less and less.  I think we need new challenges all the days of our lives, and we need to work out what they could be, and how to achieve them. It doesn’t have to be physical, it could be mental, learn a new language, do an art appreciation course, something.  It’s mighty good for the soul.

5.  How truly wonderful woman are (men too but this is particularly for all the women out there)  I am blessed to have a couple of daughters and a sisterhood of women around me who support me and are there for me whatever I do.   We laugh (sometimes uproariously or get the giggles) together, we cry, worry, share thoughts and feelings and events and without each other, life would not be as glorious as it is.  I am sure the women reading this will ‘get it’.  Nothing like your girlfriends to hold you up and validate the person you are.

Until next time.  Enjoy your running.

Anne

p.s. Thanks to Sheila for coming today and taking these photos.  You’re a treasure.