Saturday 26 February 2011

Ullock Eighteen

Ouch. Have had really bad problems with leg cramps past two days, and consequently even walking is an ordeal at the moment. It has been suggested that the steroid for the asthma may cause this and that it's something to do with Potassium levels... I dunno, but I will have to look into it, cos this was really painful so if I can fix it by eating a few sultanas it will be well worth it!

As if it was ever gonna be easy anyway!! Drew my little map out as usual and set off in sunshine once again. The hills were particularly brutal on my already hurting muscles, but I did the best I could - walked some bits but ran most of it. Hah. Good job I took my map with me, nearly went the wrong way in Ullock (oo er that would have added on a few miles, gulp)




Never once had to reach for the inhaler, breathing absolutely fine, even on the hard work bits. Will it last? I hope so, I'm not squirting this stuff down my throat every morning and night for nothing y'know.

Well, now I shall apply some after sun cream before taking Jasper out for his walk (helps to keep my legs from seizing up too). definitely gained a fair few freckles on the way today (try saying that after a few) and then I am gonna watch the Rugby and have a few beers. Cos I reckon I earned it today.

:-)

Thursday 24 February 2011

Eight miler

After the long run on Saturday it took a full 24 hours for my breathing to recover, although otherwise I felt great - particularly in my spirit!! The knock on from that was that I was concerned at how I would be after my next run and with having to consider work as well I became a little wary of running in the week. On top of this I was very very tired too and in the event I had lots and lots of sleep instead!

It's pretty unusual for me to lie in but I did so on both of my late shifts this week, so this morning, my third and final late shift of the week, I decided to go for the 8 miler and test the water. I felt fine and my lungs felt fully functional, the steroids have had two full weeks to kick in, so this is the moment of truth.



The only problem I had on the whole run was with tightness in my calves, I guess due to the lack of running over the past fortnight really, so I stopped a few times to do some quality stretches in the hope that would help for a longer run this weekend. I had taken some Ventolin prior to the run as a preventative measure but I never even thought about using it during the run or afterwards. I think that's a first, so I am very pleased.

Also I was able to allow my HR to increase a little so that at times (the uphill bits) I was breathing quite hard, but I still had no problems whatsoever.

Verrrrrry pleased. If this keeps up then I may yet be able to climb back into my training schedule. We shall see how I get on with a long run this weekend, I am a bit worried at having missed some of the shorter runs, but I'll try to tackle it with the same frame of mind as last weekends 16 and see how I get on.

Friday 18 February 2011

Sweet Sixteen

Okay, so the doc told me I am not to run, but he also gave me some new medication to help me. Now I know the steroids take time to build up and have an effect, and I rather stupidly thought that I could try a little run on Wednesday morning. It was a disaster and left me feeling that I had absolutely no chance of being able to make the marathon in May. I think I still feel that really.

I was a little subdued.

But then I woke up this morning and I felt fine and strong and the sun was shining and, and, and oh well - you get the picture.

With it firmly in my head that the long runs are the most important I decided to go for it and see how I got on.

As I chugged out the first mile I can't tell you how great I felt. Of course, my legs were fresh from not running in the week, but just everything felt really great. I promised myself I would try to keep my heart rate at a sensible level and to walk if necesssary, take ventolin if necessary, but get round if I felt I could.


So I did walk bits now and then and I stopped once or twice to regroup, take a couple of puffs, or to take a layer off when the sun got really strong... but I made it and I feel bloody marvellous. I am still struggling with my breathing a bit and I am wheezing quite a bit while I am typing this, but it's manageable and I am hoping that the steroids will continue to build up an it will get easier.

Guess I'll just have to wait and see how it goes, but I'm not totally discounting Edinburgh for another week. At least its flatter than this...


Saturday 12 February 2011

Dog Tired!

Okay, so here's the story...

I visited the doctor yesterday regarding the asthma thingy and he has decided that I need to also take a steroid inhaler as a preventative - this was because I have been waking up with breathing difficulties and the issue seems to be occuring irrespective of whether I run or not, which is not how it seemed before.

Because he is concerned that my symptoms are worsening he has insisted that I must not run until he has had the opportunity to consult with his colleagues over the best course of action. Despite my pleas he would absolutely not budge on this, and has told me that I should consider that the marathon may not be a possibility for me.

Uh huh.

Unfortunately it is the weekend and I am due a long run...

So I woke up this morning feeling okay and thought, knickers to it, I'm gonna give it a try and if I get into trouble I will walk. Hmmph. So I got my kit out and made a pre-run coffee....and then I realised that the doc was right. I really don't want to get into the sort of difficulties I was having last week and the steroid inhaler will not take effect immediately, so I am in danger of being in the middle of nowhere having an asthma attack which the Ventolin won't clear and okay, so I have a phone but I can't bloody speak!!!!!

Change of plan. Jasper....'Get your lead'



The poor dog enjoyed the long walk up til about mile 11 and then he asked for food and I knew he was out of energy. Bless him, but he knows me well enough to know I would have supplies with me, so I fed him up a little and we continued.

It's harder walking this sort of distance than it is running it - my feet are killing me, and I couldn't wait to sit down as soon as I came in the door!! I know you can't train to run a marathon by walking, but in my mind it allows me to keep the faith and that's all I can ask at the moment.



I did take this opportunity to try out the Camelbak which I have acquired for my long runs (!) and I was quite pleased with it. Very comfortable, no wobble or slosh and the mouthpiece doesn't dribble at all, even though my own may do from time to time. Very impressed. I have used a hydration back pack before but it was a cheaper version - this one is the real thing and I was very impressed with it. It also had room for Jaspers bits and pieces including his water bottle. I tried out the High 5 zero tabs that MuN recommended and found that to be very refreshing, although I do think I should have taken food with me on this venture as I started to feel a little light headed in the last two miles.

On the review note, a quick mention about the 305 now that I have used it a few times. A few people have criticised the way it 'moves round' on your wrist so you can't see the face easily... I used to thave that problem with the 405 as well, and I think to be fair it's just to do with gravity really. If anything the bulk of the 305 lessens this issue, but I would agree that the thing is uncomfortable to wear. If you wear the strap tight enough to stop it slipping round it feels like you are in handcuffs, well cuff then, but it really isn't anything particularly worth writing home about. I am still pleased with it, although I still wish they did them in something other than red....

Thursday 10 February 2011

Zero miles

Okay, here's the story...

The weather up until today has been not very good at all and this seems to have given me some pretty serious problems breathing-wise. I really shouldn't have pushed the 4 miles out on Tuesday as it knocked me up really badly and I had problems through the night and all of yesterday.

Today, while I have woken up with just a bit of wheezing, rather than gasping for air like yesterday, I know it would be ridiculous to even think about running. I am only firing on a couple of cylinders at the mo, and I can't risk it worsening. On the bright side - I have actually only missed one four miler so far, on the less than bright side... well, a lot depends on the weather.

We shall see, but I remain optimistic!!

Tuesday 8 February 2011

Four Miler....

Okay, so I skipped the routine 4 miler last night, knowing I could sneak it back in tonight instead as this was otherwise gonna be a rest day, but I dithered about whether or not to leave it again as I had been having a bit of trouble through the day with my breathing...

When it came to it, I decided it really was best if I did the run today, rather than put it back again, but it was an error of judgement and I really had a lot of problems on the way round, having to stop for a lengthy period at one point to regain some control over my breathing. I should have turned back but I refused to and instead bullied myself round. When I got home my breathing was as a level which warranted a call to the out of hours doc, but I promised myself if it got ANY worse I would ring... and eventually it began to ease.



This is not good. Not good at all, but I see the doc on Friday so will see what he has to say.

Of course, the inevitable question was 'Why on Earth did you not just turn back' but my fellow runners will understand even if they too cannot actually put together the words to make an answer. I'm concerned, but determined to not be defeated by this, I really think the weather is just not good at the mo....

:-|

Saturday 5 February 2011

Wind free ten

Okay, well just in case you didn't notice, I was supposed to run 4 miles yesterday and 6 today, but the weather was dreadful yesterday - very very windy - and I decided it was not safe to go out in it. Truly it wasn't, branches and other stuff flying everywhere, so then my plan became to run the 4 this morning and then push out another run of 6 in the evening.... and then I thought, well, why not do it all in one go and put in another ten miler instead. After all, I missed a few long runs over November/December so it won't hurt.

And so it came to pass....



I struggled to get warmed up really, troubled by a tight right calf again and also with my breathing, but settled into it eventually and thoroughly enjoyed this run.

Next week I am starting to be a bit more strict on my diet as it has kind of gone up the swannee and I really could use shifting a few pounds. Other news... I am back at the doc on Friday to review my progress with the asthma, and I have entered the St George's 10k again at Langdale. (It was only a fiver as they had to cancel the Christmas Pud one, so thought it would be churlish to not enter. I have adjusted the training plan to slot that in) and I did post this news on Facebook, but haven't mentioned here that I have already got a ballot place for this years Great North Run, which is my birthday weekend. OMG will I really be THAT old this year :-(

Wednesday 2 February 2011

Just a six miler...

This felt a lot easier going than last nights run, not having been on my feet all day beforehand seemed to make quite a lot of difference!



Weather could only be described as atrocious though, gales and horizontal rain.... very cold with it. Wasn't tooooo bad until turning out onto the A595 to return home and the wind was full on in my face and besides making it hard graft, I couldn't see a darned thing! Had to stop for breath once or twice and found it difficult to even stand in it, so I wasn't too hard on myself for feeling like I was struggling over the last mile and a half.

The legs felt fine today, much more relaxed and comfortable, so I am pleased with that. Rest day tomorrow, but for now - must dash, gotta take Jasper for a walk before I dry out too much!

Tuesday 1 February 2011

An Arduous Eight

It was a long eleven hour day at work, with an hour's drive either end and then just time for a coffee before going straight out for this 8 miler. A big ask on tired legs and I had one or two discussions with myself along the way, but eventually settled into it.

Heck, I got there one way or another! This is the longest run this week, and next week is an easy week til the Saturday, so I can relax now and have a bit of a breather (!) My main issue tonight seemed to be with a bit of tightness in my calves, so once I had got thoroughly warmed up and done some stretches it went a lot easier. Maybe I should make a point of remember to do some stretching post run, I guess it might be helpful.

Anyway, here it is.

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