To Run or Not To Run…

Days left until the big day: 148
State of mind: Lets just say...if you can read this, you are in range!

To Run or Not To Run…now that is the question…well mine at least for the last couple of days. Had a pretty shitty week and as a result my mood resembles the November weather here in the UK to a perfect match – dark, gloomy and wet.

Nothing really serious as such, and I reckon the state of my mood is a direct result of how the relationship with my dentist has developed since Wednesday.

I thought we had a deal…”Fix me up – pain free and quick!” was my understanding with him. He must have misunderstood somehow, as it quickly degenerated into a “Aaarrghhh, that hurt you Bl**dy B#%$^£&%...!” Admittedly, he apologised profusely when he messed up and promised to make it up when I go back AGAIN next week.

So how did that affect my running, you probably wonder? Well, it was not the pain that did not get me out there, more the fact that I my ability (or actually inability!) to eat was affected. For the last four days I have been on fluids more or less and that didn’t do my mood any good either as my flatmate or VRB1 (Virtual Running Buddy 1) will gladly testify. So with that in mind, I didn’t really dare to go out running for hours on end since Wednesday, as it would not do my body any good with so little nutrition inside – again if it wasn’t for the protein shakes I would not have been able to get any in…

Happy to write though that I did manage to go 3 times prior to Wednesday and again today – so covered about 20 miles overall in the last 7 days.

This morning when I left the house, I just did not feel like running at all. And that is an understatement as I had delayed my run with all the normal delaying tactics I could think of and on top of that, it is needless to say that yes it did start raining about 10 minutes in, nevertheless when I got back 47 minutes later – I felt fantastic, so I am very glad I went!

Feel a bit better now ;-) and will go again tomorrow…

Take care
AZ

Swimming Lessons…

Its official, I have joined a swimming club. From now on I will only part take in swimming sessions and no more running. I have to admit, it has not been a voluntarily decision, mind you, it was more or less forced upon me… with the current weather conditions my running sessions have turned into swimming lessons.

No without kidding, anyone looking for an accurate weather forecast for Hindhead and surroundings, just ring me and ask me when I plan to run. You will then immediately have a 100% accurate indication on when it will rain.

It is almost funny, the day starts out dry and almost sunny and when my thoughts go towards running, dark & grey clouds immediately start to form above this tiny village. Its still dry though, so good humoured as I (mostly) am, I change into my training gear. It is still dry at this stage! I gather my stuff; water, mp3 player, house key etc and its still dry, albeit a bit darker now. I leave the house and it is still dry! 3 minutes into running, and the dark clouds break open, the rain beats down on me in massive drops, when hitting my clothes, sounding like tiny little voices laughing “Gotcha! Ha! Drop, Ha! Drop, Gotcha again!”.

I am not letting that get to me though, although it does cause “funny” situations. When running on Tuesday (yes, a full 50 minutes/7mile) I had to do a mile stretch next to the A3. Not ideal with the traffic in mind, but it was only a mile.

I started to notice, while the rain was pounding on me, this one car was staying behind me, as if driving with me and not driving past me, now that is weird in general, but especially on the A3, he was causing a massive queue behind him too.

Initially I thought, that’s nice, this car doesn’t want to overtake me with his car fumes etc… then I noticed he was taking pictures of me using his phone, well obviously not really pictures of me, more of my behind … Now I am not easily insulted and it actually made me laugh. Sad cow taking pictures of that image, I thought, but then realising the rain had soaked my clothes a little bit, and thinking of these new running training pants I was wearing, it wasn’t long before the creepy thought of “Have they become see-through” entered my mind. Hmmmm… I realised there was nothing I go do at that stage, except run faster! With hindsight, I think is quite clear now, why I achieved one of my best times that day!

Overall, glad to be back running, and the rain is actually quite nice, believe it or not, now that I am used to it and got some rain proof clothing. Doing another run today of about an hour and then a long run (90 min) on Sunday. So anyone planning to spend time outside on Sunday take an umbrella with you if it is between 11 and 13…!

Take care all,

AZ

PS: VRB 1 - virtual running buddy - was dangerously close to officially becoming VCB 1 last Sunday. VCB standing for Virtual Couch Buddy! During my running break of two weeks, he gladly participated in the NOT-running part (claiming sympathy pains) and he still struggles a little to get back into it, read barely trains, apparently! He made up though on Monday and Tuesday, I have to admit, so for now he still lingering on a VRB status…but it is a thin thread ;-)

PS1: Thanks for all the comments and messages of support since I started training again. I really appreciate that and it makes it all worthwhile! Apologies if I have not replied personally (yet), just so you know, I do read and like your messages!

....run like the wind?

Days left until the big day: 163
State of mind: Positive (ish…)

I managed to run for the first time since weeks and I only had three thoughts on my mind while doing so:

• “Why on earth do I have the urge to go run at 6.45am on a bleak, wet Thursday morning…”
• “What time is it now?… (repeatedly, every 30 seconds…)”
• “Oh no, I think I am going to vomit!”

I remember the first time I went running back in August very clearly, it had taken me over a week and a half to just stop aching when I breathed in and I had looked as if I was about an inch and a half away from a coronary. Today went slightly better (I wrote positively)… I did have an intense dialogue with my heart about half way through, but my trainer had instructed me to not run for more than 30 minutes, as it was the first time since a couple of weeks. He need not have said that, I gladly stopped at 28 min exactly.

Hmmm, it is interesting as well to note that I have LOST weight (?), about 2 inches around my waist and my jeans are significantly looser! Which really should not have happened, my weight is not really an issue I worry about, to say the least, but it does bring up the worldly question, and most females will most likely shoot me now, “How can I loose weight when I stop exercising?”

Perhaps my eating habits (or lack off) had more of an influence on that actually, come to think of it. When I run, I go about feeling very hungry 24/7…and for obvious reasons I fill that need quite substantially. Not having run for more than 2 weeks has changed my appetite and reduced my intake from Super Portions to a mere slice of bread a day, (sorry mum!). I think the answer is very simple…”Need to eat more!”

Anyhow, back running will sort that most likely as today I already consumed more than I had for the first part of the week combined ;-)…

Sunday I plan to run for 40 minutes… and soon I’ll be back to my 90-min-and-up plan…

Take care

AZ

PS: Both VRB’s (Virtual Running Buddies) are no where to be seen…One has left the country to go back to work, which funnily enough includes 4-days quad biking on a nice sub-tropical island and the other managed to text me this morning with some humble excuse and a weird explanation of a “Postman Pat” outfit…(?)

Frustration all around…

It's been almost 2 weeks now of no running and I am getting frustrated. Good news is I am allowed to start again next week… can’t wait to get back on schedule.

In the mean time, this is maybe a good time to share with you I started my fundraising efforts. Having started to run in August, barely able to continuously run for 3 minutes to now being able to effortlessly run for 90 minutes I feel I can justify that ;-)

For those of you who know me, the obvious choice of charity would have been the cancer research organisation, but this is a cause, which already receives a lot of funding and sponsor activities! That is of course great, but as we are all aware, there are terrible tragedies all over developing countries. So in this instance, I decided to work with Merlin.

Merlin is the only specialist UK charity, which responds worldwide with vital health care and medical relief for vulnerable people. As we are all aware, there are terrible tragedies all over developing countries. Merlin works hard to set up emergency field clinics, control and treat infectious diseases, and rebuild hospitals. Each year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people affected by natural disasters, conflict, disease and health system collapse in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. All of their work is medical relief based, bringing healthcare to those populations most in need. If you want to sponsor me to help me help Merlin, you can do so online, click on: www.zeronilnada.com, which is the website I dedicated to raise the money.
On top of that I am also in the process of printing postcards with yours truly featuring in all kind of funny positions while training. So keep an eye on your mailbox to be entertained. ;-)) I promise you a good laugh…

I will update you all soon on my actual running progress once back training next week. YES! I can’t wait…

Take care,
AZ