And so it continues....

...the heat, the sweat, the wheezing, the wobbling...

And so after feeling mildly jealous watching all the runners at the Leeds 10k (although why exactly I should be jealous of looking that sweaty, exhausted and in pain is a mystery to me), I continue into week 2 of the Couch to 5K plan. I start this week with the discovery that tech material succumbs as easily as cotton to the sheen of white fibre left by putting it through the wash with an emergency tissue in the pocket...  

WEEK 2

Monday 15 July (evening) - 90/120 second run/walk splits

22m 45s. 1.97 miles. Avg speed 5.19 mph. Avg pace 11:34 min/mile

old but weighty friends

As much as my asics have been reliable friends, never giving me so much as a hint of a rub or blister, and uncomplainingly taking more than the occasional submersion in muddy puddles during dog walks, boy do they feel heavy compared to my merrells (still in hiding from the physio), and also - particularly in this unbelievably summery weather - HOT, and I hate having hot feet, so it's with a heavy heart that I look despondently at my merrells whilst lacing up the asics.

my merrells - look like clown
 shoes but I love them

I remember being surprised the first time I started the Plan just how hard I found week 2, after week 1 had seemed such a backwards step compared to what I'd been doing the previous couple of months, so I guess I should be pleasantly surprised that I didn't find it too bad this time round (unlike week 1 that felt significantly harder than I remembered). Saying that, my calves were feeling the strain and possibly plotting a revolt. The run is meant to last 21 mins (actually the plan says 20 mins but it doesn't add up) but, having came up short by 15 seconds on the last running set, I forced myself to put in an extra minute's worth as punishment. And after my, rapidly becoming habitual, post-run sojourn in the field to watch the sunset, I sprinted up Hesketh Mount as a grand finale 

Following day - feeling tired but generally not too bad.

Wednesday 17 July (evening) - 90/120 second run/walk splits

21 mins. 1.74 miles. Avg speed 4.97 mph. Avg pace 12:04 min/mile

After getting home relatively early having taken an impromptu afternoon off to partake in a late lunch and shopping trip, I was left debating whether or not to head out early for a run in what turned out to be the hottest day of the year so far. In the end the decision was taken away from me due to promptly falling asleep the minute I sat down. I've never been a successful power-napper so I woke feeling disorientated and pretty grim, but a glass of cordial and a packet of Rowntree's Randoms sorted me out. Fortunately all this meant that in the end it was pretty late, and hence, relatively cooler before I set off.

Had some pain down the outside of my right achilles pre-run, but that seemed to ease off. Two-thirds of the way through and my legs feel really tired, especially my calves. Trying to adopt the chi-running style of just concentrating on lifting my legs behind me rather than powering along seemed to help a little and I made it through the full set. Saying this, the tiredness and general loss of fitness has left me feeling a little low, and already worried about next week's runs - 3 minutes feeling like an implausible length of time....

Following day - calves feel tired

Added attractions - two squirrels and a steel band

Friday 19 July (late evening) - 90/120 second run/walk splits

21 mins. 1.7 miles. Avg speed 4.85 mph. Avg pace 12:22 min/mile

my "off-road" section - now minus track
but with additional fallen tree and
significantly more shrubbery

Set off in a very low mood, hoping the run would help. Unfortunately this time it didn't and I returned home still wanting to boil my head. I changed the route slightly just so I didn't run the risk of throwing myself in the river out of boredom (even my favourite little "off-road" jaunt down what used to be a light railway couldn't lift my spirits - even with the added challenge of a fallen tree to climb over).

Started the run with slightly tight calves and the now familiar niggling pain in my right achilles, but again this eased off during the run. Tried to concentrate on adopting a chi-running gait throughout and I think it did possibly help in terms of my legs not tiring as quickly.

Following day - sore right achillies when walking barefoot

Nutrition - one midge :-(

Next week - 90/90/180/180 run/walk x2