This post is a day late because a friend from way back is home from the United States for a holiday. He wanted to go out for a curry (apparently you can’t get a decent curry in the United States, or at least not in Ohio) so about a dozen of us did just that. Consequently I didn’t get round to posting last night.
My technology failed me a bit, for some reason Strava only recorded the second part of my run. It lost the part up to the point where I stopped to take this photo. Perhaps it was trying to tell me that I am supposed to be running and not stopping to admire the view, but you must admit Beddington Park was looking particularly fine.
I think that the programme steps up a bit tomorrow. It either increases the number of segments or reduces the recovery times – or both. I’ll tell you about it if I survive.
We have entered week two of my adventure. I haven’t had a heart attack yet. Apart from slightly sore legs the day following a run* I have had no ill effects. No dog attacks, unless you count the Labrador pup that wanted to lick me to death. I haven’t even stepped in any dog poo (yet). Either my route is dog free or Wallington dog owners are very good a picking up after their pets.
A new week brings an increased challenge, longer run segments. The run segment has been lengthened from sixty to ninety seconds, the recovery walk has also increased, to two minutes. Except the last two run walk segments are now one minute runs with a one minute recovery walk. Sneaky or what.
I’m still standing (running??) and the evidence,if you interested. is as ever on Strava.
*Run, as you have probably realised, is at the moment, the term used by my encouragement voice – the one who calls me an “awesome runner”.
Another walk/run/shuffle successfully completed. The format was the same as last time; a five minute warmup walk, then eight one minute runs with one and a half minute recovery walks. then a five minute warm down walk. It felt a bit harder today for some reason. I could be that it is colder and generally more miserable than it has been. Because of that I put a pair of long (cycling) tights on as well as an extra layer on top. Also I went out after I came home from work rather than going out first thing in the morning as I did the previous two times. It could also be that I was running faster. Strava tells me that I covered an extra 150m compared to Monday. So that quite possibly explains it. It felt harder because I was working harder. I also earned myself a determination badge. I suppose that it means that I didn’t give up after the first run.
The run also induced the beginnings of runner’s paranoia. This I believe, can be a very expensive disease to treat.
As I was running I was feeling a slight pain in my shins. This lead to thoughts along the lines of; “Are my £50 Adidas cross-trainers providing adequate cushioning when I am running on the road?”
“Should I go out and buy myself a pair of proper running shoes?
“How much should I pay £100 – £150 – £200?”
“What is the best make?”
“I’ll Google it when I get home”
By the time I got home the paranoia had calmed down a bit, so I think I’ll stick with the £50 cross-trainers, at least for the time being.
I also earned myself a determination badge. I suppose that it means that I didn’t give up after the first run.