Tiny Dancer

Tuesday 29th June 2010

This morning my only option was a treadmill run at the gym, so I settled baby Lily-Rose in at the creche and plugged into my new bookclub podcast (discussing the book Will Grayson, Will Grayson, by John Green and David Levithan, which I haven't read yet, but am now determined to!). I generally prefer running to podcasts than to music for two reasons: 1) music affects the speed and rythm of my running too much, unless a particular tune happens to be the perfect tempo for my run, which is rare, and 2) if a podcast is interesting and captures my imagination and attention, it distracts me from the pain of running, and I find I have covered more ground without even realising!

Running on a treadmill is very different to running out of doors, and to be honest, much more boring. I have never run further than 5K on a treadmill - I just can't do it, despite the distraction of 8 screen TV display at my gym. But, given that I'm on a bit of a running high at the moment, I programmed in a goal of 8K on my treadmill and set the speed to 9.5 Kph...

I noticed the lady on the treadmill in front of me appeared to be almost dancing as she ran. She was tiny, extremely toned and obviously very fit, and I wondered how she was doing it. I am probably slightly underweight, and consider myself to be fairly fit and healthy, but felt like a lumbering elephant compared to this lady, who was so light on her feet - she was like a ballerina!

Anyway, determination plus motivation plus distraction allowed me to complete my 8K, by which time I was absolutely sick of the treadmill! But, mission accomplished. The distance in miles turned out to be 4.97 - I should have worked this out before and then carried on running for another 20 seconds or so, to make it up to exactly 5 miles, but I think I'll claim it as 5 miles anyway as I did do a one minute cool down! Fair enough?

(By the way, the dancing lady in front of me moved to the side and I was able to see how she was doing it... her treadmill was set to only 7.2Kph! So she was travelling slowly, but moving her feet very quickly, taking tiny steps, pretty much half-way between a walk and a run - a little like how race-walkers look when they wiggle their hips! I wanted to try it myself, but was far too self-concious - maybe one day, if the gym ever happens to be empty!)

Distance run (in miles): 5.0
Total distance this week: 10.0
Total since starting blog: 34.7

Heatwave

Monday 28th June 2010

Yesterday (Sunday) was another scorchingly hot day, and in the evening I tried another 5 mile run of my new favourite route. But minutes into the run I knew it wasn't going to happen... it was way too hot, my knees were saying "please, not again!" and basically my whole body was protesting like a whiney toddler! Typical me... trying to do too much too soon. Fair enough - I would give myself a day off.

So the following evening, having kept nicely hydrated during the day, I set off for a different location, hoping to catch some cool breezes off the Medway estuary at St Mary's Island.

It was a beautiful evening, the sun low in the sky and sparkling off the water, and I set off in high spirits, aiming for 4 miles. The walkway was buzzing with runners, cyclists, dog-walkers and lots of loved-up people! I never know what the "etiquette" is when passing other runners... to make eye-contact or not, to smile or not? Generally I try to assess whether the runner looks friendly or not, and make tentative eye-contact and a slight smile, if it seems appropriate! After about 5 minutes I passed one of my running friends, Hannah, also out for an evening run, coming towards me and we quickly exchanged greetings and news, neither of us slowing down!

I made it to the end of my podcast and checked my distance - exactly 5 miles - how weird! A good start to the week, and I felt I had redeemed myself after my disastrous attempt yesterday evening.

Distance run (in miles): 5.0
Total distance this week: 5.0
Total since starting blog: 24.7

Viaduct

Friday 25th June 2010

Friday morning – the hottest day of the year so far – and my son Zachary’s 9th birthday. (Read about Zac on my other blog, Zachary’s Zoo, here.) Pressies opened, new trampoline bounced on, boys dispatched to school, sweet Lily-Rose settled with her daddy (who is working from home today), and it’s time for a run…

I have been wanting to run across the Medway Viaduct for a while, but always been intimidated by its size. It’s basically three enormous bridges, side by side, spanning the River Medway at one of its widest parts. Two of them are the London and coast-bound carriageways of the M2, and the third is the high-speed rail link that connects London with the Channel Tunnel.

The plan was to run from my house out of Rochester and through Borstal, up and over the viaduct into Cuxton, down into Strood and back across the River Medway via the historic Rochester Bridge, into Rochester and home. I had no idea what the distance would be (I was guessing maybe 6 or 7 miles) or how long it would take, but I had a new podcast, my running cap to keep the sun out of my eyes, and a bottle of water just in case…

The Medway is a very hilly area and I was already pretty tired, especially given the heat, by the time I got through Rochester and Borstal and to the bridge. I had heard that there was a footpath / cycle-path to get up onto the viaduct and managed to find my way up with no problem. Once on the bridge, I was astounded by the view. I drive over this bridge several times a week, but always at speed and there is never enough time to stop and take in the view. The river stretches for miles below and the panorama is amazing, with dramatic views of Rochester Castle and Cathedral.

I’m not a fast runner (yet!) so there was plenty of time to take it all in, especially as the bridge itself is almost a mile long. Unfortunately, despite being so high up, the air was pretty bad, as the wind was blowing from the south-west, carrying exhaust fumes from all 8 lanes of traffic towards me. But the view made up for it!

At the end of the viaduct I was unsure how to get back down to level ground, but managed to find a footpath which brought me out onto the A228 at Cuxton, and from then I knew my way down into Strood. The run across Rochester Bridge was another feast for the eyes, dominated again by beautiful Rochester Castle (I am a big fan of castles!), and then the final uphill mile and a half to my house. Made it!

Checking my running app, I was surprised to find the distance was less than I had thought: only 8.4k (5.2 miles), and it had taken 54:25 minutes.

I had really enjoyed the run... it was a manageable distance and would be a good route to run on days when 5k was not enough but I didn’t feel up to 10k.

Distance run (in miles): 5.2

In fact, I enjoyed the run so much, that I did it again the next evening, Saturday 26th June at 8pm! It was a beautiful evening, the sun low in the sky, making the river views even more incredible. The other difference was that the wind was blowing from the north-east this time, so the air was fresh from the river - no exhaust fumes. (And reaching the other end of the viaduct, the delicious garlic and pizza smell from Frankie and Bennys far below on the river front, was mouthwatering!) Also, Rochester was buzzing this evening, as the Fuse Festival (performing arts) was taking place (http://www.fuse2010.org.uk/) - great atmosphere! Another 5.2 miles clocked up.

This running business is definitely getting addictive!

Distance run (in miles): 5.2
Total distance this week: 19.7
Total since starting blog: 19.7

Challenge

Tuesday 22nd June 2010

My 8 year old son Zac - who has severe autism - needs one-to-one attention at all times, and can't feed or dress himself. So we have a care-worker come in every school morning to help him get ready, as it is impossible for one person alone to do this whilst also getting 6 year old Luca and 1 year old Lily-Rose dressed and fed. (Trust me, it IS impossible!)

The care-worker is usually my mum, Sue, but she had to take dad to hospital this morning for heart tests, so my great friend Moby came instead. (Zac is unable to pronounce her real name, Rosemary, and has called her "Moby" since he was about 3... and it stuck!)

Anyway, what has all this got to do with running? Moby very kindly offered to look after sweet Lily-Rose once the boys were at school, so that I could go for a run. I knew this was probably the only chance I would get until Friday, so I jumped at the offer, totally against the advice of Katie Bertie, who is still concerned about my knee pain and recommended that I swim instead.

But my knees were feeling good after the frozen bean treatment on Sunday evening, so I decided to go ahead anyway, as I had a challenge in mind...

I have recently progressed to running 10K, but have never managed it in less than 70 minutes. Today, being beautifully sunny, calm and not-too-hot, seemed ideal for trying to improve my time. Also, I had on my iPhone a shiny new episode of my favourite podcast, Imprint, just waiting to be listened to, and it just happened to be 71 minutes long! So, if I could complete the distance before my podcast finished, I would win! (I am a HUGE fan of the Twilight saga, by Stephanie Meyer, and Imprint is the best Twilight fandom podcast out there - in my opinion! Check it out here.)

My chosen route was the Millenium Walkway, St Mary's Island, Chatham - a beautiful mile-long stretch along the River Medway. Running to the end and back 3 times (plus a tiny bit more) equates to 10K, according to the running app (using GPS) on my iPhone.

So, podcast on, I pressed start on my running app and set off, aiming for the sculpture of a ship's sail at the end of the walkway. I tried to aim for roughly 10 minute miles, and found this hard going and a slightly faster pace than I'm used to on road (treadmill is faster, but more tedious).

I made it to the end and back 3 times (plus the extra 4 lamp-posts to make it up to 10K!) and my podcast was still running! Checking my time, I was delighted to find I'd completed the distance in 64.46 - a new personal best! Not a great time admittedly, but for me it was a real achievement.

My knees were definitely protesting now - so straight on with the bags of frozen beans when I got back home. No chance to run till Friday now, but hopefully it will be long enough for them to recover!

Distance run (in miles): 6.2
Total distance this week: 9.3
Total since starting blog: 9.3

Knees

Sunday 20th June 2010

For the last 4 years Sunday evenings have been "get fit with Anna time". Anna is my Best Friend Forever, and she comes to my house on Sunday evenings to help bath Zac and put him to bed (simpler than it sounds!), after which we do some form of exercise... aerobics, step, running, or a Davina McCall workout DVD! In recent months, due to the lighter evenings, it has been running every time.

This evening Anna is tired and I have sore knees (more of that to come!), so we decide on a 5k circuit from my house down to the riverside, taking in views of the River Medway, Rochester Castle and the beautiful historic centre of Rochester.

It's a chance to test out my super-shiny bouncy new running shoes (my secret weapon against the sore knees), and of course to catch up on the week's news. It is a stunning evening in Rochester, blue sky on sparkling water, the sun low enough to turn the castle wall watermelon pink. We spot a pair of swans building a huge nest by the river. Gossip flows freely and life feels good!

We complete the circuit in 37 minutes. Yes, I know this is BAD. But you have to take into account the following: 1) Rochester is very hilly, 2) we were talking non-stop, 3) Anna's tiredness plus my sore knees and 4) this is only the FIRST blog entry... hopefully things will improve!

Returning home, we stretch, and then I put a bag of frozen green beans on each knee, on the advice of my "proper" running friend Katie Burtonshaw (hereafter known as "Katie Bertie"). A legitimate excuse to sit and rest! We will see tomorrow if the knees have survived.

Watch this space.

P.S. According to Katie Bertie, true runners always list their distance in miles, not kilometres. She is an avid running journal keeper, logging her weekly and yearly distance totals in a series of beautifully kept diaries. So, for the record, I will keep track of the distances I run, at the end of each blog entry. Here goes!

Distance run (in miles): 3.1
Total distance this week: 3.1
Total since starting blog: 3.1