Hot and windy today. It was very hot with the wind behind me but much better when I turned into the breeze. It is lovely to be running in the sunshine and although I run better, more evenly and with a lower heart rate in the colder weather, I just which the summer would go on longer so I could have more of these beautiful days, golden barley waving in the wind, skylark singing above me, the sound of the sea breaking over the sand - wonderful.

6 miles
1 hour 10.42
Average HR 147
Peak HR 165
Average pace 11.73

Not exactly a long run today, not a short one either, more medium sized and a chance to see how the Nike Frees feel when I go a little further than usual in them.
All went well, a little stiffness in the calf at 3 miles, a massage and stretch then all was fine for the rest of the run. The socks I had on started to rub a bit towards the end but that's easily fixed. The achilles stayed quiet. A warm day and I was dripping by the end of the second mile but I was well hydrated. I used some fruitjuice, salt and water mixture as I didn't have any sports drink and it worked every bit as good. My heart rate was a bit higher than I wanted it to be but I think the heat has an effect.
I felt like I could have gone further and after the first 10 minutes, which were a bit horrid with the breathing, I enjoyed the run.

7.75 miles
1 hour 33.10 minutes
Average HR 149
Peak HR 165
Average pace 12.00


Yesterday evening I went to a Pilates class. Its the second one I have been to, the first one was at a different place and the idea is to chose which one seemed best and stick with that. The trouble is I have really enjoyed both of them and don't want to have to chose. The teacher at last night's one is training to be a sports masseur so that will be useful. Both teatchers were attentive and careful that I didn't do anything to injure my back and were very beginner friendly. I am looking forward to the next one on Saturday.

Another week's running to catch up on. I really must remember to do this each day.


Monday 26th June

Rest. I have another Pilates class to try this evening and I am looking forward to it. No effects on the achilles from the run yesterday.


Sunday 25th June

A warm, humid day, cloudy and still. It makes hard work of running in this heat but I enjoyed the run and even though I walked for 1 minute at the end of every mile, I was pleased that the time hadn't suffered. I conentrated of form at lot today and the achilles was much better so I will be more careful in future not to let my attention wander too much until its better.
Yumyum got my watch working again so I am glad to have the details from my run again.

6 miles
1 hour 05.29
Average HR 149
Peak HR 169
Average pace 10.88


Wednesday 21st June

A run with Yummy this evening. A nice one along the seafront, I was so glad to run where I can breathe. The air is quality is much better away from our Island and its certainly showing up in my running. The achilles was a bit sore after the run, mostly when walking.

5.5 miles
Average Pace 11.55


Tuesday 20th June

I had a pleasant run along the seafront this morning. The only trouble was my right achilles was hurting on and off and continued to be sore after the run was finished. I must have an easier week and see if I can rest it a little. I don't want to be getting injured again.

4.5 miles
Average pace 11.55

I've been a bit lax about catching up on the weeks running here. I blame the heat and the rushing around I seem to be doing lately. Here goes:

Monday Rest
Legs feel fine after the Half. No after effects at all.

Tuesday An extra rest day, very hot and didn't get up in time to run whilst it was cool.


Wednesday

My Heart Rate Monitor has died. I had a new battery put in the watch and that works now but won't pick up a signal from the chest strap. Its a nuisance, I didn't realise quite how much I rely on that for all my running data.
I ran for the fun of it today, no watch etc and did an easy run. I enjoyed it a lot and I will have to do this more often, I am too tied up with logging times and HR's normally.

5 miles
55 minutes
Pace 11 min miles


Thursday Rest


Friday

I thought I would have a change today and did a fartlek run. It was very warm and so the distance I did was more than adequate, nice to do something different. Once again, no time or HR recorded.

5 miles


Saturday Rest


Sunday

Long run day. I went to Southend seafront to get some fresher air as the farmer is spraying his fields AGAIN! How much of this stuff do we eat with out food, I wonder? I am finding breathing quite a chore this morning so heading to the sea seemed a better option. I ran well for the first hour and a half, then suddenly my legs got so tired, I had to have a few walks to get back to the car, my thighs and hips aching. I hadn't intended to go that far so hadn't had breakfast, just taken an energy drink and a handfull of sweets, obviously not enough for a run in that heat.
But I felt good for doing it as usual.

10 miles

Today I ran the Southend Half Marathon. I ran with Yummy and we both did a personal worst, adding at least 20 minutes to our half marathon time, coming in at 2 hours 44 mins. But neither of us has had the ?pleasure? of running in 30+degree heat for that distance before.At 3 miles I had a headache starting. We got to about 4 miles and decided all race strategy was best forgotton, so we would make a nice day of it and walk when we felt like it, plod if we wanted to and throw as much water over us as possible on the way. There were quite a few people outside their houses with sprinklers and hoses to give us a shower and loads of drinking water on the course, which was very much needed. I've now got a bruised big toe nail and a blistered little toe, due no doubt to wet socks and swollen feet. My calf felt a bit tight from mile 2 and started cramping at about 8 miles but with a stretch and a rub it didn't cause any real problem. I enjoyed the second half much more than the first half, I didn't start to drink the energy drink until we had run half way and it took a while to kick in but it did help. Even so, I was very glad to finish and I don't think I want to repeat the experience in a hurry. Everyone was the same as us though, loads of walking and I suspect there were not many PB's gained today.
Running in the heat slows me up so much and my heart rate was higher than I would have liked for the whole run but we made it to the end, that's more than a lot of people did by the sound of the ambulance sirens we heard frequently.
Feeling smug and tired now, I have already had a nap which is something I would never normally feel like after a 13 mile run.

13.1 miles
2 hours 44 minutes
Average HR 164
Peak HR 180
Average pace 12.5

Today I have to work so its a rest day from running. I need it really as this week is supposed to be taper week as I have the Southend Half Marathon on Sunday.


Yesterday - Monday 5th June

A nice run but still breathless though not as bad as last week. This made my HR higher than normal and the run felt like harder work than it should be at times. It got quite warm when the sun came out and made me realise that I am going to struggle in the heat if its hot on Sunday after all this chilly weather we have had this year.

6 miles
1 hour 9 minutes
Average pace 11.5
Average HR 148
Peak HR 170

Well, I've been very lazy at keeping up the blog this week. Oh, not lazy but forgetful maybe. Now, thinking back, I can't remember too much about the runs. Here goes:

Sunday 5th June

Didn't run as planned due to breathing difficulties due to spraying of the fields. Not too worried about this as I had work and went for a long walk instead.


Saturday 4th June

Rest day but not very restful as we helped Dan and Kie move flat so a busy day, counts as x training.


Friday 3rd June

An early morning run. I woke at 5.30am and couldn't sleep so got up at 6.30am and was out running soon after. A short run and a bit breathless but loads better than yesterday.

3 miles
Average HR 138


Thursday 2nd June

I had a busy day and could only fit in a run by going out at 6pm. That would have been ok but I was so breathless and weak. The farmers are spraying the fields again so I think that was the problem, also the fact that I hadn't eaten for a few hours and the cereal bar I had before the run didn't do much good.

5 miles
12m/m pace approx


Tuesday 31 May

5.5 miles
easy run
felt good