Knees Painful Again

This is probably going to effect my running for the next 2 or even more years so a suppose I better get used to it. My knees (growing pains) are painful when I do stuff like jumping around and activities like that so I'm going to stick to swimming alone for the next month or so. The bad thing about this is that I will not be able to build up the right muscles in my legs but, the aerobic side of things shouldn't be affected too much.

I hope anyone who reads this has been going well with their training.

Sorry I Haven't Been Posting and I went Swimming!

To anyone who follows me or likes to read my blog,

Sorry I Haven't Been Posting. I have been watching the footy finals (Aussie Rules) and at a cost haven't found time to put up any posts.

On another note I decided to try out some cross training in the form of swimming a couple of days ago. I chose swimming because its a good thing to be able to do. Like if you fall in a river you're not going to drown because you can't swim. Also if I ever wanted to do a triathlon, I'll at least have something to lean on in terms of the swimming phase.

Once I got to the pool I was a bit reluctant to get in the water for I haven't been swimming for about 3 years. Once I was in a lane I looked around at the other swimmers. They were all doing freestyle so I thought I'd do that. I couldn't even do two laps in a row! I think I need some practice! I did about 1 or 2 laps freestyle and the other 8 or 9 laps rest breaststroke or backstroke.

I actually enjoyed it so much I thought I'll go again. So yesterday I went back to the pool. I didn't even hesitate to get in the pool this time. This time round I managed to do a total of 12 laps and half of them were freestyle.

I will be going to Mt Hotham in Victoria for the next 4-6 days so there will be no posts for that period. I hope anyone who reads this has had a good week's training.

Week Overview and a Good 4.2km

This week I had two really good runs, a good run and a horrible run.

Sunday: 19:50mins Pace:
Tuesday: 20:40mins
Thursday: 19:36mins
Saturday: Really bad 3.1km that I didn't time properly but was something like 18-20mins.

I think it was similar to last week, where I had 3 times that were around 20mins and 1 that wasn't close.

Workouts: 2/3-still needs improving.

Other than completing my 2nd week of training, today, Sunday, I have just finished a 4.2km run in 20mins (This is part of the next week). Now I have a theory; if I run can run 4.2km in 20mins each run I won't have a really bad run. So today was a good run.

I think Summer has just arrived here in Australia so off with the trackies and on with the shorts!

Switching to Running on Footpaths

My left heel has been aching. Last Saturday it hurt while running and then afterward. On Sunday it was annoying me when i was walking around the house and after my run. I thought I might have to see a sports doctor or physio.

But I decided to switch from running on the footpath to the grass. I thought the constant pounding might be causing the pain in my left heel. So far I have been correct. On Monday I didn't run and it was just niggling a little. On Tuesday I ran again, but on the grass not the footpaths. My heel didn't bother me one bit.

I hope readers have had a good weekend running.

Week Completed

This was my first week following my training program. Here are my 4 runs. (All were 4.2km)

Sunday: 20:30 Pace:4:54mins/1km
Tuesday: 19:30 Pace: 4:36mins/1km
Thursday:23:30 Pace: 5:36mins/1km
Saturday: 20:10 Pace: 4::48mins/1km

Points

• My worst run was in the early morning. (Maybe I'm not a morning person)
• My Best run was accompanied by a bit of rain.
• New shoes feel great!
• Clothes were comfy.
• All runs on footpaths. (No shin splints)

Work Outs: 2/3 (Needs improving)

Overall, not a bad week, didn't miss a run and I had only one really bad run. And that is all part of learning. I think it was because I ran in the early morning. I may not be a real morning person.

I hope anyone who reads this has had a good week too!

Fastest 4.2km Run Ever

Today I ran 4.2km in 19:30, that's 4:36mins/km. I've never run that far, that fast before now. Which for anyone is an achievement in itself. I know to a lot of runners that does not sound like much but it is one step toward doing well in school cross country! There was no wind but there was a shower toward the end, but I don't mind a bit of rain on a run.

And if "KimsRunning" reads this, nice to meet you too!

Finally, Gel-Kayanos Try Out and 20min 4km Run

I finally ran in my new shoes.(My New Asics Gel-Kayanos) They are great! If you have been recommended by the fitters at the shop then I'd go for it.I went for a 20min, 4.2km run. It felt alright after having a week off because of my cold. The 1st km was hilly, but easy cause I had the wind behind me. The next 2kms were moderate with the wind working against and with me. The last km was hard with the it being hilly and the working against the wind.

Other than the new shoes my friend agreed to train with me. He came with me on the run with me. He definately provides motivation and a more interesting run.

Setting Goals

Since I have never trained from a book or anything before now I haven't expected anything really. When I got 6th place in school cross country one year, and 3rd the next, I was lazily training for 2-3 months before the event. A good week for me would be to complete three 3km runs in whatever times. Now I'm going to follow a thing called "periodization." You have different phases you go through until your goal event is on. My goal is always going to be the school cross country. The next one is 4km. I'm using this book called "The Complete Practical Encyclopedia of Running" by Elizabeth Hufton, and I'm doing what it tells me to do if I was training for 5km not 4km. But that's fine really, its not going to make any difference to the times I get. But I don't know what a realistic time goal is to make so I'm at a loss here. If I set a goal according to the book I should get between 25min and 35min. In training though, I am running 4.2km in 20min. So, (if you haven't worked out) I am running a slightly faster than 5min per km pace. But then would I still keep that up for another rough km? I dare say I could, so I would run faster on the day wouldn't I. Not to mention I've done only 2 weeks training. So I think I should aim for an 18min 4k.

Cold

If you read my post from the day before yesterday, you would be expecting something about my new Gel-Kayanos. Well I didn't run yesterday because I have this cold and it keeps getting worse so I thought I might take a break. It's a really bad cold though. I went through 2 whole large packs of Butter-Menthol yesterday. So I will take a take a break or at least have an easy week or two.

If anyone reads please comment and suggest ways of dealing with this cold.

AWESOME NEW SHOES!!!

Today Mum and I went to the "Athlete's Foot" to get some new running shoes. The staff and everything were really good. But this is what I got...

They're Asics's Gel-Kayano. Can't wait to run in them tomorrow. Even just walking in them feels good! I'll post how it goes tomorrow.

Closed in Shoes too Hot for Comfort

Yesterday I went for my long run (currently only 30mins) and my feet were getting really hot. Like I was running on hot bitumen. It was because I had closed in shoes. (and it was sunny) They are good for running in when wet, but otherwise not too good. So its a good excuse to get new runners!

Above :My closed in runners.

I had a good run today, (20mins 4.2km) bit drizzly though but other than that pretty good weather. This run was on a different route than my other 2 routes, just makes for a slightly more interesting run. Someone told me it helps to make runs more interesting by listening to an Ipod. Might try it next run.

When I Get Up Early to Work Out or Run...

I think I am becoming addicted to getting up early (by early I mean 6:30am) for a run or workout. I think it adds life to my day. I'm never rushed in the mornings like I used to be. I've been on here this morning for 20mins plus so I can spare more than 20min. I can read all the updates from all my "Quality Running Blogs" too. I feel fresher and I get a feeling of pride just to put "25min run 4km" in my running diary. No, I'm not becoming addicted, I am addicted!

World Record or Olympic Gold Medal

When Usain Bolt won the gold medal and set the world record at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the 100m sprint he slowed down at the end. In an interview he was asked "world record or gold medal" his answer was "Gold Medal hands down..."
If you had the choice of setting a world record or winning an Olympic gold medal, one or the other, which would it be?

For me it'd be a world record. You could say "I am faster than anyone else." And you'd be right. No one would have a case against you. Chances are that when the Olympics come around you would have had an injury beforehand and not have had as much time to train as anyone else. Therefore when you are at your best you are faster than anyone else and faster then the gold medalist. Or if someone younger than you beats you when you are older. You can say "when I was in my prime, like you are now, I'd beat you."

On the other hand it is pretty unlikely your world record would stick around for very long. But if you won an Olympic gold medal you can say I won a gold medal at an Olympics and you could say that forever. You could show your kids and your grand kids your gold medal. But you can't show them your little medal saying "World Record."

So if anyone reads this please post something on your blog or comment and share your opinion.

Listen to the Physio

This year I had growing pains in my knees and was unable to train for the school cross country. They had been niggling away for roughly six months. I finally went to the Physio where he gave me a set of exercises to do 10min a day. He told me it should take 1 to 3 months considering how well I did the exercises. If I did well for a month I wouldn't have to do anything else. I went to see him every week to let him see how I was going. For the first 2 weeks I did quite well. For the third not so. So this resulted in my month being turned into 5-6 weeks. After a few weeks like this it turned into 2 months.

If I had done what the physio said to do for four weeks I would have at least got a month of training in before the cross country. Not ideal but better than nothing. I look back on it now and feel a bit dumb. My result on the day would have surely been better. So the lesson here is listen and do what the physio says, or you may find yourself missing vital training. To stop it happening again I do the exercises before any training.