Time for a cold bath

The long runs are getting longer, which makes sense I suppose. It's the name that gives it away. Today I ran 10 miles with Team in Training. It was a hot day (but thank you cloud cover for saving me a little!) and the run felt really very hard in some places. But its not meant to be easy, otherwise we'd all be doing it.

Training is going well, I never thought I'd be able to run these long distances week after week and every time I surprise myself with what I can do! It's a weekly feeling of accomplishment, and  between you and me it feels pretty awesome.

My hardcore level went up a notch today as I had my first ice bath. I say ice bath but I was too chicken to put any actual ice cubes in. The cold tap was enough for this time. As recommended I filled it up enough to just cover my legs, threw on a hoody,  grabbed a hot drink and jumped in. Well - I didn't jump in, I very slowly got in, made some weird monkey noises and then had a sip of the hot drink. After about 30 seconds it started to feel good as my tired legs were numbed. Not so good when I moved and sloshed the cold water up my back though. 

I made it through about 15 mins of cold therapy and got into a hot shower! I swear my legs have felt better for it today. 

Here is what Runners World has to say about why its a good idea to subject your legs to coldness after a long run:

"Cryotherapy ("cold therapy") constricts blood vessels and decreases metabolic activity, which reduces swelling and tissue breakdown. Once the skin is no longer in contact with the cold source, the underlying tissues warm up, causing a return of faster blood flow, which helps return the byproducts of cellular breakdown to the lymph system for efficient recycling by the body"

Next week I will be running 11.25 miles and will be indulging in another ice bath no doubt. As I push myself into the depths of hardcoreness and dare to throw a few ice cubes in, think of me, be glad you aren't doing the same thing on your Sunday morning and sponsor me! I've raised $1600 so far which is awesome but I need more!! More ice baths, more long runs, more money ... a long run and a cold bath is nothing compared to cancer...

Oh hey there!

Thanks for stopping by!

You might have recently received an email from me asking you to sponsor me. And you might be checking out my blog to see what this is all about and maybe (hopefully) to pay some of your hard earned cash onto my sponsorship page to help find a cure for blood cancer. Thank you if you are on your way over to do that, I appreciate it so very much.

As of today it is 109 days until marathon day! Training is going well and I have already clocked up 11 miles this week. I'm noticing improvements in my speed, endurance and energy levels. It has been great running with Team in Training (I do my long run with them every Sunday), having a group of people with the same goal as me is really motivating and having others to gossip with during our long runs makes them that much easier!

Now training is in full swing and I am constantly thinking about all things running I will begin updating here more often so come on back and see how I'm doing ... in the mean time please head over to my fundraising page and sponsor me, it will be your good deed for the day :)

The Dreadmill

The treadmill is not my friend

I feel that we have a hate hate relationship. I hate the dreadmill and it hates me right back . 

Today, after failing to get up at 6am and go out running (it was so dark! and raining! it was impossible.) I decided to hit up the gym after work and get my run in on the treadmill. I had 3.75 miles on the agenda. 

Mile 1 was pretty good, I had a decent pace and ran it in about 9mins30. I get so hot in the gym though, I get hot when I workout anyway and always enjoy a beetroot face for a while after working out. 

Mile 2 kicks in and I'm sweating, I'm thinking about how hot I am, thinking am I running too fast, thinking I'd like to just get this over with. Remembering why I hate the treadmill.

Then I got a stitch, I hate stitches!  I tried to run through it, doing the breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth thing which seems to just make me more out of breath, so I slowed down and walked to try and stretch it out. 

Then I got running again, and then ANOTHER stitch! This time on the other side, again I walk and stretch it out. I'm feeling really frustrated now and ridiculously hot. 

After getting running again I got yet another stitch, this time underneath my ribs, what is this! Then my arm starts aching, the dreadmill is out to get me, it's evil. This takes me up to around 3 miles, but the goal is to finish at 3.75miles. At this point I actually stopped the treadmill and was about to give up and go and shower. BUT (and this is a turning point for me I think!) I told myself NO, I have to finish this distance! 

So away I went again on, 0.75mile to go! Arghhh just let this be over, I walked some and then my Nike+ told me there was just 400 metres to go so I hit the speed button, and ran my little heart out. In my head chanting 'You are stronger than you know' Ahhh love the mantras. 

I did it, I'm pleased I did it, but anytime I think its a good idea to run on the treadmill I need to remember todays torture and re-read this. Regardless of the weather it is always better to run outside. 

Running lesson #17 learnt. The dreadmill is evil.