Cramond Esplanade - 6.2km - untimed

Ran with Graham again today. Forgot my watch but it was quite nice to jog without worrying about time. Took Thursday off as I'd been getting a bit of a right shin splint. Thankfully it seems to have worked out well as managed to chat with Graham the whole run without being too sore or out of breath.

Was supposed to start my 10k long runs this week but am going to do 7.5km again and start 10k next week.

Meadows Loop - 7.5km - 54min 46sec

Stretch Split - 7min 14sec

Smilers
Rain
Good time
Thighs good
Hip less sore
No ankle pain

Spoilers
Feet very heavy from Lauriston to the Meadows
Back pain through Bruntsfield and breathing felt tight here too which is a first.

Ok so first you might have noticed that I've put "Rain" in the smilers section and that's the plan from now on. If the weather is bad and I got out running in it then that's a plus. Not a happy thing in the conventional sense but I think it'll proof useful in the long run (no pun intended).

The run itself felt generally slow and I really struggled round the University. Thighs didn't hurt but legs really felt heavy and I thought of stopping a few times. Really felt like I was dragging myself round Potterrow and the Meadows but the run up to Bruntfield felt the easist it's been so far and quite quick, however, I paid the price at the top and my back was hurting and my chest was tight from breathing hard. Those two things haven't happened before so I'll have to keep an eye on those - especially my back.

Anyway, both surprised and pleased at the time. Still not very fast but at least things are going in the right direction.

Another plus is that a mate is also signed up for Berlin which is encouraging.

Last 7.5km long run. Might have to make this one of my short runs soon.

Cramond Esplanade - 6.2km - 43min 45sec

Half Way Split - 22min 24sec

Went out early to Cramond with the camera. Took my running stuff and went running after the sun had come up. Graham has taken a trip to the West Coast today so I was running alone.

Have to say that apart from kicking a stone block when I was stretching, it was quite a good run. The split felt pretty slow but I was surprised at the time. Tried to push it on the way back and although I beat my fastest time by about 2 mins I'm paying the price now. My left hip is really sore now. And worse... I've got to spend the day sitting on a chair studying. Crap.

One thing also noted - I ran faster without Graham but I think that's because I talk when I'm with him which is probably better for me.

Another plus is that I'm 9 for 9 on the running front. I've so far stuck to the timetable for my marathon ambitions. Hopefully, I can keep it up.

Bruntsfield Loop - 4.5km - 32min 36sec

Stretch Split - 6min 55sec

Smilers
Fast split
Thighs fine
Proper fartlek from Stretch to Tollcross
Sciatica better

Spoilers
Rain and wet leaves
Sore feet from Tollcross all the way to Napier
Sore ankles from Tollcross all the way to Napier
Sore calves from Tollcross all the way to Napier

Actually quite a crap run this morning. The climb out of Tollcross was rubbish and I really struggled. Reminded me of the first time I ran round the Seat. Couldn't believe how sore things were. In fact I think this might have been the worse run I've done since starting training. Really didn't enjoy it at all.

At least it's out the way for another week.

Meadows Loop - 7.5km - 56min 51sec

Started out slow this morning. In fact the only thing that got me out of bed was the realization that yesterday I signed up for the 38th Berlin Marathon.

Reached the stretch post at 7min 42sec which was supremely slow but I wasn't really looking for a good time. Cruised down to Tollcross and again by the time I was on Lauriston Place my feet were really sore. This seemed to improve by the Meadows and then up to Bruntsfield seemed to pass by in seconds. Can't remember what I was thinking about at the time but seemed to switch off for about 5 mins. I'd probably gone back to sleep.

The run back to the park felt great and I'm sure I could have done a few extra km if I'd had the time. Was surprised that I beat last week's time by 2 mins since I wasn't even out of breath at the end.

Left hip uncomfortable but less sore and right ankle now just annoying more that anything else.

Canal Loop - 4.5km - 28min 31sec

Was in a really bad mood last night and this morning felt totally pissed off with life in general. Hate the fact I'm have to study for exams at almost 36 years old. It's really getting me down and I would much rather be out with the camera etc.

Anyway, texted Graham last night saying I wasn't up for running this morning and sure enough I decided to bail. However, as the day went on I began to feel more and more guilty about not running. Especially since I only had a short run left to do this week. So at 1830 put on my gear and did the short run.

It was awful. Couldn't do my stretches properly as the streets were quite busy and so rushed everything. Stretch split at 6min 54sec which was ok but by Tollcross I was spent. Had excruciating calves and sore feet and by the end of the run I couldn't feel my right foot at all. Took about 10mins to get the feeling back. The Canal part was more of a shuffle than a sprint and I could hear my wheeze even with my headphones in.

I know that it's mainly the weight that's causing all the issues here but I'm hoping that begins to come off as I increase my distances and move to 4 runs per week in the next few months.

Anyway, at least I went out and ran but I think there are a couple of lessons here.

1. Don't change your stretching routine - and do it properly
2. Always run in the morning
3. Stick to the timetable no matter what

Having said that... 38th Berlin Marathon - Entries Open Tomorrow

Bruntsfield Loop - 4.5km - 31min 20sec

So I've decided to stop doing the Canal loop as it's pitch black and I can't see anything when I run along it. Last night I plotted a different 4.5km route. This new route goes up to Polworth and then along to the "Stretching Post", down to Toll Cross then up the hill to Bruntsfield. From there down Collington Rd until Gray's Loan and then back along to Harrison Rd.

It started off great and I was at the stretch at 6min 52sec which is the fastest yet. However, once I got down to Toll Cross I realised I was going to have to climb the hill up to Bruntsfield and that was really hard work. Running back down Collington felt knackering and the last 200m or so to the Park was so slow.

Looked at the watch when I got to the finish and I was disappointed by the time. I couldn't believe I was so much slower than the canal run. Granted that loop doesn't have a hill in it but still there was a 3 - 4min difference. So when I got back to the flat I re-plotted the canal loop and upsettingly, the Canal Loop is only 4km!

Disheartening but hey. At least this new route is probably better for me and for training.

Meadows Loop - 7.5km - 55min 51sec

So quite a bit faster this morning. 7min 25sec to the stretch split and then the rest of the way was pretty straight forward.

Foot pains on Lauriston but they went away by Potterow and climb to Bruntsfield seemed ok too. However, has a stick from Tesco all the way back to the Park which was unfortunate.

Still far to heavy and although some weight has come off in the last couple of weeks I can't help thinking that it's not doing my joints any good and it definitely isn't helping my time.

What can I say? I love eating.

Cramond Esplanade - 6.2km - 47min 6sec

There was a mega headwind along the esplanade this morning. We started out really slow and this ended up being more of a jog than a run. The split was 25mins and change and it really felt quite slow.

However, the way back was fine and due to the slow pace we were able to talk for the whole run unlike last week. Towards the end we were actually running but still the overall time was quite a bit slower than last week. Oh well. Don't suppose it matters since overall it felt like a better run.

Hip not too bad but now right ankle really playing up. Broke that when I was a kid pretty badly and have horrible memories of a black rubber gas mask being forced onto my face in A&E to put me to sleep so that they could pull everything straight.

...But it's not straight. No wonder it still hurts 25 years later.

Canal Loop - 4.5km - 28min 3sec

This run started ok. I reached the stretch split at 7min 14sec. Hip was feeling ok until the end but as usual feet were hurting around Toll Cross and really bad at Cargo and the cobbles.

The fast part along the canal was completely black and I couldn't see where I was running so I'm blaming that for the lack of a sub-28min time. By the end I was knackered and I'm glad I only need to do one more run this week and it's not the long one - although it is with Graham so that will probably deliver the pain... again.

Meadows Loop - 7.5km - 58min 58sec

So this is the first time in ages I've run this loop. For the next month it's going to constitute my "long run".

Having said that, it was really tough. I didn't try to run quickly, just get round without stopping. I got to the split at 7min 47sec which was quite poor but that bloody left hip of mine was really playing up. In fairness I should have expected that as it's sore all day long now and really plays up when I'm sitting at work all day.

Anyway, at Lauriston place I was going really slowly but down Potterrow and the Meadow's wasn't too bad. However, by the time I got up to Bruntsfield I was really struggling and that was the theme all the way home despite it being down hill.

Did all my stretches afterwards but my hip is going to be an issue for weeks to come I think.

Cramond Esplanade - 6.2km - 45min 35sec

This was horrible.

I don't know what was going on but I really struggled. On the way back ended up having to slow down and at points walk/run. As usual, Graham seemed to be cruising without much bother.

Legs weren't particularly sore. Feet were alright. Ankles a bit uncomfortable from the camber. Hip not really playing up (although it is now). But the main issue was my breathing. I was out of breath the whole run and felt really wheezy. Don't know if it was because I had an ibuprofen before the run - can make asthmatics wheezy you know!

But I'm not asthmatic. Just unfit.