Just a quick note to say, my back pain has finally subsided, and am going to try a gentle jog tomorrow afternoon before my gig in the evening... Hurrah! Feels good to be able to get out there again!
Bring it on...!!
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Monday, 13 September 2010
Training is a pain in the back...!
Firstly I would like to apologise for being quiet on the blog post front. Secondly, I would like to explain why...
Last Sunday, after my run with Tom was postponed due to Mel being very poorly, I plucked up enough courage and went out on my own. It was great! I actually really enjoyed it. I got into my own stride and I have found a way to control my breathing - In for 3 steps, out for 3 steps and then I try and breathe deeper - In for 4 steps, out for 4 steps. It gave me a rhythm to run to and works a little like a metronome does for musicians. So there I was, happily jogging along. I went as far as Windsor Bridge until stopping for a walking block; I don't own a watch so couldn't time the 5 minutes - I decided to use the various bridges as my markers. So I walked a little way past the bridge and back again, keeping my breathing steady to my walking steps. As I approached Windsor bridge again, I picked up my pace until I was back to my jogging speed. There was a subdued atmosphere on the canal that evening. There were fewer people fishing than usual and hardly any cyclists. Plus, the weather was much cooler than when I went earlier in the week with Tom, and there was a hefty wind which felt as if it was bringing on a storm. It was altogether quite pleasant. I didn't feel self conscious as there were so few passers by and the wind was keeping me nice and cool.
I reached the Dolphin pub and slowed down to a walking pace back up to Avondale Road and then into my street, where I walked up and down the pavements a few times just to get my heart beat to steady and my breathing to even out. I got in and looked at the clock to find out I'd been out for 20 minutes, longer than it felt! I imagined it was only a 10 minute session, but to learn it was longer pleased me - It means time is going quicker than I think, which means I could probably run more and for longer than I think I can!
After the aches and pains I suffered after my last run, I did some stretches and then jumped into a nice warm shower. Then I cooked myself a nice bowl of pasta and settled down with a good book before going to bed. I felt comfortably tired, the kind of nice, cost sleepiness that gives you the idea that you will be able to drop off to sleep easily...
... 2 hours on and I was still awake. I had the most intense pain in my back. I tried lying on my back, on front, my right side, then my left side... Nothing was comfortable. I got out of bed and did some back rolls that I learnt from doing yoga, which helps gently stretch the muscles in your spine - but still that didn't ease the pain. The only way I can describe it is as a deep pain, and nothing I was doing seemed to help and it kept me awake until the early hours...
... The next morning, I took some strong co-codamol which I still had left over from a previous injury ( muscular skeletal damage to my rib) and made my way to work. The tablets seemed to ease the intensity of the pain, and I cycled in. As soon as I got to work the pain had doubled and I was sitting at my desk in quite a bit of pain. I immediately made a doctors appointment who I was able to see right away.
Dr. 'S' told me it could either be a kidney infection, pulled muscle or a trapped nerve. Luckily she was able to test me there and then for a kidney infection. Thankfully, it wasn't that! Unfortunately she was unable to detirmine whether it was a pulled muscle or trapped nerve herself, but instead referred me to a physiotherapist. Then came the shocker - She issued me with a doctors note for a WHOLE WEEK! She said that sitting at a desk in an office (which is what I do for work) would be the worst possible thing to do with back ache like this! So, I returned to the office with this news, and reluctantly packed my things and left for home. I was ordered to stay at home and either lie flat on my back or stand. It was also important that I move regularly, so little strolls around the block but no hills or stairs. I was so annoyed! It was a busy week at the Museum, what with marketing meetings and marathon updates to discuss!
On wednesday I went to see Dr. 'W', a physiotherapist. She told me I'd pulled a muscle in my back, very near to my spine. It was nothing serious and probably was just an accident that occured when I was jogging, and that I shouldn't worry. She spent 45 minutes working on my muscle, massaging out the scar tissue that was a result of the injury. It was painful, yet satisfying. When she'd finished it felt great. So nice to have had some of the pain eliviated. Dr. 'W' advised me not to sit upright for too long at one time and also gave me some simple stretches to do. As well as that she gave me some excercises to help strengthen my muscles once the pain had subsided. Finally, she told me not to run until AT LEAST next Friday (17 September) and to take it very steady.
So there you have it. I hope that explains why I've been quiet. At least I can be grateful and consider myself lucky that this happened at this early stage in my training. Had it happened at a later time, it may have seriously affected my progress.
I will re start my training on Friday, providing I am feeling well enough. I can't wait to get going again... My week's been pretty dull. Fingers crossed!!
Last Sunday, after my run with Tom was postponed due to Mel being very poorly, I plucked up enough courage and went out on my own. It was great! I actually really enjoyed it. I got into my own stride and I have found a way to control my breathing - In for 3 steps, out for 3 steps and then I try and breathe deeper - In for 4 steps, out for 4 steps. It gave me a rhythm to run to and works a little like a metronome does for musicians. So there I was, happily jogging along. I went as far as Windsor Bridge until stopping for a walking block; I don't own a watch so couldn't time the 5 minutes - I decided to use the various bridges as my markers. So I walked a little way past the bridge and back again, keeping my breathing steady to my walking steps. As I approached Windsor bridge again, I picked up my pace until I was back to my jogging speed. There was a subdued atmosphere on the canal that evening. There were fewer people fishing than usual and hardly any cyclists. Plus, the weather was much cooler than when I went earlier in the week with Tom, and there was a hefty wind which felt as if it was bringing on a storm. It was altogether quite pleasant. I didn't feel self conscious as there were so few passers by and the wind was keeping me nice and cool.
I reached the Dolphin pub and slowed down to a walking pace back up to Avondale Road and then into my street, where I walked up and down the pavements a few times just to get my heart beat to steady and my breathing to even out. I got in and looked at the clock to find out I'd been out for 20 minutes, longer than it felt! I imagined it was only a 10 minute session, but to learn it was longer pleased me - It means time is going quicker than I think, which means I could probably run more and for longer than I think I can!
After the aches and pains I suffered after my last run, I did some stretches and then jumped into a nice warm shower. Then I cooked myself a nice bowl of pasta and settled down with a good book before going to bed. I felt comfortably tired, the kind of nice, cost sleepiness that gives you the idea that you will be able to drop off to sleep easily...
... 2 hours on and I was still awake. I had the most intense pain in my back. I tried lying on my back, on front, my right side, then my left side... Nothing was comfortable. I got out of bed and did some back rolls that I learnt from doing yoga, which helps gently stretch the muscles in your spine - but still that didn't ease the pain. The only way I can describe it is as a deep pain, and nothing I was doing seemed to help and it kept me awake until the early hours...
... The next morning, I took some strong co-codamol which I still had left over from a previous injury ( muscular skeletal damage to my rib) and made my way to work. The tablets seemed to ease the intensity of the pain, and I cycled in. As soon as I got to work the pain had doubled and I was sitting at my desk in quite a bit of pain. I immediately made a doctors appointment who I was able to see right away.
Dr. 'S' told me it could either be a kidney infection, pulled muscle or a trapped nerve. Luckily she was able to test me there and then for a kidney infection. Thankfully, it wasn't that! Unfortunately she was unable to detirmine whether it was a pulled muscle or trapped nerve herself, but instead referred me to a physiotherapist. Then came the shocker - She issued me with a doctors note for a WHOLE WEEK! She said that sitting at a desk in an office (which is what I do for work) would be the worst possible thing to do with back ache like this! So, I returned to the office with this news, and reluctantly packed my things and left for home. I was ordered to stay at home and either lie flat on my back or stand. It was also important that I move regularly, so little strolls around the block but no hills or stairs. I was so annoyed! It was a busy week at the Museum, what with marketing meetings and marathon updates to discuss!
On wednesday I went to see Dr. 'W', a physiotherapist. She told me I'd pulled a muscle in my back, very near to my spine. It was nothing serious and probably was just an accident that occured when I was jogging, and that I shouldn't worry. She spent 45 minutes working on my muscle, massaging out the scar tissue that was a result of the injury. It was painful, yet satisfying. When she'd finished it felt great. So nice to have had some of the pain eliviated. Dr. 'W' advised me not to sit upright for too long at one time and also gave me some simple stretches to do. As well as that she gave me some excercises to help strengthen my muscles once the pain had subsided. Finally, she told me not to run until AT LEAST next Friday (17 September) and to take it very steady.
So there you have it. I hope that explains why I've been quiet. At least I can be grateful and consider myself lucky that this happened at this early stage in my training. Had it happened at a later time, it may have seriously affected my progress.
I will re start my training on Friday, providing I am feeling well enough. I can't wait to get going again... My week's been pretty dull. Fingers crossed!!
Sunday, 5 September 2010
Run with Tom: Post-poned
Just spoken to Tom (as I was sitting down to a banana in preparation for a run in an hour and a half) and his lady, Mel, has been taken ill! So, he is doing the honourable thing and staying in to look after her. We've post-poned our run together until tomorrow evening. I wonder how I will cope after a half an hour walk to and from work, plus a full day at work, and then a run!? Any tips on how to keep my energy up to cope on a full day?
On another note, my fundraising page should be up soon, along with the links to the Holburne Challenge on both the Holburne Museum and Bath Half 2011 websites. I'll let you know when they all go live so you can check them out.
I may go out for a short run on my own later on... I'll see if I'm brave enough to go it alone! I'll keep you posted...
On another note, my fundraising page should be up soon, along with the links to the Holburne Challenge on both the Holburne Museum and Bath Half 2011 websites. I'll let you know when they all go live so you can check them out.
I may go out for a short run on my own later on... I'll see if I'm brave enough to go it alone! I'll keep you posted...
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
The day after the night before...
Just thought I'd write a quick one... I'm in pain! My stomach muscles hurt when I cough or laugh; my groin muscle hurts; my quads are a little stiff and my shoulders could do with a good old rub down. Did I not warm down enough? Should I have jumped straight into the shower when I got in? Or is it purely and simply just because my body's not used to this? Hmm... I don't know. Do you?
Was going to have a quick session on my own tomorrow evening, but perhaps I won't if I'm still aching this much... What should I do? Go on through the aches or wait until they go? Please advise!
Be back soon. C
Was going to have a quick session on my own tomorrow evening, but perhaps I won't if I'm still aching this much... What should I do? Go on through the aches or wait until they go? Please advise!
Be back soon. C
Run 1 - Tuesday 31 August 2010
So Tom met me at my house at 6.30pm, as arranged, and boy was I nervous! I had gotten so worked up, I had butterflies!! I'd been running up and down the stairs for about 10 minutes, to warm my muscles up, get the blood pumping and most importantly, to check that my trousers weren't going to fall down as soon as I started moving!
We made our way to the canal tow path which, handily, is just at the end of my street. We decided to go left along it, towards town. I had asked Tom if he'd train with me, as he is one of only a hand-ful of people I know who have run the Bath Half before (Tom's done it the last two years). I thought it would be useful to train with someone who knows the course and can help me reach the goal. So, I had asked Tom if we could start slowly with my first run, starting with the 5 minute jog, 1 minute walk etc. as I outlined in my previous post. He said that that was fine, so we got going as he set the timer.
It was quite a new experience to me. I'd only ever run on my own, either round the block or at the gym, so have never chatted whilst running. It came as quite a surprise to me when I realised it wasn't as difficult to breathe, run and talk all at the same time. If anything, it helped the 5 minutes pass quickly and we were having our 1 minute walk break. I was feeling good! I wasn't aching or hurting anywhere and I didn't feel too much of an idiot. However, my trousers had slipped a little; another advantage to having a 1 minute walk break - time to pull them up again!
I'm not sure we stuck to just 1 minute of walking, we just started up again when Tom said, 'From that bin?' and I said, 'Sure!' as I was feeling ok and had caught my breath. We did the next 5 minutes and my legs were beginning to tire a little, but having Tom running alongside me kept me going. We had gotten into a rhythm and that really helped to push me on. By the time the second 5 minutes were up we had arrived on the part of the path where it meets the bus station, all way in town! I couldn't believe how far we'd come! When I mapped our course on the WalkJogRun.net website, it came to 1.65 miles from where we started to where we stopped by the bus station. Not bad going, really, for my first run in years! As we turned and began to walk back, our conversation moved on to films; Lord of the Rings, Bad Boys II and Rocky. I've not seen Rocky before, but Tom was telling me that he finds it a good thing to watch before the marathon, it's motivational and helps you believe you can do it. Perhaps I'll rent it out some time. Anyone else have any good motivational films to recommend? My housemate Nat keeps referring to Run Fatboy, Run... Not sure I like the sound of that one! Apparently the 'fatboy' in question is chased on by his friend, who's smacking him on the bottom with a spatula... I think I'll wait til after the marathon to watch that one!
In around 2 minutes into our first 5 minute jog blocks on the way back, I suddenly got a massive stitch in my right hand side. Oof, it was painful! I couldn't run through it, so I had to slow down. I gave in and just walked briskly, taking in deep breaths, until it went away. Tom was telling me that apparently the lactic acid that is produced when you get a stitch can actually be used as energy, if you can run through it... ! Yeah, if you can run through the pain! Quite interesting though, amazing how our bodies work... Once it had passed, we set off again, restarting the 5 minute jog block. My legs were really beginning to ache but I wasn't going to stop again. I carried on until we were back where we started. It felt great! We walked up the hill to my house as a little warm down and went in to grab some water. It was only once we stopped moving completely and got inside, out of the Sunshine, that I realised how much I'd sweated! It soon dawned on my that this was all going to get cold and stiffen me up. So I took a stroll to the Post Office and back to loosen up and let the sweat dry up a bit (gross, I know, but it's all part of the running process, so it's got to go in this blog!). It was at the Post Office that Tom and I said goodbye and arranged our next session - Sunday 5 September 2010 at 7.30pm. I may even squeeze one in before then...
We made our way to the canal tow path which, handily, is just at the end of my street. We decided to go left along it, towards town. I had asked Tom if he'd train with me, as he is one of only a hand-ful of people I know who have run the Bath Half before (Tom's done it the last two years). I thought it would be useful to train with someone who knows the course and can help me reach the goal. So, I had asked Tom if we could start slowly with my first run, starting with the 5 minute jog, 1 minute walk etc. as I outlined in my previous post. He said that that was fine, so we got going as he set the timer.
It was quite a new experience to me. I'd only ever run on my own, either round the block or at the gym, so have never chatted whilst running. It came as quite a surprise to me when I realised it wasn't as difficult to breathe, run and talk all at the same time. If anything, it helped the 5 minutes pass quickly and we were having our 1 minute walk break. I was feeling good! I wasn't aching or hurting anywhere and I didn't feel too much of an idiot. However, my trousers had slipped a little; another advantage to having a 1 minute walk break - time to pull them up again!
I'm not sure we stuck to just 1 minute of walking, we just started up again when Tom said, 'From that bin?' and I said, 'Sure!' as I was feeling ok and had caught my breath. We did the next 5 minutes and my legs were beginning to tire a little, but having Tom running alongside me kept me going. We had gotten into a rhythm and that really helped to push me on. By the time the second 5 minutes were up we had arrived on the part of the path where it meets the bus station, all way in town! I couldn't believe how far we'd come! When I mapped our course on the WalkJogRun.net website, it came to 1.65 miles from where we started to where we stopped by the bus station. Not bad going, really, for my first run in years! As we turned and began to walk back, our conversation moved on to films; Lord of the Rings, Bad Boys II and Rocky. I've not seen Rocky before, but Tom was telling me that he finds it a good thing to watch before the marathon, it's motivational and helps you believe you can do it. Perhaps I'll rent it out some time. Anyone else have any good motivational films to recommend? My housemate Nat keeps referring to Run Fatboy, Run... Not sure I like the sound of that one! Apparently the 'fatboy' in question is chased on by his friend, who's smacking him on the bottom with a spatula... I think I'll wait til after the marathon to watch that one!
In around 2 minutes into our first 5 minute jog blocks on the way back, I suddenly got a massive stitch in my right hand side. Oof, it was painful! I couldn't run through it, so I had to slow down. I gave in and just walked briskly, taking in deep breaths, until it went away. Tom was telling me that apparently the lactic acid that is produced when you get a stitch can actually be used as energy, if you can run through it... ! Yeah, if you can run through the pain! Quite interesting though, amazing how our bodies work... Once it had passed, we set off again, restarting the 5 minute jog block. My legs were really beginning to ache but I wasn't going to stop again. I carried on until we were back where we started. It felt great! We walked up the hill to my house as a little warm down and went in to grab some water. It was only once we stopped moving completely and got inside, out of the Sunshine, that I realised how much I'd sweated! It soon dawned on my that this was all going to get cold and stiffen me up. So I took a stroll to the Post Office and back to loosen up and let the sweat dry up a bit (gross, I know, but it's all part of the running process, so it's got to go in this blog!). It was at the Post Office that Tom and I said goodbye and arranged our next session - Sunday 5 September 2010 at 7.30pm. I may even squeeze one in before then...
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