Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Well, I dont know what Sheila Morrison has been up to
when she was in Tunisia for her recent break, (maybe
it had something to do with running away from all the
men out there) but I think it must be worth a
go
Sheila came back last Tuesday for club night, very
warm muggy evening and like class pet said that she
wanted to do a nice run up in the hills. Off we
trotted, me at the rear (as usual) with Sheila
galloping up the hills. I arrived back at Halhill
nicely sweaty after being dragged round the 8 mile
route. Then as her request for a run tonight we went
on a mountaineering expedition! - Please miss, can
we do the really long run up the Brunt with the big
hills, oh my goodness. Ive not felt as bad on a run
in years. Warm again, which doesnt help, we ran from
Halhill, heading up to Spott and turned up some steep
farm track to the left. I eventually caught the rest
of the women up at the top, where they were admiring
the view. It was a beautiful view and a lovely
evening, but unfortunately I was still trying to draw
breath.
So last Tuesday was 8 miles, last Wednesday the club
had another of the East Lothian Summer Series Races at
Haddington. It was supposed to be about a 5k, but get
the feeling it was slightly longer (otherwise my
previous entry about improving over the past year must
be a load of rubbish!). It was another really hot
night, and exerting yourself in a race was probably
not the wisest idea, but it was a lovely route and
good to get to know some fellow club runners.
Thursday/Friday and Saturday I was off to London for a
bit of shopping and to go to a gig in Hyde Park. I
am keen on the theory that you need to spend money on
yourself to maintain your motivation to run so opted
for a nice sporty pair of Nike sunglasses. I have
also decided on the next piece of motivational sports
gear a nice mini ipod. This will keep me company
on the long runs that I do on my own occasionally and,
seeing as Sheila seems to be galloping on at the
moment, might need to be used even more often. One of
my colleagues is a keen runner (and is what I would
call a fast runner); she recently got a mini ipod, put
some dance music on it and took 4 minutes off a run
that normally takes 40 minutes. Seems a good enough
justification to buy to me! I guess I just need to
buy some really fast dance music and then I might be
able to keep up with Ann, Clarissa and Karen.
Sunday was very very warm, so went for a nice gentle
run through John Muir Country Park with Sheila
Morrison to a total of 9 ½ miles. Madness I think.
So far it has been quite a high mileage week. Think I
need to relax a bit now, drink some Pimms in the
garden and consider what I can buy next in the name of
motivation
.
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Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Name: Theresa Leslie
Age: 27
Time Running: 3 years
Average Weekly Mileage: 18 miles and rising!
I joined Dunbar Running Club in June 2004, following
what was for me, a poor performance in Glasgow
Britannic Asset Management 10k.
I used to live near West Calder, West Lothian and
moved to Dunbar in March 2004. Between October 2003
and March 2004 I was living in rented accommodation
and due to circumstances couldnt really fit a lot of
running in (circumstances being - big huge dogs that
followed me whenever I tried to go for a run, then
would run off to chase rabbits, get lost and get me
into trouble with their owners). My average weekly
mileage dipped to an all time low of about 7 miles, as
I had to drive somewhere suitable (ie no dogs) before
being able to go for a run. My motivation was
diminishing rapidly along with my fitness and stamina.
The Britannic Asset Management 10k in May 2004 showed
how low my motivation was going without really
needing to I had my first walk break at 4k and had
regular walk breaks from then on. I ran through what
I thought was the finish line just over an hour after
starting, to tell my mum at the sidelines how
knackered I was, and how hot it was etc etc, when she
then told me I hadnt even finished yet! Anyone that
ran that one will remember the big balloon arch about
300m before the finish fooled a lot of people into
thinking they had finished I think. Official race
time 1hr 03 mins 17 secs. I was really disappointed
with myself for walking so frequently.
After a quick internet search I found Dunbar running
club and sent an email to find out more along the
lines of not a fast runner approx 1hr for a 10k as
I was really apprehensive of turning up to a club
where all the runners are super fast whippets who run
off and leave me panting at the back unable to
continue after half a mile. Stuart Hay came back with
a friendly and reassuring response advising that the
club is full of all levels of runners and everyone is
welcome, detailing that in summer the club does a lot
of nice runs through John Muir Country Park and along
the other side of the A1. (Although the club does
also have a few whippets!) To say after that I never
looked back would be a lie though
.the first couple of
club nights were tough. I guess its a bit like new
girl in class syndrome, many years after you expect to
go through that again. The women were all nice and
friendly, although they could chat easily all the way
round the routes whereas it was taking me all my
effort to keep breathing! After a few weeks I settled
into a pattern, generally running at the back of the
pack, with the two Sheilas (Morrison and Kerr) and
meeting up with them to run Thursdays and weekends
also.
Now I am so glad I kept it up Ive made some good
friends (well I think I would call them that, but not
always so sure at mile 9 of a very hilly 10 mile run
that I was promised was quite flat), improved my
fitness, my times, have learned some fantastic and
beautiful runs around Dunbar, my motivation has grown
massively and although I still moan plenty when out
running the pain is short lived. My weekly mileage
has probably doubled since Ive joined, Ive completed
my first half marathon (longest run previous to
joining would have been 7 or so miles), Ive reduced
my average 10k time from about an hour to about 56
mins, my 5k time is around or just under 25 mins. I
did my first 10 mile run this year too Sheila
Morrison told me that the hills at the Lasswade 10
arent that bad (have nearly forgiven her now!) The
best benefit so far must be that I now have the
ability to talk and run
..
Welcome to my online training diary!
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