Saturday, February 16, 2008

The Frustration is getting to me

I started run/walking again on 1 May 2007, which means that in 2.5 months I will have been "training" steadily for a full year, with the biggest break being Christmas and that was for three weeks.

It seems that since about September I have been getting steadily slower. There could be good reasons for this, like the heat and humidity, but it doesn't help my state of mind. I'm painfully aware that if I'd had a normal heart the chances are with the effort and commitment I've put in I would already be running half marathons! At the moment I don't even feel like I can walk a 10km... ok thats not entirely true, I'm still getting rid of the last symptoms of my flu, and if it weren't for that I'm sure walking the 10km would have been fine.

I wish there was a way to be more scientific about this, but all I can rely on is what my body tells me. When I've brought the running intervals back down to 20s and still I find myself getting lightheaded on easy inclines, I become a bit despondent. I have started to doubt whether this is actually doable. I believe that on the whole I have all the will power necessary, but there are physical bounds in which I must work. Can I really complete the 21 in under 3 hours?

Anyway, this is me having a low day. I'm busy hating a few people, who I blame for me being in this situation. It will pass.

Week 7 Exercise Log

We had wanted to do the 10km Irene night race on Wednesday but at the 11th hour I decided it was too soon after being sick and I wasn't feeling strong enough. Apparently it's very cool, I'll try to do it next year.

Monday 11 February 2008
Distance: 3.9km
Total time: 32:51
Intervals: 30/60
Pace: 8:30 min/km
Average HR: 8:30
Route: Premier

Wednesday 13 February 2007
Distance: 5km
Total time: 61:29
Intervals: Walked
Pace: 12:24 min/km
Average HR: 128
Route: Random Route

Friday 15 February 2007
Distance: 5km
Total time: 43:00
Intervals: 20/60
Pace: 8:41 min/km
Average HR: 139
Route: Boys High

Week 6 Exercise Log

Unfortunately this week started off on a sick note. I had a course of antibiotics and had some nasty bugs. So I took stuff easy

Wednesday 6 February 2007
Distance: 4km
Total time: 37:50
Intervals: Walked
Pace: 10:06 min/km
Average HR: 119
Route: Time Trial

Saturday 9 February 2007
Distance: 4.9km
Total time: 52:07
Route: Random Route

Skipped Friday because I had a function. Every time I get ill I seem to retain huge amounts of water or salt, or both. I know this is a little gross, but I can taste the salt when I cough. So I made a concerted effort this week to cut salt out of my diet completely, as I should do anyway, but it's easier said than done. Also this week I was just trying to recover from the flu.

Week 5 Exercise Log

Sunday 27 January 2008
Distance: 5.8km
Total time: 60:00
Intervals: N/A
Pace: 10:18 min/km
Average HR: 118
Route: N/A

Monday 28 January 2008
Distance: 4.65km
Total time: 42:22
Intervals: 40/120
Pace: 8:55 min/km
Average HR: 132
Route: Boys High

Wednesday 30 January 2007
Distance: 5.06km
Total time: 39:40
Intervals: 30/60
Pace: 7:51 min/km
Average HR: 142
Route: Clarke

Friday 1 February 2007
Distance: 5.5km
Total time: don't know
Route: Spiral

This week I tried shorter intervals on Wednesday, which seemed to be easier. Unfortunately by Friday I was nursing a sore throat and a rapidly developing chest infection. I probably shouldn't have done the Friday run.