Finally - something to report.

Made it out to the woods today with TheO and some very grateful pooches.

4.1 miles in 37.25
9.21 average pace

9.10
8.48
8.56
10.30 for 1.1 miles


Could have gone faster at the end but was following TheOther and think I held back a touch ... got back to the car to discover that they had run 3.6 miles, not 3.1 as expected so I shouldn't have felt so bad about catching up with them. Was furious with myself for not really pushing it at the end - might have knocked another 30 seconds or so off my time... grrrrrr

A real reminder that running is personal and I shouldn't make assumptions for someone else, I should just run my own training plan and not get into weird mental tangles about someone else's pride etc. Just to be clear - TheO is not particularly fragile in the ego department, but I know I'd still feel a bit down if myotherhalf ran 4 miles in the time I ran 3! I wanted to make it a more encouraging experience full stop as they don't enjoy running very much, they're just doing to increase stamina in other sports and keep the ole heart ticking over nicely.

However, I was really chuffed as this was my first 2 sub-9min miles in a row in the real world (rather than on the elliptical machine). My legs do feel like I really pushed them, as did my lungs but I just LOVE THAT FEELING.

As my speed increases (in tiny little increments) I find that my ability to do the magical negative splits (which I've previously found no problem) decreases. Did anyone else find this problem as they got faster? Answers please.

On a final note how goddamn hot (well tepid) was it in Scotland today. I was in 3/4 tights and a thin long-sleeved sports top and I was boiling, had to keep pouring my water over my head (thank god there's no-one to see that horrible sight). The buttercups are out everywhere and the rabbits are fighting on the lawn like it's time for their spring-fling. Weird things are afoot my friends.

Now I've written this I expect snow is imminent.

Personality Tests and some Wednesday Philosophy

Now this is not running related (because I've been a lazy arse and today's run is happening later) but I thought it was interesting. Well, that fabulous internet combination of interesting and utter bollocks.

I took a freebie personality test online http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm

This mammoth 72 question test told me I was type INFJ (to translate, Introverted, iNtuitive, Feeling and Judging [only 1% for judging] ). This then led to the following personality types: rational, idealist, artisan, guardian. Also said only 2% came out as INFJ's (including Ghandi and Elanor Roosevelt - don't I feel special).

Now given that I think they are quite right with their judgement about me I now feel more rational and idealistic whilst simultaneously being an artisan and a guardian ....

Hang on here, I was asked questions like: "Are you happy in a crowd?" I think answering "NO" makes me an introvert. But this type of survey doesn't help with self-delusion: If you think you are the life and soul of the party then you'll tick all the appropriate boxes; and get the appropriate results.

So while I think that there's an element of simplistic truth (particularly on the introvert/extrovert level - having seen my friends' results) these tests show nothing apart from how interested we are in personality. It's the only thing that is unique to us. Our genetic makeup is a conglomeration of our parents' own features (ooooh, doesn't she have her father's nose, mother's eyes, etc) but our personality is ours alone.

With that in mind it made me think about blogging, and the nature of blogging. Whilst being an introvert by nature I love the freedom of blogging - much more interesting than keeping a diary that only I will ever look over. Blogging makes me feel like an extrovert because I get to put my thoughts and opinions onto a much larger stage regardless of audience numbers (still seats available at all prices!!!!).

Our collective interest in blogs is not just (in my opinion) linked to niche interests which can now be discussed and written about in much more detail; but it's about personality - we read blogs by people and we see them as whole people, not just bloggers with one agenda and perspective. Our knowledge of human beings fills in the blanks.

I wonder if someone will make a blogger personality test. Are our online personas so very different from our reality? Would I be an extrovert online?

Happy running people - I think my legs have forgotten how.

10 days without blogging ... feels like a lifetime.

Hello all.
I've made it through the wilderness of the SECC trade show.
The wilds of London town.
And I have one measly little run to report for all 10 days!

Rest assured (and rest had) something approaching normal service will be resuming any second.

So, the SECC was an excellent experience and I made lots of great jewellery contacts but 4 days on my feet nearly killed me. I did walk about 12 miles over the 4 days though, which is something.

My only other exercise was room (I mean, cupboard) exercise. I managed sit-ups, leg lifts, wall press-ups and a few measly girl-press-ups. It was better than nothing but I really feel like I've eaten my way round Britain for 10 days... holy christ the scales are going to scare me.
After the SECC it was my birthday (another year where wrinkles and grey hairs make too much of an appearance for my liking); so we went out for a massive slap-up feed with some friends.

After the SECC I had a day at home to pack before London so obviously it was time to fit in a nice medium distance run:

On the 25th managed the following run:

5 miles
48.26
pace 9.41

9.56
9.23
9.52
9.53
9.19

Happy as it was my longest run for weeks and weeks. Also I think it's the longest I've ever maintained a sub-10min mile pace! Whooo Hoooo

But then came London. Arrived (we drove as it was easiest and cheapest - ridiculous, makes me furious) and went straight out to dinner at The Cinnamon Club - swanky wonderfulness and amazing food. The next day brekkie out, then tea (sandwiches, cake the whole 9-yards), then tasty tasty tasty Moroccan that evening - all too swiftly followed by Sunday Roast lunch!

I think I might POP!

A long run tomorrow and some serious chilling out/work to be done.

Ooooo - fitted in some lovely clothes and shoe shopping too - spoilt to bits as Birthday Girl.

Not out of the woods yet (never even made it to the damn woods)

*And Exhale*

That's how it feels today. Woke late (as usual) but after a rubbish sleep - I blame the lack of exercise recently. And knew that today I had to get the catalogue finished, and everything packed so I can go to Glasgae tomorrow. The trade fair cometh and my spirits wane somewhat.

Never mind, now I get to chill out for 4 days and try and convince people to stock loads of my stuff in their lovely, lovely shops. (Well, that's the hope anyway. If that fails I'll stuff myself on the free food, feel rubbish and gentle bang my head against the wall until the nice men come to take me away.)

Enough of that rubbish, you people came her for a running blog. So, I never made it to the woods; but I did haul my arse upstairs and punish my idle bones on the elliptical machine.

Setting was very gentle rolling - mostly on 3 (out of 14) but occasionally up to 5.

5K in 27.14 DELIGHTED!

Splits were:
8:50
8:59
8:40
0.1 mile in 0.45 seconds

This takes 1min 34seconds off my previous best ever for 5k. (But that was on the road and weight bearing ... I don't think I could do today's time in real life, only on the elliptical.)

Really helped at the end that TheO came up and said, "you're not really trying, honestly, put some effort in" - they were only joking but it had the desired effect.

Apart from feeling like it was the most successful run ever the lovely, lovely, druggy endorphins kicked in and I felt much more human again. TheO has been wonderful today, made lovely food, gone shopping helped me to insert business cards into tiny little paper corner things; pah! not looking forward to going away now.

Might get a quick "real run" fitted in tomorrow before I go away ... for days. You wont hear from me until Wednesday - unless I find an Internet cafe somewhere!

Quickest of posts before Bed

No time to blog. No time to run. No time full stop. On Saturday I head for my first ever trade show. I'm scared shitless. What if no one buys my stuff. What if this is the beginning of the end.

The only noise I've heard today is the sound of the printer as it desperately churns out catalogue after catalogue. (It's only an ink-jet, it never knew its life would be so hard.)

Tomorrow no matter what I'm heading to the woods and runnnnnniiiiiinnnnnngggggggggg.
But, that said - the cabinet is built (and dismantled again to pack into the car), the lights are checked, the catalogue is *almost* ready.

So, almost time for bed... just enough time left to watch some 24 and hug TheO (Even if they hate me becuase I made them go and get pizza as there was no food in the house - and it's a 40min round trip to get pizza!).

I've been thinking.

In the wonderfully informative Runner's World there was a little box with the "Advice from Great Runners" and one bit was: (to paraphrase horribly) if you're feeling good do more than you planned.

Now, I think this advice sucks. If you're feeling good push your pace: go faster, not further! When I plan a run I almost always (90%) have a set goal in mind; generally a mileage. Because I try and stick to this aim like glue it prevents me from telling myself, "I'm feeling a bit crap today, lets cut it short and do more later in the week." It means that (unless real illness, not a sniffle, or injury prevent me) I manage to plan my training in any given week, and stick to it.
This repetition and commitment is one of the big changes that has taken place in my life. Apart from work this is the one thing I've really stuck to. (I'd probably manage to stick with surfing if you could just walk out the door and do it!)

I think I would overdo it on days when I felt great - and then be buggered for the rest of the week. I would also be tempted to quit on days when things weren't going so well. For me it's not flexible. As soon as I decide what the run is going to be (can be as late a decision as when I take the first bound) it must be that - or I feel like I've let myself down.

My plan is always vague but generally in a week I plan the following:
one gym session (weights only)
a good 5K
a 4-5 mile run
a longer run (anything from 10K - 20K)

Sometimes the 5k gets done in the gym, then the weights session happens.
Sometimes the 5K or the 4-5miler ends up being done on the elliptical machine.
Sometimes I manage t fit in a 30-45min yoga session. (Hah! Rarely)

The commitment is a big part of running for me. The beginning was so hard and so humiliating there's a fair degree of fear involved in keeping going. I'm so determined never to let myself get to that point again, I have to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Just the facts.

Finally, a run longer than 5K. Did 4 lovely miles today in record time.
38.05. The splits are a bit buggered up as I was using my watch and a known route rather than the GPS.

9.52
8.48
9.06
10.18 (I ran an extra .1 of a mile at the end to cover any miscalculation in the middle)

So an average of 9:31 per mile. Still beyond chuffed that I can maintain a sub-10 pace. (Also still a little surprised.)