First training week toward half marathon goal.

• Saturday January 16th Parkrun 5km at 29.34
• Sunday   January 17th Parkrun 5km at 37.56
• Monday  January 18th Roadrun 6km    45.00
• Tuesday  January 19th Hot Pilates
• Wednesday and Thursday crippled from said class
• Friday     January 22nd Roadrun 5km at 33.00
• Saturday  January 23rd Group     6.5km at 38.00

All I can say is I had high notions of myself when I decided to do this! It was so easy for me to say "ya, half marathon, no problem" but the training is tough and I am feeling the pain.

I am not a total beginner. I started really running in November 2015 right after I got home from travelling, and I suppose it was more of a time killer than anything else since I was unemployed. I could run 5 km in a little over 35 mins by the time I decided to sign up for the half in January. As I had plenty of time I was running about 4 days a week and also doing a lot of brisk walks to increase my lung capacity. 

So when I joined my marathon training group and was instructed to do 3 solo 30 minute runs a week and a 45 minute group run at the weekend, it seemed positively doable. 

I decided to start my first solo run by doing my local Parkrun, I figured it would force me to push myself to get into the 30 minute mark for 5km and its location in the woods is beautiful. I have to say I was nervous, as I hadn't run in a group situation since the summer before and I was used to fairly flat concrete roads. My dad also decided to partake and we headed off. It was a great run and I managed to cross the line in just over 29 minutes without pushing myself at all, so delighted with that. 

I then decided to do the same trail the next day. Alas, I found this one much tougher. My legs felt achy and heavy from the day before, it was cold and rainy and my breathing was all over the place. I had to stop several times and I was incredibly disappointed with my performance. 

Monday I decided to go out again on my usual road run and went a km further, my breathing again was out of whack but I tried to slow down and focus and did not have to stop.

As part of the training programme I do a Hot Pilates class, affectionately (or frighteningly) referred to as Inferno. Focusing on the core and in temperatures up to 30 degrees it is TOUGH! Our trainer is incredibly motivating and I find his countdown system really pushes me because I know the pain (ooooh that awful ab pain) will only last for 8 rounds. I find the most difficult parts for me are the standing up repetitions as I can really feel the heat. But overall the class is great and I always feel motivated and elated afterwards (pesky endorphins).

I was instructed that 48 hours after the Inferno class is when I would have muscle pain, but this sunk in almost straight away for me. My body was in bits and I couldn't face running on Wednesday or Thursday, I brisk walked instead and promised to push myself on Friday doing my usual road route (which I am now incredibly bored by).

Group run took place on Saturday and I had major apprehension. I had no idea of the group ability and feared I would be the last person finishing or that I wouldn't finish at all. And I didn't think I could cope with the embarrassment. I need not have worried, everyone else had the same fears and we were all dreading the pace. Off we headed with a 4 mile route and an approximation of 10 minutes a mile. It felt great to be with like minded people and we pushed on as a group at a nice slow pace. We ended up finishing a bit quicker than anticipated and did a 400m lap of the track as a finisher along with a cool down. Really not a bad way to start the weekend. I should say I decided not to time myself or look at my watch for the route and I am glad I wasn't aware because my pace was comfortable and I managed to get back in under the allocated time, I definitely would have been more anxious if I had kept an eye on my watch.

Overall I feel happy and motivated, but my body was achy and sore. I read an article that said a runner can expect an injury in the first 3 months of their training so I am really trying to stretch properly and do proper warm up and cool down. This week was tough and it won't get any easier, we will be running further and faster in a couple of weeks and I need to get into the mind frame. But I am doing this for me too and for my well being and I will continue my positive outlook and run happy.