Wild Bird Flying

So I got tired of waiting for the foot to feel better. It's as good as it probably gonna get without seing a doctor, and THAT could take forever.

Back to square one. FML.

Ran home from work Wednesday night (Thursday). Got off at midnight, geared up, and set out with the Dog, not knowing at all what to expect. Set a high pace, but didn't care much. I just wanted to run as far as I could before the foot stopped me. Turns out I could run all the way home, nnice. It is a bit sore, perhaps, but I'm not feeling the pain I expected. Barefoot running will have to wait, though, as shifting the weight onto my toeballs sets off a searing pain. Oh well, as long as I get to run at all, I'm happy.

Wednesday

6 km - 35.16 min
Max speed: 12.6 - Avg speed: 10.2
Km splits: 05:44 - 05:42 - 06:14 - 06:18 - 05:54 - 05:20
Avg: 05:52

Not too shabby after not running for almost a month, I guess.

The best part of getting to run again was what it did to my mood. I felt so free, so happy, so incredibly good during the run, and I was sooo high on the runner's high the entire way. Why don't everybody run? It's UH-MAh-ZING!

WTF Foot??!!?

I want to shoot my foot. It's stupid, and hurts. It started hurting two and a half week ago. I took a week off, and it kept hurting. I ran 12 km, and it didn't hurt so much. But then, without any logical reason it went off again. Gaaaahhhh. So here I am, running once a week, and limping around the rest of the time. I'm not very happy right now.

I've bought myself a pair of Vibram Five-Finger shoes, and I can't even use them. I ran 600 meters with them last Friday (the man at Löplabbet told me with a "stern" voice to not run more than 500 meters with them until my quads are stronger), but I regretted it almost immediately, as it set off a searing pain.

I've been eating NSAIDs on and off for almost two weeks, and although it takes away the pain, my foot still feels sore and starts hurting again if I move around too much. Too bad I have to walk 8 km every time I'm at work...

The pain is located around the Adductor hallucis, but I don't know if it's muscular or something related to the tendons. I just hope it's not a fracture.

Of course I called the doctor to get an appointment. And of course I could get one...in June... Errrr, yeah right. I think I'll try next week, calling in early to see if someone's cancelled. Or I could run a lot, hoping it will make the pain serious enough to legitimate going to the ER...

Let's Take Off All Our Clothes

...because that's just so typical Norwegian. It happens every Spring. It's late April, it's sunny and warm and the trees are getting green. Oh happy day, it's Summer! Then everybody throws away their clothes, and BAM!; we've all catched a cold. At least, this happens to me every year. After the beautiful run Friday, I was rewarding myself with a day on the cliffs, barbequeing and drinking white wine in my bikini. Oh yes; I'm very smart.

It was a very nice day, though..


:3

Since it was almost a week since my last run, I went out today despite a running nose. Bad idea. It's the worst run I've had so far this year. I kept blowing my nose, and it didn't help. Not even a little.
I gave up after 4 painful kilometers and walked home. Best decision this week.

Week 10 - Wednesday

Let's just get it over with..
4 km - 25:27
Max speed: 12.1
Avg speed: 9.4 (...)

Km splits: 05:55 - 06:12 - 07:30 - 05:48
Avg: 06:21

07:30! !!! I haven't been this slow, like, EVER. Oh, the shame. I think I'm gonna drown my sorrows in a barrelful of candy. I'd rather have red wine, but the store is closing NOW, so that ain't gonna happen.



Can you see how much I enjoyed it today? Minus 100 % barely covers it


The run wasn't completely worthless; I found a new trail. Which makes it..almost worth it..

15!

Last week's somewhat creative icing. Need to buy myself a couple of bags of peas, Bratwurst is not doing the job satisfyingly.

I started this week being exhausted from working to much with too little sleep. The result was me sleeping Tuesday and half of Wednesday; so wasteful. At least I coaxed myself out on a run Wednesday; my bestfriend Sunniva was coming over to run with me, so I had to. Running dates are a smart thing, after all.

But she was late, so I ran a loop first with the Dog, and then a second with her. Was fun, though a little slow. I'm not good at running AND talking. Maybe I'm not so girly? (Everybody knows girls can do several things at the same time, and that boys can't.)

Week 9 (I think) - Wednesday

5.37 km - 31:47 min
Max speed: 13.1 - Avg. speed: 10.1
Km splits: 05:54 - 06:00 - 06:14 - 05:53 - 05:32 - (02:12)
Avg: 05:54

Then with Sunniva:
5:01 km - 30:50 min
Max speed: 15.8 - Avg. speed: 9.7
Km splits: 06:16 - 06:31 - 05:56 - 06:16 - 05:44
Avg: 06:09

Total: 10.38 km
I had a small break (10 min) between the two, so I feel like it doesn't count as a long run. Bleh.
It's nice with company, but I do like running alone better.

Week 9 - Friday

Got off early from work today. And it was sunny and perfect temperatur for running in thights and tank top. My earphones are wacky, and that annoyed me to no end, but I pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and I'm proud. Please do not insult my pride by pointing out how slow I am, KTNXBY.

15.04 km - 01:35
WOW! 15! !!!!!! Beware, 21 km mark, I'm comin' ta get ya!

Max speed: 11.6 - Avg. speed: 9.5
Km splits: 06:12 - 05:51 - 06:13 - 06:10 - 06:30 - 06:24 - 06:35 - 06:24 - 06:12 - 06:44 - 06:27 - 06:32 - 05:49 - 06:13 - 06:23
Avg: 06:18

Ran on Bygdøy, but didn't bring a camera other than the iPhone. It's a shame, because it was BEAUTIFUL.

The Dog, being all pretty as usual.

Blurry, on-the-run-photo.

The average isn't too shabby, I feel. This is the longest I've ever run, and I don't know how to pace myself. The Dog doesn't either. He pulled a little in the beginning, but not after my legs started to tire.

I also tried Maxim gel today. It tastes craptastic, and the feeling of it in my mouth and throat is horrendous. I washed it down with some water, and it actually stayed down. I think it helped, maybe that's why km 13 was the fastest, even though I was seriously tired and my feet had started aching.

Maxim Energy Gel. Bleh.




The Dog, too tired to move, for once. It didn't last long, though.

Now I'm off to celebrate the British Royal Wedding some more. I crave Catherine's dress, btw. SO. EFFING. PRETTY!

Easter Shmeaster

No holidays for this working girl. All work and no play makes at least some money. And since I work back-to-back 12 or 13-hours shifts, it's not easy to fit in a run. My shins splints will probably thank me for the extra resting days, but I've recently started getting restless and fidgetty if it gets too many days between the runs (as in 2-3 days).

Week 8 - Tuesday

I geared up, grabbed the Dog and set out in the beautiful, warm weather. And before we had gotten more than little over a mile, he was limping slightly. It was nothing else to do but to walk him home and start over again. I only paused the Polar; I guess that is cheating considering the break I got, but I don't really care. I ran out on beautiful Bygdøy; I need to run there more often, but only when the mommy mafia isn't...

The Dog posing like a pro. Don't mind the birds, I was bored. They didn't catch anything at all, actually.

6.82 km - 42:25 min

Max speed: 11.3 - avg 9.6

Km splits: 05:59 - 06:10 - 06:00 - 06:21 - 06:15 - 06:27 - (05:11)

Avg km splits: 06:12

It was much harder to run without the Dog than I anticipated. Since I started running outdoors, I have always brought him, just because my heart tears up over the fact that he has to spend the time I use on running mostly alone. And he could really use some exercise himself. I figured it wouldn't do so much harm, because he only pulls for the first km, and not very hard. The rest of the run, he keeps my pace, sometimes running beside me, and often stopping to sniff and pee at every lamppost in the world. But he must have pulled me more than I believed, because I struggled after only 3 km, and I finally gave up after what I thought was only 6 km, but was really almost 7. Had I known, I would have kept on for another 180 meters...

My plan was to run 10 km, and although I failed at that, I ran almost 7, and then walked 1.5 km to the bus. Good thing I didn't decide to walk the 5 km home, because it had started blowing whilst I was sheltered by the forest, and I had only a thin longsleeve on (it is after all only April).

A crappy run is better than no run.

And scuba diving certainly beats crappy running, and even a normal run. It does not, however, beat the best runs, between those it's a tie.

Tonight I started on my long strech of night shifts. Man, I don't like night shifts. I feel terrible the whole time, not sleeping well enough or long enough, and TMI-topic; my digestion system is all in an uproar. Bleurgh. But it brings money in the wallet, and I do need a second pair of running shoes. Don't ask, I really don't know. I blame it on the fact that it's 4.40 in the morning, and I'm almost going into comatose.

Summer, holidays, wine, the Boyfriend - my favourite things in the world - though not necessarily in that order...

Reaching a Goal While Missing It

First things first. I ran home from work Monday. As in Monday morning, after working a 11-hour nightshift. Props to me!

Week 7 - Monday

5.86 km - 33:13 min

Laps: 05.57 - 05:48 - 05:51 -05:43 - 05:35 (-04:18)
Max speed: 13.1 - avg speed: 10.6

Ran almost the same route as I use to, but cut out a portion of it. I felt fast (although I'm really not). This morning, as I was homeward bound instead of the other way around, I ran downhill. I think that's why the km splits are faster than they normally are. Oh well, I'm happy.

Moving on. I had a second run Thursday. BEFORE work. As in I got up at 5.45, was headed to work at 6 and on the treadmill at 6.30. I didn't have much time, so I only ran 3 km, but the fact that I actually managed to squeeze in a run that early is enough to celebrate.

Week 7 - Thursday

3.40 km - 19:16 min

Laps: 06:18 - 05:34 - 05:28 -01:55
Max speed: 13.3 - Avg speed 10.6

Was seriously delirious at this point, so I dont't think there's that much to say, other than that I had a faboulous runner's high.

Tired, me? This picture is taken before the run, can you tell?

Week 7 - Friday

At work I discovered a half marathon that is in June, at Beitostølen, and all of a sudden I was all in a frenzy. I wanted to run. Like, now. And far. It lasted until I got home, and then it met some resistance. The boyfriend tried to lure me into staying on the couch with a glass of wine, and it was sooo tempting. I conquered the couch potato in me, and geared up. The dog of course went along.

I had planned on a route that would take me longer than I normally run, but with options of quitting if my shin splints were killing me. I ended up running longer than I had planned. I kept saying: Maybe I can run 10km? I was getting there, adding extra loops to add kilometers. Then I had to stop to redo my shoelaces, and I paused the Polar. When I started again, I realised that I had actually managed to turn it off completely. FML. I started a new workout, without checking how far I'd actually run. So I ran another 5 km, and thought I had managed 10 km.

I was wrong....

Week 7 - Friday

All set and ready to go. Especially the Dog. All the pictures of me are fugly, all the pictures of the Dog are all angels and rainbows and unicorns. Life's unfair.

(I had to do some maths here..)
First part:
4:38 km - 26:30
Splits: 05:42 - 06:11 - 06:17 - 05:55 (-02:24)
Avg split: 06:01
Max speed: 12.1 - Avg speed: 9.9

Second part:
5:37 km - 31:40 min
Splits: 06:02 - 06:05 - 06:01 - 05:49 - 05:40 (-02:00)
Avg split: 05.55
Max speed: 13.8 - Avg speed: 10.2

Total km: 9.75..... So very, very bittersweet. It's by far the longest run in my life, and sooo close to the round number 10...

I was quite disappointed, but still so energetic and happy, so it didn't matter that much. At least now I know I can actually do it.I still got wine, though, after the run. Wine + ice = killer combo. A very happy girl at this point.Too much wine?

Very pretty dog. I was rolling sore muscles with a tennis ball, that is never popular. All tennis balls hail Mr.Darcy. End of story.

Ooh, very long post. Got to go drink more wine.

Stupid Viking City Planners...

I wish I could go 1000+ years back in time. I need to speak with the people responsible for Oslos location. Why would anybody think that it's a good idea to put the city in the bottom of a "bowl"? Because that's what Oslo is. It is impossible to find good, flat routes from Frogner. Either I have to start with running uphill, or I have to finish my run uphill. And that sucks majorly, when I'm all winded, having to huff and puff my way up home. Like today.

I went for my "long" run before breakfast today. Luckily I didn't feel to hungover, and I was stoked enough to consider the slightly longer loop around Frognerstranda. It was sunny, warm (almost too warm) and not too much wind.

Week 6 - Saturday

6.3 km - 36:44 min (This is not correct, I paused my Polar when the Dog had to poop, and I forgot to start it again, only to remember it after 3-4 minutes. So the distance is about right, but the time is not.)

Km splits:
Km 1: 6:18
Km 2: 6:06
Km 3: 6:13
Km 4: 5:59
km 5: 6:22
Km 6: 05:44 ( 0.91 km)

Max speed: 11.7 km/h - avg. speed: 9.7 km/h

Overall not too shabby, but I still have a long way to go before hitting that 21.1 km mark.

Stretching, icing and "foam rolling" - using a tennis ball. With an audience.

This is Why I Run

The run today felt like a fast one. I know, I know, I'm not really fast at all. It didn't feel effortless, but it felt easier than it normally do. The only "problem" was the choice to bring Maxim Electrolyte Energy Drink on the run. At best, it felt like breathing through jello after each sip. At worst, I choked and had to struggle to breathe. All this because I have a slight cold, and my airways gets filled up with mucus (Too much information? Probably..), and obviously mucus and Maxim don't go well together.

Week 6 - Thursday

4.04 km - 24:11 min

Yesterday I was frustrated with my Polar, but a quick Google search later, I was back to looooving it. I thought I had to manually punch the laptime button, but all I had to do was set it to auto. Duuh. Feeling stupid? ......yeah.

Km 1: 06:23 min
Km 2: 05:54 min
Km 3: 06:00 min
Km 4: 05:39 min (this was up a long "steep" hill. Man, I felt it. But I was almost home, so "no qutting, keep on running".)

I ran along the faboulous Frognerstranda, and the slow pace at km 3 was because of the headwind. At least I like to think so.



The Dog and I, all ready to go. I borrowed/stole the Boyfriends sunglasses, although I look like an überdork in them. Oh well, I have to live with it until I a)get a sponsor or b) can afford to buy my own not so dorky-looking.




Post-run; trying icing my legs for the first time. It's hurting in a really good way. I don't have a foam roller, but I massaged my shins with a tennis ball (the Dog did NOT like that - all tennis balls are his tennis balls.), and it felt really good.


Post-run fueling. White wine and water. And then, homemade italian pizza and red wine. And post-blogging? More red wine and some chocolate. Yummm....

Some Days, Running is FUN

What's my excuses for being such a lousy runner? ...Eeerhm. Working? Saving the world Superman style? General lazyness?

Week 5 -Friday

I squeezed in a run before the nightshift. I had planned to run 5 km, but after 2 km I realised that I was running out of time (pun intended, I'm sorry), so I sped up a little and finished after only 3. I stretched, and then barely had time to shower. Note to self: plan better next time. At least I ran. That's something, isn't it?

3.24 km - 31:34 min.

Max speed: 12.9 km/h

Avg. speed: 9.0 km/ h

Km splits: 7.33 - 6.06 -5.57 -1.57 (0.24 km)

I always start slow to warm up and it affects the time, but I won't bother with warming up and then start running "seriously", I'm waaay too lazy.

This week I worked Monday and Tuesday, and both days I practically ached to go running, but I had no time after work. Today, however, I am working the afternoon shift, so I had "plenty" of time to run before work. I brought the Dog, and he is showing some improvement, running-wise.

Week 6 - Wednesday

I used Google Maps to find a suitable route with the right distance. I slept in today, so I wanted to make sure I had time to cool down and shower before work (so gross not to shower, I know, but sometimes I just forget. Or, it used to happen when I lived alone. Totally gross, I know. I guess it's one of the single-syndromes...).

It turned out to be a magnificent run. I loved it, absolutely no hating at any point, which is unusual. My shin splints ached the first 500 meters, and then my legs felt great until I had about 600 meters left. Then the right shin decided to let me know that there's still problems down there, but it was only momentary. It was sunny, I had fun, and I "only" had to blow my nose 5 times. I wanted the run to last longer;I actually wanted to run longer.

More runs like this, please?!?

4.42 km - 27:48 min

Max speed: 13 km/h

Avg. speed: 9.5 km/h

I definitely felt like I ran faster than I did Friday, although the average speed is almost the same.

Five minutes ago, I thought how much I've started to love my Polar. "It even finds the km splits, which is SO fun" and bladibla,bladibla. It seems I was wrong. I have to manually punch the "lap" button at every kilometer, I think. That is like a slap in the face. I guess I have to buy a Garmin after all...

My not so much beloved Polar RS200. I have to find out if it can automatically save laptimes for me, but I threw away the user manual a looong time ago. Stupid me.

Btw, I want to become like http://www.skinnyrunner.com/. Not having to work, only run. And live in SoCal.

Edit: I totally forgot that in addition to the 4 km I ran today, I discovered that my round at work is another 4 km. Like, seriously? 4 km? That means I walk more than 8 km at each of my weekend nightshifts... That's radical...

Being Normal

It's weird being normal. Having to work 8 to 4 or 9 to 5. I'm not used to it, but suddenly I'm spending my days in a small office without windows, my tools being a computer and a printer. I'm not a morning person. I'm an evening person. Having to get up at 6 or 7 (am?? pm?? EARLY in the MORNING...) rubs me the wrong way. Still, it's kind of nice, because I get SO much more done each day. Like running. Week 5 - Wednesday I got home from work, ate dinner, chilled out a couple of hours; and then I ran. I grabbed the (stupid) Dog, and we ran the same route as last week. It felt much better this time, but I still wasted much time waiting for the Dog to pee and poop and all that jazz. I tried pausing the Polar, but either I forgot to pause it, or I forgot to start it again. The route is approximately 6.2 km. I ran with the footpod, but that one is seriously funky. My stride is shorter than it thinks. Oh well. What the Polar say about yesterday is: 4.96 km - Average pace. 7.6 min/km (sloooow, I know). Max pace:10.7 min/km (I wish my average pace was 10.7....) Yesterday's conclusion: My shin splints definitely don't like asphalt. And the Dog is still stupid. The Dog, wondering if stopping means he can pee onthe lamppost. It doesn't. I also wanted to run today, because my day at work was super frustrating. But I felt sorry for the Dog, having been home alone all day (Boyfriend also working overtime today), so we ended up going for a long walk on Bygdøy. That turned out to be a smart decision, as it was icy and slippery and rrrrreally muddy. We found a bust of king Karl Johan. He was guarded by the the saddest-looking lion I have ever seen. He looked even sadder than Aslan did when he went to be killed on the stone table by the White Which. I tried to comfort it, but it was like talking to a...stone. I then talked to the Dog, but all he wanted was for me to throw his stick. So we walked on. The Dog has to wear a noseband, because he pulls too much. Stupid Dog. This is what normally happens when we stop while walking; he tries to take it off:
Somtimes it works. Sometimes.

A Stupid Dog and Onion Soup

Monday this week we flew back from Gran Canaria. A run-free week with tons of delicious food and wine. Good thing we didn't lie on the beach all week, but rather went scuba diving and horseback riding and dolphin scouting. I collapsed most of the days after dinner, about 9.30 (am/pm-whatever). But alas, no running. When packing for this trip, I fetched my running gear, and put it on top in the suitcase. Then I figured I'd better be honest with myself: I would never run, and it was better to leave everything related to running at home. So I left it, and it ended up being a good idea.An Eagle Ray, photo taken by Martin Rogan. I spotted it, though. Go me! Isn't it cute like a button? I wanted to take it home with me. I got the boyfriend up on a horse, for the first time in his life. It has been ages and ages since the last time I rode, but it 's like riding a bike - you never forget it completely. Me and the terribly grumpy Franscesca. She didn't like the horse in front of her. She didn't like the horse behind her. And she didn't like me. Fun!

Cuttlefish, photo taken by Martin Rogan.

Week 4 (oops, no running week 3) - Thursday I was feeling a little peaky Tuesday and Wednesday, so I didn't feel much like running after work these days. Thursday was my day off before the night shift weekend, so I had no excuse. It was actually my first outdoor run in 2011. There is too much snow and ice still, but today was sunny and warm and beautiful, and the sidewalks were mostly bare. I dressed myself and the dog, and off we went. The route I had planned is approximately 6.2 km, and goes from home to work, where I planned to join Martin and drive home. It. Was. Tough. Ok, it's been over a week since last run. And work; in Nydalen, is uphill from home. Enough excuses. I suck. That's a fact, but a fact I plan to change. This is why I run, why I have this blog. The dog was a good running companion. Last year... Today, he was impossible. My next dog is going to be a bitch, because it's hopeless to run with a male. He stopped every five meters to pee on trees, on bushes, on signs, on everything. Last year, he knew the drill. When we run, we do not stop to pee more than three times. When we walk, I stop whenever he wants to stop. Stoopid dog! I will not bother with finding and writing down the time spent, because I walked some, and the dog stopped me all the time. Bah. It was slow, though. As always. Tonight, the happy family (=us) is making onion soup. Yummy. Here's a picture of me gently stirring the onions: Why yes, that IS a diving mask. Onions make me cry. Diving mask (or ski goggles) erases that problem. And it was A LOT of onions: (This is not a food blog, but I like food, so I will sometimes sneak in pictures of food. I can't help it, I guess.:))

Let's Go Autobots!

This week I jumped ship again. I'm sorry, Hal Higdon, but it was too much too fast. I need to take it slower because of my shin splits, and because of my lack of motivation. I will use Hal as a starting point, but take it easier, run shorter and not so often. Running Tuesday, Wednesday AND Thursday will probably kill me (I'm not melodramatic at all... No, really...), so I will either run Monday, Wednesday, Thursday/Friday and Saturday/Sunday, depending on night shift or not. This means that if I run Thursday, I can also run Saturday etc. And with my recent work schedule I can take a "long" run Wednesday, and then rest Thursday.

Week 2 - Tuesday

I rested Monday, so Tuesday came bright and shiny, and I was ready for yet another 5 km. Or so I thought. I really don't know what happened, but I started at a sloooow pace, then decided after 2 km that I would only run 3 km (my body felt so very heavy, and I was really lazy), so I sped up a bit. I wish I'd recorded laps, bit I didn't.

3 km - 20.49 min


Wednesday, I decided to rest again. I baked an apple cake, then ate half of it. Yummy yummy in my tummy...

Week 2 - Thursday

Thursday I was quite a bit more motivated. I started slow, then after 1 km I sped up, to see how long I could keep a 10 km/h-pace. It turned out that I could hold that pretty long, and here I've been, shuffling my feet at 8 km/h because I thought it was the fastest I could go! So I ran 3 km at 10, then turned it up to 11 km/h for the last km. It went well, thanks to the Transformer score. My shin split on the right leg kept bothering me the entire run, though. Uh-oh.

5 km - 30.44.min - New personal record, woot! (...)

And today I took some lap times.
Lap 1 - first 2 km - 13.27
Lap 2 - next 2 km - 12.02
Lap 3 - last km - 5.13

Fun! I should do this more, but when I'm on the treadmill, my head seems to be elsewhere. Speaking of which, here is my old friend:


And here is me, looking VERY motivated (note: I hate taking pictures of myself in the mirror.)

Aaand after (listening to my autobots):




Then I went to make sushi with my girlfriends. Lovely evening.

I don't think there will be much running this weekend. Friday I work a night shift, Saturday I'm hosting a birthday party for a friend, Sunday I'm probably hung-over. Monday I'm going to Gran Canaria. Can't wait!

Fail...

Saturday, I went to the basement for this week's long run. I tried, and I failed spectacularly. I was supposed to run 6 miles, translated to 9.6 km. I was really full of myself, boasting about it to the boyfriend. Guess the lesson is learned, then. After 1.5 km my legs loosened up, and I felt like it really was happening. Then I ran another 1.5 km, and I hit a wall. "That's a tad bit early to hit the wall", you might think. It's what I thought. So I pushed through. The meters klicked by sooo slowly, and I had take breaks, and I had to walk. At 5.7 km I realised that it was NOT happening. But I can be stubborn, so I said to myself: 7 km! You can do 7 km! At 6 km my body shut down. I considered laying down on the treadmill, but figured it would be much more comfortable at the gym mats.

Week 1 - Saturday (a.k.a. Long Run Day)

Slowest. Pace. EVER: 6 km in 45 minutes. So embarrassing.

But now I see the point of taking it slow, and listening to my body.

So, I nibbled on my protein bar, and sulked in the shower. And then I spent what felt like the rest of the day trying to get home. Seriously? Thanks to the World Championship in cross-country skiing, the metro and buses and trams were all retarded. I got home just in time for the preparty.

Which led to this:It was a fun night, though. Got to bed at 6 in the morning, which is really late for me. Good thing Sunday and Monday are resting days.

No Pain, No Gain?

Week 1 - Thursday

Yesterday was not so much fun, and today was not better. Still, after 1.5 km I noticed that my legs felt a little lighter (the first mile or so my legs felt heavy and I just wanted to quit), and I sped up. Not so smart. When I had run 2.8 km I realised that all I wanted was to end the run at 3 km, like I used to do before. Oh, the temptation. I came up with excuses, such as "I did run Tuesday and Wednesday" and "I AM gonna run 10 km on Saturday, so I can go a little easier today". But before I even realised it, I had run past 3 km, and figured I should just continue. You know, to see how far I could go before I REALLY wanted to quit. Suddenly I had just 900 m to go, and then I couldn't quit. It's as easy as that. But it makes it obvious that Saturday, with my first ever 10 km, won't be much fun. It will, however, be much pain. No pain, no gain? Eeeeeh...


5 km - 32.10 min

I'm still painfully slow.
And I will be for some time, I think. I'd rather take it slooow, than to be hasty and get injured.

My faboulous shoes: Asics Gel-Kayano 17. I love them, nuff said.

Compression socks for dummies. But it's all good, because I don't know the difference between left and right most of the
time.

Before-picture. I'm sorry it's so bad, but I could hear someone coming, and thought it would be awkward if I stood there, posing like an idiot in front of the mirror. And I was right, I felt so incredibly stupid after the run, when I posed to take the after-picture. There is no real purpose for these pictures, other than to prove that I work my butt off. I am so red and sweaty in the second picture.. Oh well, it's on the internet forever, now.

No running tomorrow, yay! Or maybe I'll miss it? Looong run coming up on Saturday, so I think I'll survive.

Some Days I Soar...

This Monday I started on Hal Higdon's Marathon Training Guide . Frankly, it's scaring the shit out of me. Especially since I have now (only) completed three of seven days in the first week. Monday was easy. It was a day of resting, easy-peasy. Come on, I thought, give me a challenge. The challenge came Tuesday.

Week 1 - Tuesday

Run 3 miles, it said. Since I'm used to the metric system, I looked forward to an easy distance. I used to run 3 km a year ago, ever so slowly running my way up to 5 km. I was so proud of myself back in the days. Then I got a boyfriend, and we both fell into the trap. We've been more or less couch potatoes since last April. As it dawned on me that 3 miles is actually 4.8 km (give or take a few meter), I got a little less enthusiastic.

5 km - 32.56 min.

I know, it's still not fast. But I really, REALLY don't want any injuries. I took the time to strech 20 minutes afterwards. I know it's probably only a placebo effect, but Wednesday came without any soreness or stiffness, and I give the credit to the stretching.

Week 1 - Wednesday

Started out fresh and fine. Tuesday, my legs felt awesome. Wednesday, not so much. But I remembered some of Susan's posts about lacking motivation and don't feeling like running, and I kicked my own butt and went to my favourite basement to get some miles under my belt.

5 km - 31 (?) min.

I think that is correct. I run with my Polar RS200, but this time I had a few stops (drinking water, blowing my nose, dropping my iPhone on the floor), and I only stopped the treadmill. The time isn't really what matters. What does matter is that I run the miles Hal Higdon tells me to run. But at least I ran 1-2 min faster than Tuesday. There's nothing like some dragons and ikrans to make me soar...

That's correct, I listened to film scores. How to Train Your Dragon, and Avatar. Feels silly, but I get some kind of a runner's high after 20 minutes, and I can prolong and intensify it by blasting my favourite songs into my (poor) ears. Speaking of music, I really need some tips on what music to listen to. I'm hopefully in for some long runs in the future, so I need some new upbeat music.
I love bragging about my beautiful dog, so here's a picture. It's also showing the reason I run inside for the moment. SNOW. And ice. And cold. Can't wait for spring to come.

On your mark...

And here we go. This is my second attemt at starting a blog, and this time I have quite the mission. To document my way from zero to sixty, or more accurately - my way to the Oslo (half) Marathon in September. I have just under seven months to gain some marathon running abilities. And I do start at almost zero. I have shin splints, my knee will sometimes be really bothersome, and I'm not in a good shape generally. Whatever, I will try, nonetheless.

And I will not be alone. This mad plan is actually a deal between me and my friend Josefine. And besides, my boyfriend is a capable runner himself, and will hopefully drag me out those days when I'd much rather stay inside on the couch.

Me and Josefine, a long time ago...

Me and my boyfriend. Yeah I know, crappy picture.

I also have some kind of a mentor. I recently stumbled over Nurse on the Run; http://www.susanruns.com/, and she's AWESOME. I found inspiration, and as it seems like she really knows what she's doing, I might pick up some advice from time to time (or all the time). I might be a little bit in love... Or maybe I'm just some kind of starstruck.

I'm now at work. Every other weekend, I work 12 hour night shifts. It is rough, and almost impossible to get in a running session. I get off at 9 in the morning. I go home, and get to sleep at around 10. Then I wake up at 18 or 19 in the evening (no good at am/pm - I never remember which is which...). I shower, eat dinner and go to work. That's it. But yesterday, I slept at work, in on of the tiny bedrooms in the basement. It is completely dark, and in the weekends it's quiet. So I got a good, restfull sleep, AND time to work out in the gym we also have in the basement.


So. I have started following the half marathon training program that famous (?) Norwegian runner Grete Waitz has put together. The program streches over 12 weeks, which gives me plenty of time. I can take it slow, and considering my bad legs, that is not a bad idea.


Week 1 - Day 1

I was supposed to take a slow jog, ca 30 minutes. I was allowed to add some walking if I felt strained, and was not to push myself.


Did I stick to the plan? Well, i jogged for 30 minutes alright. But I never walked, and I ran a little faster than I probably should. But I was testing some compression socks I've just bought, and I wanted to know whether they worked or not. They did. I didn't feel the pain I normally get after 5 minutes. My legs wasn't very happy about the cramped space at first (not to mention that they're really hard to get on...), but halfway through it started feeling fine.


30 min - ca 4 km

Not very impressive, I know. But it's a start.


Anyone have any advice to a fresh runner? Especially running night shifters?