running

11 July, 2014

Zombies, Run! Eight Weeks Later

Three months ago, after nearly killing myself by trying to keep up with the jogging club at work, I started Zombies Run! 5k Training.

Now, against all the odds, this desk-bound IT monkey who usually only ran in the most dire of circumstances, has finished the 5k training.

Hell has truly frozen over.

PART ONE | PART TWO | PART THREE | PART FOUR (this post)

Art by Scarletdragonchild

Week 7

10 min fast walk
5 min free-form run
__
1 min run
15 sec skipping
(x5)
__
1 min stretching
5 min free-form run
__
3 min stretching
5 min free-form run
(x2)

Day 1 (1st June): As expected, I loved the skipping — but damn, IT’S A TRICK. The skipping distracts you from the fact that this lot of missions is almost constant running with no time to rest.

At this stage in running the calf muscle issues I’ve had since the early days are becoming a real nuisance — they don’t “warm up” quickly enough to keep up with the pace of the app and I keep having to slow down to let them catch up. I’ve adapted my diet to a much more high-protein one so that they repair properly between runs, but that hasn’t stopped the pain during runs…

running2

Day 2 (2nd June): Two running days in a row for the first time. I’m usually super rah-rah pro-rest-days, but my body was giving my signals we were A-OK for another round, so I went for it.

It went well — a slight expected performance drop because my muscles were more tired, but my stamina actually worked better than the previous day.

W7D3 on Wednesday, and then one week to the finish. Wow…

ALSO, GUESS WHAT?

I MET A DEER.

deer1 deer2

Day 3 (4th June): Had to call off this run due to early warnings pains in my right leg when walking, so I took a stroll around my usual track instead. On the bright side, I was looking pretty cute!

june4th (And seriously, guys, if you know me you know how much my confidence must have changed to think my flabby self was worth photographing…)

Day 3 (6th June/8th June): W7D3 started out hellish started out hellish — heavy legs, sore calf muscles, everything aching. Not a good run day. I abandoned this run half-way due to blistering heat on the 6th June, and picked it up again on the 8th after a supply mission warm-up. Didn’t really hit my stride until the end of the mission, when I switched over to an airdrop mission to burn extra energy.

The second half of this run was on a muddy little forest trail, unfamiliar territory, but quite fun.

At this point, I actually started looking into what was causing my tight calf muscle issues. It seems to hit new runners often, and while it’s possibly my posture, but I’ve been watching my posture and gait, so chronic compartment syndrome seems more likely. I decided to take a slightly longer break before running again.

Apart from muscle pains, things are looking good — my cardio levels are definitely increasing, I’m feeling much fitter and happier, and a few tight pairs of trousers are fitting more comfortably. I’m much happier in my body lately, and I think it shows in the photos!

Week 8:

For this final week, I’d picked up a trick from the runners over at the Reddit Zombies, Run! 5k community. I used the Runkeeper app to track distance, because the Zombies, Run! 5k app doesn’t automatically announce when I hit 5k.

(I’ve actually been using Runkeeper for a while, because it tracks my running at moments when I have to pause the ZR!5k app: running alongside roads and in busy areas, for instance.)

The missions for Week 8 are different each day, which is an interesting change of pace.

5 min walk
5 min free-form run
2 min stretching
20 min free-form run
5 min stretching
5 min free-form run
3 min stretching
5 min free-form run
Day 1 (11th June): Ran straight through midnight, saw a lot of bats cartwheeling around, avoided shambling zombies (aka roaming gangs of blokes in hoodies) and had a grand ol’ time. Creepy pictures of zombiebeach:

NIGHTRUN1 NIGHTRUN2

5 min walk
10 min free-form run
3 min stretching
__
10 min free-form run
5 min walk
(x2)
__
5 min run

Day 2 (13th June): Good runs are always followed by crappy runs, in my experience, and this was a super crappy run. But I found thistles taller than I am, so there was that.

5K run
Day 3 (15th or 16th June): The big 5k, after all this time, and after all this time… well, it was fun, but it wasn’t the magically easy-going runner’s-high experience I daydreamed about. It was a slog, made extra difficult by taking a poorly maintained forest trail, and I had to stop to walk on a lot of the trickier terrain.

IMG_20140616_124913 — Daft I JUST RAN A THING face.

Including my warm-up run and walk, I clocked up 1hr 20mins and covered 7.51km. My average time right now is 11min/km. which is a bit rubbish, but better than I’d be doing sitting at my desk at lunchtime. My speed’ll improve later, when I’m stronger.

For now, my feet hurt, but I’m pretty damn proud of myself. I did it. Now I just need to keep doing it so I can continue getting stronger and faster.

10 June, 2014

Zombies, Run! Weeks Three and Four

PART ONE | PART TWO (this post)| PART THREE | PART FOUR

zombiesrunlogo2

Three months ago, after nearly killing myself by trying to keep up with the jogging club at work, I started Zombies Run! 5k Training.

I’ve been keeping a record of all my runs and taking photos as I go, but I’ve hesitated about posting too much of it here — I don’t feel like a “real” runner yet. Maybe I never will feel like a real runner, but I’m out there, and I’m running, and that’s what matters.

Getting to run from zombies is jut the icing on the cake.

Week 3

5 min walk
5 min free-form run
__
1 min run
1 min walk
10 sec knee lifts (note: in-game audio says 10 knee lifts)
(x5)
__
8 min free-form run
2 min stretching
8 min free-form run

Day 1 (10th March): W3D1 done yesterday, went okay even though I’m still recovering from food poisoning (I swear “Zombies, Run! 5k” attracts weird illnesses and injuries…).

I’m not yet up to running 5 mins without stopping, but I’m closer than even before. I’m hoping to have it mastered by the end of the week. :)

(My run went surprisingly well even though I’d been ill over the weekend. If you think that’s not going to last, you get a gold star…)

Day 2 (12th March): W3D2 went badly. Struggle on the first free-form, dragged myself through the drills, and managed 2 mins of the 8-min free-form before my legs just gave up an went “nope, we’re walking this”.

Okay, so maybe running in bright sunlight after food poisoning, three days of liquid meals (er, soup and such, not booze), and giving blood was unwise… I’m pretty sure my body is crying out for protein.

Gonna have to try that run again after I’ve had some rest… and maybe a metric ton of steak.

(So, yeah, lesson learned: don’t run after three days of soups and toast, giving blood, and throwing up. DON’T BE AN IDIOT LIKE ME.)

Day 3 (14th March): W3D3 was a bit rubbish as well. I didn’t struggle as badly as D2 but wasn’t happy with my free-form runs.

I’d be tempted to re-do this week, but it looks like Week 4 shakes up the order of things a bit. I’m going to continue on with Week 4 and see how it goes. :)

Week 4:

5 min walk
5 min free-form run
__
10 knee lifts
1 min slow walk
1 min fast walk
(x5)
__
1 min walk
30 sec run
(x5)
__

15 min free-form run

Day 1 (17th March): Alright, Week 4 Day 1 done. Really enjoyed the change of pace, added quite a bit of variety. I’m having some difficulty getting my breathing right (I tend to run out of air even at a slow pace) but I’m working on it…

(I think this was the first time I hit the infamous “wall” runners talk about — a mental block stopping me from running further. I knew, by this point, that I had the stamina to go further than I was going. But I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t get past my regular stopping points.

I was also adjusting to the dietary changes needed for running. Getting enough energy for my runs from my normal meals was becoming a problem…)

Day 2 (21st March): After another long rest, I hit Day 2 after work, and found it surprisingly easy going especially compared to Week 3.

Day 3 (23rd March): Another easy-ish day, but also an important one. When I started this course I struggle to run for 15 minute intervals, but by the end of Week 4 I was running for full minutes without breaking a sweat.

Improvement! Real, visible improvement! I still wasn’t brave enough to consider myself a runner (runners were, in my mind, people who ran for half an hour without slowing to a walk. I was still regularly slowing to a walk). Run blog over here.

IMG_20140323_220439 IMG_20140323_221116 IMG_20140323_220950

IMG_20140323_220330

My “Zombies, Run!” Playlist

For Mood:

Blue Stalhi: “Metamorphosis” Life Theory Remix
Imagine Dragons: “Radioactive”
My Chemical Romance: “Save Yourself, I’ll Hold Them Back”, “Bulletproof Heart”
LMFAO: “Party Rock Anthem'” (A must have as you shuffle away from zombies.)
Michael Jackson: “Thriller”
The Used: “Wake the Dead”

For Motivation:

Bon Jovi: “Have a Nice Day”, “It’s My Life”, “Livin’ On A Prayer”, “Wanted Dead or Alive”, “You Give Love A Bad Name”
Jimmy Eat World: “The Middle”
Lonely Island: “EVERYTHING IS AWESOME”
Maroon 5: “Moves Like Jagger”
Fall Out Boy: “The Phoenix”, “Young Volcanoes”, “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark” and some of their older stuff too (but their newer singles are best for running).
My Chemical Romance: “Na Na Na”, “House of Wolves” a bunch of others
Less Than Jake: “My Best Friends Are Metalheads”, “Overrated”
Florence and the Machine: “Shake It Out”, “Dog Days Are Over”
Katy Perry: “E.T.”, “Firework”
A ton of Green Day classics, but “Warning” is particularly fitting.

9 June, 2014

Zombies, Run! The First Two Weeks

PART ONE (this post) | PART TWO | PART THREE | PART FOUR

Three months ago, after nearly killing myself by trying to keep up with the jogging club at work, I started Zombies Run! 5k Training. I’ve been keeping a record of all my runs and taking photos as I go, but I’ve hesitated about posting too much of it here — I don’t feel like a “real” runner yet, especially when I still take lots of breaks to recover from injuries, and I’m still slow as all hell. But hey, there’s no point letting such a fun post rot in drafts. I’m proud of myself for getting off my butt, getting out there, and running! :D

Week 1

10 min walk __ 1 min walk 15 sec slow run (Repeat x10) __ 10 min free-form run Day 1 (21st Feb): Tried to do ZR!5k last year but stopped it (due to laziness), joined the work jogging club yesterday and…. well, for a complete jogging newbie, I didn’t do too bad. Managed around 1km at a constant jog but really struggled because I’m used to ZR!5k intervals and my colleagues are mostly ex-RAF and used to constant paced jogging. So it’s back to the 5k training so I can join in with the cool kids club. :) Still a little beat up from yesterday’s jog so today will be a gentle start with W1D1. (I was still a little lost on W1D1, so I lurked around various running and jogging forums to try and figure out how to do this whole running thing. The Runner 5k reddit was one of my favorite haunts. The most important advice I found was that my legs should give out before my lungs. The point of training programs like Couch-to-5k and Zombies, Run! 5k is to build distance and stamina, not speed. Even if I was just shuffling along, my muscles would build up and I’d be able to up my speed later.) Day 2 (24th Feb): Just finished W1D2! Wasn’t sure I’d be able to because my calves were still aching, even when I’m just walking. But I kept my jogging speed as slow as possible, shuffling along like an old lady, and I got through all the drills with energy to spare for the freeform run. I’m looking forward to Wednesday’s run now. :) Day 3 (26th Feb): First week completed, on my rest day today and starting Week 2 tomorrow. A little nervous about the change in pace (more nervous about Week 3 though! That jump to 5 mins! O_O). But it’ll be worth it.

Week 2

10 min walk __ 30 sec run 5 heel lifts 1.5 min walk (x5) __ 10 min free-form run Day 1 (28th Feb): This was a working-from-home day which meant a nice change in running scenery. Run blog HERE. IMG_20140228_134216~2 IMG_20140228_134716~2 IMG_20140228_134713~2 Day 2 (3rd March): Morning: I’m in the Week 2 aches ‘n pains stage and aghhhh I feel so lousy at this. Not looking forward to Day 2, still got a lot of aches and pains. Week 1 was mostly calf pain but in Week 2 the pain has moved to the front, to my shins. Definitely going to take it slow and careful today. Afternoon: Just finished Day 2 and the pain’s moved away from my shins and back to the calves, so I think I’m in the clear for shin splints, at least for now. The heel lifts definitely help. My muscles started cramping up at the end of today’s run though, owowowww. Day 3 (7th March): Finished Week 2 on Friday after skipping Wednesday due to an injury (nothing running related… I tripped over my Labrador and pulled something, haha). I thought I might be slower after the break, but I had more stamina than ever before. Lesson learned: injury rest breaks are the best. (Injury breaks ARE the best. There were even a few successful runners recommending to take two days off between the later parts of the 5k training. Recovery days are ridiculously important at this stage of getting fit.)

4 June, 2014

Sleepy Road Trip Wednesday

I went to bed early last night for the first time all week, and I’m now more tired than I’ve been all week. Wednesdays are ridiculous.

sleepy

What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what’s up. It was created by created by Jaime and Erin. Want to join the party? Go right ahead, and remember to leave a link to your What’s Up Wednesday post in the widget on Jaime´s blog.

WUWAutumn

What I’m Reading

What am I… what am I read…buh?

blinking

RIGHT RIGHT BOOKS READING RIGHT

BOOKS

READING

I READ LUMBERJANES ISSUE #1 AND IT WAS A GOOD COMIC I REALLY LIKE COMICS THE END.

What I’m Writing

Still trundling away at the WIP. Scenes are trickling in unexpectedly out of random songs and long walks. Momentum remains slow but ever-forward.

I even posted my June 2014 writing goals!

What Inspires Me

Early on Tuesday morning, I had a dream where I’d given my latest WIP to a beta reader. They kept highlighting my own in-line comments with their own notes: Cut: Self-doubt.

“This isn’t as bad as you keep trying to convince us it is,” she said.

Thanks, subconscious. That’s a bit symbolically on-the-nose, but oddly motivating…

What Else I’ve Been Up To

Running is still going strong. May 20th:

RUNNING1

May 27th:

IMG_20140527_133230 (1) IMG_20140527_133233

June 1st, Nairn River:

running2

Yeah, that's a kid's chalk drawing AND a #selfie — Yeah, that’s a kid’s chalk drawing AND a #selfie

June 2nd aka I MET A DEER:

deer1 deer2

I hope everyone’s June is going well so far!

28 May, 2014

Zombies and Videogame Sword Boyfriends

Okay, did somebody put something in the water last night? Was it a full moon? Because I’m SO TIRED auuughhh.

Apparently there’s a new moon tonight, but I’m not nearly werewolf enough to understand if that’s why nobody’s sleeping. The height of my lunar knowledge is that sometimes I look at what the sea’s doing, shake my fist at the moon & yell “YOU!”.

What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what’s up. It was created by created by Jaime and Erin. Want to join the party? Go right ahead, and remember to leave a link to your What’s Up Wednesday post in the widget on Jaime´s blog.

What I’m Reading

Hopping erratically between beta reading, Chuck Wendig’s The Cormorant, and comics. I’m not very focused this week.

What I’m Writing

I’m chipping away at BROKEN THINGS slowly but surely.

I’m itching to get this WIP done now: a certain shiny new idea best described as a genderbent Scottish Supernatural is scratching at my brain.

castielsoon

What Inspires Me

I’m playing Transistor right now, which has a beautiful trailer, beautiful art, BEAUTIFUL EVERYTHING.

I’m so in love with this game. The studio’s first game, BASTION, was my favorite game last year: beautiful art, memorable music, and short enough that it doesn’t impact on my writing time the way a 30+ hour JRPG would.

TRANSISTOR has all of these plus points, but with a polite sword boyfriend as one of the main characters. It’s SO GOOD.

transistor_by_jenzee-d5ylu1t — Red and her sword boyfriend, the Transistor

What Else I’ve Been Up To

Driving is still going well — I’m reaching a nice, steady stage of uneventful lessons now, and I’m at about the half-way point of the UK average of 47 instructor lessons.

I’m back into my Zombies, Run! running again, too, after a break. It’s good to be back.

IMG_20140527_133230

Apart from that, it’s all your usual sleep-deprived business here in Emmaland. I hope everyone’s doing well, I’m looking forward to doing my rounds of the blogs today!

2 April, 2014

What’s Up Wednesday: April 2nd Edition!

wuwRobot

What I’m Reading

March was a very, very busy reading month. Mostly just comics, but one or two books as well, and some beta reading.

I’ve been having regular “tea and comics” evenings and weekends to catch up on my comic to-be-read pile. It’s a lot of fun!

No Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular!, Vol. 2

Thor: God of Thunder, Vol. 1: The God Butcher

The Monster at the End of this Book (Sesame Street)

Young Avengers, Vol. 2: Alternative Culture

Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: In Pursuit of Flight

What I’m Writing
fs-under-the-waves4

Ladies! Dudes! And other awesome people! I had a story accepted into an anthology with a bunch of awesome writers. This is super exciting. :D

Aside from that, CampNaNo is now in session (my profile!) so I’m buckling down to hit my wordcount for that.

The goal was 20k but Kate’s been spurring me on to try and hit 35k! Eeep!

What Inspires Me

I’m listening to Welcome to Night Vale, my favorite surreal horror podcast, again. It’s good to be back! I can’t wait to catch up with it all.

If you’ve never listened to Night Vale, Episode 1 is here. It’s not jump-out-of-your-seats horror, it’s a quieter, smart and blackly humored story.

I’ve just finished re-listening to Episode 20, “Poetry Week”, and it’s a lot of fun. Audio is here, and a transcript is here (but Night Vale loses a lot of atmosphere when written down).

What Else I’ve Been Up To

I’m on Week 6 of my 8 week running training, but I’ve had to pause things for a bit to recovery from some stubborn muscle aches. I’m looking forward to getting back on track soon.

Driving lessons are progressing steadily as well, and I’m now tackling things like main roads, high speeds, roundabouts and traffic lights. It’s fun! And sometimes a little scary too, but that’s just the learning curve.

I hope your week has been going well and continues going awesomely. I’m looking forward to hopping around everyone’s blogs today!