Confidence killer

When you do a run that leaves you feeling terrible within the first mile, has you turning back for home after 2 miles, and has you walking most of those 2 miles home (even downhill) it really is a confidence killer. OK, so maybe I'm not 100% and feel like I have no energy, but it is still hard to tell yourself that it was just one of those days and just one of those runs... the sort you should just put behind you and forget! The fact that this happened on a "long run day" is gutting though... a waste of a weekend!

I'm quite annoyed at myself for not getting fully back into my training. Since Florence, I haven't done a full weeks training. This has mostly been a time issue, what with trying to get home to make sure the dog is OK after being at home for most of the day on his own, or the appointments I've had at the doctors because of the asthma, or the fact I had to go to Portugal for a work conference.... the list of excuses goes on! If I'm absolutely honest though, you can always organise your time more efficiently if you try hard enough, and I clearly haven't tried hard enough.

With this in mind, Graeme and I spoke about the issues with time for training last week. We have left the spa... the argument with maintenance that the spa is currently having has left such a lovely place with a very substandard service. Apparently they owe maintenance £90,000 and as a result maintenance will not fix a few things. This includes the fitness logging system in the gym, the air conditioning in the studio, the steam room (which hasn't worked since September) and most of the lockers are broken too. Did I want to pay £185 a month to literally use their treadmill once a week and go to one yoga class? No, I didn't. We stopped our membership last week!

So, we have found a very nice treadmill which we are going to buy. It's great, can go up to 12mph (only in my wildest dreams will I ever run that fast) and goes up to a 12 degree incline with 14 programmes (should you need it). We've measured our gym and it will fit, which is good as it is larger than our last treadmill. Funny, the original treadmill breaking made me run outside... now running outside has prompted me to buy another treadmill. I like the fact that if I want to train in hot hot conditions, I can recreate this situation at will. I also like the fact that I can go straight home after work to make sure the dog is OK and then pop up to the loft to do my intervals.

I had an email from William today saying that using a Powerbreathe will definitely help with my asthma, and as Shaun is quite the expert on breathing techniques, would I be interested in advice on that side of things? I was quick to say yes, one of the things that they advertised about their training was the use of breathing techniques and I think it will be most beneficial. After all... running is all about breathing correctly, isn't it?

So, time now organised better, training should be easier to sort out. (Although for this week I will have to go to a gym for my interval training, as I won't get the treadmill until next week at the earliest). I will also have my recovery drink (which I have been without for a fortnight now). Unfortunately when I ordered some more, they sent the strawberry flavour by accident, which I detest, so I am awaiting the delivery of the chocolate one. To be honest, this could be the reason why I have been feeling crappy... going without a recovery drink isn't good... well, not for me, which I already know to be true.

Now I just need to find a yoga class on a Monday night. I have found a place which I think looks good, I just need to look into it a bit more and make sure it's a good class.