Slow progress

I've had an interesting few days. I get a little "yay" inside as I look at things I really fancy eating and see that they are suitable for vegetarians. It turns out I'm not such the fussy eater I originally thought and am finding loads of foods I normally wouldn't touch with a bargepole that taste absolutely lovely. I even like aubergines (who'd have thought!) as long as they are cut up small!

Yesterday I went to do my Friday training (for the first time in what seems like forever) and did bike intervals. I was in the gym with a load of blokes who all looked like Prima Donna's and spent the whole time checking themselves out in the mirror, and a couple of women that Graeme refers to as "gym members". They turn up at the gym and walk on the treadmill for 10 minutes and half heartedly do 5 minutes on the rower and then they're done.
And then there was me.... sweating all over the place, huffing and puffing and hunching over the bike towards the end of each 2 minute interval. I noticed a few times that the men were looking at me like I was an alien or something...clearly perturbed at my offending demeanor.
On the plus side... I got a great workout!

Then last night we went to Pizza Hut and the cinema. I had a great meal (again, stuff I don't normally chose) and thoroughly enjoyed it. Shaun had said to think of my change of diet as finding new foods as opposed to giving meat up (as, after all, nobody likes to give something up) and this has certainly been true so far.

So, todays run was met with trepidation again. I was so very worried about my calves and spent the first 3 miles running and walking without any strategy. Since the massage, my bursa on the right foot has been threatening a revisit because I think my soleus muscle has been irritated while trying to sort out the gastrocnemius. After a while, I decided to do a 10 minute run and 5 minute walk (so to have some plan rather than milling about for the whole time).
The 10:5 went mostly OK, only veering off the plan when I felt the bursa mildly irritating. It isn't bad like it was a couple of years ago and is just a dull ache but I didn't want to overdo it when I know a few more days of stretching will probably sort it out.
I used coconut water today in my Camelbak, and although it was nice I found I really wanted a drink of plain water. If I use coconut water again it will be in a bottle I think!

So, I turned around at 9 miles and I have to say I felt really disappointed when I looked at the time. I suppose it was to be expected though as I had much more walking because of being so over cautious. I have also noticed a distinct lack of fitness which I know is due to having to miss so much mid week training. I've done well keeping up the long runs (although have had to contend with these being 'time on feet' as opposed to running decent times) but I'm definitely not doing myself any favours having to drop so many sessions. I had this in the back of my mind when I got the first warning sign of cramp in my left calf just before 12 miles. The right one that cramped last week felt totally fine (which I'm pleased about). Tim had told me that the bad cramp I had suffered had maybe eased stuff up a bit because it didn't feel as bad as the left one.

So, as I got a little gentle warning sign, out came my phone and I rang my mam who very kindly drove out to pick me up and take me home. I have definitely done the right thing as it feels totally fine now and I can stretch all day and continue my normal training week for the first time in a month or so! Bangalore is now only 7 weeks away and I am going to make sure my training from now on goes well and is done properly.

Only a week until we go to Scotland, but that's most certainly a 'time on feet' thing and I'm not to feel too discouraged if it takes us 7 hours or something stupid like that. We are planning a 5:5 run/walk for that and plan on having a great day out with no expectations of ourselves other than doing the 30 miles.

I emailed Shaun when I got back from the run today and asked what seemed like a stupid question, but thought I'd run it by them anyway. I wondered if my constant squirming and wriggling of my toes was causing my calves to cramp. I noticed only recently that I do it... it's as if my toes irritate each other. I had planned on trying to eliminate this problem without telling anyone about it first, and have purchased a couple of pairs of Injinji toe socks. Unfortunately they haven't arrived through the post yet, so I didn't get a chance to try them today. What I did notice was the left foot felt particularly irritated today, and I got my first warning sign of cramp as I wiggled my toes!

And I hear we are in for an Indian summer, which is due to start next week and is promising to be 27 degrees. Couldn't come at a better time for my training. Maybe things are going to improve from now on after all! :-)