Shame on me

And here I was, feeling all smug about refusing wine all weekend... putting my training first. Shame on me, because that all went out of the window on Sunday night. I did my deadlifts as planned, and although lifted heavier weight with higher reps, I was still only able to do 70KG for 5 sets of 10 reps at partials. It's strange, but partials during squats are a breeze and much easier than the full reps but deadlift partials are way harder. I found at 70KG, if I hadn't had my wraps on, I would not have been able to hold the bar for the last two sets. I'm sure this will improve... after all it's been nearly 2 years since I did partials of 90 odd kilograms! My grip strength shouldn't take too long to come back, with any luck!

Anyway, back to me being all naughty... Feeling all smug and cheerful at a great second week back into training, I found myself thinking that as I was off work on Monday and only had a 1 hour recovery run to do, "What the hell... I'll have a couple of glasses of wine... what harm can it do?" I had a couple of glasses and as Graeme poured me a third I looked at it, took one sip, and thought, "Nah... I've had enough". I had a cup of lemon tea and a pint of water but still ended up having a night of feeling parched and having to get up for a drink during the early hours. Maybe it had all caught up with me after the weekend of training, or maybe I just really am genuinely crap if I have any alcohol at all? I don't know.

I got up on Monday and felt awful... drank plenty and had a good breakfast and contemplated the one hour recovery run. Suddenly, it dawned on me that I have promised myself that I will do my recovery run on the beach banks when I'm probably at my most achy and tired all week, and it also dawned on me that it may feel even tougher if the weather is shite. Today... the weather was shite! Deep joy!

So, trussed up in my warmest thermal jumper and bottoms, windproof jacket, hat, gloves, buff and trail shoes, I reluctantly went out in sideways blowing rain. I'd also promised myself I would increase my running sections (so eventually I'm running the whole hour without any walk breaks) and today was a planned 10 run/3 walk. I was very surprised that I wasn't aching ANYWHERE... how can that be? The first 10 minutes were fairly easy as it's mostly road to the beach banks, but it all got harder after that. Within about 20 minutes of leaving the house I was absolutely parched and would have mugged someone for a bottle of water (had I seen anyone!). Unfortunately, I was the only idiot out on the beach banks in such rubbish weather!!! So, to cut a long story short, I did my 10/3 run/walk, got home, drank 2 pints of water straight away and then proceeded to drink my recovery drink, a glass of orange and a lemon tea. I then spent the rest of the day needing the loo!!! What I don't understand is, how can some people go to races absolutely slaughtered and hungover from the night before, and then get a PB... Hell, I even know people who arrange to have a glass of alcohol handed to them at around mile 22-24 of a marathon and come flying over the finish line. How do they do it? I honestly don't know!

Morale of the story for me.... You can't mix wine and running... it doesn't work for you!!!

So, today was an intervals session, and I actually feel like I'm getting somewhere with them. I did 10 minutes at 9.40mm pace, 10 minutes at 9.20 and the final 10 minutes at 9mm pace, and I didn't find any difficulty in that. So, it's good to be slowly moving up in speed. Again, this is something I daren't rush into in case I get an injury, but I'm moving in the right direction. I have moved up the speed of my walking again too, which is now 4.7mph. I think this probably equates to a sub 13mm pace which is great, but easier to achieve on a treadmill than outside. I know it's helping me to walk much faster overall though because Graeme has already commented that he thinks I walk quicker and he has had to start speeding up when we are walking along together. Well.. it's all a means to an end, isn't it?

And finally, I have to say a HUGE congratulations to the lovely Fiona Oakes who won the North Pole marathon this morning. VEGAN POWER... try telling her she should eat sirloin steak! :-)