Saturday, March 14, 2009
Phew!!! My Heart Is Fine... And I'm An Athlete!!
I braved the GP surgery- again- to have my ECG redone, then had to wait for ages as the doctor was running half an hour behind, and apparently had trouble getting his computer to print the data. But when I walked in he said it's fine- he said that my heart rate is low (60 Bpm) but this is perfectly normal given the training I've been doing. So he has signed, dated and stamped the ECG, and completed the certificate- although when I got back to work I noticed he didn't tick the little box on the form to confirm I 'have no objections' to undertaking a multi- stage race in arid conditions... d'oh!! Now, if he'd just used a normal black pen, I could have just added it myself, but no- he used a fountain pen with a shade of blue ink I could never hope to replicate.
Working on the presumption that as he wished me good luck for it when I left, he has no medical objections, I took it back and left it with the receptionist to get him to tick it. The amount of stress these bloody ECG's and medicals cause is beyond belief!!
My ECG states that I have 'Sinus Bradycardia'- I googled this, and it basically means 'abnormally' slow heart rate. It is common in athletes, apparently, so it is official- I have a bit of the athlete's heart syndrome! I'm quite proud of that, and am pleased that this training is showing somewhere!!
So- where am I at in terms of training? I have been taking it easier these past two weeks. I have been keeping up the gym work, and did shorter walks last weekend- last Saturday I fitted in 6 hilly miles in Bradgate Park between visiting mum and my mate in Loughborough. Sunday I originally planned a 7 miler along local routes but extended it to 12 miles by continuing along the River Trent to Colwick Park. The first half of the walk was absolutely sh*te; raining, hailing and freezing!
This week has been a combination of gym and walking; walked to Sainsburies about 4 miles away Thursday night but felt a bit of pain in my foot/ ankle yesterday so rested.
I have to pick up a parcel from the sorting office this morning, which I am hoping will be my velcroed shoes and gaiters, so will walk there- it's amazing, the amount of people who can't believe I would willingly walk 3- 4 miles to the shops; I reckon years ago folks would be quite used to walking those distances to the next village etc, and were a lot fitter as a result- the average person should be able to walk that distance without thinking anything of it... if people walked more and left their cars at home a wee bit more, we'd all be much fitter and less polluted!
Working on the presumption that as he wished me good luck for it when I left, he has no medical objections, I took it back and left it with the receptionist to get him to tick it. The amount of stress these bloody ECG's and medicals cause is beyond belief!!
My ECG states that I have 'Sinus Bradycardia'- I googled this, and it basically means 'abnormally' slow heart rate. It is common in athletes, apparently, so it is official- I have a bit of the athlete's heart syndrome! I'm quite proud of that, and am pleased that this training is showing somewhere!!
So- where am I at in terms of training? I have been taking it easier these past two weeks. I have been keeping up the gym work, and did shorter walks last weekend- last Saturday I fitted in 6 hilly miles in Bradgate Park between visiting mum and my mate in Loughborough. Sunday I originally planned a 7 miler along local routes but extended it to 12 miles by continuing along the River Trent to Colwick Park. The first half of the walk was absolutely sh*te; raining, hailing and freezing!
This week has been a combination of gym and walking; walked to Sainsburies about 4 miles away Thursday night but felt a bit of pain in my foot/ ankle yesterday so rested.
I have to pick up a parcel from the sorting office this morning, which I am hoping will be my velcroed shoes and gaiters, so will walk there- it's amazing, the amount of people who can't believe I would willingly walk 3- 4 miles to the shops; I reckon years ago folks would be quite used to walking those distances to the next village etc, and were a lot fitter as a result- the average person should be able to walk that distance without thinking anything of it... if people walked more and left their cars at home a wee bit more, we'd all be much fitter and less polluted!
Labels: gaiters, gym, running shoes, walking
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Shiney New Shoes!!
I know I'm sad, but I thought I'd take a photo of my shiny new Brooks Addictions... I almost don't want to use them and get 'em all muddy... almost...
I went to the gym Monday as it was Bank Holiday- the gym thoughtfully opens normally on Bank Holidays- it was the first time I'd been back after the Kent 50, so although I did the usual 30 minutes on the treadmill, I didn't go above 6.7 mph. I was aching quite a bit but this was probably due to the fact that I had spent the morning sweeping floors! (Don't ask!!)
I conceded to the aches and pains by only doing 15 minutes on 'Brian' instead of the usual 20, followed by the usual strength training and 20 minutes on the ellipticals. Funnily enough, both Brian and the ellipticals tell me I've done so many miles or kilometres, but I don't include them in my weekly totals...
The new shoes have been well and truly christened now, so I feel a 10 miler coming on right now... last week was about 27 miles, so hoping to do around 35 this week then taper next week ready for the Bullock Smithy... never quite sure I am doing these things right, but we'll see!
I went to the gym Monday as it was Bank Holiday- the gym thoughtfully opens normally on Bank Holidays- it was the first time I'd been back after the Kent 50, so although I did the usual 30 minutes on the treadmill, I didn't go above 6.7 mph. I was aching quite a bit but this was probably due to the fact that I had spent the morning sweeping floors! (Don't ask!!)I conceded to the aches and pains by only doing 15 minutes on 'Brian' instead of the usual 20, followed by the usual strength training and 20 minutes on the ellipticals. Funnily enough, both Brian and the ellipticals tell me I've done so many miles or kilometres, but I don't include them in my weekly totals...
The new shoes have been well and truly christened now, so I feel a 10 miler coming on right now... last week was about 27 miles, so hoping to do around 35 this week then taper next week ready for the Bullock Smithy... never quite sure I am doing these things right, but we'll see!
Labels: Bullock Smithy Hike, gym, running shoes
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Weekend Update...
Gosh, that week flew by- can't believe it was only a week ago that me and mum were packing up the van to come home!!
The good news is that my toes are a lot better, although at least one of them is on the way off... I have done some running and walking this week- a brisk 5 mile walk Monday, slow 8 1/2 mile run Tuesday, and a steady (meaning slow!!) cross country run Thursday. Unfortunately the path has completely reovergrown, so I had to force my way through countless stinging nettles, and couldn't be bothered to locate a dock leaf, so have a lovely red rash on both ankles...
One of the fields I run through usually only has a few sheep in it, so I had a moment of consternation when I saw cows as well... luckily though, they just completely ignored me! The sheep were another matter though... usually they run away, but today they decided to follow me, and I noticed that quite a lot of them had small but vicious looking horns...
My running shoes are knackered, and I think that was the cause of a slight heel/ leg pain on Tuesday's run. I have some more ordered but they don't come cheap!
I have had the official registration forms for the MdS and order to pay the first installment by 10th September... suddenly it is getting very real and very very scary...
On a lighter note, here is a lovely picture of me, Carol and Rach storming along on the Kent 50... note the lovely bright orange baseball cap...
The good news is that my toes are a lot better, although at least one of them is on the way off... I have done some running and walking this week- a brisk 5 mile walk Monday, slow 8 1/2 mile run Tuesday, and a steady (meaning slow!!) cross country run Thursday. Unfortunately the path has completely reovergrown, so I had to force my way through countless stinging nettles, and couldn't be bothered to locate a dock leaf, so have a lovely red rash on both ankles...
One of the fields I run through usually only has a few sheep in it, so I had a moment of consternation when I saw cows as well... luckily though, they just completely ignored me! The sheep were another matter though... usually they run away, but today they decided to follow me, and I noticed that quite a lot of them had small but vicious looking horns...
My running shoes are knackered, and I think that was the cause of a slight heel/ leg pain on Tuesday's run. I have some more ordered but they don't come cheap!
I have had the official registration forms for the MdS and order to pay the first installment by 10th September... suddenly it is getting very real and very very scary...
On a lighter note, here is a lovely picture of me, Carol and Rach storming along on the Kent 50... note the lovely bright orange baseball cap...
Labels: running, running shoes
Friday, April 20, 2007
Thank God For Weekends
I am so tired, I am ready for a lie in tomorrow, I have my Saturday morning routine... I will get out of bed, pull clothes on over my nightclothes, visit the newsagents (handy when you live above the shops) and crawl back into bed, with newspaper, cup of coffee.....and chocolate. Bliss!
I went to the gym last night; I started to run on the treadmill and had the usual not-pain sensation in the heel which died down. The new shoes are fine, and I felt good- I did more than I intended, 30 minutes running covering 3 miles. Got up to 7mph and kept thinking to myself "You are an awesome running machine!" (yeah right!)
I haven't suffered today so looking good hopefully. I may go and do a slow 4 1/2 miles in a bit- I am building up mileage outside slooowly.
The improvement works to the flats still has not finished; good considering we all had letters stating that scaffolding was going to be erected for a fortnight from 3rd Jan! It has all but been taken down now; there is still work to be done, but at least it's not quite like living on a building site.
I went to the gym last night; I started to run on the treadmill and had the usual not-pain sensation in the heel which died down. The new shoes are fine, and I felt good- I did more than I intended, 30 minutes running covering 3 miles. Got up to 7mph and kept thinking to myself "You are an awesome running machine!" (yeah right!)
I haven't suffered today so looking good hopefully. I may go and do a slow 4 1/2 miles in a bit- I am building up mileage outside slooowly.
The improvement works to the flats still has not finished; good considering we all had letters stating that scaffolding was going to be erected for a fortnight from 3rd Jan! It has all but been taken down now; there is still work to be done, but at least it's not quite like living on a building site.
Labels: chocolate, gym, running, running shoes
Thursday, April 19, 2007
New Shoes!
My new running shoes have arrived! I decided to get shoes for severe over pronaters as my foot arches are so flat, any wet footprints I leave with bare feet are just shapeless blobs. I'm hoping they will provide additional support for both my Achilles tendons too, as I have been told I have a 'slightly bowed' Achilles.
Speaking of which, I did a gentle, slow 3 1/2 mile run Tuesday, and a 5 mile walk with a friend round Watermead Country Park last night. I have had a feeling in the heel, which I can't describe as pain, but it is definately getting better, not worse.
In fact, it is behaving exactly the same as the right heel did last year, and it eventually completely recovered, so I'm hoping that will be the case here.
I am going to the gym tonight to try the new shoes out- they are quite smart- silver and cerise!
Speaking of which, I did a gentle, slow 3 1/2 mile run Tuesday, and a 5 mile walk with a friend round Watermead Country Park last night. I have had a feeling in the heel, which I can't describe as pain, but it is definately getting better, not worse.
In fact, it is behaving exactly the same as the right heel did last year, and it eventually completely recovered, so I'm hoping that will be the case here.
I am going to the gym tonight to try the new shoes out- they are quite smart- silver and cerise!
Labels: running shoes, Watermead Country Park
