Jog squad blog: it can't be healthy

I'm on my fourth week of the jog squad regime with runs three times a week. Although I'm not pole position in the squad I'm not the back marker either which is quite a relief.

Not sure that this running lark is completely healthy, whatever my mate Ron says. Even with the stretches before I set off my legs still feel like they are being ripped in two within about 10 minutes of shuffling along. I keep remembering what Jane Fonda used to say - go for the burn and you know it's doing you good.

We're running a minimum of 40 minutes each run with some runs, like Monday, a lot longer (55 minutes). I have to admit to have got a little "lost" and nipped down Molesworth Street where we used to live for old times sake and to avoid the even longer haul back to the start. I know when I'm beat and had no shame in cutting off a big corner of the run. If I'd done the full course I'd still be running it now.

MT is very worried about my health - my knees are not like used to be. Also, my running buddy had to drop out from the squad with tendonisis in her knees. It was a case of too much too soon - she's got a particularly competitive streak in her. Not something I am troubled with so able to keep myself a little safer from injury.

Saturday is a "big run" which thrills me, not! I'll let you know how I get on - a hour in Belmont Park - to acclimatise us to off road running like the Rimutaka Incline run.

My secret plan is to start taking the route for real when we move to Kaitoke (the start of the race is only a 5 minute drive from our new house). That way I'll get some practice runs on the real course in an attempt to get a small advantage over those who've never run.

Also, need to hide my supplies en route. Sneeky eh!

Jog squad blog: no gain without pain

There is no point being brave about this. I've been in agony this week!

I'm just not as young, flexible or fit as I used to be and pounding the pavements takes its toil like swimming and my cross trainer never did. But, I'm persevering.

Two sessions this week along the waterfront in Wellington. Luckily the first on Monday was in the dark and it hid a multitude of sins. Today, it was broad daylight with a northerly wind on the home stretch which was much less attractive to passers by.

People keep telling me it will get easier and I know from experience that this will be the case. The question I keep asking myself - when will it feel better?!

My training buddy Amanda has legs about 6 inches longer than mine so her jog a run to me and a run to her is a sprint to me. Fortuantly she's having the same pain as me so we're hanging in there together.

Monday is back with the jog squad for what I am told will be our first hill run (well we are in training for the Incline event). Not looking forward to that at all.

Must write to Ron and ask him for some advice on keeping going. www.ronhillsalterego.blogspot.com

The Big Bird Shuffles!

In a moment of weakness in the office I agreed to join a jog squad for an eight week training programme leading to completing a a run along (or rather up as the name suggests) the Rimutaka Incline Rail Trail.

It was lunch time and the conversation was more about nice picnics so I thought a day out with a picnic so close to home (the trail is about 5 minutes drive away from our house in Kaitoke) that it might be a nice thing to do. It was only later I realised that I was actually committing myself to train 3 times a week with a pack of women with a personal trainer kicking out butts if we got too slow.

But hey, my hero http://www.ronhillsalterego.blogspot.com/ is training for the 2012 Marathon so I thought I'd take inspiration and give it a go.

First challenge was buying the right equipment - running shoes. This was an embarressing episode in the Shoe Clinic where they had you jogging in the shop and capturing pictures on a computer system to tell them what sort of shoes I'd need. After a few blushes I bought my new shoes.

I stood out like a sore thumb tonight - shoes all shiny like they were screaming to the world "here's a big bird that's kidding herself that she's going to run!". But run I did - 20 minutes without stopping along the harbour in Wellington. I wouldn't say I was the back marker but I certainly wasn't in the breakaway pack. Sorry, Ron, will try harder to get to the elite bunch next time!

Still, I survived and so did my mate Amanda - we were two big birds (she's about 6 foot tall) lumbered along. Seems however I'm not quite the big bird I used to be so my running shorts look faintly ridiculous but it was dark and I'm hoping that my shining new shoes is what caught the eye most!

So wish me luck, I'm going to need it.

My shining new shoes

No rude comments please, underneath all these layers is an olympic athlete bursting to come out!

You too can be a Ronette - see http://www.ronhillsalteraego.blogspot.com/