More Running updates

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I’m sure you are quite bored hearing about my running by now, but I am still on the up and up and far to excited to keep it all to myself.

Kay's T-shirt

A very poor mobile phone selfie cooling down after a run wearing Kay’s T-shirt.  Can’t thank you enough Kim for sending it to me.  PS.  I am getting around to doing the icing tutorial for you. 🙂

No sooner after my last post and remembering my own words about being able to run further than I think I can, I put myself to the test and ran 5km just 5 days later. 😀  So, I now run (for the most part) between 4km and 5km with each run.  Now to really start working on increasing my stride and speed.

Pete keeps mentioning we should do a parkrun which we have registered for and even have personalised bar codes plus we get extra brownie points with our medical aid but I am still too nervous.

I thought I might lean towards being a fair weather runner but as it turns out I am happy to run in the rain, gale force winds which really make you push yourself harder and with the few cool days we have had, I run so much easier, so here’s hoping I say the same when winter gets here.

I do much better when I take one days rest after every 4 or 5 runs and not 2 days in a row after 6 runs.  After a 2 day rest, my first run is really hard and not fun so sticking with a one day break works much better.

It seems my body has settled on 59 kilograms.  I hope I can maintain this weight through winter.  Sadly though, with the weight loss, not that it’s been much, it seems my body is looking worse for wear.  I am trying not to get too bent out of shape about it but I really was hoping to have a firmer less urgh looking body by now.  I have to keep my arms covered to my elbows and nothing shorter than knee length for now. 😦  I have increased my arm exercises to no avail.  Any suggestions?

Hope you are all still on track with your exercise routines.

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44 thoughts on “More Running updates”

  2. You’re doing so great! That shirt is awesome. I wouldn’t worry at all about the weight, your building up muscles and lung capacity which is a good thing. My daughter’s found that running in the rain isn’t bad at all because it’s cooling. The worst has been the really windy days we’ve had with the bit it g cold but we’ve definitely got better weather moving in. She’s seeing a sports therapist tonight as a matter of fact for a deep muscle massage because her calves have really been hurting and she’s afraid she may have gotten shin splints. Her problem seems to be her gait – she gets sloppy with the longer runs and I think that’s when you can get hurt. Good to set milestones but not overdo it to the point of injury. I don’t know if they have boot camps where you are but she tries to go a few times a week for overall toning and fitness.

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    • Thanks Diane! Your daughter is in a much higher league to what I will be be. She is such an incredible motivator through you, so thank you so much for that! I hope she isn’t seriously injured, the Boston Marathon is fast approaching. I think I can sympathise with getting sloppy on the longer runs, even though mine are nothing in comparison to what your daughter is running. Have a beautiful day. 🙂 xo

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      • Well the good news is that the therapist didn’t find anything medical wrong – like shin splints but he did discover a major knot in her calf muscle that needs to be worked out. Next week is her 20 mile run so she set up an appointment w/him again just before that.
        You keep it up though because I think you’re doing fantastic!

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        • What great news! Well, except for the knot in her calf muscle. It must be so sore having that worked out – ouch! Hope I can get to running the distances, well maybe not as far but as well as your beautiful daughter. Have a beautiful day Diane. 🙂 xo

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  3. Great job in your running logs. I kind of agree with your husband there is no better way to push yourself a little harder than to sign up for a charity run. Then you have a goal and need to work towards that each and every day. Keep it up! Take Care, BAM

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    • Thanks Bam! I really do need to work on my confidence – never having done something like a “proper” run before, I am not sure what to expect. Quite silly really. Have a super day. 🙂 xo

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    • I am doing those, think I should increase my reps. Although it is also a breakdown in collagen rather sooner than I would have liked. I have very upside down hormones due to my bicornuate unicollis uterus. In English, I done have one uterus, I have two. Have a lovely day. 🙂 xo

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  6. Hi Mandy, you need to get into the sun…get a tan and it will all look better…you need vitamin D to loose fat.

    What are your goals? gain muscle and loose fat?

    Here is a link you might find interesting, it is also one of the top 10 blogs in the world I think…

    http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/04/06/how-to-lose-20-lbs-of-fat-in-30-days-without-doing-any-exercise/

    Thank you Kind Regards Karl Botha

    Cell: 0711856565

    You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

    Mahatma Gandhi

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    • Hi Karl, thanks for stopping by. I am in the sun quite often so don’t think I am deficient in vitamin D. Sadly though, no matter how tanned I am, it doesn’t look any better. I even try and get into the sun throughout winter. My problem is a breakdown of collagen due to my imbalanced hormones so have to work that much harder. I am heading over to have a read through your link, thanks for that. Have a lovely day. 🙂 xo

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    • Awesome, sounds like fun Sue. I am not very good at set times and run when I am feeling ready in the afternoon so not sure how I would fare with a set time. Silly me. Have a lovely day. 🙂 xo

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  8. Lovely to see a photo of you and that’s so nice of Kim to send you a T-shirt. I can’t offer any advice, I’m afraid as I haven’t done so well with jogging xx

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    • Thanks Charlie. I will endeavour to post a better pic next time. I will persevere with my routine and hopefully while being able to cover my ugly arms through winter I will be able to reveal a lovely set next season. Have a super day. 🙂 xo

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  9. You are doing great, Mandy! Don’t emphasize how you look or your weight loss. It’s how you feel and the goals you’re setting for yourself. Everything else will fall into place, though some will take longer to achieve than others. No matter what, so long as you’re performance is improving and you’re feeling better, you know you’re on the right track. I’ll make sure your path is clear along the Lakefront for your morning runs when you visit.

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  11. Mandy, good for you! It is so encouraging to experience such progress, keep it up! If you want to tone more, try increasing your weights as well as swats and lunges for the legs. Another benefit to weight training is it helps increase bone density, which is good for us ladies as we age. 🙂 Whatever you do, don’t worry so much about doing it all right, just doing it consistently is the key. You go girl!

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    • Thank you! You are very kind Celia. I have Pete home for a few days and I was just saying to him I think it will be a shorter run this evening as the wind is truly blowing a gale. Have a super day. 🙂 xo

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  16. Congrats on the distance Mandy! I have been out twice now. The weather is finally improving and the ice and snow are melting. You are inspiring me!

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  18. Gawd. I was thinking that you look amazing. Your skin is all dewy (that’s a word my girly friends use to describe beautiful skin) and you are absolutely glowing. 🙂 Bloody amazing job being able to run 5km. That’s a champion effort. Have you tried Bikram Yoga? Brilliant way to slim down and tone up. I lost 2inches all over in 30 days, and could run better as it seemed to increase lung capacity or something. That’s my trick. Might work for you.

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    • Anna, so lovely of you to pop in and with such incredibly kind words too! Thank you! I would love to try Bikram Yoga but alas we live out of town so sadly not at all practical. Hmm, wonder if I can make a plan in our bathroom with a heater and the shower running at it’s hottest. Bwahahaha, imagine the scene! 2inches – awesome going, well done! Have a beautiful day and lovely to have you back in the blogging world. 🙂 xo

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  19. You look amazing, Mandy, and congrats on your running progress. I wouldn’t worry too much about arms, etc. It will all come together when it’s ready and as your body settles into this new routine, muscles will lengthen, etc. You look so great, I can’t imagine any issues! Keep up the good work and concentrate on enjoying yourself. 🙂 Have a super day!

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