As part of the Life Style Sports #GirlsRunTheWorld campaign, Michelle McMahon, Editor of Her.ie and Sue Murphy, TV & Film Editor,were challenged to run a 10k race after 12 weeks of training.
MICHELLE’S DIARY!
EASY DOES IT!
After week after week of disappointment, I finally feel like I’m getting back on track… and not a moment too soon.
It’s less than two weeks to go to the 10km race we decided on, The Samsung Night Run. Whereas the race itself isn’t the be all and end all, we set a 10km race as a goal for the end of this challenge, and the closer it comes the less I feel ready for it.
Everything had been going really well for me up to March 1st, when I did the 5km race while on my holidays. I had been eating well, training regularly and making definite, measurable progress.
To sound really dramatic and movie-like: nothing’s been the same since New York.
I’ve been ill for most of the month that followed. A virus and a chest infection really knocked me for six, and it quickly turned into a vicious circle of being too tired to train/eat well/refocus and too defeated to bring myself back.
On Tuesday, I fought my body and won… or so I thought. I kitted myself out and headed for a training session in the park, only for Peter to take one look at me, then tell me to turn around and head back home.
I’m not ashamed to say I had a little angry cry on the way back to the office. It’s not nice to feel like a failure, and I am not the kind of person who handles defeat well. At all.
However, once I’d relaxed and gotten over my little hissy-fit, I knew Peter was right. Thursday would be better.
Thursday was better. I made it to training, and I was allowed to run. So was Sue. The result is that we ran together for pretty much the first time since this whole challenge started. We didn’t run far and it wasn’t pretty, but we did it.
We’re both under a cloud of doom and doubt at the minute. Everyone swears that once you start running you’ll be ‘bitten by the bug!’. I call bullish*t. Running does not get easier. You might get faster. You might be able to go farther. But it’s still bloody hard. Of course, if it was easy, everyone would do it.
I’m still on for a 10km. I may end up crawling over the line thanks to my wonky chest and protesting legs, but I’ll be damned if I don’t give it my best. And that’s all I’ve got, so it has to be enough.
SUE’S DIARY!
UNDER PRESSURE!
With the race getting closer all the time, the pressure is starting to set in, which is making me feel a little bit overwhelmed at the moment. Last week wasn’t the worst week training however, I have definitely had far worse.
On Monday, I went along to the pool before work and swam for a kilometre again, which I felt really good about. Despite still recovering from the respiratory infection, I was still managing to get to the kilometre which was a real achievement for me.
On Tuesday, I met Peter for a training session, but due to the fact that my breathing was so bad, we ended up walking for about forty minutes. At this stage, the frustration was really starting to get to me. I know people get sick, I had been sick, Michelle had been sick, but it was the setbacks it was costing us that were really starting to take its toll. Michelle even got sent home on Tuesday which she was pretty annoyed about, particularly as she had turned up for the session despite being sick!
Wednesday saw me back in the pool again, but I knew I was going to head to a Pilates class so I decided to just take it a little easier. The Pilates went really well, my body is certainly feeling more controlled and I’m making it through the entire session without feeling like I’m about to die.
Thursday was breaking point. With pains in my chest, the running was difficult and to be honest, I just haven’t got the breathing under control yet. I am developing more love for the swimming too, and the Pilates so I know I would probably be trying to get my fitness level up with this.
That being said, on Friday I went back and watched the first video for the training. I realised how much weight I had actually lost since the start of the challenge (I’m down about a stone, although I can’t be entirely sure), my fitness is definitely up and I am feeling much better in general.
On the other hand, whenever I try to do something, I commit to it fully and hope that I will be able to do it so in some ways, not being able to run more is really getting to me at this stage.
Hopefully, I will make it!
Find pb3 coaching on Facebook for more details on the training programme
Whatever kind of training you are involved in, the Life Style Sports Product Experts (in stores nationwide) are on hand to ensure each customer selects the correct clothing and footwear to meet their individual needs, reducing risk of injury and achieving better results. Life Style Sports also offers customers a free Gait Analysis service in select stores which provides runners with an essential insight into their individual running styles. Customers can also find all the information they need on wearing the right technical apparel, including “Sports Bra Fitting Guides” and footwear while running or working out at “The Fitness Hub” on lifestylesports.com.
