Been a mixed bag since my last post!
I attempted a 7 mile run with a planned halfway stop at home to have a drink. But I just stopped. In my defence, it was 2 o clock in the afternoon and it was a very hot day. I managed 3 miles, got home and just couldn't go back out. I was extremely red in the face, my head was pounding and I was, quite frankly, just not in the mood! Oh well, I will just strike that one down to experience.
Finally went trainer shopping last week. I had been very much looking forward to going to get my gait analysed. Went to a fantastic shop in Peterborough called Advance Performance. Ended up going on a Saturday afternoon, so it was mega busy. You have to put your name down on a list to get seen but it wasn't too long a wait as they had lots of staff on. We (my friend and fellow new runner Emma came with me) were seen to by a very nice and knowledgeable chap called Dave. It was a complex and fairly lengthy process but it really did make me realise the importance of getting the right shoe.
Firstly some details were taken about weekly mileage and whether we had any injuries or niggles we needed sorting. Then he has you in your socks (by that I mean shoeless, as opposed to being only in socks without any other clothes on. Obviously.) and you have to march on the spot a few times then come to a standstill. He then has a feel of your feet, like they do in Clarks shops to little kiddies getting their first ever pair of shoes. Then he looks at the soles of your existing trainers. This bit was a little like getting your gas boiler looked at, with much head shaking and sharp intaking of breath. He furrowed his brow a bit, looked at me and asked if I had been experiencing any lower back pain as it looked very much as though I was doing something with my wotsits causing me to twist my melons which, in his opinion could cause aforementioned lower back troubles. Those weren't his exact words I might add, but I hadn't a clue what he was talking about so they may as well have been. Anyway, he said never mind and that he would have me sorted in no time. Phew!
Next step - Dave disappeared in to the stock room and returned shortly with a pair of 'neutral' trainers for us to wear so he could stick us on the treadmill and have a look at our running style. This was the bit I was scared of, just in case I fell off. (I am sure I have mentioned previously that the funniest thing I have ever seen in all my life was my friend Claire falling off the treadmill in spectacular style (think Miranda Hart) at the posh gym at Ragdale Hall) Anyway, I didn't fall off, it was fine. I just had a very quick run and then got off. You turn around and watch your ankles and feet on the screen behind the treadmill. He showed me that I was fairly ok but had a pronation on my left. I did do my homework before I went and knew that that meant I was leaning inwards quite a bit. I was very surprised to see that my previously butchered right foot was fine. Anyway, off disappeared Dave to the stock room to find some suitable shoes to correct my style. He returns with some, plonks me on the treadmill again and then has another look at the vid. Not enough correction so he gets another pair. Treadmill again, happy with those. Good. Job done? Not quite. They like to find you two different pairs that do the job so you can choose which you feel better in. Another trip to the stock room, another go on the treadmill. Right, I now have 2 pairs to pick from. The way they do this is to send you out in to the car park for a trot round on the concrete in each pair. I did as instructed and decided on the Nike Lunarglide + 2. You can imagine my relief when the prettiest pair were also the most comfortable!! I was also relieved to find that they were £70 when the others were £105. Happy bunny all round. And if you buy your trainers they don't charge you for the gait analysis. Whilst we weren't overcomplicated and we did spend more money in the shop - I bought a pair of blister resisting socks for 9 quid and a new cap (lost my old one in the Isle of Wight mud whilst watching Kasabian) the service we received was really outstanding. I will definitely go back there for my next pair, which, I have been told should be in about 30 weeks!
I have well and truly broken them in now, was a bit odd at first as I had pain down side of pronating foot as a result of correction but that's gone. And I managed a really good 7 miles on Saturday morning, felt that I could have done loads more. But, my plan is to stick to my plan. So I did.
Can I just tell you that on the night of my birthday last week, I went to work and then went for a run. I am getting really good at not making excuses. Instead I waited until Sonias birthday to enjoy myself. It was so nice to see everyone and also enjoy a guilt free glass (bottle?) of wine, a lovely meal out, 2 macdonalds (oops!) a humungus hotel breakfast and a theme park donut. I am now firmly back on the Weight Watchers wagon and have done my Gillian Michaels 30 day shred dvd this morning as punishment. Ah, there's nothing like a few sets of evil squats and lunges to get you back on track!
