Public Transport is an Inspiration

Photo Credit

 I work 2.9 miles from home. According to Google Maps it should take about an hour to walk, 35 minutes on the bus and 10 minutes to drive. Last night was my first experience getting the bus home and all I can say is wow. What a waste of time (and £2.20).

I had a few bits of shopping to do first but was still at the bus stop 10 minutes before the bus was due at 6.38pm. I walked in the door just before 8.00pm. Ridiculous. I could have walked it quicker.

So, there's the inspiration, the kick up the bum I needed. There's no way I can face getting public transport home when the distance is so small. Here's to running home in 2012!

Book Review: Running (The Only Book You'll Ever Need)

As a lot of you know I started off with the C25K programme, but have really struggled with technique and injuries. Luckily for me David & Charles, the lovely publishers of Running (The Only Book You'll Ever Need), sent me a copy of the book to help me along.

Getting Back Into It

As I'm sure you can tell by my absence, my first run after the injured knee did not go too well. After the first running interval I felt like I'd been kicked by a donkey. Since then I've just not had the guts to go back out.

Winter Running Fears

You'll be pleased to hear that my injury is almost completely healed. I'm still not comfortable running, and my knee feels achy after a day standing around in the shop but I'm almost there. I'm planning to go out on Sunday afternoon for a c25k week 3 run (90s run, 90s walk, 3m run, 3m walk) and if that goes well then I'll do a couple more week 3 runs before starting on c25k week 4, just to make sure I ease myself back in and don't do any further damage.

I know it's not that cold... yet!

The thing is, these past two weeks of no running have seen a bit of a weather change. We're definitely getting more to the winter end of autumn and I'm not sure I want to go outside in a t-shirt! In my head I know that after a couple of minutes I'll be sweating like a pig, but the longer I don't run, the scarier it seems.

There is also a safety issue for me. I finish work at 5.45 by which time it is really dark. My Karrimor running kit has a lot of fluorescent bits on it so I should be easily seen but, probably something to do with being brutally mugged as a teenager, I'm not so keen on being out in the dark for other reasons.

I've done a bit or research (isn't t'interweb great?!) and read a fantastic book (full review to come soon!) and have compiled a list of the most useful tips.

1. Always tell someone where you are going, the full route and what time you expect to return. This way if you don't return, they know where to start looking for you!
2. Make sure you have some identification with you and a number to call in case of emergency - I write my husband's number on my arm. This way if you're in an accident you won't be Jane/John Doe.
3. Make sure you have some money stashed about your person. If you're going on a long run take enough for a bus/taxi home in case you get injured, for short runs enough for an emergency phone-call should you need to make one. That's if you can find a phone box of course.
4. If you're going to be running in an unlit area take a small torch, a tiny keyring torch is perfect.
5. Don't have your music too loud. You need to be aware of your surroundings, traffic and other people to stay safe.

So, be safe running, wish me luck for Sunday. Any other tips please post a comment below.

Injury, ice-cream and a BDT Fitness article

I know it's been a bit quiet this past week but I'm STILL hobbling around on my injured knee. Hopefully it's just a sprain and will heal within a couple of weeks. Unfortunately walking to and from work, standing up all day in the shop and just generally living seems to be extending my recovery.

Plus I really feel like I need to run, I've got all this excess energy since starting running and now it has nowhere to go! That's bringing me down and I'm reaching for the Ben & Jerry's...

In the meantime I thought I'd share with you an interesting article from Brew Drinking Thinkings.

c25k 3.2

I feel I should warn you all... I'm injured!

(not my knee)

c25k 3.1

Week three really steps up the running. You do two repetitions of - 90s run, 90s walk, 3m run, 3m walk. Doesn't sound like much but three minutes? That's quite a lot!

c25k 2.3

The third run of week two was after work before a week off. Unfortunately this meant I had to have all my 'stuff' with me in a backpack.

Targets

Obviously in doing c25k I aim to be able to run 5k. But I don't want that to be the end, I want to push further not just flop back onto the couch for Christmas.

Time for a run

One of the excuses I always used for not exercising was that I didn't have enough time. Since I started running I have realised that actually, I can fit exercise into my life quite easily.

c25k 2.2

Today, being my only day off during the week, was my turn to take Ashleigh to school. In my great wisdom I decided to wear my running kit to school then do a 2.4 mile route back home. Needless to say I was freezing. Walking at 4 year old pace wearing a t-shirt and capri pants in October is not a good idea. Ashleigh was good though and we skipped for quite a lot of it.

Review: Karrimor Running Kit

As you can see, I look pretty awesome in my Karrimor running kit. The outfit was available in the black/pink which I chose, but also comes in black/yellow and plain black if you're not such a girly girl.

c25k 2:1

Tonight's run was pretty great! For week two you do 90 seconds of running followed by 120 seconds walking. After the first running interval I felt OK but was breathing pretty heavily.

Review: Converse

I'm not going to pretend that running in Converse is ever a good idea but, for those of you who are considering it I want you to be prepared.

c25k 1:3

That. Was. Horrendous.

From the very start my long forgotten asthma kicked in and my chest felt tight and painful, my leggings kept falling down, someone stopped me to ask directions to the pub, chavs wouldn't move out of my way, I hurt my ankle in a pot-hole, I almost got run over crossing a road, I got scared by an ambulance and my right ear-phone kept falling out.

I guess there's always good runs and bad runs.

c25k 1:2

For my second run I chose to use the NHS Podcasts to guide me through the run. This had the benefit of not having to carry my phone with me for the interval training app and instead clipping my little ipod nano to my t-shirt. 

c25k Rest Day

Yesterday was my day off from running and, although I felt fine at the beginning, I didn't feel great at the end. My calves are really tight and walking can be a bit painful.

c25k 1:1

I'm not overweight, I'm just really, really unhealthy. I used to go to the gym with my Dad a few years ago when I was staying at his, I think I went twice or so. My four year old daughter puts me to shame when we race home from school.

Contact

For product reviews it's best to send an email to bunnali@gmail.com.

Anything else just leave a comment on the blog or tweet me @BunnTheBaker

About Bunn

Bunn was 27, just married and lazy. In October 2011 she decided that enough was enough and got her arse out on the streets of Norwich for some running action.

Running Bunn follows the progress of a novice runner as she learns what it means to keep fit, how to juggle work, family & exercise and offer a guide to some of the products and gadgets available to runners.

If you have a product you'd like Bunn to review see the Contact page. To find out more about her non-running life hop over to Bunn The Baker