Tove's Walk to Run - Running Log

Weeks Ten, Eleven and Twelve

Week Ten
My ankle still hurts, so I take it very easy. I feel it really important to still be able to run for three minutes without stopping, but I only do it twice and do some extra walking. Easy does it, ankle gets better. Funny, this does make me feel more like a “proper” runner. Injured, needing to recover. Like that happens to people who do not run!My new running shoes are better, but not perfect. I start to understand how incredibly important the right pair of shoes are. Some might feel good for you, but horrible on another runner’s feet. I still haven’t found my dream pair.

Week Eleven
For the past two years my husband and I have been building a guest house and a restaurant in our little Greek village. Finally it’s opening night at the restaurant. I’m on my feet from seven in the morning to one at night, and on again next morning for almost the same amount of hours. I can’t believe it’s possible to have legs that hurt so much and still be able to stand and walk on them!

I realize that if I ever will give up running it will be now. I’m so physically tired, that I don’t know how to make it. Still, an inner voice reminds me that it will be better. I do some training sessions, though one day I get out of the car, walk for two minutes, decide I can’t do it and drive back home again. I don’t even feel guilty about it. In Norway, where I come from, we say that “the doorstep mile is the longest mile.” Once you’ve crossed the doorstep things get easier. If I don’t feel like going for a run I say to myself that I can always change my mind once I’ve crossed the doorstep. And so far that only happened once.

Week Twelve
Routines are getting better at the restaurant, but for me this change in everyday life also forces me to change my exercise program . I used to go early to bed and rise at dawn. Though I go for a run one morning once I wake up, it’s not at all like it used to be. I’m simply too tired. I get enough hours sleep, but my body still hasn’t adjusted to the change. Or maybe I’m not a night owl?

The ankle is fine now, but being forced to take it easy has been a setback. Karey tells me that Tami is ready for her first run and Karey will run along to support her – it makes me feel so jealous! I still run for three and a half minute and walk for one and a half and it feels like I’ll never progress. I keep telling myself that it’s better than nothing and even if I stay on this three-and-a-half-minutes for the rest of my life it’s still better than not running.

Big fun is that I need to put a belt on my tracking trousers as otherwise they tend to slip down! I have no doubt lost quite some weight. Or can it be that my clothes expanded in the laundry?

UPDATE:
Soon after submitting her Week 12 report, Tove ran for 10 minutes straight, and then 12 minutes! She is now either doing 5 minutes running and 1 minute walking, in cycles, or running for as far as she feels able (10 to 12 minutes) and then walks for awhile to recover. WAY TO GO TOVE!!!!!