As always, I hope that whoever takes the time to read my latest training and life update had an amazing weekend. I can’t believe that weekend is rapidly coming to and end and that December is rapidly approaching.

My weekend highlights included finally becoming a member of the parkrun volunteer 25 club. I also managed to buy Christmas presents for some of my more hard to buy for family members.

Week 12 of my Couch to Half Marathon training plan looked like this.

Thanks to my right knee, I knew at the start of the week the reality would look completely different. After trying and failing to run on Tuesday, I spent quite a bit of time thinking about my knee, this blog and running in general. I’m aware that people don’t want to read a series of excuses for missed training runs every week. However, I do think it’s important to share the ups and downs of running so I’m going to continue with the weekly updates for now.

So, how did I find the twelfth week of my Couch to Half Marathon training? Did I use my exercise bike? Did I manage to run? Did I decide to abandon the Couch to Half Marathon training plan?

Monday – Rest

I didn’t have a CBT appointment so I headed into the office as I didn’t have a reason to work from home. I spent the morning preparing a presentation and the afternoon struggling to use my computer thanks to an unexpected migraine. At one stage, I completely lost the ability to type. I knew what I was trying to type but just couldn’t seem to spell. Quite scary and hopefully a one-off as I don’t want a repeat of what happened a couple of years ago. I had originally planned to work until late but decided to head home a little earlier as I wasn’t feeling very well. Judging by how busy the trains were, quite a lot of people had opted for a short Monday.

When I got home, I headed straight to bed in an attempt to ‘sleep off’ my headache. I woke a couple of hours later feeling slightly more human. I think it’s safe to say I regretted offering to prepare this Italian oven baked penne for my friend.

Tuesday – Rest

A failed interval session – even walking was painful – and a meeting in Birmingham meant that I was able to treat myself to a lie-in. The meeting was what I’d describe as quite lively which was good and my presentation seemed to go reasonably well, I just need to remember to slow down. As the meeting finished a little early, a few of us decided to check out the Custard Factory. What can I say? I’m clearly not ‘hipster’ enough to understand some of the arts and crafts that were on display.

Judging by the photos I took of the German Market in Birmingham I’m also not very good at taking photos. In the New Year I’m going to have to miss parkrun and book myself onto one of these photo walks. I’ve heard they are really good.

Wednesday – 30 mins cross training

As I’d been issued with a ‘tomorrow will be the final time we attempt to deliver your parcel’ card, and I didn’t fancy a trip to the parcel depot in Burton, I decided to work from home. My day started off well when I managed to spend 30 minutes peddling away but going nowhere on my exercise bike. I’d love to say that I had an incredibly productive day and got loads done but I didn’t. I spent far too long trying and failing to respond to some technical hydrology queries people had sent me. My inability to help my colleagues left me feeling pretty useless, and I wished I was back in my old team in my old office doing a job I enjoyed. I’m going to have to make some changes in the New Year.

I shut down my work laptop and spent a couple of minutes reflecting on the day and feeling sorry for myself. I couldn’t waste much time self-pitying as I’d arranged to meet parkrun Rob as we’d both booked places on a CPR training course in the centre of Sutton.

The CPR Counts Basic Life Support training course was enjoyable and informative. The tutor running the course definitely got the mix of fun and facts spot on, and I found the refresher really useful. While I obviously hope that no one ever keels over at parkrun, I’m reasonably confident I’d know what to do.

Thursday – Rest

Did it ever get light on Thursday? I’m sure it was foggy all day. I managed to have a reasonably productive day in the office and actually left work feeling like I’d helped a few people. However, one thing did bug me; the inability of people to say ‘thank-you’. Perhaps I’m expecting too much, but I know I was taught to thank people.

Friday – Rest

I took one look at the state of the local train service and decided to work from home. This turned out to be a bad decision as I spent the day feeling incredibly isolated and quite gloomy. The day did have some positives; I managed to track down and order a couple of slightly unusual presents for dad. I know he’ll love them. I also managed to work through my knee strengthening exercises pain free for the first time. These small improvements make me feel happy, they also give me hope I’ll be back running sooner rather than later. While most of the world spent Friday night out and about, I spent mine at home catching up on The Apprentice. I have no shame.

Saturday – 30 mins cross training

I think the highlight of my Saturday was finally becoming a member of the parkrun volunteer 25 club. Given that I registered on the parkrun site way back in 2009/10, it took me longer than most people. I’m not going to stop volunteering as I enjoy it too much, but I may actually attempt to take part in Sutton Park parkrun once my knee settles down. I somehow managed to avoid the official photographers but Lowri captured my slightly more photogenic side.

The rest of my Saturday was quite relaxed. I spent a couple of hours playing an unsuccessful game called hunt the address book. I also completely forgot to write the parkrun run report. Once I reached the stage I needed to get out of the house for a while, I popped into TK Maxx in Sutton Coldfield. I left with some stocking fillers for my nephew and nieces and some running shorts which set me back 50p. My slight obsession with buying running clothes doesn’t seem to be dying down. I *may* have stopped off at my local pub for a quick pint on the way home.

Sunday – Rest

I’m acutely aware that this blog is turning into an essay so I’ll keep my update of Sunday short. My day featured some decorating, some housework, more Christmas present shopping, some blog related admin and some tears. I think I sometimes forget how much my mental health is influenced by my ability to run; when I can’t run, I definitely feel less positive as a person.

I’ve decided to take a break from the Couch to Half Marathon training. I haven’t been able to follow the training plan for a few weeks, and think the most sensible option will be for me to give myself a break from structured training. I need running to be fun again, at the moment it feels  like a chore. Thanks to everyone who has followed my training, I hope I’ll back up and running again sooner rather than later.

Training totals

• Runs: 15
• Time: 9 hrs 36 mins
• Distance: 49.54 miles

Niggleometer

• Right knee: 5/10
• Left knee: 5/10
• Right foot: 3/10

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