10k Journey pt.2 – First week pains

Our blogger Georgia is back with her second blog instalment, keeping us updated with her training progress in her bid to complete the Swansea Bay 10k on Sunday 24 September. Entries are closing in less than 2 weeks so be sure to get your entries in soon!

Did you know, it’s amazing how unfit you get after 3 weeks of no training and a week’s all-inclusive holiday; and unfortunately for me I’ve just found out the hard way.

I have to admire my own optimism of last week, thinking I would complete 2 runs, a gym session and an exercise class, without thinking about the aches and pains that were inevitably going to feature as well.

Here’s a run-down of my training last week – it all started so well before burnout well and truly kicked in.

Session 1: Monday
60 Minutes Body Pump
Even though the difference between a 45-minute class and 60-minute class is only 15 minutes, I can assure you they are the longest 15 minutes of the day. It’s been a long time since I worked out for a full hour, and by the time the Abs track came at the end of the session I was more than ready to go home!

Session 2: Tuesday
5km run – 27:31
Well, that hurt. Between yesterday’s Body Pump and probably the most painful 5k I’ve ever ran in my life, my legs are now in pieces. I was hoping to do 6k but with a stitch starting to build, I knew I was done. On the plus side, the first one back is always the worst, and it can only get easier right? (please someone tell me it gets easier)

Session 3: Thursday
Personal training and weights session at Penlan
Considering I thought I knew what I was doing in the gym, it’s surprising how much you can learn in an hour with a fully qualified instructor! I have learned plenty of new exercises to try using free weights (hello, bent over dumbbell reverse fly) plus I got shown how to use the Synergy 360 frame. My arms might feel like jelly right now, but I’m sure they won’t be feeling like this tomorrow.

Session 4: Friday
7km run – 39:08
Learning from the struggles of Tuesday, I decided to slow down the pace and actually make it to my distance target today. All I know is that I am officially done for the week – time for a well-deserved couple of rest days!

Now that my first week back is out of the way, I’m going to keep my training varied and do 2 running based sessions along with 2 other training sessions per week. After a little bit of research I found a speed-workout training session:

This is on next week’s agenda to try out, and see how I get on (if my legs ever recover from this week that is)

I’ll blog again soon,

Georgia x

This post is also available in: Welsh