An update...running

So, I've had a pretty fantastic week running-wise, in terms of numbers. Both frequency and kms: I think I may even break 20km this week!! That's the first time in AGES!!! Most likely a YEAR!
(Disclaimer: it's not because I'm terribly slack, it's just hard to be consistant when you're consistantly sore and tired from training 5x weekly. So I'm just consistant at being inconsistant).

Nothing has been stellar in terms of what others may perceive as 'high quality', but in terms of achieveing the important goals, I've done that.
Sunday: Want to know what a swamp smells like? I now know. The same with a mire. They smell like my shoes, which REEEEEK and still stink out the house, my room, my car, my feet, a 10km radius around them - anything, it doesn't matter. I can't get them to stop smelling, despite putting some 'anti odour' powder liberally through them.
The reason for this smell is because in the pouring rain on Sunday, I went for a 1hr50 minute run/walk adventure. I hadn't eaten breakfast beforehand either (some interesting research I need to conduct on this). I just went out with the aim of being totally relaxed, enjoying myself, and going for a long slow run. Important that I could still talk throughout it. I decided to try and have a consistant rest period, so I wouldn't get overtired.
So out I ran, decked out in my comfy comfy old old tights, a singlet, long sleeve shirt and iPod. After a while, the rain made it impossible for my iPod to stay in my ears - I hate that. So I ran with just one ear piece in for a while, and then neither. It was fun: I loved running through the local streets, smiling my head off, knowing that people were looking out of their car windows with amazement at the craziness I was demonstrating. I was soaked. At one point I stopped into my church to get a drink (and hoped no one would see a soaking me). I knew I hadn't worn great socks for running in the wet (--> blisters), so I decided to walk most of the way back to my car. My legs had no running left in them. But still, lots of fun, and lots of HILLS :D :D :D
Around 11.5-12km (because I can't remember where I parked my car), and I think I ran half of that.

Monday. Run 5km after training (even though I had blisters, ignore it, IGNORE IT!), the standard - oh wait, no, I changed that route. 4km, and out and back of 2km (including 2km of hills). I think around 25 minutes for that, which is pretty good given two things: my 4k time must be really soft at 24min (and I think it is, I think I could go sub 20 easily if I tried), and it didn't feel like I was out there running for that long. I didn't have lots left in my legs in terms of muscling myself up the hills: so lots of walking breaks. But good to go out again and have fun pushing myself, enjoy it, and feel like I was regaining some strength. Plus, first time in ages I'd run two days in a row.

Wednesday. The quality of running decreases...because my feet were still sore, and I had left my iPod in my coat :( So I ran without it after training. I think just 2.5km, and a pretty abysmal 2.5 as well. It's funny, either when I run with my iPod, I'm oblivious to any pain in my body, or, when I run without an iPod, I'm already grumpy, so therefore succeptible to being even more grumpy and woosy. Because my right shin hurt, a lot. It was so bizarre - it's never hurt before. It wouldn't let up. Most likely just where and how of my running, and the fact I was trying to avoid the blisters on the inner side of my right foot. I'm so whiny though. There's no toughness in me.

Hopefully I can run tonight, but that run is not to be too important as to superseed tomorrow morning's run. I always run well on Saturday mornings, and I enjoy it, and maybe 5-6km is do-able.
I think the key is, rather than trying to just run a minimum or smaller distance where I can run 100% of it, before I increase distances, that I should run longer (i.e. 5-6km, 30-40 minutes etc) even with walking breaks, because I'll improve more quickly, and my legs will get used to spending more time on my feet.