Rana
Hall of Famer
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2006
- Runs
- 84,351
Hi guys
Anyone utilising this time off from work routines and practically clear roads for Running?
I used to run around 14 years ago when I was boarding, however I’ve re-started now and I’m so loving it.
Initially I was doing no cardio during my gym routines and cricket trainings (2-3 times a week). The only cardio I was doing was the odd swimming rounds and a weekly football match with my work colleagues. I chose to retire from football about 2 years ago as I was no longer considered fit/young enough for a competitive side and I don’t care much for kick abouts unless I know it is to keep fit for leagues+cup games etc.
So the first lockdown (March) was a bit of a surprise and I was unsure as to what I should do to keep myself fit. The only solo training I am comfortable doing is muscle training at the gym. With the gyms closed, I thought that a daily walk by the riverside of beautiful west london would be good for mental health and fitness...
This was a mistake. I put on around 4kg weight and the muscle mass was no longer there as it was pre-lockdown. Thankfully we were allowed to salvage half of the cricket season, and we only had cup games and 45 overs this year hence I wasn’t required to do the marathon work for the timed matches which are quite enduring.
Anyways, I was not expecting another two national lockdowns if I am honest. However we surprisingly heard of a second national lockdown to begin in November in london, and I decided that I will not slack this time. Come what may, I will make an effort to eat cleaner and run. I will slowly build up and run enough to keep the blood flowing, my mind active and the food I intake will not destroy my body like it did in the first lockdown.
So the first few weeks were tough. I am running on concrete mainly and my legs are not conditioned to endure the strain due to a long time off from my football/cycling routines. The pain was there, the stamina was not there to back it up. I would struggle to run longer than 4 minutes in a spell. My pace was up and down, some days it was too fast and not in my control maybe due to adrenaline and not keeping my mind focused.
But slowly, the distances I covered in my first spell of running increased gradually. The happiest day of lockdown 2+3 was the first time that I managed to run continuously for 18 minutes and reached the peak of Kew Bridge, one of the most beautiful spots in london btw. From my house, this is approximately a 2.8km run.
The confidence was there, the Jazba and junoon was now building. My friend who is a PE teacher was consistently observing my progress and providing me with realistic targets, such as try to increase the run by another 30 seconds or so every time.
Anyways, today after 2 months of continuous hard work, I feel proud to say that I completed a 5k run in 31 minutes, and I feel that I could go longer and longer. I’ve found a rhythm and pace that is consistent and not challenging. Even though there are seasoned runners/athletes who run past me at a very good pace, I do not feel the need to compete with them and simply get on with my personal targets and goals.
I believe 5km in 31 minutes is just about correct for my age group. Although I will push to do this at a much better pace once I have hit a consistent run of 10km.
Enough of me. Let’s hear your lockdown running/fitness or other routines that you do to stay in shape physically and mentally if you like?
Anyone utilising this time off from work routines and practically clear roads for Running?
I used to run around 14 years ago when I was boarding, however I’ve re-started now and I’m so loving it.
Initially I was doing no cardio during my gym routines and cricket trainings (2-3 times a week). The only cardio I was doing was the odd swimming rounds and a weekly football match with my work colleagues. I chose to retire from football about 2 years ago as I was no longer considered fit/young enough for a competitive side and I don’t care much for kick abouts unless I know it is to keep fit for leagues+cup games etc.
So the first lockdown (March) was a bit of a surprise and I was unsure as to what I should do to keep myself fit. The only solo training I am comfortable doing is muscle training at the gym. With the gyms closed, I thought that a daily walk by the riverside of beautiful west london would be good for mental health and fitness...
This was a mistake. I put on around 4kg weight and the muscle mass was no longer there as it was pre-lockdown. Thankfully we were allowed to salvage half of the cricket season, and we only had cup games and 45 overs this year hence I wasn’t required to do the marathon work for the timed matches which are quite enduring.
Anyways, I was not expecting another two national lockdowns if I am honest. However we surprisingly heard of a second national lockdown to begin in November in london, and I decided that I will not slack this time. Come what may, I will make an effort to eat cleaner and run. I will slowly build up and run enough to keep the blood flowing, my mind active and the food I intake will not destroy my body like it did in the first lockdown.
So the first few weeks were tough. I am running on concrete mainly and my legs are not conditioned to endure the strain due to a long time off from my football/cycling routines. The pain was there, the stamina was not there to back it up. I would struggle to run longer than 4 minutes in a spell. My pace was up and down, some days it was too fast and not in my control maybe due to adrenaline and not keeping my mind focused.
But slowly, the distances I covered in my first spell of running increased gradually. The happiest day of lockdown 2+3 was the first time that I managed to run continuously for 18 minutes and reached the peak of Kew Bridge, one of the most beautiful spots in london btw. From my house, this is approximately a 2.8km run.
The confidence was there, the Jazba and junoon was now building. My friend who is a PE teacher was consistently observing my progress and providing me with realistic targets, such as try to increase the run by another 30 seconds or so every time.
Anyways, today after 2 months of continuous hard work, I feel proud to say that I completed a 5k run in 31 minutes, and I feel that I could go longer and longer. I’ve found a rhythm and pace that is consistent and not challenging. Even though there are seasoned runners/athletes who run past me at a very good pace, I do not feel the need to compete with them and simply get on with my personal targets and goals.
I believe 5km in 31 minutes is just about correct for my age group. Although I will push to do this at a much better pace once I have hit a consistent run of 10km.
Enough of me. Let’s hear your lockdown running/fitness or other routines that you do to stay in shape physically and mentally if you like?
You got a good routine going there and even that can be a challenge in these times so relish in your consistency and keep at it. You ever checked out Celtic Workouts ? Seamus’s channel, I found a useful full body 5x5 workout performed by Elias which could be done in your room, just need an EZ curl bar; doing that consistently with my own twists added to it at times I lost a bit of weight and then gained that back after a landmark event in me life, also may have impacted by losing 3 close family members. Following this I had a heart complication which disturbed by plan to get back on the exercise but I have started walking and jogging for short periods and will do a bit of weights today iA for the first time in ages, hopefully I can do a bit of light cardio or weights everyday for 30 min from here on.
