Adidas miCoach Pacer Bundle

Week five after the London Marathon and still sore, I decided to **gently** return to my running. (Read last year's blogs) As this is the time my body is weakest and likely to pick up injuries. However a knock at the door and the postman delivered my package from Adidas!!! Get In ;-) So having used the phone app for so long! Just how would the bundle differ and more importany Improve my running??

Within my pack i received the Pacer, Heart Rate strap and speed cell(foot pod) The heart rate strap is self explanitory the speed cell either sits inside your adidas shoe (which I do not own a pair) or firmly attaches in a cradle which you thread your shoe laces through. Looking at it the material isn't flimsy and I feel confident with every impact and stride I take, will remain attached to my shoe. The only downside I found here is that I do own more than one pair of shoes regualarly rotate each pair so I can see have to plan my runs and swapping the cradle from one shoe to the next will be an extra job for me! My only solution will be to hunt down and buy another cradle so at least then I can leave my cradle's attatced and just swap the speed cell over.

The speed cell is a nice shade of green and an oblong shape. Probably not much bigger than fifty pence. I've never run with. Foot sensor before but I have seen earlier Garmin and Polar versions which to be honest look huge! This speed cell is virtually weightless and doubt it will be of any hindrance at all.

The pacer is another titchy piece of kit. The biggest part is probably the belt clip. A switch with three modes. Off, free run or your miCoach setting runs to which you synced with your profile on the adidas website which stores your next fifteen scheduled runs or ten scheduled runs and five favourite runs. I don't think I'll be bothering with the second option here. The other buttons of interest are the start/pause/sync button. Volume button and a repeat button and that is basically it?

Firstly I needed to pair the three units together and get my website scheduled runs onto the unit. Which really is a bit like pairing a blutooth device on your phone. Placing a USB adapter that plugs into your computer to receive data from the speed cell. Then downloading adidas manager software the installation was straight forward. My speed cell was in range and voila synced already..... Sweet I thought to myself, no hassle!
Now where is my pacer... Problem.... How do I charge this unit? Right I need a USB to 3.5m Jack lead.... Which is *not* in the box Arrrrgh! This lead is missing and so is another 3.5 to 3.5 jack lead to enable me to listen to my music whilst I run. Considering this prize arrived by post from Germany! How am I going to get new ones? Especialliy as it was now nine o clock at night my first port of call was eBay! I easily ordered the jack to jack lead but opening a second tab with a google search aparently an iPod shuffle lead will suffice in charging my unit so that was ordered too. I did however email adidas support who really were top notch and within three days had sent me my new leads. Result! .... Considering may eBay order arrived after adidas's order too. Which reminds me to leave negative feedback for such slow delivery and from a UK shop too?!

Placing the pacer on charge with my new adidas lead, took two hours, if that? Opening the adidas manager software, again pressed sync and my next fifteen scheduled runs were now on my pacer. I then pressed a sync button on my pacer and a lot quicker than waiting for my Garmin to pick up a GPS signal my speed cell and Heart rate monitor symbols were flashing green meaning everthing is good to go and satisfaction knowing I'm getting there.

The next problem was just where do I position my pacer on my runs. Adidas advise the pacer be placed forward facing? So has to be near my music source. The pacer can work without music which is less hassle but me! I do train to music (never race) but my training does consist of the latest playlist which now means I'm starting to look like a T1000 cyborg with my gadgets and wires hanging off my body.

Now my android phone app consists of phone, sports armband and earphones. Now with the pacer .... my phone pumping out my latest tunes sits in the same sports armband. The pacer clips onto the armband above my bicep. The 15cm 3.5m jack to jack lead (shorter the better) is now plugged into my phone which then connects to one side of my pacer with my earphones are now plugged into the other side. Which is now awkward to start my music, place my phone back into the sports armband, then to wrap it securely around my arm and hopully not pull out one of the other leads. If I didn't want to run to music and just listen to the pacers running instructions, there's no trickyness at all! To run with music where I have positioned my phone and pacer, now that will be awkward :-/

On my first run turning on the unit I'm politley greated by my female trainer who as I scroll through my training schedule informs me of each session. I chose. Progressive run and set off. My tunes on my playlist were great then as I hit 0.99 of a mile I was told my heart rate, stride count, current pace, zone time distance and as you notice the time then as i crossed the imaginary mile marker. Superb I thought. Loads more information and stats to absorb :-) having run the required ten minutes the music cuts out to be told speed up to green zone. I do just that... Maintain green zone. Excellent!! Then music cuts out again... One quarter complete says the voice... Er hang on where's my encouragement from Jessica??.... Iater I was told speed up to yellow zone, typical on the hilliest part of my run. Speed up to yellow zone.... I'm thinking give me a chance.... Speed up to yellow zone. Maaaan I'm running up a hill and... I can't? - But this is the encouragment i need to improve my running

However I completed my run. Sadly without any encouragment from Jessica Ennis on the paced bundle itself unlike the phone app. I paused the system and while I got my breath back switched off the unit to be told my final running stats. I got home and connected my pacer to my computer where my data was uploaded to miCoach, Twitter and facebook and saw even though I felt I was struggling, I still achieved 91% for staying in my running zones, which was not perfect but encouraging.

The phone app is great as wherever i am my time, distance and score is uploaded immediately and it has Jessica to encourage me. The bundle itslelf needs you to be patient to get your percentage score the next time you conect it to a computer but your strenghts and weakness's within that run can be seen as you comapre you stride count, to heart rate ans see which zone you're currently in and getting that idea of underrstaning your body and "controlling" your own pace. E.G not to push too hard to early and blow out rather than hold back and progess i suppose hrough the gears until you reach you maximum output!

London Marathon 2012

Did you run in this event? How did your race day go? Well I was more than happy that the disastrous weather London was having in the lead up to race day miraculously disappeared on the day itself and the usual London Marathon support was out in full force. I especially love the huge drums under the motorway at Westcombe Park and Brazilian Latino drums at Canary Wharf where I 'm guaranteed to slow my pace down to observe this atmosphere. at Like me I'm sure your race consisted of high's and low's, positives and negatives which affected the outcome of you race. Reflecting back what would you have changed or done differently? Did you reach your goal or did your time you hoped to finish the marathon by slip away out of your grasp? I again fell for the same old trick! I pumped myself up for weeks telling myself do not!

under any circumstances submit to the voice in my head telling me to slow down, give up or.... It hurts! Fight back Brooksy! Think positive thoughts come on you can do it! Push through to the end << what a load of nonsense! Explain later

With me, My aim (one day) is to run a sub three hour marathon which means running a pace under seven minutes per mile for 26 miles. Quite a challenge! and today just wasn't going to be that day. My next aim which I thought I may just sneak was to run under 3:09:59 and obtain a Good For Age Marathon time [and easy entry into the 2013 London Marathon]...

Oh I tried for this and even instructed my Garmin virtual partner to pace me. At one point I was 770 metres up on this time but by mile 19, I knew I had to dig in deeper, my pace slowed and my hard work I had put in, in the early miles I found myself slowing and my initial advantage was getting eaten in too. Re paragraph above: Fight back those voices of doubt! I totally forgot my pre race plan and promptly crumbled submitting to the voices of pain and was now running on auto pilot without any passion or drive. I knew if I didn't up my pace, would be a close finish. Alas like Tottenham Hotspurs 2011/2012 season the wheels came off my wagon and as I left parliament Square my Garmin bleeped like mad at me saying 03:09:59 time I wanted was now up! I plodded around that last 3/4 mile finishing 3:16:35. Crossing the line I was in so much pain, agony that I hadn't felt in my other three marathons and I was even rather cross with myself that the after marathon pictures clearly show a false smile. I stropped around a little saying "That's IT!" ....

I'm not running this event again because my pride was a little damaged but most of all my body was screaming at me in *pain*. Seriously checking my heart rate which looked normal... My heart actually was hurting..... woah! Don't go there! I hoped!!

Being a #geek two days later I have printed off my Garmin stats and observed my pace mile for mile. I've also printed off my last two years VLM times and side by side on my desk I'm comparing my times mile by mile! If you can do that I'm sure you'll have a surprise and if you are upset with your performance I bet doing this you'll say to yourself hang on..... Firstly compared to other years I may have set off too fast.

Quite noticeably I had quite quick miles (by my standards) which puts me miles up the road compared to previous years. This year I even had mile paces within a second of each other which tells me my pace was steady and consistent. Even when I "thought" the wheels had come off late in the marathon, WoW the times we still perhaps slightly quicker than the same miles in previous years which justified my quickest PB time for 2012. 2011 3hrs:25mins, 2010 3hrs:45mins

I'm sure in all our races there are moments we're not happy with or the race or our body throw in a surprise we're not expecting that never happened in all our months of training! Stitch, blisters unexplained pace. The more competitive runners (I try to be) we can beat ourselves up about it like taking on Mike Tyson for 12 rounds but I'm sure! By stepping back and re evaluating the situation I bet you didn't do to bad after all and can more than easily see the positives in your executed race plan

I have spent so much time the last year trying for a Good For Age and on the day missed out by nearly a mile. It's the closest I've ever been but us runners are told, never, never give up! One day know I will reach my target. Yes a spanner firmly wedged in the works today, disappointed maybe but my day will come if i keep on working at what i set my main objective.

I've come too far to give up now and you shouldn't either! Onwards and upwards

Freezing Cold & Snow... Time for 'Plan B'

Whilst having one of the warmest January's on record, it was inevitable our winter would come and bite us hard. Ive got into my car in the mornings to be greeted with a dashboard reading on minus six!!  (wtf?? Almost makes me think its a scene from a Hollywood film?) Which is more than enough to make me rethink my early morning runs!
The last cross country i ran was at school!! This is winter training most runners and elite runners advise and recommend that we perform cross country events, its certainly never appealed to me, to make me feel that i must continue running through such arctic temperatures! I dont even own and have never bought a pair of, off road trail shoes? I own a pair of trainers for my half/full marathons and another for my 10k's and speed work. Full of offering advice on road shoes!... I havent a scooby when it comes to trail shoes! This art of running just hasnt appealed to me and at my age... probably never will so you certainly wont be teaching this old dog new tricks!
So when the bad weather does come i have to rethink my running schedule especially as i always try and run in the London Marathon in April which falls "within" the 16 week program most websites claim you should train too.
Firstly my compression #skins come out to play. I admit i'm a wuss and never do i contribute to the #stillinshorts trend on twitter. Before you point and laugh at me (Aaaah ya southern fairy) let me explain. Firstly, i'm being cautious. Having played football as a kid i remember overstretching or just tweeking a hamstring *pain* but in comparison to premier footballs running full pelt to pull up suddenly #tearing a hamstring. #agony. Now ive never had that happen to me to that extent but know just in my little experiance a muscle like this letting go on you is proper painful stuff. My air of caution is to protect myself. A) from the weather B) keep my muscle fibres tight & compressed so they work together keeping me strong and retaining strength in my legs. Thus limiting any chany chance of muscle weakness that may give way on me when i really want to push on with my training. Try to look after your body and your body will look after you? As you get older, reading quotes like this you certainly start to take more seriously!!
Im not an elite runner(obviously), never going to be so i feel i do not need to run in shorts on my way to work to be a member of the #6amclub. Heat rub applied to legs, tights on (Dont forget more vasaline to sensative areas) basslayer, windproof top and jacket, hat and gloves. Vaseline on lips maybe vick rub on top to aid breathing and prevent a runny nose, ruck sack full of work clothes then i'm ready for my wintery run to work?....
Wait hang on? I only own road shoes, what if its too icy to run in or in fact has snowed. Well no trail shoes, no foot grip thats my runs knackered then! Now this is where i start falling behind in my #adidas #micoach training schedule. The only way around this is to head to the gym!
All those exercises ive neglected doing  through the winter period isnt it time i started to build up that core, stretch out sore muscles, use a foam roller (daily), perform squats, use a medicine ball etc etc, i can now start doing in the gym. As for those machines sitting in the corner. Aaa the boring old X-trainer (i loathe using this machine, with a *passion*) or look a Dreadmill, sorry treadmill. I really find the X-trainer boring but it is handy when injured? Very good for cardio training which is a high percentage of what running is about?
For years i was anti treadmill probably with the same reasons as you, as running on a belt is easier helping to propel me along, No head wind or wind resistance replicated. I  bet youve heard someone! Say their best 10k time was on a treadmill *roll eyes* All the above is cheating and not what we enjoy about running!... Well not cheating as in running a marathon and getting a bus half way through a race!! but we are cheating our body out of the natural things that improve our running? Mind you for the sake of getting out of these minus six degee mornings and to assist with our training for an 'A' race of ours later in the year i think a treadmill is sufficient enough just to aid our cardiovascular performance whilst protecting us from the elements where you're more than likely to pick up a stinking cold and not be able to run anyway by dragging yourself out into such poor conditions on the sreets? :-/
I find that in life if we can get away with not doing something we take this oppportunity and wont do it. You can sit there and call me a sothern softy but in my book if its not race conditions and i dont 'have' to go out and run in these ludicrous sub temperatures, then i am not flippin' well doing that! :-) As this will be my fourth London Marathon in April let this timed result be my judge and then we'll see who's right?? :-)

Your Body's Revenge!

Been a long time contributing to this Blogg, which is abysmal on my part! :-(  I will say work has been a shambles and i'm incredibly busy but surely i can squeeze in a few lines more often? As it is im writing this post whilst on a bus? .... So no excuses! :-/

I follow some "great" runners on Twitter but it has saddened me to notice that many people have started their spring marathon training and then have picked up a big injury or are running with a niggle. A lot of complaints listed i have experienced too and know from a little running knowledge i have, know that these runners will be back pounding the streets soon but its the decision within ourselves to first admit our body is protesting at the amount of overload we've put it through and then sensibly take our foot of the gas to allow our body time to recover! Pah!! easier said than done right? (woah look at me? Like i've never listened to my own advice) Dont deny the obvious 'age' is an issue. The young whippets will be out and back running soomer than the veterans!

Just like you too many times ive said 'Oh i'll be alright, No i wont need to see a physio' and just carried on with my training. Not surprising the problem has got worse, more frequent and its not too long after any tricks in healing the injury, denying or disguising pain #fail to work and your worst nightmare actually becomes reality that running is just not possible. This is the point that runners dont want to happen and now you must watch all your hard work getting you to this current fitness level, will now  disappear before you can even think to get back running again!

All i can suggest here is get help you need quickly! If you're not sure get professional advice either a doctor or a physio i know physio's charge  a variety of fee's which to be honest... I think puts people of going to them in the first place!! and probably contibutes to the problem? It took me 20 months  battling against achilles tendonitis before i actually coughed up the money to see a physio. One! Treatment and several exercises later concentrating on "pelvic alignment" my problem was solved! So just why did i suffer for so long then??.... Oh yes that's right, i kept denying and telling myself 'Oh, i'll be alright'... Clearly not.

You can even listen to advice from other fellow runners from "reliable" message boards or even twitter! R.I.C.E would the common suggestion here, emphasizing on REST? But remember you arent alone with your injury. Thousands of others have been through what you've been through and i bet most of which have pulled through and are running again, with the memory of a painful period all in the past.

Were all running in a huge running boom and in a decade with help and advice ( to 'some' degree) available on the net, podcasts, you tube, social media web sites? Count yourself lucky really as imagine your current injury... Happening for example in the 70's or 80's? You really would be knackered! But now in 2012 with a whole heap of treatments available, all we need to do is stop, think and be sensible when pain does strike. Why nkt go swimming? Use a X-trainer or just drastically reduce your intensity. We run to keep fit or experience the "the running high" so if we look after ourselves that little bit more, long live our running lifestyle.

Amen

How are my Newtons.... ?

So three months on.... Just how have I got on using these Newton trainers? If you want my honest answer and current status, rather badly actually.

I can see the logic and advantage of running mid/forefoot, which is exactly what it says on the box of this marketing. They do not hide away from the fact the changes needed to make in your own running style to make these trainers work for you, with the enclosed ten-point leaflet!

OK I was prepared to try this. It's just as you may have seen in my other blog articles, I'm getting a bit long in the tooth now and probably the saying you can't teach an old dog-new tricks is a real lesson to be learnt?

I train regularly running to my latest music playlist and trying various routes and trying interval training etc. I can comfortably now manage to run or at least get around various 10K and Half Marathon events and have taken part in the Flora and Virgin London Marathons. My next aim is still too improve on my current times and now eagerly await the 2012 London Marathon Ballot result, which will mean slowly increasing my mileage between now and then assuming I can find a way into this marathon.

As you know increasing mileage can increase the chances of injury anyway but using these Newton's now with this in mind for me is going to be a huge risk to take to run in next years London Marathon which is now seven months away. Since June, I have worn these trainers (drum roll) two or three times PER month and afterwards suffered such shocking calf pain that it actually has stopped me running. I really have tried to stretch out my calf muscles, use a foam roller very regularly, and have a sports massage monthly and even cheated before runs applying some sort of deep heat rub to warm up my calf muscles allowing them to be more forgiving.  Still the pain experienced after a run makes me walk with a hobble and the pain is too the extent that I cannot stand on my tiptoes let alone walk on my toes. The calf failure is that severe.

I ran a Dartford half marathon in July and I felt... OK(ish), allowed myself time to recover and started my training again for a 10 mile race in Stevenage in September. This race obviously being shorter than a half marathon I had high hopes for this race. A) To perform well for our team to win its category. B) To race and beat a friend. I prepared for this event as per normal and was actually quite confident too as in myself I felt well. (Even Achilles tendonitis has been behaving). Alas on the day it was a complete disaster! After four miles, I knew something was wrong. One lap down and 5 miles to go I knew my race was over as I ran with a hobble and my mind switched to willing the mile markers away. The Garmin beeped every mile reminding me I was well off my usual pace.

Needless to say, my team contribution on the day was rather shocking and I am sure our team captain and manager will reflect back and think twice now for selecting me for the team. They do not need to say anything to me, as I know myself I am disappointed with this effort and my mate beat me with ease. I finished in 1hr 9 minutes where as a ten-mile course in February 2011 (Sidcup 10) I had finished 1hr 4 or 5 minutes. I keep getting told you can't always run as fast as your last race or get PB after PB but I've kept on running all year I felt well and the only difference was just in wearing these trainers (through the pain(. I came home cursing these trainers! And contemplated burning them. I took pictures of them to shove them onto eBay as they still look new! The mileage I have run in them is actually still quite low. I looked at Sweatshop's website to resort back to my old faithful Asics 1160's before they bring out the 1170's at full price.

I had thought trying Newton's in June would be ample time for me to get used too and hopefully run a marathon in them next April. Three months later, I'm sorry I have to admit but I have absolutely no chance of running the full 26.2miles and I'm going to jump ship now and revert back to my usual running style and reliable Asics. I don't think I will sell the Newton's them but keep them for maybe 4k sprints I have at Bluewater's Saturday 4K meet ups because at the moment that's about as far as i could comfortably run?

Am i getting too old for this Malarkey?

My body clock is ticking and I am now edging closer to the big Four O! Good health permitting what would this new decade bring me running wise? I cannot emphasize how I am sooo looking forward to being classed as an official "veteran" runner! In fact not just running into my forty’s but to continue running strongly until it’s officially not possible for me to put one leg in front of the other. This determination in my ‘mind’ appears now to come at a price as my body is not as strong as the determination in my head. The best example of this mind Vs the body is when you’re planning for a marathon and you know things will get hard and you may even admit to hitting “the wall!” Do you tell yourself prior to this race, I’m going to push through this and keep on going? [Laughing out loud] Really now because I’ve tried this two or three times now and found out the hard way when the body says NO it means it! Know matter how determined the mind is the muscles in your body have put down their tools and are on strike! They’re not going to help you one bit, your race is now over!

I have found myself in a moment of quietness reflecting back what now find annoyingly painful or utter agony, twenty years ago or so, I would have brushed that aside running/playing through the pain. I could operate normally the next working after four hours of sleep. I could go out on an all day/night drinking session, smashing my liver to bits and perform normal activities the next day... And... Remember how I got home.

From this point things started to go downhill, getting worse but in such a subtle way just not enough for me to notice, slam on the brakes and make drastic alterations to lifestyle. I never gave a second thought of how I was already abusing my body and didn’t make any future sensible plans. I thought I was immortal and felt I was! Therefore, with this lifestyle I could continue it , no problem... Hmmmm

So, what’s gone wrong? What were the warnings my body was sending me that I blatantly chose to ignore? I started to need more sleep, get tired more quickly. Drinking the same amount on a night out with friends resulted in 2/3 days to recover and I admit at times locked in the bathroom… in pain! I missed out on much looked forward to weekend time, only for my working week to start again far too soon a classic sign of wearing down one’s body. What about my body mechanics? Well the biggest clue is finding myself constantly heading to the chemist to by paracetomol then nurofen, Ice sprays, ice packs and support bandages. When they didn’t work, I started heading to the doctors for advice who prescribed me very strong anti-inflammatory medication to which I still have availableon a handy repeat prescription, which I re order a lot more times than I should be. To be honest if I am, I tend to use them more just prior to races, you know to paper over the cracks after months and months I’ve spent training for a race I don’t want to pull out from. So to get me through the race day I find it easy to apply loads of ice and take my anti-inflammatory medication [Who's hitting the warning buzzer for me which says you really don’t want to do that!!] I know, I know *not* a sensible thing to do.

The next stage of my ageism is being called to come and play and kneeling down on the floor for a long time playing with my children. I’ve actually noticed I actually groan out loud more and more now just to stand back up from this playtime, maybe even using nearby furniture as leverage. (seriously, is this normal?) How about waking up in the mornings all stiff and sore hobbling around the landing looking down at the stairs thinking I’m about to descend mount Everest taking one step at a time. Research suggest this is a classic case of Achilles Tendonitis for the love of god, I’ve suffered from ITB, DOMS general aches and pains but good grief Achilles Tendonitis is my number one for suffering in pain. If anyone out there says such and such is a more painful injury? then for the love of god... I don’t want to suffer from it! Achilles Tendonitis *HURTS* (like a b*tch)!! and I’ve been getting this grief well over a year now which looks like it’s going to play a big and unwanted part of my life from now on. Rest it I hear people say, (I have, a little) stretch out your calf muscles, have Physio treatment I do! I do! Alas grief, grief and more grief.

Being totally honest If I could wind the clock back I really would. (Suppose we could all say that in aspects of our lives and rewrite our history) but for running my mind loves the feeling of pounding the streets, the feeling of doing something to help my health, fighting the evil of everyday stress but to help me wind down and de-stress. The is Me or my own personal time. Something I train hard for so I can achieve my own personal bests and get satisfaction doing so. I even enjoy listening to downloaded and created music playlists to which running along to my favourite tunes I’m having a party whilst I run! Answer the question just how fast can I run? Alas though all this comes at a costlyt price as clearly the slow realisation that my body is aging and I in fact am not immortal as I once thought. No I won’t be living forever as the alarm bells and warning signs are registering that my body is showing signs of wear and tear, weakness and you know what had better that looking after myself, quickly! The fact I’m writing this page on my Blogg I’m probably currently feeling a low point of weakness and pain which did prompt me into thinking recently “Am I too old to run?” Should I be slowing down?. Both my Achilles hurt, my calf muscles hurt, running up the same hill my heart rate is higher than it has been in the past, I’m puffing and blowing even harder now. Chaffing tender areas as the mornings are getting now darker and colder as the frost will now start to bite my fingers and nose. Soon i'll be yanking off wet clothes, tugging away, stretching and ruining my clothing, spending longer in the shower just in an attempt to warm up.

Slap me round the face what am I moaning for? Ive seen runners in their forty's, fifty's, sixty's and seventy's toe the line with me against those young whippets in their twentys. How have most of them done! Flippin well actually beating some and showing their body is stonger fitter, faster state! Really now well thats what I want! Pehaps I should shush up. Show my central governor who really is boss. Zip up my man suit and carry on doing something that I and many others adore!

I can only suggest you purchase some ear plugs. As when I return from my runs seaching for.the coldest ice pack and I look like i'm about to start moaning you can quickly insert ear plugs and ignore me!!

Cheers...

Newton Trainers - First Test...

I finally made the plunge into buying these trainers and as I did, it came with a warning from the assistant.

•      Make sure my first run is short
•      Strengthen your calf muscles
•      Stretch your calf muscles to ensure they are soft and flexible

Hmm good advice? Well for the last six months, one gym machine I have been using is doing weighted calf raises anyway. I have suffered from Achilles tendonitis so a foam roller and daily stretching I do, do quite often (ok maybe should even do more). Keeping my first run short... Hmm how short are we talking?

As it happened, I chose a morning run to my nearest tube station at the O2. My early morning runs before work consist of an easy one mile jog as a warm up, stretch a bit more while I adjust my ruck sack before I then start my Garmin and phone app to run varying routes but roughly the distance is 7.5 miles.

Now was the time to compare my morning jog with other runs in my Asics 1160's. Within the first 100 metres if anyone who was, watching me must have wondered why I was grinning like a Cheshire cat! My god the forward push really does launch you forward as I found on the flat roads I needed to raise my knees higher so my leg rotates downwards and I landed on my mid/front part of my foot to gain the forward push. Although I was concentrating in doing this, I'm sure I could grasp this naturally in my future runs. My first mile marker so some 20 seconds quicker before soon I turned and headed up my first hill. The front foot motion I powered up this hill with such little effort. I got to the top and still managed to run off the top of the hill and glancing at my heart rate is was the lowest I've ever seen running up this hill. I then must have raised my heart rate as I started to get excited about these trainers now. That was until the downward section as running down it on my front foot I had no confidence in doing so just yet. Therefore, I ended up running down leaning backwards on my heels (as usual). So something to practice another day

After four miles, I did start to feel a dull ache in my calf muscles and as I ran on the ache got worse and worse. As I approached seven miles, I resorted to walking as it felt like I had a golf ball wedged into my muscles. Even as I entered the tube and stopped my watches the time was noticeably quicker than my previous runs and I didn't feel like I had put in the extra effort to justify the time.

I was absolutely beaming as I got on the tube and continued my journey into work. When I got off the other end and tried to run the final hundred metres into work... Hmm I just couldn't. I showered changed and slapped on my Bio-freeze and compression tights. As the day went on my walk blatantly turned into a hobble, by the following day I seriously could not walk properly as my calf muscles had gone on strike. Trying to stand on tip toes, No chance! Which proves using 8.5 miles as a "short"

first run in my Newton's appears to be way too far. Five days later and I'm still suffering with pains in my calf muscles. These 8.5 miles is still well short of my usual half/full marathons and if this were a race, I could have been looking at a DNF (No Joke!) This now means alternating my trainers and working on my calf muscles until I can run a full distance in my Newton's pain free. I have a 10K race in October so hopefully by then I can use my Newton's in race trim and see how I get on. Now I must strengthen my calf muscles but keep them supple at the same time so you may hear me swearing in the gym whilst I use their foam roller. You may be reading this and think is this pain or change in running style necessary? Not to mention the expense in paying for these dearer trainers. My opinion is that this pain won't last forever......(hoping)