Girls Run The World – Michelle And Sue’s Training Diary Week 8

Sue Murphy

As part of the Life Style Sports #GirlsRunTheWorld campaign, Michelle McMahon, Editor of Her.ie and Sue Murphy, TV & Film Editor,were challenged to run a 10k race after 12 weeks of training.

MICHELLE’S DIARY!

Failing at the Final Hurdle

This week has been a full-on nightmare. On Monday I started feeling a little unwell at work; cold, tired and dizzy. I went home that night and hit the bed early, determined to sleep it off. I got up to go in early on Tuesday – busy week ahead and all that, but having entered the office at seven, by eight I was in a taxi home. That afternoon I was at the doctor for the first time in about four years.

I had managed to contract a viral infection, which meant I could be wiped of energy for two weeks or more. Not only that, I’d bagged myself a chest infection too – which meant a course of antibiotics.

This meant my first sick day from work in years, and a very frustrating week spent either asleep or thinking about sleep. We had a big party on Thursday night, and I had a weekend away in Berlin planned starting on Friday morning – no one has TIME to be sick!

But your body doesn’t really care about that, so you don’t get a say. I made it to Berlin, but while the rest of my group explored the German city and enjoyed all the fun on offer, I was in energy conservation mode.

Now I’m back at the desk, but I’m still struggling. I’m exhausted and exercise is the furthest thing from my mind. With only a few weeks to go to my planned 10km though, I need to get back on the proverbial horse. Tomorrow I’m back in training. Wish me kick.

SUE’S DIARY!

HOLIDAY! CELEBRATE!

Well, the last two weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind. The first week, I was away on holidays so I had to keep up training and cut down on the food intake while I was away. This was actually a little easier than I imagined. With the rest, my legs were a little more able for longer running sessions and I managed to get in three running sessions during the week, one not so great one and two really good ones. I also went along for a gentle swim on Saturday before I flew home.

When I got back, I got straight back into the training and went for a swim on Monday morning. My arms weren’t as strong as the usually are after the week off and I so I made it to about 20 lengths of the pool.

However, Tuesday was far more productive. After a training session with Peter where I had apparently run for about 4-5k, I felt really positive about the running for the first time since I have started training and was ready to get out and about.

But that was when the wheels came off… I swam again on Wednesday but not for long as I had to be somewhere early that morning and with the Her.ie party on the Thursday, things became difficult.

I got home at about 3am and was back up again at 8, back in the office for 9. Then I had an interview with the cast of Calvary and hopped on a bus to Galway that evening. I can tell you, I was in no mood for a run.

So on Saturday I did something really intelligent and went for a run in the rain for about 30 minutes. Yes I did run for nearly two miles, but the rain wasn’t that forgiving and so I ended up back at the doctor at the start of this week.