Choo..Choo...the inspiration train has arrived today and just in time.

Well today I was starting to feel a little disheartened and a tad of self doubt about my physical capabilities for the upcoming onslaught of runs for my running campaign in 2014.

It's not surprising really as I have only fully restarted my training runs over the last week as I have had tried my best to rest over the last two months, especially after a last minute Marathon in early November which took a lot out of me, and to try and rest up my back
due to ongoing issues I've had with it for quite some time.

After a couple of earlier runs I managed a 12 mile run a couple of days ago and my back locked up at the end which took a while to ease off, but as usual it did subside.Overall I recovered well but my knees joints didn't feel to comfortable yesterday or this morning so I decided on an easy session in the gym.

So an easy session, listen to your body I told myself as I've often heard this advice from many running Guru's.A little bit of core work for my back etc and then some moderate leg work on the various weight machines and 5km on an exercise bile to loosen it all up and get the blood flowing through the offending knees and joints.

As per usual the little voice in my head said "go on, have a run" I resisted for a while and then thought sod it! so onto the treadmill I went.But what should I do? !mile sprint? 5k? a lazy walk and hope no one notices my lack of effort?

I finally decided I'll start with a 2 minute walk and then into a nice easy run, but I wanted to build my speed toward the end to fast finish, so I eventually decided I'd try intervals, i.e. a run and then a walk for a bit of a rest and then a run again followed by a walk as a rest..and so on.This is what I actually did:

2 minute walk at 4.5mph followed by 3 minute run at 7.5mph (8 min mile pace)
2 minute walk at 4.5mph followed by 3 minute run at 8mph (7:30 min mile pace)
2 minute walk at 4.5mph followed by 3 minute run at 8.5mph (7:04 min mile pace)
2 minute walk at 4.5mph followed by 3 minute run at 9mph (6:40 min mile pace)
2 minute walk at 4.5mph followed by 3 minute run at 9.5mph (6:19 min mile pace)
and finally.....
2 minute walk at 4.5mph followed by 3 minute run at 10mph (6 min mile pace)
Total distance 3.2 miles and in a total time of 30 minutes exactly.

It was actually a fun workout and not at all boring or drawn out and here's the point...
it was actually quite inspiring as I discovered I could teach my body to run faster as long as I took baby steps and built up the stamina and speed.

I left the gym with fresh feeling legs and they felt well up to the challenge ahead for 2014.

The next dose of inspiration was returning home to find two inspiring items in my post box.

Item number one was  a book I had been waiting several weeks to arrive from the USA by non other than Ultra runner Dean Karnazes  this guy can run through hell and back and still go onto run another 100 miles lol.His book is about his 50 marathons in 50 states of America in 50 days!!
Hell if he can run through that I can at least run through 14 runs in an entire year without complaining about pain in my knees and joints.

The other item was my new Mind running vest all ready to go for another year of sweat and not so subtle charity promotion for a good cause.

So I have boarded the inspiration train today and am heading full steam ahead into 2014 and I'm going to enjoy the ride..Choo!!...Choo!!