A tough week

The week I've been pretty much dreading for the past few months has arrived. On Thursday I'll be heading back to the hospital for my next colposcopy and to start another couple of weeks of waiting for results. 
People have asked me if it gets any easier, my answer 'No'. If anything because you know what to expect it's actually harder. The procedure isn't the nicest of things to go through but worst than that is the waiting. Your future is in the hands of someone in a lab somewhere who you will never meet! That is the scary part for me. 
Having said that, I've kept myself healthy & fit for the past couple of months so there is nothing more I can do than that, it's all out of my hands. 

This week my wonderful friend Caroline is the chosen one holding my hand through it all, it helps so much to have someone with you so take note, if you ever need to go through something like this, never try to soldier on alone, it does not help anyone, least of all you! Caroline, as with most of my friends, has been an absolute tower of strength for me throughout all of this and that really goes a long way to helping me keep my chin up, stay positive and smile on through it. 

I'll be resting up for a few days after the colposcopy so the training will need to ease a little, I've re-arranged my schedule for this week so that I am still running the same distance just on different days and thankfully I've saved my rest days for Friday & Saturday. Sunday will be a tough run as it's 1 hour 50 minutes but I'll be taking things slow and only doing as much as I can.  
If you are friends with me on Facebook, please 'like' my Nike+ update on Sunday morning, that's when I'll be needing all the cheers and support I can get. 

What is really motivating me throughout all of this though is that I am supporting two amazing charities and that by me putting myself out there, my kind friends, family, colleagues and even complete strangers are donating to something I feel very passionate about. 

Thank you all so much! 

Running Apps

Even since I started running I've using the Nike+ app for iPhone. I've talked a number of friends into using it too. 

It's said to be the 'most popular running app on iTunes'. You can add friends and see how you compare, even setting challenges with friends to run the further, quickest that week/month. It does get a little competitive when you're keeping tabs on who's logging the most runs and miles, but not having a running partner, it's probably the best thing to keep me motivated.  

You can record runs on the treadmill or when you're out and about via your iPhone's GPS and accelerometer which record your distance, pace, and time, these have always been extremely accurate for me. 

My favourite feature on the app is the audio feedback which lets you know a breakdown of your pace, distance, at every mile or half a mile depending on your preferences. It really helps me to stay focused & sets myself little targets. 
What I've really loved on some runs when I'm feeling particularly sluggish is the in-ear cheers you can get from your friends on Facebook when you broadcast that you've started a run. 

This app also connects to your music so this will be playing whilst you're running. Also if you have a song that gets you more motivated you can set up PowerSongs to give yourself a boost.

When your run is finished you can sync your run to the Nikeplus.com website which allows you to view your maps on a larger screen, set a new goal, and find Nike+ Top Routes in your area. 

Another app that has been recommended to me recently is Strava, I used this for the first time yesterday. I didn't find it as user friendly as Nike+ but it's certainly more in-depth and one for the serious runners. 

 

As with the Nike+ you can use Strava to track your runs with GPS, analyze your performance, join Challenges and see how you stack up against friends. 

The most accurate part of this app was viewing the map of your run, this was really clear & showed a breakdown of my pace per KM. I've not explored it fully so I'm sure it does a lot more than I've currently worked out. According to my friend you can collect heart rate data from ANT+ and Bluetooth LE sensors which would be really interesting to use. 

With both of these apps you can set personal targets and earn virtual trophies & honours. With Strava they have monthly challenges that are designed to push you further and show how you stack up against friends, locals and pros. 

The one thing I would say about the Strava app is that you have to pay for some of the features by going premium.  

I'm sure there are many more running apps on the market. Do you have your favourite?