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To be honest, I don't think its possible to go any slower than I do, otherwise I'll be walking.  That's the problem.  If I had a race pace of 8 minutes per mile, I could slow to 10 mins and find it easy.  Starting at 10 mins per mile feels like I'm crawling so to go any slower would mean walking.  What really p*sses me off is that some days I can wake up and run miles without any problems whatsoever.  I probably should add, though that I also suffer with menorhagia so I could very well be anaemic a lot of the time.  Given all my ailments and bad luck, I really ought to throw the towel in and find something else to do but I'm addicted to running and the buzz I get when it all comes together is better than any other feeling I experience. 

I did go for physio through work when I'm twisted my ankle for the gazillionth time.  I did some balance exercises but I must admit after 4 weeks I was still wobbling all over the place on one leg so I gave up.  It was running on soft ground, through fields and on grass that caused my ankle issues so I'm very nervous of running on anything other than paths and tarmac now.  Especially having broken my fifth metarsal only recently.  I can still feel a faint twinge in my foot every now and then. 

Last night's run wasn't bad from a breathing perspective, my legs felt extremely tired and when that happens, my brain just tells me to stop.  The fact that I didn't stop, I take as a huge positive. 

Well I went out last night and did 3 miles and it was torture.  Speed only 9.47 average pace per mile and I had a full on body ache followed by cramp in my feet (that's a first!???) BUT I didn't stop.  I endured 28 odd minutes of torture.  I did punch the air afterwards though and a lovely old lady stopped to tell me that I had a lovely figure!  Bless her!

Well I've just signed up with Parkrun, there's one fairly near to where I live on Saturday morning.  I've also printed off the training plan - thanks for that.  Already feeling more positive about going out for a run! Thanks all for the advice! Its much appreciated. 

Hi Joe Volcano - Its definitely not races that motivate me to run, its the feeling of euphoria after a good run which motivates me to go out in horrible weather.  I do quite a lot of sport - swimming, rowing, cross training and weight training - but nothing motivates me more and frustrates me more than running.  It is without doubt the most difficult sport I participate in.  I can leave the pool for months and go back in and swim a mile, no problemo but running - arrrrgggghhhh!!!  But there's no feeling like the one that you get when you've gone out on a Sunday morning and conquerred 6 miles and enjoyed it.  I actually punch the air like Rocky! 

I would like to get back to where I was at in March this year, which was running at 9 minute mile pace over 7 miles comfortably.  I ran 6 miles twice last week in an average of 9.35, which isn't bad.  I felt good to and then I went out a few days later and had a rough run, another run one on the Monday and a diabolical one on Saturday which has really affected my confidence.  I'm out again tonight and I have no idea what mileage to aim for other than to go out aiming to do 3 and extending it if I feel ok. 

I'm very tough on myself though.  And another thing that frustrates me, is that I cannot lower my blood pressure.  Its actually higher now than it was before I started running.  And that was another factor when I started running back in June 2009, I wanted to be healthier and fitter.  Maybe therapy is the answer for me!?