.... There and back again.
The good thing about an out and back run is that you don't have to plan too much, also it encourages you to do the distance you want to by setting a marker on your way out. I guess the downside is once you commit yourself you either need to finish the run or walk back! Funny I used not to like the idea of then preferring a circular route! How times change!
So I got up this morning weather report still showed rain was 2hours away. Great a dry run! Had drink and food got changed took hayfever and asthma meds hit the back door - raining!! Oh well committed now. Grabbed my waterproof and then realized I needed my waterproof headphones ... my favourite headphones are not waterproof only sweatproof! Grabbed them and out.
I was a little apprehensive as my ankle had been stiff for two days but I was used to aches disappearing once I got running so off I went!!
With the sage words of "slow and steady" echoing in my ears I set off for a gentle stretching walk before my run. All seemed ok so I picked up the pace (from walking you understand) and off I went at a pace I knew I could sustain for at least 10k. No pushing hard today. No playing with form. Just a nice long run.
Last time I did this route I struggled so I was determined not to fall into a trap of overdoing it. Having said that it was a morning of overtaking things ... First it was the narrow boat on the canal pulling up into the first lock heading in my direction ... then it was the ducks and ducklings huddled up a little way further along .. then the man puffing away at his vape thing ... did I need to slow down more I laughed to myself. I was enjoying my run despite the rain ... which had settled down to a light drizzle.
My plan was to see how things went and if all was ok try to get to 6k outbound allowing me to stretch my total distance if I wanted to. All was going well the towpath shrunk to a narrow bit of cobble around 5k making it less comfortable to run on but it was ok. At 6k I stopped, removed the stupid waterproof that I no longer needed had a gulp of water and turned around.
All was still going well until I hit around 8k .. it had been going so well I decided I was going too slow so picked up the pace just a bit honest .. left knee ouch ... nothing major I had had this before just kneeded (😋) to go easy. Slowed right up determined to get to my minimum 10k target.
Placing my feet carefully trying to kiss the ground to prevent jarring of my knee seemed to do the trick so much so that I kicked on to the full 12k.
Pleased with myself but also a little annoyed with my knee I walked the last 5 to 10 mins home for a long cold drink and banana.
No more running until Tuesday so hopefully the knee will settle down before then .. normally it does.
Happy running everyone, stay injury free and keep off the IC.
Beautiful day
Hard run struggled to slow down
Not so poetic!! Parkrun aim....but not today!! ❤️
