Hello lovely running friends (and fiends - thinking of you Sadie-runs !!!)
So having not run for a couple of days due to having my kids with me, which incidentally I wouldn't have changed for the world, we had such a great time, I decided it was time for a little run, just to keep up the recent work I'd done, working back to 10k.
TL;DR: I set off to do 3-5km, ended up doing just shy of 13km.
Longer version:
I did genuinely intend to do a short-ish run, but had a particularly indecisive day. I set off intending to do the reverse of my recent 5k route which I love. Then I thought maybe my legs deserved a shorter run, so maybe 3k, so I changed direction and headed up the hill to the canal. I started running about halfway up, no point in messing about with this walking nonsense, right? After all, I did stretch well beforehand. So - off I ran, saying hello to the usual variety of dog walkers and normal walkers, and the odd fellow runner. Odly enough they were all wearing far more clothing than me. I just had my running shorts and a tshirt, oh and obviously my lovely OnClouds too.
I got to Goyt Mill on the Macclesfield canal. Clearly I had already missed 3k by this point, but I could turn round about there and make it just over 4k. I felt good though, so I turned off and ran behind the mill and down the main road towards Marple, this forms part of my new-ish 7k route. I tried to relax a bit running down hill, as I've found I tend to tense up whilst trying not to fall, fearing the downhills. That, I suspect, has caused me problems with tightness in the past. I was rewarded with a 6.25km according to Strava, and now I was on the Middlewood way. All went well apart from a brief stop to remove a stone from my shoe. The OnClouds are lovely, but are little beggers if you get a stone caught in the tread.
On I ran, 5k and 6k came and went, and I had a choice. Come off the Middlewood Way and run back up the main road to home, or keep going. I felt good. I kept going. Maybe I'll turn left in a km or so and take the steep path that leads back to home. The path arrived. Didn't fancy it, it's steep and annoying. I kept on, at this point knowing I'd committed myself to at least 11k. Whatever, I was feeling great 
Then something wonderful and odd happened at around 7-8k. Sadie: I think I may have found your magic legs, because I suddenly found I'd changed my gait, posture, I had a spring in my step. I could feel that I was now mid-striking rather than heel striking, and I must have had a 15-20 sec/km speed boost for the next couple of k. Before I knew it, Higher Poynton station came into view. I imagined myself as a railway locomotive pulling into the station. I then laughed - silly boy. No way I was stopping
Now the hard part, the climb up from the station back to the canal. I maintained my tempo but reduced my stride somewhat so as not to strain anything, and managed the hill with ease. Now I was back on the towpath, and about 9k into my run. I knew it was about 2.5k back home from here, as I have in the past used this as an out-and-back 5k route. The next couple of k or so were nothing out of the ordinary, I continued to run at just over 7:00/km.
Then I had a thought. They usually hurt, so that in itself is quite incredible. I was going to end up at about 11-11.5k if I continued on my usual route, so I decided to add a little extra to the end. I ran round the local park, and then down some roads on my estate. 12.5k came and went, my previous personal best distance, then I got interrupted by a phone call. I'm back living with my parents after a divorce, the phone call was "Are you OK? You've been out a while!". Since I was nearly home, I decided not to add any more to my run, and go home for a well earned cuppa and a banana.
Interesting TMI fact: when I got back I realised the sweat on my head had formed salt crystals as it had been dried by the airflow.
I am so encouraged though. I didn't think I had 10k in me any more, let alone nearly 13k. It just goes to show what a bit of stretching and pacing yourself can do. I have the biggest Cheshire-cat grin now 
Happy running, folks!
Lovely Sunday morning 10k in my new Clouds
Good things come slow... Paul ... I did this one for you...
10k ! How did that happen 
