So, after a month of large amounts of inactivity, obscene amounts of hours at work, I went out today. Around lunch time, you know, get the scents from the local carvery's, get a bit jealous on the way.
I knew it was going to be a hard one. Before I went to bed last night. I've been pulling a weight behind me of exhaustion and possibly some minor illness that won't come out, but I've always been of the opinion 'train it out' and if that fails, drink, eat and sulk it out! So going to bed, I'd eaten a large meal of stew and dumplings, drank plenty and was in bed by half ten. My kids had a friend around, so they were plenty noisy, but I managed to drop off pretty well. Aaaand then woke up. Repeatedly. Feeling like I was vacationing in the Sahara. Dry as hel, sucking down water like a camel in a desert. But getting up, I didn't feel too bad.
And then toastie-gate happened. I am and always have been a big comfort eater, (you don't get to 18.5 stone eating salad and Quorn in small portions...) And as I wasn't looking forward to my run, I had cheese toasties for breakfast. MISTAKE! Within minutes, I felt sluggish and wanted to sleep. So, I downed some pepsi max, (caffeine!) And it didn't do a thing. But, I persevered. I waited until the kids had gone out, I'd charged my headphones and that's when the real challenge began.
On my warm up walk, my tubigrips were rolling g down as they do sometimes. Annoying. I walked for around five minutes or so, and then clicked my Strava on and started jogging. My usual route starts with a mild inine, going into a flat, slight downhill and a small slight incline before about half a kilometre of flat. This is where, after a kilometre i wanted to jack it in and go home. But as I'd decided on 8k, I struggled on. I'd decided I'd see how I did after a while, and as I went, it did get easy marginally, the kilometres passing not quickly, not easily, but they just... Flowed. At 2.5, it was "only two more of those, plenty left in the tank" and at 4 it was a good run through the dog sh*t lottery for the first time! As I kept on, I only started having problems when I hit 6. I changed playlists on the run, needing inspiration, when some classic Queen came on first. I quickly changed this to something a little more upbeat, heading into the woods for the second time, really feeling the tiredness, exhaustion dogging my every step but my pace speeding up a little as it was downhill. My right knee had been hurting from around 1k too, but nothing I couldn't ignore so I ran on, looking down at trip hazards (roots are a nightmare, along with semi-submerged stones) as I went. I passed a friend who insisted I could run faster, but I replied in a jolly tone "no I f*cking
can't Mark!" As he laughed at me practically stumbling past! And then it happened. It had been blue skies yet cold at the beginning, but unnoticed, the clouds had been gathering above me, threatening a deluge upon my weary head. But it was worse. So much worse. After I'd seen my laughing spectator, it started...
HAILING.
It turned out I could run faster! 😂 But not by much... At this point, I'm going about as slow as a man can and still say he's running, but I didn't stop until Strava told me I'd hit 8k. Then I walked home. I'm the hail, and then it turned into rain. But, in a stand of woods there are trees to walk under, so I isn't get as wet as I could have. Unfortunately now, I have a sore knee, (below it, I'm hoping it's a little bit of strain to the ligament, if I have cartelidge damage, I'll be demanding a cancellation appt, I don't want to lose too much condition during recovery time) but it's not too bad. And today was worth it, even though around 7k or so I hit the wall. I didn't think of stopping after the toxic ten, and I've finally found my limits. And while I have my week and half off, (after Wednesday) I full intend to break through them and go for at least 9k.
Because I'm in this to be the best I can be. To 'polish my soul' so to speak. I have certain goals I wish to achieve, 'mountains to climb' if you will. Right now, I'm in the foothills, exploring my new abilities. But out there somewhere there's an Everest. And if I finally manage to beat that, then I'll just have to find an Olympus Mons.
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
