I did run 1 on Sunday and had several tech issues so I have no real idea of time or distance covered but it felt like an “alright” run. Beautiful day. It nothing special run-wise.
I’d planned to run yesterday but I was having a few issues with side effects from my sleeping tablets. I had to take them for a week then alternate nights. So I’d not had one Monday night and yesterday was the day I was to take the next one but I awoke with a splitting headache and extreme nausea which lasted all day. Another side effect is horrible metallic taste in your mouth so everything I drank tasted vile, water especially. I always try to drink more on non run days to prevent heavy legs while running and I also had blood tests this morning at 9.35, which is always a battle as I look like I have good veins until the needle approaches and then they hide and I’m so tight I part with my blood very slowly too.
I even walked to ASDA in the morning thinking fresh air might help my head. It was glorious sunshine and I didn’t even put a jumper in and I enjoyed the walk but the headache wasn’t any better. So I spent yesterday,lying in a heap under various cats, feeling sorry for myself and drinking vile drinks☹️. Even had a nana nap in the afternoon. Then off to bed with my tablet at 9.30.
So this morning I woke at 6.50 and thought let’s give it a go today. Headache gone? ✅ , nausea gone? ✅ headphones, phone AND watch charged ✅ ( after Sunday’s disaster ). Right lets do it. So off I went... “oh no gale force 10 today?”, lovely and calm. Usual route along the back of the town, and onto the Tarka Trail. There’s a new gym opened up at the end of the high street and I was amazed to see so many people coming from and going to it so early this morning. There usually a clear path along the back of town until the school kids start appearing.
The first 10 minutes were as usual arguing with a couple of gremlins who were reminding me that the top of my calves felt a bit achey after the last couple of days walking and wasn’t my right buttock feeling a bit tight?? I ignored them and, apart from regretting that my lovely sports masseuse Emma isn’t back from maternity leave until June, I decided I’d wriggle about on my spiky Pilates Balls when I get home and sort that out.
The river was really still today and, apart from lots of birds wading in the mud and the Canada geese flying over now and then honking, it was really peaceful. I did see a couple of cyclists riding into work and another runner going like the clappers past me but I expect he is from the local Marine Base so I’ll let him off. I did take a quick pic of the old boat that is just past the bit where I join the Tarka Trail. ( locals reckon its a hydroponic marijuana den) but I choose to believe it’s just someone living there. It is a bit near the Police Station if it is.
That was about my first 10 min point and I continued on past the gate and up near Pottington entry. It struck me about here that I’ve usually hit 15 minutes by now but I carried on quite a way before the little man went “ Ding! Walk!! ” I walked my 1 minute and stripped off my gloves and moved my thin buff up onto my head as my neck was getting hot.
Then off I went on my 2nd 15 mins. I’d been working it out that I’d run until he said “you have run for 10 mins” and then I’d turn round as I’d have 5 more and then a minutes walk and then I’d be roughly at the same place as I was at end of first 15 mins. Well again I seemed to be much further than when I ran on Sunday by the time he said 5 mins left but heyho I was feeling good so I carried on. I thought if I get back to town and I have more time left I’ll loop up to the old bridge or go round the Castle Green a couple times but as it was I only had to add one loop of the green and then I finished round about where I’d started running. Which meant my 5 mins cool down took me just to the top of my road.
I was still breathing comfortably by the end of my run so I assumed I’d just run slower that usual and I didn’t have time to check as I had to shower and breakfast and get to the surgery in less that an hour. I put a nice big thick jumper on in the hopes my veins would be nice and fat and I sat for 5 minutes sweating waiting fo my turn and ......as usual it was crap!!! Even with all my prep, both elbows, back of left hand ... and finally back of right hand ..success!!! I’d be no good as a junkier that’s for sure 😁.
So, home again and then I got chance to look at my run and lo and behold!! 3 new PBs!!! Fastest 2mile, fastest 1 mile and fastest 1k.
And my second fastest 5k, only 1 sec slower than my fastest!!! I have been nowhere NEAR that time since last June, before I fractured my ankle!!! I am so chuffed I almost want to go out and run some more😁😁😁
Whoohoo!!! I have a big silly grin on my face now as I was only moaning to my daughter at the weekend that I seem to be way slower now and not getting any faster. Perhaps it was all that running against the wind for a couple of weeks that helped. 🤣🤣
Well, well, well....
How not to run your long run... oops!
