Just... keep... running!: Hello my lovelies... - Bridge to 10K

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Just... keep... running!

ktsok profile image
24 Replies

Hello my lovelies!

It’s been a while... I have been watching your progresses admiringly from my inactive sideline. I am glad of this forum, here to dive in and out of as our running lives take us.

Falling in love with a man who lives a three and a half hour drive away has played havoc with my routines. It isn’t just the travelling and the cocooned weekends; it’s the long chats on the telephone, the daydreaming, the writing of letters and poems and drawing of pictures... there is a languor of limb and a distraction of mind that doesn’t naturally translate to pulling on the running shoes.

My Spending Justification Formula of price divided by number of uses, when applied to the Garmin FR235, equals expensive. All those lovely statistics that I used to wallow in now reproach me - it isn’t my pace or distance that is increasing but the number of days (and weeks) between runs.

As you will see from the graphic, there has been a sharp drop in distance run each month, from 51km in February, to 48km (over three weeks) in March, to 8km, then 7.5km. Those distances in April and May were represent two runs per month.

My bum definitely feels wobblier and I miss that feeling of (literally) having a spring in my step that running gave me. It is time for change.

So on Saturday morning, whilst my feller lay sleeping, I crept out of bed and pulled on undies, compression socks, compression calf sleeves, leggings and top (he was awake and blearily confused by then), went downstairs, put on the shoes, selected the Nike Run App ‘Next Long Run’ and left the house, feeling a bit dazed. I didn’t even know where I was going, but pausing to think about it might have stalled me permanently.

Ten days earlier I ran 3km and had to take a breather at around the 12 minute mark. I pretended to myself that I was just stopping to take off a layer and reorganise, but I know the truth; I was winded and out of shape. I realised for about the fiftieth time that I had gone off too fast again. A minute of heavy breathing and I was off again, chalking up a solid 20 minutes of red-faced, sweaty running. It was such hard work and reminiscent of those first longer runs on C25K.

It felt different this time. I think I realised on the earlier run that it isn’t about improving my speed, or even my distance, any more; it is about running regularly to feel good. Maybe if I run regularly, those other things will come; maybe there will come a time I need to set some goals; but for now, I just want to run again. The podcast in my ear was perfect; Coach Bennett is good company. I started at the right pace, maintained the right pace, and finished at the right pace, running pretty comfortably, mouth closed, for 30 minutes. No stops, not even at the little zig zag stile set on a steep grassy bank. During the run, I could feel the hip flexors more than anything else; my legs were tired the rest of that day; and my calves are a little sore today - but I am amazed and so grateful that after running about once a fortnight for two months, I am still able to run for 30 minutes.

I am battling a sore throat and a hangover today, so the sunny evening run I envisaged might not be the best idea; but if it doesn’t happen today, it will tomorrow, or whenever this passes. It’s good to be back.

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ktsok profile image
ktsok
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24 Replies
Geordiehousewife profile image
Geordiehousewife

Welcome back and what joy that your missed runs are for such a thing as love and not injury

ktsok profile image
ktsok in reply toGeordiehousewife

There couldn’t be a better reason!

EmilyReads profile image
EmilyReadsGraduate10

Welcome back and what an enjoyable and elegantly written post! It sounds like a lovely reason for taking a break (albeit unenviably time consuming - my boyfriend and I often joke that we first became romantically interested in each other when we discovered that we lived a convenient ten minutes walk away!). I'm glad you're feeling able to restore a little equilibrium and get back out there more regularly just as the sun is starting to shine more reliably. Good luck and looking forward to hearing how you get on :)

ktsok profile image
ktsok in reply toEmilyReads

Ten minutes walk, what bliss! Not really far enough for a good run though?! 😉

EmilyReads profile image
EmilyReadsGraduate10 in reply toktsok

Haha yes, I wasn't a runner then though so I didn't know what I was missing :p

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10

Isn't it wonderful how the body tries to hold onto fitness and gives you the chance to come back like this? Glad you have got your running mojo back. Sounds like it will be back for good now!

ktsok profile image
ktsok in reply toGwenllian1

It really is wonderful... I thought I might have to go back to the walk-run phase for a while!

Wimborne profile image
Wimborne

Hello you 👋. So lovely to see you on here again and I see you are still floating 💕 which is wonderful 😊.

Jell6 profile image
Jell6Graduate10

💘💝💖.

I was thinking about you yesterday, wondering where you were.

I am a sucker for romance (other people). How lovely that you are so besotted.

Post traffic incident I have cautiously recommenced running, and have gone for time over distance, at this point I think I prefer it. I go for 25 or 30, maybe it becomes 40.

The pressure is off, but I am running.

Take care, keep us informed 😚🥰

ktsok profile image
ktsok in reply toJell6

Oh Jell! You wrote about that terrible day you had, but I didn’t realise the accident had left you injured. Glad to hear you are running again; and with no pressure, that can be a kind of liberation. Let’s both ease ourselves back in! X

Wimborne profile image
Wimborne in reply toJell6

Wise running Jell. Building back up will take time. Hope it stays ok for you.

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10

What a lovely post. I think you are going to have to introduce your new man to c25k! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️💗

ktsok profile image
ktsok in reply toDexy5

He says he is up for trying it... and I intend to hold him to his word 😉

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply toktsok

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️👏👏

Agelesslass profile image
AgelesslassGraduate10

Get him running with you, glad you are back in touch with forum 👍

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate10

Well done on getting back out there. You could join my OTA (or there abouts) club if you like for a while. It’s very flexible and you just run half an hour - OTA, or 3k OTA depending on time, inclination. You choose what precedes OTA! No pressure.

Deals1 profile image
Deals1Graduate10

Yaaaayyy. Sounds like u r back a d still in 😍 which is great and even better if he's up for trying C25K!! 😊😊😊

CRAZYCATME profile image
CRAZYCATMEGraduate10

It's good to see you back! That old thing called love huh? It does do strange things lol! Well done on getting back out there..a spring in your step all day every day is so worth while!

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate10

Hi ktsok, what a great post. Happy running, you can have it all !😊xxx

Granspeed profile image
GranspeedGraduate10

A 💕💕 So glad the long silence was because it was working for you & the man. 🎉 Welcome back. You can be with the snails & tortoises for a bit, and very welcome. 😊🐢💨

grumpyoldgirl profile image
grumpyoldgirl

Welcome back kt and +1-maybe?! Lovely post :)

jayval70 profile image
jayval70Graduate10

Welcome back ktsok. Lovely post.

Fabulous450 profile image
Fabulous450Graduate10

And great to have you back too ktsok!! 😁! Sounds like a lovely reason to get out of the routine and now you have the best of both worlds ahead. Happy running to you!! Enjoy!! 🤩❤️

Katnap profile image
KatnapGraduate10

When does the love of your life start running with you? 😁

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