Burn baby burn!

[ktsok]

I refer to my jowls, of course.

Oh that was hard! I meant to run earlier, when it was cooler, but I faffed and faffed... that’s been the story of this week, regarding running. I had thought I was getting back into the groove, even squeezing in a short run when I didn’t have much time... but somehow the days slipped into one another to become a week since my last run!

So I did a bit of housework and pottered about, then sat in the garden with a coffee and a book... thankfully, the book was ‘12 Rules for Life’ by Jordan Peterson and the section I was reading, after talking about biological dominance hierarchies, exhorted us to stand up straight, face the demands of life voluntarily, respond to a challenge, transform the chaos of potential into the realities of habitable order... ok, ok, but it catapulted me (gently) out of my recliner and into my running shoes!

I’m trying to be a bit kinder to myself on these runs. If I have to walk - so what? It’s better than not running at all, right? But it is hard to maintain that positivity when you are struggling. My nose was a bit stuffed and I felt really dehydrated - I often mouth breathe at night and wake up with a dry mouth. I tried to run with my mouth closed and managed for half the time, but when I had to mouth breathe I felt I was rasping.

Thank goodness for Coach Bennett. He said (in the Next Long Run podcast) that the run should be feeling nice and easy now; this was at the 22 minute mark or so. It really wasn’t! I had just reached a stile and was hanging over it rather than hurdling it. But then he said something along the lines of; if it isn’t feeling an easy rhythm, then ask yourself why not? Change what you are doing... something clicked. I started running again, within myself this time and kind of in-the-moment, and felt reasonably comfortable that last kilometre, all the way home.

Ok, my cheeks were BURNING, you could fry an egg on them, but it was really hot out there!

I have never been one for books espousing rules, and was pretty awful at listening to teachers... but today, they helped.

Happy running all!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Happy running to you ktsok, good post from you, teaches you not to faff and faff, hard run yes, but if had not faffed you could have gone your run earlier when the weather was cooler.

[ktsok in reply to AlMorr]

You are quite right; just get up and go!

[E27M14 Graduate10]

Well done for getting out there and doing it. It’s not easy when life gets in the way. I’ve had a mental week at work and spent many hours on the m4, and as a result I have not run all week, and I have eaten much junk food!! ParkRun tomorrow morning is not going to be easy!!

[ktsok in reply to E27M14]

You are my hero. Well done: I don’t think I could face a Park Run at the moment! I think the confidence goes a little bit when you slack off - I find I am nervous of doing the longer loops I did before and am sticking closer to home at the moment. Back to kindergarten!

[Granspeed Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

Nothing wrong with kindergarten - doorway to many worlds! You’ll find your way again if you can keep getting out the door. Invoke your inner tortoise for a bit 🐢 and feel the breeze & smell the flowers as you go (or maybe it should be lettuce for a tortoise.) Good luck.

[Oldlady57]

Sometimes we just need a gentle push to get out there & run. My push took me 4 months & I’ve just completed w1 😂😂

[ktsok in reply to Oldlady57]

Haha well done!

[Katnap Graduate10]

I think we all need to find something to aspire to. Set new goals and you'll be back on form in no time!

😸 Katnap 😸

[ktsok in reply to Katnap]

I think my goals are just to go running; and to find my ‘happy pace’ again where I am in a nice, relaxed rhythm and it feels easy. Not much to ask?!

[Katnap Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

Run and ye shall find!

[Tinker5393 Graduate10]

Well done for getting out there. You just look mildly glowing, my beetroot face looks like a tomato. 🍅🍅after a run.

[Jell6 Graduate10]

I wish I got back looking faintly flushed, and jowls???!.

You look great, and seem to be back to running. 🤩

[ktsok in reply to Jell6]

Jowls because my original post title was something about burning cheeks, and my friends are so smutty I felt I had to distinguish which set of cheeks I was referring to... changed the title and forgot to remove the jowls

[ktsok in reply to ktsok]

And they felt burning even if they weren’t looking it!

[ktsok in reply to Jell6]

GaJelle how are you recovering? I realise I have only seen replies from you rather than posts - are you still on the IC?

[Jell6 Graduate10 in reply to ktsok]

Thanks for asking 😊 I'm doing fairly well.

I made the stupid mistake of consecutive days running ( work commitments) causing a bit of calf discomfort, lesson learned I won't do that again.

I am going slowly, 5k in around 35 minutes, I'm finding this easier on my upper back, so all in all, back on track.

I plan to stick to this pace and start to add some distance again over the next few weeks.

Theres nothing predictable about this running lark is there?!.

I was just about to reply to your post when I got this, it looks like you are settling back into the running routine, and had a good run.

Hope all is still good on the romantic front💖

[ktsok in reply to Jell6]

I am glad you are able to run, albeit slowly. We were going at a similar pace today... it was a happy plod, which is perhaps the most important thing. I’m planning to run further/longer, rather than faster, too.

The romance is wonderful, thanks for asking 😊 He has been working away these past two weeks so I have been missing him, but have less distractions from running!