There was not much to persuade me to run this morning. It was cold. I had only just got back from a few days with my son and his family over Christmas. Having arrived back to an empty house, I didnβt really feel like doing anything at all! But I got up and made tea. π βGo back to bedβ said the gremlin. βYou can take your tea with you and catch up on the doom and gloom news!β
I got in the shower. πβYou donβt have to run, youβre tired. Just take it easy.β
I put on my running clothes. π βItβs not too late to change your mind! Itβs cold out there!β
Even as I walked out of the door, I wasnβt sure if I was going to run! But, as always, once I did, the gremlin melted away.
I walked down to the road to snap a picture of the flooded road. I knew it was deep and the webpage is warning that the digital display only has room for 2 digits so canβt register anything more than 99 cm. There is more than a metre of floodwater on the road. Could be heading for a record! A couple of abandoned cars are also in there, one allegedly belonging to illegal hare coursers. A car driver stops me and asks if itβs too deep to drive through. I laugh. He turns the car round and roars off in a huff. Heβs driven past digital displays and a road closed sign. π Be kind, says my conscience.
I start running and it feels good. I havenβt run for a week, so decide just to do a short run. 3K will be enough today and Iβll get back to running 3 times a week. I take it steadily and go for negative splits. Iβm listening to Abbey Road - itβs my favourite Beatles album and I havenβt heard it for a while. Itβs a dull morning and chilly, Iβm pleased I wore my jacket and cosy running gloves - Christmas present from my daughter-in-law π₯°. There is no traffic, which is wonderful! Courtesy of the flooded road. I meet a couple walking their two little Border Terriers and greet them. She is a runner and runs faster than me, but I can hold my head up because *I* am a half marathon runner, so I smile knowingly π.
3K feels like a short run, now - but I stick to my plan. Iβll do a slow 5K on Thursday and a longer run on Saturday. Maybe next week Iβll do some intervals to get my pace back up again. I stop at 3K and walk home for coffee! Happy with that run to set me up for the day. As I open my gate, my phone pings with a message from my neighbour. She wants to know if I need any shopping. It reminds me about things to be grateful for! I donβt need anything, but we agree to have a catch up over the fence later. π
Splits:
7:43, 7:32, 7:13
Written by
Jools2020
Graduate10
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Well done for not listening to the βgremlinsβ π. I have found the same thing, that if I just make myself get up, get dressed in my jogging gear, get out that door and put my music on it doesnβt take too long before in an feeling better and pleased that I am out ππββοΈ. Often it really is all in the mind π€ (not always as I couldnβt just go out tomorrow morning and run a HM π³) π
I love your description of the other runner being able to run faster than you but you smiling smugly knowing that you can do a HM ππ
Youβre right. Itβs a difficult time of year for runners and Iβve got out of my routine. Lately, I leave the house without a clear idea of how far Iβm going to run and Iβve needed that freedom, but now I need to give myself some structure again π
Hey, well done you. I think of all we do with our running, the single most important thing is to keep going and be as regular as we can. You went out and have plans for more to come so you can build up again. That is just terrific π
Thanks GTFC. One of the things that keeps me going is this forum. I know that Iβll be getting messages from people if Iβm absent for too long! π
Well done! We had a dusting of snow overnight. It's only collected on roofs and gardens.
The last flood in the town was when the canal burst its banks and flowed into the river. That was over 90 years ago.
The only time I've powered through water was at about 3am just outside Tudweiliog in NW Wales. The road turned a bend and I found myself facing several feet of standing water. It would have been dangerous to brake, so the only option was to plough on. Third gear, high revs, hope for the best.
The car lost its number plate and the headlights would fog up regularly afterwards. Not an experience I'd like to repeat!
Floodwater is scary! This is slightly different as the road is a causeway and part of the Hundred Foot Washes, which are designed to hold the floodwater. Doesnβt seem to stop some people, though!
Well done on getting out there, blimey, you've had some rain there! Makes me laugh, 3k, 5k, HM π₯΅ but nice to do just what feels good. Hope you had a nice time with your son, and family π
Omg I know those gremlins π ..donβt we all!!? Well done for getting out there and getting your run done. You have inspired me to get on with my run now and Iβm pulling on my running gear, batting away the gremlins and just going for it!
Thatβs one bleak and inundated road. And one super determined runner! ππ¦ππΌββοΈWell done. You probably know this already, but I was reading of one way to trick the gremlins is to βallowβ yourself a get-out clause at 5 minutes. (βOK, Iβll just go out to try, but if Iβm not enjoying the run after 5 minutes, Iβll come home.β) More than likely, you carry on.
Thank you π I use that get-out clause with everyday life, too! βIβll just spend βup toβ 30 minutes doing this .β Itβs a win/win situation!
Thank you! π most of the times I run, Iβm giving myself a running commentary in my head, so all I have to do for my posts is just to write it down! π
Hey Jools! Hope you had a good Christmas away with your family.That picture does nothing to entice you out of the door does it? It's cold here too, but no flooding to contend with - just lots of mud. And no snow or ice so far thankfully.
It's hard sometime isn't it when you have been away, or had guests - the house seems so empty. But well done on beating those pesky gremlins - a nice 3k to ease yourself back into things.
I've been trying to run every other day - and mostly managing it. It's a lot easier when you don't have to work.
Aww! Yes brings a tear to your eye doesn't it.I reckon our 2 will have forgotten who we are by the time we see them again. The last time was over a year ago now. Though of course we've done the WhatsApp video calls and stuff, but it's not the same is it?
No, itβs not the same, but it has helped. Especially with my youngest grandchild. Heβs only 2 and Iβm sure he would have forgotten me if it hadnβt been for FaceTime!
That did occur to me π. Had a lovely time with the grandchildren, it was a real tonic! I think I might have even put on a few pounds, I hope so. I even ate chocolate! I did struggle a bit with that run today, but I set myself an achievable target. Iβm a great believer in setting yourself up for success!
I was glad to go out on that short run! There is a lot of water this year, but itβs all in the right place, looks spectacular in the sunshine and is a real beauty spot. Iβm hoping to run tomorrow but itβs going to be really cold! Iβll give it a go......
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