In my heart I wanted to run another 10k today. My head was telling me that might be asking for trouble. My form hasn't been what it was since the enforced snow and ice break, and I've struggled a bit with heavy legs on my last 2 runs. I don't want to aggravate the niggle in my left glute.
After a longer than planned lie-in, a brunch of scrambled egg and smoked salmon 😋 and a bit of time gardening, I set off mid-afternoon. At 13 degrees, it’s definitely a shorts and T-shirt day today. I’m not entirely sure how far I’m going to run so I plan a route that can be anything between 4km and 6km, depending on how I feel
I set off at what feels like a comfy pace and for the first 2km I feel pretty good. Breathing OK, legs OK. It’s nice in the weak sunshine, and I’m loving the feel of the breeze on my bare arms and legs.
Approaching 3km I’m overtaken by a guy who seems like he’s running twice as fast as me. 💨🏃♂️ He leaves me for dead and disappears down the road. I wonder what heart rate zone he is running in and check mine – firmly in the aerobic zone. 👍
I reach the turning for the road towards the Leisure Centre and rounding the corner I see him – a tiny speck in the distance.
I’m not sure if this affects me psychologically, but my legs are starting to feel a bit heavy and my knees are aching a bit. Maybe the time spent earlier today kneeling on the gravel around the fish pond whilst fishing out fallen leaves and blanket weed wasn’t the best preparation for a run! 🤔
I do a ¾ lap of the Leisure Centre today. It’s busy. Lot’s of dog walkers. A group of youths on BMX bikes. Several family groups – one with young children playing catch.
Back to the main road and I head down to the un-made road behind the woods where I decide that 5km is enough for today. There’s always next week for a longer run.
Arriving home I'm greeted by the enticing aroma of the venison haunch I have braising in the slow cooker. I realise I'm hungry and out comes the peanut butter and some crackers that are handily nearby.
Stretches done and checking the stats it's another sub-40 minute 5k - I remember when that seemed an impossibility.
I see that I also ran almost perfect positive splits of 7:13, 7:22, 7:55, 8:20, 8:20. Maybe I set off too quickly, but maybe it’s a reflection of the increasing heavy leggedness on this run (again).
The photo is taken on the lane at the end of my run.
