So, I really should have posted a fortnight ago, because it’s now 2 weeks since I reached my first 9k! 📣 But I was thinking I’d save it for my end-of-week round up. I also wished I’d saved my big run for the next day, as it could have counted for the COGH Ultra Relay. Ah well, I thought, not to fret: I’ll be doing another long run next weekend; days are arbitrary markers; take the longer view...
The 9.06k was 1:10:44, so a surprisingly speedy 7:48 mins per km, especially so given the distance (faster than my runs at 8k and 7k.. indeed, faster than most of my runs, excepting the immediately preceding one 5.29k, 7:35, which had been notable for the unexpected upping of pace). It was early, foggy and cold with a little mizzle. The whole atmosphere felt sotto voce. I admired the graduated layering of light and density created by the fog; and the way it makes the lichen on tree trunks really sing out (photo). Condensation drip puddles had formed under the trees. Greater-spotted woodpeckers were busy drumming and they seemed to be everywhere. Once M departed (midway), I just ad libbed my paths around the park, using the mahonias as my axis, although it was too cold for their scent to be detected.
I followed up with 5.21k midweek in thicker fog, a chatty run with M (for the first half hour). The park was busier. A group of young athletes were using the embankment for training, which required carefully choreography with those of us running or walking along it. It involved dramatic gestures and flourishes of ‘after you’; lots of smiles and friendly waves. We thanked them for letting us oldie-slowbies pass. I craned to look over my shoulder to watch one of them sprint the hill: boy, that was some serious arm work! Not to mention fast.
The day that would have been the third run of the week was the day M had been summoned for his vaccination. No run, no problem, I reasoned; instead, a nice long walk. The centre is a decent distance away and also offered an opportunity to do reconnaissance of potential future runs. We went extra early to put in the exploratory work first. I put in even more km walking while M disappeared into the centre. It was a nice day, the potential running routes got the thumbs up (even from M, who is a creature of habit) and we enjoyed the whole outing. I got a kick out of adding 12k to COGH, which sort of made up for having missed adding my 9k by just a day (as a run, it would have been short). Then I got shin splints.
This injury kept me away from running - and also from walking - for nearly a week. Next, I was summoned for my vaccination. Different centre. Different route. More opportunities to check out potential new running paths. I kept things simple this time, an easy 6k walk, and thankfully there was no recurrence.
Day one of jab, I could have easily thought it was all just a dream. A memory of a gentle scratch on the arm was all the evidence there was. Then overnight I developed the chills. The next day the chills continued, with jelly legs and light-headedness. Lasted for 24 hours or so. After this, I took another day off exercise as a precaution.
Which gets to today: *the return to running* with a very gentle, chatting run, in a quiet park and lovely early morning sunshine: 4.12k. I was positively excited to get back out - no big ambitions, except to reclaim this space. It was so nice, even if we both felt last night’s dinner weighing down a bit! Had things stayed on track, today would likely have been my first 10k. As a way to manage the longer distances, I’d loosely segued into JuJu’s Magic Plan, and that would have been the schedule. But perfect plans ain’t necessarily how things go. Have to take that longer view!!
Hope everyone is well and enjoying runs / making good recovery (delete as appropriate). Best wishes for the week ahead. 🏃🏿♂️🏃🏻♂️🏃🏼♀️🏃🏽♀️🦌
Well, well, well....
10k in a few weeks and nervous! 
A great few days 🏃♀️ 👟 🏅 and I won on eBay!!! 
