“Today’s 30 Minute Run” ☀️

[Jools2020]

I looked at the sunrise through the window this morning and wanted to get out there and run! The wind had dropped completely and the forecast was for a beautiful spring day. Kit on and out the door!

Coach Bennett was my companion this morning and a guided run I hadn’t done before. I like the way he puts questions to you and leaves gaps to allow you to think about your answers. I usually answer out loud, of course! I don’t listen to music in the gaps, preferring to take in my surroundings.

The sun was warm on my back as I run down the lane by the river. There are a few lambs, very tiny. Yesterday, I noticed a post on the village Facebook page that a ewe had recently given birth to two lambs and had rejected one of them, head butting the poor little thing when it tried to feed. The owner had to bring them into a pen on their smallholding in the centre of the village. She put a cone of shame on the ewe’s head so the ewe couldn’t see which one was feeding. Hopefully all is fine now. I touch the gate at the end and turn round. I spook a heron (I’m sure it’s the same one I always see). It was flying low over the river. I wasn’t sure what I was seeing at first; the heron itself was in shadow so I couldn’t see it. All I could see was it’s reflection in the river and it looked strange until the heron came out into the sunlight.

I come out of the lane and cross the main road to the path, exchanging greetings with a resident walking his dog. I run past my house, not even tempted to stop this morning! Coffee can wait! Running out of the village, the path ends and I take to the road. I don’t mind running on the road, but obviously need to be more aware. Drivers, even lorry and tractor drivers are generally courteous here and give me space, I run slightly further than the turning for the Deadend Track and turn round to head back into the village again, crossing the road so I’m facing the traffic. A lorry driver sees me and slows down, he can’t pull out because there is traffic, so I run on the verge for a while and we wave at each other.

I step it out for the last kilometre, feeling pleased that I can. I time it perfectly for my walk home and coffee ☕️

Spits gloriously negative and 4K in less than 30 minutes, a good run! 😊👍

8:08, 7:41, 7:09, 6:37

[Lizcanrun Graduate10]

Jools that sounds so lovely! I'm jealous - stuck on the IC 😭

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Lizcanrun]

Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that! The IC is not fun. Hope you’re not stuck on there for too long and that there are exercises you can do while you are waiting.

[Lizcanrun Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks. It's very frustrating!

[nowster Graduate10]

Well done! It's mornings like this that make recreational running a joy. 🌄

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Yes, indeed! Just continuing with 30 minute runs for now, so the fact that there was no pressure just added to the joy of the run.

[Peter44 Graduate10]

Nice run Julia, think we'll all miss your rural running routes there, when you move! ☹ Going to be a warm day, so good you got out early 🌞 i only started running in sept, so will be interesting come the real hot weather, come the summer! 🥵 i'm walking later, plan to run tomorrow.

Hope the packing still going ok. 👍

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Peter44]

Thanks, Peter. I’ll miss them, too! I’ll probably end up driving somewhere to run. I started c25K in late May, but I don’t remember having problems with the heat going into summer. I just ran early, 5am, even earlier than that sometimes. Packing is coming along. I’ll be ready! A neighbour is coming round the day before I move to unplumb the washing machine. Furniture storage is sorted, removals are primed and ready. I keep making lists! I went to get a big serving spoon last night to serve up my dinner. I’d packed it. Doh! Had to tip out the food onto my plate! Still tasted the same, though. 😊

[Peter44 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Blimey, 5am! Now that is dedication, i got quite lazy last summer, as not working, was sleeping in alot, but walked everyday. When you move, we wont be far from each other, we can run together! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ maybe not at 5am 🤣

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Peter44]

Haha, it wasn’t so much dedication as I wasn’t sleeping well! I was getting up at 3. Yes, would be great to plan some runs together. Our pace is similar, so would work well! As long as you let me win 😂

[Peter44 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Dont worry, you'll win 🤣

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Peter44]

Haha, I thought you were going to say ‘it’s not a race’ 😂

[Peter44 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Just wont be joining you on those hills in high wycombe 🥵 somewhere flat please ☺ maybe park runs will start up again.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Peter44]

Oh it will definitely be flat! Park runs are hopefully starting again in June. I’ve checked out the High Wycombe route - and it’s flat! When I started C25K, that was my aim, to run 5K in a park run, so I still want to fulfil that dream. I didn’t think that I would achieve a half marathon first, that wasn’t on my radar at all 😊

[Peter44 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Will be strange running with lots of other people 🤣Look at you, missed the 5k race, went straight to HM 🤣 hope to maybe get there sometime, want to do the london landmarks HM maybe next year! 🤔

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

A lovely morning for a run !But I was actually having my poridge whist reading your post ! Haha

then of course I needed to wait .

As you say , it nice to have a pressure free run ! Not worry about pace or distance, just enjoy the run and the weather 😁👍

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

I knew that if I dillied and dallied, I might not go! Porridge would have to wait 😊. As a reward when I got back, I had my porridge and added seeds, a banana, maple syrup and blueberries! Oh yes.

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Yummy 😋

[030961 60minGraduate in reply to Instructor57]

Love porridge...mines Oates and cold milk.....lovely!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to 030961]

Cold milk? Oooh errr. Never thought of that! I suppose it’s a bit like muesli. Very particular about my porridge 😂

[030961 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

You’ve gotta try it...... puts hairs on ones chest!!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to 030961]

Well, in that case ........ 😳

[Hidden]

Sounds - or rather reads - like a nice run! Hope the lambs are doing fine now!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! The twin lambs are now being watched closely, so I’m sure all will be fine.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Excellent run with negative splits for you Julia, shame on that ewe who had rejected one of her lambs, it's not just human's that do such a thing, even sheep do it as well, if there was a court for sheep that ewe would get sent to 'sheep prison', anyway a very good run and time for you, well done.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you, Al. Always pleased with negative splits 😊

Who knows why the ewe rejected the poor little lamb. She was head butting it away from her. Last night, though, both the little lambs had full bellies so the cone on the ewe is working 😊

[sparky66 Graduate10]

Always love your posts, reads like beautiful runs 😍

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to sparky66]

Thank you, mostly they are! 😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Very nice run and the heron a bonus, it’s all beautiful out there at the moment with the blue sky and warmth

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Yes, the sun on my back as I started was wonderful.

[Birdlady64 Graduate10]

A perfect run for you this morning Jools.I wish I had gone out earlier - I was overheating at lunchtime today, despite taking my new shorts on their maiden voyage

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

I wanted to run and knew it was going to be hot! Also, I had a friend coming round to teach me some yoga stretches, so wanted to run before she came. She’s a toga teacher and really knows her stuff. She listens to where exactly I have niggles of pain and gives me some yoga poses to strengthen those areas. An hour well spent in the garden!

[Birdlady64 Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

Sounds wonderful.I'm still trying to get my foot under the door with this yoga malarkey. I'm not sure I'm making my headway

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Birdlady64]

It’s difficult if it’s not one-to-one. My friend offered to come round and give me lots of pointers about what stretches I should be focussing on. Otherwise I probably wouldn’t do any yoga at all!

[LottieMW Ambassador]

Well done Julia, it was a beautiful day here too. I read your post and decided to do my own 30 minute run! You were very inspiring and it sounded like the perfect run...complete with negative splits 👍😉👏🏽

Not long now until your move...exciting!

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to LottieMW]

Thanks, Lottie 😊 I’m glad to have inspired you!

[LottieMW Ambassador in reply to Jools2020]

👍

[GailXrunning]

That sounds so enjoyable. Love the ‘see sunrise... must run’. It’s great to be able to seize those spontaneous moments.

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to GailXrunning]

Yes, it reminded me of leaving the house just before sunrise when I was doing C25K ! The promise of a beautiful day just makes me want to get out there!

[GailXrunning in reply to Jools2020]

May there be many more!

[9weeks2Run Graduate10]

Oh Julia that sounded like such a beautiful run and was such a lovely read. I love your posts and how you write!

Ahh bless the poor twin lamb that has been rejected by mummy Ewe, I hope it is all fine now, keep us posted.

Well done on your run and your glorious negative splits.

I bet that coffee was good!

Take care 🥰🐻🥰 x

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to 9weeks2Run]

Thanks, Rebecca. Coffee is always good! 😊

[9weeks2Run Graduate10]

Lol I am just about to have one now then get ready for my run x

[RacingintheStreet Graduate10]

There’s a lovely ‘lightness’ to this run I think and those runs are always the best . No expectation or agenda apart from enjoying a beautiful morning ( the evening light is beautiful just now too and I’ve purposely gone out as light is fading) .

I also converse with CB when he accompanies me 😂 I find his insights are often pretty much spot on .

Particularly observing that I am ‘running towards the run ‘ and that I need to ‘Run in the Run’.

I tell him Yes ! ...that’s what I do 🤦‍♀️😂

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to RacingintheStreet]

Thanks! I can relate to that, I’m always talking to him. He’s great! 😊

[030961 60minGraduate]

Fantastic, love reading your posts, well done. Makes my 3.6K this morning in 35 mins seem pedestrian! Keep going...

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to 030961]

Thank you, I will! Although it may not be for a few days ...... 😊

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Jools2020]

I take it you're living out of packing boxes at the moment? 📦

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

You’ve got it in one! I can’t find anything, my house is in chaos. I have one more day. I’ll be ready!