I woke up this morning, having made sure that everything I needed was charged or ready to put on, but after a sleepless night was having second thoughts! Threw on my dressing gown at 5.50 a.m., made tea and took it back back to my room. Sat on the bed to drink it. Well, what’s the harm if you lie down for 10 minutes, said the gremlin. I did. Do you need to go today, said another. You’re meeting your friend later, she likes walking up hills and you’ll get even more tired. Managed to ignore them and put on my running clothes.
I don’t know the area well for running, although I grew up here. I’d had a look at plotaroute.com last night and found a reasonably flat 5K route. I was now having doubts - could I even manage 5K? I decided to do a really slow 5K.
Wearing a long sleeved running top and tights, I stepped out of the front door. Nope, it’s cold. Probably about minus one. Quickly went back for my jacket, neck buff and gloves! Trademark sun visor, of course. Quick look in the mirror and I groan with disgust at my hair! Definitely won’t be gorgeous again until I can get my hair done 😂.
Off I go on my warm up walk, confident now and remembering my route! I realise I haven’t done my warm up exercises and stop walking to do them, they are so important. Exercises done, music started 🎶 and press start on my watch! I’m off. And it’s downhill slightly! I’m enjoying being out in the early morning. I follow my route exactly as I planned it and I’m surprised that there are footpaths here. On both sides! It feels odd, I’m so used to running on the road.
I see about 12 other runners, some of them more than once. I say ‘good morning’ to all of them, and they do all respond, but I notice that none of them greets me first.
There are a few upward slopes and I don’t enjoy them, my split times reflect the slowing down, but I keep going, dropping my cadence to cope. I can’t remember when my legs ever ached on a run! I tell myself that I’ll get used to it and it will be good for my endurance.
A glance at my watch tells me that if I increase pace slightly I might be able to manage a sub 40 minute 5K. I know that the last km is downhill (slightly) so decide to go for it! That will help a lot, I’m getting tired. I run past where I live with half a km to go. Cross the road to take a left turn down a slightly steeper hill. The run is over and I stop the watch. I see with great satisfaction that I did manage to run 5K in under 40 minutes! I don’t even mind walking back up the hill. Home, stretches and coffee!
While making my coffee I realise that I actually feel GREAT! 😊👍
A toughed-out 5k: An investment in my future
