It was chilly this morning. No trouble getting out of bed, but I’ve started making the mistake of going downstairs and making tea in my dressing gown! That’s when the gremlins start their chitter chatter. 😈
It took an age to get ready, because although I’d charged everything, some of my things were downstairs, some were upstairs and some I couldn’t find immediately. I haven’t found ‘places’ for everything yet! 😊
Dynamic stretches done and out of the door. Warm up walk and photo taken. I’d decided on a 30 minute run, or thereabouts. In fact, I listened to the Nike guided run ‘A 30 Minute Run’ just to keep me going! It’s easy at the moment to run less than I’d planned; a little encouragement from the inimitable Coach Bennett and him with the ‘oh so calm’ voice Andy Puddicombe wouldn’t go amiss. They didn’t disappoint on this run, they kept my attention.
Route loosely planned to include a downhill finish. I do like my last km to be my fastest.
Every run seems like an adventure at the moment as I’m getting used to routes here!
My warm up walk is slightly uphill, the first km slightly downhill. I start really easy, knowing that the 2nd and 3rd kms are mainly sloping upwards. I focus on my form more than I’ve done previously and take shorter steps to cope if I can feel the slope. I tell myself “hills are your friends!” I’ll gradually get used to this terrain! I’m tired after another night of little sleep, but keep on plodding. I run alongside the common and reach the top of the road where my Dad’s house is, where I pick up the pace a little as I know it’s downhill all the way! Past the house and down another slope to finish off. My 30 minute run is over, but I carry on for another couple of minutes for the 4K.
A solid run. The second half was faster than the first half, but not negative splits km by km. I can’t to that here - yet!
I found this run hard, I don’t think the air quality was very good and I was tired; but hey - I went out and ran and now feel good! 😊👍🥰
Written by
Jools2020
Graduate10
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Thanks, Ian 😊, it is very strange but if I can just continue to get out there for 30 minutes for a while, all will come good! I do feel great when I get back, and I’m sure it won’t be too long before I start to really enjoy running again. 😊.
For now, you’re right, I’m out and about and running! 😊
The air quality is definitely not going to be the same as you had in the vast areas of nothing much on the fens. Diesel vehicles are the usual problem for air quality in built up areas.
I do get regular smells wafting over from the various activities in the town: the vinegar factory is a regular one, the washing up liquid factory sometimes has a leak of its fragrance concentrates and very rarely you can smell the mash from the brewery. At certain times of year you can smell the muck spreading on the farms in the surrounding greenbelt.
I wouldn't worry about negative splits on hilly terrain. I've only just started to get them on the "easy 3km" loop, which is mostly downhill with a few short climbs in the middle.
You’re probably right about the air quality, but even in the fens in recent weeks, it was ‘fair’ far more often than I would have liked! It is very built up here, though.
I’m trying hard not to think about negative splits as right now it’s far more important to get out and get used to the terrain.
Nice run for you today Jools, at the moment there is high pressure, that prevents moving air, you are correct, the air quality could be better, hopefully for your next run there will be good air quality with wind and rain.
Hey! You went out and ran! Give yourself a pat on the back 😁👍 it's all going in the right direction and will settle down before you know it 🤗 great going Jools 😁
Well done on beating those gremlins and getting out there. You have had a big upheaval and things are bound to feel different for a while. You are running, that is the main thing. I reckon you'll find the pacing a bit of a challenge for a while, but I'm certain it will come back - you're a natural at it!
Those hills may much up your negative splits for a while, but I sm sure that the negative split queen will be back! Take care and keep going. Hopefully as you get back into routine your sleep will improve and things will get easier.
Thanks, I’m hoping so! The first time I went out last weekend, my heart rate rocketed as soon as I started; I hadn’t realised how much I was worried about running here. It’s already improving. I’m just going to keep going with no real pressure other than to get back to enjoying running again. The negative splits Queen will be back! 😊
I can relate to that tired all day after a run, but then i’m tired all evening after work too, the joys of getting older, running is something that is constant in your life after the upheaval of a move, i too can run when tired, just plod on slowly and end up feeling better for it
Once you’ve got a few new local runs under your belt, you can start comparing the segments and begin to see improvements. You’ll not get negative splits if the 2nd half of the run is uphill, but you will begin to see a difference over time!
Thanks LottieMW. I’m so determined. I’ve been here for just over a week and I’ve run 3 times. I’ll keep going out and hopefully soon I’ll be up to planning a longer, slow run. 😊
Well done. I know what you mean about the dressing gown. I used to get dressed when I got up but now I need to go downstairs quickly to deal with Pitta the puppy and then I get comfortable and distracted.....😏
👋👋👋 Well done, J. I’m late checking posts. Lots of new challenges: from trying new routes to facing those hills. I imagine the two could overlap: an exciting fresh direction translating into a run up a steep incline. Love the photo of spring growth in the pond. Gorgeous light.
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30 MINUTES! YAAAAY!! 
30 minutes ✔️
