What a week, Tuesday was my long run planned. I'd been exploring a new route to build up the distance, still 3k short of 10 and this week was going to move up to 8. But a bad start to the day had me slip off the second to last stair , going down, saving myself at the expense of a couple of jarred knees.
So a tentative longer warm up walk and all seemed okay and the first element of the new route. Aptly named Uplands Road is one of the many unadopted roads in West Wight and a climb up above Totland Bay. Going well but just a tad energetic for the start of a long run, but definitely good for the circulation. Off to a couple of loops down and up the side avenues to notch 3 k up before a planned descent to the sea wall promenade between Totland and Colwell Bays for a south, north, south excursion!
Left from the Pier to the Old Lifeboat station, yes I'll do the extra 100 metres of broken up surface filled with building rubble before turning back. But first negotiate a dog off lead, and an owner head in phone oblivious to my 180 turn and the wind on my back. Still thinking about the obstacles I deviated and caught a larger brick solidly wedged and I was launched. I like to think launched but I don't think my jogging pace would launch a feather. Brushing myself down, I looked back and yes I had been spotted by the dog and it's owner, I shrugged and waved I'm okay, not remotely embarrassed at my first ever running fall. So two falls in a day. Once bitten......Clearly grazed and a bit bruised, I walked a bit then got a km timing to suggest I was still making good progress so rather than commute my run I decided to stick to the plan.
The very strong wind was on my back and I could realistically make up the lost time. Round and up and over the aptly named "wonky bit", heading for 5 k. What do they say about pride...? For the second time my right foot was grabbed and this time it was close to a launch! I was well over to the right of the sea wall to avoid as far as possible a drenching from the spray. There's a foot high concrete upstand that small children love to balance on. It divides families into risk takers and worriers! As I managed my landing zone I couldn't quite stop the momentum of my beanied head hitting the edge of the upstand wall to gash my forehead and bridge of my nose. .......ah." a fall" that's it. I tripped over an expansion joint in the concrete promenade with perhaps 5mm differential!
I was a tad dazed and taking antiplatelet meds a scratch bleeds a little dramatically. Decisions, probably should abandon the run, and take my head home. Chastened and soon to be chastised too, it's a form of love! Not a huge amount of sympathy from one born of Yorkshire farming stock! An egg on my forehead, and countless bruises and grazes on legs and arms - no sense no feeling I heard muttered.
BUT, a short run yesterday said all the essential running bits were working so off today on the more familiar running routes and choosing safe, smooth tarmac the aborted longer run was on again. The extra distance was achieved by adding in a long drag of ascent, doubling my normal metres gained. It has been a lovely day so pleased to have stayed on course for meeting my 10k challenge.
Take care everyone. I think the lesson learned was the first fall off the stairs that jarred my knees had me sub-consciously running to reduce impact and not having sufficient lift. Should have walked that day, plans are made to be changed (occasionally).
Years of Running Wasted...
Park run, first ever sub 30, woohoo, 29.49, woohoo 
Outdoors and Running Again at Last
A treat in the sunshine 
