Not 'not Parkrun'

[Archerygoddess]

I've just seen Damienair's weekly parkrun post and sadly have nothing to report.

I set out this morning keen for a run in the lovely weather. The warm-up walk had me a little out of breath, but maybe I was walking too quickly. Then came time to run. I set off slowly and 0.5km came and went, but I became more and more tired. At the 1km mark I decided not to make it hard work, so I crossed the road and went for a little potter around the churchyard in the sunshine. Feeling refreshed, I ran on a little further before turning round and headed back home. I only made 3.1km and it took me 29 minutes, what with the walk around the church.

On my cooldown walk I met a lady from the next street who was walking a dog very slowly. She mentioned my run and I replied that I hadn't achieved very much today, only running as far as the lane end. 'Well, what do you want?' she replied. 'Surely that's far enough?'

She made me realise that it's not a competition, that it was a lovely day, and I was out and about enjoying it. We runners have a lot to be grateful for, let's enjoy it 🙂

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

We really do, I'm not running any distance at the moment but every run is a win so be proud

[Archerygoddess 60minGraduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Yes, and it was outside! I've never use a treadmill until this winter ,and I really don't like them, but having run almost exclusively indoors for the last few months I'm finding the transition to outdoors weirdly difficult, so an outdoor run is a double win

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Archerygoddess]

It really is and you got to feel the sun on your face, I'm running run 1 week 1 with my neighbour tomorrow morning, we walked every week day this week and she's a bit nervous but what's not to love about running? Even the tough or shorter ones are a win

[Archerygoddess 60minGraduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

I'm sure she'll be fine, especially with your support!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

It’s funny-some days you can run 10k and it feels like flying. Some days every step feels like treacle and running for ten minutes is awful. It’s good to recognise when you’re having a tough day and be strong enough to have the internal dialogue with yourself about whether it’s best to cut short or push on. Both are totally valid decisions.

You still ran. You still have loads to be proud of, even if it wasn’t the run you’d planned. That lady was so right-it was far enough for you today and that’s to be celebrated.

[Archerygoddess 60minGraduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

It definitely wasn't the run I'd set out to do, but the walk around the churchyard was all the better for being unplanned, and they do say a change is as good as a rest!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Archerygoddess]

Absolutely! Sometimes some of the best runs and walks come from those spontaneous decisions. ❤️

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Absolutely right !It's the enjoyment that matters.

long or short fast or slow 🙂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

How right your neighbour was... running and enjoying... perfect !

[Week7 Graduate10]

Long runs, short runs, easy runs,hard runs. They are all runs to be proud if.