So it’s tipping down with rain and I get a message asking me if I’m still going tonight! Having only joined last week I couldn’t bear to admit that I don’t usually run in the rain. The woman who messaged runs the club with her husband and they are serious runners. I HAD to go 🤣
I don my 3/4 lightweight leggings, a short sleeved t-shirt and a shower proof lightweight jacket. Sun visor to keep the rain off my glasses. I’m not nervous tonight, but I don’t want to let myself down. I am going to join Lara’s Jeffing group. Originally I was going to run continuously with the group,, but I decided to Jeff with them and see how I got on. There were just 4 of us, quite a few had cried off because of the rain.
Without preamble, we were off! Now I’m not used to quick starts, I suffer from the Toxic Ten. I say nothing, but struggle to keep up! After about a couple of minutes, we slow to a walk. I innocently ask what ratio we are using. Turns out that it’s more casual than that. They walk when anybody decides that they need to. I had to radically shift my expectation - but that’s OK. I’ll just treat the whole thing as intervals. I was asked what ratio I found to be best and I said 30/30 (30 seconds running, 30 seconds walking) and they seemed surprised. I always used to set up a workout on my watch when I was Jeffing. But it didn’t really matter - we were Jeffing and chatting, which is exactly what I did want.
After about 10 minutes I found my stride and started enjoying the run (and the chatting!) I’m not really a trail runner so was trying to avoid the puddles! I was finding that I could have run faster on the run parts, but I think that it was slower because of the weather. Also the run leader has asthma and I think she was suffering a little.
Near the end there was a short, fairly steep hill - the same one as last week. Tonight, I met it head on and conquered it! Then I led the way back for the last half km, careful not to be rude and go too fast. We finished under the minimal shelter of a tree and I noticed with annoyance that I had run 29 minutes and 30 seconds. The leader of the group, Lara, said ‘come on, let’s run to the end of the car park and back.’ So we did, but something happened and I just FLEW down that car park! It was only for about 45 seconds but it felt so good! I glanced at my watch and saw 6 min/km, it’s been a looooong time since I saw that! And this was at the end of the run, too.
I’ll do the Jeffing again next week and then see about maybe joining a different group. There’s a 3/4 km group that I’m interested in. You can mix and match, it really doesn’t matter, as long as you book so they know who’s coming. Oh, it’s all free.
Got home and I was soaked! The hot shower was wonderful 😊
Had a really good time! 😊👍🏃♀️
Hello and a lil hand in regards to Jeffing?
Jeffing seems to be the way to go!
