There were raindrops on the window this morning and it was overcast, but the thermometer still showed over 20C. The prospect of a cooling shower was pretty inviting so why not have a run?
Keeping to the theme of running easy, I listened to Coach Bennett and 'Easy Run'. It's only 25 minutes so if it got too hot out there at least it wouldn't last long. I was feeling pretty positive about the run so decided that I'd see how I felt once I got going and maybe run a bit further if it felt good.
Off I went, slowly. My husband disappeared into the distance, he knew what I was up to but his running plan was on a different agenda. It was overcast and there was a lovely north easterly breeze, so it was like my own personal fan or aircon.
I reached a point, nearly halfway through, where I could carry on to 3k or turn left and go a bit further. The guided run was nearly over and the smooth concrete road called me, OK, I'll do 4.
Last time I ran this route I had to stop every few hundred yards for shade or water, but today I didn't feel the need for either. This is the difference between running in full sun and having cloud cover. The air temperature was no lower than my last two runs but the subjective comfort was so much better.
I was hot by now and had tucked my tshirt into my bra to get some air to my midriff (the shirt I'm having to use is a bit warm this weather). Some sheep in the field next to me gazed on judgementally. Who cares, I'm not the one in a woolly coat this weather 
I realised that a man was walking towards me with his dog so I swiftly covered up. It's weird, I always feel so safe on these paths as I rarely see another soul out here but as soon as I see a lone man all the panic/safety/alert stuff kicks in even though objectively he's just a guy out with his nice doggy.
Next milestone was a point where if I turned back it'd be 4k, but if I just carried on a bit further I could have a run on my favourite bit of path. It's smooth and made of fine road planings, lovely to run on, almost like a track. Oh go on, why not?
I reached the end of this and the next bit beckoned - a short run on a lumpy field leads to another concrete road and the sea wall. If I did that I could easily get to 8 or 9k. At this point I did a reality check. I only had a small bottle of water and I haven't run more than 5k for quite a while. Time to quit while I was ahead.
The run back was a bit harder as the wind was with me so less cooling. I saw the dog walker ahead of me then I lost sight of him. Primeval panic kicks in, where is he, is he hiding? Nope, the angle of the path changed and there he was, ahead of me. Calm down.
Realised that his walking pace was probably the same as my running pace, but gradually I caught up with him. Said 'Good morning' as I passed. Shortly after I checked my pace - I'd speeded up as I approached him and all my gentle running was out of the window. Must be something subconscious going on. Tucked my shirt back into my bra and finished the run, reaching 5.26km and feeling great at the end of it.
What a great start to the month
