First run without Laura, without music...

[PortlySportly]

... but with really loud breathing and horrendously thumpy feet. Yep I broke my headphones whilst trying to 'fix' them (quite heavy handed when fixing stuff; lots gets broken) and was horror stricken. Obviously I couldn't go running. Er why not? said my friend, not understanding at all, just go running without them. Huh. In the spirit of trying new things I gave it a shot. Harbourside jog in the rain. What would keep my hat on? I considered wearing the stricken headphones as a kind of ear muff. Rejected.

Discovered running without music is pretty much as painful as with. Tried to imagine Laura's enthusiastic tones. 'You're doing great' And (my particular favourite) 'This is Fantastic!'

Near the end I had to go up a flight of steps. Where did that come from? What is wrong with town planners don't they know people are trying to jog here? My feet became even clompier. I wanted to (deep breath) give up. No! No! Keep going! Maybe I could take a break and start up again when I felt a bit brighter? Pah! Keep going!

The universe chucked everything at me. Hail and brimstone? Worse: cobbles and heel pain. Where did that come from? I thought as I fell off (?) a curb. Ouch. 'Urgh ... It doesn't have to be pretty (it wasn't) ... Keep going' I puffed to myself. And to everyone around me. It's half-term, lots of kids seem to be around ... admiring my running form. I splashed through an enormous puddle and squelched on. Thanks to my newly opened ears nuance of squelch was not lost on me. Began to feel a bit sick but glory be the end was in sight. Laura likes to end on a high even when she's tired just to show there's more in the tank. Channel your inner Laura! Phew.

Quick injury audit on warm-down walk: knees? Feeling good! Feet? Ankles? Good; good. Spirit? Awesome. I'm smiling.

Looking forward to giving this headphone free running another go.

[no-excuse Graduate]

You made me smile- sounds like you had a great run. I can't imagine how it felt without Laura. Enjoy your running!

[makmurthly]

Your post is so true to life and made me smile. I have never run with Laura, probably missing out on lots, but I run in the dark with my dogs and want to hear anything around me.

[Nilzed in reply to makmurthly]

I run with one earphone, so i can hear what else is happening.

[makmurthly in reply to Nilzed]

That's what I was advised to do, but I've discovered that as well as being unfit and overweight, my hearing is quite bad in one ear. Oh the joys of getting old! However I am so far managing okay without Laura. I have occasionally listened to the podcasts while doing housework and I think I prefer RunKeeper which updates me every minute.

[NewlifeLil Graduate]

Funny how we get dependent isn't it? I ran sans-Laura first because I couldn't believe any amount of covering would protect my phone from the rain. It opens you up to other experiences (e.g. being very sensitive to the hailstones on the calves)!

Especially now there is bird song, I sometimes go without music by choice. I also found it is rather more social on Parkrun to be without earphones. A bit tougher I reckon, as when I get tired I can't get into the music by way of distraction... but it definitely has its positives.

[gingernut49 Graduate]

You're so brave. A year later I still can't run without Laura - and I have tried - but I still alternate the three C25K podcasts. I can't say I actually listen to them but I need that beat to run to.

[misswobble Graduate]

That sounds like one of my runs Portly! Never mind we can just keep doing our thing and hope we get quicker, fitter, thinner etc. I have every confidence that we'll get there. Running Nirvana if such a thing exists. LOL