Hi folks
After a very relaxing 7 day rest from running to give my legs a chance to repair, I donned my Super Dan Lycra costume and headed out into this mornings sunshine. What a lovely day it is / was too! Decided to do a cheeky 3K to ease myself back into it slowly. I also had on my brand new calf compression guards, which are these impossibly tight footless sock type contraptions. They clung to my ankles and calves like a bloomin' limpet and luckily didn't ruin the leg line of my running tights. Most important. Didn't want to look like I'd got something strapped to my calves now did I?!! Smooth and aerodynamic is the order of the day.
I took my usual route along the river to Richmond and even overtook a fellow runner at Richmond Lock. I tried to exude super cool dude running style as I passed him and hoped he was thinking "Wow, look at that gazelle of a man gliding through the air like a silent projectile".
He was probably thinking - "B***** t**$±±^ k@@$**** swine!"
I decided to try out landing on mid foot - just for a laugh. Oddly, it was easier to do one leg at a time. Let me explain my method ; I made sure on my right foot, I landed on the bit just behind the toes and then sprang, deer like forward, as my left leg did it's usual soft heel landing. Then back onto right foot toe landing and repeat and repeat etc etc. You get the picture. After doing this a few times I switched feet and landed, deer like on my left foot. Before long I was boing boing boinging along, landing on both feet just behind the toes. It felt good and my legs managed to take this running style for longer than I thought I'd be able to do.
Once I'd bored myself stupid with that, I returned to my usual gait and thought how many variables there are when you go out on a run. It's what i makes it so interesting. Anyway, I crossed the river at Richmond and went down the other side and tore along the Thames path back towards home. I say "tore along"....more like slow jogging really. Strangely, I was finding this run hard. I'd mentally prepared for just 3K yet for some reason it was difficult and it reminded me of something juicyju once said. Paraphrasing wildly, it was along the lines of "running is always hard" and she's right. It's never easy, and today was no exception. I reached Richmond Lock on the other side and crossed over, taking full advantage of the walk to get my breath back. Down the other side and home.
The compression calf guards worked! I had almost no niggly pain (just a dull thud) in my right shin and whilst running, they felt good on. It was a mighty effort to get the blighters off though I'll tell you. They are reeeeeeally tight!!
So after a luxurious jacuzzi I wolfed down some extremely delicious scrambled eggs and mushrooms on toast. Eggs were given to me by a work colleague whom I visited yesterday in the depths of the East Sussex countryside (miiiiiiiiles away). His wife keeps chickens and boy were the eggs good!
OK. Next run will be a 5K special in two days time. Stay tuned, don't touch that dial and be good until I see you all again.
Until then, then then then then
Dan
