I've been easing back again after a three month break and so while I was in Ireland last week visiting my parents I was determined to get a few runs in so not to lose momentum. Very happy that I managed two runs on a lovely flat surface . And the weather was lovely. All in all, a good week.
Today I went out for my third run of 2.5k and decided to go on a route I've done before but it is quite remote and quiet. I had previously been a bit nervous of this route because it is isolated and there is a little bit that dips down beside a forest so you are hidden and I'm always anxious that the bogeyman is going to jump out at me when I run past!
However, I have since armed myself with one of those personal alarm things that would do serious ear damage to anyone within close distance and that has given me a bit of confidence.
So this morning, the sun was shining, the wind had died down, I was in the mood and, I was armed with my mobile and my alarm. I felt invincible!
I did my 5 minute warm up walk and started to run. Far too fast! I still find it hard to pace myself even with the Garmin, so I tried not to look at it and listened to my body instead. That seemed to work and I settled in to a nice rhythm.
After a couple of minutes I glimpsed a flash of blue up ahead. What's this I thought? Another runner? I turned a corner and realised it was not one but two people (two men) just walking. I did a quick once over and thought they looked harmless ( how can we be sure?) and kept on running. They kept on walking and talking. I got closer. The path wasn't wide enough for all of so I was wondering and hoping that they would hear me and step aside. No. I got closer still, they kept walking. They must hear me I thought. I'm not exactly the quietest runner in the world. I got so close behind them I would soon have to stop completely so I just said good morning to them and they both turned around and looked really surprised that I was even there! Honestly! I could have been creeping up to attack them. How can some people be so oblivious? They stepped aside and on I went.
That was the first time I had ever seen anyone on this path!
After another couple of minutes I saw a group of people ahead of me coming my way. There were about four of them and they were obviously out for a walk. But they did see me coming and all of them stepped aside to let me run by! We all exchanged good mornings and smiles and waves and on I went. Gosh, this is the busiest I've seen this path. And there was me feeling nervous because it was so quiet!
I was nearing the end of my run which unfortunately was on a bit of a hill so I was huffing and puffing a bit and pushing myself as it was really hard work when I saw another fellow runner coming towards me! She was going DOWN the hill and just starting, so looked very fresh and spritely, unlike me who felt a bit sick at this stage but was trying hard to look like it was all easy! We did say good morning to each other and went on our ways.
I'm always tempted, when I see another runner, to shout out " are you a c25k'er?". Hee hee, maybe one day I will.
I really enjoyed the run today. I'm ready to do 3k next time and I'm feeling great. My quiet, isolated route wasn't so lonely today. I felt much safer with all those people around and I just know that the bogeyman would probably have got those two blokes easily as they wouldn't have heard him creeping up behind them!
Sleep tight.
A girl's gotta have some bling!
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