I think I love running

[JaySeeSkinny]

I haven't run since my 10k on Thursday. Running day would normally have been yesterday but we were hiking then (and I loved it!) and I had planned to run today. It's bucketing it down here again, so me and hubby pottered around this morning doing weekend things. Then it's lunch time and I can't run immediately after eating. OH keeps saying he wants to go for a walk if the weather clears up, so it would be unfair to go off somewhere without him. He would sulk and I would feel guilty - we only see each other at weekends. But come 3 in the afternoon I am prowling, feeling narky, my knees are sore and I want to get out. It's still raining so hubby doesn't look at me too reproachfully as I start to put my gear on. "Just a short one" I plead "only 5k" and I tell him my planned route.

And then I'm out in the rain. The only other people out are dog walkers, one of them sees me coming towards him and goes back to put his husky on the lead. I apologize as I run past and he laughs. Everyone is so happy today - or is it me? I see an older man, about 70, under an umbrella and he beams at me. Another couple coming towards me hurry up to get round a huge puddle so that I can use the same route and keep my feet dry. I thank them. Another guy also calls his dog over and makes him sit as I go past - am I a hare or something?

Now the aim is to run 5k non-stop this time. I haven't done that in a while. For some reason I always have to walk at around 3k. And my longer runs have been mastered using deliberate walking breaks. This fact has enabled one of my gremlins to grow stronger recently. "See, you can't run non-stop any more!" he screeches "This is how it starts, soon you won't be running at all! Look at you, puffed at 3k". So I wanted to put him in his place today and have a nice, easy, non-stop run.

And that's what I did. I felt like a runner and the reactions of other walkers showed they perceived me as a runner. I ran all the way round and I felt great afterwards. Narkiness gone, strangely my knees stopped hurting aswell, soaking wet, but well pleased. I wasn't hugely speedy, but I wasn't slow either. A good solid 5k, probably a couple of minutes faster than a good, solid 5k a couple of months ago.

I'm so glad I can run, thanks to Laura - I really do love it!

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

That's a lovely post JaySee! So glad you got out, despite the rain! My route was pretty wet today but lots of sunny intervals meant it felt really warm, so I found my 10k run this morning quite tough. Ignored a few gremlins and just carried on plodding. As usual, the last few k were definately easier than the first few!! My new mantra is a line from "Running like a Girl" by Alexandra Heminsley - "...to survive, you just have to keep going"!🏃🏻🙂 Yep, I think I love running too!😀

[Spongecake7 Graduate]

What a great post - thanks for sharing!

[pollyp1 Graduate]

Lovely. I find it helps my knees too. Happy running.

[pollyp1 Graduate]

Every time I see that title it makes me smile!

[Irishprincess Graduate]

What a lovely read! I did laugh at the bit where you were "prowling" as that just sums it doesn't it? When we're not running we feel a bit caged 😊 Thanks for posting.

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Great post - I think you describe how we all feel when we just need to run. Glad you enjoyed it!