Visiting the outlaws in sunny Southend this weekend, so I decided I'd bring my kit and see if I could manage a better run than I've historically managed here. Mr Rainbow decided we'd take the daughters over to Shoebury beach this morning, and suggested I could run over and join them there.
It's a lovely straightforward and flat route, so I thought that seemed like a good plan - especially as he offered to drive me the first little bit so I wouldn't have to walk too far at the end. So, cloudy skies, we loaded the car and off we went.
Warm-up walk was lovely - more runners than I'd usually see in six months, lots of people enjoying the seaside. Then time to start running. First few minutes as hard as ever - but I'm determined to beat those gremlins, so I engage my Stubborn Mode and keep going. Five minutes down, feeling better, passing people sitting by their beach huts, I can do this, but maybe need to slow down a bit...
Seems to be taking a long time to get to half-time. Keep plodding, just keep going, ah there it is at last. Round the coastguard station, glad there's someone else in front of me so I can follow how to get round this one bit where the path zigs a bit.
Ooh last five minutes hooray. Not sure I can do this. Oh yes I can, cries of SLOW DOWN ringing in my ears from you lot - thank you! - just keep going steadily. Do I want to speed up for the last minute? Ummm, no thanks Laura! And I made it! Phew!
Definitely hard work, despite being so level, but so pleased that I managed it! Hard work, a real challenge, could not have done another three minutes, but at least I don't need to worry about the extra time until the next run...!
So, on to week 8 - time to reacquaint myself with dear old Julie!