I'm sitting here in my running vest, about 20 minutes after completing my first run since graduating, and can't believe how much heat is still radiating from my body. Consuming about a gallon of iced water straight from the fridge has succeeded in giving me brain freeze, but been totally ineffective at getting my body temperature to normal. At least my glasses have at last de-misted so that I can actually see to type, and I can save some money on the heating bill.
I togged up as I have been doing recently in running jacket, gloves and headband for my ears, but it was pretty soon into the warm up walk when the gloves came off. About 5 minutes later the headband came off, as I broke into my run around the park. The weather is unexpectedly mild today, so after about another 5 minutes I was so warm, my jacket came off, much to the amusement of one of the regular dog walkers I pass who asked if I was doing a full strip and wanted to know if he should hang around!
Well, would I..?
I ran on undeterred, and was pretty soon clambering over the style into the little woodland. I was still heating up and felt that I was slowing down, but with nothing else to take off, I plodded on, enjoying the wind on my arms. The wood was lovely this morning, and although the gremlins had been strewing the path with twigs and branches, I was not going to be tripped up so easily.
Coming out of the wood, across the road and into the park I started to feel a few twinges in my legs. Nothing major, but felt sure that it was slowing me down. I remembered the Mantra of Ullyrunner and others, "Slowly but surely" and kept on going, despite it being such an effort.
By the time Laura told me I had 5 minutes remaining, I was begging her to let me stop. Why so hard? I'd done this run three times already. Eventually she relented and said that I could do another 60 seconds before slowing down into my walk. Phew.
For the final 5 minutes walk home I was literally dragging my legs along (like some character from a Hammer House of Horror film) , hardly able to put one foot in front of the other - however, there was not much option, it was either that or sit down on the path, a crumpled mess in a pool of sweat! Eeew. My calves were aching and I just wanted to get home.
Now that I've looked at my running app I realise why it was hard. I actually covered the first 5k in 28 minutes and 15 seconds, and if I take the warm up walk away from that and look at the first 5k that I ran, I think my time was 28 minutes and 3 seconds. No wonder my legs were feeling tired and I was getting hot. This is my best time so far, hopefully my legs will forgive me. For the whole 40 minute podcast I managed to cover 7.19km. I think I may be ready to think about signing up for a Park Run soon. 
Pride and Falls - First Post Grad run.
First post grad run
Post-grad runs on the treadmill
First Post-Grad Run!
Post grad run
