Doin' the urban shuffle
2 x 8 minutes runs
Was hiking to the park over hill and dale (read: through malls, stations, stairs, stairs and more stairs, over the motorway and then more stairs) when I paused at an underground taxi drop-off point. It was 6.00am and it was fairly quiet. A long stretch (maybe 100 metres?) of wide, smooth sidewalk was before me. The warm up 5 minutes was over and I had paused the app til I was ready to run. Hmm, I could do 8 minutes here! Saves clambering all the way to the park. So I trotted back and forth for 8 minutes, elegantly leaping over travellers' luggage and skirting around tour groups from China. In the darkness of the underground road, I was way overdressed in my sunglasses and cap, and a little underdressed in my new (short!) (chaf-less!) running shorts and looked a complete fool. But, whatever. I wasn't melting in the sun so I just did not care. I was a happy little mushroom in the dark. 🍄🍄
Walked back into the cool mall for the 5 minute walk then outside (proper outside, out-out [well, hello Micky!]) for the next 8 minute run. There's a large public area with lots of restaurants, garden, and general paths, so I decided this was the place for the second run. Only a few other joggers around at this hour. It was 28 degrees, but being in the shade meant it felt I wasn't running underwater. I kept to my slow pace to see how I'd go, and ended up running a cheeky 10 minutes. Just because it was so freakin good to be out of the sun!
Did the warm down walk then it was a quick 5 minutes back to the apartment. And now I feel ... weird. Like I cheated. Like I didn't try. I'm so used to coming back from a run absolutely shattered from the heat that that kinda makes me feel I've done the work for that particular run. It feels wrong that I still have energy and will be able to do the things I need to do today without dragging my feet.
But then I think maybe this is how it's meant to be. As in, not half dead after a few shuffles about. I'll see how the new route works out. It's a bit strange not having the long path along the harbour that I'm used to. There were a lot of turns and gradients (superior designing... not), and stairs and buildings to run up and around today but this could work. I may just survive running outside, after all.
Until the monsoon rains come... Then I'll be back to the underground taxi rank to greet the Chinese tour groups as I shuffle past. 👋
w5 r2 - in the pouring rain!
W5 R2 and hitting the road
Keep failing W5 R2
W5 R2 - not too shabby at all
W5 R2 - I'm surprising myself!
