Longer rest then planned after Thursday’s 5k. I had hoped to run yesterday but my leg muscles were still quite achey. Bonus: I ate healthy food and had little to drink Friday night expecting to run Saturday and repeated that Saturday night.
Then I had a bad night. My youngest is at home for the weekend with her boyfriend and they went out for a meal with friends. “Won’t be late.” I went to bed around 10:30pm, they roll in about 1:30am and wake me.
By 4am the cat has decided there are lots of early birds around and he wants to fight them for the worms. By 7:30am he’s yowling to come in because breakfast. I do as commanded and fall back into bed. This photo is his “butter wouldn’t melt” pose.
I know it’s just going to get hotter...up I grump.
So, on with the run. Plan was a simple 30 minute run. Nothing big. Keep things ticking over. I’m wanting to shift my long run to the weekend but I’m not up for 5k today.
First 6 minutes were hell. Brain really playing all the tricks. Again I came very close to stopping. Those newly discovered shin muscles were making their existence know and my head was telling me this is shin splints, so stop now. (It isn’t and I didn’t.) And my breath was awful ragged.
Next 5 minutes was full blown Toxic 10. I seem to have got a weird slight cough and I’m wheezing a bit and it generally feels like I’m not breathing enough yet gallons of air are flowing in and out of my mouth, so much that I constantly have to wipe my lips as I’m breathing too hard to swallow. Horrible.
And then all of that passes. Looking at my split times it’s clear why - I had gone off too fast again despite trying not too. Bad side effect of increasing fitness.
I reach further than I expect outbound and cross paths with a young lady runner who is walking the other way with headphones on. We meet on a bend in the road and manage to make each other jump a little.
Panic. I’m near my turn point. If I just turn and run back to her she is going to be terrified and I’m going to be embarrassed. What to do?
I reach the turn and head back around the bend (watch it!) and she is nowhere to be seen. Presumably she lives in one of the houses I’ve recently been running past. Phew. (If you are a C25Ker from Disley and passed a panting bloke in a white shirt and black visor this morning, hi!)
Long run back home. Slow and hot. I know I’m way down on my earlier pace but I’m much more comfortable. It just means a longer duration to get back to the start.
As I reach the bottom of Sirens Hill The Housemartins come on with “Happy Hour” and I smile my way up to the summit.
My watch tells me I’ve reached my 30 minute time and I’m a long way from my start point, so I press on. Get near to it and look at distance - 3.85k. Hmm coincidence. My 5k happened because I had run 4.85k. Right. This has gone from being a 30 min run to being a 4k.
I keep running, pass another male runner, smile, say good morning, keep running. Watch buzzes for the 4k. 34 mins 29.
Not going to break any records at my pace but that was 8 min 35 per k (compared to 8 min 36 per k on my 5k run) so I am at least very consistent in my slowness!
Walk back home feeling relaxed and very happy. I didn’t really want to get out of bed and face the world today let alone run. I did both.
I’ve started using My Fitness Pal to keep track of my eating and to try to shift this excess weight. It gave me a lovely surprise when I reinstalled it. The last time I had used it was 5th October 2012. I have put on 8kg since then. Nearly 18 pounds. And that is having recently lost a few kilos. 😔
No point fretting about it. Some serious dietin’ is needed. Hopefully I’ll be able to report some progress soon.
Whatever run you have next, enjoy it x
You just know the end is going to be a let down!
W7R1 again. Back on track!
W6R2 (again and again) - yesterday
Day 23
6 X PB'S TODAY - SOOOO HAPPY!!!!!
Best way to increase pace? 
